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Hill JE, Miller ML, Helton JL, Chipman RB, Gilbert AT, Beasley JC, Dharmarajan G, Rhodes OE. Raccoon spatial ecology in the rural southeastern United States. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0293133. [PMID: 37943745 PMCID: PMC10635488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The movement ecology of raccoons varies widely across habitats with important implications for the management of zoonotic diseases such as rabies. However, the spatial ecology of raccoons remains poorly understood in many regions of the United States, particularly in the southeast. To better understand the spatial ecology of raccoons in the southeastern US, we investigated the role of sex, season, and habitat on monthly raccoon home range and core area sizes in three common rural habitats (bottomland hardwood, upland pine, and riparian forest) in South Carolina, USA. From 2018-2022, we obtained 264 monthly home ranges from 46 raccoons. Mean monthly 95% utilization distribution (UD) sizes ranged from 1.05 ± 0.48 km2 (breeding bottomland females) to 5.69 ± 3.37 km2 (fall riparian males) and mean monthly 60% UD sizes ranged from 0.25 ± 0.15 km2 (breeding bottomland females) to 1.59 ± 1.02 km2 (summer riparian males). Males maintained home range and core areas ~2-5 times larger than females in upland pine and riparian habitat throughout the year, whereas those of bottomland males were only larger than females during the breeding season. Home ranges and core areas of females did not vary across habitats, whereas male raccoons had home ranges and core areas ~2-3 times larger in upland pine and riparian compared to bottomland hardwood throughout much of the year. The home ranges of males in upland pine and riparian are among the largest recorded for raccoons in the United States. Such large and variable home ranges likely contribute to elevated risk of zoonotic disease spread by males in these habitats. These results can be used to inform disease mitigation strategies in the southeastern United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob E. Hill
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
| | - Madison L. Miller
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
| | - James L. Helton
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Richard B. Chipman
- National Rabies Management Program, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Concord, NH, United States of America
| | - Amy T. Gilbert
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, United States of America
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
| | - Guha Dharmarajan
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
| | - Olin E. Rhodes
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC, United States of America
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States of America
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Ellis S, Franks DW, Nattrass S, Cant MA, Bradley DL, Giles D, Balcomb KC, Croft DP. Postreproductive lifespans are rare in mammals. Ecol Evol 2018. [PMID: 29531669 PMCID: PMC5838047 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A species has a post‐reproductive stage if, like humans, a female entering the adult population can expect to live a substantial proportion of their life after their last reproductive event. However, it is conceptually and statistically challenging to distinguish these true post‐reproductive stages from the usual processes of senescence, which can result in females occasionally surviving past their last reproductive event. Hence, despite considerable interest, the taxonomic prevalence of post‐reproductive stages remains unclear and debated. In this study we use life tables constructed from published data on wild populations of mammals, and statistical measures of post‐reproductive lifespans, to distinguish true post‐reproductive stages from artefacts of senescence and demography in 52 species. We find post‐reproductive stages are rare in mammals and are limited to humans and a few species of toothed whales. By resolving this long‐standing debate, we hope to provide clarity for researchers in the field of evolutionary biology and a solid foundation for further studies investigating the evolution and adaptive significance of this unusual life history trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ellis
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | | | - Michael A Cant
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation University of Exeter Penryn Campus Penryn, Cornwall UK
| | - Destiny L Bradley
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour University of Exeter Exeter UK
| | | | | | - Darren P Croft
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour University of Exeter Exeter UK
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Kirby RB, Muller LI, Chamberlain MJ, Conner M. Hardwood management and restoration of longleaf pine ecosystems may affect raccoon daytime resting sites. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ronald B. Kirby
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries; University of Tennessee; Knoxville TN 37996 U.S.A
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway; Newton GA 39870 U.S.A
| | - Lisa I. Muller
- Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries; University of Tennessee; Knoxville TN 37996 U.S.A
| | - Michael J. Chamberlain
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; University of Georgia; Athens GA 30602 U.S.A
| | - Mike Conner
- Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway; Newton GA 39870 U.S.A
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Heske EJ, Ahlers AA. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Activity is Better Predicted by Water Availability than Land Cover in a Moderately Fragmented Landscape. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2016. [DOI: 10.1656/045.023.0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Raccoon Spatial Requirements and Multi-Scale Habitat Selection within an Intensively Managed Central Appalachian Forest. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2015. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-174.1.87] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Beasley JC, Dharmarajan G, Rhodes OE. Melding kin structure and demography to elucidate source and sink habitats in fragmented landscapes. Ecosphere 2015. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00274.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. C. Beasley
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 195 Marsteller Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 USA
| | - G. Dharmarajan
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 195 Marsteller Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 USA
| | - O. E. Rhodes
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 195 Marsteller Street, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907 USA
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Owen SF, Berl JL, Edwards JW, Ford WM, Wood PB. Raccoon (Procyon lotor) Diurnal Den use within an Intensively Managed Forest in Central West Virginia. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2015. [DOI: 10.1656/045.022.0106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hennessy C, Tsai CC, Beasley JC, Beatty WS, Zollner PA, Rhodes OE. Elucidation of population connectivity in synanthropic mesopredators: Using genes to define relevant spatial scales for management of raccoons and Virginia opossums. J Wildl Manage 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Hennessy
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; 715 W State Street West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
| | - Chia-Chun Tsai
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; 715 W State Street West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Lab; University of Georgia; Drawer E Aiken 29802 SC USA
| | - William S. Beatty
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; 715 W State Street West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
| | - Patrick A. Zollner
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; 715 W State Street West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
| | - Olin E. Rhodes
- Savannah River Ecology Lab; University of Georgia; Drawer E Aiken 29802 SC USA
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Dharmarajan G, Beasley JC, Fike JA, Rhodes OE. Effects of landscape, demographic and behavioral factors on kin structure: testing ecological predictions in a mesopredator with high dispersal capability. Anim Conserv 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Dharmarajan
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research - Kolkata; Mohanpur West Bengal India
| | - J. C. Beasley
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; Aiken SC USA
| | - J. A. Fike
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
- Fort Collins Science Center; Fort Collins CO USA
| | - O. E. Rhodes
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources; Purdue University; West Lafayette IN USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; Aiken SC USA
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Beasley JC, Olson ZH, Beatty WS, Dharmarajan G, Rhodes OE. Effects of culling on mesopredator population dynamics. PLoS One 2013; 8:e58982. [PMID: 23527065 PMCID: PMC3604110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic changes in land use and the extirpation of apex predators have facilitated explosive growth of mesopredator populations. Consequently, many species have been subjected to extensive control throughout portions of their range due to their integral role as generalist predators and reservoirs of zoonotic disease. Yet, few studies have monitored the effects of landscape composition or configuration on the demographic or behavioral response of mesopredators to population manipulation. During 2007 we removed 382 raccoons (Procyon lotor) from 30 forest patches throughout a fragmented agricultural ecosystem to test hypotheses regarding the effects of habitat isolation on population recovery and role of range expansion and dispersal in patch colonization of mesopredators in heterogeneous landscapes. Patches were allowed to recolonize naturally and demographic restructuring of patches was monitored from 2008-2010 using mark-recapture. An additional 25 control patches were monitored as a baseline measure of demography. After 3 years only 40% of experimental patches had returned to pre-removal densities. This stagnant recovery was driven by low colonization rates of females, resulting in little to no within-patch recruitment. Colonizing raccoons were predominantly young males, suggesting that dispersal, rather than range expansion, was the primary mechanism driving population recovery. Contrary to our prediction, neither landscape connectivity nor measured local habitat attributes influenced colonization rates, likely due to the high dispersal capability of raccoons and limited role of range expansion in patch colonization. Although culling is commonly used to control local populations of many mesopredators, we demonstrate that such practices create severe disruptions in population demography that may be counterproductive to disease management in fragmented landscapes due to an influx of dispersing males into depopulated areas. However, given the slow repopulation rates observed in our study, localized depopulation may be effective at reducing negative ecological impacts of mesopredators in fragmented landscapes at limited spatial and temporal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, South Carolina, United States of America.
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