Differences in brushtail possum home-range characteristics among sites of varying habitat and population density

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (7) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Belinda I. Whyte ◽  
James G. Ross ◽  
Helen M. Blackie
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Overlap

Context In New Zealand, the Australian brushtail possum is a pest, because this species preys on native birds and transmits bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to livestock. Previous studies on possums have shown that home-range characteristics differ depending on habitat and/or population density. However, direct comparisons between studies are limited because of the use of differing monitoring techniques, some of which are now out-dated and imprecise. Understanding how possum ranging behaviour varies in response to habitat and density may allow the development of more effective and site-specific control operations. For example, variations in home-range characteristics (e.g. home-range overlap with conspecifics) among populations may mean that bTB transmission risk is not uniform among populations, resulting in the need for some sites to be prioritised for control over others. Aims To investigate whether home-range characteristics varied among three sites of differing habitat and population density, and investigate whether possum home-range characteristics varied between males and females. Methods Global Positioning System (GPS)- and VHF-tracking were used to compare possum home-range characteristics among three sites. Two sites were within pine (Pinus radiata) habitat and had low-density possum populations, and one site was within oak (Quercus robur) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) habitat, and had a higher-density possum population. Key results Possum home-range characteristics did not vary between the two low-density sites. However, these populations exhibited considerably larger home-range sizes and home-range overlap between pairs of collared possums than did the high-density population. In addition, the low-density populations used more dens and changed these more often. Across all sites, there were generally no intersexual differences in home-range characteristics. Key conclusions The present research highlights that the home-range characteristics of possums can vary among populations, depending on habitat and/or population density. Implications Further research into the drivers of possum home-range characteristics would be beneficial to allow identification of how spatial behaviour is likely to vary depending on habitat and density. This would allow the design of more targeted and therefore effective control strategies that account for these variations in behaviour, such as using a larger spatial scale of control devices where possums are known to range further.

Patch use by the greater glider (Petauroides volans) in a fragmented forest ecosystem. I. Home range size and movements

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 559 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Pope ◽  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
R. B. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Patch Size ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Range Overlap

This paper examines home-range attributes of 40 greater gliders (Petauroides volans) in five patches of remnant eucalypt forest surrounded by stands of radiata pine (Pinus radiata) near Tumut in south-eastern Australia. Fixed-kernel smoothing methods were used to estimate home-range size for P. volans. For males, home-range size varied from 1.38–4.10 ha (mean = 2.6 ± 0.8 ha, n = 12) and was significantly larger (P < 0.05) than for females (1.26–2.97 ha, mean = 2.0 ± 0.6 ha, n = 11). Home-range size increased significantly with increasing patch size and reduced patch population density. Thus, small patches had more animals per unit area with smaller home ranges and greater home-range overlap. Our findings illustrate flexibility in the use of space by P. volans. Such results have not previously been reported for P. volans or any other species of arboreal marsupial. Considerable home-range overlap (at 95th percentile isopleth level) was observed between male and female P. volans. Pairs of females also exhibited home-range overlap. Males tended to maintain home ranges exclusive of other males, although some shared common areas. Contrary to the large variations observed in home-range area, core areas (50th isopleth) remained relatively constant, regardless of patch size, population density or sex. This may indicate that core areas are an essential requirement for individuals and resources they contain cannot be shared with congeners.

Pronghorn male spatial organization: population differences in degree of nonterritoriality

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 455-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine R. Maher
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social Organization ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Behavior Patterns ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Antilocapra Americana ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Overlap

Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) vary in spatial organization. A literature review revealed that males occupied undefended home ranges in 12 populations and maintained territories in 11 populations. Low-productivity habitats and high or low population density could preclude territoriality. Using activity budgets, interaction rates, and home-range overlap, male social organization was described for a translocated pronghorn population in central California and compared with that of another population studied at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada, to determine if males were organized differently. Interaction rates were highest during spring, decreased in summer, then increased in late summer coincident with the rut. Home-range overlap ranged from 0 to 85% and averaged 30.6%; small amounts of overlap resulted from geographical features rather than from behavioral interactions. Males joined groups of females and fawns during summer; few behavior patterns associated with territoriality were observed. Males occupied undefended home ranges and this spacing system may have been influenced by food abundance and distribution, population density, or a combination of these factors. Comparisons between Sheldon and Carrizo males indicated that, while neither population was territorial, the behavior of Sheldon males was closer to the territoriality end of a continuum between territoriality and undefended home range than was that of Carrizo males. Behavior patterns were very similar between the populations but some occurred more frequently among Sheldon males. Both populations lived in semi-arid habitats, where low primary productivity would make the costs of maintaining territories greater than the benefits. Differences between the populations could be based on differences in population density. The Carrizo population was small and widely dispersed and male–male competition appeared low; therefore, the opportunity to interact with other males was lower than in areas of higher population density. Comparisons with other populations were difficult to make because of a lack of quantified data on behavioral and ecological variables. Such data are required if more is to be learned about the effects of ecology and demography on social organization.

scholarly journals Sex-Segregated Range Use by Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs (Varecia variegata) in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-33
Author(s):  
Andrea L. Baden ◽  
Jelisa Oliveras ◽  
Brian D. Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Day Length ◽  
Ranomafana National Park ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Use ◽  
Black And White ◽  
Varecia Variegata ◽  
Range Overlap

Ranging behavior is one important strategy by which nonhuman primates obtain access to resources critical to their biological maintenance and reproductive success. As most primates live in permanent social groups, their members must balance the benefits of group living with the costs of intragroup competition for resources. However, some taxa live in more spatiotemporally flexible social groups, whose members modify patterns of association and range use as a method to mitigate these costs. Here, we describe the range use of one such taxon, the black-and-white ruffed lemur (<i>Varecia variegata</i>), at an undisturbed primary rain forest site in Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar, and characterize sex differences in annual home range area, overlap, and daily distances traveled. Moreover, we characterize seasonal variability in range use and ask whether ranging behaviors can be explained by either climatic or reproductive seasonality. We found that females used significantly larger home ranges than males, though sexes shared equal and moderate levels of home range overlap. Overall, range use did not vary across seasons, although within sexes, male range use varied significantly with climate. Moreover, daily path length was best predicted by day length, female reproductive state, and sex, but was unrelated to climate variables. While the patterns of range use and spatial association presented here share some similarities with “bisexually bonded” community models described for chimpanzees, we argue that ruffed lemurs best conform to a “nuclear neighborhood” community model wherein nuclear (core) groups share the highest levels of home range overlap, and where these groups cluster spatially into adjacent “neighborhoods” within the larger, communally defended territory.

scholarly journals Spatiotemporal use predicts social partitioning of bottlenose dolphins with strong home range overlap

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (24) ◽  
pp. 12597-12614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo C. Genoves ◽  
Pedro F. Fruet ◽  
Juliana C. Di Tullio ◽  
Luciana M. Möller ◽  
Eduardo R. Secchi
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Overlap

Spatial Distribution, Site Fidelity, and Home Range Overlap in the North Cascades Elk Herd: Implications for Management

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (4) ◽  
pp. 251
Author(s):  
Jennifer Sevigny ◽  
Michael Sevigny ◽  
Emily George-Wirtz ◽  
Amanda Summers
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
North Cascades ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
The North ◽  
Range Overlap

scholarly journals Common Biases in Density Estimation Based on Home Range Overlap with Reference to Pumas in Patagonia

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kurt A. Rinehart ◽  
L. Mark Elbroch ◽  
Heiko U. Wittmer
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Density Estimation ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Overlap

Genetic relatedness and home-range overlap among female black bears (Ursus americanus) in northern Ontario, Canada

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (8) ◽  
pp. 1511-1519 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Schenk ◽  
Martyn E Obbard ◽  
Kit M Kovacs
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Ursus Americanus ◽  
Kernel Estimator ◽  
Black Bear ◽  
Spatial Proximity ◽  
Dna Fingerprints ◽  
Northern Ontario ◽  
Home Range Overlap ◽  
Range Overlap

The degree of philopatry exhibited by females in an unhunted black bear (Ursus americanus) population occupying the Chapleau Crown Game Preserve in northern Ontario was examined. A truncated kernel estimator was used to identify home-range use. Pairs of adult females were categorized as having home ranges that had moderate overlap or low overlap or were adjacent and non-overlapping or non-adjacent and non-overlapping. Females had low overlap with 6.4 other females, on average, and moderate overlap with 1.5 females. The degree of philopatry was assessed using two methods, each of which was used in an attempt to examine home-range overlap and average genetic relatedness. Relatedness among bears was determined from DNA fingerprints, using an alkaline phosphatase labelled multilocus probe and chemiluminescence detection. The first method involved choosing the 3 oldest females in the region to represent potential matriarchs, and all neighbouring females were identified (n = 8, 8, and 11). DNA fingerprints from each matriarch were compared with those of her neighbours. Average band-sharing coefficients and relatedness estimates within the groups did not reveal patterns of close kinship. The second method involved band-sharing comparisons among pairs of females from each of the 4 home-range categories (n = 12, 57, 80, and 21). Again, no relationship between spatial proximity and average genetic relatedness (range 0.032-0.120) was suggested. The extensive home-range overlap exhibited by this population is not a consequence of natal philopatric tendencies.

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