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Stark G, Ma L, Zeng ZG, Du WG, Levy O. State-dependent movement choices of desert lizards: The role of behavioural thermoregulation during summer and winter. J Therm Biol 2024; 121:103841. [PMID: 38552446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Environmental temperatures are increasing worldwide, threatening desert ectotherms already living at their thermal limits. Organisms with flexible thermoregulatory behaviours may be able to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures by moving among microhabitats, yet little work has tracked movement patterns of desert ectotherms in the wild over diurnal scales or compared behaviour among seasons. Here, we used camera traps to track the thermoregulatory behaviour and microhabitat choices of 30 desert lizards (Messalina bahaldini) in custom, outdoor arenas that provided access to open, rock, and bush microhabitats. We found that in the summer, lizards preferred to move to the shaded microhabitats and remain there under warmer conditions. During winter, however, lizards' activity was not related to temperature, and lizards mostly chose to remain in the open habitat. Interestingly, in both seasons, lizards tended to remain in their current microhabitat and moved infrequently between certain combinations of microhabitats. Our study shows that thermoregulation (shade-seeking behaviour) is a major factor during summer, helping lizards to avoid extreme temperatures, but not during winter, and shows a novel effect of current microhabitat on movement, suggesting that other biotic or abiotic factors may also drive microhabitat choice. Understanding the complex factors at play in microhabitat choice is critical for developing conservation programs that effectively mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on desert animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin Stark
- Tel Aviv University, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Israel.
| | - Liang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China; School of Ecology, Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhi-Gao Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
| | - Wei-Guo Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ofir Levy
- Tel Aviv University, Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Israel.
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2
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Riddell EA, Burger IJ, Tyner-Swanson TL, Biggerstaff J, Muñoz MM, Levy O, Porter CK. Parameterizing mechanistic niche models in biophysical ecology: a review of empirical approaches. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb245543. [PMID: 37955347 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic niche models are computational tools developed using biophysical principles to address grand challenges in ecology and evolution, such as the mechanisms that shape the fundamental niche and the adaptive significance of traits. Here, we review the empirical basis of mechanistic niche models in biophysical ecology, which are used to answer a broad array of questions in ecology, evolution and global change biology. We describe the experiments and observations that are frequently used to parameterize these models and how these empirical data are then incorporated into mechanistic niche models to predict performance, growth, survival and reproduction. We focus on the physiological, behavioral and morphological traits that are frequently measured and then integrated into these models. We also review the empirical approaches used to incorporate evolutionary processes, phenotypic plasticity and biotic interactions. We discuss the importance of validation experiments and observations in verifying underlying assumptions and complex processes. Despite the reliance of mechanistic niche models on biophysical theory, empirical data have and will continue to play an essential role in their development and implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A Riddell
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Isabella J Burger
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tamara L Tyner-Swanson
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Justin Biggerstaff
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Martha M Muñoz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Ofir Levy
- Faculty of Life Sciences, School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Cody K Porter
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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3
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Zhou R, Hua R, Tang Z, Hua L. Daily and Seasonal Activity Patterns of Plateau Pikas ( Ochotona curzoniae) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China, and Their Relationship with Weather Condition. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13101689. [PMID: 37238118 DOI: 10.3390/ani13101689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring the activity patterns of small mammals is important for understanding the survival strategies of these animals, such as foraging and mating. The purpose of the present study was to determine the activity of free-living plateau pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) in different months and seasons (cold and warm seasons), with a particular emphasis on the effects of weather condition. Based on a camera-trapping survey conducted from October 2017 to September 2018, we evaluated the activity patterns and activity levels of plateau pikas inhabiting the eastern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. The effects of environmental factors on the activity of plateau pikas were examined using the generalized additive mixed model (GAMM). The results showed that: (1) The plateau pikas exhibited unimodal patterns of activity during the cold season (October-April). During the warm season (May-September), the activity patterns of the plateau pikas were bimodal. Their activity levels were highest in June. (2) During the cold season, their activity levels rose gradually over the course of the day to a peak near noon, and they were not significantly higher after sunrise than they were before sunset. During the warm season, their activity peaks were in the morning and afternoon, and their activity levels were substantially lower after sunrise than they were before sunset. (3) The plateau pikas were more active under conditions with lower ambient temperatures and precipitation during the cold and warm seasons. While relative air humidity was positively correlated with the activity of the plateau pikas during the warm season, wind speed was negatively correlated with the pikas' activity during the cold season. Overall, these results collectively indicate that plateau pikas occupy habitats with cool and less windy microclimates during the cold season, and with cool and moist microclimates during the warm season. Information on the time allocation of pikas' activity levels during different seasons should provide a baseline for understanding their potential for adaptation to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
- Qinghai Academy of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Rui Hua
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Zhuangsheng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Limin Hua
- Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem of the Ministry of Education, College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
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4
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Ferrari C, Cerri J, Rolando A, Bassano B, Hardenberg AV, Bertolino S. See you in spring: overwinter survival is higher than post summer in the Alpine marmot. ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2022.2157891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Ferrari
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Alpine Wildlife Research Centre, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta, Italy
| | - Jacopo Cerri
- Department of Biodiversity, University of Primorska, Primorska, Slovenia
| | - Antonio Rolando
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Bruno Bassano
- Alpine Wildlife Research Centre, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta, Italy
| | - Achaz von Hardenberg
- Conservation Biology Research Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, UK
| | - Sandro Bertolino
- Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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5
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Eastern Spotted Skunks Alter Nightly Activity and Movement in Response to Environmental Conditions. AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 2022. [DOI: 10.1674/0003-0031-188.1.33] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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6
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Pettett CE, Salazar RD, Al-Hajri A, Al-Jabiri H, Macdonald DW, Yamaguchi N. Sex differences in the winter activity of desert hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in a resource-rich habitat in Qatar. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11118. [PMID: 35778424 PMCID: PMC9249915 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15383-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Hedgehogs’ wide distribution and breadth of habitat use means they are a good model taxon for investigating behavioural responses to winter conditions, such as low temperatures and resource availability. We investigated the over-winter behaviour of desert hedgehogs (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Qatar by radio-tracking 20 individuals and monitoring the body mass of 31 hedgehogs. Females spent more nights (38.63% of nights tracked) inactive than males (12.6%) and had lower monthly activity levels. The mean temperature on nights where hedgehogs were inactive was 14.9 °C compared with 17.0 °C when hedgehogs were active. By December, females lost a higher percentage of their November body mass than did males, but by February males had lost a higher percentage than females. We conclude that these sex differences in behaviour are a result of differing reproductive strategies with males becoming more active early in spring to search for mates, whereas female hedgehogs conserve energy for producing and raising young and avoid harassment by males. The winter activity of males may be facilitated by the resource-rich environment created by humans at this study site, and basking behaviour. This study highlights intraspecific and interspecific variation in behavioural strategies/tactics in response to winter conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly E Pettett
- WildCRU, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Rosie D Salazar
- WildCRU, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Afra Al-Hajri
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hayat Al-Jabiri
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar
| | - David W Macdonald
- WildCRU, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Abingdon, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Nobuyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, PO Box 2713, Doha, Qatar. .,Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, University of Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Malaysia.
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7
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Olsoy PJ, Milling CR, Nobler JD, Camp MJ, Shipley LA, Forbey JS, Rachlow JL, Thornton DH. Food quality, security, and thermal refuge influence the use of microsites and patches by pygmy rabbits (
Brachylagus idahoensis
) across landscapes and seasons. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8892. [PMID: 35600688 PMCID: PMC9106561 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
How intensely animals use habitat features depends on their functional properties (i.e., how the feature influences fitness) and the spatial and temporal scale considered. For herbivores, habitat use is expected to reflect the competing risks of starvation, predation, and thermal stress, but the relative influence of each functional property is expected to vary in space and time. We examined how a dietary and habitat specialist, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), used these functional properties of its sagebrush habitat—food quality, security, and thermal refuge—at two hierarchical spatial scales (microsite and patch) across two seasons (winter and summer). At the microsite and patch scales, we determined which plant functional traits predicted the number of bites (i.e., foraging) by pygmy rabbits and the number of their fecal pellets (i.e., general habitat use). Pygmy rabbits used microsites and patches more intensely that had higher crude protein and aerial concealment cover and were closer to burrows. Food quality was more influential when rabbits used microsites within patches. Security was more influential in winter than summer, and more at Cedar Gulch than Camas. However, the influence of functional properties depended on phytochemical and structural properties of sagebrush and was not spatiotemporally consistent. These results show function‐dependent habitat use that varied according to specific activities by a central‐place browsing herbivore. Making spatially explicit predictions of the relative value of habitat features that influence different types of habitat use (i.e., foraging, hiding, and thermoregulating) will improve how we predict patterns of habitat use by herbivores and how we monitor and manage functional traits within habitats for wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J. Olsoy
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
- Department of Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise Idaho USA
| | - Charlotte R. Milling
- School of Environment and Natural Resources Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
| | - Jordan D. Nobler
- Department of Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise Idaho USA
| | - Meghan J. Camp
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
| | - Lisa A. Shipley
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
| | - Jennifer S. Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise Idaho USA
| | - Janet L. Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Daniel H. Thornton
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
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8
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Misher C, Vats G, Vanak AT. Differential Responses of Small Mammals to Woody Encroachment in a Semi-Arid Grassland. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.755903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Encroachment by woody invasive plants is a major threat to grasslands and savannah ecosystems worldwide. Rodents, being primary consumers, are likely to be the first to respond to changes in the structure and composition of native vegetation. We examined the effect of an invasive shrub Prosopis juliflora (hereafter Prosopis) on the native rodent community of an arid grassland system of Western India. Our sampling plots were divided into five categories representing different stages of Prosopis invasion and other land cover types. These consisted of restored native grassland, agriculture fallow, open brushland, sparse-Prosopis plots, and Prosopis-dominated plots. We also examined the impact of woody invasion on the response of native rodents toward moonlight and temperature. As hypothesized, we found a significantly higher abundance of rodent species in the native grassland habitat compared to sparse-Prosopis habitats. However, there was no significant difference in rodent abundance and diversity between the grassland and Prosopis-dominated habitats. Thus, species richness and abundance of rodents were the highest in the restored grasslands and dense Prosopis thickets, and the lowest in the sparse Prosopis, potentially showing a “U” shaped response to Prosopis invasion. We observed a species-specific effect of Prosopis on the activity of Tatera indica, Bandicota bengalensis, and Millardia meltada. Habitat type mediated the effect of different environmental factors (moonlight and temperature) on the activity of the most commonly ocurring species T. indica while activity of M. meltada showed a weak association with environmental factors. B. bengalensis was the most generalist species showing similar activity across all habitat types. Thus, the impact of Prosopis invasion on the rodent community was uneven, and depended on species as well as on local environmental characteristics.
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9
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Rocha M, Serronha A, Rodrigues M, Alves PC, Monterroso P. Comfort over safety: thermoregulation overshadows predation risk effects in the activity of a keystone prey. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Rocha
- Escola de Ciências Universidade do Minho Braga Portugal
| | - A. Serronha
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
| | - M. Rodrigues
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
| | - P. C. Alves
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia Faculdade de Ciências Universidade do Porto Porto Portugal
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | - P. Monterroso
- Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos InBIO Laboratório Associado Universidade do Porto CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics Biodiversity and Land Planning CIBIO Vairão Portugal
- Estação Biológica de Mértola (EBM) Mértola Portugal
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10
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Cárdenas PA, Christensen E, Ernest SKM, Lightfoot DC, Schooley RL, Stapp P, Rudgers JA. Declines in rodent abundance and diversity track regional climate variability in North American drylands. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:4005-4023. [PMID: 33942467 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Regional long-term monitoring can enhance the detection of biodiversity declines associated with climate change, improving future projections by reducing reliance on space-for-time substitution and increasing scalability. Rodents are diverse and important consumers in drylands, regions defined by the scarcity of water that cover 45% of Earth's land surface and face increasingly drier and more variable climates. We analyzed abundance data for 22 rodent species across grassland, shrubland, ecotone, and woodland ecosystems in the southwestern USA. Two time series (1995-2006 and 2004-2013) coincided with phases of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), which influences drought in southwestern North America. Regionally, rodent species diversity declined 20%-35%, with greater losses during the later time period. Abundance also declined regionally, but only during 2004-2013, with losses of 5% of animals captured. During the first time series (wetter climate), plant productivity outranked climate variables as the best regional predictor of rodent abundance for 70% of taxa, whereas during the second period (drier climate), climate best explained variation in abundance for 60% of taxa. Temporal dynamics in diversity and abundance differed spatially among ecosystems, with the largest declines in woodlands and shrublands of central New Mexico and Colorado. Which species were winners or losers under increasing drought and amplified interannual variability in drought depended on ecosystem type and the phase of the PDO. Fewer taxa were significant winners (18%) than losers (30%) under drought, but the identities of winners and losers differed among ecosystems for 70% of taxa. Our results suggest that the sensitivities of rodent species to climate contributed to regional declines in diversity and abundance during 1995-2013. Whether these changes portend future declines in drought-sensitive consumers in the southwestern USA will depend on the climate during the next major PDO cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A Cárdenas
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Erica Christensen
- Jornada Experimental Range, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - S K Morgan Ernest
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David C Lightfoot
- Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Robert L Schooley
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Paul Stapp
- Department of Biological Science, California State University, Fullerton, CA, USA
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11
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Chowdhury S, Brown JL, Swedell L. Costs of seasonality at a southern latitude: Behavioral endocrinology of female baboons in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. Horm Behav 2021; 134:105020. [PMID: 34391183 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Environmental challenges in the form of temperature extremes and unusual precipitation, which may lead to prolonged periods outside the thermoneutral zone, can be detrimental to animal physiology. Chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa, one of the highest latitudes at which nonhuman primates are found, experience extremes of both temperature and rainfall, as well as seasonal differences in day length that require animals to condense their daily routine into dramatically reduced daylight hours. Here we examine the effects of these climatic factors on the behavior (activity budgets and foraging patterns) and physiology (fecal glucocorticoid concentrations) of adult females (N = 33) in three groups of chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) inhabiting the Cape Peninsula, where temperatures ranged from 7 to 39 °C, monthly rainfall ranged from 2 to 158 mm, and day length varied by 4.5 h across seasons. Climatic variables showed a clear relationship to female baboon glucocorticoid concentrations, which significantly increased with lower temperatures, higher rainfall and shorter day lengths. Activity budgets also differed between summer and winter, with females generally spending less time socializing, moving and resting in the winter compared to summer, with some differences between troops in their feeding-related activities. Cold temperatures accompanied by rainfall and short day lengths may thus represent an ecological constraint for this population. This study highlights the potential impact of anthropogenic climate change on the physiology, behavior, and, ultimately, survival of wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahrina Chowdhury
- Department of Anthropology, Brooklyn College, CUNY, 2900 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11210, USA; Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, NY, USA.
| | - Janine L Brown
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Larissa Swedell
- Anthropology Program, Graduate Center, CUNY, 365 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA; New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP), New York, NY, USA; Department of Anthropology, Queens College, CUNY, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367, USA; Department of Archaeology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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12
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Verzuh TL, Hall LE, Cufaude T, Knox L, Class C, Monteith KL. Behavioural flexibility in a heat-sensitive endotherm: the role of bed sites as thermal refuges. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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13
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Trade-off between predation risk and behavioural thermoregulation drives resting behaviour in a cold-adapted mesocarnivore. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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14
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Crowell MM, Shoemaker KT, Matocq MD. Ideal conditions for increased trapping success of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) across the Great Basin. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Sagebrush-steppe ecosystems are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America and many of the species that rely on these habitats are of great conservation concern. Pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) are one of these species. They rely on sagebrush year-round for food and cover, and are understudied across their range in the intermountain west due in part to their recalcitrance to standard capture techniques. Identifying an efficient and minimally biased trapping method therefore is a critical first step in learning more about this species. We assessed how trap orientation and weather characteristics influenced trap success for Tomahawk traps placed in and around pygmy rabbit burrows by carrying out trapping surveys at 16 occupied pygmy rabbit sites across the Great Basin from 2016 to 2018. We found that pygmy rabbits had a greater probability of being captured in traps with the open end facing away from burrow entrances. Pygmy rabbits also were more likely to be captured on clear days (0–5% cloud cover) and during periods of cooler temperatures during summer months (June–August). We found no evidence that sex or age ratios differed, or that individuals differed meaningfully, in their preference for certain trap orientations. To increase trap success for pygmy rabbits, we suggest maximizing trapping effort during summer months, at dawn, and maximizing the proportion of Tomahawk traps facing away from burrow entrances. We anticipate that our monitoring protocol will enable more effective research into the ecology and conservation of this cryptic and potentially imperiled species.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Crowell
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - K T Shoemaker
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - M D Matocq
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
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15
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Veldhuis MP, Hofmeester TR, Balme G, Druce DJ, Pitman RT, Cromsigt JPGM. Predation risk constrains herbivores' adaptive capacity to warming. Nat Ecol Evol 2020; 4:1069-1074. [PMID: 32483322 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-020-1218-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Global warming compels larger endothermic animals to adapt either physiologically or behaviourally to avoid thermal stress, especially in tropical ecosystems. Their adaptive responses may however be compromised by other constraints, such as predation risk or starvation. Using an exceptional camera-trap dataset spanning 32 protected areas across southern Africa, we find that intermediate-sized herbivores (100-550 kg) switch activity to hotter times of the day when exposed to predation by lions. These herbivores face a tight window for foraging activity being exposed to nocturnal predation and to heat during the day, suggesting a trade-off between predation risk and thermoregulation mediated by body size. These findings stress the importance of incorporating trophic interactions into climate change predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiel P Veldhuis
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands. .,Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA. .,Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Tim R Hofmeester
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Guy Balme
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA.,Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Dave J Druce
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Cascades, South Africa.,School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Scottsville, South Africa
| | - Ross T Pitman
- Panthera, New York, NY, USA.,Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Joris P G M Cromsigt
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden.,Department of Zoology, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.,Environmental Sciences Group, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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16
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Smith IT, Rachlow JL, Svancara LK, McMahon LA, Knetter SJ. Habitat specialists as conservation umbrellas: Do areas managed for greater sage‐grouse also protect pygmy rabbits? Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Thomas Smith
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Janet L. Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
| | - Leona K. Svancara
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game Moscow Idaho 83843 USA
| | - Laura A. McMahon
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho 83844 USA
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Rhinelander Wisconsin 54501 USA
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17
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18
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Kline HN, Fulbright TE, Grahmann ED, Hernández F, Wester DB, Brennan LA, Hehman MW. Temperature influences resource use by chestnut-bellied scaled quail. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Holley N. Kline
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - Timothy E. Fulbright
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - Eric D. Grahmann
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - Fidel Hernández
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - David B. Wester
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
| | - Leonard A. Brennan
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute; Texas A&M University-Kingsville; MSC 218 Kingsville Texas 78363 USA
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19
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Summer behavior and diurnal activity of mountain vizcachas (Lagidium viscacia) in two colonies of Northwestern Patagonia. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0410-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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20
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Milling CR, Rachlow JL, Olsoy PJ, Chappell MA, Johnson TR, Forbey JS, Shipley LA, Thornton DH. Habitat structure modifies microclimate: An approach for mapping fine‐scale thermal refuge. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte R. Milling
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio
| | - Janet L. Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho
| | - Peter J. Olsoy
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington
| | - Mark A. Chappell
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology University of California Riverside California
| | | | | | - Lisa A. Shipley
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington
| | - Daniel H. Thornton
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington
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21
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Milling CR, Rachlow JL, Chappell MA, Camp MJ, Johnson TR, Shipley LA, Paul DR, Forbey JS. Seasonal temperature acclimatization in a semi-fossorial mammal and the role of burrows as thermal refuges. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4511. [PMID: 29576977 PMCID: PMC5858582 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Small mammals in habitats with strong seasonal variation in the thermal environment often exhibit physiological and behavioral adaptations for coping with thermal extremes and reducing thermoregulatory costs. Burrows are especially important for providing thermal refuge when above-ground temperatures require high regulatory costs (e.g., water or energy) or exceed the physiological tolerances of an organism. Our objective was to explore the role of burrows as thermal refuges for a small endotherm, the pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis), during the summer and winter by quantifying energetic costs associated with resting above and below ground. We used indirect calorimetry to determine the relationship between energy expenditure and ambient temperature over a range of temperatures that pygmy rabbits experience in their natural habitat. We also measured the temperature of above- and below-ground rest sites used by pygmy rabbits in eastern Idaho, USA, during summer and winter and estimated the seasonal thermoregulatory costs of resting in the two microsites. Although pygmy rabbits demonstrated seasonal physiological acclimatization, the burrow was an important thermal refuge, especially in winter. Thermoregulatory costs were lower inside the burrow than in above-ground rest sites for more than 50% of the winter season. In contrast, thermal heterogeneity provided by above-ground rest sites during summer reduced the role of burrows as a thermal refuge during all but the hottest periods of the afternoon. Our findings contribute to an understanding of the ecology of small mammals in seasonal environments and demonstrate the importance of burrows as thermal refuge for pygmy rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte R Milling
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.,School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Janet L Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Mark A Chappell
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Meghan J Camp
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Timothy R Johnson
- Department of Statistical Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Lisa A Shipley
- School of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - David R Paul
- Department of Movement Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
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22
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McMahon LA, Rachlow JL, Shipley LA, Forbey JS, Johnson TR. Habitat selection differs across hierarchical behaviors: selection of patches and intensity of patch use. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura A. McMahon
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Janet L. Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Lisa A. Shipley
- School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman Washington USA
| | - Jennifer S. Forbey
- Department of Biological Sciences Boise State University Boise Idaho USA
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