Home Range Use Research Articles

Habitat selection and home-range use by resident and reintroduced giant anteaters in 2 South American wetlands

Fil: Di Blanco, Yamil Edgardo. Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlantico; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazu | Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical. Instituto de Biologia Subtropical - Nodo Puerto Iguazu; Argentina

Home ranges of raccoon dogs in managed and natural areas.

Knowledge of space use is central to understand animals’ role in ecosystems. The raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides is considered as one of the most influential alien mesopredator species in Europe, having the potential to cause loss of local biodiversity and act as a vector for zoonotic diseases. We collared 12 animals to study their home range and habitat use in two areas with different management regimes in Estonia: in a protected natural area and in an intensively managed area. From May to October raccoon dogs inhabiting the natural area had considerably smaller home ranges compared to the managed area, 193.3ha±37.3SD and 391.9ha±292.9SD, respectively. This result contradicts somewhat earlier findings in other European raccoon dog populations, where the home range sizes in natural areas in summer and autumn period have usually been larger compared to managed areas. In both study areas raccoon dogs preferred watersides, where amphibians and other semi-aquatic prey are abundant, to other habitats available in their home ranges. We also studied movements of a raccoon dog pair in the managed study area in winter period. Due to mild weather conditions during the study period, raccoon dogs changed their resting sites quite often, covering a relatively large 599 ha area from November 2012 to January 2013, indicating the absence of usual winter lethargy during the mild winters.

Home range, den selection and habitat use of Carolina northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)

Context Understanding habitat selection is important for determining conservation and management strategies for endangered species. The Carolina northern flying squirrel (CNFS; Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus) is an endangered subspecies found in the high-elevation montane forests of the southern Appalachians, USA. The primary use of nest boxes to monitor CNFS has provided biased information on habitat use for this subspecies, as nest boxes are typically placed in suitable denning habitat. Aims We conducted a radio-telemetry study on CNFS to determine home range, den site selection and habitat use at multiple spatial scales. Methods We radio-collared 21 CNFS in 2012 and 2014–15. We tracked squirrels to diurnal den sites and during night-time activity. Key results The MCP (minimum convex polygon) home range at 95% for males was 5.2±1.2ha and for females was 4.0±0.7. The BRB (biased random bridge) home range at 95% for males was 10.8±3.8ha and for females was 8.3±2.1. Den site (n=81) selection occurred more frequently in montane conifer dominate forests (81.4%) vs northern hardwood forests or conifer–northern hardwood forests (9.9% and 8.7%, respectively). We assessed habitat selection using Euclidean distance-based analysis at the 2nd order and 3rd order scale. We found that squirrels were non-randomly selecting for habitat at both 2nd and 3rd order scales. Conclusions At both spatial scales, CNFS preferentially selected for montane conifer forests more than expected based on availability on the landscape. Squirrels selected neither for nor against northern hardwood forests, regardless of availability on the landscape. Additionally, CNFS denned in montane conifer forests more than other habitat types. Implications Our results highlight the importance of montane conifer to CNFS in the southern Appalachians. Management and restoration activities that increase the quality, connectivity and extent of this naturally rare forest type may be important for long-term conservation of this subspecies, especially with the impending threat of anthropogenic climate change.

Wood Turtle Home Range and Habitat Use in the Central Appalachians

Abstract Conservation of wood turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) requires improved ecological knowledge near the southern extent of their geographic range. Our objectives were to determine home range sizes and structural habitat characteristics of wood turtles near the southern border of their geographic range in eastern West Virginia. We captured 284 wood turtles (137 males, 88 females, and 59 juveniles) along a 13.7-km reach of river from spring 2009 to summer 2011. Home ranges (95% minimum convex polygons) varied from 0.62 to 36.97 ha; male home ranges tended to be elongated along the river, whereas female and juvenile home ranges encompassed a greater proportion of terrestrial habitat. Low bare ground and rock cover and high vegetative vertical density were structural characteristics associated with the turtles' habitat compared with random plots. Our study provides vital data about home range, movements, and habitat use of wood turtles along the southern border of their range. These data will assist in pl...

Home Range and Habitat Use by Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards in the Southern San Joaquin Desert of California

Abstract We used radiotracking to study the home range and use of space by Blunt-nosed Leopard Lizards (Gambelia sila) in the Lokern Natural Area in the San Joaquin Desert of California. The average home-range size of males, based on the fixed kernal local convex hull method, was 6.21 ha in 2003 and 7.62 ha in 2004, which differed significantly from the average size for females, which was 2.85 ha in 2003 and 3.17 ha in 2004. Average home-range size did not differ significantly between years or with the interaction of sex and year. Home ranges of nine lizards with collars were in about the same locations between 2003 and 2004. There were no significant differences in either the percentage or number of home-range overlaps among adjacent pairs. Males moved an average of ∼100 m daily, significantly farther than the 65-m average daily movements of females, but there were no significant differences for the average greatest distance moved in 1 day by sex or year, or their interaction. The longest distance moved ...

Influence of prey abundance and abiotic factors on the long-term home-range and movement dynamics of spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii in an intermittently open estuary

Long-term home-range and movement dynamics of spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii and the distribution of their dominant prey, the sandprawn Callichirus kraussi, were investigated in the intermittently open East Kleinemonde Estuary, South Africa. In addition, the effects of fish length, diel cycle, season and other abiotic factors on home range and area use were examined. Nine adult spotted grunter (326–489 mm total length) were tagged with acoustic transmitters, and their movements were studied by manual tracking on six consecutive days and nights during each of five tracking sessions from March to November 2004. In addition, movement patterns were recorded by stationary data-logging receivers. Kernel home ranges (95% utilised distribution) varied in size (mean: 76 797 m2 , range: 26 296–165 321 m2), but were all located in the lower one-third of the 3.6 km-long estuary. There was no effect of season, the diel cycle or fish length on the home-range estimates. However, the distribution of prey corresponded with the home-range distribution of tagged fish. Although sandprawn distribution was highly variable within and among transects and depth classes, sandprawns were most abundant in the lower region of the estuary, which corresponded to the home-range distribution of spotted grunter. Spatial distribution of prey appears to be a dominant factor influencing home-range parameters of this species within an intermittently open estuary.

Spatial Ecology of the American Crocodile in a Tropical Pacific Island in Central America.

Conservation of large predators has long been a challenge for biologists due to the limited information we have about their ecology, generally low numbers in the wild, large home ranges and the continuous expansion of human settlements. The American crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) is a typical apex predator, that has suffered from all of these characteristic problems, especially the latter one. Humans have had a major impact on the recovery of this species throughout its range, even though most of the countries it inhabits have banned hunting. The last decade has made it clear that in order to implement sound conservation and management programs, we must increase our understanding of crocodile spatial ecology. However, in only two countries where American crocodiles have telemetry studies even been published. Herein we have characterized the spatial ecology of C. acutus on Coiba Island, Panama, by radio-tracking (VHF transmitters) 24 individuals between 2010 and 2013, to determine movement patterns, home range, and habitat use. We have then compared our findings with those of previous studies to develop the most comprehensive assessment of American crocodile spatial ecology to date. Females showed a higher average movement distance (AMD) than males; similarly, adults showed a higher AMD than sub-adults and juveniles. However, males exhibited larger home ranges than females, and concomitantly sub-adults had larger home ranges than juveniles, hatchlings, and adults. There was an obvious relationship between seasonal precipitation and AMD, with increased AMD in the dry and “low-wet” seasons, and reduced AMD during the “true” wet season. We found disaggregate distributions according to age groups throughout the 9 habitat types in the study area; adults and hatchlings inhabited fewer habitat types than juveniles and sub-adults. These sex- and age-group discrepancies in movement and habitat choice are likely due to the influences of reproductive biology and Coiba’s precipitation cycle. Juveniles also showed distinct movement patterns and home ranges; however, with sexual maturation and development, these behaviors became more characteristic of adults and sub-adults. Ours is one of a very small number of studies that will allow future management and conservation planning to be based on the comprehensive integration of the spatial ecology of a Neotropical crocodylian apex predator.

Population recovery highlights spatial organization dynamics in adult leopards

AbstractPolygynous species follow sex‐specific spacing patterns to maximize reproductive success, and changes in population density under otherwise stable environmental conditions likely provoke sex‐specific responses in spacing patterns. A classical dual reproductive strategy hypothesis posits that female home range size and overlap are set by habitat productivity and remain stable under increasing population density, whereas male home range size and overlap decrease with increased mate competition. An alternative dispersal‐regulated strategy predicts that females relinquish part of their home range to philopatric daughters and form matrilineal clusters, while adult male spacing is stable with density‐dependent subadult male emigration rates. We used 11 years of telemetry data to assess the response of adult leopard Panthera pardus spacing following the release of harvest pressure. Female annual home ranges and core areas were smaller than in males. Intersexual overlap was larger than intra‐sexual overlap in males or in females. As leopard density increased, female home range size and inter‐annual fidelity in home range use decreased, and females formed matrilineal kin clusters. In contrast, male leopards maintained large home ranges, and did not track female home range contraction. Spacing dynamics in adult leopards was consistent with dispersal‐regulated strategies, and did not support a classical dual reproductive strategy. Our study suggests possible hidden lag effects of harvest disturbance on spacing dynamics that are not necessarily apparent when only assessing demographic recovery of harvested populations.

Differential spatial use and spatial fidelity by breeders in Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata)

In recent years, long-term studies based on movement monitoring tools have improved our knowledge about spatial ecology and home range behaviour of endangered species. In order to study individual spatial–temporal variations in size, use and fidelity of home ranges and other spatial parameters (kernel at different levels), and determine the influence of sex and different annual periods in these variations, 17 adult breeders (of both sexes) of an endangered territorial raptor, Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata), were equipped with GPS satellite transmitters and tracked over a 7-year period in Aragon (northeast Spain). The home range (kernel 95 %) of these eagles showed high individual variations as well as other spatial parameters (kernels 75, 50 and 5 %). No interannual variations for the same individual were found. Females changed home range size and use during the year, it being different in the breeding season. Home range fidelity was high for all individuals (overlap 76.18 %) over the three annual periods in all years. Nevertheless, fidelity to nesting areas was low (only 30 %) during the same periods. This work highlights the importance of long-term monitoring studies to elicit information on home range behaviour for developing accurate conservation guidelines. Maintenance of home range size and fidelity across years assures that the adoption of any conservation management plan would have a lasting impact over time. In addition, protection zones should be increased to critical areas (kernel 75 %) and restriction of specific activities causing disturbance during the breeding season should be implemented.

Spatial and temporal patterns of home range use by olive baboons (Papio anubis) in eastern Laikipia, Kenya

AbstractThe study investigated the relationship between topography, seasonal food availability and home range use by a troop of olive baboons (Papio anubis) in a dry savannah environment. Valleys were the most utilized parts of the home range in dry seasons while old boma sites were more frequently used in the wet season. Herb‐layer food biomass decreased significantly in dry seasons. The flowers of both Acacia tortilis and Acacia etbaica were available only in dry seasons with valleys having the highest biomass. The biomass of Acacia nilotica seeds was higher in valleys than on other locations. Leaves of the shrub Lycium europaeum were available on all locations in the wet season but valleys had the highest biomass of this food type. Herb‐layer baboon food biomass at ridge tops, slopes, valleys and old boma sites showed similar trends in productivity between seasons. Baboons tracked food along the soil catenas by feeding at ridge tops and old boma sites where foods were available during the wet season and exploiting food sources at the valleys during the dry seasons. Food availability was related to the catena effect and baboons used the catenas in the home range in a predictable manner.

Home range and habitat use of translocated endangered species, Cottus koreanus, in South Korea

ABSTRACTThe home range and characteristics of Cottus koreanus were investigated using passive integrated transponder (PIT) telemetry in the Gulji Stream, Korea, where the target species was artificially translocated. After release, tagged individuals moved up to 78 m away from the release site in search of proper habitats. The average distance moved until settlement was 17.1 m. The observed home range of settled individuals had longitudinal sections of 9.9 ± 3.6 m and surface areas of 7.2 ± 2.7 m2. This is comparable to congeneric species that inhabit similar ecological habitats. Once individuals had settled, they rarely moved from that site except during the spring season. The typical microhabitat characteristics of the sites where the released individuals settled are: water depth of 5–10 cm, water velocity of 0.1–0.3 m s−1, and the size of boulders and cobbles of 10–20 cm in diameter. This study of translocated C. koreanus individuals provides detailed information about habitats that can be used for effective habitat restoration and successful translocations attempts of this species.

Home-range use patterns and movements of the Siberian flying squirrel in urban forests: Effects of habitat composition and connectivity.

BackgroundUrbanization causes modification, fragmentation and loss of native habitats. Such landscape changes threaten many arboreal and gliding mammals by limiting their movements through treeless parts of a landscape and by making the landscape surrounding suitable habitat patches more inhospitable. Here, we investigate the effects of landscape structure and habitat availability on the home-range use and movement patterns of the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) at different spatial and temporal scales. We followed radio-tagged individuals in a partly urbanized study area in Eastern Finland, and analysed how landscape composition and connectivity affected the length and speed of movement bursts, distances moved during one night, and habitat and nest-site use.ResultsThe presence of urban habitat on movement paths increased both movement lengths and speed whereas nightly distances travelled by males decreased with increasing amount of urban habitat within the home range. The probability of switching from the present nest site to another nest site decreased with increasing distance among the nest sites, but whether the nest sites were connected or unconnected by forests did not have a clear effect on nest switching. Flying squirrels preferred to use mature forests for their movements at night.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the proximity to urban habitats modifies animal movements, possibly because animals try to avoid such habitats by moving faster through them. Urbanization at the scale of an entire home range can restrict their movements. Thus, maintaining a large enough amount of mature forests around inhabited landscape fragments will help protect forest specialists in urban landscapes. The effect of forested connections remains unclear, highlighting the difficulty of measuring and preserving connectivity in a species-specific way.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40462-016-0071-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Activity, movement, home range and habitat use of an adult gray wolf in a Mediterranean landscape of northern Greece

AbstractWe present the results of a study on the activity patterns of a wolf in northwestern Greece (2011–2012). The home range of the wolf was 460.5 km

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150 km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km2, 5.6 ± 0.36 km2 and 2.15 ± 0.45 km2, respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km2 and 104.27 ± 35.64 km2, respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.

Ecological factors influencing habitat use by chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda.

Although numerous ecological and social factors influence range use in vertebrates, the general assumption is that ranging patterns typically accord with principles of optimal foraging theory. However, given temporal variability in resource abundance, animals can more easily meet nutritional needs at some times than at others. For species in which sociality is particularly important for fitness, such as chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and other group-living primates, the influences of social factors can be particularly strong, and likely interact closely with ecological factors. We investigated home range use by a community of chimpanzees at Ngogo, Kibale National Park, Uganda, to determine whether range use corresponded to energy-based optimality principles. Chimpanzees were particularly attracted to areas of the home range where individuals of Ficus mucuso (a large but low-density resource) were found, but only if those areas also offered other preferred or important resource classes. The aggregation of large foraging parties at F. mucuso crowns (frequently seen year-round) facilitates a number of socially beneficial activities for both males and females. Because chimpanzees apparently seek out F. mucuso in areas where other high-quality feeding opportunities exist, these social benefits likely do not come at the expense of fitness benefits accrued from feeding on high-quality resources. Am. J. Primatol. 78:432-440, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Breeding Season Home Range and Habitat Use of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) Below the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

ABSTRACT We studied breeding season home range characteristics and habitat of paired male Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) below the south rim of Grand Canyon National Park from 2004–2005. Adult male owls (n = 5) were captured and radio-tracked using tail-mounted VHF transmitters. We used minimum convex polygons and 90% fixed kernels to estimate breeding season home range size (mean = 355 ha and 372 ha, respectively). We also generated adaptive kernel home range estimates to describe areas of concentrated use within home ranges. Home ranges were located in the upper reaches of relatively narrow rocky canyons, and Spotted Owls showed limited use of adjacent forested plateaus. We conducted an analysis of habitat use and selection at two scales and found that owls selected (i.e., used disproportionate to availability) limestone cliffs present in their home ranges. Home ranges were approximately centered on nest and associated roost sites located on limestone cliffs within canyons. Our results...

Seasonal changes in home range and habitat use of elephants in Southern and north-central provinces of Sri Lanka

Elephants generally require a large area of habitat, and usually avoid human settlements and agricultural lands. However, less protected agricultural lands such as Chenas are vulnerable during droughts where food is scarce. If available, grasslands are highly preferred by elephants, and forest lands are less preferred compared to scrub lands. According to past research, it was estimated that Sri Lankan female elephants have home ranges of about 29.6 – 160.7 km 2 . The objective of this study was to access the seasonal changes of home ranges and the habitat selection of elephants in Southern and North- Central Provinces of Sri Lanka. This study also attempted to estimate the size of the home range using satellite telemetry data collected for two study sites with minimum convex polygon approach. Seasonal home ranges and home range core areas were derived using 95% and 50% Nonparametric Kernel Utilization Distribution. The land use selection was analysed using the Jacob’s Index and the expected proportional usage of habitats were calculated. The estimates were evaluated against the Bonferroni’s simultaneous confidence intervals. The results identified that average size of the home range of female herds during the dry season is about 73 km 2 . The seasonal fluctuation of elephant home range lies within 12.12- 73.07 km 2 . As identified by the present study, the maximum size of the core of the home range where elephants spend more time is 25.76 km 2 . It suggests that preferences and spatial requirements highlighted by this study should be taken into consideration when the interventions are made on manipulation of the home range of elephants for management requirements. The geo-informatics approach used in the study could also be used effectively in implementing such interventions. Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 26 (2): 248 – 260 (2015)

Translocation of a top-order carnivore: tracking the initial survival, spatial movement, home-range establishment and habitat use of Tasmanian devils on Maria Island

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a carnivorous marsupial threatened with extinction from the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease. The establishment of ex situ populations is a key management action for the species. We examined the initial survival, movement pattern, home range, and habit use of six devils from a total of 15 individuals translocated to Maria Island (south-east Tasmania). A total of 14 devils (93%) survived the initial monitoring phase within this study (122 days after translocation). The maximum and minimum distance recorded during one night was 21.73 km (range = 14.12–25.40 km) and 1.94 km (range = 0.07–7.71 km), respectively, while the average nightly distance travelled varied significantly (range = 7.24–13.07 km) between individuals. Short-term home-range size (90% kernel) varied from 936 to 3501 ha, with an average of 2180 (±836) ha for all devils. The habitat preference of devils on Maria Island shows a positive association with agricultural and urban habitats, and an avoidance of wet eucalypt forest. The home range and habitat associations may change as competitive pressures increase with population growth; however, this initial research indicates that translocation as a management action is a powerful tool for the establishment of ex situ populations, assisting in the continued conservation of this species.

Home range and habitat use of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the northern Gulf of Mexico

For imperiled marine turtles, use of satellite telemetry has proven to be an effective method in determining long distance movements. However, the large size of the tag, relatively high cost and low spatial resolution of this method make it more difficult to examine fine-scale movements of individuals, particularly at foraging grounds where animals are frequently submerged. Acoustic telemetry offers a more suitable method of assessing fine-scale movement patterns with a smaller tag that provides more precise locations. We used acoustic telemetry to define home ranges and describe habitat use of juvenile green turtles at a temperate foraging ground in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We outfitted eight juvenile green turtles with acoustic transmitters and tracked them from 14 to 138 days from September 2012 to February 2013 in St. Joseph Bay, Northwest Florida. Mean home range size was relatively small compared to other studies. For four turtles, we observed a moderate inverse relationship between water temperature and water depth which is consistent with the idea that turtles moved to deeper waters when temperatures cooled. On average distance to the channel from turtle locations were different by bottom cover type. These turtles appear to forage in shallow-water seagrass beds that border deep channels. When water temperatures dropped in winter, some of the tracked turtles moved to a deep-water channel on the western side of the study site. Turtles whose foraging sites were farther from the deep-water channel exhibited greater displacement than those with sites that were closer to the channel. Green turtles in St. Joseph Bay have relatively small home ranges and many contain multiple activity centers. The frequent use of channels by turtles suggests bathymetry plays a major role in habitat selection of juvenile green turtles, particularly as temperatures drop in winter. The quality and density of seagrass habitat in St. Joseph Bay and its proximity to deep channels appears to provide ideal conditions for juvenile greens. The results of this study help define characteristics of foraging habitat utilized by juvenile greens in the northern Gulf of Mexico that managers can use in creating protected areas such as aquatic preserves.

Edge effects and geometric constraints: a landscape-level empirical test.

Edge effects are pervasive in landscapes yet their causal mechanisms are still poorly understood. Traditionally, edge effects have been attributed to differences in habitat quality along the edge-interior gradient of habitat patches, under the assumption that no edge effects would occur if habitat quality was uniform. This assumption was questioned recently after the recognition that geometric constraints tend to reduce population abundances near the edges of habitat patches, the so-called geometric edge effect (GEE). Here, we present the first empirical, landscape-level evaluation of the importance of the GEE in shaping abundance patterns in fragmented landscapes. Using a data set on the distribution of small mammals across 18 forest fragments, we assessed whether the incorporation of the GEE into the analysis changes the interpretation of edge effects and the degree to which predictions based on the GEE match observed responses. Quantitative predictions were generated for each fragment using simulations that took into account home range, density and matrix use for each species. The incorporation of the GEE into the analysis changed substantially the interpretation of overall observed edge responses at the landscape scale. Observed abundances alone would lead to the conclusion that the small mammals as a group have no consistent preference for forest edges or interiors and that the black-eared opossum Didelphis aurita (a numerically dominant species in the community) has on average a preference for forest interiors. In contrast, incorporation of the GEE suggested that the small mammal community as a whole has a preference for forest edges, whereas D.aurita has no preference for forest edges or interiors. Unexplained variance in edge responses was reduced by the incorporation of GEE, but remained large, varying greatly on a fragment-by-fragment basis. This study demonstrates how to model and incorporate the GEE in analyses of edge effects and that this incorporation is necessary to properly interpret edge effects in landscapes. It also suggests that geometric constraints alone are unlikely to explain the variability in edge responses of a same species among different areas, highlighting the need to incorporate other ecological factors into explanatory models of edge effects.