The role of human-related risk in breeding site selection by wolves

Sazatornil, Víctor (author), Krofel, Miha (author), Potočnik, Hubert (author), Ražen, Nina (author)

Large carnivores can be found in different scenarios of cohabitation with humans. Behavioral adaptations to minimize risk from humans are expected to be exacerbated where large carnivores are most vulnerable, such as at breeding sites. Using wolves as a model species, along with data from 26 study areas across the species´ worldwide range, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the role of humans in breeding site selection by a large carnivore. Some of the patterns previously observed at the local scale can be extrapolated to the entire species range provided that important sources of variation are taken into account. Generally, wolves minimised the risk of exposure at breeding sites by avoiding human-made structures, selecting shelter from vegetation and avoiding agricultural lands. Our results suggest a scaled hierarchical habitat selection process across selection orders by which wolves compensate higher exposure risk to humans within their territories via a stronger selection at breeding sites. Dissimilar patterns between continents suggest that adaptations to cope with human-associated risks are modulated by the history of coexistence and persecution. Although many large carnivores able to persist in human-dominated landscapes do not require large-scale habitat preservation, habitat selection at levels below occupancy and territory should be regarded in management and conservation strategies aiming to preserve these species in such contexts. In this case, we recommend providing shelter from human interference where possible to provide necessary breeding habitat.

• Language: English
• Keywords: homesites, large carnivores, human-dominated landscapes, continental patterns, human-made structures, human population density, persistence, persecution
• Work type: Not categorized
• Typology: 1.02 - Review Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Number of pages: Str. 103-110
• Numbering: #Vol. #201
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-97221
• UDC: 599.744.111.1:591.5
• ISSN on article: 0006-3207
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2016.06.022
• COBISS.SI-ID: 3942223
• Publication date in RUL: 23.10.2017

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Biological Conservation
• Shortened title: Biol. Conserv.
• Publisher: Applied Science Publishers
• ISSN: 0006-3207
• COBISS.SI-ID: 26719232

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.
• Licensing start date: 23.10.2017

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0059
• Name: Gozd, gozdarstvo in obnovljivi gozdni viri