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Fine-Scale Movement of the European Hedgehog: an Application of Spool-And-Thread Tracking

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Fine-Scale Movement of the European Hedgehog: an Application of Spool-And-Thread Tracking Available160 on-line at: http://www.newzealandecology.org/nzje/NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, VOL. 31, NO. 2, 2007 Fine-scale movement of the European hedgehog: an application of spool-and-thread tracking Danielle F. Shanahan1*, Renaud Mathieu3, 4 and Philip J. Seddon2 1School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia 2Department of Zoology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand 3Spatial Ecology Research Facility, School of Surveying, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand 4CSIR – NRE, Earth Observation Research Group, Building 33, PO Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa *Author for correspondence (Email: [email protected]) Published on-line: 3 December 2007 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Abstract: The European hedgehog is a significant predator species of rare and endangered ground-nesting birds in the riverbeds of the Waitaki Basin, South Island, New Zealand. Studies focusing on the movements and habits of this species have generally been limited to broad-scale radio-tracking studies or incidental trap-catch data. Within our study, we aimed to investigate the finer scale movement patterns of the hedgehog in relation to vegetation structure by using spool-and-thread tracking. We captured 30 hedgehogs (15 female, 15 male) within the study area, and spool-and-thread-tracked the movements of each over a single night. Only two of the 30 animals moved onto the gravel areas of the riverbeds where birds nest – hedgehogs may therefore not target birds’ nests as a primary prey source, but rather as a secondary prey item. The movement paths were all non-random, and males demonstrated particular linearity in their tracks. This straighter and more directed movement may be due to more intensive mate search at this time of the year. We also assessed habitat use using a very high resolution habitat map (derived from Ikonos 4-m-resolution satellite image). Dense grassland was the most selected habitat type, perhaps because insect prey are at a higher density in this vegetation type. Hedgehogs (particularly males) also used boundaries of all habitat types significantly more than the centre of habitat patches. We found the spool-and-thread tracking technique does have limitations: (1) it could be inappropriate for animals exhibiting a significant escape response; (2) the data do not include a temporal dimension. However, these problems were not considered relevant for this study. Fine-scale studies such as this can provide increased power when investigating the ecology of species at a scale relevant to trap___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ placement. Keywords: animal movement; Erinaceus europaeus occidentalis; Ikonos; introduced predators; Waitaki Basin Introduction & Maloney 2002). Further information on the fine-scale movement behaviour of species such as the hedgehog may Introduced mammalian predators have been implicated enable us to improve our understanding of the ecology of in the decline or extinction of many of New Zealand’s the species with reference to the risk to ground-nesting endemic species (King 1984; McLennan et al. 1996; birds. This information has been identified as essential for Murphy et al. 2004). The European hedgehog (Erinaceus determining optimum placement of traps and poison bait europaeus occidentalis) preys upon many ground-nesting stations; but such knowledge may also support alternative bird species. One such species is the critically endangered management strategies (such as habitat manipulations) that black stilt or kaki (Himanotopus novaezelandiae), which may discourage predators from important conservation nests on the braided riverbeds of the Waitaki Basin, South areas (Norbury et al. 1998; Ragg & Moller 2000). Island, New Zealand (BirdLife International 2003). Few studies have investigated movement behaviour Despite extensive control operations targeting introduced of hedgehogs in relation to landscape and vegetation mammals in the Waitaki Basin, hedgehogs continue to structure and composition; those that have, have generally have an adverse effect on the nesting success of ground- used broad-scale techniques such as radio tracking (e.g. nesting river birds (Keedwell et al. 2002). Feral cats (Felis Morris 1986; Baker 1989; Moss 1999), or incidental trap- catus), hedgehogs and ferrets (Mustela furo) have been catch data analysed post hoc (Cameron et al. 2005). Such held responsible for 43, 20 and 18%, respectively, of nest studies have provided information that can aid predator losses of kaki and other birds in the riverbeds (Sanders management at a broad scale (e.g. Berry 1999; Ragg & New Zealand Journal of Ecology (2007) 31(2): 160-168 ©New Zealand Ecological Society SHANAHAN ET AL.: SPOOL-AND-THREAD TRACKING OF HEDGEHOGS 161 Moller 2000). However, there is some indication from structure, including vegetation edges and linear vegetation these broad-scale studies that fine-scale habitat structure strips? may play an important role in determining the areas individuals will move through. For example, Doncaster et al. (2001) used radio-telemetry to demonstrate that Methods displaced hedgehogs showed an attraction to habitat edges, which were believed to act as corridors to better Study area locations. Also, in an incidental-trap-catch study Cameron The study was carried out in the Ohau and Tekapo braided et al. (2005) found that hedgehogs were most often riverbeds, Waitaki Basin, South Island, New Zealand caught in traps within 2.5 m of low vegetative cover, and (44°16–20´ S; 170°5–13´ E; Fig. 1). The river areas used along predator pathways. These studies raise questions in this study comprise long stretches of rocky and gravel as to whether these structures are used continuously areas interspersed with low-flow waterways. The water during foraging trips, or whether there are other areas or flow is heavily controlled by hydro dams located at the landscape structures that trapping efforts should focus on head of each river, and hence flooding events are rare. Both more to improve trap efficacy. This is the basis for the rivers have heavy invasive-weed infestations, particularly current research. sweet briar (Rosa rubiginosa) and willow (Salix spp.). Refining the scale at which animal movement studies Nine species of native bird use the area as breeding habitat are carried out presents technical and logistical problems. (Byrom 2002), several of which require open areas of Highly accurate animal movement data in combination gravels or rocks to nest singly or in colonies. with extremely high resolution habitat information are required. Options for gathering the appropriate animal Habitat map location data include Global Positioning System (GPS) collars, as used for medium- to large-sized mammals such The habitat map used in this study was derived from a as ungulates and wolves (Merrill 2000; Johnson et al. classified Ikonos satellite image, with 4-m resolution. The 2002). Commercially available GPS devices are, however, final habitat map was composed of six vegetation classes, not yet light-weight enough for use on many of New considered to represent the major structural elements of Zealand’s introduced predators, and are often too costly for the vegetation in the braided riverbeds. This number of wildlife research projects. Spool-and-thread tracking has classes also provided a very high level of classification been developed as an inexpensive yet effective method of accuracy. The Ikonos image was captured on 1 December tracking fine-scale movements of small mammals (Miles 2002. The vegetation structure was unlikely to have et al. 1981; Woolley 1989). In an environment such as changed significantly in the period between the image the Waitaki Basin, the thread progressively unravels and capture and the tracking element of this study (spring snags on boulders or vegetation as the animal moves, and summer 2003), as no flood events were experienced recording every turning point. In combination with in the riverbeds in the years between and, as mentioned, GPS technology, spool-and-thread tracking can yield water flow is heavily controlled. The final classes of the accurate movement data in a form compatible with GIS software. High-resolution satellite imagery (up to 1 m) is now available commercially (e.g. Ikonos, Quickbird), and this provides a user-friendly option for developing precise habitat maps. This study aims to begin to develop and test possible research techniques for investigating the fine-scale habitat use of small mammals in New Zealand braided river systems, while building on knowledge of hedgehog habitat use. We employ spool-and-thread tracking to obtain high- accuracy movement data, and combine these with habitat maps generated from high-resolution satellite imagery. In doing so we also aim to address three main questions in relation to hedgehog movement patterns: (1) Is a very fine-scale movement study meaningful? i.e. at a very fine scale, do hedgehogs move in a random fashion or are there obvious patterns in this movement? (2) Which habitat or vegetation types appear to be important for foraging hedgehogs? How often do hedgehogs frequent the gravel/rocky areas where river birds nest? Figure 1. Location of the study site – Waitaki Basin, South (3) Do hedgehogs exhibit expected use of landscape Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand.
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