| Various aspects of the ecology of mid-sized mammalian carnivores were studied in western Tennessee. Using mark/recapture procedures, predation on artificial nests of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) by mammalian mesopredators (raccoons, Procyon lotor; Virginia opossums, Didelphis virginiana; and striped skunks, Mephitis mephitis) was assessed in light of the problem-individual paradigm from 2000-2003. Results varied by species, sampling period, and year; however, predation was by small percentages of populations and only within the population of striped skunks were individuals (2 of 49) captured on an artificial nest >1 time. Based on low occurrences of individuals repeatedly involved in predation on nests, the problem-individual paradigm was unsubstantiated.; Predation on artificial nests of northern bobwhites by mammalian mesopredators that included raccoons, striped skunks, Virginia opossums, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus), bobcats (Lynx rufus), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) was assessed during 2002 and 2003. The purpose of the work was to determine which species represented the mesopredator assemblage preying on nests of northern bobwhites locally and to examine nest predation in relation to proximity to edge on a fragmented landscape at 6-distance categories (0-10, 11-20, 21-30, 31-40, 41-50, and >50 m) from forest edge. Predation upon nests of northern bobwhites was documented by raccoons, striped skunks, Virginia opossums, and nine-banded armadillos. There was no significant (P>0.05) relationship between nest predation and distance to forest edge exhibited by the mesopredator assemblage.; Spatial association of adult male raccoons was assessed using mark/recapture techniques during winters of 1991-2005 and radiotelemetry techniques from 2001-2003. Degree of overlap in movements of raccoons and home ranges was significantly greater than 10% (P < 0.05), and distances between all possible pairs of males during their nightly movements did not differ from a random pattern all of which indicate tolerance of conspecifics. Additionally, home ranges of adult male raccoons in the breeding season were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than home ranges during the non-breeding season as predicted for non-territorial males. Overall, adult male raccoons appeared to demonstrate overlapping movements with little support for individuals mutually excluding one another. |
