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Functional habitat connectivity for beach mice depends on perceived predation risk

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Abstract

Landscape features that promote animal movement contribute to functional habitat connectivity. Factors that affect the use of landscape features, such as predation risk, may alter functional connectivity. We identify factors important to functional habitat connectivity by quantifying movement patterns of the Santa Rosa beach mouse (Peromyscus polionotus leucocephalus) in relation to landscape features and by examining how ambient perceived predation risk, which is altered by moon phase, interacts with landscape features. We use track paths across the sand to relate the probability that beach mice cross gaps between vegetation patches to gap width, patch quality, landscape context and moon phase. Overall activity levels were lower during full versus new moon nights, demonstrating that beach mice respond negatively to moonlight. Gap crossing was more likely during new moon nights (25 % of gaps crossed vs. 7 % during full moon nights), and across narrower gaps (<8.38 m) that led to larger vegetation patches (>11.75 m2). This study suggests that vegetation recovery is necessary for functional connectivity in post-hurricane landscapes commonly inhabited by beach mice and provides initial guidelines for restoring landscape connectivity. More broadly, this study highlights the importance of considering predation risk when quantifying landscape connectivity, as landscape features that facilitate connectivity when predation risk is low may be ineffective if predation risk increases over time or across space.

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Acknowledgments

The efforts of three anonymous reviewers improved the quality of this manuscript. We thank Marion Alley, Mike Baker, Leslie Burch, Sylvia Cowen, Marissa Striefel and Carly Woodlief for assistance in the field. Crystal Chancy provided input regarding statistical approaches. This work would not have been possible without generous access to field sites and logistical support provided by Riley Hoggard and Mark Nicholas of Gulf Islands National Seashore, Bruce Hagedorn, Bob Miller, Erica Laine, Glen Barndollar and Dave Daniels of Eglin Air Force Base, and Russell Burdge and Brandon Tidwell of Cardno-Entrix. Alex Pries, Sandra Sneckenberger and Jeff Gore provided valuable input during the inception of this study. Funding for this project was provided primarily by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with additional assistance from Gulf Islands National Seashore and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Elliot B. Wilkinson & Lyn C. Branch

  2. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, West Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Milton, FL, 32583-1713, USA

    Deborah L. Miller

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  1. Elliot B. Wilkinson
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  2. Lyn C. Branch
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  3. Deborah L. Miller
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Correspondence to Elliot B. Wilkinson.

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Wilkinson, E.B., Branch, L.C. & Miller, D.L. Functional habitat connectivity for beach mice depends on perceived predation risk. Landscape Ecol 28, 547–558 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-013-9858-0

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