Environmental drivers of seasonal shifts in abundance of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical island environment

Background: Non-native wild pigs (Sus scrofa) threaten sensitive flora and fauna, cost billions of dollars in economic damage, and pose a significant human–wildlife conflict risk. Despite growing interest in wild pig research, basic life history information is often lacking throughout their introduced range and particularly in tropical environments. Similar to other large terrestrial mammals, pigs possess the ability to shift their range based on local climatic conditions or resource availability, further complicating management decisions. The objectives of this study were to (i) model the distribution and abundance of wild pigs across two seasons within a single calendar year; (ii) determine the most important environmental variables driving changes in pig distribution and abundance; and (iii) highlight key differences between seasonal models and their potential management implications. These study objectives were achieved using zero-inflated models constructed from abundance data obtained from extensive field surveys and remotely sensed environmental variables. Results: Our models demonstrate a considerable change in distribution and abundance of wild pigs throughout a single calendar year. Rainfall and vegetation height were among the most influential variables for pig distribution during the spring, and distance to adjacent forest and vegetation density were among the most significant for the fall. Further, our seasonal models show that areas of high conservation value may be more vulnerable to threats from wild pigs at certain times throughout the year, which was not captured by more traditional modeling approaches using aggregated data. Conclusions: Our results suggest that (i) wild pigs can considerably shift their range throughout the calendar year, even in tropical environments; (ii) pigs prefer dense forested areas in the presence of either hunting pressure or an abundance of frugivorous plants, but may shift to adjacent areas in the absence of either of these conditions; and (iii) seasonal models provide valuable biological information that would otherwise be missed by common modeling approaches that use aggregated data over many years. These findings highlight the importance of considering biologically relevant time scales that provide key information to better inform management strategies, particularly for species whose ranges incl

Description

Four raster datasets are included that were developed using data derived from game camera traps. These data were used as inputs in a species distribution modeling approach using environmental correlates (please find more detailed information in the referenced publication). The resulting raster datasets are a relative abundance index (0 - 100) of feral pigs on Maui using seasonal (Fall and Spring) and combined annual data as well as an averaged ensemble model using seasonal outputs. For those interested in a single model that best represents average pig distribution please use the averaged ensemble model (Maui_pig_ensemble_distribution.tif). *Please note: Additional raster datasets for feral goat (Maui_feralgoats_distribution.tif) and Axis deer (Maui_axisdeer_distribution.tif) distributions are included but are currently unpublished data. Please reach out should you have any questions.

Citation

Risch DR, Honarvar S, Price MR (2022) Environmental drivers of seasonal shifts in abundance of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) in a tropical island environment. Ecol Process 11:55. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13717-022-00395-9

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/10125/107682

Geographic Location

Honolulu, HI

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Collections

Hawaii Wildlife Ecology Lab

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