Influence of forest disturbance on bobcat resource selection in the central Appalachians

McNitt, David C.; Alonso, Robert S.; Cherry, Michael J.; Fies, Michael L.; Kelly, Marcella J.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118066

Cited by 17 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Cameratrap studies focused on felids often use road-based surveys (Hines et al 2010, Blake andMosquera 2014). Bobcats, the only felid in our pool of species, were more frequently encountered at cameras placed along forest roads, where the species might benefit from the forest-edge habitat provided by these openings to ambush its prey (McNitt et al 2020); secondary trails, some of which were related to logging, might also be correlated with dense, early successional habitat that bobcats may prefer (Kapfer 2012). By contrast, black bears, martens and fishers were 15, 60 and > 3600 times, respectively, more likely to be encountered at lured, randomly-selected sites than at unlured locations on forest roads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating species-specific responses to camera-trap survey designs

Iannarilli¹,

Erb

Arnold³

et al. 2021

Wildlife Biology

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating species-specific responses to camera-trap survey designs

Iannarilli¹,

Erb

Arnold³

et al. 2021

Wildlife Biology

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“…Differences in hunting styles and overall habitat selection between coyotes and bobcats suggest that the habitat most suitable for each species is likely to be different (Kleiman & Eisenberg 1973). For example, studies have shown that bobcats select for forested areas with dense understorey to ambush prey, whereas coyotes do not rely on any particular vegetation type due to their opportunistic and variable hunting techniques (Bekoff 1977, McNitt et al 2020).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

When carnivores collide: a review of studies exploring the competitive interactions between bobcats Lynx rufus and coyotes Canis latrans

2021

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1. Bobcats Lynx rufus and coyotes Canis latrans are two widespread mesopredators with a complex history of sympatry. The competitive interactions between these species are of interest to biologists due to the furbearer status of bobcats, the recent range expansion of coyotes, and the recolonisation of several parts of North America by bobcats following their extirpation. Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between bobcats and coyotes span decades, there is a lack of understanding regarding what factors influence exploitative or interference competition, and what methodologies are conducive to identifying these types of competition. 2. We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers (n = 41) exploring bobcat-coyote competitive interactions in North America. From them, we collected the following: study site characteristics, number and types of research methods, number and types of metrics explored, history of sympatry of the two species at the study location, presence of apex predators, and documentation of interference and/or exploitative competition. 3. Using generalised linear models, we determined that interference competition between bobcats and coyotes was observed primarily in open habitat. However, habitat heterogeneity, the number of research methods and metrics used, presence of an apex predator, and history of sympatry could not be used to predict the occurrence of interference competition. Studies that included diet overlap were less likely to observe interference competition than studies that used other metrics to infer competition. 4. Competitive interactions between coyotes and bobcats are largely a function of prey availability. Our findings suggest that habitat type may be a surrogate for prey availability, which many researchers mention, but do not explicitly measure. Future studies investigating bobcat-coyote interactions should include the quantification of prey densities to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the system at large, and should avoid using solely diet or habitat overlap as metrics to assess competition.

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“…Forest openings provided the highest bobcat densities and smallest home ranges in Alabama [ 65 ]. Similarly, bobcats in the Appalachian mountains selected canopy openings and avoided the forest interior within home ranges [ 66 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat selection in a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population

et al. 2022

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Understanding habitat selection of top predators is critical to predict their impacts on ecological communities and interactions with humans, particularly in recovering populations. We analyzed habitat selection in a recovering population of bobcats (Lynx rufus) in south-central Indiana using a Random Forest model. We predicted that bobcats would select forest habitat and forest edges but avoid agriculture to maximize encounters with prey species. We also predicted that bobcats would avoid developed areas and roads to minimize potential antagonistic interactions with humans. Results partially supported our predictions and were consistent with bobcats in the early stages of population expansion. Bobcats exhibited elevated use near forest edges, thresholds of avoidance near agriculture, and thresholds of selection for low and intermediate habitat heterogeneity. Bobcats exhibited peak probability of use 1–3 km from major roads, >800 m from minor roads, and <1km from developed areas, suggesting tradeoffs in reward for high-quality hunting areas and mortality risk. Our Random Forest model highlighted complex non-linear patterns and revealed that most shifts in habitat use occurred within 1 km of the edge of each habitat type. These results largely supported previous studies in the Midwest and across North America but also produced refinements of bobcat habitat use in our system, particularly at habitat boundaries. Refined models of habitat selection by carnivores enable improved prediction of the most suitable habitat for recovering populations and provides useful information for conservation.

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Influence of forest disturbance on bobcat resource selection in the central Appalachians

Cited by 17 publications

References 47 publications

Evaluating species-specific responses to camera-trap survey designs

Evaluating species-specific responses to camera-trap survey designs

When carnivores collide: a review of studies exploring the competitive interactions between bobcats Lynx rufus and coyotes Canis latrans

Habitat selection in a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population

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