The search behavior of terrestrial mammals

Noonan, Michael; Martínez-García, Ricardo; Fleming, Christen H.; Figueiredo, Benjamin Garcia De; Ali, Abdullahi H.; Attias, Nina; Belant, Jerrold L.; Beyer, Dean E.; Berteaux, Dominique; Bidner, Laura R.; Boone, Randall B.; Boutin, Stan; Brito, Jorge; Brown, Michael B.; Carter, Andrew; Castellanos, Armando; Insuasti, Francisco X. Castellanos; Chitwood, M. Colter; Darlington, Siobhan; Torre, Jorge; Dekker, Jasja; DePerno, Chris; Droghini, Amanda; Farhadinia, Mohammad S.; Fennessy, Julian; Fichtel, Claudia; Ford, Adam T.; Gill, Ryan; Goheen, Jacob R.; Oliveira‐Santos, Luiz Gustavo Rodrigues; Hebblewhite, Mark; Hodges, Karen E.; Isbell, Lynne A.; Janßen, René; Kappeler, Peter M.; Kays, Roland; Kaczensky, Petra; Kauffman, Matthew J.; LaPoint, Scott D.; Lashley, Marcus A.; Leimgruber, Peter; Little, Andrew R.; Macdonald, David W.; Masiaine, Symon; McBride, Roy; Medici, Emília Patrícia; Mertes, Katherine; Moorman, Christopher E.; Morato, Ronaldo Gonçalves; Mourão, Guilherme; Mueller, Thomas; Neilson, Eric; Pastorini, Jennifer; Patterson, Bruce D.; Pereira, Javier A.; Petroelje, Tyler R.; Piecora, Katie; Power, John H.; Rachlow, Janet L.; Ranglack, Dustin H.; Roshier, David A.; Safford, Kirk; Scott, Dawn M.; Serrouya, Robert; Songer, Melissa; Songsasen, Nucharin; Stabach, Jared A.; Stacy‐Dawes, Jenna; Swingen, Morgan; Thompson, Jeffrey J.; Tucker, Marlee A.; Velilla, Marianela; Yarnell, Richard W.; Young, Julie K.; Fagan, William F.; Calabrese, Justin M.

doi:10.1101/2022.12.31.521874

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…Predator functional responses (i.e., foraging efficiency) are driven by predator searching and handling times, the former of which is influenced by the rate that predators encounter prey. Theoretical predictions and results from simple model systems indicate predators increase encounter rates when they make directed (or ballistic) movements compared with sinuous movements (Bartumeus et al, 2008;Noonan et al, 2023;Visser & Kiørboe, 2006). Thus, the addition of linear features to a landscape should theoretically increase predator encounter rates with prey by facilitating directed movements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Johnson‐Bice,

Gable,

Homkes

et al. 2023

Ecological Applications

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Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator‐prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well‐documented for large mammal communities in North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates like white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features that allow predators like wolves (Canis lupus) to travel and forage more efficiently throughout the landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities and residential development are other major sources of human activity in boreal ecosystems that may further alter wolf–ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate the influence that several major types of anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, linear features, and residential infrastructure) have on where and how wolves hunt ungulate neonates in a southern boreal forest ecosystem in Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate that each major anthropogenic disturbance significantly influences wolf predation of white‐tailed deer fawns (n=427 kill sites). In contrast to the ‘human shield hypothesis’ that posits prey use human‐modified areas as refuge, wolves killed fawns closer to residential buildings than expected based on spatial availability. Fawns were also killed within recently‐logged areas more than expected. Concealment cover was higher at kill sites than random sites, suggesting wolves use senses other than vision, likely olfaction, to detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection for hunting along linear features, and kill sites were also closer to linear features than expected. We hypothesize linear features facilitated wolf predation on fawns by allowing wolves to travel efficiently among high‐quality prey patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), and also increase encounter rates with olfactory cues that allow them to detect hidden fawns. These findings provide novel insight into the strategies predators use to hunt ungulate neonates and the many ways human activity alters wolf–ungulate neonate predator‐prey dynamics, which have remained elusive due to the challenges of locating sites where predators kill small prey. Our research has important management and conservation implications for wolf–ungulate systems subjected to anthropogenic pressures, particularly as the range of overlap between wolves and deer expands and appears to be altering food web dynamics in boreal ecosystems.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Johnson‐Bice,

Gable,

Homkes

et al. 2023

Ecological Applications

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“…Their search behaviour will underpin the rate and efficiency with which it encounters those resources (Bartumeus et al, 2005;Noonan et al, 2023), and the amount of overlap it has with neighbouring individuals will shape where and how often encounters occur (Martinez-Garcia et al, 2020;Noonan et al, 2021). Movement thus represents an important mechanistic link between individual behaviour and many higher-level ecological processes (Nathan et al, 2008;Schick et al, 2008;Dougherty et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The socio-spatial ecology of giant anteaters in the Brazilian Cerrado

Chhen,

Bertassoni,

Desbiez

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Movement is a key component of an animal’s life history. While there are numerous factors that influence movement, there is an inherent link between a species’ social ecology and its movement ecology. Despite this inherent relationship, the socio-spatial ecology of many species remains unknown, hampering ecological theory and conservation alike. Here, we use fine-scale GPS location data and continuous-time stochastic processes to study the socio-spatial ecology of 23 giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the Brazilian Cerrado. We found that individuals occupied stable home ranges with a mean area of 5.45 km2with males having significantly larger home ranges than females. The average amount of home-range overlap was low (0.20, n = 121 dyads), with no evidence that giant anteater home ranges were structured based on territorial, mate guarding, nor other social behaviour. We also identified a total of 2774 encounter events. Interestingly, both female-male and male-male dyads had significantly more encounters than female-female dyads, with two pronounced seasonal peaks in female-male encounters. Though encounters occurred frequently, associations between dyads were generally weak and there was little evidence of any correlated movement (mean amount of total correlation = 0.01). Collectively, these findings suggest giant anteaters are a solitary and largely asocial species that readily share space with conspecifics. Despite their present capacity to share space, the combined pressures of being condensed into smaller areas and decreased food availability due to increased pesticide use may see behavioural changes radiating throughout the population. Our study provides insight into heretofore unknown aspects of the socio-spatial ecology of this iconic, but understudied species, as well as crucial information for proactive area-based management. Ultimately, these findings contribute towards sustainable development while potentially maintaining the ecological integrity of giant anteaters and their habitats.

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Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID‐19 mediated pause in winter recreation

Gill,

Serrouya,

Calvert

et al. 2023

Animal Conservation

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The long‐term conservation of species at risk relies on numerous, and often concurrent, management actions to support their recovery. Generally, these actions are habitat‐based while others are focused on a species' position within its ecological community. Less studied are the impacts from human presence, despite evidence that human activity may reduce the area functionally available for occupancy or resource acquisition. In the winter of 2020/2021, COVID‐19‐related travel restrictions led to a reduction in helicopter‐assisted back‐country skiing (heli‐skiing). We examined how these reductions in heli‐skiing (termed the anthropause) affected the movement ecology and resource selection of southern mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) as compared to two prior years (2018/2019 and 2019/2020) and the following year when heli‐skiing resumed (2021/2022). We found that home‐range size was on average 80–120% larger during the anthropause than in years of normal heli‐ski operations. Movement rates also varied among periods, with movement during the anthropause (11.9 km2/day) being higher than in 2019/2020 (7.8 km2/day) and 2021/2022 (8.7 km2/day), though similar to 2018/2019 (12.2 km2/day). Resource selection among periods did not differ, with caribou consistently selecting old forests, high elevations and gentle terrain. These results suggest that back‐country recreation, specifically heli‐skiing, may be limiting access to resources for southern mountain caribou. This limitation arises through reduced home‐range size within suitable late‐winter habitat, relative to when heli‐skiing is reduced or not occurring – consistent with Encounter Theory. While the demographic effects of reduced home‐range size and movement were not examined here, reduced access to resources likely compounds other stressors known to affect population viability of caribou. The results of this study demonstrate the impact that recreation can have on wildlife and highlight the need to consider heli‐skiing and other forms of recreation when developing recovery plans.

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The search behavior of terrestrial mammals

Cited by 3 publications

References 53 publications

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate

The socio-spatial ecology of giant anteaters in the Brazilian Cerrado

Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID‐19 mediated pause in winter recreation

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