Space-use Patterns of Free-Ranging Domestic Dogs in a Complex Agroecosystem in Central India: Implications for Wildlife Conservation

Author

Soham P. Mehta, University of Vermont, USA
Abhijeet Kulkarni, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, India
James D. Murdoch, University of Vermont, USA
Abi T. Vanak, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, India; University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, South Africa; DBT/Wellcome Trust India Alliance Program, India

Date of Completion

2024

Document Type

Honors College Thesis

Department

Wildlife & Fisheries Biology

Thesis Type

Honors College

First Advisor

Dr. James D. Murdoch

Second Advisor

Dr. Abi T. Vanak

Keywords

Canis familiaris, Free-ranging domestic dogs, telemetry, home range, habitat use, habitat selection

Abstract

Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are a pervasive threat to biodiversity in developing countries. India has nearly 59 million domestic dogs, many of which are free-ranging. Free-ranging domestic dogs (FRDD) in rural areas often interact with wildlife that inhabit areas outside protected areas in fragmented and human-dominated landscapes. Understanding the movement ecology of dogs is important for developing strategies to mitigate their negative interactions with wildlife. We used location data from GPS-collared FRDD (n = 31) to determine how space-use patterns and habitat selection differ between two categories of dogs – village and farm – in a complex agroecosystem in central India. Annual 95% home ranges for farm dogs (mean = 0.87 km² ± 0.18 SE) were significantly larger than village dogs (mean = 0.11 km² ± 0.03 SE) but with high individual variation (0.02 – 2.21 km²). Farm dogs used various habitats (including grasslands) during movement, whereas village dogs primarily used built areas. The top-ranked habitats in the compositional analysis for both the categories were built, agriculture, and fallow lands. However, farm dogs had a higher selection of grasslands than village dogs. Our study highlights that farm dogs are more likely to interact with wildlife than village dogs due to their space-use behavior. Therefore, we emphasize the need for responsible dog ownership and practices that limit the free-ranging behavior of farm dogs that are compatible with their roles in farm management in the region.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Mehta, Soham P.; Kulkarni, Abhijeet; Murdoch, James D.; and Vanak, Abi T., "Space-use Patterns of Free-Ranging Domestic Dogs in a Complex Agroecosystem in Central India: Implications for Wildlife Conservation" (2024). UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses. 652.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/652