scholarly journals Individual Variation in Predatory Behavior, Scavenging and Seasonal Prey Availability as Potential Drivers of Coexistence between Wolves and Bears

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 356
Author(s):  
Andrés Ordiz ◽  
Cyril Milleret ◽  
Antonio Uzal ◽  
Barbara Zimmermann ◽  
Petter Wabakken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prey Availability ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Predatory Behavior ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Main Prey ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Age Class

Several large carnivore populations are recovering former ranges, and it is important to understand interspecific interactions between overlapping species. In Scandinavia, recent research has reported that brown bear presence influences gray wolf habitat selection and kill rates. Here, we characterized the temporal use of a common prey resource by sympatric wolves and bears and described individual and seasonal variation in their direct and/or indirect interactions. Most bear–wolf interactions were indirect, via bear scavenging of wolf kills. Bears used >50% of wolf kills, whereas we did not record any wolf visit at bear kills. Adult and subadult bears visited wolf kills, but female bears with cubs of the year, the most vulnerable age class to conspecifics and other predators, did not. Wolf and bear kill rates peaked in early summer, when both targeted neonate moose calves, which coincided with a reduction in bear scavenging rate. Some bears were highly predatory and some did not kill any calf. Individual and age-class variation (in bear predation and scavenging patterns) and seasonality (in bear scavenging patterns and main prey availability of both wolves and bears) could mediate coexistence of these apex predators. Similar processes likely occur in other ecosystems with varying carnivore assemblages.

scholarly journals Diffusion modeling reveals effects of multiple release sites and human activity on a recolonizing apex predator

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Eisaguirre ◽  
Perry J. Williams ◽  
Xinyi Lu ◽  
Michelle L. Kissling ◽  
William S. Beatty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Residence Time ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Sea Otters ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Multiple Population

Abstract Background Reintroducing predators is a promising conservation tool to help remedy human-caused ecosystem changes. However, the growth and spread of a reintroduced population is a spatiotemporal process that is driven by a suite of factors, such as habitat change, human activity, and prey availability. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are apex predators of nearshore marine ecosystems that had declined nearly to extinction across much of their range by the early 20th century. In Southeast Alaska, which is comprised of a diverse matrix of nearshore habitat and managed areas, reintroduction of 413 individuals in the late 1960s initiated the growth and spread of a population that now exceeds 25,000. Methods Periodic aerial surveys in the region provide a time series of spatially-explicit data to investigate factors influencing this successful and ongoing recovery. We integrated an ecological diffusion model that accounted for spatially-variable motility and density-dependent population growth, as well as multiple population epicenters, into a Bayesian hierarchical framework to help understand the factors influencing the success of this recovery. Results Our results indicated that sea otters exhibited higher residence time as well as greater equilibrium abundance in Glacier Bay, a protected area, and in areas where there is limited or no commercial fishing. Asymptotic spread rates suggested sea otters colonized Southeast Alaska at rates of 1–8 km/yr with lower rates occurring in areas correlated with higher residence time, which primarily included areas near shore and closed to commercial fishing. Further, we found that the intrinsic growth rate of sea otters may be higher than previous estimates suggested. Conclusions This study shows how predator recolonization can occur from multiple population epicenters. Additionally, our results suggest spatial heterogeneity in the physical environment as well as human activity and management can influence recolonization processes, both in terms of movement (or motility) and density dependence.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Zoo Visitors’ Conservation Beliefs and Knowledge of Large Carnivores in 2009 and a Dozen Years Later

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 890
Author(s):  
Vesna Oražem ◽  
Aleksandra Majić Skrbinšek ◽  
Andrej Šorgo ◽  
Iztok Tomažič
Keyword(s):  
Brown Bear ◽  
Eurasian Lynx ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Gender Influence ◽  
Carnivore Species ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Gender Factor ◽  
Learning Institutions

Teaching in a formal learning environment mainly focuses on gaining knowledge, and scarcely on the development of pro-environmental attitudes. Knowledge can also be gained in informal learning institutions, such as zoos, and their potential use in general public education should not be neglected. This paper explores factors influencing the conservation beliefs of zoo visitors about brown bears, grey wolves, and Eurasian lynx. The study undertaken in Zoo Ljubljana (Slovenia) consisted of surveys performed in 2009 (n = 613) and in 2021 (n = 257). The levels of knowledge and education influenced both supporting and opposing beliefs about the three large carnivore species. The gender factor was less uniform: both supporting and opposing beliefs about lynx were demonstrated, but only opposing beliefs about brown bear and wolf. The study indicates that knowledge has the most significant influence on conservation beliefs, thus highlighting the importance of educational and communication activities in management and conservation actions regarding large carnivore species. The varied gender influence suggests that species-specific educational activities should be encouraged.

scholarly journals DISEASES AND MORTALITY IN FREE-RANGING BROWN BEAR (URSUS ARCTOS), GRAY WOLF (CANIS LUPUS), AND WOLVERINE (GULO GULO) IN SWEDEN

2005 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torsten Mörner ◽  
Hanna Eriksson ◽  
Caroline Bröjer ◽  
Kristina Nilsson ◽  
Henrik Uhlhorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Ursus Arctos ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Gulo Gulo ◽  
Free Ranging

Coyote foraging ecology and vigilance in response to gray wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone National Park

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 985-993 ◽  
Author(s):  
T Adam Switalski
Keyword(s):  
Canis Lupus ◽  
Yellowstone National Park ◽  
National Park ◽  
Foraging Ecology ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Continuous Source

Coyotes (Canis latrans) in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) have lived in the absence of wolves (Canis lupus) for over 60 years. I examined whether wolf reintroduction in 1995 and 1996 in YNP influenced coyote vigilance and foraging ecology. From December 1997 to July 2000, my co-workers and I collected 1708 h of coyote activity budgets. Once wolves became established in the Park, they once again provided a continuous source of carrion in the Lamar Valley and we found that coyotes began feeding on carcasses throughout the year. Although we documented that wolves killed coyotes, it also became clear that surviving coyotes quickly adjusted their behaviors when wolves were present. When coyotes were near wolves or in areas of high wolf use, they fed on carcasses much more; however, they increased the amount of time spent in vigilance activities and decreased rest. There appears to be a trade-off in which wolf kills provide a quick source of food that is energetically advantageous to coyotes; however, attendant costs included increased vigilance, decreased rest, and a higher risk of being killed. Changes in the behavior of coyotes in response to the reintroduction of this large carnivore may ultimately have wide-ranging cascading effects throughout the ecosystem.

scholarly journals Can concentrations of steroid hormones in brown bear hair reveal age class?

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Cattet ◽  
Gordon B Stenhouse ◽  
John Boulanger ◽  
David M Janz ◽  
Luciene Kapronczai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Steroid Hormones ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Age Class

Validation of the formation and appearance of annual marks in the otoliths of yellowtail (Trachurus novaezelandiae) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in New South Wales

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 389 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Stewart ◽  
Douglas J. Ferrell ◽  
Neil L. Andrew
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Age Estimation ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Age Class ◽  
South Wales ◽  
In Captivity

Yellowtail (Trachurus novaezelandiae) and blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) were captured off the coast of New South Wales, marked with oxytetracycline, and kept in captivity for 1 year. The fish were periodically sampled to validate the use of their otoliths for age estimation. Opaque marks were formed during the year in the otoliths of yellowtail apparently aged 0 to 7 years and in apparently 1-year-old blue mackerel. These marks were formed in winter for both species, but did not become visible until early summer in some fish. There was an association between the growth rate of the otolith and the detection of opaque marks. Within an age class, fish with the fastest growing otoliths tended to have their most recently formed opaque marks visible earliest. These relationships between growth rate and the probability of correctly assigning an age class have important implications for ageing fish. Extra keyword: ageing

scholarly journals Role of badger setts in life of other carnivores

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia V. Sidorchuk ◽  
Michail V. Maslov ◽  
Vyacheslav V. Rozhnov
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Russian Far East ◽  
Far East ◽  
Brown Bear ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Lynx Lynx ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Asiatic Black Bear

A study of interspecific interactions of European (Meles meles) and Asian (M. leucurus) badgers with other carnivores at badger setts was carried out in Darwin Reserve (European part  of Russia) and in Ussuriisk Reserve (Russian Far East) in 2006-2011. We used camera traps for the registration of visits of carnivore mammals to the badger setts. Overall, 11 species were recorded. In both reserves, badger setts attract carnivore species during the whole year. Some predators visit badger setts regularly. The visitors can be divided into two groups: species searching shelter, or searching prey. The first group includes raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and red fox Vulpes vulpes. Raccoon dog was the most frequent visitor in both study areas (34 visits in Darwin reserve and 73 in Ussuriisk reserve). The second group includes lynx Lynx lynx and wolf Canis lupus in Darwin reserve and Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, brown bear U. arctos, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula aterrima and lynx Lynx lynx in Ussuriisk reserve. Smaller predators are also included into the second group because they can find prey at badger setts too: leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura, sable Martes zibellina and Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica in Ussuriisk reserve and European pine marten Martes martes in Darwin reserve. No cases of  aggressive interactions between the badgers and the visitors were recorded. But we noted two cases of change of sett owners and one case when raccoon dog removed dead badger cubs from the sett.

scholarly journals Artificial selection for predatory behavior results in dietary niche differentiation in an omnivorous mammal

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anni M Hämäläinen ◽  
Mikko Kiljunen ◽  
Esa Koskela ◽  
Pawel Koteja ◽  
Tapio Mappes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Niche Differentiation ◽  
Predatory Behavior ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Diet Choice ◽  
Behavioral Selection ◽  
Plant Matter ◽  
Dietary Niche ◽  
The Individual

The diet of an individual is a result of the availability of dietary items and the individual's foraging skills and preferences. Behavioral differences may thus influence diet variation, but the evolvability of diet choice through behavioral evolution has not been studied. We used experimental evolution combined with a field enclosure experiment to test whether behavioral selection leads to dietary divergence. We analysed the individual dietary niche via stable isotope ratios of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) in the hair of an omnivorous mammal, bank vole, from 4 lines selected for predatory behavior and 4 unselected control lines. Predatory voles had higher hair δ15N values than control voles, supporting our hypothesis that predatory voles would consume a higher trophic level diet (more animal vs. plant foods). This difference was significant in the early but not the late summer season. The δ13C values also indicated a seasonal change in the consumed plant matter and a difference in food sources among selection lines in the early summer. These results imply that environmental factors interact with evolved behavioral tendencies to determine dietary niche heterogeneity. Behavioral selection thus has potential to contribute to the evolution of diet choice and ultimately the species' ecological niche breadth.

scholarly journals Welcoming Wolves? Governing the Return of Large Carnivores in Traditional Pastoral Landscapes

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanna L. Pettersson ◽  
Claire H. Quinn ◽  
George Holmes ◽  
Steven M. Sait ◽  
José Vicente López-Bao
Keyword(s):  
Close Contact ◽  
Situational Analysis ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Large Carnivore ◽  
Social Legitimacy ◽  
Social Ecological Systems ◽  
Local Livelihoods ◽  
The Social ◽  
Pastoral Landscapes ◽  
The Face

Wolf populations are recovering across Europe and readily recolonize most areas where humans allow their presence. Reintegrating wolves in human-dominated landscapes is a major challenge, particularly in places where memories and experience of coexistence have been lost. Despite the observed expansion trends, little has been done to prepare communities for the return of these apex predators, or to understand what fosters and perpetuates coexistence. In this study, we present a theoretical framework for resilient coexistence based on four conditions: Effective institutions, large carnivore persistence, social legitimacy, and low levels of risk and vulnerability, nested within the social-ecological systems (SES) concept. To empirically show how the conditions can be manifested and interconnected, and how this knowledge could be used to improve local coexistence capacities, the framework is applied in a case study of human–wolf relations in Spain. We examined three traditionally pastoral landscapes at different states of cohabitation with wolves: uninterrupted presence, recent recolonization, and imminent return. We found that both the perceptions of wolves and the capacity to coexist with them diverged across these states, and that this was largely determined by a diversity of vulnerabilities that have not been recognized or addressed within current management regimes, such as economic precarity and weak legitimacy for governing institutions. Our results illustrate the importance of working in close contact with communities to understand local needs and enhance adaptive capacities in the face of rural transitions, beyond those directly related to wolves. The framework complements emerging tools for coexistence developed by researchers and practitioners, which offer guidance on the process of situational analysis, planning, and resource allocation needed to balance large carnivore conservation with local livelihoods.

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