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opencc-zeroDec 2018View details →

Geographic patterns in morphometric and genetic variation for coyote populations with emphasis on southeastern coyotes

Prior to 1900, coyotes (Canis latrans) were restricted to the western and central regions of North America, but by the early 2000s coyotes became ubiquitous throughout the eastern United States. Information regarding morphological and genetic structure of coyote populations in the southeastern United States is limited, and where data exist, they are rarely compared to those from other regions of North America. We assessed geographic patterns in morphology and genetics of coyotes with special consideration of coyotes in the southeastern United States. Mean body mass of coyote populations increased along a west-to-east gradient, with southeastern coyotes being intermediate to western and northeastern coyotes. Similarly, principal component analysis of body mass and linear body measurements suggested that southeastern coyotes were intermediate to western and northeastern coyotes in body size but exhibited shorter tails and ears from other populations. Genetic analyses indicated that southeastern coyotes represented a distinct genetic cluster that differentiated strongly from western and northeastern coyotes. We postulate that southeastern coyotes experienced lower immigration from western populations than did northeastern coyotes, and over time, genetically diverged from both western and northeastern populations. Coyotes colonizing eastern North America experienced different selective pressures than did stable populations in the core range and we offer that the larger body size of eastern coyotes reflect an adaptation that improved dispersal capabilities of individuals in the expanding range.

embargoedcc-zeroFeb 2024View details →

Intraguild interactions and abiotic conditions mediate occupancy of mammalian carnivores: co-occurrence of coyotes-fishers-martens

The widespread eradication of large carnivores and subsequent expansion of top mesopredators have the potential to impact species and community interactions with ecosystem-wide implications. An example of these trophic dynamics is the widespread establishment of coyotes following the extirpation of wolves and mountain lions in eastern North America. Here, we examined the occupancy of three carnivores in northern New York considering both environmental/habitat factors and interspecific interactions. We estimated the co-occurrence of coyotes, fishers, and martens from a landscape-scale winter camera trap survey repeatedly annually for three years. Martens occurred independently of both coyotes and fishers, while fishers and coyotes displayed positive intraguild interactions that were constant across the landscape. Both marten and fisher first-order occupancy was driven by a combination of biotic and abiotic factors, with both species displaying positive associations with forest cover but antithetical responses to average snow depth. The integral and antithetical role of snow depth in driving the occurrence of martens (positive) and fishers (negative) in the landscape indicates that future climatic warming could reduce the availability of current spatial refuges for martens created by severe winter conditions. Climate-driven alterations to established competitive interactions and co-existence patterns between marten and fishers have critical implications for the species' survival and conservation. We provide correlational evidence consistent with the potential for positive top-down effects of dominant mesocarnivores on subordinate species, with fisher occupancy increasing conditional on the presence of coyotes across the landscape. These findings align with the hypothesis that under certain conditions, coyotes may facilitate certain subordinate carnivores. The evidence produced here is consistent with hypotheses on the dynamic nature of trophic niches. We demonstrate the need to consider the interplay between climate, habitat, and interspecific interactions to understand wildlife occupancy patterns and inform wildlife management in a rapidly changing world.

opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Coyotes display minimal response to Cougar scent at experimental carcass sites

Interactions among predators can have cascading impacts on communities and ecosystems. These interactions often occur around carrion, where the carrion provides a food reward, but also a risk of encountering other, potentially dominant, predators. Understanding how predators balance risk and reward at carrion, and how perceived risk changes in response to carcass origins and conditions, provides valuable insight into intraguild interactions. We investigated Coyote (Canis latrans) behavior at carrion simulated as cache sites treated with Cougar (Puma concolor) scent versus carrion used as control sites to better understand how Coyotes assess risk while feeding on carrion. Coyotes displayed similar behavior between sites treated and untreated with Cougar scent, suggesting that the presence of Cougar scent did not alter perceived risk by coyotes in our study. Instead, coyote behavior responded to carcass age, elevation, and whether avian scavengers had visited the carcass. Coyotes spent more time feeding, more time on camera, and touched carcasses quicker as carcass age increased. Avian scavengers appeared to compete with Coyotes, and while the presence of avian scavengers reduced time to carcass detection by Coyotes, it also decreased time spent feeding. These results suggest that carcass condition is a more important indicator of risk and reward than the presence of dominant predator scent to Coyotes. Predator scent may be an unreliable cue of immediate predator presence. Alternatively, all carcasses may be risky because dominant predators also scavenge carrion, creating similar risk regardless of previous visitation by dominant predators. These results provide insights into predator interactions and can also inform the use of scent cues in wildlife management.

opencc-zeroJun 2024View details →

Abundance-mediated species interactions between coyote, fisher, and marten in Northeastern US

Ecological theory posits that the strength of interspecific interactions is fundamentally underpinned by the population sizes of the involved species. Nonetheless, contemporary approaches for modelling species interactions predominantly centre around occupancy states. Here, we use simulations to illuminate the inadequacies of modelling species interactions solely as a function of occupancy, as is common practice in ecology. We demonstrate erroneous inference into species interactions due to bias in parameter estimates when considering species occupancy alone. To address this critical issue, we propose, develop, and demonstrate an occupancy-abundance model designed explicitly for modelling abundance-mediated species interactions involving two or more species. When modelling interactions as a function of abundance rather than occupancy, we uncover previously unidentified interactions. Through an empirical case study and comprehensive simulations, we demonstrate the importance of accounting for abundance when modelling species interactions, and we present a statistical framework equipped with MCMC samplers to achieve this paradigm shift in ecological research.

opencc-by-4.0Aug 2018View details →

Fig. 1 in Detecting co-infections of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus canadensis in coyotes and red foxes in Alberta, Canada using real-time PCR

Fig. 1. Standard curve for qPCR assays to detect E. canadensis and E. multilocularis using Cox143 and Nad234 primers/probes, respectively.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2020View details →

Fig. 2 in Prevalence of common tick-borne pathogens in white-tailed deer and coyotes in south Texas

Fig. 2. Geographic representation of study area and molecular prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in coyotes of Texas.

opencc-by-4.0Apr 2020View details →

Fig. 1 in Prevalence of common tick-borne pathogens in white-tailed deer and coyotes in south Texas

Fig. 1. Texas counties where samples were collected. (A) Purple denotes Jim Hogg and Starr counties where WTD samples were collected from the East Foundation's San Antonio Viejo Ranch while coyote samples originated from counties highlighted in blue (B). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

Fig. 2 in New geographic records for Echinococcus canadensis in coyotes and moose from Nova Scotia, Canada

Fig. 2. Protoscolices contained in cyst fluid released upon dissection of a unilocular cyst from the lungs of a moose from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.

Fig. 1. Echinococcus canadensis recovered from a in New geographic records for Echinococcus canadensis in coyotes and moose from Nova Scotia, Canada

Fig. 1. Echinococcus canadensis recovered from a gastrointestinal flush of a coyote at necropsy from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Note that the genital pore (circled) is located in the posterior half of the segment.

Fig. 5 in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 5. On the left, whole mounted Cryptocotyle lingua adult trematode stained with borax carmine (credit: Brent Wagner). On the right, distribution of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) infected with C. lingua in the Subarctic (samples (n) collected along James Bay and the St Lawrence estuary) and Humid Continental climate collected during winter 2016–2017 by trappers from Qu´ebec, Canada. Arrows indicate major waterways.

Fig. 2. A in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 2. A) Parasite genus richness in foxes (Vulpes vulpes, blue), coyotes (Canis latrans, orange), and wolves (Canis lupus, gray) from Qu´ebec, Canada, determined by gross examination and fecal flotation combined (N = 250). Fewer foxes were uninfected than coyotes (p = 0.006). More foxes were infected by two parasite genera than coyotes (p = 0.004). B) Parasite genus richness between Subarctic (yellow) and Humid Continental climate (green) in foxes from Qu´ebec, Canada, determined by gross examination and fecal flotation combined (N = 155). No significant difference in parasite genera was seen in foxes between Subarctic and Humid Continental climate regions. Parasites counted in both histograms were: diphyllobothriids (likely Dibothriocephalus spp.), Echinococcus spp., Taenia spp., Capillaria spp., Toxascaris sp., Toxocara sp., Trichuris sp., Uncinaria sp., Alaria sp., Cryptocotyle sp., and Metorchis sp. Parasites observed in both fecal and gross examination were only counted once. Bars represent 95% confidence intervals. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)

Fig. 6 in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 6. Distribution of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans), and wolves (Canis lupus) infected with Toxascaris leonina (left, N = 55) and Toxocara canis (right, N = 19) in the Subarctic and Humid Continental climate collected during winter 2016–2017 by hunters and trappers from Qu´ebec, Canada.

Fig. 1. K in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 1. K¨oppen climate regions and sampling distribution of foxes (Vulpes vulpes, N = 176), coyotes (Canis latrans, N = 77), and wolves (Canis lupus, N = 23) collected during winter 2016–2017 by hunters and trappers from Qu´ebec, Canada. Arrows indicate major waterways.

Fig. 4 in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 4. Mixed taeniid infections in the Humid Continental climate in coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) from Qu´ebec, Canada, following molecular analyses. Abbreviations on x-axis: E. can, Echinococcus canadensis; T. hyd, Taenia hydatigena; T. twi, T. twitchelli; T. kra, T. krabbei; T. pis, T. pisiformis-"like"; T. cra, T. crassiceps.

Fig. 3 in Host and geographic differences in prevalence and diversity of gastrointestinal helminths of foxes (Vulpes vulpes), coyotes (Canis latrans) and wolves (Canis lupus) in Quebec´, Canada

Fig. 3. Neighbour-joining tree of Jukes-Cantor distances among sequences of CO1 (alignment 450 bp using all sites) from Alaria available on GenBank as of 7 July 2021. Data from Alaria americana, including data from the present study, indicated by darker shaded cluster and white font. Sequences from A. alata are HM022221-3, KF751233-4, KP123416-20, KP123422-5, KX962374, KX962392, KX962395, KX962397-8, KX962402, KX962406, KX962415, KX962421, KX962433, KX962437, KX962454-5, KX962471-2, KX962481, KX962491, KY012317, MT103215-31; from Alaria sp. in Argentina KF572949, MH892076, MT328804-6; from Alaria sp. in Wisconsin, USA KT223036; from A. americana MZ605217-33 (present study) and MH536507 (indicated with an asterisk).

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Fig. 2. A in Prevalence and geographic distribution of Babesia conradae and detection of Babesia vogeli in free-ranging California coyotes (Canis latrans)

Fig. 2. A) PCR positivity (indicated by color) of coyotes (Canis latrans) carcasses recovered (▴) in each county between 2015 and 2019. B) Map of southern California including Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego counties showing B. conradae PCR positivity (indicated by color) in each city where coyote carcasses were recovered. The number of coyotes sampled at each location is indicated by the size of the circle.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2022View details →

Fig. 3 in Prevalence and geographic distribution of Babesia conradae and detection of Babesia vogeli in free-ranging California coyotes (Canis latrans)

Fig. 3. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree of Babesia positive coyotes (Canis latrans) collected in California from 2015 to 2019 with 7 different published reference sequences from other Babesia species for comparison. Scale bar represents percent of genetic variation along tree branches. Labels include coyote ID and location found. Alphanumeric values in parenthesis denote published GenBank sequence. Clades in <60% of bootstraps are collapsed.