Limiting factors of Striped Hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, distributionand densities across climatic and geographical gradients (Mammalia: Carnivora)

shira grossbard — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 11:06:10 +0000

Few previous studies on the factors that affect Striped Hyaena (Hyaena hyaena
Linnaeus, 1758) occurrence and densities were done on geographically unrelated populations
using different methodologies. In Israel, hyaenas occur throughout the country’s
steep climatic and geographical gradients, presenting a unique opportunity to
study densities and habitat use across adjacent ecosystems using a unified methodology
and test previous conceptions regarding the species’ habitat selection. We collected
hyaena abundance-absence data using 1440 camera traps placed at 80 sites (2012–
2016). Site location ranged from hyper-arid deserts to dense Mediterranean shrubland.
We assessed the effect of climate, habitat structure, elevation, geomorphological attributes
(proxy for den availability), and anthropogenic development (proximity to settlements
and agriculture) on hyaena densities using N-mixture models. Hyaena densities
were negatively affected by anthropogenic development, and were limited by den
availability. Hyaena densities did not follow a climatic or geographic gradient. Densities
were highest at hyper-arid deserts and Mediterranean coastal shrublands. Despite
the former conception that hyaenas prefer semi-arid open habitats and avoid extreme
deserts and dense vegetation, we show that hyaenas use and even thrive in these habitats
when geomorphological conditions are suitable and resources are available.

הפוסט Limiting factors of Striped Hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, distributionand densities across climatic and geographical gradients (Mammalia: Carnivora) הופיע לראשונה ב-Hamaarag.

Spatio-temporal activity patterns of mammals in an agro-ecological mosaic with seasonal recreation activities

shira grossbard — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 11:48:49 +0000

Recreation activities in developed landscapes may add additional stressors that affect wildlife spatial and temporal activity patterns. We assessed medium to large mammal species response to a tourist scenic route in an agro-ecological mosaic landscape of the Shikma region, Israel. We placed 60 camera traps in an agro-ecological matrix and recorded mammals during three seasons between 2015 and 2017. We used N-mixture models to estimate mammal activity in relation with proximity to the scenic route and additional anthropogenic related factors such as traffic volume and land use. Anthropogenic development and activities had negative effects on large, endangered species, and none or positive on smaller, commensal species. Our results suggest an expansion of human recreation activity may have adverse outcomes on apex predators, which can cause a chain reaction and lead to meso-predator release, ultimately affecting prey species. The results emphasize the need for land managers to be extra cautious when attempting to add additional stressors (i.e., recreation activity) to developed landscapes such as the study area. Such landscapes can function as healthy ecosystems and provide suitable habitats for wildlife given that land managers are aware and account for wildlife-limiting factors in future development plans.

הפוסט Spatio-temporal activity patterns of mammals in an agro-ecological mosaic with seasonal recreation activities הופיע לראשונה ב-Hamaarag.

ארכיון N-mixture models - Hamaarag

Limiting factors of Striped Hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, distributionand densities across climatic and geographical gradients (Mammalia: Carnivora)

Spatio-temporal activity patterns of mammals in an agro-ecological mosaic with seasonal recreation activities