Bobcat Identification, Abundance, and Behavior at Road Mitigation Structures in South Texas

Author

Victoria Hanley, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

12-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

First Advisor

Dr. Richard Kline

Second Advisor

Dr. John Young

Third Advisor

Dr. Faiz Rahman

Abstract

Highways in South Texas fragment the landscape and result in high road mortality rates for the endangered US ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). In response, the Texas Department of Transportation constructed nine wildlife crossing structures (WCS) on Farm-to-Market (FM) 106 which adjoins Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Cameron County, Texas. With ocelots being rare and elusive, bobcats (Lynx rufus) are often used as a surrogate species to study felid behavior at road mitigation structures in South Texas. Bobcats have unique markings which allow them to be individually identified. Three methods of individual identification of bobcats using camera trap photos were compared: HotSpotter, visual identification and a spatio-temporal strategy, with manual visual identification being the most effective. Using this method, 78 bobcats were identified along FM 106 and their interactions at road mitigation structures were analyzed to help determine the effectiveness at facilitating bobcat movement safely beneath the road.

Comments

Copyright 2022 Victoria Hanley. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/bobcat-identification-abundance-behavior-at-road/docview/2801814044/se-2?accountid=7119

Recommended Citation

Hanley, Victoria, "Bobcat Identification, Abundance, and Behavior at Road Mitigation Structures in South Texas" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 1145.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1145