Presentation description

Interspecific interactions can modify species population dynamics and spatial distribution, thereby influencing or mediating the effects of specific environmental conditions. In particular, the presence of apex predators can directly affect the populations of other carnivores through top-down trophic control, and their absence can likewise lead to ecological release as these pressures are removed. Coyote are the most widespread mesocarnivore in the United States, and understanding their habitat preferences across a gradient of environmental conditions is critical for developing effective management strategies. However, very little research exists on the effects of apex predators in mediating or altering these habitat preferences. In this study, we report the impact of certain apex predators on the response of coyotes to environmental conditions based on data obtained using camera traps deployed across the United States by citizen scientists and scientists from hundreds of research institutions, organizations, and government agencies. We used a Bayesian, single-species occupancy model to investigate whether the effect of forest cover, grass and shrubland cover, or urban development on coyote distribution was mediated by the presence of three apex predator species. Our study produced 7540 coyote detections from 4587 sites nationwide. We found evidence of positive and negative interactions across the different covariates used. The presence of apex predators in the areas will have a negative impact on coyote occupancy. This model provides valuable insights for conservation ecologists dealing with the current exponential population growth of coyotes nationwide.