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Robert J Warren - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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adult bobcat Lynx Rufus habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, Mike L Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
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Adult bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological Processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, L. Mike Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Background Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat ( Lynx Rufus ) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. Methods We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. Results We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Conclusions Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
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effects of time of day and activity status on bobcat Lynx Rufus cover type selection in southwestern georgia
Southeastern Naturalist, 2010Co-Authors: Jordona D Kirby, Mike L Conner, Jessica C Rutledge, Ivy G Jones, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Abstract Lynx Rufus (Bobcat) cover-type selection and activity patterns have been studied in a variety of landscapes in the southeastern United States, but effects of individual activity status (active or inactive) and time of day (day, night, crepuscular) on cover-type selection have not been investigated for this species. Therefore, we investigated Bobcat habitat use in a Pinus palustris (Longleaf Pine) forest in southwestern Georgia to determine whether activity status of individuals or time of day affected seasonal cover-type selection. We monitored 43 radiocollared Bobcats from 2001–2004 and determined habitat use at Johnson's third order of selection (i.e., habitat selection within the home range) using Euclidean distance-based analysis. Bobcats selected (Λ = 0.017, P = 0.001) habitat within their home ranges; however, although Bobcats are typically classified as crepuscular, neither activity status (Λ = 0.990, P = 0.981) nor time-of-day (Λ = 0.972, P = 0.647) affected cover-type selection. Bobcats ...
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prey selection by reintroduced bobcats Lynx Rufus on cumberland island georgia
American Midland Naturalist, 2001Co-Authors: Leslie A Baker, Robert J Warren, Duane R Diefenbach, William E James, Michael J ConroyAbstract:Abstract We released bobcats (Lynx Rufus) on Cumberland Island, Georgia during 1988 and 1989 as part of a cooperative effort to restore an extirpated predator to the island. We collected data on prey use and prey abundance three times a year during 2 y following the initial bobcat releases. We tested four hypotheses concerning bobcat prey selection: (1) use of a prey species was closely associated with its abundance (functional relationships), (2) the number of prey species included in bobcat diets increased as the abundance of principal prey species decreased (diet optimization), (3) the number of species included in bobcat diets and diet diversity increased as population density increased (interference) and (4) increases in the proportion of males resulted in increases in the use of large prey and decreases in the use of small prey. Bobcats' use of marsh rabbits (Sylvilagus palustris) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) was positively correlated with each species' abundance as predicted by a hypothesis ...
Lisa M Lyren - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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urbanization reduces genetic connectivity in bobcats Lynx Rufus at both intra and interpopulation spatial scales
Molecular Ecology, 2019Co-Authors: Christopher P Kozakiewicz, Erin E Boydston, Christopher P Burridge, Chris W Funk, Patricia E Salerno, Daryl R Trumbo, Roderick B Gagne, Robert N Fisher, Lisa M LyrenAbstract:Urbanization is a major factor driving habitat fragmentation and connectivity loss in wildlife. However, the impacts of urbanization on connectivity can vary among species and even populations due to differences in local landscape characteristics, and our ability to detect these relationships may depend on the spatial scale at which they are measured. Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) are relatively sensitive to urbanization and the status of bobcat populations is an important indicator of connectivity in urban coastal southern California. We genotyped 271 bobcats at 13,520 SNP loci to conduct a replicated landscape resistance analysis in five genetically distinct populations. We tested urban and natural factors potentially influencing individual connectivity in each population separately, as well as study-wide. Overall, landscape genomic effects were most frequently detected at the study-wide spatial scale, with urban land cover (measured as impervious surface) having negative effects and topographic roughness having positive effects on gene flow. The negative effect of urban land cover on connectivity was also evident when populations were analyzed separately despite varying substantially in spatial area and the proportion of urban development, confirming a pervasive impact of urbanization largely independent of spatial scale. The effect of urban development was strongest in one population where stream habitat had been lost to development, suggesting that riparian corridors may help mitigate reduced connectivity in urbanizing areas. Our results demonstrate the importance of replicating landscape genetic analyses across populations and considering how landscape genetic effects may vary with spatial scale and local landscape structure.
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evolution of puma lentivirus in bobcats Lynx Rufus and mountain lions puma concolor in north america
Journal of Virology, 2014Co-Authors: Sarah N Bevins, Laurel E K Serieys, Winston Vickers, Ken A Logan, Mat Aldredge, Erin E Boydston, Lisa M Lyren, Roy Mcbride, Melody E Roelkeparker, Jill PeconslatteryAbstract:ABSTRACT Mountain lions (Puma concolor) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain lions in southern California and Florida. Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) in these two geographic regions are also infected with PLVA, and to date, this is the only strain of lentivirus identified in bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes in order to characterize the molecular evolution of PLV in bobcats and mountain lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) and frequent recombination (1 recombination breakpoint per 3 isolates analyzed) were observed in both clades. Viral proteins have markedly different patterns of evolution; sequence homology and negative selection were highest in Gag and Pol and lowest in Vif and Env. A total of 1.7% of sites across the PLV genome evolve under positive selection, indicating that host-imposed selection pressure is an important force shaping PLV evolution. PLVA strains are highly spatially structured, reflecting the population dynamics of their primary host, the bobcat. In contrast, the phylogeography of PLVB reflects the highly mobile mountain lion, with diverse PLVB isolates cocirculating in some areas and genetically related viruses being present in populations separated by thousands of kilometers. We conclude that PLVA and PLVB are two different viral species with distinct feline hosts and evolutionary histories. IMPORTANCE An understanding of viral evolution in natural host populations is a fundamental goal of virology, molecular biology, and disease ecology. Here we provide a detailed analysis of puma lentivirus (PLV) evolution in two natural carnivore hosts, the bobcat and mountain lion. Our results illustrate that PLV evolution is a dynamic process that results from high rates of viral mutation/recombination and host-imposed selection pressure.
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evolution of puma lentivirus in bobcats Lynx Rufus and mountainlions puma concolor in north america
2014Co-Authors: Justin S Lee, Sarah N Bevins, Winston Vickers, Mat Aldredge, Erin E Boydston, Lisa M Lyren, Roy Mcbride, Laurel E K Serleys, Ken Logan, Melody E RoelkeparkerAbstract:Mountain lions (Puma concolor) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain lions in southern California and Florida. Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) in these two geographic regions are also infected with PLVA, and to date, this is the only strain of lentivirus identified in bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes in order to characterize the molecular evolution of PLV in bobcats and mountain lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) and frequent recombination (1 recombination breakpoint per 3 isolates analyzed) were observed in both clades. Viral proteins have markedly different patterns of evolution; sequence homology and negative selection were highest in Gag and Pol and lowest in Vif and Env. A total of 1.7% of sites across the PLV genome evolve under positive selection, indicating that host-imposed selection pressure is an important force shaping PLV evolution. PLVA strains are highly spatially structured, reflecting the population dynamics of their primary host, the bobcat. In contrast, the phylogeography of PLVB reflects the highly mobile mountain lion, with diverse PLVB isolates cocirculating in some areas and genetically related viruses being present in populations separated by thousands of kilometers. We conclude that PLVA and PLVB are two different viral species with distinct feline hosts and evolutionary histories.
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serum chemistry hematologic and post mortem findings in free ranging bobcats Lynx Rufus with notoedric mange
Journal of Parasitology, 2013Co-Authors: Laurel E K Serieys, Erin E Boydston, Lisa M Lyren, Janet E Foley, Sean D Owens, Leslie W Woods, Robert H PoppengaAbstract:Abstract: Notoedric mange was responsible for a population decline of bobcats (Lynx Rufus) in 2 Southern California counties from 2002–2006 and is now reported to affect bobcats in Northern and Southern California. With this study we document clinical laboratory and necropsy findings for bobcats with mange. Bobcats in this study included free-ranging bobcats with mange (n = 34), a control group of free-ranging bobcats without mange (n = 11), and a captive control group of bobcats without mange (n = 19). We used 2 control groups to evaluate potential anomalies due to capture stress or diet. Free-ranging healthy and mange-infected bobcats were trapped or salvaged. Animals were tested by serum biochemistry, complete blood count, urine protein and creatinine, body weight, necropsy, and assessment for anticoagulant rodenticide residues in liver tissue. Bobcats with severe mange were emaciated, dehydrated, and anemic with low serum creatinine, hyperphosphatemia, hypoglycemia, hypernatremia, and hyperchloremia,...
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gene flow and pathogen transmission among bobcats Lynx Rufus in a fragmented urban landscape
Molecular Ecology, 2012Co-Authors: Justin S Lee, Kevin R Crooks, Erin E Boydston, Lisa M Lyren, Jennifer L Troyer, Emily W Ruell, Robert S Alonso, Sue VandewoudeAbstract:Urbanization can result in the fragmentation of once contiguous natural landscapes into a patchy habitat interspersed within a growing urban matrix. Animals living in fragmented landscapes often have reduced movement among habitat patches because of avoidance of intervening human development, which potentially leads to both reduced gene flow and pathogen transmission between patches. Mammalian carnivores with large home ranges, such as bobcats (Lynx Rufus), may be particularly sensitive to habitat fragmentation. We performed genetic analyses on bobcats and their directly transmitted viral pathogen, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), to investigate the effects of urbanization on bobcat movement. We predicted that urban development, including major freeways, would limit bobcat movement and result in genetically structured host and pathogen populations. We analysed molecular markers from 106 bobcats and 19 FIV isolates from seropositive animals in urban southern California. Our findings indicate that reduced gene flow between two primary habitat patches has resulted in genetically distinct bobcat subpopulations separated by urban development including a major highway. However, the distribution of genetic diversity among FIV isolates determined through phylogenetic analyses indicates that pathogen genotypes are less spatially structured-exhibiting a more even distribution between habitat fragments. We conclude that the types of movement and contact sufficient for disease transmission occur with enough frequency to preclude structuring among the viral population, but that the bobcat population is structured owing to low levels of effective bobcat migration resulting in gene flow. We illustrate the utility in using multiple molecular markers that differentially detect movement and gene flow between subpopulations when assessing connectivity.
Michael J Chamberlain - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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adult bobcat Lynx Rufus habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, Mike L Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
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Adult bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological Processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, L. Mike Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Background Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat ( Lynx Rufus ) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. Methods We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. Results We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Conclusions Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
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annual dynamics of bobcat Lynx Rufus home range and core use areas in mississippi
American Midland Naturalist, 2006Co-Authors: Bruce W Plowman, Michael J Chamberlain, Bruce D. Leopold, Mike L Conner, Loren W BurgerAbstract:Abstract We investigated the annual dynamics of bobcat (Lynx Rufus) home range and core use areas by radiotracking 23 female and 6 male bobcats from 10 January 1989 to 31 January 1998 in Mississippi. We quantified space use by measuring changes in the dispersion and central tendency of bobcat locations (i.e., radiotelemetry locations) between annual home range and core use areas. Data from 38 female and 11 male home range and core area comparisons were used to examine bobcat spatial dynamics. Mean dispersion of home range and core use areas was greater for male than female bobcats, but dispersion for these areas did not differ between years for male or female bobcats. Annual shifts in the central tendency of home range and core use areas for female bobcats likely were a space-use strategy to optimize access to prey resources. Annual shifting of core area central tendency within non-shifting home ranges of male bobcats appeared to be a response to female spatial readjustments. Shift distance, after standar...
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overlap in space use among bobcats Lynx Rufus coyotes canis latrans and gray foxes urocyon cinereoargenteus
American Midland Naturalist, 2005Co-Authors: Michael J Chamberlain, Bruce D. LeopoldAbstract:Abstract Sympatry among bobcats (Lynx Rufus), coyotes (Canis latrans) and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is relatively recent in the southeastern United States given recent expansion of coyote range. Interspecific relationships among canids and felids have been documented in northern latitudes. However, interactions among these three species at southern latitudes are poorly understood. We examined overlap in space use of sympatric bobcats (n = 47), coyotes (n = 37) and gray foxes (n = 27) in central Mississippi during 1993–1997. Home ranges of all three species overlapped extensively. However, gray foxes maintained core use areas that did not overlap substantially with those of bobcats and coyotes. Home range and core area overlap were similar across seasons among all species. Our findings indicate that these three species readily share space, but gray foxes apparently maintain core areas in areas void of concentrated bobcat and coyote use.
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land tenure and occupation of vacant home ranges by bobcats Lynx Rufus
Journal of Mammalogy, 2004Co-Authors: John F Benson, Michael J Chamberlain, Bruce D. LeopoldAbstract:Bobcat (Lynx Rufus) social organization has been studied extensively, and a land tenure system based on prior residence appears to influence home range selection and maintenance. However, few studies have presented information about home range vacancies and the pattern of replacement by other bobcats. We documented 10 cases in which home ranges of deceased male and female resident bobcats were filled by transient or neighboring bobcats, and quantified the extent to which home ranges of new bobcats were similar to those of prior residents. For males (n = 5) and females (n = 5), respectively, an average of 85% and 79% of each replacement's home range and 89% and 74% of their point locations overlapped with the former resident's home range. This extensive overlap suggests that a land tenure system exists for bobcats and that home range vacancies are filled by transients or neighboring residents of the same sex. Although our results generally support the land tenure concept, we suggest that bobcat social organization may be more complex than previously reported.
Victor Sanchezcordero - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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competitive interactions between felid species may limit the southern distribution of bobcats Lynx Rufus
Ecography, 2008Co-Authors: Victor Sanchezcordero, Christopher R. Stephens, David R B Stockwell, Sahotra Sarkar, Joaquin GimenezAbstract:Bobcats are opportunistic felids occurring in a diverse range of habitats and with a widespread distribution from southern Canada to southern Mexico. To explore why the bobcat’s distribution stops at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, we modelled the ecological niches, projected as potential distributions, of the felid community (bobcat Lynx Rufus, puma Puma concolor, jaguar Panthera onca, margay Leopardus wiedii, jaguarundi Herpailurus yagouaroundi, and ocelot Leopardus pardalis) in southern Mexico, using occurrence data, environmental maps, the computer algorithm GARP, and a GIS platform. The resulting geographical projection of the ecological niche of bobcats extends south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, suggesting that ecological conditions exist for the establishment of populations. The overlap of the modelled distribution of the bobcat was large with that of the puma (97%), but low with that of the ocelot (44%), margay (46%), jaguar (49%), and jaguarundi (52%), the latter three having relatively similar size and feeding habits to bobcats. Moreover, an independent analysis computing a geographic co-occurrence index showed a similar trend of geographic avoidance (valuesB4.60 showing a statistically significant anti-correlation) between bobcats with the margay, ocelot, jaguarundi, and jaguar, but not with the puma (values � 0.15), while all felids, except bobcats, showed a geographic co-occurrence in southern Mexico (values ranging from 1.91 to 4.71). The Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a lowland region with subtropical habitat, is unlikely to serve as a geographic and ecological barrier to bobcats. As mammal inventories have been conducted for over a century in this region with no records of bobcats, it is unlikely that bobcats are present but have just not been seen. Fossil records also provide no support for the presence of bobcats in that region in the past. Thus, competitive interactions with other felid species appear important in limiting the southern distribution of bobcats, preventing dispersal to a suitable but geographically reduced area south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
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primer registro del tigrillo leopardus wiedii schinz 1821 y del gato montes Lynx Rufus kerr 1792 en la reserva de la biosfera de tehuacan cuicatlan oaxaca mexico
Acta Zoológica Mexicana (nueva serie), 2006Co-Authors: Francisco Botello, Patricia Illoldirangel, Miguel Linaje, Victor SanchezcorderoAbstract:Using camera-traps, two new records of margay (Leopardus wiedii) and two of Lynx (Lynx Rufus) were obtained at the Biosphere Reserve de Tehuacan-Cuicatlan, Oaxaca, Mexico, in 2003 and 2004. These are the first records documenting the presence of both species in this reserve.
Andrew R. Little - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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adult bobcat Lynx Rufus habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, Mike L Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
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Adult bobcat (Lynx Rufus) habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna
Ecological Processes, 2018Co-Authors: Andrew R. Little, Michael J Chamberlain, L. Mike Conner, Nathan P. Nibbelink, Robert J WarrenAbstract:Background Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker ( Picoides borealis ). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat ( Lynx Rufus ) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions. Methods We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001–2007. Results We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire. Conclusions Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
