Red deer allocate vigilance differently in response to spatio-temporal patterns of risk from human hunters and wolves
(2021) In Wildlife Research 48(2). p.163-163- Abstract
Ungulate prey can use increased vigilance to reduce their risk of predation, but little is known of the combined and interactive risk effects from humans and wolves in determining ungulate behaviour across time and space. Understanding the interplay between these risk effects is increasingly important, considering the recolonisation of several large carnivores to more human-dominated landscapes in Europe. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the vigilance behaviour expressed by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to both humans and wolves in the Polish Białowieża Forest. Methods: Using a camera-trap transect, the effect of distance to human settlements, hunting season, patterns of space use by wolves (Canis lupus), canopy... (More)
Ungulate prey can use increased vigilance to reduce their risk of predation, but little is known of the combined and interactive risk effects from humans and wolves in determining ungulate behaviour across time and space. Understanding the interplay between these risk effects is increasingly important, considering the recolonisation of several large carnivores to more human-dominated landscapes in Europe. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the vigilance behaviour expressed by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to both humans and wolves in the Polish Białowieża Forest. Methods: Using a camera-trap transect, the effect of distance to human settlements, hunting season, patterns of space use by wolves (Canis lupus), canopy openness, canopy height, time of day, as well as sex/age of individuals, on the vigilance behaviour observed in red deer was studied using a model-selection approach. Key results: We did not find a clear effect of patterns of space use by wolves or distance to human settlements on red deer vigilance behaviour at the landscape scale. However, red deer showed increased vigilance during the hunting season and during the day outside of protected areas and reserves, because disturbance from human hunters is highest. Conversely, we also found that red deer were more vigilant at night within more protected areas, which is likely to be explained by the increased activity of wolves because human activity is strictly limited. Conclusions: Our study showed that vigilance behaviour of red deer in Białowieża Primeval Forest is more driven by human hunting than by the frequency of wolf presence at a landscape scale. This could be explained by the higher temporal and spatial predictability of human hunting activities than wolf risk. We found that patterns of wolf space use, as opposed to the omnipresent fear effects from humans, had only localised effects by increasing vigilance levels during night hours in non-hunting areas of the forest. The reverse was observed outside of protected reserves. Understanding how prey species respond to this new combination of risk from natural predators and humans, is increasingly important in a landscape where human risk is becoming ever more potent and carnivores recolonise.
(Less)
- author
- Proudman, Nathan J. ; Churski, Marcin ; Bubnicki, Jakub W. ; Nilsson, Jan Åke LU and Kuijper, Dries P.J.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2021
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- behaviour, ecology, ethology, modelling, natural resource management, predator-prey interactions, statistical modelling, stress response, wildlife management
- in
- Wildlife Research
- volume
- 48
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 163 - 163
- publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85095986444
- ISSN
- 1035-3712
- DOI
- 10.1071/WR20059
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 28051a6e-ebc5-4721-b797-a148d11ba1c9
- date added to LUP
- 2020-11-26 14:18:52
- date last changed
- 2022-04-26 22:10:28
@article{28051a6e-ebc5-4721-b797-a148d11ba1c9,
abstract = {{<p>Ungulate prey can use increased vigilance to reduce their risk of predation, but little is known of the combined and interactive risk effects from humans and wolves in determining ungulate behaviour across time and space. Understanding the interplay between these risk effects is increasingly important, considering the recolonisation of several large carnivores to more human-dominated landscapes in Europe. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the vigilance behaviour expressed by red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to both humans and wolves in the Polish Białowieża Forest. Methods: Using a camera-trap transect, the effect of distance to human settlements, hunting season, patterns of space use by wolves (Canis lupus), canopy openness, canopy height, time of day, as well as sex/age of individuals, on the vigilance behaviour observed in red deer was studied using a model-selection approach. Key results: We did not find a clear effect of patterns of space use by wolves or distance to human settlements on red deer vigilance behaviour at the landscape scale. However, red deer showed increased vigilance during the hunting season and during the day outside of protected areas and reserves, because disturbance from human hunters is highest. Conversely, we also found that red deer were more vigilant at night within more protected areas, which is likely to be explained by the increased activity of wolves because human activity is strictly limited. Conclusions: Our study showed that vigilance behaviour of red deer in Białowieża Primeval Forest is more driven by human hunting than by the frequency of wolf presence at a landscape scale. This could be explained by the higher temporal and spatial predictability of human hunting activities than wolf risk. We found that patterns of wolf space use, as opposed to the omnipresent fear effects from humans, had only localised effects by increasing vigilance levels during night hours in non-hunting areas of the forest. The reverse was observed outside of protected reserves. Understanding how prey species respond to this new combination of risk from natural predators and humans, is increasingly important in a landscape where human risk is becoming ever more potent and carnivores recolonise. </p>}},
author = {{Proudman, Nathan J. and Churski, Marcin and Bubnicki, Jakub W. and Nilsson, Jan Åke and Kuijper, Dries P.J.}},
issn = {{1035-3712}},
keywords = {{behaviour; ecology; ethology; modelling; natural resource management; predator-prey interactions; statistical modelling; stress response; wildlife management}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{163--163}},
publisher = {{CSIRO Publishing}},
series = {{Wildlife Research}},
title = {{Red deer allocate vigilance differently in response to spatio-temporal patterns of risk from human hunters and wolves}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WR20059}},
doi = {{10.1071/WR20059}},
volume = {{48}},
year = {{2021}},
}