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Resource distribution, habitat structure, and predators greatly influence spatial and temporal landscape use by prey species. The “risky places” hypothesis establishes prey will proactively respond to predators' presence based on habitat cues, whereas the “risky times” hypothesis predicts prey will reactively respond by increasing vigilance in the presence of predators regardless of habitat cues. We fit a multiscale, Bayesian species interaction occupancy model with detection/non‐detection data to evaluate black‐tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus) and eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) habitat use in the presence and absence of coyotes (Canis latrans), American badgers (Taxidea taxus), and swift foxes (Vulpes velox). We also evaluated how species‐specific predator presence modified temporal activity patterns of prey. Jackrabbits decreased habitat use in areas with greater forage and opted to use areas with greater visibility when coyotes or swift foxes were present. However, cottontails used habitat in open areas with greater visibility when American badgers were present and all other predators absent, suggesting dissimilar habitat‐use patterns dictated by predator‐specific risks. Both lagomorph species are nocturnal with segregated peaks of activity compared with predators, suggesting fine‐scale temporal use partitioning. Our results provide insights into predator–prey dynamics across heterogenous landscapes in a multi‐predator system.

ContextHuman-modified landscapes can structure species’ distributions and supplant traditional biotic range-limiting processes. Understanding the direction and scale of these processes is necessary to enhance species conservation efforts.ObjectivesWe investigated how the distribution of a prairie-obligate carnivore, swift fox (Vulpes velox), is influenced by landscape pattern at the eastern edge of their used range. We also assessed the effects of a popular conservation effort, the conservation reserve program (CRP), on swift fox distributions.MethodsWe used three years of detection/non-detection data (2018–2020) from camera traps at 381 sites to evaluate the spatial distribution of swift foxes at the eastern edge of their extant range in Kansas, USA. We used Gaussian Kernel functions to identify optimal scales of effect for measured landscape covariates and multiseason use models to reveal potential range-limiting constraints.ResultsSwift foxes were more likely to occur at sites with moderate landcover diversity within 254.47 ha, greater proportion of shortgrass prairie (7.07 ha) and loamy soil types (0.79 ha), and lower proportions of CRP landcover (78.54 ha). Swift foxes were more likely to colonize sites with less diverse landcover, a greater proportion of loamy soil types, and lower proportions of CRP landcover. Swift foxes were insensitive to the proportion of row-crop agriculture surrounding sites (3.14 ha).ConclusionsLoamy soils and distribution of shortgrass prairie ecosystems may shape the periphery of the distribution for swift foxes. Landscape-scale use of CRP may constrain swift fox distributions at their range edge because managed vegetation structure of CRP does not mimic native shortgrass prairie.

Anthropogenic activities since the European colonization of the North American Great Plains have drastically altered landscape composition and configuration, subsequently affecting native biodiversity. These contemporary human-modified landscapes may affect mammal species’ distributions, diel activity patterns, habitat use, and interspecific interactions, though a better understanding of these effects on mammals occurring in remaining prairie landscapes is needed. To fill this gap, we surveyed 381 randomly selected sites in 2018, 2019, and 2020 using motion-sensing camera traps across the western part of the US state of Kansas (7,160,077 ha). Sites were separated by ≥2 km (x = 8.16 km, SD = 3.61), and cameras were secured to a metal post 40 cm above ground and randomly oriented toward the north or south. We placed an olfactory attractant (mixture of skunk essence and petroleum jelly) on a wooden stake 3 m in front of each camera. Cameras were in place at each site for 28 consecutive days for each year. We manually identified all mammal species detected at each site, collating these data into a database that included taxonomic information for 14 families of mammals (Antilocapridae, Bovidae, Canidae, Cervidae, Cricetidae, Dasypodidae, Didelphidae, Erethizontidae, Felidae, Heteromyidae, Leporidae, Mephitidae, Mustelidae, Procyonidae, Sciuridae, and Muridae) comprising 28 total species. We recorded 31,178 mammal photographs (nonindependent events) over 27,954 camera trap nights during 2018 (n = 10,351), 2019 (n = 9478), and 2020 (n = 8125). Additionally, we included the time and date of each photocapture. Moreover, we gathered survey-specific data useful for modeling species-specific detection along with site-level habitat composition data taken at each site each year. These data will be useful for examining habitat use, species distributions, diel activity patterns, and spatiotemporal interactions between species and across guilds of mammals occurring in a rapidly changing agro-prairie ecosystem. There are no copyright restrictions, but we ask researchers to cite this paper when using these data for publication.

ABSTRACT Land use change in prairie ecosystems is pervasive. Prairie obligate species may be affected by these changes, though many carnivore‐specific examples are unknown. We used 3 years (2018–2020) of camera‐trap (n = 381) data from Kansas, USA, to assess multiscale effects of landscape composition on habitat use by American badgers (badger, Taxidea taxus). We predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be positively associated with the amount of prairie surrounding sites. We also predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be negatively related to amounts of agriculture and the number of wind towers surrounding sites. Badgers were insensitive to amounts of prairie surrounding sites and likely to occupy and colonize sites surrounded by row‐crop agriculture. Badgers were also less likely to occupy sites farther from permanent water. Badgers may be exploiting agricultural areas because of increased prey densities or suitable burrowing substrates. Moreover, our study highlights the importance of water resources to badgers in arid regions.

Biofluorescence in mammal pelage is considered rare, but has been documented in multiple taxa in recent years. Herein, we provide the first observations of biofluorescence in fossorial mammals. We documented biofluorescence in live Geomys pinetis (southeastern pocket gopher) and in museum specimens of four additional geomyid species. Although unknown, the adaptive significance of biofluorescence in pocket gophers is likely similar to that documented in terrestrial and arboreal species previously, including communication or predator evasion.

Natural history accounts have long suggested that coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and American badgers ( Taxidea taxus ) cooperatively hunt, yet this behavior has rarely been evaluated at broad spatial scales. We used a 3‐year camera‐trap network spanning western Kansas, USA, to test whether spatial and temporal detection patterns were consistent with coordinated hunting. Because camera traps cannot directly confirm cooperative events, we assessed whether such behavior was common enough to generate non‐random regional co‐detection patterns. We quantified spatial association using a detection‐conditioned co‐detection ratio (CDR), estimated diel activity overlap (Δ 4 ) from kernel density functions, and evaluated short‐term (≤ 30 min) temporal proximity and directional responses using permutation and lag analyses. Coyotes were detected on 72.9% of site‐days and badgers on 31.7%, but both species were detected at the same site on only 4.6% of days, five times less than expected under independence (CDR = 0.20, χ 2 = 2604.3, p < 0.001). Despite reduced same‐site, same‐day co‐detection, diel activity overlap was high (Δ 4 = 0.94). Sequential detections showed no excess proximity or directional bias. Collectively, results indicate limited fine‐scale spatiotemporal overlap rather than population‐level coordinated hunting. 自然史资料长期表明郊狼 ( Canis latrans ) 与美洲獾 ( Taxidea taxus ) 存在合作捕猎行为, 但该行为极少在大空间尺度上得到验证。本研究利用美国堪萨斯州西部为期三年的红外相机监测网络, 检验空间与时间探测格局是否与协同捕猎相符。由于红外相机无法直接证实合作事件, 我们评估该行为是否普遍到足以产生非随机性的区域联合探测格局。我们采用基于探测的联合探测比 (CDR) 量化空间关联性, 通过核密度函数估计昼夜活动重叠度 (Δ 4 ), 并使用置换和滞后分析评估短期 (≤ 30 分钟) 时间邻近性与方向响应。郊狼的位点日探测率为 72.9%, 美洲獾为 31.7%, 但两物种在同一位点同日仅被探测到 4.6%, 为独立假设下期望值的五分之一 (CDR = 0.20, χ 2 = 2604.3, p < 0.001) 。尽管同位点同日联合探测概率较低, 但昼夜活动重叠度较高 (Δ₄ = 0.94) 。序列探测未表现出显著的时间邻近性或方向偏好。综合来看, 结果显示两物种仅存在有限的精细尺度时空重叠, 而非种群水平的协同捕猎。

Land use change in prairie ecosystems is pervasive. Prairie obligate species may be affected by these changes, though many carnivore‐specific examples are unknown. We used 3 years (2018–2020) of camera‐trap ( n = 381) data from Kansas, USA, to assess multiscale effects of landscape composition on habitat use by American badgers (badger, Taxidea taxus ). We predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be positively associated with the amount of prairie surrounding sites. We also predicted that site occupancy and colonization would be negatively related to amounts of agriculture and the number of wind towers surrounding sites. Badgers were insensitive to amounts of prairie surrounding sites and likely to occupy and colonize sites surrounded by row‐crop agriculture. Badgers were also less likely to occupy sites farther from permanent water. Badgers may be exploiting agricultural areas because of increased prey densities or suitable burrowing substrates. Moreover, our study highlights the importance of water resources to badgers in arid regions. 草原生态系统中土地利用变化非常普遍。草原专性物种可能会受到这些变化的影响, 尽管许多食肉动物特有的例子尚不清楚。利用美国堪萨斯州3年 (2018 ‐ 2020 年) 的相机陷阱 (n = 381) 数据, 评估了景观组成对美洲獾 ( Taxidea taxus ) 栖息地利用的多尺度影响。我们预测, 位点占域率和定居率与位点周围的草原面积呈正相关。我们还预测, 位点占域率和定居率与周围的农业面积和风力发电塔数量呈负相关。美洲獾对位点周围的草原面积不敏感, 并且很可能占域和定居在被成行作物农业包围的位点。美洲獾不太可能占域离永久性水源较远的位点。美洲獾可能因为猎物密度增加或适宜的挖掘土壤基质而利用农业区域。此外, 我们的研究强调了水资源对干旱地区美洲獾的重要性。

Background In the USA, access to quality healthcare varies greatly across racial and ethnic groups, resulting in significant health disparities. A new term, “racial health equity” (RHE), is increasingly reported in the medical literature, but there is currently no consensus definition of the term. Additionally, related terms such as “health disparities,” “health inequities,” and “equality” have been inconsistently used when defining RHE. Methods The primary purpose of this scoping review is to investigate the current use and underlying concepts used to define racial health equity. The study will address two key questions: (1) “What terminology and definitions have been used to characterize RHE?” and (2) “What knowledge gaps and challenges are present in the current state of RHE research and theory?” The review will collect and analyze data from three sources: (1) websites from key national and international health organizations, (2) theoretical and narrative published articles, and (3) evidence synthesis studies addressing interventions targeting racial health equity and minority stakeholder engagement. Discussion Defining “racial health equity” and related terminology is the first step to advancing racial health equity within the USA. This review aims to offer an improved understanding of RHE constructs and definitions, bringing greater unity to national racial health equity research efforts across disciplines. Systematic review registration This protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework at https://osf.io/7pvzq .