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Mammalian Behavioral Ecology in Southern California Habitat Fragments

CSEF · 2018 Environmental Science Second Award

Austin L. Nash · Palos Verdes High School, Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles County

Overview

Objectives/Goals This study examined the impact of human and domestic dog presence on the species richness and movement of mammals in habitat fragments within a suburban matrix and possible human-wildlife conflict that could occur. Methods/Materials Eight game cameras were installed in two habitat fragments in the Palos Verdes Peninsula, one canyon with human and domestic dog presence and one control canyon without. Cameras were placed at natural constrictions along the two main travel corridors in the canyons, trails and creek beds. The camera installations were then monitored for 200 days from 5-3-17 to 11-18-17. Species richness for each canyon, movement location and time patterns, and the percentage of overall captures each species represented were analyzed. Results The control canyon had a higher species richness (9 vs. 6) and accounted for 93% of wildlife captures. Nocturnal activity was preferred for both canyons, but Procyon lotor and Canis latrans, in the control canyon showed a greater variability in time of activity than their conspecifics in the canyon with human presence. C. latrans captures showed no difference in frequency between canyons, while the other 8 mammal species captured on video showed a strong preference for the control canyon. Mesopredators P. lotor and F. catus accounted for 68% of wildlife captures while C. latrans and V. vulpes accounted for only 1.8% of said captures. 82% of wildlife captures and 0.59% of domestic captures occurred at night. Conclusions/Discussion Therefore, human-wildlife conflict will likely be minimal in these fragments and human presence reduces mammal species diversity and movement in habitat fragments.

Summary statement

This project showed that human presence in habitat fragments reduced species richness and that human-wildlife conflict is of a low probability and a significant mesopredator release has occurred in the fragments studied.

Help received

I conducted the entire project by myself. I rented game cameras from California State University Long Beach and purchased all other equipment myself.

Awards (1)

Competition history

  • CSEF 2018 Environmental Science · Entry S1210

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