Understanding the changes in spatiotemporal patterns of two carnivores in response to different anthropogenic pressures and ecological factors in Silwood Park, Ascot, London

Abstract

Human induced habitat loss and disturbances is the driving cause of mammalian extinction. Moreover, these disturbances are also significantly affecting the spatiotemporal patterns of individual species. Two species which have been able to thrive in such human modified landscapes are the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the European Badger (Meles meles). Across an urban gradient both species display complex behavioral and ecological adaptations. However, there have been minimal studies on the specific impacts of anthropogenic pressures and ecological factors influence the spatiotemporal patterns of both species in semiurban landscapes. In this study, camera trapping was conducted to understand how ecological factors and anthropogenic factors influenced the spatiotemporal patterns of both species in Silwood Park, Berkshire. The study revealed that foxes were more nocturnal in grasslands and closer to roads and buildings. Surprisingly, fox relative abundance was higher with increased human activity. Meanwhile, badgers, which were completely nocturnal in this study, had higher relative abundance near buildings. Lastly, both species showed varied responses to the abundances of other recorded mammalian species. Nonetheless, these multifaceted results indicate the need for studies covering a larger urban rural gradient to understand the complex behavioral adaptations to human pressures.