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- Title
Adult bobcat (<italic>Lynx rufus</italic>) habitat selection in a longleaf pine savanna.
- Authors
Little, Andrew R.; Mike Conner, L.; Chamberlain, Michael J.; Nibbelink, Nathan P.; Warren, Robert J.
- Abstract
Background: Pine savannas are primarily managed with frequent prescribed fire (≤ 3 years) to promote diversity of flora and fauna, and to maintain open, park-like conditions needed by species such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (<italic>Picoides borealis</italic>). However, a knowledge gap exists in our understanding of bobcat (<italic>Lynx rufus</italic>) habitat selection in longleaf pine savannas and research is warranted to direct our future management decisions.Methods: We examined bobcat habitat selection in a pine savanna managed with frequent fires at two spatial scales (i.e., study area boundary [hereafter, landscape scale]) and annual area of use [95% kernel density; local scale]), and assessed effects of prescribed fire on bobcat habitat selection. Specifically, we monitored 45 bobcats (16 males and 29 females) during 2001-2007.Results: We found differential habitat selection by sex. At the landscape scale, female bobcats were closer to mixed pine-hardwoods, young pine, and secondary roads, but farther from mature pine and hardwoods stands relative to males. We found no difference in selection of agriculture, shrub-scrub, and primary roads between sexes. At the annual area of use scale, female bobcats were closer to secondary roads, but farther from agriculture and shrub-scrub relative to males. We found no difference in selection of mature pine, mixed pine-hardwoods, hardwoods, young pine, and primary roads between sexes. Bobcats primarily selected for stands burned ≤ 1.1 years post-fire.Conclusions: Our results show that bobcats exploit a broad range of habitat types in pine landscapes managed with frequent fire and commonly use recently burned stands (≤ 1.1 year post-fire), suggesting prey in many areas of this system are at risk of bobcat predation. Additionally, we suggest land managers consider scale of selection by bobcats when developing habitat management strategies.
- Subjects
BOBCAT; HABITAT selection; ANIMAL habitations; LONGLEAF pine; BIODIVERSITY
- Publication
Ecological Processes, 2018, Vol 7, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2192-1709
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s13717-018-0129-5