Carnivore use of avocado orchards across an agricultural-wildland gradient
PLoS ONE
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Abstract
Wide-ranging species cannot persist in reserves alone. Consequently, there is growing interest in the conservation value of agricultural lands that separate or buffer natural areas. The value of agricultural lands for wildlife habitat and connectivity varies as a function of the crop type and landscape context, and quantifying these differences will improve our ability to manage these lands more effectively for animals. In southern California, many species are present in avocado orchards, including mammalian carnivores. We examined occupancy of avocado orchards by mammalian carnivores across agricultural-wildland gradients in southern California with motion-activated cameras. More carnivore species were detected with cameras in orchards than in wildland sites, and for bobcats and gray foxes, orchards were associated with higher occupancy rates. Our results demonstrate that agricultural lands have potential to contribute to conservation by providing habitat or facilitating landscape connectivity.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Carnivore use of avocado orchards across an agricultural-wildland gradient |
| Series title | PLoS ONE |
| DOI | 10.1371/journal.pone.0068025 |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Public Library of Science |
| Contributing office(s) | Western Ecological Research Center |
| Description | 6 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | PLoS ONE |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Barbara County;Ventura County |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |