Chronology of reproductive investment determines predation risk aversion in a felid‐ungulate system

Abstract

Fear of predators can behaviorally mediate prey population dynamics, particularly when predation risk influences reproductive investment. However, the costs of reproductive investment may mitigate predation risk aversion relative to periods when the link between reproductive output and prey behavior is weaker. We posit that intensity of reproductive investment in ungulates may predict their response to predation risk such that the sexes increase risk exposure during biological seasons that are pivotal to reproductive success, such as the fawn‐rearing and breeding seasons for females and males, respectively. We examined the activity patterns of sympatric white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), a sexually segregated polygynous ungulate, and Florida panthers (Puma concolor coryi) in the context of the “risky times – risky places hypothesis” and the reproductive strategy hypothesis. We compared detection rates and diel activity overlap of both species using motion‐triggered camera traps positioned on (n = 120) and off (n = 60) anthropogenic trails across five reproductive seasons. Florida panthers were nocturnal and primarily observed on‐trail providing an experimental framework with risky times and risky places. Contrary to studies in other taxa inversely correlating prey reproductive investment to predation risk, the sexes of deer were more risk prone during sex‐specific seasons associated with intense reproductive investment. Our results suggest spatiotemporally variable predation risk influences sex‐specific behavioral decision‐making in deer such that reproductive success is maximized.

Deer movement and resource selection during Hurricane Irma: implications for extreme climatic events and wildlife

“…Hurricane Irma made landfall shortly after the breeding season, which typically peaks around August in south Florida [80]. During the breeding season, males dramatically increase movement rates, and rates decline thereafter [81,82], thus the increased movement rates by males prior to the storm were probably driven by breeding season behaviour. Despite differences in movement rates before and after Hurricane Irma, we found that movement rates increased drastically on the day of the storm, and that male and female movement rates were most similar during the storm.…”

Nightly selection of resting sites and group behavior reveal antipredator strategies in giraffe

“…However, other behaviors, such as foraging competition or reproduction‐associated behavior, can lead to decisions opposed to predator avoidance. Several studies have shown that the main adaptive behavioral antipredator strategies of African ungulates are related to group size, spatial, and temporal distribution as well as foraging and vigilance behavior (e.g., Crawford et al, ; Creel, Schuette, & Christianson, ; Davies, Tambling, Kerley, & Asner, ; M'soka, Creel, Becker, & Murdoch, ; Riginos & Grace, ; Thaker et al, ; Valeix, Loveridge, et al, ). Risky situations cannot always be avoided.…”

Spatial and temporal activity patterns of Golden takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi) recorded by camera trapping

“…Camera traps have become an increasingly popular tool for examining animal behavior as it provides opportunities to undertake extensive and detailed sampling of a species’ behavioral repertoire ( Burton et al, 2015 ). Many categories of animal behaviour have been previously studied with camera traps, including reproduction ( Crawford et al, 2019 ), dispersal or seasonal migration ( Srivastave & Kumar, 2018 ), foraging ( Mengüllüoğlu et al, 2018 ), and predation ( Caravaggi et al, 2018 ; Akcali et al, 2019 ). Activity patterns are a subset of animal behavior.…”