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The expansion of human activity forces species to co-exist with people in human-modified landscapes (HMLs). However, living in HMLs demands behavioral adaptations, and the proximity between wildlife and people heightens human–wildlife conflicts. Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is a thriving rodent species in HMLs in Brazil and as such, is involved in human–wildlife conflicts, such as vehicle collisions and transmission of Brazilian spotted fever (BSF). Despite their public importance, the effects of HMLs on capybara movement behavior have never been investigated. Our study aimed to investigate changes in home range, ranging pattern, and activity, for capybaras in six HMLs and two natural landscapes (NLs) by monitoring capybaras with GPS collars. We found home ranges 2.43 times greater in NLs than in HMLs and differences in ranging pattern in HMLs. Capybaras tended to be more nocturnal and move shorter distances across HMLs than NLs. Our results confirm the impacts of the HMLs altering capybara movement. The aggregation of capybaras in very small home ranges might imply on greater risks of tick infestations. In addition, capybara–vehicle collision may be increased during capybaras' nocturnal activity. Therefore, we recommend that transportation agencies avoid the construction of transportation infrastructures (roads, railways, airstrips) in capybaras' home ranges, which should be of restricted access to people in BSF endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife species exhibit changes in behavior, population dynamics, and abundance after disturbances to forests. In western North America, large swathes of dead trees have resulted from unusually large outbreaks of bark beetles (Dendroctonus spp.) over recent decades. For bats, these tree mortality events could be either negative or positive, depending on whether cavities and crevices for roosting increase in response to beetle outbreaks and how the food supply is affected. It is therefore important to determine bat presence and activity in areas with many beetle-killed trees. We examined bat species richness in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada, in areas with light and severe beetle-kill. We identified six bat species from acoustic recorders; the federally endangered little brown myotis (Myotis lucifugus) had the most detections. Although we surveyed stand-level vegetation, we found no systematic difference between areas identified from government aerial surveys as having had high or low beetle-kill within the previous decade. Neither beetle-kill severity nor the fine-scale vegetation that we measured correlated with bat presence or activity. We conclude that bats in this region use beetle-killed forests and that the severity of beetle-killed trees is neither adversely affecting bat presence or activity, nor enabling increased use by bats of affected forest stands in comparison to activity levels found in other high elevation forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecologically relevant multi-temporal-scale frameworks elucidate whether patterns of animal activity (movement) are distinct at different temporal scales. We studied fishers (Pekania pennanti) fitted with transmitter collars that measured activity at high temporal resolution during winter in Wisconsin. A multi-temporal-scale framework with two scales, day (number of activity bouts per 24 h) and decision (time spent exploring a small area), revealed that the best models of fisher activity were different at different temporal scales. At the day scale, the fishers that we studied increased activity when temperatures were warmer and increased activity more when it was windy and cold than when it was windy and warm. At the decision scale, when wind speeds increased, female fishers reduced activity more than male fishers. The role of temperature on activity was only detected at the day scale, and intersexual variation was only detected at the decision scale. Results at both scales supported the prey synchrony hypothesis for activity, but support was mixed at the day scale. Assessing activity using a multi-temporal-scale analysis framework leads to a better understanding of factors that influence activity and biological fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the hypothesis that trophic competition between a top predator and a smaller predator can create refuge from predation for small mammalian prey, using the dingo (Canis lupus dingo) and feral cat (Felis catus) in the MacDonnell Ranges of dryland Australia as a case study. We analyzed the diets of the 2 predator species for evidence of potential competition. There was no evidence of exploitation competition between the 2 carnivores—cats consumed mostly small mammals and particularly larger rodents, whereas the diet of dingoes was dominated by 1 species of large macropod. There was also no evidence of a shift in diet of cats, as their diets in refuges and non-refuges were highly overlapping. Consistent with interference competition, cats were the third most frequently consumed mammal species by dingoes. Although predation by dingoes could limit densities of cats across the MacDonnell Ranges, this alone does not explain why the most rugged habitats in the region are a refuge for rare mammals. We conclude that habitat complexity most likely underpins the refuge and that possible effects of dingo predation on the cat population would be of secondary importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term studies from undisturbed forests provide a baseline by which to assess impacts of human activities, including climate change, on vertebrate population dynamics in lowland tropical forests. We use cameratrap data from January to March, 2005 to 2015, to examine patterns of variation in numbers of images and occupancy (proportion of cameras where images of a species were obtained), variables that may reflect changes in abundance or activity patterns of terrestrial mammals and birds in an undisturbed lowland forest of eastern Ecuador. We accumulated 1,961 independent records of 31 mammal species and 427 images of 17 bird species during 5,547 trap-days. Number of mammal species ranged from 15 to 25 per year (107 to 466 images), whereas birds ranged from 3 to 11 species per year (10 to 122 images). Capture rates varied both among species and among years but showed no evidence of declines; populations of several species appeared to increase (Priodontes maximus, Dasypus novemcinctus, Pecari tajacu, and Dasyprocta fuliginosa). Similarly, occupancy rates provided no indication of consistent declines; occupancy rates increased significantly for D. fuliginosa, D. novemcinctus, and P. maximus. There was no indication that variation in either capture rates or occupancy was related to variation in large-scale climate trends as represented by the Southern Oscillation Index. Results suggest that populations of most species that are well sampled by camera traps have remained relatively stable over 11 years. Long-term studies from other regions in the tropics are needed to evaluate the generality of this pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An animal's energetic costs are dependent on the amount of time it allocates to various behavioral activities. For Arctic pinnipeds, the time allocated to active and resting behaviors could change with future reductions in sea ice cover and longer periods of open water. The Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) is a large Arctic pinniped that rests on sea ice or land between foraging trips to feed on the seafloor. We used behavioral data collected from radiotagged walruses in the Chukchi Sea (2008-2014) in a Bayesian generalized linear mixed effects model to estimate the probability a walrus was in water foraging, in water not foraging, or hauled out, as a function of environmental covariates. The probability of a walrus being in water increased with wind speed and decreased with air temperature, and the probability a walrus was foraging, given it was in water, increased with available benthic macrofaunal biomass. The probability of each behavior was also related to the nature and availability of haul-out substrates. The amount of time walruses spent in water foraging and hauled out was greatest when only sea ice was available, which typically occurs when walruses occupy feeding areas during summer and early autumn. This situation may be most energy efficient for walruses because it allows the highest proportion of in water energy expenditure to be allocated to foraging. Conversely, the amount of time walruses spent in water foraging and hauled out was lowest when only land was available, which typically occurs in late autumn, in years when walruses were constrained to land haul-outs because sea ice was absent over the continental shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dhole (Cuon alpinus) is an endangered social canid that inhabits the forests of southern and southeastern Asia. A scarcity of field studies and inconsistent findings have led to a poor understanding of their ecology and conservation status. We compiled an ethogram of dhole behavior based on analysis of 395.35 min of video recordings. We recorded 3,394 behavioral events in 1,654 video clips lasting 10 s each. We classified behavioral events into 6 categories: Locomotion, Resting, Social Behavior, Feeding, Scent Marking, and Miscellaneous. Behavioral events associated with Locomotion were most frequent (40.95%), as was the proportion of time spent on such behaviors (41.89%). Dholes spent the least time exhibiting Miscellaneous and Scent Marking behaviors (1.45% and 2.64%, respectively), as well as the lowest frequency (0.74% and 4.01%, respectively). Although scent marking was relatively rare, we observed unique scent-marking behaviors in this study, including "hind bounce" and "hind scrub." The time spent on different categories of behaviors differed significantly among males, females, and subadults. We also used camera traps and opportunistic observations to investigate the activity patterns of dholes in dry deciduous forest of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, where they are sympatric with other large predators including tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (P. pardus). Our findings suggested that dholes were primarily crepuscular. Fundamental knowledge about behavioral ecology is crucial for the conservation of any species, and our findings provide a new foundation for future behavioral research on this endangered social canid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is generally assumed that in unpredictable environments, the use of daily torpor and its interaction with daily activity are largely dependent on environmental thermal conditions and resource availability. Using temperature telemetry, we compared the thermal biology and activity patterns of 2 species of mulgaras (Dasycercus blythi and D. cristicauda) at 3 sites of different habitat types in central Australia. The work compared a dry period with a wet period (resource pulse). The most obvious functional difference among populations was observed in the timing of the onset of activity, which began significantly earlier in dense unburned spinifex (on average 17.7 min before sunset) than in burned spinifex (4.6 min after sunset) or on gibber plains (21.8 min after sunset). However, although the seasonal expression of torpor differed significantly between males and females, torpor use as well as seasonal timing was similar among sites and periods despite differences in rainfall and habitat. It appears that predominantly reproductive activity governed torpor depth and duration in all measured populations and both species. Our data suggest that while the timing of activity is modulated by the amount of vegetation cover and thus protection from diurnal predators, torpor expression and winter reproduction in mulgaras are functionally linked and surprisingly more or less independent of apparent resource availability. Consequently, in mulgaras, daily torpor does not seem to be employed in response to immediate energy shortage but more likely to allow reallocation of energy and nutrients towards reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat selection by the 1st reintroduced population of giant anteaters ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla) was studied at Iberá Nature Reserve (northeastern Argentina), a subtropical region of wetlands, grasslands, and forests, with properties dedicated to nature conservation or livestock production. Eighteen animals were released and radiotracked between 2007 and 2012 for periods of 6-46 months, producing 1,181 locations. The effect of land use was assessed using chi-square tests. Resource selection functions were used to assess habitat selection at 2 spatial scales using as covariates habitat type (grassland, open savanna, closed savanna, and hygrophilous forest), distance to forest edge, and distance to a main road. Habitat selection was modeled for different ages (juveniles and adults), activity (resting or active), and seasons (summer, transition, and winter) and was validated with individuals previously excluded from our analysis. Anteaters strongly selected areas dedicated to nature conservation. Adults showed higher model fit. Hygrophilous forest was positively selected and open savanna was avoided. Anteaters rested almost exclusively in forests. While active they increased the use of other habitats, except for open savanna. Grasslands were most used during the winter season, probably because they provide a constant food source and better cover than savannas. Even though < 4% of the landscape was covered by forests, this habitat proved to be important for giant anteaters. Deforestation and traditional cattle management may have caused the local extinction of the species at Iberá. Establishment of strict conservation areas in nonflooded areas combined with proper management of forests and livestock may be essential for the long-term survival of reintroduced populations in Iberá and similar regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marsh rice rat (Oryzomys palustris) inhabits wetlands that are often fragmented and isolated by upland cover types. Persistence of marsh rice rat populations and metapopulations likely depends on their ability to enter and traverse the upland matrix, yet basic information, such as home-range size and landcover use patterns, is lacking. Our goal was to quantify home-range size and habitat selection by marsh rice rats in southern Illinois. Between March and November 2011, we radiocollared 21 male rice rats (8 subadults and 13 adults) that were each located 7 to 24 times each via triangulation and homing. We estimated home-range size, compared landcover composition within kernel home ranges to what was available in the surrounding landscape, and quantified daily movement distances. Mean (±SE) home ranges were 3.53 ± 0.66 ha based on 95% kernel isopleths and 1.85 ± 0.49 ha based on minimum convex polygons. Home ranges were largest for individuals followed in early summer, but home-range sizes were similar for adults and subadults. Rice rats' use of emergent wetland vegetation was greater than availability, indicating they preferred emergent wetlands habitat at the home-range level. However, upland cover types made up >40% of each home range, on average. Daily movements averaged 46.6 ± 3.4 m (maximum: 396 m), and rice rats were located up to 464 m from the nearest wetland. Based on by far the largest sample size (in individuals and locations per individual) available for space use of the marsh rice rat, our findings support the characterization of male rice rats as highly vagile and suggest that rice rats move through upland cover more frequently than previously described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) have been reported as either nocturnal or diurnal in various studies, but have not been known to switch between the 2 times unless disturbed by humans. Black bears (Ursus americanus) are almost solely diurnal in studies unless human influences occur. Because human disturbance is often difficult to control, the relative temporal niche of both species remains ill-defined. Thus, the present study examined bears in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) where hunting does not occur, human activities are relatively benign, and bear species are sympatric to determine if niche occupancy was a stable feature of the species. Onset of activity was anticipatory of both sunrise or morning civil twilight (illumination sufficient for human vision) for individuals of either species. The peak hour of activity in black bears was consistently midday, but fluctuated in grizzly bears from midday during early spring, late summer, and fall to evening during late spring and early summer. Black bears did not temporally avoid the times when the more dominant grizzly bears were active. Mean activity levels were higher for male black bears than for both male and female grizzly bears. Together, results suggest that the foraging needs of black bears necessitate ingestion of less-digestible, lower-quality foods requiring longer foraging time during daytime hours, whereas grizzly bears adapt their diet to seasonally available food sources, necessitating greater temporal flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of sex and age of individuals, season, and human pressure (both human presence and habitat structure) on spatiotemporal behavior of wild boar (Sus scrofa). Specifically, we compared wild boar behavior under contrasting conditions of human pressure, within the primeval temperate forest of Białowieża (eastern Poland) and the metropolitan area of Cracow (Poland). It was predicted that, compared with the forest, wild boar within the urban area will have smaller home ranges due to restricted space, will show longer daily movements due to patchy resources, and will exhibit increased nocturnal activity and ranging behavior in an attempt to avoid human interference. We used radiotracking data from 35 wild boar. Animals inhabiting the urban area had smaller home ranges, yet covered almost twice as much distance on a daily basis than individuals inhabiting primeval forest. Daily duration of activity was similar in the 2 study areas. However, distribution of activity throughout the day differed considerably. In the urban area wild boar were almost exclusively nocturnal, whereas in the primeval forest wild boar activity was evenly distributed throughout the day. Additionally, in the urban area, activity was strongly associated with traveling speed, whereas in the primeval forest active wild boar moved about to little extent. Seasonal effects were stronger in the primeval forest and affected daily distance traveled, duration of activity, and level of diurnality. This study showed that wild boar can adjust their spatiotemporal behavior to local conditions and this may be one factor explaining recent rapid demographic expansion in Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Southeast Asia is one of the last strongholds of endangered dholes (Cuon alpinus), or Asiatic wild dogs, little is known about dhole ecology in this region. We used scat collections, prey surveys, and camera-trap data to determine the diet, prey selection, and activity of dholes in a national protected area in northern Laos. Results showed that dhole diets were dominated by ungulates (87% of biomass consumed), with additional prey including other carnivores (6%) and rodents < 1 kg (6%). Concerning individual prey species, only muntjac (Muntiacus, 45%) and sambar (Rusa unicolor, 33%) contributed >7% of biomass consumed. Dholes were not random in their consumption of ungulates, because muntjac (20-28 kg) and sambar (185 kg) were selectively consumed over medium-sized (75- to 85-kg) ungulates. Dholes were almost exclusively diurnal, and their activity pattern was significantly different (all P < 0.003) from that of all ungulate species except wild pigs (Sus scrofa). Overall, prey selection by dholes appeared to be more influenced by social behavior and terrain use of ungulates, rather than by body size or activity of ungulates. In tropical forests of northern Laos, dholes focused predation on relatively few species during diurnal hours, suggesting the management of muntjac and sambar may be important for conserving dhole populations in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how environmental factors affect activity, number, and spatial distribution of bats in an area is necessary for interpreting capture rates and assessing abundance. Over a 34-year period, we examined the relationship between amounts of precipitation and activity of bats along a canyon floor in the San Mateo Mountains of New Mexico in the southwestern United States. For 1 night during each of 19 summers, we used identical sampling techniques to monitor this assemblage of insectivorous bats. Years included droughts with minimal surface water and wet years with abundant surface water in the canyon. Marked differences in available drinking water resulted in striking differences in yearly captures of bats, with a 30.8-fold difference between the fewest and most captures (6 versus 185 adults). Capture rates increased with less precipitation before sampling. In the 3-decadal period, precipitation accounted for 66% of the variation in capture rates, providing support that bats concentrate around accessible water to drink when surface water is scarce. Captures also were influenced by relative humidity on nights of sampling. From 1971 to 2005, we detected no change in species composition in this bat assemblage of 8 species, and after accounting for effects of precipitation, we detected no declines in population size for the 2 most common species, the long-eared myotis (Myotis evotis) and long-legged myotis (M. volans). Our study demonstrates the importance of long-term data sets to help elucidate patterns of variability in capture data and highlights the importance of how yearly variation in climate affects the behavior and ecology of bats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of activity patterns of wildlife in relation to abiotic and biotic factors enables biologists to better understand the ecology of species, manage resources, standardize survey methods, and serve as an index of the relative density of a species. River otters (Lontra canadensis) were radiotracked between June 2002 and October 2003. Using radiotracking data, we conducted exploratory analyses to determine relative influence of abiotic and biotic factors on 2 measures of activity of otters. Abiotic factors included air temperature, barometric pressure, lunar phase, biological season, and time of day; the biotic factor was sex. Activity was measured indirectly via movement rates and directly as the proportion of location attempts recorded as active (PLA). Movement rate was defined as the distance traveled by an otter between consecutive location estimates. Generalized linear mixed models were used to explore the influence of covariates on both measures of otter activity. The model best explaining variation in movement rate included biological season, sex, a season*sex interaction, and time of day. Males moved at greater rates than females during breeding and winter seasons but moved at similar rates to females during summer. Covariates found to account for most variation in the PLA of otters included time of day, season, and temperature. Otters were active throughout the day but with bimodal peaks in the PLA during late evening and early morning hours. The PLA of otters was highest during breeding season, lowest during winter, and intermediate in summer months. In addition, the PLA of otters decreased slightly with increasing temperature. Overall, the PLA of otters in our study area was influenced by abiotic factors, and movement rates of otters were influenced by abiotic and biotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Island mammals often differ behaviorally, demographically, and morphologically from their mainland conspecifics. A comparison of the water flux (WF, ml/day), daily energy expenditure (DEE, kJ/day), activity budgets, body mass, and diets of female swamp antechinuses (Antechinus minimus maritimus) from island and mainland habitats was undertaken to determine whether features associated with the island habitat influenced their physiological ecology. WF differed significantly between the 2 populations, with mainland animals having a WF 36% greater than island animals. However, there was no significant difference in DEE between individuals in different habitats (island versus mainland), although they exhibited markedly divergent behavioral patterns. Differences in diet and availability of free water for drinking may have caused the divergence in the WF values between mainland and island individuals. Although energy requirements play a key role in the spatial ecology of small mammals, other factors such as social interactions could cause observed differences in spatial organization between female A. minimus on the island and mainland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Characterizing circadian activity patterns is one of the essential steps to understanding how a species interacts with its environment. This study documented activity patterns of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) in free-ranging populations at 5 sites in Nevada and California. Infrared-triggered camera systems were placed within areas occupied by populations of pygmy rabbits and operated for 1 year. The number of photographs obtained per hour was used as an index of aboveground activity. Activity was analyzed for diel and seasonal patterns as well as for differences among populations. All populations showed a bimodal diel activity pattern with most activity occurring at dawn and at dusk during all seasons. Greatest activity occurred at dawn except during winter. Four of the 5 study sites showed similar levels of activity. The atypical site was located 550 m higher in elevation at a locality known for extreme weather; activity levels were twice as high at that site. Activity patterns of pygmy rabbits likely reflect a combination of predation pressures as well as metabolic energy demands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-latitude voles and lemmings undergo strong seasonal changes in their behavior and physiology, which may lead to concurrent changes in bone mineral density (BMD). We tested whether the BMD of northern red-backed voles (Myodes rutilus) in Alaska changed seasonally, and if so, whether these changes in their weight-bearing bones were correlated with seasonal changes in photoperiod (a mediator of activity and concentrations of reproductive hormones in high-latitude voles and lemmings), body mass, body length, or a combination of these. We used dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to measure the BMD of the femur and humerus of voles collected in different seasons. BMDs increased dramatically from the start of spring to their peak level in early summer, and then decreased gradually to their lowest point in late winter. BMDs were significantly lower in fall and winter than in spring and early summer. BMDs of long bones were significantly correlated with both body mass and photoperiod, which accounted for 46.2% and 45.7% of the variation in the BMDs of femur and humerus, respectively. The strong changes that we observed in BMD are likely to be due, in part, to the combined effects of strong seasonal changes in body mass, activity, and baseline levels of reproductive hormones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated food habits and relationships between food resource abundance and activity of bats. We identified prey remains in guano collected from 337 individuals in the Oregon Coast Range. Guano analyses indicated that 2 species, long-legged myotis (Myotis volans) and Townsend's big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii), consumed predominantly Lepidoptera; 4 species, California myotis (M. californicus), little brown myotis (M. lucifugus), Yuma myotis (M. yumanensis), and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans), consumed predominantly smaller insects likely of aquatic origin (Diptera and Trichoptera); and the remaining 4 species, long-eared myotis (M. evotis), fringed myotis (M. thysanodes), big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus), and hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus), consumed predominantly larger invertebrates of terrestrial origin (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera, and Araneae). We hypothesized that bat activity in riparian areas would be correlated with abundance of preferred insect prey and used an information-theoretic approach to determine whether variability in bat activity was more strongly associated with captures of all insects, of taxa most frequently occurring in the diet, or of particular size classes of insects. We found strong associations between activity of small Myotis species and number of captures of small insects, but activities of larger Myotis species and of non-Myotis species were not associated with numbers of insects of any category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used long-term (2- to 15-h) focal-animal sampling ("follows") and supplementary behavioral observations of adult spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta) from 3 separate social groups within the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, to investigate the degree to which sex, social rank, and human disturbance influenced hyena activity patterns, movement rates, and timing of den use. Hyenas followed for composite 24-h cycles were active during 31.5% ± 2.7% SE of the 24-h period. During hours of darkness (1900--600 h) hyenas spent 53.0% ± 4.1% of their time active, and 96.2% ± 0.9% of all activity occurred from 1800 to 0900 h. Mean movement rate during this period was 928 m/h ± 104 SE, and was 584 ± 64 m/h throughout the 24-h period. Distance traveled during a 24-h period averaged 12.4 km. Male spotted hyenas tended to be more active than females, particularly during the morning (0700-1100 h), and also tended to exhibit higher movement rates. Neither rates of activity nor movement varied with social rank, but low-ranking females spent more time feeding than did high-ranking females. Finally, female hyenas in territories with daily livestock grazing and high tourist visitation rates showed lower activity and den use than hyenas in an undisturbed territory during the times of day when human activity coincided with potential hyena activity. Specific times of day when activity was reduced indicated that livestock grazing, not tourist activity, was probably responsible for observed shifts in activity. We discuss possible indirect costs associated with observed alterations in timing of den use and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied daily activity patterns of 19 (7 males and 12 females) adult red deer (Cervus elaphus) by using continuous tracking sessions in Białowieża National Park (BNP), Poland, from 2001 to 2004. Male and female red deer were active throughout the day and night during all seasons, with several peaks in activity during the 24-h period, although both sexes tended to be more active during the day in winter. There were no significant differences between males and females in mean time active (8 h/day for both sexes), mean length of activity bouts (42 min), and mean number of activity bouts (12 bouts/day). Additionally, neither sex showed seasonal differences in hours active, bout length, or number of bouts per day. However, rainfall affected activity of males, whereas ambient temperature and snowfall affected activity of females. Although red deer are sexually dimorphic, which often leads to differences in movements and social groupings, our results suggest that their general activity patterns are influenced less by these sexual differences and more by the constraints of feeding and rumination, daily abiotic factors, and possibly predation risk from wolves (Canis lupus). Red deer in BNP did not exhibit strong bimodal peaks in activity at dawn and dusk as shown in previous studies, likely because strict limits on human activities in BNP allowed red deer to base their activity more on natural factors than on human-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seasonal food habits and activity patterns were examined for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in west-central Alberta, Canada, to better understand habitat requirements in a threatened population. Food habits were based on an analysis of 665 feces collected from 18 grizzly bears between April and October 2001-2003. Trends in the use of foods were comparable to those of other central Rocky Mountain populations, with minor differences likely reflecting regional habitat and forage availability. Five activities (bedding, sweet vetch digging, insect feeding, frugivory, and ungulate kills) were identified for each of 1,032 field-visited global positioning system radiotelemetry locations from 9 female grizzly bears. We predicted the probability of each activity during relevant periods by time of day (crepuscular, diurnal, and nocturnal) and habitat. Selection ratios were used to assess which habitat and time periods were selected. Activity patterns changed considerably over a 24-h period, with foraging activities occurring mostly during diurnal and crepuscular periods and bedding at night. Habitats were important predictors of activity. Forested areas were selected for bedding areas, whereas digging, insect-foraging, and frugivory activities were associated with herbaceous, recently disturbed forest and open-canopy forests. We suggest that researchers consider behavior and time of day in analyses of habitat selection to improve explanations of habitat use and mechanisms of selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) threaten the native cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) population in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park. Wyoming. A reduction in availability of cutthroat trout may affect fish predators negatively, especially during spawning season. In this study we examined the importance of spawning cutthroat trout to a fish specialist--the North American river otter (Lontra canadensis). We measured scent-marking rates at 87 otter latrine sites on Yellowstone Lake and its tributary streams throughout the cutthroat trout spawning period and identified prey in scats collected at these sites. Based on fecal deposition rates, otters were more active on spawning streams and less active on Yellowstone Lake during the height of cutthroat trout spawning, with a return to elevated activity on the lake after spawning had ended. Cutthroat trout appeared to be the most common prey item in otter scats throughout the study, based on 515 samples identified to the family level and 110 samples analyzed to the species level. Overall. trout occurred in 72% and longnose suckers (Catostomus catostomus) in 43% of otter feces. Suckers were more prevalent than trout in otter scats only on tributary streams, toward the end of cutthroat trout spawning. Introduced lake trout, which inhabit deep water and are largely inaccessible to otters, occurred in less than 5% of otter scats. River otters in the Yellowstone Lake ecosystem appear to be relatively restricted in their diet and are heavily dependent on cutthroat trout. Our findings suggest that continued declines in the cutthroat trout population could negatively impact otters, potentially disrupting their role in linking aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in and around Yellowstone Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We captured, marked, and recaptured southern short-tailed shrews (Blarina carolinensis) during a 30-month livetrapping study in a woodlot in Jackson County, Illinois, to compare aspects of their life history with those of the northern short-tailed shrew (B. brevicauda). A total of 106,496 trap checks (15,782 trap nights) resulted in 3,430 captures of 313 B. carolinensis from February 1996 through August 1998. Trapping mortality was only 18 individuals. Sex ratio did not differ from 1:1. Estimated population density peaked at 57 individuals/ha in late summer and autumn then declined during winter. Recruitment, including birth and immigration, peaked in spring and late summer each year. Individuals entering the population in the spring and early summer had higher survival rates than those entering in the autumn. A weak correlation was found between recruitment and precipitation, and between population density and humidity. Shrew activity (timing of captures) showed significant relationships with light condition and season. During summer, shrews were caught more frequently at night. In the winter, they were captured more frequently during the day. Capture rate was negatively related to precipitation and positively related to humidity. Population dynamics and activity patterns were similar to those of B. brevicauda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results of a radiotracking study of the black-tailed tree rat Thallomys nigricauda, based on 3 males and 4 females in the breeding season and 2 males and 5 females in the nonbreeding season. The study was conducted in the southern Kalahari thornveld, South Africa, a savanna landscape of acacia trees and patchy acacia bush. Nocturnal activity patterns, vegetation use, space use, and interactions were followed for 8-17 days. During the breeding season, males were active with 2 synchronous activity peaks shortly after sunset and late at night. Home ranges included the nests of 8-10 females, 6 different daytime resting places, and 3-5 areas of high activity. Males were mobile within home ranges of 5-10 ha (90% minimal convex polygons) that overlapped with other males and covered home ranges of several females. Activity of females was high shortly after sunset and before sunrise with 6 h of low activity between. Home ranges of nursing females were 0.001-0.03 ha and included 2 small areas of high activity (nest and foraging site) where no other adult females were observed. Animals preferred small acacia shrubs (Acacia mellifera, A. luederitzi) for foraging. During the nonbreeding season, activity of both sexes was low, with only 1 peak shortly after sunset. Although small acacia shrubs did not have foliage, they were preferred by both sexes for foraging, and rats were observed feeding on buds. Homerange size of males was 1-2 ha and of females was 0.1-0.3 ha. Contrary to earlier reports, we found tree rats living solitarily or with young offspring. We suggest that the species has a promiscuous mating system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]