Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats
Abstract There is growing evidence that prey perceive the risk of predation and alter their behavior in response, resulting in changes in spatial distribution and potential fitness consequences. Previous approaches to mapping predation risk across a landscape quantify predator space use to estimate...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:925349febac3468bb14a9f8bb33bda96 2023-05-15T18:42:18+02:00 Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats Kara M. MacAulay Eric G. Spilker Jodi E. Berg Mark Hebblewhite Evelyn H. Merrill 2022-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/article/925349febac3468bb14a9f8bb33bda96 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/article/925349febac3468bb14a9f8bb33bda96 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 12, Iss 2, Pp n/a-n/a (2022) Cervus canadensis detection dog elk resource selection functions scat analysis spatial predation risk Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2022 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 2022-12-30T22:22:49Z Abstract There is growing evidence that prey perceive the risk of predation and alter their behavior in response, resulting in changes in spatial distribution and potential fitness consequences. Previous approaches to mapping predation risk across a landscape quantify predator space use to estimate potential predator‐prey encounters, yet this approach does not account for successful predator attack resulting in prey mortality. An exception is a prey kill site that reflects an encounter resulting in mortality, but obtaining information on kill sites is expensive and requires time to accumulate adequate sample sizes. We illustrate an alternative approach using predator scat locations and their contents to quantify spatial predation risk for elk (Cervus canadensis) from multiple predators in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. We surveyed over 1300 km to detect scats of bears (Ursus arctos/U. americanus), cougars (Puma concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (C. lupus). To derive spatial predation risk, we combined predictions of scat‐based resource selection functions (RSFs) weighted by predator abundance with predictions that a predator‐specific scat in a location contained elk. We evaluated the scat‐based predictions of predation risk by correlating them to predictions based on elk kill sites. We also compared scat‐based predation risk on summer ranges of elk following three migratory tactics for consistency with telemetry‐based metrics of predation risk and cause‐specific mortality of elk. We found a strong correlation between the scat‐based approach presented here and predation risk predicted by kill sites and (r = .98, p < .001). Elk migrating east of the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from cougars, resident elk summering on the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from wolves and coyotes, and elk migrating west to summer in Banff National Park were exposed to highest risk of encountering bears, but it was less likely to find ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Ursus arctos Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Canada Ecology and Evolution 12 2 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Cervus canadensis detection dog elk resource selection functions scat analysis spatial predation risk Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Cervus canadensis detection dog elk resource selection functions scat analysis spatial predation risk Ecology QH540-549.5 Kara M. MacAulay Eric G. Spilker Jodi E. Berg Mark Hebblewhite Evelyn H. Merrill Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
topic_facet |
Cervus canadensis detection dog elk resource selection functions scat analysis spatial predation risk Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract There is growing evidence that prey perceive the risk of predation and alter their behavior in response, resulting in changes in spatial distribution and potential fitness consequences. Previous approaches to mapping predation risk across a landscape quantify predator space use to estimate potential predator‐prey encounters, yet this approach does not account for successful predator attack resulting in prey mortality. An exception is a prey kill site that reflects an encounter resulting in mortality, but obtaining information on kill sites is expensive and requires time to accumulate adequate sample sizes. We illustrate an alternative approach using predator scat locations and their contents to quantify spatial predation risk for elk (Cervus canadensis) from multiple predators in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. We surveyed over 1300 km to detect scats of bears (Ursus arctos/U. americanus), cougars (Puma concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (C. lupus). To derive spatial predation risk, we combined predictions of scat‐based resource selection functions (RSFs) weighted by predator abundance with predictions that a predator‐specific scat in a location contained elk. We evaluated the scat‐based predictions of predation risk by correlating them to predictions based on elk kill sites. We also compared scat‐based predation risk on summer ranges of elk following three migratory tactics for consistency with telemetry‐based metrics of predation risk and cause‐specific mortality of elk. We found a strong correlation between the scat‐based approach presented here and predation risk predicted by kill sites and (r = .98, p < .001). Elk migrating east of the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from cougars, resident elk summering on the Ya Ha Tinda winter range were exposed to the highest predation risk from wolves and coyotes, and elk migrating west to summer in Banff National Park were exposed to highest risk of encountering bears, but it was less likely to find ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Kara M. MacAulay Eric G. Spilker Jodi E. Berg Mark Hebblewhite Evelyn H. Merrill |
author_facet |
Kara M. MacAulay Eric G. Spilker Jodi E. Berg Mark Hebblewhite Evelyn H. Merrill |
author_sort |
Kara M. MacAulay |
title |
Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
title_short |
Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
title_full |
Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
title_fullStr |
Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
title_full_unstemmed |
Beyond the encounter: Predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (Cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
title_sort |
beyond the encounter: predicting multi‐predator risk to elk (cervus canadensis) in summer using predator scats |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/article/925349febac3468bb14a9f8bb33bda96 |
geographic |
Canada |
geographic_facet |
Canada |
genre |
Ursus arctos |
genre_facet |
Ursus arctos |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 12, Iss 2, Pp n/a-n/a (2022) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.8589 https://doaj.org/article/925349febac3468bb14a9f8bb33bda96 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.8589 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
12 |
container_issue |
2 |
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1766231954603114496 |