Abstract
In canids, resident breeders hold territories but require different resources than transient individuals (i.e., dispersers), which may result in differential use of space, land cover, and food by residents and transients. In the southeastern United States, coyote (Canis latrans) reproduction occurs during spring and is energetically demanding for residents, but transients do not reproduce and therefore can exhibit feeding behaviors with lower energetic rewards. Hence, how coyotes behave in their environment likely differs between resident and transient coyotes. We captured and monitored 36 coyotes in Georgia during 2018–2019 and used data from 11 resident breeders, 12 predispersing residents (i.e., offspring of resident breeders), and 11 transients to determine space use, movements, and relationships between these behaviors and landcover characteristics. Average home range size for resident breeders and predispersing offspring was 20.7 ± 2.5 km² and 50.7 ± 10.0 km², respectively. Average size of transient ranges was 241.4 ± 114.5 km². Daily distance moved was 6.3 ± 3.0 km for resident males, 5.5 ± 2.7 km for resident females, and 6.9 ± 4.2 km for transients. We estimated first‐passage time values to assess the scale at which coyotes respond to their environment, and used behavioral change‐point analysis to determine that coyotes exhibited three behavioral states. We found notable differences between resident and transient coyotes in regard to how landcover characteristics influenced their behavioral states. Resident coyotes tended to select for areas with denser vegetation while resting and foraging, but for areas with less dense vegetation and canopy cover when walking. Transient coyotes selected areas closer to roads and with lower canopy cover while resting, but for areas farther from roads when foraging and walking. Our findings suggest that behaviors of both resident and transient coyotes are influenced by varying landcover characteristics, which could have implications for prey.
Highlights
Space use is an ecological concept that allows us to interpret animal home ranges, habitat selection, foraging strategies, and predator– prey interactions (Moorcroft, 2012; Van Moorter et al, 2016)
Our findings suggest that behaviors of both resident and transient coyotes are influenced by varying landcover characteristics, which could have implications for prey
Previous studies have reported similarities in space use between resident and transient coyotes, and have noted that roads can be important to transients (Hinton et al, 2015), similar to other studies noting that canids in general often select roads to move about the landscape (Allen et al, 2013; Baker et al, 2007; Zimmermann et al, 2014)
Summary
Space use is an ecological concept that allows us to interpret animal home ranges, habitat selection, foraging strategies, and predator– prey interactions (Moorcroft, 2012; Van Moorter et al, 2016). It is useful to understand predator movements, foraging behaviors, and habitat selection to better understand how they persist in diverse landscapes. Because resident coyotes are territorial, understanding their space and habitat use within home ranges can provide relevant information on how they interact with their local environment. Previous studies have reported similarities in space use between resident and transient coyotes, and have noted that roads can be important to transients (Hinton et al, 2015), similar to other studies noting that canids in general often select roads to move about the landscape (Allen et al, 2013; Baker et al, 2007; Zimmermann et al, 2014). Coyote space use and movements vary according to individual needs, so understanding fine-scale space use and movement behaviors is important to understanding interactions between coyotes and their environment
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