Journal article
Mammals adjust diel activity across gradients of urbanization
eLife, Vol.11, e74756
03/31/2022
DOI: 10.7554/eLife.74756
PMCID: PMC8986314
PMID: 35357308
Abstract
Time is a fundamental component of ecological processes. How animal behavior changes over time has been explored through well-known ecological theories like niche partitioning and predator-prey dynamics. Yet, changes in animal behavior within the shorter 24-hr light-dark cycle have largely gone unstudied. Understanding if an animal can adjust their temporal activity to mitigate or adapt to environmental change has become a recent topic of discussion and is important for effective wildlife management and conservation. While spatial habitat is a fundamental consideration in wildlife management and conservation, temporal habitat is often ignored. We formulated a temporal resource selection model to quantify the diel behavior of 8 mammal species across 10 US cities. We found high variability in diel activity patterns within and among species and species-specific correlations between diel activity and human population density, impervious land cover, available greenspace, vegetation cover, and mean daily temperature. We also found that some species may modulate temporal behaviors to manage both natural and anthropogenic risks. Our results highlight the complexity with which temporal activity patterns interact with local environmental characteristics, and suggest that urban mammals may use time along the 24-hr cycle to reduce risk, adapt, and therefore persist, and in some cases thrive, in human-dominated ecosystems.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mammals adjust diel activity across gradients of urbanization
- Creators
- Travis Gallo - George Mason UniversityMason Fidino - Lincoln Park ZooBrian Gerber - University of Rhode IslandAdam A. Ahlers - Kansas State UniversityJulia L. Angstmann - Butler UniversityMax Amaya - California State University, Long BeachAmy L. Concilio - St. Edward's UniversityDavid Drake - University of Wisconsin–MadisonDanielle Gay - Austin Parks and Recreation, City of Austin, Austin, United States.Elizabeth W. Lehrer - Lincoln Park ZooMaureen H. Murray - Lincoln Park ZooTravis J. Ryan - Butler UniversityColleen Cassady St Clair - Univ Alberta, Dept Biol Sci, Edmonton, AB, CanadaCarmen M. Salsbury - Butler UniversityHeather A. Sander - University of IowaTheodore Stankowich - California State University, Long BeachJaque Williamson - Department of Education & Conservation, Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington, United States.J. Amy Belaire - The Nature Conservancy in Texas, San Antonio, United States.Kelly Simon - Texas Parks and Wildlife, Austin, United States.Seth B. Magle - Lincoln Park Zoo
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- eLife, Vol.11, e74756
- Publisher
- eLIFE SCIENCES PUBL LTD
- DOI
- 10.7554/eLife.74756
- PMID
- 35357308
- PMCID
- PMC8986314
- ISSN
- 2050-084X
- eISSN
- 2050-084X
- Number of pages
- 19
- Grant note
- name: Abra Prentice-Wilkin Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/31/2022
- Academic Unit
- Geographical and Sustainability Sciences
- Record Identifier
- 9984259387802771
Metrics
5 Record Views