Understanding and predicting animal movements and distributions in the Anthropocene

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 4, 2025

Predicting animal movements and spatial distributions is crucial for our comprehension of ecological processes provides key evidence conserving managing populations, species ecosystems. Notwithstanding considerable progress in movement ecology recent decades, developing robust predictions rapidly changing environments remains challenging. To accurately predict the effects anthropogenic change, it important to first identify defining features human-modified their consequences on drivers movement. We review discuss these within framework, describing relationships between external environment, internal state, navigation motion capacity. Developing under novel situations requires models moving beyond purely correlative approaches a dynamical systems perspective. This increased mechanistic modelling, using functional parameters derived from principles decision-making. Theory empirical observations should be better integrated by experimental approaches. Models fitted new historic data gathered across wide range contrasting environmental conditions. need therefore targeted supervised approach collection, increasing studied taxa carefully considering issues scale bias, modelling. Thus, we caution against indiscriminate non-supervised use citizen science data, AI machine learning models. highlight challenges opportunities incorporating into management actions policy. Rewilding translocation schemes offer exciting collect environments, enabling tests model varied contexts scales. Adaptive frameworks particular, based stepwise iterative process, including refinements, provide mutual benefit conservation. In conclusion, verge transforming descriptive predictive science. timely progression, given that conditions are now more urgently needed than ever evidence-based policy decisions. Our aim not describe existing as well possible, but rather understand underlying mechanisms develop with reliable ability situations.

Language: Английский

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Personality Assessment of Synanthropic Rhesus Macaques: Implications and Challenges

American Journal of Primatology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 87(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Answers to the question of what characteristics allow animals thrive in human‐dominated environments remain elusive. Consistent interindividual differences or personalities can potentially explain functional significance habitat‐specific traits that enable coexist with humans. Rhesus macaques ( Macaca mulatta ) are most successful nonhuman primates Anthropocene, living diverse climatic and environmental conditions. Studying synanthropic rhesus macaques, is, those anthropogenic habitats, provide insights into biological facilitating their success. We planned a multi‐method “bottom‐up” approach behavioral observations novelty experiments, standardized for assessing captive primates, evaluate adult N = 52 ). Novelty experiments encountered significant challenges, limiting effectiveness. So, we continued form focal sampling, revealed two repeatable traits, subjectively labeled as social tension meekness . found an association sex tension, where males exhibited higher than females. In additional analysis, individuals obtained food through contact provisioning had scores trait noncontact provisioning. discuss how observed personality may offer adaptive advantages environments, despotic face both benefits costs (including social) setting. also emphasize protocols designed conditions not be directly applicable free‐living animals. The study underscores need reconsider obtain comparable measures between non‐captive populations. This would enhance ecological validity assessments. Nevertheless, empirically identifying using species valuable mechanisms certain amidst rapid expansion activities.

Language: Английский

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Identifying the Factors That Influence Raccoon (Procyon Lotor) and Southeastern Myotis (Myotis Austroriparius) Use of Stormwater Sewer Systems

Published: April 14, 2025

Wildlife living within human-dominated and/or modified landscapes may explore and use unconventional habitats. Our study investigates the overlooked potential of stormwater sewer systems (SSSs) as habitat for two urban-dwelling species: raccoons (Procyon lotor) southeastern myotis bats (Myotis austroriparius). Here we focus specifically on construction-based factors that most greatly affect occupancy these species SSS Alachua Co., Florida. With many vertebrates using SSSs movement, foraging, roosting, knowing what influence a system's usability is important when designing urban corridors. findings suggest raccoon in was closely related to proximity nearest exit, but seem select roosting sites based multitude factors, including size SSS, distance level impervious surface aboveground. Raccoons have preference remain near an exit suggesting their presence be exploratory or constrained by food light availability, although they were found navigating full extent some SSSs. Myotis a. prefer smaller with limited disturbance aboveground, particularly We discuss ways construction design management can more wildlife friendly.

Language: Английский

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Behaviour and welfare of pigeons (Columba livia) in two different localities of Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 106640 - 106640

Published: April 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The effect of habitat health and environmental change on cultural diversity and richness in animals

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1925)

Published: May 1, 2025

There is increasing evidence that habitat decline via fragmentation or species loss can lead to of cultural diversity, complexity richness in non-human animals. For example, a reduction local bird leads lyrebirds sing fewer complex songs, while great apes living fragmented landscapes have smaller repertoires. However, the link between animal culture and ecology remains understudied, potentially interactions ongoing ecological change are poorly understood. Here, we review current state knowledge on how influences culture, focusing vocal communication foraging behaviour. We identify key factors affecting patterning, including direct effects (e.g. environmental variability) indirect connectivity). then emerging for identifying three major threatening processes: fragmentation, degradation urbanization. Finally, develop predictive framework effect these processes highlight diversity fitness costs with conservation implications.This article part theme issue 'Animal culture: changing world'.

Language: Английский

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