Movement patterns can influence an animal's ability to secure food, find mates, and avoid enemies, potentially affecting individual fitness. We studied movement patterns of 10 male and 3 female endangered Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) using location data collected from a long-term (2005–2012) GPS collar study. Males traveled faster and covered longer daily distances than females during both the wet and dry seasons (wet:dry—males 289:372 m/h and 4,616:6,701 m; females 186:280 m/h and 2,629:5,239 m). Panthers occupying higherselected habitat traveled faster, but with shorter daily movement distances in comparison to habitats that were less frequently selected. An index of risk (derived using traffic volume and road density) that was linked to habitat predicted to be avoided by panthers was associated with reduced daily movement distances. Our results suggest that Florida panthers alter their movement patterns in response to environmental change and anthropogenic disturbances.
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23 March 2018
Assessing impacts of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on Florida panther movements
Marc Criffield,
Madelon van de Kerk,
Erin Leone,
Mark W. Cunningham,
Mark Lotz,
Madan K. Oli,
Dave P. Onorato
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Journal of Mammalogy
Vol. 99 • No. 3
June 2018
Vol. 99 • No. 3
June 2018