Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves
Abstract Predator non‐consumptive effects (NCE) can alter prey foraging time and habitat use, potentially reducing fitness. Prey can mitigate NCEs by increasing vigilance, chewing‐vigilance synchronization, and spatiotemporal avoidance of predators. We quantified the relationship between Mexican wol...
Published in: | Ecology and Evolution |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , , |
Other Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Wiley
2024
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11383 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.11383 |
id |
crwiley:10.1002/ece3.11383 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crwiley:10.1002/ece3.11383 2024-09-30T14:33:35+00:00 Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves Farley, Zachary J. Thompson, Cara J. Boyle, Scott T. Tatman, Nicole M. Cain, James W. Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Arizona Game and Fish Department Houston Safari Club Foundation 2024 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11383 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.11383 en eng Wiley http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ecology and Evolution volume 14, issue 5 ISSN 2045-7758 2045-7758 journal-article 2024 crwiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11383 2024-09-19T04:19:26Z Abstract Predator non‐consumptive effects (NCE) can alter prey foraging time and habitat use, potentially reducing fitness. Prey can mitigate NCEs by increasing vigilance, chewing‐vigilance synchronization, and spatiotemporal avoidance of predators. We quantified the relationship between Mexican wolf ( Canis lupus baileyi ) predation risk and elk ( Cervus canadensis ) behavior. We conducted behavioral observations on adult female elk and developed predation risk indices using GPS collar data from Mexican wolves, locations of elk killed by wolves, and landscape covariates. We compared a priori models to determine the best predictors of adult female behavior and multitasking. Metrics that quantified both spatial and temporal predation risk were the most predictive. Vigilance was positively associated with increased predation risk. The effect of predation risk on foraging and resting differed across diurnal periods. During midday when wolf activity was lower, the probability of foraging increased while resting decreased in high‐risk areas. During crepuscular periods when elk and wolves were most active, increased predation risk was associated with increased vigilance and slight decreases in foraging. Our results suggest elk are temporally avoiding predation risk from Mexican wolves by trading resting for foraging, a trade‐off often not evaluated in behavioral studies. Probability of multitasking depended on canopy openness and an interaction between maternal period and predation risk; multitasking decreased prior to parturition and increased post parturition in high‐risk areas. Openness was inversely related to multitasking. These results suggest adult female elk are altering the type of vigilance used depending on resource availability/quality, current energetic needs, and predation risk. Our results highlight potentially important, but often‐excluded behaviors and trade‐offs prey species may use to reduce the indirect effects of predation and contribute additional context to our understanding of predator–prey ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Wiley Online Library Ecology and Evolution 14 5 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Wiley Online Library |
op_collection_id |
crwiley |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Predator non‐consumptive effects (NCE) can alter prey foraging time and habitat use, potentially reducing fitness. Prey can mitigate NCEs by increasing vigilance, chewing‐vigilance synchronization, and spatiotemporal avoidance of predators. We quantified the relationship between Mexican wolf ( Canis lupus baileyi ) predation risk and elk ( Cervus canadensis ) behavior. We conducted behavioral observations on adult female elk and developed predation risk indices using GPS collar data from Mexican wolves, locations of elk killed by wolves, and landscape covariates. We compared a priori models to determine the best predictors of adult female behavior and multitasking. Metrics that quantified both spatial and temporal predation risk were the most predictive. Vigilance was positively associated with increased predation risk. The effect of predation risk on foraging and resting differed across diurnal periods. During midday when wolf activity was lower, the probability of foraging increased while resting decreased in high‐risk areas. During crepuscular periods when elk and wolves were most active, increased predation risk was associated with increased vigilance and slight decreases in foraging. Our results suggest elk are temporally avoiding predation risk from Mexican wolves by trading resting for foraging, a trade‐off often not evaluated in behavioral studies. Probability of multitasking depended on canopy openness and an interaction between maternal period and predation risk; multitasking decreased prior to parturition and increased post parturition in high‐risk areas. Openness was inversely related to multitasking. These results suggest adult female elk are altering the type of vigilance used depending on resource availability/quality, current energetic needs, and predation risk. Our results highlight potentially important, but often‐excluded behaviors and trade‐offs prey species may use to reduce the indirect effects of predation and contribute additional context to our understanding of predator–prey ... |
author2 |
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Arizona Game and Fish Department Houston Safari Club Foundation |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Farley, Zachary J. Thompson, Cara J. Boyle, Scott T. Tatman, Nicole M. Cain, James W. |
spellingShingle |
Farley, Zachary J. Thompson, Cara J. Boyle, Scott T. Tatman, Nicole M. Cain, James W. Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
author_facet |
Farley, Zachary J. Thompson, Cara J. Boyle, Scott T. Tatman, Nicole M. Cain, James W. |
author_sort |
Farley, Zachary J. |
title |
Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
title_short |
Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
title_full |
Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
title_fullStr |
Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
title_full_unstemmed |
Behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves |
title_sort |
behavioral trade‐offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from mexican gray wolves |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2024 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11383 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ece3.11383 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution volume 14, issue 5 ISSN 2045-7758 2045-7758 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.11383 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
5 |
_version_ |
1811637433421266944 |