PLoS One. 2015 Nov 11;10(11):e0141355. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141355. eCollection 2015.
Abstract
Throughout
many arid lands of Africa, Australia and the United States, wildlife
agencies provide water year-round for increasing game populations and
enhancing biodiversity, despite concerns that water provisioning may
favor species more dependent on water, increase predation, and reduce
biodiversity. In part, understanding the effects of water provisioning
requires identifying why and when animals visit water. Employing this
information, by matching water provisioning with use by target species,
could assist wildlife management objectives while mitigating unintended
consequences of year-round watering regimes. Therefore, we examined if
weather variables (maximum temperature, relative humidity [RH], vapor
pressure deficit [VPD], long and short-term precipitation) and
predator-prey relationships (i.e., prey presence) predicted water
visitation by 9 mammals. We modeled visitation as recorded by trail
cameras at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA (June
2009 to September 2014) using generalized linear modeling. For 3 native
ungulates, elk (Cervus Canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and
pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), less long-term precipitation and
higher maximum temperatures increased visitation, including RH for mule
deer. Less long-term precipitation and higher VPD increased oryx (Oryx
gazella) and desert cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus audubonii)
visitation. Long-term precipitation, with RH or VPD, predicted
visitation for black-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus californicus).
Standardized model coefficients demonstrated that the amount of
long-term precipitation influenced herbivore visitation most. Weather
(especially maximum temperature) and prey (cottontails and jackrabbits)
predicted bobcat (Lynx rufus) visitation. Mule deer visitation had the
largest influence on coyote
(Canis latrans) visitation. Puma (Puma concolor) visitation was solely
predicted by prey visitation (elk, mule deer, oryx). Most ungulate
visitation peaked during May and June. Coyote,
elk and puma visitation was relatively consistent throughout the year.
Within the diel-period, activity patterns for predators corresponded
with prey. Year-round water management may favor species with consistent
use throughout the year, and facilitate predation. Providing water only
during periods of high use by target species may moderate unwanted
biological costs.