Module 12Lesson 4Coyote Biodiversity What Is Biodiversity Biological

Module 12_Lesson 4_Coyote Biodiversity

What Is Biodiversity? “Biological diversity is the variety of life at every hierarchical level and spatial scale of biological organization: genes within populations, populations within species, species within communities, communities within landscapes, landscapes within biomes, biomes within the biosphere. ” Callicot et al. (1999)

Urban Adapters

What are the Characteristics of Urban Ecological Communities? • • • Fragmented habitats Reduction in top predators Changes in productivity Changes in stress-related factors, such as temperature or nutrients Changes in species composition Human activities Increased spatial heterogeneity Changes in trophic control Local extinction Changes in spatial and temporal scales

Urban Adapters • Physiologically tolerant of extreme variations in abiotic conditions • Generalists in diet, shelter and water • High reproductive and survival rate • Able to habituate to human activity • Have few competitors or predators • Tolerate and negotiate highly fragmented landscapes • High rates of recruitment through immigration

Activity of Urban Animals • Changes in timing of activity • Changes in where activities occur • Sometimes larger range sizes needed (coyotes), sometimes smaller (raccoons)

Food Webs • Feeding relationships among the various species in a community Quaternary consumers Carnivore Tertiary consumers Carnivore Secondary consumers Carnivore Primary consumers Zooplankton Herbivore Producers Plant Phytoplankton A terrestrial food chain An aquatic food chain

Food Webs Quaternary, • Few ecosystems are as a simple as an unbranched food chain. • Omnivores o Eat producers and consumers o Form woven ecosystems called food webs tertiary, and secondary consumers Tertiary and secondary consumers Secondary and primary consumers Producers (plants) Figure 20. 18

Coyote Effect on Biodiversity

Human Effect on Biodiversity

Human Effect on Biodiversity

Urban Coyote Food Web

Humans and Coyotes Image from Newsweek

Coyotes Can… • Eat almost anything • Den in small, hidden areas where humans won’t notice • Change to nocturnal activity to avoid humans • Serve as the top predator in the absence of wolves • Change breeding patterns during populations shifts and changes in resources • Travel long distances to find food • Survive in cities!!

Can We Co-Exist? • https: //www. kcet. org/shows/socalconnected/coyotes-kill-them-or-coexist

Narrangansett Bay Coyote Study (NBCS) science resulted in a toolbox for Aquidneck Island “Best Management Practices for Coexisting with Coyotes” Problems: 1. People feeding animals outside 2. Unsecured garbage, compost, other attractants 3. Feral cat or wildlife feeding 4. Intentional coyote feeding 5. Roadkilled deer 6. Dead farm livestock Recommendations: 1. All Aquidneck Island Towns and Naval Station Newport resolve to adopt CBMPs 2. Create and enforce “no feeding ordinance” 3. Develop joint “Coyote Protocol” 4. Educate the public. Identify and remove food subsidies, monitor coyote population, evaluate progress using tracking technology, and keep people educated and engaged 5. Help create a “Safe Cycle” depot – for deer and livestock carcasses 6. Make AI a national model for safe and sustainable coyote management (Pilot Coyote Management Area)