DOI: 10.5061/dryad.bk3j9kd7q
title: Data from: Spatial segregation and habitat partitioning of bobcat and Canada lynx

description: Harvest records suggest that the abundance of bobcats (Lynx rufus) has
 increased and the leading edge of their distribution has spread northward,
 while the trailing edge of the Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) range has
 contracted in Ontario, Canada. There has been a debate about whether these
 closely related felids might compete in areas of sympatry, but there is
 little research on sympatric populations of bobcat and lynx. Both species
 are found on the north shore of Lake Huron in Ontario, Canada, which
 provided an opportunity to investigate their spatial patterns and habitat
 use. We surveyed snowmobile routes for snow tracks over 3 winters and
 estimated probability of occupancy for the two felid species while
 accounting for detectability. Bobcat and lynx tracks were never found on
 the same survey route. Bobcat occupancy increased with habitat
 heterogeneity whereas lynx occupancy increased with homogeneity. Our
 results fit with the common assumption of the generalist and specialist
 natures of bobcat and lynx, respectively. Our findings suggest that
 bobcats invaded former lynx territory after these areas became vacant. The
 story of the bobcat and the lynx is one of the loss of a unique, boreal
 specialist due to anthropogenic change, and eventual replacement by an
 adaptable generalist.
description: We surveyed routes over 3 winters from 2016 to 2018 for lynx and
 bobcat snow tracks. Prey, land use/cover and snow data has already been
 aggregated to the site level as indicated in the publication.
    
description: This dataset includes 2 tables, observation_data and
 site_data.  obs_data: Observation data collecting
 during each survey site_data: prey, land use/cover and
 snow conditions data that were obtained from the observation data by
 aggregating to the site level. Headers
 Transect: Transect name, common key to combine both datasets if
 necessary<br> Rep: Survey repetition number<br> Bobcat: Number
 of indepedent bobcat track sets<br> Lynx: Number of indepedent lynx
 track sets<br> Transect_length: Lenght of transect in
 kilometers<br> LastSnowDays: Number of days since it last
 snowed<br> MinT_C: Temperature in Celsius of the previous
 night<br> Snowshoe_hare: Average track accumulation, number of
 tracks per kilometer per day<br> Squirrel: Average track
 accumulation, number of tracks per kilometer per day<br> Grouse:
 Average track accumulation, number of tracks per kilometer per
 day<br> Deer: Average track accumulation, number of tracks per
 kilometer per day<br> Richness: Total unique species that left
 tracks<br> Snow_Depth: Average depth of the snow in
 centimeters<br> Snow_Hardness: Average distance travelled through
 the snow of 150 g plastic ball dropped from 1 meter from the surface of
 the snow in centimeters<br> Anthropogenic: Proportion of of the
 total area occupied by roads, urban areas, agriculture, mines,
 etc.<br> Wetland: Proportion of of the total area occupied by
 wetlands<br> Coniferous: Proportion of of the total area occupied by
 coniferous forest<br> Mixed: Proportion of of the total area
 occupied by mixed forest<br> Deciduous: Proportion of of the total
 area occupied by deciduous forest<br> Forest_Immature: Proportion of
 of the total area occupied by immature forest<br> Forest_Mature:
 Proportion of of the total area occupied by mature forest