Anthropogenic activities and age class mediate carnivore habitat selection in a human-dominated landscape

Summary

Human activities increasingly challenge wild animal populations by disrupting ecological connectivity and population persistence. Yet, human-modified habitats can provide resources, resulting in selection of disturbed areas by generalist species. To investigate spatial and temporal responses of a generalist carnivore to human disturbance, we investigated habitat selection and diel activity patterns in caracals ( Caracal caracal). We GPS-collared 25 adults and subadults in urban and wildland-dominated subregions in Cape Town, South Africa. Selection responses for landscape variables were dependent on subregion, animal age class, and diel period. Contrary to expectations, caracals did not become more nocturnal in urban areas. Caracals increased their selection for proximity to urban areas as the proportion of urban area increased. Differences in habitat selection between urban and wildland caracals suggest that individuals of this generalist species exhibit high behavioral flexibility in response to anthropogenic disturbances that emerge as a function of habitat context.

Graphical abstract

Highlights

• •

  Urban caracals select to be close to urban areas at night; wildland caracals do not

• •

  Subadult caracals select the urban matrix and marginal habitat more than adults

• •

  Urban caracals use microhabitat refugia to mitigate risk of human detection

• •

  Caracals do not become more nocturnal in urban areas

Abstract

Zoology; Animal species; Human Geography