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Della Libera K, Strandburg-Peshkin A, Griffith SC, Leu ST. Fission-fusion dynamics in sheep: the influence of resource distribution and temporal activity patterns. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230402. [PMID: 37476510 PMCID: PMC10354475 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Fission-fusion events, i.e. changes to the size and composition of animal social groups, are a mechanism to adjust the social environment in response to short-term changes in the cost-benefit ratio of group living. Furthermore, the time and location of fission-fusion events provide insight into the underlying drivers of these dynamics. Here, we describe a method for identifying group membership over time and for extracting fission-fusion events from animal tracking data. We applied this method to high-resolution GPS data of free-ranging sheep (Ovis aries). Group size was highest during times when sheep typically rest (midday and at night), and when anti-predator benefits of grouping are high while costs of competition are low. Consistent with this, fission and fusion frequencies were highest during early morning and late evening, suggesting that social restructuring occurs during periods of high activity. However, fission and fusion events were not more frequent near food patches and water resources when adjusted for overall space use. This suggests a limited role of resource competition. Our results elucidate the dynamics of grouping in response to social and ecological drivers, and we provide a tool for investigating these dynamics in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Della Libera
- Department of Natural Sciences, Minerva University, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division, Chicago, IL 60637-5416, USA
| | - Ariana Strandburg-Peshkin
- Biology Department, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Baden-Württemberg Germany
| | - Simon C. Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephan T. Leu
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Behavioural Indicators of Intra- and Inter-Specific Competition: Sheep Co-Grazing with Guanaco in the Patagonian Steppe. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11113333. [PMID: 34828064 PMCID: PMC8614449 DOI: 10.3390/ani11113333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In extensive livestock ranching, where animals are maintained at high numbers, competition between individuals is expected, but not generally assumed. To compensate for reduced food availability, herbivores modify their feeding behaviour, which can be used as an indicator of competition. We investigated behavioural changes of domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia in response to herd size, food availability, and the presence of a wild competitor, the guanaco, considered a problem for sheep production by ranchers. Large sheep herds were associated with a decrease in sheep grazing, while food availability increased time spent feeding. Guanaco had no effect on sheep behaviours. Behavioural changes were mostly associated with competition between individual sheep and not with guanaco. We suggest that to improve sheep production, ranchers should focus on sheep management at appropriate herd sizes according to grassland capacities. Abstract In extensive livestock production, high densities may inhibit regulation processes, maintaining high levels of intraspecific competition over time. During competition, individuals typically modify their behaviours, particularly feeding and bite rates, which can therefore be used as indicators of competition. Over eight consecutive seasons, we investigated if variation in herd density, food availability, and the presence of a potential competitor, the guanaco (Lama guanicoe), was related with behavioural changes in domestic sheep in Chilean Patagonia. Focal sampling, instantaneous scan sampling, measures of bite and movement rates were used to quantify behavioural changes in domestic sheep. We found that food availability increased time spent feeding, while herd density was associated with an increase in vigilant behaviour and a decrease in bite rate, but only when food availability was low. Guanaco presence appeared to have no impact on sheep behaviour. Our results suggest that the observed behavioural changes in domestic sheep are more likely due to intraspecific competition rather than interspecific competition. Consideration of intraspecific competition where guanaco and sheep co-graze on pastures could allow management strategies to focus on herd density, according to rangeland carrying capacity.
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Merrill E, Killeen J, Pettit J, Trottier M, Martin H, Berg J, Bohm H, Eggeman S, Hebblewhite M. Density-Dependent Foraging Behaviors on Sympatric Winter Ranges in a Partially Migratory Elk Population. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Schuett W, Delfs B, Haller R, Kruber S, Roolfs S, Timm D, Willmann M, Drees C. Ground beetles in city forests: does urbanization predict a personality trait? PeerJ 2018; 6:e4360. [PMID: 29479494 PMCID: PMC5824674 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Urbanization leads to substantial changes in natural habitats with profound effects on wildlife. Understanding behavioural responses to such environmental change is essential for identifying which organisms may adapt, as behaviour is often the first response to altered conditions. Individuals in more urbanized habitats may be expected to be more exploratory and bolder than their conspecifics in less urbanized habitats as they may be better able to cope with novel challenges. METHODS In a two-year field study we tested ground beetles from differently urbanized forests for their exploratory behaviour (in a novel environment) and their risk-taking (death-feigning). In total, we tested ca. 3,000 individuals of four forest-dwelling ground beetle species from eight within-city forest patches. In the second year, we also transferred ca. 800 tested individuals of two species to the laboratory to test for consistent behavioural differences (i.e. personality differences) under standardised conditions. RESULTS Individuals were generally more exploratory in more urbanized than in less urbanized areas but only in one year of the study. Exploratory behaviour was not predicted by population density but increased with temperature or showed a temperature optimum. Exploration was consistent over time and individuals that were more exploratory also took higher risks. DISCUSSION We demonstrated that species which are generally less directly exposed to human activities (e.g., most invertebrates) show behavioural responses to urbanization. Effects of urbanization were year-dependent, suggesting that other environmental conditions interacted with effects of urbanization on beetle behaviour. Furthermore, our results indicate that different personality compositions might cause behavioural differences among populations living in differently urbanized habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Schuett
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Berit Delfs
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Richard Haller
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Kruber
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Simone Roolfs
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Desiree Timm
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Willmann
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Drees
- Zoological Institute, Biocenter Grindel, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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Fingerle A, Larranaga N, Steingrímsson SÓ. Density-dependent diel activity in stream-dwelling Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:3965-76. [PMID: 27247761 PMCID: PMC4867681 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Revised: 04/02/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific competition plays a significant role in shaping how animals use and share habitats in space and time. However, the way individuals may modify their diel activity in response to increased competition has received limited attention. We used juvenile (age 1+) Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus to test the prediction that individuals at high population density are more active and distribute their foraging activity over a greater portion of the 24-h cycle than individuals at low population density. Individually tagged fish were stocked in seminatural stream enclosures at low (2 fish/m(2)) and high (6 fish/m(2)) density. During each of two 2-week experimental rounds, activity of all fish within each enclosure was recorded every 3 h over seven 24-h cycles. At high density, fish were more active and distributed their activity over a greater portion of the 24-h cycle, with increased activity particularly at crepuscular times. Fluctuations in ecological conditions (e.g., water temperature and light intensity) also affected activity. Fish at high density grew as fast as fish at low density. This study demonstrates that individuals exhibit a degree of behavioral flexibility in their response to changes in ecological conditions and suggests that intraspecific competition can cause animals to modify temporal aspects of their activity to gain access to resources and maintain growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Fingerle
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish BiologyHólar University CollegeSauðárkrókurIceland
| | - Nicolas Larranaga
- Department of Aquaculture and Fish BiologyHólar University CollegeSauðárkrókurIceland
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Hothorn T, Müller J, Held L, Möst L, Mysterud A. Temporal patterns of deer-vehicle collisions consistent with deer activity pattern and density increase but not general accident risk. ACCIDENT; ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION 2015; 81:143-152. [PMID: 25984644 DOI: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The increasing number of deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) across Europe during recent decades poses a serious threat to human health and animal welfare and increasing costs for society. DVCs are triggered by both a human-related and a deer-related component. Mitigation requires an understanding of the processes driving temporal and spatial collision patterns. Separating human-related from deer-related processes is important for identifying potentially effective countermeasures, but this has rarely been done. We analysed two time series of 341,655 DVCs involving roe deer and 854,659 non-deer-related accidents (non-DVCs) documented between 2002 and 2011. Nonparametric smoothing and temporal parametric modelling were used to estimate annual, seasonal, weekly and diurnal patterns in DVCs, non-DVCs and adjusted DVCs. As we had access to data on both DVCs and non-DVCs, we were able to disentangle the relative role of human-related and deer-related processes contributing to the overall temporal DVC pattern. We found clear evidence that variation in DVCs was mostly driven by deer-related and not human-related activity on annual, seasonal, weekly and diurnal scales. A very clear crepuscular activity pattern with high activity after sunset and around sunrise throughout the year was identified. Early spring and the mating season between mid-July and mid-August are typically periods of high roe deer activity, and as expected we found a high number of DVC during these periods, although these patterns differed tremendously during different phases of a day. The role of human activity was mainly reflected in fewer DVCs on weekends than on weekdays. Over the ten-year study period, we estimated that DVCs increased by 25%, whereas the number of non-DVCs decreased by 10%. Increasing deer densities are the most likely driver behind this rise in DVCs. Precise estimates of DVC patterns and their relationship to deer and human activity patterns allow implementation of specific mitigation measures, such as tailored driver warning systems or temporary speed limits. To prevent a further increase in DVCs, state-wide measures to decrease roe deer density are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Torsten Hothorn
- Institut für Epidemiologie, Biostatistik und Prävention, Universität Zürich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Jörg Müller
- Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald, Freyunger Straße 2, DE-94481 Grafenau, Germany; Lehrstuhl für Terrestrische Ökologie, Technische Universität München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, DE-85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Leonhard Held
- Institut für Epidemiologie, Biostatistik und Prävention, Universität Zürich, Hirschengraben 84, CH-8001 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lisa Möst
- Institut für Statistik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Ludwigstraße 33, DE-80539 München, Germany
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO-0316 Oslo, Norway
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Sitters J, Atkinson CL, Guelzow N, Kelly P, Sullivan LL. Spatial stoichiometry: cross-ecosystem material flows and their impact on recipient ecosystems and organisms. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Sitters
- Dept of Ecology and Environmental Science; Umeå Univ.; SE-901 87 Umeå Sweden
| | - Carla L. Atkinson
- Dept of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Cornell Univ.; Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - Nils Guelzow
- Dept of Geography and Environment; Mount Allison Univ.; Sackville, New Brunswick NB E4L 1E2 Canada
| | - Patrick Kelly
- Dept of Biological Sciences; Univ. of Notre Dame; Notre Dame IN 46556 USA
| | - Lauren L. Sullivan
- Dept of Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology; Iowa State Univ.; Ames IA 50011-1020 USA
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Blix AW, Mysterud A, Loe LE, Austrheim G. Temporal scales of density-dependent habitat selection in a large grazing herbivore. OIKOS 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.01069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Anna W. Blix
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Dept of Biosciences, Univ. of Oslo; PO Box 1066 Blindern NO-0316 Oslo Norway
| | - Atle Mysterud
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), Dept of Biosciences, Univ. of Oslo; PO Box 1066 Blindern NO-0316 Oslo Norway
| | - Leif Egil Loe
- Dept of Ecology and Natural Resource Management; Norwegian Univ. of Life Science; PO Box 5003, NO-1432 Aas Norway
| | - Gunnar Austrheim
- Museum of Natural History and Archaeology, Section of Natural History, Norwegian Univ. of Science and Technology; NO-7491 Trondheim Norway
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Mysterud A, Austrheim G. Lasting effects of snow accumulation on summer performance of large herbivores in alpine ecosystems may not last. J Anim Ecol 2014; 83:712-9. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Atle Mysterud
- Department of Biosciences; Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES); University of Oslo; P.O. Box 1066 Blindern Oslo NO-0316 Norway
| | - Gunnar Austrheim
- Section of Natural History; Museum of Natural History and Archaeology; Norwegian University of Science and Technology; Trondheim NO-7491 Norway
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Vander Wal E, Laforge MP, McLoughlin PD. Density dependence in social behaviour: home range overlap and density interacts to affect conspecific encounter rates in a gregarious ungulate. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-013-1652-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Mobaek R, Mysterud A, Holand Ø, Austrheim G. Temporal variation in density dependent body growth of a large herbivore. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.20888.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Bonte D. Editorial. OIKOS 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2012.00172.x] [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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