Relationships between Human Disturbance and Wildlife Land Use in Urban Habitat Fragments

• Published in: Conservation biology Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 99 - 109
• Main Authors: MARKOVCHICK-NICHOLLS, LISA, REGAN, HELEN M, DEUTSCHMAN, DOUGLAS H, WIDYANATA, ASTRID, MARTIN, BARRY, NOREKE, LANI, ANN HUNT, TIMOTHY
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.02.2008; Blackwell Publishing, Inc; Blackwell; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: animal movement; animal tracks; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Animals, Wild; Applied ecology; Biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Biological and medical sciences; Cities; Conservation; Conservation biology; Conservation of Natural Resources; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Ecosystem; espacio urbano abierto; fragmentación de hábitat; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Habitat conservation; Habitat fragmentation; habitat remnants; Habitats; huellas de animales; human disturbance; Human influences; Humans; movimiento animal; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; perturbación humana; Population Dynamics; Recreation; Refuse Disposal; remanentes de hábitat; Species; Transportation; Urban areas; Urban habitats; urban open space; urbanización; urbanization; Water; Wildlife; Wildlife conservation; Wildlife habitats; San Diego County California; Human; Landscape; habitat remnants; animal movement; human disturbance; Openfield; Wild life; Urban area; Animal active movement; Perturbation; animal tracks; Land use; Fragmentation; urban open space; Urbanization; Habitat; Environmental protection; habitat fragmentation
• ISSN: 0888-8892; 1523-1739
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00846.x

Habitat remnants in urbanized areas typically conserve biodiversity and serve the recreation and urban open-space needs of human populations. Nevertheless, these goals can be in conflict if human activity negatively affects wildlife. Hence, when considering habitat remnants as conservation refuges it is crucial to understand how human activities and land uses affect wildlife use of those and adjacent areas. We used tracking data (animal tracks and den or bed sites) on 10 animal species and information on human activity and environmental factors associated with anthropogenic disturbance in 12 habitat fragments across San Diego County, California, to examine the relationships among habitat fragment characteristics, human activity, and wildlife presence. There were no significant correlations of species presence and abundance with percent plant cover for all species or with different land-use intensities for all species, except the opossum ( Didelphis virginiana), which preferred areas with intensive development. Woodrats ( Neotoma spp.) and cougars ( Puma concolor) were associated significantly and positively and significantly and negatively, respectively, with the presence and prominence of utilities. Woodrats were also negatively associated with the presence of horses. Raccoons ( Procyon lotor) and coyotes ( Canis latrans) were associated significantly and negatively and significantly and positively, respectively, with plant bulk and permanence. Cougars and gray foxes ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus) were negatively associated with the presence of roads. Roadrunners ( Geococcyx californianus) were positively associated with litter. The only species that had no significant correlations with any of the environmental variables were black-tailed jackrabbits ( Lepus californicus) and mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus). Bobcat tracks were observed more often than gray foxes in the study area and bobcats correlated significantly only with water availability, contrasting with results from other studies. Our results appear to indicate that maintenance of habitat fragments in urban areas is of conservation benefit to some animal species, despite human activity and disturbance, as long as the fragments are large.