Spatiotemporal variation in selection of roads influences mortality risk for canids in an unprotected landscape

摘要: Ecologists are increasingly documenting individual variation in resource selection across populations response to temporal or spatial environmental context. These behavioral patterns assumed be adaptive although previous studies have not linked them directly survival and reproductive data verify the relationship between behavior fitness. Recent work documented that higher density of secondary roads within home ranges free-ranging canids (wolves, coyotes hybrids) increased mortality risk hybrid zone adjacent Algonquin Park Ontario, Canada. Here, we examine responses spatially varying levels human-disturbance determine whether these resulted differential for zone. Specifically, investigated with GPS telemetry selected more at night than during day minimize dangerous encounters humans. Next, modeled evaluate relative importance intrinsic (Canis ancestry) extrinsic (resource availability) influences on their behavior. Behavioral were well explained by Canis ancestry. Instead, avoided as a non-linear function road availability. Furthermore, survived exhibited stronger day–night availability died suggesting an nature this By modifying night, appear able exploit beneficial attributes while mitigating human-caused risk. However, all responded adaptively highlighting explicitly linking components fitness accurately model interpret animals.