Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range
Abstract: Numerous studies have documented how prey may use antipredator strategies to reduce the risk of predation from a single predator. However, when a recolonizing predator enters an already complex predator—prey system, specific antipredator behaviors may conflict and avoidance of one predator...
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crwiley:10.2193/2006-102 2024-09-15T18:01:20+00:00 Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range ATWOOD, TODD C. GESE, ERIC M. KUNKEL, KYRAN E. 2007 http://dx.doi.org/10.2193/2006-102 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.2193%2F2006-102 en eng Wiley http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 71, issue 4, page 1098-1106 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 journal-article 2007 crwiley https://doi.org/10.2193/2006-102 2024-08-13T04:13:43Z Abstract: Numerous studies have documented how prey may use antipredator strategies to reduce the risk of predation from a single predator. However, when a recolonizing predator enters an already complex predator—prey system, specific antipredator behaviors may conflict and avoidance of one predator may enhance vulnerability to another. We studied the patterns of prey selection by recolonizing wolves ( Canis lupus ) and cougars ( Puma concolor ) in response to prey resource selection in the northern Madison Range, Montana, USA. Elk ( Cervus elaphus ) were the primary prey for wolves, and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) were the primary prey for cougars, but elk made up an increasingly greater proportion of cougar kills annually. Although both predators preyed disproportionately on male elk, wolves were most likely to prey on males in poor physical condition. Although we found that the predators partitioned hunting habitats, structural complexity at wolf kill sites increased over time, whereas complexity of cougar kill sites decreased. We concluded that shifts by prey to structurally complex refugia were attempts by formerly naïve prey to lessen predation risk from wolves; nevertheless, shifting to more structurally complex refugia might have made prey more vulnerable to cougars. After a change in predator exposure, use of refugia may represent a compromise to minimize overall risk. As agencies formulate management strategies relative to wolf recolonization, the potential for interactive predation effects (i.e., facilitation or antagonism) should be considered. Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Wiley Online Library The Journal of Wildlife Management 71 4 1098 1106 |
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English |
description |
Abstract: Numerous studies have documented how prey may use antipredator strategies to reduce the risk of predation from a single predator. However, when a recolonizing predator enters an already complex predator—prey system, specific antipredator behaviors may conflict and avoidance of one predator may enhance vulnerability to another. We studied the patterns of prey selection by recolonizing wolves ( Canis lupus ) and cougars ( Puma concolor ) in response to prey resource selection in the northern Madison Range, Montana, USA. Elk ( Cervus elaphus ) were the primary prey for wolves, and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) were the primary prey for cougars, but elk made up an increasingly greater proportion of cougar kills annually. Although both predators preyed disproportionately on male elk, wolves were most likely to prey on males in poor physical condition. Although we found that the predators partitioned hunting habitats, structural complexity at wolf kill sites increased over time, whereas complexity of cougar kill sites decreased. We concluded that shifts by prey to structurally complex refugia were attempts by formerly naïve prey to lessen predation risk from wolves; nevertheless, shifting to more structurally complex refugia might have made prey more vulnerable to cougars. After a change in predator exposure, use of refugia may represent a compromise to minimize overall risk. As agencies formulate management strategies relative to wolf recolonization, the potential for interactive predation effects (i.e., facilitation or antagonism) should be considered. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
ATWOOD, TODD C. GESE, ERIC M. KUNKEL, KYRAN E. |
spellingShingle |
ATWOOD, TODD C. GESE, ERIC M. KUNKEL, KYRAN E. Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
author_facet |
ATWOOD, TODD C. GESE, ERIC M. KUNKEL, KYRAN E. |
author_sort |
ATWOOD, TODD C. |
title |
Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
title_short |
Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
title_full |
Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
title_fullStr |
Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparative Patterns of Predation by Cougars and Recolonizing Wolves in Montana's Madison Range |
title_sort |
comparative patterns of predation by cougars and recolonizing wolves in montana's madison range |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.2193/2006-102 https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.2193%2F2006-102 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
The Journal of Wildlife Management volume 71, issue 4, page 1098-1106 ISSN 0022-541X 1937-2817 |
op_rights |
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2193/2006-102 |
container_title |
The Journal of Wildlife Management |
container_volume |
71 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1098 |
op_container_end_page |
1106 |
_version_ |
1810438485845213184 |