Researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) have deployed motion-sensing cameras along a protected section of the California coastline to study the impact of coyotes on intertidal habitats. The cameras revealed that coyotes are frequent visitors to the shoreline, and their presence has a significant effect on the distribution and behavior of shorebirds and other wildlife.
"We found that coyotes were present on the shoreline at all times of day and night," said lead author Justine Smith, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UCSC. "They were most active during the early morning and evening hours, when shorebirds and other wildlife are also most active."
The cameras also showed that coyotes were responsible for a significant amount of predation on shorebirds and other wildlife. Over the course of the study, the researchers documented coyotes killing and eating a variety of shorebirds, including sanderlings, willets, and long-billed curlews.
"The predation by coyotes is having a negative impact on the shorebird population in this area," said Smith. "We found that the abundance of shorebirds was significantly lower in areas where coyotes were present."
In addition to direct predation, the presence of coyotes also caused shorebirds to change their behavior. The birds were more likely to fly away from the shoreline when they saw a coyote, and they spent less time foraging and feeding.
"The presence of coyotes is creating a 'landscape of fear' for shorebirds," said Smith. "This fear is causing the birds to change their behavior in ways that are reducing their ability to survive and reproduce."
The researchers say that their findings have important implications for the management of intertidal habitats in California. They recommend that managers take steps to reduce the impact of coyotes on shorebirds, such as installing fences or removing coyote dens.
"Coyotes are an important part of the ecosystem, but their presence can have a negative impact on shorebirds and other wildlife," said Smith. "We need to find ways to reduce this impact so that we can protect these vulnerable species."
