Weather and Prey Predict Mammals' Visitation to Water

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Wildlife Management
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Artificial water sources are common in arid regions to support wildlife.
• Concerns exist that year-round water provisioning may negatively impact biodiversity and predator-prey dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how weather variables and predator-prey relationships influence mammal visitation to artificial water sources.
• To inform water management strategies for wildlife conservation.

Main Methods:

• Trail cameras recorded mammal visitation at Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, USA.
• Generalized linear modeling analyzed visitation patterns in relation to weather (temperature, humidity, VPD, precipitation) and prey presence.
• Data collected from June 2009 to September 2014.

Main Results:

• Precipitation and temperature were key drivers for native ungulate and rabbit water use.
• Predator visitation was linked to prey availability and weather conditions.
• Visitation patterns varied by species, with some showing consistent year-round use and others seasonal peaks.

Conclusions:

• Water provisioning can favor certain species and influence predator-prey interactions.
• Timing water availability to periods of high target species use may mitigate unintended ecological consequences.
• Adaptive water management can enhance conservation outcomes in arid environments.