Data from: Den site selection, pack composition, and reproductive success in endangered African wild dogs

Habitat quality is often assumed to be directly related to increased
consumer density, but such assumptions cannot be made without supporting
demographic data that indicate improved fitness. Habitat selection might
be especially important for denning species, where vulnerable offspring
are confined to a single location for extended periods, but the effect of
den choice on the reproductive success of denning species is poorly
understood. By combining airborne high-resolution Light Detection and
Ranging (LiDAR) measurements with data on pack composition, we
investigated den site selection by endangered African wild dogs in
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, South Africa, examining whether habitat selection
based on ecological factors resulted in increased litter sizes and thus
reproductive success compared with social factors known to be important.
Although there was selection for den sites in areas of increased terrain
ruggedness and vegetation density, only vegetation density was associated
with larger litter sizes and translated into increased reproductive
success. Moreover, pack size was only influential when a minimum
vegetation density around den sites was achieved, indicating that although
social variables have a powerful effect on reproductive success, they are
mediated by ecological factors defining habitat quality. Our results
demonstrate the importance of distinguishing between density- and
fitness-based indicators of habitat quality, and how this can affect
management actions, particularly for endangered species conservation.