Interference competition between coyotes and raccoons: a test of the mesopredator release hypothesis

摘要: Some predator species appear to conform the mesopredator release hypothesis (MRH), in which larger predators help limit populations of smaller predators. This has been used explain possible relationship between coyotes, mesopredators, and resultant cascades involving nonpredators. However, relationships coyotes noncanid mesopredators are poorly understood, predictions from MRH have rarely rigorously tested. We monitored sympatric raccoon coyote assess 2 derived MRH: predation is an important cause mortality or raccoons avoid areas by coyotes. Between March 2000 September 2001, we recorded 3553 locations for 27 radio-collared 1393 13 captured on Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Illinois, USA. No was observed during study, survival >0.7 each season. All 95% home ranges exhibited overlap with The mean proportion within did not vary sex but Raccoon core varied considerably among individuals seasons, ranging 0% 83%. 45% had 50% overlap. Mean season sex. For those overlapping areas, generally greater than random locations. Scent-station experiments failed document avoidance specific sites that marked urine. find support a prediction regard These results suggest mammalian may be simply dictated body size, particularly outside Canidae. Copyright 2007.