Activity patterns and temporal predator avoidance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the fawning season

Higdon, Summer D.; Diggins, Corinne A.; Cherry, Michael J.; Ford, W. Mark

doi:10.1007/s10164-019-00599-1

Cited by 40 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…This result was likely affected by the birth of the roe deer fawns and the territorial activity of roe deer males-both occurring in spring. In whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), females with vulnerable fawns were reported to alter their temporal activity patterns arguably to reduce the risk of encounters with potential predators (Higdon et al 2019). Wild boar can prey upon small mammals and fawns during their early weeks of life (Loggins et al 2002;Wilcox and Van Vuren 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of spatial and temporal overlap in three ungulate species in a Mediterranean environment

et al. 2020

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Interspecific interactions are key drivers in structuring animal communities. Sympatric animals may show such behavioural patterns as the differential use of space and/or time to avoid competitive encounters. We took advantage of the ecological conditions of our study area, inhabited by different ungulate species, to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of Capreolus capreolus, Dama dama and Sus scrofa. We estimated intraspecific interaction arising from the concomitant use of resources by using camera trapping. We collected 2741 videos with the three ungulates, which showed peculiar activity patterns. The three species were observed in all the habitat types of the study area over the four seasons, thus highlighting an evident spatial overlap. Moreover, our analysis demonstrated that the three species did not avoid each other through temporal segregation of their activities, rather showing a high overlap of daily activity rhythms, though with differences among the species and the seasons. Despite the high spatial and temporal overlap, the three species seemed to adopt segregation through fine-scale spatial avoidance: at an hourly level, the proportion of sites where the species were observed together was relatively low. This spatio-temporal segregation revealed complex and alternative behavioural strategies, which likely facilitated intra-guild sympatry among the studied species. Both temporal and spatio-temporal overlap reached the highest values in summer, when environmental conditions were more demanding. Given these results, we may presume that different drivers (e.g. temperature, human disturbance), which are likely stronger than interspecific interactions, affected activity rhythms and fine-scale spatial use of the studied species.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of spatial and temporal overlap in three ungulate species in a Mediterranean environment

et al. 2020

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“…The latter provides insight relevant to our example. Does and fawns minimize activity overlap with coyotes at crepuscular hours (Higdon et al, 2019). Further, fawns in southern Texas were shown to avoid activity at crepuscular hours, but not during the day or at night (Jackson et al, 1972).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergent predator activity muddies the dynamic landscape of fear

et al. 2022

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The landscape of fear (LOF) hypothesis is a unifying idea explaining the effects of predators on the space use of their prey. However, empirical evidence for this hypothesis is mixed. Recent work suggests that the LOF is dynamic, depending on the daily activity of predators, which allows prey to utilize risky places during predator down times. While this notion clarifies some discrepancies between predictions and observations, support for a dynamic LOF remains mixed. The underlying assumption of a dynamic LOF is strong predictability in predator activity cycles. Work in multi-predator systems demonstrates the effect of differential behavior between predator species on the predictions of prey space use. However, none have considered the effect of intraspecific variation in predator behavior.Most, if not all, dynamic LOF studies base inference on the species-level average activity pattern, implicitly assuming similarity within the predator population.We examined the dynamics and intraspecific variation in activity cycles within a population of coyotes (Canis latrans). We found seasonality in the predictability of coyote behavior, as well as divergent nocturnal and crepuscular activity patterns between individuals during summer. Activity dynamics were not related to range size, sex, body mass, or habitat complexity, but did vary by year. These results suggest that the predictability of activity patterns is seasonally dynamic, and failure to account for intraspecific variation in activity may cloud inference in LOF studies. We argue that future studies should not neglect the potential complexity of predator behavior with simplistic assumptions. By considering intraspecific variation in activity patterns, we may gain a clear picture of LOF dynamics.

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“…S3). The variation in activity patterns between red panda and these carnivores show that presence of predators may have initially shaped red panda’s diurnal activity pattern with minor peaks during the early morning and evening hours (Wu et al 2018 ; Higdon et al 2019 ). Their arboreality also helps them avoid predation risk but we have insufficient data from other sympatric predators to reach firm conclusions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal using GPS telemetry: a case of the red panda

et al. 2021

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Context Habitat specialists residing in human-modified landscapes are likely to be more vulnerable to disturbance because of a functional reliance on very particular habitat features. However, there have been few studies designed to specifically address that issue. Objectives This study aimed to explore how the red panda, an iconic endangered habitat specialist, behaves when faced with disturbances and habitat fragmentation. In particular, we attempted to examine the effect of anthropogenic disturbances and fragmentation on home-range size, activity patterns, and recursion. Methods Using GPS telemetry we monitored 10 red pandas and documented disturbances using camera trapping for one year in eastern Nepal. We performed spatial analysis, analysed activity patterns and evaluated the effect of habitat fragmentation and disturbances on home-range size and residence time using Linear Mixed Models. Results Home-range size increased in areas with low availability of forest cover whilst home ranges were smaller in areas with a high road density. Red pandas spent more time in large habitat patches away from roads and cattle stations. Crossing rates suggested that roads acted as a barrier for movement across their habitat. Red pandas also partitioned their activity to minimize interactions with disturbances. Conclusions Red pandas seem to make a trade-off to co-exist in human-dominated landscapes which may have adverse long-term effects on their survival. This indicates that current patterns of habitat fragmentation and forest exploitation may be adversely affecting red panda conservation efforts and that landscape-scale effects should be considered when planning conservation actions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-021-01357-w.

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Activity patterns and temporal predator avoidance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the fawning season

Cited by 40 publications

References 75 publications

Estimation of spatial and temporal overlap in three ungulate species in a Mediterranean environment

Estimation of spatial and temporal overlap in three ungulate species in a Mediterranean environment

Divergent predator activity muddies the dynamic landscape of fear

Effect of disturbances and habitat fragmentation on an arboreal habitat specialist mammal using GPS telemetry: a case of the red panda

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