White-Nose Syndrome (WNS; Pseudogymnoascus destructans) is responsible for the regional population collapse of many cave-hibernating bat species, including the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis), in eastern United States and Canada. I evaluated roosting behavior, habitat selection, and landscape-scale distribution of roosts of the northern long-eared bat during spring emergence and the early maternity season in Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, USA, from 2015 to 2016. Logistic regression analysis comparing habitat features of roosts with random plots indicated selection of roosts reflected the costs of energetic demands by sex and reproductive status. Relative abundance of local bat species was assessed pre- and post-arrival of WNS in the Park during the summer season, with capture rates observed during the progression of WNS indicating that the fungal disease led to declines in the overall abundance of several bat species on the summer landscape, especially the northern long-eared bat. Distributional trends were quantified using spatial point pattern analysis which indicated that bats had clear roosting patterns associated with landscape level features and habitat resources. Monitoring bat populations regionally and at local scales will be imperative to helping conservation efforts for several bat species most affected by WNS.

Satellite tracking technology was used to acquire previously unavailable data relating to habitat use, dispersal and survivorship of juvenile Peregrine Falcons, a species currently designated as “Endangered” in Manitoba. A partnership between Manitoba Conservation, Manitoba Hydro, the Sustainable Development Innovations Fund of the Province of Manitoba, Parkland Mews Falconry and Bird of Prey Education Centre, and the University of Manitoba facilitated the purchase and deployment of twenty solar-powered Global Positioning System-enabled Platform Transmitting Terminals (PTTs). Thirty Peregrine Falcons were equipped with PTTs between 2011 and 2013, including both wild and hacked falcons. Home range analysis based on kernel density estimation identified a space-filling pattern of landscape use as peregrines dispersed from the natal areas. Habitat associations determined for PTT-equipped peregrines confirm their association with open habitats, human developments and aquatic areas. Conversely, peregrines were generally not found in areas characterized by dense tree cover. Throughout the study area, juvenile falcons readily utilized human features including the support structures comprising the Manitoba Hydro Distribution and Sub-Transmission Line network. The period following fledging and dispersal from the natal area was characterized by expansive movement quantified using a Brownian Bridge Movement Model. The importance of the natal area was evident throughout the dispersal period. Fifteen falcons (50%) survived to initiate fall migration. Of these, ten (33%) successfully reached wintering grounds located in the United States, Mexico, and Belize. Four Peregrine Falcons were confirmed alive to project end (13%). Sixteen of 30 Peregrine Falcons were confirmed dead during the study period (53%); mortality was suspected for seven others (23%). Survivorship outcomes could not be determined for three falcons (10%). All of the observed mortality occurred during the first year of life. Although the annual production of peregrines in Manitoba currently shows an increasing trend, the population has not yet demonstrated the stability and growth to be considered secure. Ensuring a stable population will require continued active management. The provincial population may also benefit from supplementation based on delayed hack techniques. / May 2017

The habitat use of thirteen female and four male GPS collared white-tailed deer, captured in the Clear Lake area of Riding Mountain National Park between 2012 and 2014, was examined. Range sizes were smallest during the summer and largest during the breeding season for both sexes, with an additional peak in female range size occurring in April. Female deer displayed a greater association with areas of human use and infrastructure than males, with the highest use of these areas by females occurring during the late winter and early spring. This increased use of developed areas by deer during the winter and early spring is thought to relate to factors including food resource availability, snow depth, predator avoidance, and thermal cover. / October 2016

Snakes represent an impressive evolutionary radiation of over 3,500 widely-distributed species, categorized into 515 genera, encompassing a diverse range of morphologies and ecologies. This diversity is likely attributable to their distinctive morphology, which has allowed them to populate a wide range of habitat types within most major ecosystems. In my first chapter, I provide the largest-yet estimate of the snake tree of life using maximum likelihood on a supermatrix of 1745 taxa (1652 snake species + 7 outgroup taxa) and 9,523 base pairs from 10 loci (5 nuclear, 5 mitochondrial), including previously unsequenced genera (2) and species (61). I then use this phylogeny to test hypotheses regarding heterogeneity in diversification rates and how this shaped overall patterns of snake diversity in Chapter 2. I also used the species-level phylogeny to test the evolution of habitat use in snakes, morphological variation, and whether distantly-related species exhibit morphological convergence in Chapter 3. Finally, in Chapter 4 I investigate how prehensile tails effect striking performance in arboreal snakes.

Studies on the behavioural ecology of Przewalski horses (Equus przewalskiiy) recently reintroduced into Hustai National Park, Mongolia were carried out between 1998 and 2000. Home range size and habitat use, social, marking, and vigilance behaviour, and their reaction to flies were quantified. Home ranges of harems ranged from 129 ha to 2399 ha, with core areas of between 61 ha and 1196 ha. There was no relationship between range size and harem size, or length of time since release. The more nutritious vegetation at lower elevations was preferentially selected. The horses rested near ridges during the hotter parts of the day where there were fewer flies, and grazed in the valleys in the mornings and evenings. Woodland areas were used to shelter from the sun, despite their high fly abundance. Muscid flies were most frequently caught; Tabanids were rare. Dominance was related to age, aggression and length of time in the harem. The frequency of associative behaviours did not correlate with any social factor, but had a hygienic function. Stallions marked stud piles wid mare eliminations in different ways suggesting different functions. In addition to being vigilant for predators, the horses appeared to scan for social cues and food patches. Home range size and habitat use, and general pattern of marking and vigilance behaviour, of the wild Przewalski horses were similar to those seen among feral domestic horses, although they tended to be less aggressive than captive and feral horses. So far, the re-establishment of przewalski horses into HNP appears to have been successful, although constant monitoring of the population is necessary. As the population grows, there will be potential problems to do with exceeding the carrying capacity of the park and hybridisation with domestic horses. The future management of the horses is discussed.

<p>As human activity expands across the globe, disturbance of wildlife by anthropogenic activities such as fragmentation of habitat, and wildlife-human conflicts escalate. The Pueblo of Santa Ana is receiving pressure from road expansion and urban development and is concerned with the impacts of those activities upon wildlife populations. Specifically, mule deer is a species of concern for their Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Mule deer are important economically, culturally, and for recreational purposes. The DNR understands the need for better understanding mule deer ecology to manage for potential conflicts in their interactions with expanding human infrastructure. My objectives were first to model mule deer habitat use in and around the Pueblo of Santa Ana during the summer and winter at different times of the day. My second objective was to understand the relative impacts of different scenarios for road development in the Pueblo of Santa Ana upon the disturbance of mule deer using an Individual Based Modeling (IBM) framework.</p> <p> Using Geospatial Positioning System telemetry collar data collected on mule deer I used proximity based habitat predictors in a general linear mixed model to create resource selection functions. Generally I found that the season had a greater impact on mule deer habitat use than the time of day. Female and male mule deer select for similar habitat but sexually segregate in their summer distributions. My findings are consistent with results from other locations where mule deer studies have been conducted. In chapter two, I used the Simulation of Disturbance Activities (SODA) modeling framework to investigate the impact of vehicles on mule deer disturbance response behaviors, alert and fleeing. Using this framework I compared a baseline scenario to road expansion scenarios (DamRoad, ByPass, DeerCrossing) estimating the frequency of disturbance behavior of mule deer for each such scenario. My results show that mule deer were disturbed most in the baseline model. There were no significant differences in the frequency of disturbance for female mule deer across scenarios. Male mule deer did have some significant differences in alert and fleeing behavior across scenarios. My results may be a function of assumptions made in my modeling. Specifically, I assumed that mule deer would shift their areas of activity to new portions of the Pueblo of Santa Ana in response to altered habitat quality caused by new roads. If mule deer did not shift their areas of activity accordingly, my models may provide inaccurate assessments of disturbance patterns. </p> In conclusion my findings are similar to results from other locations. Specifically, the inferences that roads and road development are important to consider for mule deer management transcends variation associated with the unique characteristics of the Pueblo of Santa Ana mule deer population. Finally, my results suggest that the use of an IBM modeling framework has the potential to provide insights into the disturbance of mule deer by vehicular traffic even if my conclusions were constrained by study design.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Neste trabalho tivemos como objetivo caracterizar a dieta, uso do habitat e padrões comportamentais de Astyanax taeniatus da bacia do Rio Mato Grosso, que encontra-se na porção leste do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (22 52 S; 42 40 W e 22 53 S; 42 34 W). Para a análise da dieta, os exemplares foram coletados bimestralmente entre março de 2006 e janeiro de 2007 em três localidades que diferiram pelas variáveis físicas. As observações de uso dos recursos do habitat foram realizadas por observação subaquática, na posição focal dos exemplares avistados, enquanto a quantificação da disponibilidade foi realizada em 50 quadrats de 20x20cm (400cm2) ao longo dos mesmos 50m onde foi realizada a observação sub-aquática. A análise do conteúdo estomacal de 651 exemplares foi realizada sob microscópio estereoscópico de acordo com métodos qualitativos e quantitativos (Freqüência de Ocorrência e Volumétrica). A participação relativa de cada item registrado nos estômagos em relação à totalidade da dieta foi analisada através do Índice Alimentar (IAi). Para verificar possíveis diferenças entre as proporções dos itens de origem animal e vegetal, autóctone e alóctone, os valores proporcionais foram testados pelo &#61539;2 de contingência. A partir dos dados de comprimento padrão e comprimento do intestino, foi calculado o valor do quociente intestinal. Os itens de origem vegetal tiveram maior contribuição na dieta da espécie para as localidades com maior altitude, enquanto os itens animais tiveram maior contribuição na localidade baixa. A diferença na contribuição dos itens de origem autóctone e alóctone também foi significativa. Na dieta de jovens e adultos, houve diferença significativa na contribuição de itens de origem vegetal e animal somente na localidade mais alta, onde os adultos consumiram maior quantidade de matéria vegetal. Os valores médios de quociente intestinal em jovens e adultos foram significativamente diferentes nas localidades de maior altitude, com valores maiores para indivíduos adultos. Observamos 52% dos indivíduos em profundidades entre 30 e 45 cm, 72% em áreas de rápido, 72% em velocidades entre 0 e 0,5km/h, 66% encontravam-se distantes da margem entre 40 e 120 cm, 37,6% em substrato do tipo areia e 34,4% em substrato do tipo pedra. De todos os padrões comportamentais observados, aquele que mais se destacou foi o forrageamento, onde 70,91% dos indivíduos estavam forrageando no meio da coluna dágua. Os resultados da dieta reforçam a idéia de as espécies de Astyanax têm hábito alimentar onívoro e oportunista, onde a espécie alimentou-se dos recursos disponíveis no ambiente evidenciando sua alta plasticidade alimentar ao longo do riacho. Espécies do gênero Astyanax são consideradas generalistas em relação ao uso do habitat e altamente ativas, corroborando com os resultados do presente estudo. / In this work we aimed to characterize the diet, habitat use and behavior patterns of Astyanax taeniatus at Mato Grosso River Basin. This basin is located in the eastern portion of the State of Rio de Janeiro (22 52 'S; 42 40' W and 22 53 'S; 42 34' W). For the diet analysis, the specimens were collected bimonthly between March 2006 and January 2007 in three locations that differed by physical variables. Observations of resource "use" on the habitat were made by underwater observations, on the focal position of the specimens, while the quantification of resource "availability" was performed in 50 quadrats 20x20cm (400cm2) over the same 50m where the underwater observation was made. The analysis of stomach contents of 651 specimens was performed under a stereomicroscope according to qualitative and quantitative methods (Frequency of Occurrence and Volumetric). The proportional contribution of each item recorded in the stomachs for the whole diet was assessed through the Alimentary Index (IAi). To verify possible differences between the proportions of items of animal and vegetable, autochthonous and allochthonous, we used &#61539;2 contingency test. From the data of standard length and length of the intestine, we calculated the value of intestinal quotient. Items of plant origin were the major contributors in the diet of the species for locations with higher altitude, while the animal items were the major contributors in the low altitude locality. The difference in the contribution of autochthonous items and allochthonous was also significant. In the diet of youngers and adults, there was a difference in the contribution of items of plant and animal origin only in the highest location, where adults consumed greater amount of vegetable detritus. Mean values of intestinal quotient in youngers and adults were significantly different in places of higher altitude, with higher values for adults. We observed 52% of the individuals at depths between 30 and 45 cm, 72% in areas of rapid, 72% at water velocities between 0 and 0.5 km / h, 66% were distant from the margin between 40 and 120 cm, 37.6 % in the sand substrate and 34.4% in substrate with stones. Of all the behavioral patterns, the one that stood out was the foraging, where 70.91% of individuals were foraging in the middle of the water column. Diet results reinforce the idea of the Astyanax species are omnivorous and opportunistic, where the specie fed the resources available in their environment showing high feeding plasticity along the stream. Species of the genus Astyanax are considered generalists in relation to habitat use and highly active, corroborating the results of this study.

O cerrado é a maior, mais rica e provavelmente a mais ameaçada savana tropical do mundo. No entanto, grande parte de sua área foi ocupada por empreendimentos de agropecuária, nos quais não foram respeitados princípios básicos de conservação, sendo que cada grupo ou táxon reage de forma diferente a mudanças ambientais desse tipo. As aves de rapina, como os Falconiformes e os Strigiformes, são especialmente prejudicadas, pois são considerados predadores de topo de muitas teias alimentares. Porém, para saber como essas aves são afetadas pelas mudanças ambientais causadas pela ação do homem é necessário entender quais fatores são relevantes na \"escolha\" do ambiente de determinada espécie e assim compreender a razão de uma possível seletividade de hábitat. Sendo assim, o presente estudo observou características ecológicas de duas espécies de corujas comuns e bem distribuídas no Brasil, Megascops choliba e Athene cunicularia. Dentre os objetivos estão analisar a metodologia de estudo dessas aves de rapina, com possíveis efeitos na detecção de contatos e verificar o uso de hábitat, em diferentes fisionomias de cerrado, por parte das duas espécies de corujas. O estudo foi realizado na região da Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, no interior do estado de São Paulo. Para contatar as corujas foram realizados experimentos de playback em pontos de amostragem distribuídos em quatro fisionomias (neste estudo consideradas habitats) de cerrado. A atividade vocal de M. choliba variou conforme a temperatura e a umidade relativa. Esta espécie respondeu mais ao playback em condições de temperatura e umidade relativa altas. Athene cunicularia mostrou variar sua atividade vocal conforme a fase da lua e a intensidade do vento. Indivíduos desta espécie respondem mais intensamente ao playback em noites de lua cheia e menos em noites com ventos mais fortes. As duas espécies de corujas se distribuem diferentemente entre as fisionomias de cerrado. Athene cunicularia distribui-se distintamente entre fisionomias fechadas e abertas (Hk-w = 9,976; p = 0,0188), utilizando mais frequentemente as os campos limpo e sujo. Megascops choliba também se distribui diferentemente entre as fisionomias de cerrado (Hk-w = 10,88; p = 2 0,0137), utilizando preferencialmente o campo cerrado e o cerrado s.s.. Segundo os modelos tidos como os melhores, pela seleção de modelos feita através do AIC (Aikaike\'s Information Criterion), a variável com maior poder explicativo é o número de arbóreas para as duas espécies. Megascops choliba e A. cunicularia se segregam ecologicamente, havendo partição divergente de recursos espaciais, devido a seus requisitos para nidificação e forrageamento. Ocorre sobreposição intermediária no uso do habitat entre ambas espécies (O = 0,466). Já quanto a amplitude de nicho espacial (uso de habitat) M. choliba foi generalista (Bst = 0,753) e A. cunicularia intermediária (Bst = 0,453). Sendo assim, estas espécies divergem na seleção de habitat, se distribuindo diferentemente entre as fisionomias de cerrado de acordo com o número de arbóreas. Este estudo sugere, ainda, a importância de se levar em consideração as variáveis climáticas em estudos com o uso de vocalizações de aves de rapina noturnas, servindo também de subsídio para pesquisas futuras sobre censo dessas aves. / The Cerrado biome is the largest, richest and perhaps the most threatened tropical savannah of the world. However, most part of its natural areas has been transformed on agrosystems and pastures where basic principles of conservation weren\'t respected. Each biological group or taxa are affected on different ways by this change. Birds of prey are particularly affected because of its position in trophic webs, as they are top predators. To understand how these birds are affected by change caused by human land use, it is necessary to understand which factors are important for habitat selection, and then understand the species-habitat relationship. Thus, we observed ecological aspects of two widespread and common owls on Brazil: Tropical Screech-Owls (Megascops choliba) and Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia). The main objectives of this study included an analysis of methodological aspects of studying these owls species through playback and observe their habitat use. The study was conducted in the Estação Ecológica de Itirapina, State of São Paulo, Brazil. For doing it, we used playback experiments to detect these owls on four different cerrado physiognomies Vocal activities of Tropical Screech-owls were more detected in conditions of higher temperature and humidity. On the other hand, the Athene cunicularia answered more to playback in lower wind speed conditions and/or at full moon nights. The Burrowing Owl explored more frequently open physiognomies of cerrado, as campo limpo and campo sujo (Hk-w = 9.976; p = 0.0188). Conversely, Megascops choliba is more often found on campo cerrado, avoiding campo limpo (Hk-w = 10.88; p = 0.0137). According to Aikaike\'s Information Criterion (AIC) selection model, the most important variable to explain the distribution of both species in cerrado is the number of trees. There was ecological segregation between Megascops choliba and A. cunicularia. The spatial niche was intermediarily segregated (Pianka´s niche overlap measure O = 0.466), according their different needs for nesting and foraging. Additionally, these owls displayed broader (M. choliba Bst = 0.753) or intermediate (A. cunicularia Bst = 0.453) spatial niche breadths. On this sense, these owls have different needs on habitat selection, and their different distributions in cerrado were related more intrinsically to the number of trees present on each physiognomy, which is related to their nesting and foraging requirements. Aditionally, this study suggests, the importance to consider the influence of weather conditions on broadcast survey techniques for nocturnal raptors, which may be considered in further studies on census of these birds.

Movement, distribution, and habitat use of juvenile bull sharks were examined in two studies using manual and passive acoustic telemetry. Research was conducted in the Caloosahatchee River, which serves as nursery habitat for this species, and is highly impacted due to anthropogenic alterations in water quality and quantity via dams and locks. Manual tracking yielded fine-scale results for eight individuals on home range size, rate of movement, swimming depth, linearity, direction of travel, tidal influence, diel pattern, as well as correlation with environmental variables. Changes in salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and pH played a role on the distribution of bull sharks. Passive monitoring of twelve individuals allowed for examination of trends in residency, home range, depth, and distribution in response to water quality alterations. Both studies documented a shift in the distribution of animals in response to significant modifications in salinity and flow levels. Sharks were distributed throughout the river at low flow rates, but were located only near the river mouth, or exited the river at discharges rates above 75 m³s-1. Current water management policies are examined and recommendations are made which include the physiological preferences of this top-level predator.

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is critical to upland communities and considered a keystone species. A recent threat to gopher tortoise habitat is the invasive cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica), which spreads rapidly, eliminating native vegetation. This study consisted of three experiments to investigate the effects of the cogongrass on a population of gopher tortoises. A feeding experiment revealed that individuals readily ate native vegetation, but would not eat cogongrass. A tracking experiment showed that there was a significantly different mean angle of movement between individuals whose home ranges were outside cogongrass compared to those that overlapped cogongrass, indicating that the presence of cogongrass disrupts normal movement patterns. An orientation experiment showed that individuals outside cogongrass oriented in a direction that would take them to their home burrow, while individuals inside cogongrass showed no preferred directional orientation. Cogongrass effectively eliminates the gopher tortoises' food source and habitat, and disrupts orientation. The experiments indicate that a cogongrass infestation has the capacity to eliminate populations of gopher tortoises if its spread is not checked.