Do coyotes Canis latrans influence occupancy ot prey in suburban forest fragments？

作     者：Brandon M. JONES Michael V. COVE Marcus A. LASHLEY Victoria L. JACKSON 

作者机构：Department of Biology and Agriculture University of Central Missouri Warrensburg M0 64093 USA Department of Applied Ecology North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources North Carolina State University Raleigh NC 27695 USA Department of WildlifeFisheries and Aquaculture Mississippi State University Starkville MS 39762 USA 

出 版 物：《Current Zoology》 (动物学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2016年第62卷第1期

页      面：1-6页

核心收录：

学科分类：0710[理学-生物学] 07[理学] 0905[农学-畜牧学] 0906[农学-兽医学] 071002[理学-动物学] 

基　　金：Funding Partial funding for this research came from the University of Central Missouri in the form of a Willard North Graduate Research Grant, Honors College Undergraduate Research Grants, and the Biology Department Alumni Fund the University of Central Missouri Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee 

主　　题：camera traps coyote deer rabbit squirrel urban wildlife. 

摘      要：With the extirpation of apex predators from many North American systems, coyotes Canis latrans have become the de facto top predator and are ubiquitous members of most ecosystems. Keystone predators aid in maintaining ecosystem function by regulating the mammal community through direct predation and instilling the landscape of fear, yet the value of coyotes regulating systems to this capacity is understudied and likely variable across environments. Since coyotes are common in the Midwestern United States, we utilized camera traps and occupancy analyses to as- sess their role in regulating the distribution of mammalian herbivores in a fragmented suburban ecosystem. Forest cover was a strong positive predictor of white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus detection, while coyote occurrence had a negative effect. Coyotes exerted a negative effect on squirrel （Sciurus spp.） and eastern cottontail rabbit Sylvilagus floridanus occurrence, while urban cover was a positive predictor for the prey species＇ occurrence. These results suggest all 3 species behaviorally avoid coyotes whereby deer seek denser forest cover and squirrels and cottontails mitigate risk by increasing use of urban areas. Although previous studies reveal limited influence of coyote on the rest of the carnivore guild in suburban systems, we suggest coyotes play an important role in regulating the herbivorous mammals and hence may provide similar eco- logical, benefits in urban/suburban forest fragments through trophic cascades. Furthermore, since hunting may not be allowed in urban and suburban habitats, coyotes might also serve as the pri- mary regulator of nuisance species occurring at high abundance such as white-tailed deer and squirrels.