Abstract Noninvasive genotyping methods have become key elements of wildlife research over the last two decades, but their widespread adoption is limited by high costs, low success rates and error rates. The information lost when may lead to decreased precision in animal population densities, which could misguide conservation management actions. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide a promising alternative traditionally used microsatellites as SNPs allow amplification shorter DNA...

Summary Prey switching occurs when a generalist predator kills disproportionately more of an abundant prey species and correspondingly spares rarer species. Although this behaviour is classic stabilizing mechanism in food web models, little known about its operation free‐living systems which often include dangerous that resist predation. We used long‐term (1995–2015) data from large mammal system northern Yellowstone National Park, USA , to understand how preference wild, ( Canis lupus )...

Many ecologists have lamented the demise of natural history and attributed this decline to a misguided view that is outdated unscientific. Although there perception focus in ecology conservation shifted away from descriptive research training toward hypothetico-deductive research, we argue has entered new phase call “next-generation history.” This renaissance characterized by technological statistical advances aid collecting detailed observations systematically over broad spatial temporal...

Significance An incomplete understanding of the total influence competitively dominant predators exert on subordinate species hinders our ability to anticipate effects that changing carnivore populations will have ecological communities. Here, we show cougars are architects a complex behavioral game risk and reward, because or cooccurring carnivores both provisioned preyed by predators. Each considered here employed different strategy approach risk–reward tradeoff, suggesting there multiple...

We studied gray wolf (Canis lupus) homesite attendance rates using global positioning system locations of 17 GPS-radiocollared wolves from 7 packs in Idaho. Nonbreeding attended homesites more once pups were weaned and we hypothesize this is a behavior that benefits subsequent pup-rearing. The breeding status sex the was strongest predictor preweaning period but dominant postweaning number helpers pack. estimated each additional helper pack decreased an individual's rate by 7.5%. Because can...

Abstract Temporal fluctuations in growth rates can arise from both variation age‐specific vital and temporal age structure (i.e. the relative abundance of individuals each age‐class). However, empirical assessments their effects on population rate are relatively rare. Most research has focused understanding contribution changing to these analyses routinely assume that: (a) populations have stable distributions, (b) environmental influences stationary mean and/or variance processes does not...

In heterogeneous landscapes, large herbivores employ plastic behavioral strategies to buffer themselves against negative effects of environmental variation on fitness. Yet, the mechanisms by which individual responses such scale up influence population performance remain uncertain. Analyses space-use behaviors exemplify this knowledge gap, because are often assumed, but rarely demonstrated, have direct fitness consequences. We combined fine-scale data forage biomass and quality with movement...

Abstract Reproduction is a critical fitness component in large herbivores. Biogeographic models predict that populations occurring at the edges of range may have compromised reproductive rates because inferior habitat peripheries. When are chronically low, ungulate lack resiliency to rebound quickly after periods environmental stress, and this effect be greatest for heat-sensitive organisms their southern limit. To assess demographic vulnerability moose (Alces alces), we studied...

Abstract Spatial capture–recapture (SCR) models have become the preferred tool for estimating densities of carnivores. Within this family are variants requiring identification all individuals in each encounter (SCR), a subset only (generalized spatial mark–resight, gSMR), or no individual (spatial count presence–absence). Although technique has been shown through simulation to yield unbiased results, consistency and relative precision estimates across methods real‐world settings seldom...

Abstract Energetic subsidies between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can strongly influence food webs population dynamics. Our objective was to study how affected jaguar ( Panthera onca ) diet, sociality, density in a seasonally flooded protected area the Brazilian Pantanal. The diet n = 138 scats) dominated by fish (46%) reptiles (55%), representing first known feed extensively on minimally consume mammals (11%). These supported highest estimate date (12.4 jaguars/100 km²) derived from...

Abstract Climatic changes are affecting the distribution and viability of species worldwide, effects may be greatest for heat‐sensitive organisms in populations situated near species’ equatorial range limit. We studied population dynamics a cold‐adapted large herbivore, moose ( Alces alces shirasi ), located at extreme southern limit Utah, USA , using long‐term dataset aerial counts conducted between 1958 2013. used modeling approach that acknowledges uncertainty number counted. To determine...

ABSTRACT To reverse observed range-wide population declines, managers of mule and black- tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) require information on the vital rates life stages that are most influential to growth for which target management actions. We conducted a literature review used hierarchical models provide biological descriptions black-tailed rates, their variability, how they correlate with one another. then matrix life-stage simulation analysis determine individual contributed...

Abstract In multi-carnivore systems individuals must forage and reproduce while also competing with other carnivores avoiding intraguild predation. These interactions may vary by strength scales across different ecosystems. We used occupancy analyses attraction–avoidance indices to assess large- fine-scale interactions, respectively, between Cougars (Puma concolor), Bobcats (Lynx rufus), Coyotes (Canis latrans) in northeast Oregon based on data from camera traps set during the summer fall of...

Abstract Energetic subsidies between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can strongly influence food webs population dynamics. Our objective was to study how affected jaguar ( Panthera onca ) diet, sociality, density in a seasonally flooded protected area the Brazilian Pantanal. The diet (n = 138 scats) dominated by fish (46%) reptiles (55%), representing first known feed extensively on minimally consume mammals (11%). These supported highest estimate date (12.4 per 100 km 2 derived from...

Reproduction is a critical fitness component in large herbivores. Biogeographic models predict that range-edge populations may have compromised reproductive rates because of inferior habitat at range peripheries. When are chronically low, ungulate lack the resiliency to rebound quickly after periods environmental stress, and this effect be greatest for heat-sensitive organisms their southern limit. To assess demographic vulnerability moose (Alces alces), we studied relationships between...

The behavioral mechanisms by which predators encounter prey are poorly resolved. In particular, the extent to engage in active search for versus incidentally encountering them has not been well studied many systems and particularly neonate during birth pulse. Parturition of large herbivores occurs a short predictable temporal window young highly vulnerable predation. Our study aims determine how suite carnivores responds seasonal pulse newborn ungulates using contemporaneous global...

Abstract Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models have become the preferred tool for estimating densities of carnivores. Within this family are variants requiring identification all individuals in each encounter (SCR), a subset only (generalized spatial mark-resight, gSMR), or no individual (spatial count presence-absence). Although technique has been shown through simulation to yield unbiased results, consistency and relative precision estimates across methods real-world settings seldom...

Abstract The prevalence, intensity, or outcome of interference competition and interspecific killing between predominantly solitary species operating on large spatial scales is challenging to document test. Here, we present a detailed account inter‐ intraspecific interactions from contemporaneous GPS location data in‐field investigation. In June 2018, GPS‐collared female cougar ( Puma concolor ) maintained strong site fidelity for period 19 days, indicative parturition behavior establishment...

Abstract To reverse range‐wide population declines, managers of black‐tailed and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) require information on the vital rates life stages most influential to growth target effective management actions. We extracted from a literature review used hierarchical models summarize rates, their variability, how they correlate with one another. then matrix life‐stage simulation analysis determine individual that contributed annual rate (i.e., lambda). Annual adult female...

Abstract Non-invasive genotyping methods have become key elements of wildlife research over the last two decades, but their widespread adoption is limited by high costs, low success rates, and error rates. The information lost when may lead to decreased precision in animal population densities which could misguide conservation management actions. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provide a promising alternative traditionally used microsatellites as SNPs allow amplification shorter DNA...

There is an increasing need to understand how animals respond modifications of their habitat following landscape-scale disturbances such as wildfire or timber harvest. Such can promote increased use by herbivores due changes in plant community structure that improve forage conditions, but also cause avoidance if other functions provided cover are substantially reduced eliminated. Quantifying the total effects these disturbances, however, challenging because they may not fully be apparent...

Abstract Mesopredator release theory suggests that dominant predators suppress subordinate carnivores and ultimately shape community dynamics, but the assumption species are only negatively affected ignores possibility of facilitation through scavenging. We examined interplay within a carnivore consisting cougars, coyotes, black bears, bobcats using contemporaneous Global Positioning System telemetry data from 51 individuals, diet analysis 972 DNA-metabarcoded scats, 128 physical...

Understanding the extent to which predators engage in active search for prey versus incidentally encountering them is important because can exert a stabilizing force on populations by alleviating predation pressure low-density and increasing it high-density prey. Parturition of many large herbivores occurs during short predictable temporal window young are highly vulnerable predation. Our study aims determine how suite carnivores responds seasonal pulse newborn ungulates using...

Abstract The behavioral mechanisms by which predators encounter prey are poorly resolved. In particular, the extent to engage in active search for versus incidentally encountering them is unknown. distinction between and incidental influences population dynamics with exerting a stabilizing force on populations alleviating predation pressure low-density increasing it high-density prey. Parturition of many large herbivores occurs during short predictable temporal window young highly vulnerable...