The role of human-related risk in breeding site selection by wolves

• Published in: Biological Conservation
• Main Authors: Sazatornil, Víctor, Rodríguez, Alejandro, Klaczek, Michael, Ahmadi, Mohsen, Álvares, Francisco, Arthur, Stepher, Blanco, Juan Carlos, Borg, Bridget L., Cluff, Dean, Cortés, Yolanda, García, Emilio J., Geffen, Eli, Habib, Bilal, Iliopoulos, Yorgos, Kaboli, Mohammad Krofel, Miha, Llaneza, Luis, Marucco, Francesca, Oakleaf, John K., Person, David K., Potocnik, Hubert, Ražen, Nina, Rio-Maior, Helena, Sand, Hakan, Unger, David, Wabakken, Petter, López-Bao, José V.
• Other Authors: Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, Government of Canada, National Park Service (US), Department of Agriculture (US), State of Wisconsin, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Government of Maharashtra (India), European Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food (Slovenia), Wildlife Services (US), US Forest Service, Slovenian Research Agency, Xunta de Galicia, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), University of British Columbia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 2016
• Subjects: Human-dominated landscapes; Human-made structures; Continental patterns; Persecution; Persistence; Human population density; Homesites; Large carnivores; British Columbia; Canada; Northwest Territories; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10261/195998; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.022; https://doi.org/10.13039/100006959; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000023; https://doi.org/10.13039/100007516; https://doi.org/10.13039/100000199; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003329; https://doi.org/10.13039/501100010801

Large carnivores can be found in different scenarios of cohabitation with humans. Behavioral adaptations to minimize risk from humans are expected to be exacerbated where large carnivores are most vulnerable, such as at breeding sites. Using wolves as a model species, along with data from 26 study areas across the species' worldwide range, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the role of humans in breeding site selection by a large carnivore. Some of the patterns previously observed at the local scale become extrapolatable to the entire species range provided that important sources of variation are taken into account. Generally, wolves minimised the risk of exposure at breeding sites by avoiding human-made structures, selecting shelter from vegetation and avoiding agricultural lands. Our results suggest a scaled hierarchical habitat selection process across selection orders by which wolves compensate higher exposure risk to humans within their territories via a stronger selection at breeding sites. Dissimilar patterns between continents suggest that adaptations to cope with human-associated risks are modulated by the history of coexistence and persecution. Although many large carnivores persisting in human-dominated landscapes do not require large-scale habitat preservation, habitat selection at levels below occupancy and territory should be regarded in management and conservation strategies aiming to preserve these species in such contexts. In this case, we recommend providing shelter from human interference at least in small portions of land in order to fulfill the requirements of the species to locate their breeding sites. We are in debt with all the administrative, logistical and funding support from the Picos de Europa National Park and the Regional Government of Galicia (Spain), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SEV-2012-0262), the Government of the Northwest Territories and the University of Northern British Columbia (Canada), the U.S.A. National Park Service, the Alaska Department ...