Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1939-0569

Advisor

Hunt, Kevin M.

Committee Member

Strickland, Bronson K.

Committee Member

Kouba, Andrew J.

Committee Member

Fowler, Nicholas L.

Date of Degree

8-13-2024

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Forest Resources (Wildlife, Fisheries, & Aquaculture)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Forest Resources

Department

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Abstract

Identifying factors that influence spatial and temporal resource use is critical to understanding ecological relationships of sympatric species. Spatial and temporal shifts in resource availability, distribution, and vulnerability can influence animal space use, movements, foraging behavior, and prey selection. Identifying these factors is critical to understanding predator-prey dynamics. In Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) exist in a multi-predator system that includes black bears (Ursus americanus), wolves (Canis lupus), coyotes (C. latrans), and bobcats (Lynx rufus). On Sitkalidak Island, Alaska, plains bison (Bison bison) were recently introduced into a single-predator island landscape that contains some of the largest brown bears (Ursus arctos middendorffi) in the world. The objectives of this research were to investigate how spatial and temporal shifts in resource availability, distribution, and vulnerability impact predator space use, movements, diel activity, and resource utilization, including how competition influences resource acquisition among sympatric carnivores. In Michigan, we investigated shifts in predator space use during three time periods based on white-tailed deer fawn availability and vulnerability including the pre-parturition (PPP, 1 May–24 May) limited mobility (LMP, 25 May–30 June) and social mobility (SMP, 1 July–31 August) periods and examined predator movements during LMP and SMP. In Alaska, we investigated resource use and diel activity patterns of Kodiak brown bears and plains bison during 2 time periods determined by temporal shifts in resource availability. Carnivore responses to fawn white-tailed deer distribution and vulnerability in Michigan varied among species but were congruent with life history strategies. Carnivores did not overall rely predominantly on fawns but shifted their space use and altered movements to maximize intake of seasonal resources. In Alaska, brown bears and bison did not exhibit high landscape attribute overlap during the early and late periods suggesting bears were not recognizing bison as a potential prey source. Although we observed some overlap in utilization of landscape attributes and diel activity between bears and bison, we suggest this overlap was a result of congruent resource requirements and overlapping spatial resource acquisition. This research provides additional insight into life history strategies among co-occurring species and dynamics of multi-species predator-prey systems.

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