Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab

Mission

The Wolf Conservation Center (WCC) Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab (IECL) conducts research on the ecology, management, and conservation of mammalian carnivores focusing on the distribution and population dynamics of carnivores and assessing strategies used for population recovery.

Research Background

Led by Dr. Joey Hinton Ph.D. and WCC research associate Sunny Murphy, the WCC's Integrative Ecology and Coexistence Lab focuses on the ecology, management, and conservation of mammalian carnivores. Within this context, IECL develops high-quality research at WCC by conducting research on four broad topics: 1) mechanisms that govern the distributions and population dynamics of carnivore species, 2) addressing ecological and evolutionary questions at large spatial and temporal scales, 3) assessing strategies used for population recovery, and 4) the taxonomy and evolution of canids in North America. Scientists at IECL will draw on their experiences in these disciplines and use existing research collaborations with partners to develop innovative ecological research. These topics have both theoretical and applied relevance and are well-suited for influencing conservation policies and engaging the public in advocacy.

Ongoing Research

Tri-state Coyote Project

This is a large-scale project on coyote ecology funded by the Alabama
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Fieldwork was conducted during 2015-
2017 and entailed GPS radio-collaring 165 coyotes (55 collars/state) in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. It was initiated by Drs. Joseph Hinton (WCC-CRL) and Michael Chamberlain (University of Georgia [UGA]) when Dr. Hinton was a postdoc at UGA in 2015.

Building off Dr. Hinton’s dissertation research on red wolves and coyotes, this project was initiated to assess coyote space use, habitat selection, diet, and survival at the landscape level. As
observed in previous research, coyotes are capable of traversing over large areas in response to
ecological demands. Consequently, studying behaviors associated with residency (e.g., site fidelity, breeding) and transiency (e.g., dispersal, displacement) is central to understanding
coyote ecology and population persistence and improving coyote management.
To date, this project has produced 5 peer-reviewed papers on coyote space use, diet, and genetics. Dr. Hinton is currently assessing coyote survival and habitat selection in which findings
from this analysis will provide accurate demographic information on coyotes needed for the red
wolf population viability analysis (PVA) and updating the red wolf recovery plan.

Red Wolf Reintroduction Suitability Project:

The overall objective of this project is to identify potential areas for reintroducing red wolves within their historic range and to predict the suitability of those areas for recovery. This project is led by Dr. Joseph Hinton. Other project collaborators are Drs. Jeremy Bruskotter (Ohio State University), Michael Chamberlain, and John Vucetich (Michigan Tech University).

There are three general components to this research: (1) rigorously assess the red wolf’s historical range for areas that can meet all basic biological requirements (i.e., prey, cover type, denning sites) for wolves to survive and reproduce; (2) using broad-scale surveys, assess the public’s acceptance of red wolves throughout their historical range; (3) quantitively analyze the spatial variation in human lethality towards wolves across their historical range. Collectively, information from all three components will be used to assess the red wolf’s historical range for potential reintroduction sites.

This research will also assess current management practices (i.e., coyote sterilization) in the Recovery Area to ensure that the USFWS has the capability to carry out reintroductions modeled from the North Carolina experience. The project’s analysis has the potential to identify factors (i.e., hunting policies, road densities, poor denning sites) that cause poor survival for red wolves in different regions of its historical range and how these factors can be mitigated by USFWS as well as types of political fights that may ensue when considering different reintroduction sites.

A manuscript co-authored by Drs. Hinton and Chamberlain assessing the USFWS’s management of coyotes in northeastern North Carolina was accepted for publication.

Publications

Red wolf ancestry on Galveston Island, TX (2022)

Red wolf ancestry on Galveston Island, TX (PDF)

The study found that there are coyotes on Galveston Island and the mainland of Texas with significant red wolf ancestry, and some individuals have retained unique genetic variation from the red wolf founding population. The population on Galveston Island has at least four family groups, and coyotes are highly related but not genetically depauperate. The presence of red wolf ancestry could benefit future conservation efforts by using novel reproductive techniques and de-introgression strategies to recover lost genetic variation and reduce inbreeding within the species.

Recursive use of home ranges and seasonal shifts in foraging behavior by a generalist carnivore (2022)

Ecology And Evolution 2022 Youngmann Recursive Use Of Home Ranges And Seasonal Shifts In Foraging Behavior By A... (PDF)

Coyotes have colonized the southeastern United States, filling the void left by the extirpation of larger predators. They prey on white-tailed deer and other small mammals, birds, and vegetation, and their foraging behavior is essential for understanding their impact on prey and other carnivores. A study tracking 41 coyotes across Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina using GPS collars revealed that they preferred open land and avoided roads, while selecting for forest edges except from April to June when they foraged within interior forests. This behavior may increase predation on vulnerable white-tailed deer fawns in the spring. The study also suggests that road-killed carcasses are an unlikely source of deer in coyotes' diets year-round, as they avoid roads during foraging.

A model-based estimate of winter distribution and abundance of white-tailed deer in the Adirondack Park (2022)

White-tailed deer distribution and abundance in Adirondack (PDF)

In the Adirondack Park region of northern New York, white-tailed deer and moose coexist, with moose populations being vulnerable and low-density. Researchers estimated 16,352 white-tailed deer in the park, with densities influenced by proximity to human activity and climate factors. Climate change may favor white-tailed deer over moose, potentially leading to increased competition for resources and disease spread, emphasizing the need for management strategies that account for these environmental conditions.