In this study, we utilized radiotelemetry data spanning 13 years

In this study, we utilized radiotelemetry data spanning 13 years to assess differences in home range use and habitat selection by houbara bustards in the Mahazat as-Sayd reserve in Saudi Arabia. The mean (±standard error of the estimate) annual home range size, estimated using the Kernel density method, was 307.76 ± 15.91 km2, and did not differ

significantly between genders. Annual home ranges of wild-born houbaras were however larger than those of their captive-born counterparts (wild-born: 423.77 ± 62.66 km2, captive-bred: 299.31 ± 16.39 km2). Rainy season home ranges were the largest (279.29 ± 27.75 km2) followed by winter home ranges (245.79 ± 19.19 km2) and summer home ranges (110.51 ± 8.91 km2) indicating larger-scale movements of houbaras when forage was available. Seasonal selleck inhibitor home ranges did not differ significantly between wild-born or captive-bred houbaras. Analysis of habitat selection patterns using the distance-based method revealed consistent patterns of habitat selleckchem preferences across years and seasons and between genders, ages and whether the bird was captive-bred or wild-born. Results indicate that scrub forms the most preferred habitat for houbaras, and should be conserved for the population welfare of the houbara in Saudi Arabia. “
“Resource exploitation and

behavioural interference underlie competition among carnivores. Competition is reduced by specializing on different prey and/or spatio-temporal separation, usually leading to different food habits. We predicted that two closely related species of large cats, the endangered snow leopard and the near-threatened common leopard, living find more in sympatry, would coexist through habitat separation and exploitation of different prey species. In central Himalaya, we assessed

(2006–2010) habitat and diet overlap between these carnivores. The snow leopard used grassland and shrubland, whereas the common leopard selected forest. Contrary to our prediction, snow leopard and common leopard preyed upon similar wild (Himalayan tahr, musk deer) and domestic species (Bos spp., dogs). Dietary overlap between snow leopard and common leopard was 69% (yearly), 76% (colder months) and 60% (warmer months). Thus, habitat separation should be the result of other factors, most likely avoidance of interspecific aggression. Habitat separation may not always lead to the use of different prey. Avoidance of interspecific aggression, rather than exploitation of different resources, could allow the coexistence of potentially competing large predators. “
“Perceptual range is one of the main determinants of dispersal success in fragmented landscapes, which are composed of scattered remnants of original habitat in a matrix of variable composition.

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