Space Use and Movement of Urban Bobcats

Simple Summary

The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a medium-sized carnivore that lives in remote and urban habitats. Here, we evaluate how bobcats exploit a highly urbanized section of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, USA by evaluating their space use and activity patterns. We found that bobcats use more natural habitat areas within urban areas, such as agricultural fields and creeks, and avoid highly anthropogenic features, such as roads. Bobcat home ranges overlap one another, especially in areas with preferred habitat types, but they are neither avoiding nor attracted to one another during their daily movements. This study highlights how bobcats are able to navigate a built environment and the importance of green space in such places.

Abstract

Global urbanization is rapidly changing the landscape for wildlife species that must learn to persist in declining wild spacing, adapt, or risk extinction. Many mesopredators have successfully exploited urban niches, and research on these species in an urban setting offers insights into the traits that facilitate their success. In this study, we examined space use and activity patterns from GPS-collared bobcats (Lynx rufus) in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, USA. We found that bobcats select for natural/agricultural features, creeks, and water ways and there is greater home-range overlap in these habitats. They avoid roads and are less likely to have home-range overlap in habitats with more roads. Home-range size is relatively small and overlap relatively high, with older animals showing both greater home-range size and overlap. Simultaneous locations suggest bobcats are neither avoiding nor attracted to one another, despite the high overlap across home ranges. Finally, bobcats are active at all times of day and night. These results suggest that access to natural features and behavioral plasticity may enable bobcats to live in highly developed landscapes.

Retrospective assessment of the validity and use of the community balance and mobility scale among individuals with subacute spinal cord injury

STUDY DESIGN

This is a retrospective chart review.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to evaluate the convergent validity, internal consistency and use of the Community Balance & Mobility Scale (CB&M) in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) during inpatient rehabilitation.

SETTING

This study was conducted in an SCI rehabilitation center in Canada.

METHODS

Inpatient charts from January 2009 to October 2015 were screened. A chart was excluded if the inpatient was aged >65 years, did not complete a CB&M and/or had a comorbid condition. Demographics, CB&M score and injury-related characteristics were extracted. Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Six-Minute Walk Test (6 MWT) and Ten-Meter Walk Test (10 mWT) scores were obtained if completed within 1 week of the CB&M. χ²-Tests were used to identify CB&M items that were uniformly distributed, implying good discrimination between individuals. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating (Pearson's r) CB&M scores with BBS, 6 MWT and 10 mWT scores. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α) was evaluated.

RESULTS

Thirty inpatients were included (23 male, 38.3±15.3 years old, three AIS C, 26 AIS D, C1-L4, 16 traumatic). BBS scores were ⩾51/56; however, CB&M scores showed a wider range (27-82/96). Unilateral Stance, Tandem Walking, Lateral Foot Scooting, Forward to Backward Walking and Descending Stairs showed uniform distributions. Scores on the CB&M correlated strongly with scores on the 6 MWT (r=0.72, P<0.001) and moderately strongly with 10 mWT and BBS scores (r=0.47-0.59, P=0.004-0.013). Cronbach's α=0.87.

CONCLUSIONS

The CB&M is a valid measure in high-functioning individuals with iSCI. Prospective studies are required to further evaluate the psychometric properties of the CB&M as a measure of high-level balance for SCI.