Ecological and allometric determinants of home-range size for mountain lions (Puma concolor)

Abstract

We examined how several ecological factors influenced home-range size for 57 mountain lions inhabiting three regions of California. Our specific objectives were to investigate: (1) the relationship between home-range size and sex, age and reproductive status; (2) how broad-scale habitat differences and prey relative abundances influenced home-range size; (3) how seasonality, within these habitats, affected home-range size; (4) whether there was a significant relationship between body mass and home-range size. Results indicate that the effects of season on home-range size influenced the study areas differently. Both intrinsic factors, such as sex and body mass, and extrinsic factors, such as deer relative abundance and study site, influenced home-range size for mountain lions in this analysis. Linear relationships, however, between body mass and home-range size were not evident for any of our study locations. Curvilinear relationships, in contrast, existed between body mass and homerange size for all study areas during particular seasons, influenced strongly by animal sex. Conservation strategies designed to protect mountain lions and their habitats should reflect the above balance between intrinsic and extrinsic factors which influence home-range size.

Risk Factors for Exposure to Feline Pathogens in California Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor)

“…Over the past 50 yr, mountain lions have experienced increasing pressures from human development, hunting, habitat fragmentation, and changing land use throughout the western United States (Riley et al, 2006). Individual mountain lions require a relatively large home range (100-800 km 2 ; Grigione et al, 2002), although range overlap may occur among females or members of the opposite sex . The requirements of individual mountain lions for large home ranges make this species exceptionally vulnerable to habitat fragmentation (Beier, 1993;Wilcove et al, 1998;Crooks, 2000).…”

Factores que afectan el tamaño del ámbito hogareño de felinos (Mammalia, Carnívora), con énfasis en tres especies americanas

“…For instance, carnivores tend to have larger home ranges than omnivores of the same body mass, which in turn have larger home ranges than herbivores (Kelt and Van Vuren 2001). In this regard, food availability, habitat productivity and even seasonality have been important predictors of home range size in mammals (Harestad and Bunnel 1979;Tufto et al 1996;Ferguson et al 1999;Grigione et al 2002;Nilsen et al 2005). Much of the variation in home range size of carnivores is due to these same factors (Grigione et al 2002;Nilsen et al 2005).…”

“…In this regard, food availability, habitat productivity and even seasonality have been important predictors of home range size in mammals (Harestad and Bunnel 1979;Tufto et al 1996;Ferguson et al 1999;Grigione et al 2002;Nilsen et al 2005). Much of the variation in home range size of carnivores is due to these same factors (Grigione et al 2002;Nilsen et al 2005). However, Grigione et al (2002) revealed that sex might be a strong determinant of home range size in some carnivores.…”

“…Much of the variation in home range size of carnivores is due to these same factors (Grigione et al 2002;Nilsen et al 2005). However, Grigione et al (2002) revealed that sex might be a strong determinant of home range size in some carnivores. These researchers showed that both young and adult males of Puma concolor had larger home ranges than adult females.…”

Observations of Reproduction in Mountain Lions from Nebraska

“…Because of the age of the kitten (see above) and known restricted movements of female mountain lions with kittens (Grigione et al 2002), we suspect that this kitten represents the first documentation of reproduction in mountain lions in Nebraska since they recolonized the state in the early 1990s (Genoways and Freeman 1996). During the past 2 decades, the increasing presence of mountain lions in Nebraska has been attributed to dispersal of animals primarily from eastern Wyoming and the Black Hills of South Dakota (Benedict et al 2000, Hoffman andGenoways 2006).…”