A Functional Response in Resource Selection Links Multiscale Responses of a Large Carnivore to Human Mortality Risk
Theory suggests that animals make hierarchical, multiscale resource selection decisions to address the hierarchy of factors limiting their fitness. Ecologists have developed tools to link population-level resource selection across scales; yet, theoretical expectations about the relationship between coarse- and fine-scale selection decisions at the individual level remain elusive despite their importance to fitness. With GPS-telemetry data collected across California, USA, we evaluated resource selection of mountain lions (Puma concolor; n = 244) relative to spatial variation in human-caused mortality risk. With hierarchical resource selection, coarse-scale selection determines availability at finer scales. This simple relationship allowed us to demonstrate that functional responses in resource selection explicitly link individual-level resource selection decisions across scales. We show that individuals proactively avoiding risk when selecting home ranges are freed to relax this avoidance when making decisions within home ranges. However, individuals also exhibit reactive avoidance of risk at the finest scales along movement paths.
Authors
- T. Winston Vickers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7004-3394)
- Daniel J. Gammons
- Justin A. Dellinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-1859)
- Jeff A. Sikich
- J. Mark Higley
- Bogdan Cristescu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2964-5040)
- John F. Benson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3993-4340)
- Christopher C. Wilmers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2063-1478)
- Heiko U. Wittmer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8861-188X)
- Kyle D. Dougherty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6799-225X)
- David K. Garcelon
- Quinton Martins
- Thomas R. Stephenson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9412-8309)
- Greta M. Wengert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3398-0071)
- Seth P. D. Riley (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3942-4919)
Institutions
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (IN)
- National Park Service (US)
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife (US)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (US)
- Audubon Nature Institute (US)
- Victoria University of Wellington (NZ)
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department (US)
- Institute for Wildlife Studies
- University of California, Davis (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Ecology Letters
- Published
- 2024-12-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.70035
- Citations
- 4
- Primary Topic
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.84
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Nature Conservancy
- California Department of Parks and Recreation
- Peninsula Open Space Trust
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- U.S. Forest Service
- National Park Service
- Agricultural Research Service