Mountain goat survival and mortality during a period of increased puma abundance in the Black Hills, South Dakota.

ABSTRACT: We investigated survival and cause-specific mortality for a mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) population during a period when the puma (Puma concolor) population was growing in the Black Hills, South Dakota, 2006-2018. We obtained survival data from 47 adult goats (n = 33 females, n = 14 males). Annual survival varied from 0.538 (95% CI [0.285-0.773]) to 1.00 (95% CI [1.00-1.00]) and puma predation was the primary cause-specific mortality factor over a 12-year period. Cumulative hectares of mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) disturbance was a covariate of importance (w _i  = 0.972; β = 0.580, 95% CI [0.302-0.859]) influencing survival. To our knowledge, this is the first account of puma being the primary mortal

SUBMITTER: Lehman CP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7263294 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature