Many aspects of an animal’s ecology are associated with activity patterns. One important and controversial one is in the predator-prey relationship. Some propose a predator should match the activity of its prey because the prey should be more vulnerable when active, especially while foraging. Others suggest prey vulnerability while foraging should be an anti-predator selective force that would uncouple prey activity from that of its predator. To examine this relationship between activity of a predator and its prey, we examined temporal patterns of coyotes (Canis latrans) and lagomorphs (Lepus californicus, Sylvilagus audoboni). We tested the hypothesis that as a predator avoidance behavior there would be differences in the peaks of activity of predator and prey. We used GPS collars to track coyotes; we identified areas of activity and determined daily activity patterns. Coyote activity was estimated based on distance traveled per hour. We installed lagomorph feeding stations and game cameras in coyote activity areas to assess lagomorph activity patterns. The number of photographs and time taken were used to determine activity of lagomorphs. Linear mixed model analyses were used to account for repeated activity measurements at feeding stations and from individual coyotes.
Results/Conclusions
We found coyotes to be mainly crepuscular. Peaks of activity for both sexes occur between 0800 -1000 h, and 1800-2000 h, females moved more in the morning and males in the evening (P<0.001). In contrast, lagomorphs were mainly nocturnal with little activity during the day. Rabbits and jackrabbits had different hourly patterns (P<0.001). Activity peaks for rabbits occurred between 0500-0600 h, and 1900-2300 h. Jackrabbit activity peaks occurred between 0400-0700 h, and 1900-2300 h. Our results supported the hypothesis that prey activity did not closely match that of the predator. This difference suggests that the prey might be taking advantage of the time with reduced predator activity when predation risk is low.
