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Xie PZ, Fan YX, Chapman C, Ma C, Wu CF, Hu P, Hu LL, Fan PF. Determinants of macaques' space use: A test for the ecological constraints model using GPS collars. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23636. [PMID: 38824636 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
As a central topic in Behavioral Ecology, animal space use involves dynamic responses to social and ecological factors. We collared 22 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) from six groups on Neilingding Island, China, and collected 80,625 hourly fixes over a year. Using this high-resolution location data set, we quantified the macaques' space use at the individual level and tested the ecological constraints model while considering various environmental and human interfering factors. As predicted by the ecological constraints model, macaques in larger groups had longer daily path lengths (DPLs) and larger home ranges. We found an inverted U-shape relationship between mean daily temperatures and DPLs, indicating that macaques traveled farther on mild temperature days, while they decreased DPLs when temperatures were too high or too low. Anthropogenic food subsidies were positively correlated to DPLs, while the effect of rainfall was negative. Macaques decreased their DPLs and core areas when more flowers and less leaves were available, suggesting that macaques shifted their space use patterns to adapt to the seasonal differences in food resources. By applying GPS collars on a large number of individuals living on a small island, we gained valuable insights into within-group exploitation competition in wild rhesus macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pu-Zhen Xie
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Xuan Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Colin Chapman
- Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Chi Ma
- College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences, Dali university, Dali, China
| | - Cheng-Feng Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Hu
- Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve of Guangdong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liu-Liu Hu
- Neilingding-Futian National Nature Reserve of Guangdong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Peng-Fei Fan
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
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2
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Barros AL, Raposo D, Almeida JD, Alcobia S, Oliveira MA, MacKenzie DI, Santos-Reis M. Do Mesocarnivores Respond to the Seasonality in Management Practices in an Agroforestry Landscape? ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024:10.1007/s00267-024-02003-2. [PMID: 38851641 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-02003-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
In the Mediterranean, we find a mosaic of natural and cultural landscapes, where a variety of forest management practices created intermediate disturbance regimes that potentially increased biodiversity values. Nonetheless, it is essential to understand the species' long-term response to the dynamic management in agroecosystems, since the species tolerance to disturbance can change throughout the life cycle. Mammalian carnivores can be sensitive to human disturbance and are an essential part of ecosystems due to their regulatory and community structuring effects. We investigated the spatial response of five mesocarnivores species to spatially- and temporally- varying management practices in an agroforestry landscape. More specifically, we assessed the mesocarnivores' temporal changes in space use by implementing multi-season occupancy models in a Bayesian framework, using seasonal camera-trapping surveys for a 2-year period. All species had a weak response of local extinction to forestry management and livestock grazing pressure. For forest-dwelling species, occupancy was higher where productivity of perennial vegetation was high, while colonization between seasons was positively associated with vegetation cover. For habitat generalist species, we found that occupancy in the wet season increased with the distance to cattle exclusion plots. Most of these plots are pine stands which are subject to forestry interventions during winter. During the 2-year period we found seasonal fluctuations in occupancy for all species, with an overall slight decrease for three mesocarnivore species, while for the two forest-dwelling species there was an increase in occupancy between years. The weak species response to management practices supports the importance of traditional management for upholding a diverse mesocarnivore community in agroforestry systems but could also reflect these species' ecological plasticity and resilience to disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luísa Barros
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Diogo Raposo
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João David Almeida
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sandra Alcobia
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Alexandra Oliveira
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | | | - Margarida Santos-Reis
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
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3
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Alting BF, Pitcher BJ, Rees MW, Ferrer‐Paris JR, Jordan NR. Population density and ranging behaviour of a generalist carnivore varies with human population. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11404. [PMID: 38779530 PMCID: PMC11109528 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Canid species are highly adaptable, including to urban and peri-urban areas, where they can come into close contact with people. Understanding the mechanisms of wild canid population persistence in these areas is key to managing any negative impacts. The resource dispersion hypothesis predicts that animal density increases and home range size decreases as resource concentration increases, and may help to explain how canids are distributed in environments with an urban-natural gradient. In Australia, dingoes have adapted to human presence, sometimes living in close proximity to towns. Using a targeted camera trap survey and spatial capture-recapture models, we estimated spatial variation in the population density and detection rates of dingoes on Worimi Country in the Great Lakes region of the NSW coast. We tested whether dingo home range and population densities varied across a gradient of human population density, in a mixed-use landscape including, urban, peri-urban, and National Park environs. We found human population density to be a strong driver of dingo density (ranging from 0.025 to 0.433 dingoes/km2 across the natural-urban gradient), and to have a negative effect on dingo home range size. The spatial scale parameter changed depending on survey period, being smaller in the peak tourism period, when human population increases in the area, than in adjacent survey periods, potentially indicating reduced home range size when additional resources are available. Our study highlights the potential value of managing anthropogenic resource availability to manage carnivore densities and potential risk of human-carnivore interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan F. Alting
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW)SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Benjamin J. Pitcher
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation SocietyDubbo and SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, School of Natural SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Matthew W. Rees
- Health and Biosecurity DepartmentCommonwealth Science and Industrial Research OrganisationBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - José R. Ferrer‐Paris
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW)SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Neil R. Jordan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South Wales (UNSW)SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation SocietyDubbo and SydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Arcenillas-Hernández I, Ruiz de Ybáñez MR, Tizzani P, Pérez-Cutillas P, Martínez-Carrasco C. Influence of environmental factors on the occurrence of gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematodes in the red fox in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Res Vet Sci 2024; 171:105199. [PMID: 38458043 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2024.105199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
Human-induced ecosystem fragmentation is one of the drivers causing wildlife migration from their natural habitats to urban areas, among other reasons. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most abundant wild canid in the semi-arid Mediterranean areas of the Iberian Peninsula. Water scarcity may result in areas shared by synanthropic fox populations and domestic animals becoming hotspots for parasite transmission. This study describes the gastrointestinal and cardiopulmonary nematode species affecting fox populations in these semi-arid areas and the influence of environmental variables on parasite abundance. A total of 167 foxes collected from 2015 to 2021 in the Region of Murcia (SE Spain) were analysed. Parasite abundance and spatial distribution were evaluated using environmental variables and host characteristics with a Generalised Linear Model and the Moran index. Eleven species (seven from the gastrointestinal tract and four from the cardiopulmonary tract) were described. The influence of biotic and abiotic variables was studied for Angiostrongylus vasorum, Crenosoma vulpis, Uncinaria stenocephala, Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina. Temperature, humidity and areas of forest or agricultural land influenced the abundance of these parasites, providing optimal conditions for free-living stages of the direct life cycle nematodes and intermediate hosts. Absolute abundance distribution maps showed defined locations for C. vulpis, T. canis and T. leonina. The results for U. stenocephala, T. canis and T. leonina were particularly important as their higher abundance levels were found close to anthropized areas, which need to be carefully evaluated to prevent transmission of these nematodes between domestic and wild canids and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Arcenillas-Hernández
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Ruiz de Ybáñez
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
| | - P Tizzani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini, 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Torino, Italy
| | - P Pérez-Cutillas
- Departamento de Geografía, Facultad de Letras, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de La Merced, 30001 Murcia, Spain
| | - C Martínez-Carrasco
- Dpto. de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
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Broekman MJE, Hilbers JP, Hoeks S, Huijbregts MAJ, Schipper AM, Tucker MA. Environmental drivers of global variation in home range size of terrestrial and marine mammals. J Anim Ecol 2024; 93:488-500. [PMID: 38459628 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
As animal home range size (HRS) provides valuable information for species conservation, it is important to understand the driving factors of HRS variation. It is widely known that differences in species traits (e.g. body mass) are major contributors to variation in mammal HRS. However, most studies examining how environmental variation explains mammal HRS variation have been limited to a few species, or only included a single (mean) HRS estimate for the majority of species, neglecting intraspecific HRS variation. Additionally, most studies examining environmental drivers of HRS variation included only terrestrial species, neglecting marine species. Using a novel dataset of 2800 HRS estimates from 586 terrestrial and 27 marine mammal species, we quantified the relationships between HRS and environmental variables, accounting for species traits. Our results indicate that terrestrial mammal HRS was on average 5.3 times larger in areas with low human disturbance (human footprint index [HFI] = 0), compared to areas with maximum human disturbance (HFI = 50). Similarly, HRS was on average 5.4 times larger in areas with low annual mean productivity (NDVI = 0), compared to areas with high productivity (NDVI = 1). In addition, HRS increased by a factor of 1.9 on average from low to high seasonality in productivity (standard deviation (SD) of monthly NDVI from 0 to 0.36). Of these environmental variables, human disturbance and annual mean productivity explained a larger proportion of HRS variance than seasonality in productivity. Marine mammal HRS decreased, on average, by a factor of 3.7 per 10°C decline in annual mean sea surface temperature (SST), and increased by a factor of 1.5 per 1°C increase in SST seasonality (SD of monthly values). Annual mean SST explained more variance in HRS than SST seasonality. Due to the small sample size, caution should be taken when interpreting the marine mammal results. Our results indicate that environmental variation is relevant for HRS and that future environmental changes might alter the HRS of individuals, with potential consequences for ecosystem functioning and the effectiveness of conservation actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten J E Broekman
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jelle P Hilbers
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Selwyn Hoeks
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mark A J Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Aafke M Schipper
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, The Hague, The Netherlands
| | - Marlee A Tucker
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Cowan MA, Dunlop JA, Gibson LA, Moore HA, Setterfield SA, Nimmo DG. Movement ecology of an endangered mesopredator in a mining landscape. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:5. [PMID: 38233871 PMCID: PMC10795371 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-023-00439-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficient movement and energy expenditure are vital for animal survival. Human disturbance can alter animal movement due to changes in resource availability and threats. Some animals can exploit anthropogenic disturbances for more efficient movement, while others face restricted or inefficient movement due to fragmentation of high-resource habitats, and risks associated with disturbed habitats. Mining, a major anthropogenic disturbance, removes natural habitats, introduces new landscape features, and alters resource distribution in the landscape. This study investigates the effect of mining on the movement of an endangered mesopredator, the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Using GPS collars and accelerometers, we investigate their habitat selection and energy expenditure in an active mining landscape, to determine the effects of this disturbance on northern quolls. METHODS We fit northern quolls with GPS collars and accelerometers during breeding and non-breeding season at an active mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We investigated broad-scale movement by calculating the movement ranges of quolls using utilisation distributions at the 95% isopleth, and compared habitat types and environmental characteristics within observed movement ranges to the available landscape. We investigated fine-scale movement by quolls with integrated step selection functions, assessing the relative selection strength for each habitat covariate. Finally, we used piecewise structural equation modelling to analyse the influence of each habitat covariate on northern quoll energy expenditure. RESULTS At the broad scale, northern quolls predominantly used rugged, rocky habitats, and used mining habitats in proportion to their availability. However, at the fine scale, habitat use varied between breeding and non-breeding seasons. During the breeding season, quolls notably avoided mining habitats, whereas in the non-breeding season, they frequented mining habitats equally to rocky and riparian habitats, albeit at a higher energetic cost. CONCLUSION Mining impacts northern quolls by fragmenting favoured rocky habitats, increasing energy expenditure, and potentially impacting breeding dispersal. While mining habitats might offer limited resource opportunities in the non-breeding season, conservation efforts during active mining, including the creation of movement corridors and progressive habitat restoration would likely be useful. However, prioritising the preservation of natural rocky and riparian habitats in mining landscapes is vital for northern quoll conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Cowan
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia.
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - J A Dunlop
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - L A Gibson
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - H A Moore
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, 17 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA, 6151, Australia
| | - S A Setterfield
- School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - D G Nimmo
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, 386 Elizabeth Mitchell Drive, Thurgoona, NSW, 2640, Australia
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Moloi S, Tari T, Halász T, Gallai B, Nagy G, Csivincsik Á. Global and local drivers of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in the western Balkan region. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21176. [PMID: 38040783 PMCID: PMC10692075 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The cestode, Echinococcus multilocularis, is one of the most threatening parasitic challenges in the European Union. Despite the warming climate, the parasite intensively spread in Europe's colder and warmer regions. Little is known about the expansion of E. multilocularis in the Balkan region. Ordinary least squares, geographically weighted and multi-scale geographically weighted regressions were used to detect global and local drivers that influenced the prevalence in red foxes and golden jackals in the southwestern part of Hungary. Based on the study of 391 animals, the overall prevalence exceeded 18% (in fox 15.2%, in jackal 21.1%). The regression models revealed that the wetland had a global effect (β = 0.391, p = 0.006). In contrast, on the local scale, the mean annual precipitation (β = 0.285, p = 0.008) and the precipitation seasonality (β = - 0.211, p = 0.014) had statistically significant effects on the infection level. The geospatial models suggested that microclimatic effects might compensate for the disadvantages of a warmer Mediterranean climate. This study calls attention to fine-scale analysis and locally acting environmental factors, which can delay the expected epidemic fade-out. The findings of our study are suggested to consider in surveillance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibusiso Moloi
- One Health Working Group, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Kaposvár Campus, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba S. U. 40., Kaposvár, 7400, Hungary
| | - Tamás Tari
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, 9400, Hungary
| | - Tibor Halász
- Zselic Wildlife Estate, Somogy County Forest Management and Wood Industry Share Co. Ltd., Kaposvár, 7400, Hungary
| | - Bence Gallai
- Institute of Geomatics and Civil Engineering, Faculty of Forestry, University of Sopron, Sopron, 9400, Hungary
| | - Gábor Nagy
- One Health Working Group, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Kaposvár Campus, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba S. U. 40., Kaposvár, 7400, Hungary.
| | - Ágnes Csivincsik
- One Health Working Group, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Kaposvár Campus, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Guba S. U. 40., Kaposvár, 7400, Hungary
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Mumme S, Middleton AD, Ciucci P, De Groeve J, Corradini A, Aikens EO, Ossi F, Atwood P, Balkenhol N, Cole EK, Debeffe L, Dewey SR, Fischer C, Gude J, Heurich M, Hurley MA, Jarnemo A, Kauffman MJ, Licoppe A, van Loon E, McWhirter D, Mong TW, Pedrotti L, Morellet N, Mysterud A, Peters W, Proffitt K, Saïd S, Signer J, Sunde P, Starý M, Cagnacci F. Wherever I may roam-Human activity alters movements of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and elk (Cervus canadensis) across two continents. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5788-5801. [PMID: 37306048 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human activity and associated landscape modifications alter the movements of animals with consequences for populations and ecosystems worldwide. Species performing long-distance movements are thought to be particularly sensitive to human impact. Despite the increasing anthropogenic pressure, it remains challenging to understand and predict animals' responses to human activity. Here we address this knowledge gap using 1206 Global Positioning System movement trajectories of 815 individuals from 14 red deer (Cervus elaphus) and 14 elk (Cervus canadensis) populations spanning wide environmental gradients, namely the latitudinal range from the Alps to Scandinavia in Europe, and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem in North America. We measured individual-level movements relative to the environmental context, or movement expression, using the standardized metric Intensity of Use, reflecting both the directionality and extent of movements. We expected movement expression to be affected by resource (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI) predictability and topography, but those factors to be superseded by human impact. Red deer and elk movement expression varied along a continuum, from highly segmented trajectories over relatively small areas (high intensity of use), to directed transitions through restricted corridors (low intensity of use). Human activity (Human Footprint Index, HFI) was the strongest driver of movement expression, with a steep increase in Intensity of Use as HFI increased, but only until a threshold was reached. After exceeding this level of impact, the Intensity of Use remained unchanged. These results indicate the overall sensitivity of Cervus movement expression to human activity and suggest a limitation of plastic responses under high human pressure, despite the species also occurring in human-dominated landscapes. Our work represents the first comparison of metric-based movement expression across widely distributed populations of a deer genus, contributing to the understanding and prediction of animals' responses to human activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Mumme
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Arthur D Middleton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, California, Berkeley, USA
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy
| | - Johannes De Groeve
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Corradini
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering (DICAM), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Stelvio National Park-Ersaf Lombardia, Bormio, Italy
| | - Ellen O Aikens
- School of Computing, University of Wyoming, Wyoming, Laramie, USA
- Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Wyoming, Laramie, USA
| | - Federico Ossi
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paul Atwood
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho, Coeur d'Alene, USA
| | - Niko Balkenhol
- Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Eric K Cole
- US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Elk Refuge, Wyoming, Jackson, USA
| | - Lucie Debeffe
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville Tolosane, France
| | - Sarah R Dewey
- National Park Service, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, Moose, USA
| | - Claude Fischer
- Department of Nature Management, University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Jussy, Switzerland
| | - Justin Gude
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana, Helena, USA
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Inland Norway University of Applied Science Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Koppang, Norway
| | - Mark A Hurley
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Idaho, Boise, USA
| | - Anders Jarnemo
- School of Business, Innovation and Sustainability, Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden
| | - Matthew J Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Wyoming, Laramie, USA
| | - Alain Licoppe
- Natural and Agricultural Environmental Studies Department, Service Public de Wallonie, Gembloux, Belgium
| | - Emiel van Loon
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Tony W Mong
- Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming, Cody, USA
| | - Luca Pedrotti
- Stelvio National Park-Ersaf Lombardia, Bormio, Italy
| | - Nicolas Morellet
- Université de Toulouse, INRAE, CEFS, Castanet Tolosan, France
- LTSER ZA PYRénées GARonne, Auzeville Tolosane, France
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Wibke Peters
- Department for Conservation, Biodiversity and Wildlife Management, Bavarian State Institute of Forestry, Freising, Germany
| | - Kelly Proffitt
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Montana, Bozeman, USA
| | - Sonia Saïd
- Office Français de la Biodiversité, DRAS, "Montfort", Birieux, France
| | - Johannes Signer
- Wildlife Sciences, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Forest Ecology, University of Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Peter Sunde
- Department of Ecoscience-Wildlife Ecology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Francesca Cagnacci
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- NBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
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Johnson-Bice SM, Gable TD, Homkes AT, Windels SK, Bump JK, Bruggink JG. Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2911. [PMID: 37602927 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator-prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well-documented for large mammal communities in North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features that allow predators such as wolves (Canis lupus) to travel and forage more efficiently throughout the landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities and residential development are other major sources of human activity in boreal ecosystems that may further alter wolf-ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate the influence that several major types of anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, linear features, and residential infrastructure) have on where and how wolves hunt ungulate neonates in a southern boreal forest ecosystem in Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate that each major anthropogenic disturbance significantly influences wolf predation of white-tailed deer fawns (n = 427 kill sites). In contrast with the "human shield hypothesis" that posits prey use human-modified areas as refuge, wolves killed fawns closer to residential buildings than expected based on spatial availability. Fawns were also killed within recently-logged areas more than expected. Concealment cover was higher at kill sites than random sites, suggesting wolves use senses other than vision, probably olfaction, to detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection for hunting along linear features, and kill sites were also closer to linear features than expected. We hypothesize that linear features facilitated wolf predation on fawns by allowing wolves to travel efficiently among high-quality prey patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), and also increase encounter rates with olfactory cues that allow them to detect hidden fawns. These findings provide novel insight into the strategies predators use to hunt ungulate neonates and the many ways human activity alters wolf-ungulate neonate predator-prey dynamics, which have remained elusive due to the challenges of locating sites where predators kill small prey. Our research has important management and conservation implications for wolf-ungulate systems subjected to anthropogenic pressures, particularly as the range of overlap between wolves and deer expands and appears to be altering food web dynamics in boreal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Johnson-Bice
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Thomas D Gable
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Austin T Homkes
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, USA
| | - Steve K Windels
- Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph K Bump
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - John G Bruggink
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, USA
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10
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Čeirāns A, Pupins M, Kirjusina M, Gravele E, Mezaraupe L, Nekrasova O, Tytar V, Marushchak O, Garkajs A, Petrov I, Skute A, Georges JY, Theissinger K. Top-down and bottom-up effects and relationships with local environmental factors in the water frog-helminth systems in Latvia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8621. [PMID: 37244932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35780-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Semi-aquatic European water frogs (Pelophylax spp.) harbour rich helminth infra-communities, whose effects on host population size in nature are poorly known. To study top-down and bottom-up effects, we conducted calling male water frog counts and parasitological investigations of helminths in waterbodies from different regions of Latvia, supplemented by descriptions of waterbody features and surrounding land use data. We performed a series of generalized linear model and zero-inflated negative binomial regressions to determine the best predictors for frog relative population size and helminth infra-communities. The highest-ranked (by Akaike information criterion correction, AICc) model explaining the water frog population size contained only waterbody variables, followed by the model containing only land use within 500 m, while the model containing helminth predictors had the lowest rank. Regarding helminth infection responses, the relative importance of the water frog population size varied from being non-significant (abundances of larval plagiorchiids and nematodes) to having a similar weight to waterbody features (abundances of larval diplostomids). In abundances of adult plagiorchiids and nematodes the best predictor was the host specimen size. Environmental factors had both direct effects from the habitat features (e.g., waterbody characteristics on frogs and diplostomids) and indirect effects through parasite-host interactions (impacts of anthropogenic habitats on frogs and helminths). Our study suggests the presence of synergy between top-down and bottom-up effects in the water frog-helminth system that creates a mutual dependence of frog and helminth population sizes and helps to balance helminth infections at a level that does not cause over-exploitation of the host resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andris Čeirāns
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia.
| | - Mihails Pupins
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Muza Kirjusina
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Evita Gravele
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Ligita Mezaraupe
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Oksana Nekrasova
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Volodymyr Tytar
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Oleksii Marushchak
- I. I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - Alberts Garkajs
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Iurii Petrov
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | - Arturs Skute
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Life Sciences and Technologies, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils, Latvia
| | | | - Kathrin Theissinger
- LOEWE Center for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, TBG - Senckenberg Nature Research Institute, Frankfurt, Germany
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11
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Suárez-Tangil BD, Rodríguez A. Environmental filtering drives the assembly of mammal communities in a heterogeneous Mediterranean region. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2801. [PMID: 36546604 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural expansion and intensification are major drivers of global change. Quantifying the importance of different processes governing the assembly of local communities in agroecosystems is essential to guide the conservation effort allocated to enhancing habitat connectivity, improving habitat quality or managing species interactions. We used multiple detection methods to record the occurrence of medium-sized and large-sized mammals in three managed landscapes of a heterogeneous Mediterranean region. Then we used a joint species distribution model to evaluate the relative influence of dispersal limitation, environmental filtering, and interspecific interactions on the local assembly of mammal communities in 4-km2 plots. The partitioning of the explained variation in species occurrence was attributed on average 99% to environmental filters and 1% to dispersal filters. No role was attributed to biotic filters, in agreement with the scarce support for strong competition or other negative interactions found after a literature review. Four principal environmental factors explained on average 63% of variance in species occurrence and operated mainly at the landscape scale. The amount of shrub cover in the neighboring landscape was the most influential factor favoring mammal occurrence and accounted for nearly one-third of the total variance. The proportion of intensively managed croplands and proxies of human activity within landscape samples limited mammal presence. At the microhabitat scale (~80 m2 plots) the mean percentage area deprived of woody vegetation also had a negative effect. Functional traits such as body mass or social behavior accounted for a substantial fraction of the variation attributed to environmental factors. We concluded that multiscale environmental filtering governed local community assembly, whereas the role of dispersal limitation and interspecific interactions was negligible. Our results suggest that further removal of shrubland, the expansion of intensive agriculture, and the increase of human activity are expected to result in species losses. The fact that community integrity responds to a single type of ecological process simplifies practical recommendations. Management strategies should focus on the conservation and restoration of shrubland, adopting alternatives to intensive schemes of agricultural production, and minimizing recreational and other human activities in remnant natural habitats within agroecosystems or mosaic landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno D Suárez-Tangil
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alejandro Rodríguez
- Department of Conservation Biology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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12
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Reshamwala HS, Raina P, Hussain Z, Khan S, Dirzo R, Habib B. On the move: spatial ecology and habitat use of red fox in the Trans-Himalayan cold desert. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13967. [PMID: 36128190 PMCID: PMC9482768 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is the most widespread wild carnivore globally, occupying diverse habitats. The species is known for its adaptability to survive in dynamic anthropogenic landscapes. Despite being one of the most extensively studied carnivores, there is a dearth of information on red fox from the Trans-Himalayan region. We studied the home range sizes of red fox using the different estimation methods: minimum convex polygon (MCP), kernel density estimator (KDE), local convex hull (LoCoH) and Brownian-bridge movement model (BBMM). We analysed the daily movement and assessed the habitat selection with respect to topographic factors (ruggedness, elevation and slope), environmental factor (distance to water) and anthropogenic factors (distance to road and human settlements). We captured and GPS-collared six red fox individuals (three males and three females) from Chiktan and one female from Hemis National Park, Ladakh, India. The collars were programmed to record GPS fixes every 15-min. The average BBMM home range estimate (95% contour) was 22.40 ± 12.12 SD km2 (range 3.81-32.93 km2) and the average core area (50% contour) was 1.87 ± 0.86 SD km2 (range 0.55-2.69 km2). The estimated average daily movement of red fox was 17.76 ± 8.45 SD km/d (range 10.91-34.22 km/d). Red fox significantly selected lower elevations with less rugged terrain and were positively associated with water. This is the first study in the Trans-Himalayan landscape which aims to understand the daily movement of red fox at a fine temporal scale. Studying the movement and home range sizes helps understand the daily energetics and nutritional requirements of red fox. Movement information of a species is important for the prioritisation of areas for conservation and can aid in understanding ecosystem functioning and landscape management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pankaj Raina
- Department of Wildlife Protection, Leh, Ladakh Union Territory, India
| | | | - Shaheer Khan
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Stanford University, Stanford, United States of America
| | - Bilal Habib
- Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India
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13
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Foxes at your front door? Habitat selection and home range estimation of suburban red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Urban Ecosyst 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01252-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is one of the most adaptable carnivorans, thriving in cities across the globe. We used GPS-tracking of five suburban foxes across high-density residential suburbs of Perth, Western Australia to quantify (1) their habitat selection and (2) home range area. All five foxes showed statistically significant avoidance of residential locations (p < 0.001) and preference for parkland (p < 0.001), with native vegetation reserves, golf courses, and water reserves showing disproportionately greater use. Landuse category also influenced their movements, with foxes moving quickest (i.e., commuting) in proximity to roads and slowest (i.e., foraging) when they were further from roads. Three females had core home ranges (50% autocorrelated-corrected kernel density estimate; AKDEc) averaging 37 ± 20 ha or 95% AKDEc averaging 208 ± 196 ha. One male had a 95 ha core home range and 349 ha 95% AKDEc but the other male covered an area ~ 20 times this: using a 371 ha core home range and 7,368 ha 95% AKDEc. The extensive movement patterns we describe are likely to be common for urban foxes, with half of published home range estimates for urban foxes (principally based on VHF data) excluding data for ‘lost’ individuals or animals that showed ‘excursions’. It is likely that the home range estimates for these urban exploiters have therefore been grossly underestimated to date. Further application of GPS trackers that allow remote download will vastly improve our understanding of habitat preference and exploitation of resources by urban foxes.
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14
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Castañeda I, Doherty TS, Fleming PA, Stobo‐Wilson AM, Woinarski JCZ, Newsome TM. Variation in red fox
Vulpes vulpes
diet in five continents. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Castañeda
- Ecology and Genetics of Conservation and Restoration, UMR INRA 1202 BIOGECO Université de Bordeaux 33615 Pessac France
| | - Tim S. Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Patricia A. Fleming
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Harry Butler Institute Murdoch University Perth WA 6150 Australia
| | - Alyson M. Stobo‐Wilson
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub Charles Darwin University Casuarina NT 0909 Australia
| | - John C. Z. Woinarski
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub Charles Darwin University Casuarina NT 0909 Australia
| | - Thomas M. Newsome
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
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15
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Zuluaga S, Speziale KL, Lambertucci SA. Flying wildlife may mask the loss of ecological functions due to terrestrial habitat fragmentation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 803:150034. [PMID: 34500279 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Land use change alters wildlife critical animal behaviours such as movement, becoming the main driver threatening wildlife ecological functions (WEF) and nature's contribution to people (NCP) provided by terrestrial species. Despite the negative impacts of current rates of terrestrial fragmentation on WEF, many ecological processes can be still occurring through aerial habitats. Here, we propose and discuss that the movement capabilities of aerial species, as well their functional redundancy with non-flying wildlife, are the mechanisms by which some ecological processes can be still occurring. We show examples of how the movements of aerial wildlife may be masking the loss of important functions and contributions by compensating for the lost ecosystem functions previously provided by terrestrial wildlife. We also highlight the implications of losing aerial wildlife in areas where that functional redundancy was already lost due to the impacts of land use change on terrestrial wildlife. We suggest to consider flying wildlife as a biological insurance against the loss of WEF and NCP due to terrestrial fragmentation and proposed some aeroconservation measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Santiago Zuluaga
- Fundación Proyecto Águila Crestada-Colombia, Calle 9 #1b-55bis, 176007 Villamaría, Caldas, Colombia; Colaboratorio de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Conservación, INCITAP-CONICET/FCEyN-UNLPam, Mendoza 109, 6300 Santa Rosa, LP, Argentina.
| | - Karina L Speziale
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET, Pasaje Gutierrez 1125, 8400, Bariloche, RN, Argentina
| | - Sergio A Lambertucci
- Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la Conservación, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET, Pasaje Gutierrez 1125, 8400, Bariloche, RN, Argentina. https://grinbic.com
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Pletenev A, Kruchenkova E, Mikhnevich Y, Rozhnov V, Goltsman M. The overabundance of resources leads to small but exclusive home ranges in Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) on Bering Island. Polar Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-021-02888-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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17
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Doherty TS, Hays GC, Driscoll DA. Human disturbance causes widespread disruption of animal movement. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:513-519. [PMID: 33526889 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-01380-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance and habitat modification by humans can alter animal movement, leading to negative impacts on fitness, survival and population viability. However, the ubiquity and nature of these impacts across diverse taxa has not been quantified. We compiled 208 studies on 167 species from terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems across the globe to assess how human disturbance influences animal movement. We show that disturbance by humans has widespread impacts on the movements of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish and arthropods. More than two-thirds of 719 cases represented a change in movement of 20% or more, with increases in movement averaging 70% and decreases -37%. Disturbance from human activities, such as recreation and hunting, had stronger impacts on animal movement than habitat modification, such as logging and agriculture. Our results point to a global restructuring of animal movement and emphasize the need to reduce the negative impacts of humans on animal movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim S Doherty
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia. .,School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Graeme C Hays
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Don A Driscoll
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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