Abstract
Home range (HR) size variation is often linked to resource abundance, with sex differences expected to relate to sex‐specific fitness consequences. However, studies generally fail to disentangle the effects of the two main drivers of HR size variation, food and conspecific density, and rarely consider how their relative influence change over spatiotemporal scales. We used location data from 77 Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) from a 16‐year Scandinavian study to examine HR sizes variation relative to prey and conspecific density at different spatiotemporal scales. By varying the isopleth parameter (intensity of use) defining the HR, we show that sex‐specific effects were conditional on the spatial scale considered. Males had larger HRs than females in all seasons. Females' total HR size declined as prey and conspecific density increased, whereas males' total HR was only affected by conspecific density. However, as the intensity of use within the HR increased (from 90% to 50% isopleth), the relationship between prey density and area showed opposing patterns for females and males; for females, the prey density effect was reduced, while for males, prey became increasingly important. Thus, prey influenced the size of key regions within male HRs, despite total HR size being independent of prey density. Males reduced their HR size during the mating season, likely to remain close to individual females in estrous. Females reduced their HR size postreproduction probably because of movement constrains imposed by dependent young. Our findings highlight the importance of simultaneously considering resources and intraspecific interactions as HR size determinants. We show that sex‐specific demands influence the importance of prey and conspecific density on space use at different spatiotemporal scales. Thus, unless a gradient of space use intensity is examined, factors not related to total HR size might be disregarded despite their importance in determining size of key regions within the HR.
Highlights
Access to critical resources is an essential determinant of individual fitness, with spacing behavior being a key factor regulating this access (Morales et al 2010)
Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
There were clear sex-specific differences in annual Home range (HR) size (90% isopleth males = 1045 Æ 66 km2, range: 303– 2290, n = 57; females = 483 Æ 35 km2, range: 109–1853, n = 100), with range size dramatically decreasing with increased intensity of space use for both sexes (80%, 70%, 60%, and 50% isopleth area: 748 Æ 48, 566 Æ 37, 432 Æ 29, and 325 Æ 22 for males and 343 Æ 25, 255 Æ 19, 192 Æ 15, and 142 Æ 11 for females)
Summary
Access to critical resources is an essential determinant of individual fitness, with spacing behavior being a key factor regulating this access (Morales et al 2010). Because of its central role in influencing population dynamics and distribution, home range (HR) size has been extensively studied. Differences in body size, diet, social organization, and mating system explain general HR size variation between species Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
