Effects of hunting on cougar spatial organization

Maletzke, Benjamin T.; Wielgus, Robert B.; Koehler, Gary M.; Swanson, Mark E.; Cooley, Hilary S.; Alldredge, J. Richard

doi:10.1002/ece3.1089

Cited by 39 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Although a high density of jaguars was recorded in a nearby area in 2003–2004 (around 6.6 jaguars/100 km²) (Soisalo & Cavalcanti, ), we record in our short study period only six females, two males and one sex‐undetermined. These findings corroborate the idea that the overall spatial organization of males may be related to a defense of females (Ostfeld, ; Elbroch et al ., ), rather than to prey abundance and distribution (Maletzke et al ., ). But, since solitary carnivores are defined as territorial (Moorcroft et al ., ; Tallents et al ., ; Leuchtenberger et al ., ), the male, as well as the females, may be avoiding confrontation with other (untracked) males and, thus, end up using the same areas as the tracked females.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

et al. 2019

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Patterns of space use by an individual emerge as a result of their movements, and their decisions of when and where to move are related to the distribution of resources needed for their survival and reproduction. Solitary species are characterized by limited social interaction with conspecifics, moving independently or maintaining a spatiotemporal avoidance of them, except during courtship or parental care. The present study aimed to analyze the effect of various factors on space use by jaguars (Panthera onca) in the Pantanal of Brazil. We used step selection functions (SSF) to evaluate the effect of the tendency to return to the home‐range center (HRC), habitat, time of day and distance to conspecifics on jaguars’ space use. Five jaguars with partially overlapping home ranges were simultaneously monitored using global positioning system collars. The results indicate that the main factors guiding individual movement are the spatiotemporal movements of conspecifics, differences in HRC between sexes, and the variations in habitat type throughout the day. Tracked females presented strong HRC, limiting their movements to the vicinity of their HRC, while the single tracked male did not. The habitat varies throughout the day, according to daily activities; forest and water bodies were selected all day long, but especially at night, when the species is more active and hunting. Tracked male and females selected areas that maximized the likelihood of encountering a female, but females avoided areas with a likelihood of encountering the single tracked male. Our findings allowed us to propose the solitary species’ space use, highlighting the relevance of including conspecifics as factors in the selection or avoidance of determined areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

et al. 2019

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“…Although we did not estimate coyote density, our higher values for coyote occupancy and VF in hunted areas support this hypothesis and suggest that managers seeking fewer coyotes in an area should encourage stable packs which, in turn, might discourage dispersing animals from settling in an area (Maletzke et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Does hunting or hiking affect wildlife communities in protected areas?

Kays

Parsons

Baker

et al. 2016

Journal of Applied Ecology

117

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Summary Managed public wild areas have dual mandates to protect biodiversity and provide recreational opportunities for people. These goals could be at odds if recreation, ranging from hiking to legal hunting, disrupts wildlife enough to alter their space use or community structure. We evaluated the effect of managed hunting and recreation on 12 terrestrial wildlife species by employing a large citizen science camera trapping survey at 1947 sites stratified across different levels of human activities in 32 protected forests in the eastern USA. Habitat covariates, especially the amount of large continuous forest and local housing density, were more important than recreation for affecting the distribution of most species. The four most hunted species (white‐tailed deer, raccoons, eastern grey and fox squirrels) were commonly detected throughout the region, but relatively less so at hunted sites. Recreation was most important for affecting the distribution of coyotes, which used hunted areas more compared with unhunted control areas, and did not avoid areas used by hikers. Most species did not avoid human‐made trails, and many predators positively selected them. Bears and bobcats were more likely to avoid people in hunted areas than unhunted preserves, suggesting that they perceive the risk of humans differently depending on local hunting regulations. However, this effect was not found for the most heavily hunted species, suggesting that human hunters are not broadly creating ‘fear’ effects to the wildlife community as would be expected for apex predators. Synthesis and applications. Although we found that hiking and managed hunting have measureable effects on the distribution of some species, these were relatively minor in comparison with the importance of habitat covariates associated with land use and habitat fragmentation. These patterns of wildlife distribution suggest that the present practices for regulating recreation in the region are sustainable and in balance with the goal of protecting wildlife populations and may be facilitated by decades of animal habituation to humans. The citizen science monitoring approach we developed could offer a long‐term monitoring protocol for protected areas, which would help managers to detect where and when the balance between recreation and wildlife has tipped.

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“…While the male segment of this leopard population was the most impacted demographically by high human‐mediated mortality (Balme et al ., ), female spacing dynamically adjusted to population density following release from harvest. These patterns do not support the classical predictions in response to changes in population density observed in cougars where spacing patterns are stable in females, and density‐dependent in males (Logan & Sweanor, ; Maletzke et al ., ). Spacing dynamics in this leopard population appeared to be regulated by dispersal patterns, that is resident fitness through philopatry in females, and mate competition and emigration in males (Fattebert et al ., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Population recovery highlights spatial organization dynamics in adult leopards

et al. 2016

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Polygynous 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.

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Effects of hunting on cougar spatial organization

Cited by 39 publications

References 33 publications

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

Spatiotemporal dynamics of conspecific movement explain a solitary carnivore's space use

Does hunting or hiking affect wildlife communities in protected areas?

Population recovery highlights spatial organization dynamics in adult leopards

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