Regulation of space use in a solitary felid: population density or prey availability?

2006 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 685-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
John F. Benson ◽  
Michael J. Chamberlain ◽  
Bruce D. Leopold
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Space Use

How Many Sumerians per Hectare? — Probing the Anatomy of an Early City

1994 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Postgate
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Urban Area ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Urban Life ◽  
Use Of Space ◽  
Early Dynastic ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Comparative Ethnography ◽  
Southern Iraq

Excavations at the Early Dynastic site of Abu Salabikh in southern Iraq have aimed at recovering a rounded view of early urban life. One of the questions regularly and rightly asked about our results is ‘how large was the population?’, but we are still far from being able to provide an answer. This article is intended as a report from the field on where we stand at this one site, rather than a general exploration of the issues. Geomorphological and taphonomic issues relating to site size and use of space are exemplified from our own data. Progress beyond a blanket guess (based on comparative ethnography) for population density requires us to break the urban area down into individual houses and the houses into individual rooms. In this context the need for, and possible methods of, more accurate characterization of space use are described. Calculations based on high and low assumptions illustrate the wide range of estimates we still have to work with, but help to crystallize those areas where progress might be made.

scholarly journals Space Use by Woolly Wolf Canis lupus chanco in Gangotri National Park, Western Himalaya, India

2022 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ranjana Pal ◽  
Anshu Panwar ◽  
Surendra Prakash Goyal ◽  
Sambandam Sathyakumar
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Activity Pattern ◽  
National Park ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Western Himalaya ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressure ◽  
Data Set

The woolly wolf Canis lupus chanco is increasingly being accepted as a unique taxon that needs immediate protection and management; however, information on its ecology remains limited across its range. We used camera trapping data set of 4 years (2015–2019) to investigate seasonal activity patterns and space use and assessed woolly wolf food habits in the Gangotri National Park, western Himalaya, India. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the distribution of the wolf about prey, seasonal livestock grazing, human presence, habitat, and seasons. We observed a positive association with elevation and a negative response to an increase in ruggedness. The capture of wolves increased in winters, indicating a possible effect of snow on the ranging pattern. Spatial avoidance to anthropogenic pressure was not evident in our study; however, temporal avoidance was observed. The activity pattern of the wolf varied among seasons. Wolves were mostly active in the morning and late evening hours in summer and showed a diurnal activity pattern in winter. A less diverse diet was observed where the mean percentage frequency of occurrence and relative biomass was highest for bharal, followed by livestock. Himalayan marmot Marmota himalayana, birds, and rodents also form minor constituents to the diet. Synthesizing all three factors (space, diet, and activity), it may be stated that the wolf presence in the region is influenced by both wild prey availability and seasonality. Therefore, conservation of woolly wolves would require securing a vast landscape with optimal wild prey.

Site fidelity, migratory behaviour, and spatial organization of female isards (Rupicapra pyrenaica) in the Pyrenees National Park, France

2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-P. Crampe ◽  
R. Bon ◽  
J.-F. Gerard ◽  
E. Serrano ◽  
P. Caens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
National Park ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Spatial Clustering ◽  
Spatial Competition ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Horizontal Distance ◽  
Rupicapra Pyrenaica ◽  
Refuge Area ◽  
Migratory Pattern

We studied from 1993 to 2002 the spatial organization of visually marked females in an isard ( Rupicapra pyrenaica Bonaparte, 1845) population in the Pyrenees National Park. In winter, all individuals were concentrated within the same 3.7 km2 refuge area. In summer, two patterns of space use were recorded: sedentary females (n = 33; 52.2%) remained within the refuge area, whereas migrating females (n = 29; 46.8%) summered outside the refuge area, at a horizontal distance of 1.4–9.2 km and 300–800 m higher in elevation than their winter ranges. Females were faithful to their seasonal ranges. The population was organized in well-defined spatial units in summer. This organization was roughly preserved in winter, despite the spatial concentration of the individuals by this season. The resulting spatial clustering might reduce spatial competition and pathogenic contamination between groups, allowing the maintenance of high population density. The appearance of a migratory pattern occurred probably as a result of the protected status of the species, which allowed the population to increase. Some individuals dispersed as a result of the population density increase. The two recorded patterns of space use likely arose from spatial attachment and social affinity that developed in the first years of a female’s life, and could explain the coexistence of the two spatial patterns.

Genetic relatedness and space use in two populations of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena)

2019 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-372
Author(s):  
Katy J Califf ◽  
David S Green ◽  
Aaron P Wagner ◽  
Kim T Scribner ◽  
Karen Beatty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Behavioral Plasticity ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Resource Competition ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Southern Population ◽  
Resource Abundance ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Hyaena Hyaena

Abstract Surprising social complexity and variability have recently been documented in several mammalian species once believed to be strictly solitary, and variation in resource abundance may drive this variation in sociality. Wagner et al. (Wagner, A. P., S. Creel, L. G. Frank, and S. T. Kalinowski. 2007. Patterns of relatedness and parentage in an asocial, polyandrous striped hyena population. Molecular Ecology 16:4356–4369) reported unusual space-use patterns among female striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) in central Kenya, where pairwise relatedness among females increased with the geographic distance separating them. The authors suggested that this pattern, very rare among mammals, might reflect attempts by females to avoid competition with close relatives for scarce resources in areas of range overlap. Here, we compare those data to new data, documenting genetic relatedness and space use in a previously unstudied wild population of striped hyenas in southern Kenya. We tested hypotheses suggesting that resource abundance and population density affect patterns of genetic relatedness and geographic distance in this species. Our results suggest that higher per capita prey density results in relaxed competition for food, and greater social tolerance among female striped hyenas. A hypothesis suggesting lower population density in the southern population was not supported. Relaxed resource competition also may lead to female–female cooperation in the southern population; we documented for the first time behavioral evidence of den sharing by adult female striped hyenas. Our data indicate that different populations of this little-studied species exhibit behavioral plasticity; in this case, markedly different space-use patterns and patterns of spatial relatedness under different ecological conditions.

Exploration profiles drive activity patterns and temporal niche specialization in a wild rodent

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 772-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elouana Gharnit ◽  
Patrick Bergeron ◽  
Dany Garant ◽  
Denis Réale
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Foraging Patterns ◽  
Temporal Niche ◽  
Personality Differences ◽  
Niche Specialization

Abstract Individual niche specialization can have important consequences for competition, fitness, and, ultimately, population dynamics and ecological speciation. The temporal window and the level of daily activity are niche components that may vary with sex, breeding season, food supply, population density, and predator’s circadian rhythm. More recently, ecologists emphasized that traits such as dispersal and space use could depend on personality differences. Boldness and exploration have been shown to correlate with variation in foraging patterns, habitat use, and home range. Here, we assessed the link between exploration, measured from repeated novel environment tests, activity patterns, and temporal niche specialization in wild eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus). Intrinsic differences in exploration should drive daily activity patterns through differences in energy requirements, space use, or the speed to access resources. We used collar-mounted accelerometers to assess whether individual exploration profiles predicted: 1) daily overall dynamic body acceleration, reflecting overall activity levels; 2) mean activity duration and the rate of activity sequences, reflecting the structure of daily activity; and 3) patterns of dawn and dusk activity, reflecting temporal niche differentiation. Exploration and overall activity levels were weakly related. However, both dawn activity and rate of activity sequences increased with the speed of exploration. Overall, activity patterns varied according to temporal variability in food conditions. This study emphasizes the role of intrinsic behavioral differences in activity patterns in a wild animal population. Future studies will help us understand how yearly seasonality in reproduction, food abundance, and population density modulate personality-dependent foraging patterns and temporal niche specialization.

scholarly journals Vulnerability of sea turtles and fishes in response to two catastrophic Caribbean hurricanes, Irma and Maria

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Matley ◽  
S. Eanes ◽  
R. S. Nemeth ◽  
P. D. Jobsis
Keyword(s):  
Prey Availability ◽  
Sea Turtles ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Sea Turtle ◽  
Virgin Islands ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Eretmochelys Imbricata ◽  
Us Virgin Islands

Abstract Extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, floods, droughts) are capable of changing ecosystems and altering how animals obtain resources. Understanding the behavioural responses of animals being impacted by these natural events can help initiate and ameliorate conservation or management programs. This study investigated short- and long-term space-use of the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), as well as five species of fishes and stingrays, in response to two of the most destructive Caribbean hurricanes in known history – Irma and Maria, which were at their peak intensity when they passed the US Virgin Islands in September of 2017. Using passive acoustic telemetry in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, we show a variety of short-term behavioural patterns initiated across species to reduce exposure to the strong environmental conditions, such as moving to deeper habitats within the study area. Although short-term expansion of activity space was evident for several sea turtles, long-term impacts on space-use and body condition were limited. In contrast, southern stingrays (Hypanus americanus) left the study area shortly after the hurricanes, suggesting vulnerability stemming from altered habitat, prey availability, or temperature/oxygen profiles. This study shows the strong spatial resilience of several nearshore species despite exposure to two consecutive category 5 hurricanes.

scholarly journals Personality traits, sex and food abundance shape space use in an arboreal mammal

Oecologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas A. Wauters ◽  
Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto ◽  
Francesca Santicchia ◽  
Adriano Martinoli ◽  
Damiano G. Preatoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Personality Traits ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Shape Space ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Personality Types ◽  
Food Abundance ◽  
Spatio Temporal

AbstractAnimal space use is affected by spatio-temporal variation in food availability and/or population density and varies among individuals. This inter-individual variation in spacing behaviour can be further influenced by sex, body condition, social dominance, and by the animal’s personality. We used capture-mark-recapture and radio-tracking to examine the relationship between space use and personality in Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in three conifer forests in the Italian Alps. We further explored to what extent this was influenced by changes in food abundance and/or population density. Measures of an individual’s trappability and trap diversity had high repeatability and were used in a Principal Component Analysis to obtain a single personality score representing a boldness-exploration tendency. Males increased home-range size with low food abundance and low female density, independent of their personality. However, bolder males used larger core-areas that overlapped less with other males than shy ones, suggesting different resource (food, partners) utilization strategies among personality types. For females, space use-personality relationships varied with food abundance, and bolder females used larger home ranges than shy ones at low female density, but the trend was opposite at high female density. Females’ intrasexual core-area overlap was negatively related to body mass, with no effect of personality. We conclude that relationships between personality traits and space use in free-ranging squirrels varied with sex, and were further influenced by spatio-temporal fluctuations in food availability. Moreover, different personality types (bold-explorative vs. shy) seemed to adopt different space-use strategies to increase access to food and/or partners.

Impacts of density and large mammals on space use by the pouched mouse (Saccostomus mearnsi) in central Kenya

2001 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
FELICIA KEESING ◽  
TARA CRAWFORD
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Ecological Research ◽  
Large Mammals ◽  
Tropical Africa ◽  
Central Kenya

Rodents in tropical Africa have been recognized for decades both as important pests of agriculture and as reservoirs of numerous diseases that affect humans and livestock (Keesing 2000). Despite this recognition, however, little is known about the ecology and behaviour of these abundant and widespread animals. Because the impacts of small mammals as pests are expected to be some function of their population density, most ecological research on African rodents has focused on their population dynamics (Delany 1972, 1986; Leirs et al. 1994, 1996a).

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