Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data
Abstract Background Quantifying kill rates is central to understanding predation ecology. However, estimating kill rates and prey composition in carnivore diets is challenging due to their low densities and cryptic behaviors limiting direct observations, especially when the prey is small (i.e., <...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-06-01
|
| Series: | Animal Biotelemetry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40317-020-00206-y |
| _version_ | 1819021269688909824 |
|---|---|
| author | Tyler R. Petroelje Jerrold L. Belant Dean E. Beyer Nathan J. Svoboda |
| author_facet | Tyler R. Petroelje Jerrold L. Belant Dean E. Beyer Nathan J. Svoboda |
| author_sort | Tyler R. Petroelje |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Quantifying kill rates is central to understanding predation ecology. However, estimating kill rates and prey composition in carnivore diets is challenging due to their low densities and cryptic behaviors limiting direct observations, especially when the prey is small (i.e., < 5 kg). Global positioning system (GPS) collars and use of collar-mounted activity sensors linked with GPS data can provide insights into animal movements, behavior, and activity. Methods We verified activity thresholds for American black bears (Ursus americanus), a bobcat (Lynx rufus), and wolves (Canis spp.) with GPS collars containing on-board accelerometers by visual observations of captive individuals’ behavior. We applied these activity threshold values to GPS location and accelerometer data from free-ranging carnivores at locations identified by a GPS cluster algorithm which we visited and described as kill sites or non-kill sites. We then assessed use of GPS, landscape, and activity data in a predictive model for improving detection of kill sites for free-ranging black bears, bobcats, coyotes (C. latrans), and wolves using logistic regression during May–August 2013–2015. Results Accelerometer values differed between active and inactive states for black bears (P < 0.01), the bobcat (P < 0.01), and wolves (P < 0.01). Top-performing models of kill site identification for each carnivore species included activity data which improved correct assignment of kill sites by 5–38% above models that did not include activity. Though inclusion of activity data improved model performance, predictive power was less than 45% for all species. Conclusions Collar-mounted accelerometers can improve identification of predation sites for some carnivores as compared to use of GPS and landscape informed covariates alone and increase our understanding of predator–prey relations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:04:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d940dd59217d426f8d0eadaa317725c3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-3385 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T04:04:25Z |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Biotelemetry |
| spelling | doaj.art-d940dd59217d426f8d0eadaa317725c32022-12-21T19:16:39ZengBMCAnimal Biotelemetry2050-33852020-06-018111010.1186/s40317-020-00206-yIdentification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer dataTyler R. Petroelje0Jerrold L. Belant1Dean E. Beyer2Nathan J. Svoboda3Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State UniversityCarnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State UniversityWildlife Division, Michigan Department of Natural ResourcesCarnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State UniversityAbstract Background Quantifying kill rates is central to understanding predation ecology. However, estimating kill rates and prey composition in carnivore diets is challenging due to their low densities and cryptic behaviors limiting direct observations, especially when the prey is small (i.e., < 5 kg). Global positioning system (GPS) collars and use of collar-mounted activity sensors linked with GPS data can provide insights into animal movements, behavior, and activity. Methods We verified activity thresholds for American black bears (Ursus americanus), a bobcat (Lynx rufus), and wolves (Canis spp.) with GPS collars containing on-board accelerometers by visual observations of captive individuals’ behavior. We applied these activity threshold values to GPS location and accelerometer data from free-ranging carnivores at locations identified by a GPS cluster algorithm which we visited and described as kill sites or non-kill sites. We then assessed use of GPS, landscape, and activity data in a predictive model for improving detection of kill sites for free-ranging black bears, bobcats, coyotes (C. latrans), and wolves using logistic regression during May–August 2013–2015. Results Accelerometer values differed between active and inactive states for black bears (P < 0.01), the bobcat (P < 0.01), and wolves (P < 0.01). Top-performing models of kill site identification for each carnivore species included activity data which improved correct assignment of kill sites by 5–38% above models that did not include activity. Though inclusion of activity data improved model performance, predictive power was less than 45% for all species. Conclusions Collar-mounted accelerometers can improve identification of predation sites for some carnivores as compared to use of GPS and landscape informed covariates alone and increase our understanding of predator–prey relations.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40317-020-00206-yActivityAmerican black bearBobcatCanis latransCanis lupusCoyote |
| spellingShingle | Tyler R. Petroelje Jerrold L. Belant Dean E. Beyer Nathan J. Svoboda Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data Animal Biotelemetry Activity American black bear Bobcat Canis latrans Canis lupus Coyote |
| title | Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| title_full | Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| title_fullStr | Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| title_short | Identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| title_sort | identification of carnivore kill sites is improved by verified accelerometer data |
| topic | Activity American black bear Bobcat Canis latrans Canis lupus Coyote |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40317-020-00206-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tylerrpetroelje identificationofcarnivorekillsitesisimprovedbyverifiedaccelerometerdata AT jerroldlbelant identificationofcarnivorekillsitesisimprovedbyverifiedaccelerometerdata AT deanebeyer identificationofcarnivorekillsitesisimprovedbyverifiedaccelerometerdata AT nathanjsvoboda identificationofcarnivorekillsitesisimprovedbyverifiedaccelerometerdata |