Describing habitat suitability of bobcats (Lynx rufus) using several sources of information obtained at multiple spatial scales

Reed, Gregory C.; Litvaitis, John A.; Ellingwood, Mark R.; Tate, Patrick; Broman, Derick J.A.; Sirén, Alexej P. K.; Carroll, Rory P.

doi:10.1016/j.mambio.2016.10.002

Cited by 29 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Bobcats are poorly adapted to foraging in deep snow [28,47]. In areas with severe winters and sustained snow, bobcat home ranges can increase drastically during winter months [48,49]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space use and resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia

McNitt

Alonso

Cherry

et al. 2019

Preprint

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2 15 ABSTRACT 16 Bobcats are an apex predator and a species of socio-cultural importance in the central 17 Appalachian Mountains. Despite their importance, knowledge of bobcat spatial ecology in the 18 region is sparse. We examined space use and resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian 19 Mountains of western Virginia during 3 biological seasons: breeding (January-March), kitten-20 rearing (April-September), and dispersal (October-December). We observed sex effects on all 21 space use metrics, with male seasonal areas of use (SAU) approximately 3 times larger than 22 female SAUs and male movement rates 1.5 times higher than females during all seasons. We 23 found no seasonal effect on SAU size for either sex. Female movement rates increased during the 24 kitten-rearing season, and male movement rates increased during the dispersal season. We 25 examined seasonal bobcat resource selection at 2 hierarchical scales, selection of home ranges 26 within the landscape (2 nd order) and selection of locations within home ranges (3 rd order).27 Female bobcats exhibited 2 nd order selection for higher elevations and deciduous forest and 28 avoidance of fields. Males exhibited 2 nd order selection for higher elevations and fields. Male 2 nd 29 order selection appears to be driven largely by the spatial distribution of females, which is 30 mediated through the valley and ridge topography of the study area. Sample size precluded 3 rd 31 order analysis for females, however males exhibited 3 rd order selection for higher elevations, 32 fields, and deciduous forest. Resource selection patterns varied seasonally for both sexes, 33 possibly driven by seasonal shifts in prey availability. Our findings highlight the importance of 34 forested ridges to bobcats in the region. Our findings also illustrate the differences in space use 35 between sexes, which future research efforts should consider. Further research should investigate 36 seasonal shifts in bobcat prey selection, which may further explain the seasonal resource 37 selection shifts we observed, and highlight potential implications for prey species. 3 38 41 An understanding of animal spatial ecology is critical for managing and conserving 42 wildlife populations [1,2]. Knowledge regarding space use and habitat requirements of wildlife 43 provides insight into fundamental ecological processes such as population dynamics, behavioral 44 interactions, and foraging behavior [3-5]. This information can be vital for informing wildlife 45 management decisions and understanding a species role within food webs may vary across space. 46 Bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations are increasing throughout much of their range, both 47 through recolonizing areas of previous extirpation and increasing in abundance where they have 48 persisted [6]. These trends are evident in the central Appalachian Mountains [6]. Although 49 bobcats largely persisted, wolves (Canis spp.) and cougars (Puma concolor) remain extirpated 50 from ecosystems in the Appalachian Mountains, leaving bobcats as an apex p...

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“…Bobcats are poorly adapted to foraging in deep snow [28,47]. In areas with severe winters and sustained snow, bobcat home ranges can increase drastically during winter months [48,49]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Space use and resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia

McNitt

Alonso

Cherry

et al. 2019

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Second, we used a habitat suitability map for bobcats based on resource selection probability functions (RSPF) generated from observations of bobcats collected statewide and telemetry locations of marked bobcats in southwestern and southeastern New Hampshire (Reed et al ., ). Habitat suitability was investigated using information on second and third‐order selection described in Reed et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

Modeling landscape connectivity for bobcats using expert‐opinion and empirically derived models: how well do they work?

Reed

Litvaitis

Callahan

et al. 2016

Animal Conservation

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Efforts to retain ecological connectivity have become a conservation priority to permit animal movements within home ranges, allow dispersal between populations and provide opportunities for animals to respond to climate change. We used expert-opinion and empirically derived models to investigate landscape connectivity at two spatial scales among bobcats Lynx rufus in New Hampshire, USA. Paths of marked bobcats were compared to random movements in the context of program CIRCUITSCAPE. At the local scale (within home ranges), the empirical model (based on observations and telemetry locations) performed better than the expert-opinion model. At the regional scale (state of New Hampshire), both models identified urban development as a potential barrier; however, the models differed in predicting how specific natural features (e.g. mountains and large water bodies) and some roads affected bobcat movements. When compared with bobcat population structure based on genetic information, the expert-opinion model overestimated the influence of roads. Alternatively, the empirical model overestimated the influence of snow.Our findings indicate that the empirically based resistance model was better at describing landscape-scale effects, whereas the expert-opinion model provided a good understanding of gene flow at a regional scale. As such, both models may be considered complementary. Bobcats were sensitive to disruptions imposed by habitat fragmentation and thus may be a suitable focal species for evaluating the consequences of land-use changes on the regional suite of mesocarnivores.

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“…We divided the study area into 64 2.5‐ × 2.5‐km cells and selected a site in each cell considered suitable habitat. This study was originally designed to collect data on bobcats Lynx rufus; thus, habitat deemed suitable for bobcats was selected, though the design was also considered appropriate for collecting data on martens and fishers, as all three species occupy similar habitats (forested landscapes with a preference for conifer‐dominated stands [Buskirk & Powell, ; Fisher et al, ; Lovallo & Anderson, ; Reed et al, ]). At each site, we constructed a circular barrier of woody vegetation 0.7–1.0 m high with four entrances containing wire snares to obtain hair samples from any animals entering them and then baited the stations using vehicle‐ or hunter‐killed carcasses of white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus or beaver Castor canadensis , wired to a central tree (Stricker et al, ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We divided the study area into 64 2.5-× 2.5-km cells and selected a site in each cell considered suitable habitat. This study was originally designed to collect data on bobcats Lynx rufus; thus, habitat deemed suitable for bobcats was selected, though the design was also considered appropriate for collecting data on martens and fishers, as all three species occupy similar habitats (forested landscapes with a preference for conifer-dominated stands [Buskirk & Powell, 1994;Fisher et al, 2013;Lovallo & Anderson, 1996;Reed et al, 2017]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

American marten and fisher do not segregate in space and time during winter in a mixed‐forest system

Croose

Bled

Fowler

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Understanding the mechanisms of coexistence between ecologically similar species is an important issue in ecology. Carnivore coexistence may be facilitated by spatial segregation, temporal avoidance, and differential habitat selection. American martens Martes americana and fishers Pekania pennanti are medium‐sized mustelids that occur sympatrically across portions of North America, yet mechanisms of coexistence between the two species are not fully understood. We assessed spatial and temporal partitioning in martens and fishers in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, USA, using camera trap data collected during winter 2013–2015. To investigate spatial segregation, we used a dynamic occupancy model to estimate species’ occupancy probabilities and probabilities of persistence and colonization as a function of covariates and yearly occupancy probability for the other species. Temporal segregation was assessed by estimating diel activity overlap between species. We found weak evidence of spatial or temporal niche partitioning of martens and fishers. There was high overlap in forest cover selection, and both marten and fisher occupancy were positively correlated with deciduous forests (excluding aspen [ Populus tremuloides ]). There was strong temporal overlap ( ; CI = 0.79–0.82) with both species exhibiting largely crepuscular activity patterns. Co‐occurrence of martens and fishers appears to be facilitated by mechanisms not investigated in this study, such as partitioning of snow features or diet. Our results add additional insights into resource partitioning of mesocarnivores, but further research is required to enhance our understanding of mechanisms that facilitate marten and fisher coexistence.

show abstract

Describing habitat suitability of bobcats (Lynx rufus) using several sources of information obtained at multiple spatial scales

Cited by 29 publications

References 56 publications

Space use and resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia

Space use and resource selection of bobcats in the Appalachian Mountains of western Virginia

Modeling landscape connectivity for bobcats using expert‐opinion and empirically derived models: how well do they work?

American marten and fisher do not segregate in space and time during winter in a mixed‐forest system

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