Behavior Change in Urban Mammals: A Systematic Review

Ritzel, Kate; Gallo, Travis

doi:10.3389/fevo.2020.576665

Cited by 68 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…Anthropogenic changes in landscape can impose rapid evolutionary change [ 5 ]. Urban habitats differ from natural environments by their altered food availability, acoustic and light pollution, thermal conditions, or different sources and rates of mortality [ 4 , 6 , 7 ]. Nevertheless, many animal species adjust to urban conditions (e.g., [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]) by changing their diet preference, home range size, or behaviour [ 6 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization

Beliniak

Gryz

Klich

et al. 2022

Animals

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The red squirrel is among the mammals that have adjusted well to urban habitats. Here, we focused on the two populations inhabiting Warsaw: in a park (with year-round supplemental feeding) and in an urban forest. We hypothesised that park squirrels would have higher body mass (and better body condition), being more stable over the year, and would have a higher breeding rate (i.e., the share of breeding females). Contrary to our hypothesis, forest squirrels were heavier and had better body condition than park squirrels. The body masses of squirrels from both areas were quite stable (with the highest values obtained in spring). Females in better body conditions were more likely to breed. More breeding females and sub-adults were trapped in the park. Regardless of the study site, the highest share of breeding females was in spring, but they also bred in winter and in the remaining seasons. The lower body mass/condition of park squirrels may be possibly explained by high intraspecific competition, or by stable food (and thermal as typical for the city) conditions, in which accumulating fat was not crucial. Mild winter conditions may have also enabled squirrels to breed early. This study showed the high plasticity of red squirrels living in human-transformed habitats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization

Beliniak

Gryz

Klich

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…Although the binary response may be a function of sample size, it highlights the importance of considering alternate adaptive strategies. For example, moving less may minimize encounters with disturbance, but also moving more with a shifted activity budget may also change the manner animals interact with disturbance (Ritzel & Gallo, 2020). Despite our small sample size, we have reasonably large effect sizes, which gives us confidence that our results reflect meaningful strategies employed by snails.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

At a snail’s pace: the influence of habitat disturbance on terrestrial snail movement using experimentally manipulated mesocosms

Denief

Turner

Prokopenko

et al. 2021

Preprint

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The Anthropocene marks great changes to environments and the animals that inhabit them. Changes, such as disturbance, can affect the manner in which animals interact with their environments, such as moving and selecting habitats. To test how animals might respond to changing disturbance regimes, we employ an experimental approach to movement ecology. We used integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) to test the behavioural responses of individually-marked grove snails (Cepaea nemoralis) exposed to a gradient of physical disturbance in their habitat. We used a before-after control-impact (BACI) experimental design within semi-controlled mesocosms to manipulate edge and disturbance variables by altering the area of the mesocosm covered by bricks. We showed that grove snails perceive edges of enclosures and edges of bricks as risks, and responded to such risks by altering their movement. Grove snails displayed a bimodal response to risk by taking shelter in place or moving faster to be farther from the disturbance. Furthermore, individuals tended to modulate their behavioural response to the degree of risk. Our study highlights the usefulness of experimental mesocosms in movement ecology and in determining the effects of habitat alteration and human-imposed risk on movement behaviour.

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“…The process has already diminished some species' "otherness"-pets and farm animals have become "so denaturalized, they have come to be seen as part of human culture" (Wolch 2010, 225). Wild animals, however, have been affected since their habitats and behaviors have been modified by human presence and interference (Ritzel and Gallo 2020); "[f]or man, the wolf is no longer a wolf" (Rosenthal 2019, 47). The wolves of Nantes were meant to provide Pobrane z czasopisma New Horizons in English Studies http://newhorizons.umcs.pl Data: 25/10/2021 05:17:09 U M C S aesthetic pleasure and not to "renaturalize" the city or serve conservation purposes.…”

Section: The Urban Wildmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wolves in the City of Domesticated Women: The Queer Wild of Olivia Rosenthal

Szymonek

2021

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In 2009, in the city of Nantes, a pack of six wolves was released in a public park as part of Stéphane Thidet’s art installation. A book of short stories accompanied the event. One of the authors involved was Olivia Rosenthal, who then incorporated her story into the novel Que font les rennes après Noël? (2010), in which captive wolves are reintroduced to the city. In this post-natural environment, animals provide a semblance of the wilderness for residents, yet remain enclosed in an extended zoo designed by man – an act that domesticates both sides of the fence by separating humans from wolves. Rosenthal’s protagonist is one of such captives. Her life and the lives of animals are presented in parallel narratives. She grows up in a strictly controlled environment, and social standards are imposed on her. In a semi-autobiographical vein, Rosenthal explores issues of queer and gender marginalization as well as emancipation. At the same time, she seeks to dismantle the binary oppositions that place animals, women, and non-heteronormative persons on the other side of the fence. Relying on queer ecofeminist theory developed by Greta Gaard (1997) as well as trans-species urban theory formulated by Jennifer Wolch (1998), this paper argues that we should challenge the hierarchical approach to human and non-human life, as it silences differences and denies voice, rights, and agency to women, non-heteronormative persons, and animals. Tracing inspirations behind Olivia Rosenthal’s novel, this paper also contemplates the ethics of using live animals in Stéphane Thidet’s La Meute (2009) as well as Mircea Cantor’s Deeparture (2005) – two art installations that place captive wolves in an artificial environment.

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Behavior Change in Urban Mammals: A Systematic Review

Cited by 68 publications

References 55 publications

Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization

Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization

At a snail’s pace: the influence of habitat disturbance on terrestrial snail movement using experimentally manipulated mesocosms

Wolves in the City of Domesticated Women: The Queer Wild of Olivia Rosenthal

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