Active crocodiles are less sociable

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1912)

Published: Sept. 4, 2024

How animals move and associate with conspecifics is rarely random, a population’s spatial structure forming the foundation on which social behaviours of individuals form. Studies examining spatial–social interface typically measure averaged behavioural differences between individuals; however, this neglects inherent variation present within how it may impact interface. Here, we investigated in among-individual (co)variance sociability, activity site fidelity population wild estuarine crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, across 10-year period. By monitoring 118 crocodiles using coded acoustic transmitters an array fixed underwater receivers, discovered that not only did individual repeatably differ (among-individual variation) each behaviour measured but also consistently they expressed these through time (within-individual variation). As expected, crocodile sociability formed syndrome, more active being less sociable. Interestingly, found were either sociable or displayed greater specialized (lower within-individual behaviours. Together, our results provide important empirical evidence for interplay spatial, temporal individual-level contribute to niches. This article part theme issue ‘The interface: theoretical integration’.

Language: Английский

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A field experiment reveals reciprocal effects of host personality and parasitism in wild lizards

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 35(1)

Published: Oct. 13, 2023

Abstract Host behavior and parasite infection reciprocally interact, but this dynamic is rarely studied experimentally in the field with multiple behaviors. We investigated interplay between parasitism host via an situ experimental tick infestation of a wild population sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa. Using Bayesian models, we assessed relationship lizard aggression boldness before after infestation. First, tested whether prior to predicted probability attachment experiment. Second, evaluated affected subsequent boldness. found that related interactively infestation: for unaggressive higher was associated reduced success, opposite occurred aggressive individuals. increased did not affect post-infestation aggression, tended increase Taken together, these results highlight potential feedbacks parasites multi-dimensional

Language: Английский

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A telemetry study shows that an endangered nocturnal avian species roosts in extremely dry habitats to avoid predation

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: July 23, 2023

Describing animal space use is essential for understanding their ecological needs and planning effective conservation schemes. Notably, certain biomes life histories are understudied due to methodological challenges in tracking animals natural habitats. Specifically, both arid environments nocturnal species not sufficiently researched compared diurnal other biomes. This knowledge gap hinders our ability properly prioritize habitats protection areas undergoing human-related development. Here, we investigate the movement ecology of Egyptian Nightjar (Caprimulgus aegyptius) Dead-sea region Israel, Palestinian Authority (the West Bank) Jordan. insectivore a cryptic desert-dweller was considered locally extinct until it rediscovered 2016. For this work tracked twelve individuals using GPS tags determine how resource-poor environment affects home range, (predicting large areas), habitat use, day-roost ecology. We found that Nightjars had much larger range area than species, commuting nightly between foraging grounds day-roosts. found, as expected, intensive activity at agricultural fields, where artificial irrigation likely supports higher resource (insect) density. Additionally, showed very high roosting site fidelity, often returning same specific site, located extremely dry exposed habitats, presumably predator avoidance. finding highlights value these barren "lifeless" therefore lower priority conservation. Consequently, research demonstrates importance describing space-use efforts.

Language: Английский

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Predator-mediated interactions through changes in predator home range size can lead to local prey exclusion

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 3, 2022

1 Abstract The effects of indirect biotic interactions on species occurrence are difficult to quantify in the wild. In theory, exclusion a prey can occur through numerical and functional responses predator another prey. Few studies assessed relative these net interaction strength between multiple sharing common predators, part because empirically based multi-species response models very rare. To investigate whether presence affects predation rates population growth rate species, we used multi-prey mechanistic model along with matrix model. was parameterized using combination behavioral, demographic, experimental data acquired an arctic vertebrate community. It includes fox ( Vulpes lagopus ), feeding primarily small mammals as well eggs various bird such sandpipers colonial nesting geese. Our results showed that positive goose colony sandpiper success (due handling time by predator) were outweighed negative effect increase density. driven reduction home range size colony. As result, from geese negative. also this could lead local over adult annual survival observed wild, which is coherent previous observations their co-distribution. approach takes into account diverse proximate mechanisms underpinning strengths system generates novel insights some behavioral may influence coexistence (and lack of) communities.

Language: Английский

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Spatial Ecology of a Threatened Liolaemid Lizard: The Interplay of Intrinsic and Environmental Factors

Current Herpetology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 43(2)

Published: Aug. 28, 2024

The spatial ecology of animals is influenced by the structure their physical habitat, which affects availability refuges and microclimate, as well positioning resources. use space lizard Liolaemus tandiliensis was investigated in Tandilia mountains Pampas region. We radio-tracked 19 adult lizards found that home range size distance moved were significantly affected sex, with males having a 34% larger moving longer distances than females. These parameters also structural thermal features specific microhabitat types. habitat inside showed relatively high coverage rocks low vegetation. properties microhabitats strongly associated occupancy; individuals used quality exhibited environmental temperatures deviating least from preferred body temperature L. tandiliensis. Small-scale heterogeneity gradients available mountains, so may not need to move large sustain themselves within small (mean=74.52 m2). Our findings suggest occurs delicate balance its habitat. This study provides information must be taken into account for conservation planning, especially light increasing anthropogenic degradation mountains.

Language: Английский

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Social networks of threatened Chaco tortoises (Chelonoidis chilensis) in the wild

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 143(1)

Published: Sept. 1, 2024

Abstract We studied encounters between Chaco tortoises (Chelonoidis chilensis) that are in a threatened state of conservation Patagonia, Argentina, which constitutes the southern limit their geographical distribution. monitored six individuals during different behavioural periods year (mating, nesting, and brumation), recording 24 344 after tagging animals with GPS tags. Constructing bipartite networks burrows tortoises, addition to projections, we discovered spatial clustering burrows. Moreover, our research revealed as approach brumation period they use fewer unique burrows, engage less burrow sharing, increasingly favour spending time preferred burrow. During mating nesting some shared, whereas this was not case period. daily interactions through proximity-based networks, accounting for daytime annual periods. found highest network density period, decreasing zero, expected, when remain both night day. Male–male were more probable post-brumation number sharing given be significant, could an indication social behaviour memory. Performing numerical simulations, densities much higher than expected by chance, attributable individual selection sites or indicative among these reptiles.

Language: Английский

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Species behavioral characteristics lead to unique fragmentation threats: The Nubian ibex as a case study

Journal of Wildlife Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 20, 2024

Abstract The behavioral characteristics of species may result in certain populations being inherently more susceptible to fragmentation. For example, exhibiting spatial sexual segregation or those constrained elongated and narrow habitats. We studied the fragmentation threats, dynamics, resource utilization, movement ecology a particularly vulnerable that is both sexually segregated habitat—the north Judean Desert population Nubian ibex ( Capra nubiana ). From 2016‒2020 we tracked 48 marked (27 male, 21 female), which 38 (20 18 female) also had global position system (GPS) collars. Using GPS‐collar camera‐trap data zones delineated around perennial water sources (PWSs), calculated drinking frequencies individual utilization distributions by season sex, focusing on their overall (95% isopleth) core (50% home ranges. quantified joint space use between sexes using distribution overlap index (UDOI) daily movements via indices. Female groups formed philopatric activity centers were anchored PWSs year‐round arranged metapopulation‐like structure, with no female detected them. Conversely, adult males changed seasonally, cores male only during dry season, long‐range rut. spent time at steeper terrain higher elevations compared groups. Outside rut, females exhibited minimal (i.e., average UDOI was 0.06). These patterns indicate high sensitivity this intersexual obstacles (physical virtual). Management strategies mitigate threats for such should be sex‐specific landscape‐oriented.

Language: Английский

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JNplots: an R package to visualize outputs from the Johnson-Neyman technique for categorical and continuous moderators, including options for phylogenetic regressions

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 8, 2023

ABSTRACT The analysis of two-way interactions in linear models is common the fields ecology and evolution, being often present allometric, macroevolutionary, experimental studies, among others. However, interpretation significant can be incomplete when limited to examination model coefficients significance tests. Johnson-Neyman technique represents a step forward interactions, allowing user examine how changes moderator variable, it categorical or continuous, affect relationship between dependent variable predictor. Despite its implementation several software since initial development, available options perform method lack certain functionality aspects, including visualization regions non-significance categorical, phylogenetic corrections, more intuitive graphical outputs. Here I R package JNplots , which aims fill gaps left by previous regarding calculation fitting interaction models. includes two basic functions allow investigate different types models, cases where continuous. also specify whether explore should phylogenetically informed choose particular correlation structure used. Finally, produce plots that are largely customizable term. provide walkthrough on use using three examples based empirical data, each representing scenario useful. Additionally, customization for outputs .

Language: Английский

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JNplots: an R package to visualize outputs from the Johnson–Neyman technique for categorical and continuous moderators, including options for phylogenetic regressions

Evolutionary Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 38(3), P. 371 - 385

Published: Nov. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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JNplots: Visualize Outputs from the 'Johnson-Neyman' Technique

Published: Sept. 12, 2023

Language: Английский

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