Browsing by Subject "Striped skunk -- Habitat"
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Item Nest predation and habitat utilization by striped skunks(Texas Tech University, 1995-05) Vander Lee, Bruce A.I monitored the fates of 1435 and 920 artificial ground nests m 1993 and 1994, respectively, to determine the effects of vegetation density, striped skunk removal (1993 only), and prey supplementation on the success of ground nests. I randomly placed artificial nests (1/4.3 ha) into two categories of cover density, dense and sparse. Striped skunk removal (one night per week) and supplemental prey treatments (catfood, fish, meat by-products) were randomly assigned to study plots. Nests in dense vegetation were more successful both years (P < 0.05). There were no differences in nest success among skunk removal, prey supplementation, and control plots m 1993 (P = 0.347), but success was higher on supplemental prey plots m 1994 (P = 0.037). Mammalian predation was greater on nests in sparse vegetation on supplemental prey plots (P < 0.05), but did not differ between vegetation categories on removal or control plots (P > 0.05). Cover density was an important determinant of nest success. Skunk removal provided no observable benefits, perhaps due to compensatory predation by other mammalian species. Prey supplementation may be an effective alternative to traditional predator management techniques. The introduced prey source may have affected the ability of mammalian predators to detect well concealed nests. I also examined habitat use by striped skunks, an important nest predator, by testing for selection of habitats using point locations, within home ranges, and within home range overlap areas. Utilization of small habitats was detected most efficiently using point locations. Skunks used potential nesting habitat (CRP) in proportion to its availability, selected against croplands, and for areas near roads. Skunks were probably using roads and right-of-ways as travel corridors and for foraging. Habitat in areas of home range overlap between two or more skunks was variable. Skunks probably do not defend exclusive territories or particular habitat types. Skunks chose habitats based on the availability of prey rather than vegetative structure. Supplemental prey treatments may have the potential to alter skunk habitat use and distributions as well as foraging strategies. Both habitat and predator management are essential for the effective, long-term management of grassland nesting areas.Item Spatial organization and genetic structure of striped skunk populations on the southern High Plains, Texas(Texas Tech University, 1997-05) Hansen, Leslie AnnI examined the population characteristics, genetic stmcture, and male spatial organization of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) on the Southem High Plains, Texas, during 1994 and 1995. Land use on the study area was primarily agricultural, with crops including grain sorghum, cotton, winter wheat, and com. Striped skunks were trapped and radiotracked during March - July (1994) or August (1995) on 4 12.8 km" plots. Distances between plot centers ranged from 17.6 to 61.6 km. Annual survival rates of adult striped skunks were 0.40 in 1994 and 0.48 in 1995. The primary identified causes of mortality were human-caused trauma (shooting and vehicle collisions). Twenty-two percent of male striped skunks moved > 3 km from their initial capture site. The average home range size of male striped skunks on each plot, calculated using 95% contours of the adaptive kernel method, ranged from 498 to 1668 ha. I correlated male home range sizes calculated using the minimum convex polygon method and the 95%, 80%, and 50% contours of the adaptive kernel methods with male population size, female population size, total population size, and sex ratio. The 50% adaptive kernel contour was not significantly correlated with any of these measures. The other measures of home range size were most significantly correlated with total population size. Use areas of male striped skunks overlapped up to 56%, and overlap areas did not decrease as population size decreased. High levels of genetic similarity were not correlated with extensive home range overlap. The tolerance of male striped skunks for other males may partly stem from the fact that skunks may share a readily renewable food resource with conspecifics at little cost to themselves. There was no evidence of geographic genetic stmcturing in male striped skunks at the scale of this study.