How does local weather predict red deer home range size at different temporal scales?

Abstract

Summary1. There is a rapidly growing literature on how climate affects populations of vertebrates. For large herbivorous mammals, most attention has been paid to demographic responses to climate variation. Much less information is available regarding how climate affects animal behaviour, i.e. the climate mechanisms. Further, the appropriate measurement scale of climate variables remains debated. Here, we investigate how local climate variables determine home range sizes at four temporal scales using the Bo¨rger-method on GPS telemetry data from 47 female red deer Cervus elaphus L. in Norway. 2. If local climate operates directly on the immediate activity level of the animal, we predict home range sizes to show season-specific variation on short temporal scale (weekly-daily) related to temperature and precipitation. If local climate operate indirectly through plant growth, we rather predict variation in home range sizes to be apparent on longer time scales (biweekly-monthly), and during summer only. 3. At all time scales home range size was positively correlated with temperature during winter and negatively during summer, while the effect of precipitation was season-and scale-specific, except when accumulating as snow. Extensive snow cover decreased home range size, indicating direct effects of climate. 4. The effects of local climate was weaker at the shortest time scales (weekly-daily) compared to the longest time scales (monthly-biweekly), while the effects of day length on home range size was only apparent on the monthly and daily scale. At the longest time scales variation in local climate had a large effect on home range size. This is consistent with climatic variables operating indirectly through plant growth, but we cannot exclude a certain direct effect even at longer time scales. 5. We show how local climate-home range size correlations measured over different temporal scales can be used to infer direct and indirect climate mechanisms. Insight on the behavioural basis of responses to climate enables more accurate predictions of possible nonlinear relationships to future global warming.

Ranging and site fidelity in northern pigtailed macaques (Macaca leonina) over different temporal scales

“…This supports the notion of different time scales capturing different phenomena [Kie et al, 2010;Rivrud et al, 2010]. A 16-month HR or CA may not include areas that are important for macaques over shorter temporal scales (days or weeks).…”

“…Several studies have measured site fidelity across multiple taxa [Asensio et al, 2012b;Burdett et al, 2007;Cords, 1987;Easley & Kinzey, 1986;Hellickson et al, 2008;Janmaat et al, 2009;Kitchen et al, 2000;Switzer, 1993]. Some authors consider that strong site fidelity reflects spatial stability in the location of resources for an animal over time whereas weak fidelity is the result of temporal shifts in the spatial distribution of resources [Doncaster & Macdonald, 1991;Kie et al, 2010;Rivrud et al, 2010]. Most studies of site fidelity have focused on territorial species in which individuals range in areas actively defended against conspecifics [e.g., Hellickson et al, 2008;Switzer, 1993;Wauters et al, 1995;Webb & Shine, 1997].…”

“…Fidelity over large temporal scales (e.g., across years) should be greater in comparison to smaller scales because animals have many opportunities to revisit familiar areas in the long term [Janmaat et al, 2009]. The use of different temporal scales provides valuable information about the spatial requirements of a species during particular periods [Asensio et al, 2009;Chapman, 1988;Kie et al, 2010;Rivrud et al, 2010]. Moreover, in comparative studies, we should account for the particulars of different methods of estimating ranging and site fidelity (e.g., kernels, minimum convex polygon), as these can produce highly variable estimates because they are differentially sensitive to subtle changes in range use characteristics [Downs et al, 2012].…”

Home range and migration patterns of male red deer Cervus elaphus in Western Carpathians

“…Residents used comparable ranges during summer and autumn, while significantly expanding their space use in winter. This finding does not fit the general concept that climatic conditions influence ungulate spatial behaviour by reducing winter home range size as reported in red deer (Georgii and Schröder 1983;Koubek and Hrabe 1996), roe deer (Mysterud 1999;Rivrud et al 2010), moose (Phillips et al 1973;Thompson and Vukelish 1981) and ibex (Parrini et al 2003). However, Anderson et al (2005) reported that elk home ranges increased in winter and attributed this to predator pressure of wolves, population densities and reduced quantity and quality of forage.…”

Temporally dynamic habitat suitability predicts genetic relatedness among caribou

“…For example, the spatial distribution of Thomson's gazelles Gazella thomsonii in Africa continually changing from month to month, like a shifting mosaic [50]. Similarly, home-range size of red deer Cervus elaphus at multiple temporal scales is driven by temporally dynamic variables such as temperature, precipitation, day length and snow cover [51]. Hence, studies of animal movements can greatly benefit from the incorporation of temporally dynamic environmental variables.…”