Journal
SCIENCE
Volume 346, Issue 6205, Pages 81-85Publisher
AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1126/science.1254885
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Funding
- NSF [DBI-0963022, 1255913]
- Direct For Biological Sciences [0963022] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Direct For Education and Human Resources
- Division Of Graduate Education [0947923] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Div Of Biological Infrastructure [0963022] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Div Of Biological Infrastructure
- Direct For Biological Sciences [1255913] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Pumas (Puma concolor) live in diverse, often rugged, complex habitats. The energy they expend for hunting must account for this complexity but is difficult to measure for this and other large, cryptic carnivores. We developed and deployed a physiological SMART (species movement, acceleration, and radio tracking) collar that used accelerometry to continuously monitor energetics, movements, and behavior of free-ranging pumas. This felid species displayed marked individuality in predatory activities, ranging from low-cost sit-and-wait behaviors to constant movements with energetic costs averaging 2.3 times those predicted for running mammals. Pumas reduce these costs by remaining cryptic and precisely matching maximum pouncing force (overall dynamic body acceleration = 5.3 to 16.1g) to prey size. Such instantaneous energetics help to explain why most felids stalk and pounce, and their analysis represents a powerful approach for accurately forecasting resource demands required for survival by large, mobile predators.
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