A guide for studying among-individual behavioral variation from movement data in the wild

Movement Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 8(1)

Published: June 29, 2020

Animal tracking and biologging devices record large amounts of data on individual movement behaviors in natural environments. In these data, ecologists often view unexplained variation around the mean as "noise" when studying patterns at population level. field behavioral ecology, however, focus has shifted from means to biological underpinnings means. Specifically, use repeated measures behavior partition variability into intrinsic among-individual reversible plasticity quantify: a) types (i.e. different average expression), b) responsiveness individuals environmental gradients), c) predictability residual within-individual mean), d) correlations among components suites behaviors, called 'behavioral syndromes'. We here suggest that partitioning animal movements will further integration ecology with other fields ecology. provide a literature review illustrating differences are insightful for wildlife conservation studies give recommendations regarding required addressing such questions. accompanying R tutorial we guide statistical approaches quantifying aspects variation. 35 African elephants show differ their three common rate which they adjusted over temporal gradient, (ranging more less predictable individuals). Finally, two were correlated syndrome (d), farther moving having shorter residence times. Though not explicitly tested here, can affect an individual's risk be hunted or poached could therefore open new avenues biologists assess viability. hope this review, tutorial, worked example encourage examine biology hidden behind mean.

Language: Английский

---

Conceptual and methodological advances in habitat‐selection modeling: guidelines for ecology and evolution

Ecological Applications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 32(1)

Published: Oct. 9, 2021

Abstract Habitat selection is a fundamental animal behavior that shapes wide range of ecological processes, including movement, nutrient transfer, trophic dynamics and population distribution. Although habitat has been focus studies for decades, technological, conceptual methodological advances over the last 20 yr have led to surge in addressing this process. Despite substantial literature focused on quantifying habitat‐selection patterns animals, there marked lack guidance best analytical practices. The foundations most commonly applied modeling frameworks can be confusing even those well versed their application. Furthermore, yet synthesis made yr. Therefore, need both current state knowledge selection, seeking study Here, we provide an approachable overview analyses (HSAs) conducted using functions, which are by far framework understanding This review purposefully non‐technical without heavy mathematical statistical notation, confuse many practitioners. We offer history HSAs, describing tortuous path our understanding. Through overview, also aim address areas greatest confusion literature. synthesize outlining exciting field modeling, discussing evolutionary inference contemporary techniques. paper clarity navigating complex HSAs while acting as reference practices guide

Language: Английский

---

Spatial personalities: a meta-analysis of consistent individual differences in spatial behavior

Behavioral Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 33(3), P. 477 - 486

Published: Dec. 1, 2021

Abstract Individual variation in behavior, particularly consistent among-individual differences (i.e., personality), has important ecological and evolutionary implications for population community dynamics, trait divergence, patterns of speciation. Nevertheless, individual spatial behaviors, such as home range movement characteristics, or habitat use yet to be incorporated into the concepts methodologies ecology biology. To evaluate evidence existence behavior – which we refer “spatial personality” performed a meta-analysis 200 repeatability estimates size, metrics, use. We found that personality is general phenomenon, with consistently high (r) across classes (r = 0.67–0.82), taxa 0.31–0.79), time between repeated measurements 0.54–0.74). These results suggest: 1) repeatable may either cause consequence environment experienced lead personalities limit ability individuals behaviorally adapt changing landscapes; 2) interactions phenotypes environmental conditions could result differential reproduction, survival, dispersal, suggesting facilitate population-level adaptation; 3) species' distributions dynamics better understood by shifting from mean field analytical approach towards methods account their associated fitness dynamics.

Language: Английский

---

A predictive timeline of wildlife population collapse

Nature Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(3), P. 320 - 331

Published: Jan. 26, 2023

Language: Английский

---

Wildlife conservation: The importance of individual personality traits and sentience

Animal Sentience, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 9(34)

Published: July 1, 2024

Individual differences in personality types within the same species have been studied much less than between and populations. Personality are related to risk-taking exploration, which turn correlate with individuals' daily responses, decisions, fitness. Bold shy can different advantages disadvantages under social or environmental pressures. Analyzing has helped clarify how elk habituate a well-populated area management strategies be adapted them. For wolves newly repatriated Colorado, individual factors likely prove important for adapting their new homes as well needs of people cohabiting Animal human need investigated jointly long-term success conservation initiatives.

Language: Английский

---

Environmental Health and Societal Wealth Predict Movement Patterns of an Urban Carnivore

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT How societal, ecological and infrastructural attributes interact to influence wildlife movement is uncertain. We explored whether neighbourhood socioeconomic status environmental quality were associated with coyote ( Canis latrans ) patterns in Los Angeles, California assessed the performance of integrated social–ecological models. found that coyotes living more anthropogenically burdened regions (i.e. higher pollution, denser development, etc.) had larger home ranges showed greater daily displacement mean step length than less regions. Coyotes experiencing differing levels anthropogenic burdens demonstrated divergent selection for vegetation, road densities other habitat conditions. Further, models included societal covariates performed better only features linear infrastructure. This study provides a unique lens examining drivers urban movement, which should be applicable planners conservationists when building equitable, healthy wildlife‐friendly cities.

Language: Английский

---

Vectors with autonomy: what distinguishes animal‐mediated nutrient transport from abiotic vectors?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 94(5), P. 1761 - 1773

Published: May 27, 2019

ABSTRACT Animal movements are important drivers of nutrient redistribution that can affect primary productivity and biodiversity across various spatial scales. Recent work indicates incorporating these into ecosystem models enhance our ability to predict the spatio‐temporal distribution nutrients. However, role animal behaviour in animal‐mediated transport (i.e. active subsidies) remains under‐explored. Here we review current literature on subsidies show how subsidy agents makes them both ecologically qualitatively distinct from abiotic processes passive subsidies). We first propose movement patterns create similar ecological effects press pulse disturbances) recipient ecosystems, which be equal magnitude or greater than those subsidies. then highlight three key behavioural features distinguishing First, organisms nutrients counter‐directionally forces potential energy gradients (e.g. upstream). Second, unlike subsidies, respond they generate. Third, interact with each other. The latter two form positive‐ negative‐feedback loops, creating space time reinforce hotspots places mass aggregations and/or lasting impacts within ecosystems. Because human‐driven changes space‐use species their composition at population individual variation) community levels interactions), predicting flows under future modified environmental conditions depends understanding mechanisms underlie variation among agents' contributions. conclude by advocating for integration behaviour, data, conservation efforts order provide more accurate realistic assessments changing function.

Language: Английский

---

Biologging reveals individual variation in behavioural predictability in the wild

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 90(3), P. 723 - 737

Published: Dec. 11, 2020

Recent research highlights the ecological importance of individual variation in behavioural predictability. Individuals may not only differ their average expression a trait (their type) and ability to adjust behaviour changing environmental conditions (individual plasticity), but also variability around (predictability). However, quantifying predictability wild has been challenging due limitations acquiring sufficient repeated measures. We here demonstrate how common biologging data can be used detect reveal coexistence highly predictable individuals along with unpredictable within same population. repeatedly quantified two behaviours-daily movement distance diurnal activity-in 62 female brown bears Ursus arctos tracked across 187 monitoring years. calculated over short term (50 consecutive days 1 year) long (across years) as residual intra-individual (rIIV) reaction norm. tested whether varies systematically types it is correlated functionally distinct behaviours, that is, daily amount activity. Brown showed from individuals. For example, standard deviation one year varied up fivefold 1.1 5.5 km Individual for both diurnality was conserved type where which were on more mobile behaviour. In contrast, nocturnal moved less Finally, positively correlated, suggesting quantitative its own regard could evolve underpinned by genetic variation. Unpredictable cope better stochastic events unpredictability hence an adaptive response increased predation risk. Coexistence therefore ensure adaptable resilient populations.

Language: Английский

---

Leveraging multidimensional heterogeneity in resource selection to define movement tactics of animals

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 22(9), P. 1417 - 1427

Published: June 26, 2019

Increasing interest in the complexity, variation and drivers of movement-related behaviours promise new insight into fundamental components ecology. Resolving multidimensionality spatially explicit behaviour remains a challenge for investigating tactics their relation to niche construction, but high-resolution movement data are providing unprecedented understanding diversity behaviours. We introduce framework individual movement-defined resource selection that integrates behavioural ecological concepts. apply it long-term tracking 115 African elephants (Loxodonta africana), illustrating how hypervolume can be defined based on differences between individuals settings, applied explore population heterogeneity. While normative is frequently used characterise behaviour, we demonstrate value leveraging heterogeneity gain greater structure mechanisms driving space-use tactics.

Language: Английский

---

Individual environmental niches in mobile organisms

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 12(1)

Published: July 27, 2021

Individual variation is increasingly recognized as a central component of ecological processes, but its role in structuring environmental niche associations remains largely unknown. Species' responses to conditions are ultimately determined by the niches single individuals, yet typically captured only at level species. Here, we develop scenarios for how individual may combine define compound populations, use extensive movement data document variation, test associated hypotheses configuration, and examine consistency over time. For 45 white storks (Ciconia ciconia; 116 individual-year combinations), uncover high variability associations, time, moderate strong specialization. Within follow nested pattern, with individuals arranged along specialist-to-generalist gradient. These results reject common assumptions equivalency among conspecifics, well separation into disparate parts space. findings underscore need more thorough consideration individualistic global change research.

Language: Английский

---