关键词: 城市野生动物, 城市化, 行为可塑性, 食性, 栖息地选择

Abstract

Aims: Specific with high behavioral plasticity are able to utilize resources in urban environments, successfully colonizing and adapting to cities. Researching key behavioral changes in carnivorous species, such as foraging behavior and habitat selection, helps our understanding of how species respond to urban environments. This study focused on raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Shanghai with the objectives to (1) understand the food composition of raccoon dogs and how raccoon dogs adjust their feeding strategies to respond to urban environments in Shanghai, and (2) evaluate how raccoon dogs change their habitat selection within their home ranges when colonizing urban environments.  

Methods: We sampled from May 2021 to December 2023 in two different urbanized environments of Shanghai: highly urbanized residential environments (residential areas) and semi-natural habitats (forest parks) with lower urbanization. Fecal samples were collected, processed, and analyzed using logistic regression and Chi square tests to measure differences in food components. Wildlife bio-trackers were used to collect raccoon dog activity data, and autocorrelated kernel density estimation was used to approximate their home range. Finally, a resource selection function was developed to evaluate raccoon dog habitat selection within their home ranges.

Results: A total of 568 fecal samples were processed, and logistic regression results showed that raccoon dogs in residential areas ate significantly more of human-derived products (P < 0.001) and mammals (P < 0.01) compared with raccoon dogs living in less urbanized forest parks. A total of 32 individuals were collared, and tracked with satellite positioning, and results from a resource selection function revealed that while raccoon dogs in forest parks avoided buildings within their home range (β = –0.222), those in residential areas selected for buildings within their home range (β = 0.021).

Conclusion: This study provides the first assessment of behavioral changes of raccoon dogs in urban environments within Shanghai, including their habitat selection and feeding tendencies, which revealed their behavioral plasticity. Based on these results, we propose adaptive management strategies to reduce human-derived food consumption through community-based urban wildlife conservation planning. Long-term assessment of raccoon dogs behaviors is needed to further elucidate how raccoon dogs respond to urban environments, and to provide information for ecology-based protection and management of urban wildlife.

Key words: urban animals, urbanization, behavioral plasticity, diets, habitat selection