Wolf habitat selection is shaped by human activities in a highly managed boreal forest

Lesmerises, Frédéric; Dussault, Christian; St‐Laurent, Martin‐Hugues

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2012.03.025

Cited by 97 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(74 reference statements)

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“…Nevertheless, the selection of intermediate distances from roads was significantly different among seasons for both data sets. The relatively complex patterns we observed here may account for conflicting results that are found in the literature, with some studies concluding that wolves prefer habitat close to roads (James and Stuart-Smith 2000, Houle et al 2010, Whittington et al 2011, Lesmerises et al 2012) and other studies concluding the opposite (Ciucci et al 2003, Jędrzejewski et al 2004, Whittington et al 2005, Jędrzejewski et al 2008, Latham et al 2011. For context, the behavior of Yellowstone wolves near roads within the park and the absence of hunting and poaching along those roads suggest that they would not perceive those roads as a threat.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

“…3C). Avoidance of high elevation during late winter has also been observed in other wolf populations (Ciucci et al 2003, Whittington et al 2005, Hebblewhite and Merrill 2008, Milakovic et al 2011, Whittington et al 2011, Lesmerises et al 2012. Presumably, wolves move to lower elevations throughout the winter in response to elevational changes in ungulate habitat selection, as well as to lower the energetic costs of locomotion.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

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Long‐ and short‐term temporal variability in habitat selection of a top predator

et al. 2015

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Abstract. Considerable theory explains the importance of understanding temporal variation in ecological processes. Nevertheless, long-term variability in habitat selection is rarely assessed or even acknowledged. We explored temporal variability in the habitat selection of a top-predator, the wolf (Canis lupus), at two time scales: interannual and seasonal variability. To do this, we developed resource utilization functions to relate wolf habitat selection to environmental variables in different years and seasons. We used radiotelemetry data collected from a wolf population in Yellowstone National Park during a 10-year period (1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007) and added a Year variable in the models to account for interannual variation in the studied processes. We also used a three-year data set (nested within the 10-year data set) to incorporate additional variables in the models and test for differences in short-and long-term patterns of habitat selection. Wolves exhibited seasonal variation in habitat selection with respect to distance from roads, elevation, openness, and habitat type. Habitat selection was considerably more complicated during the winter compared to summer, when wolves only selected habitat based on distance from roads. We detected clear patterns of habitat selection in the three-year data set that could not be detected in the 10-year data set, despite the longer data set had more statistical power for pattern detection. This observation is likely the result of the longer data set being comprised of several shorter-term and countervailing patterns. This explanation is also consistent with having detected significant year effects in the 10-year data set. Insomuch as habitat selection is important to conservation and management, this research is significant for demonstrating the different impressions that can be given by short-term and long-term studies. It may be common for short-term data sets to suggest patterns of habitat selection that do not prevail over longer periods of time.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Long‐ and short‐term temporal variability in habitat selection of a top predator

et al. 2015

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“…Also, past studies that have considered wolf interactions with industrial development have considered only a few disturbance types, but not the cumulative effects of multiple types (but see Lesmerises et al 2012 habitat ecology serve as a foundation for increasing our knowledge o f the spatial and temporal relationships of these two species. Such insights may also apply to other species influenced by increasing human disturbances and apparent competition (Robinson et al 2002, Kristan and Boarman 2003, Baldi et al 2004, Bryant and Page 2005, Gibson et al 2006.…”

Section: Anthropogenic Disturbances In the South Peace Region O F Brimentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of industrial developments on the distribution and movement ecology of wolves (Canis lupus) and woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the South Peace region of British Columbia.

Williamson-Ehlers¹

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“…We started collaring wolves in 2005, i.e., 3 years before the onset of simulated howling sessions, as part of a larger research project (see Lesmerises et al 2012). However, a lot of the collared wolves were killed by trappers, and individuals were monitored for 322 ± 164 days (mean ± SD).…”

Section: Wolf Capture and Telemetrymentioning

confidence: 99%

Space use by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in response to simulated howling: a case study and a call for further investigation

2017

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Simulated wolf howling sessions are a popular ecotourism activity, but no exhaustive evaluation has been made on their potential impacts on wolf ecology. We evaluated the effects of simulated wolf howling sessions on the space use of gray wolves (Canis lupus L., 1758) in the Montmorency Forest (Quebec, Canada). Although we equipped 22 individuals with GPS collars from 2005 to 2008, only four wolves could potentially hear our 20 simulated howls (July to October 2008). We used power analyses to select two spatiotemporal scales of analysis with sufficient location data to investigate wolf reactions. We evaluated the distance and orientation of wolf movements relative to howling stations, their movement rates, and their mean distance to other collared pack members, which we used as an index of pack cohesion. We found that wolves approached howling stations (at both scales) and were closer to other pack members (at broad scale only) after simulated howls. The reactions of wolves were of relatively low magnitude, and we conclude that simulated howling sessions were unlikely to have strong negative impacts on the movement patterns of wolves. We encourage future studies to evaluate the effects of simulated howling on the activity levels and fine-scale space use by wolves.Key words: animal communication, Canis lupus, ecotourism, gray wolf, satellite telemetry.Résumé : Bien que les sessions d'appels aux loups réalisées dans le cadre d'activités écotouristiques soient populaires, aucune évaluation exhaustive de leurs impacts sur l'écologie du loup n'a été faite à ce jour. Nous avons évalué l'utilisation de l'espace du loup gris (Canis lupus L., 1758) en réponse à des appels simulés dans la Forêt Montmorency (Québec, Canada). Bien que nous ayons muni 22 individus de colliers GPS entre 2005 et 2008, seulement quatre loups ont vraisemblablement pu entendre nos 20 appels simulés (juillet à octobre 2008). Nous avons utilisé des analyses de puissance afin de cerner deux échelles spatiotemporelles d'analyse ayant suffisamment de localisations télémétriques pour évaluer les réactions de ces loups. Nous avons ensuite mesuré la distance et l'orientation des loups par rapport aux stations d'appel, leurs taux de déplacement, ainsi que leur distance moyenne par rapport à d'autres membres de la meute, que nous avons utilisé comme un indice de la cohésion de la meute. Nous avons observé que les loups s'approchaient des stations d'appel (aux deux échelles) et étaient plus près des autres membres de leur meute (à grande échelle seulement) à la suite d'un appel simulé. Ces réactions étaient toutefois de faible ampleur et nous concluons que nos appels simulés n'ont probablement pas eu d'impact négatif sur les patrons de déplacement des loups. Nous encourageons davantage d'études sur les effets des appels simulés sur les niveaux d'activité et l'utilisation de l'espace à fine échelle des loups.

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Wolf habitat selection is shaped by human activities in a highly managed boreal forest

Cited by 97 publications

References 44 publications

Long‐ and short‐term temporal variability in habitat selection of a top predator

Long‐ and short‐term temporal variability in habitat selection of a top predator

Impacts of industrial developments on the distribution and movement ecology of wolves (Canis lupus) and woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the South Peace region of British Columbia.

Space use by gray wolves (Canis lupus) in response to simulated howling: a case study and a call for further investigation

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