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Publication
Quantifying space use of breeders and floaters of a long-lived species using individual movement data
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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
To date, animal movement studies have mostly
analysed the movement behaviours of individuals at specific
times of their lives, but we lack detailed information on how
individual movements may be affected by the various and
different changes that individuals experience throughout their
life (e.g. life history phases, experience, age). Here, we attempt
to identify differences in home range and movement
behaviour between two different statuses, disperser vs. breeder,
of a long-lived species (the eagle owl Bubo bubo).
Information on home range and movement behaviour between
different stages of an individual life are crucial for species
conservation and management, as well as for basic
knowledge on space use and rhythm of activity. Does the
transition from an exploratory stage to moving within more
familiar surroundings call for changes in the movement behaviour?
We observed notable differences during the two
stages of the owls’ lives, with individuals having different
home range behaviours and rhythms of activity depending
on their social status. Significant differences in home range
behaviour between the sexes began only with the acquisition
of a breeding site. Breeders showed larger home ranges than
dispersing individuals, although nightly variation of home
ranges size was higher for dispersers than for breeders.
Finally, dispersers were active throughout the night, whereas
breeders displayed a less active movement phase at both the
beginning and end of the night. Our results demonstrate it is
important to consider individual variations in space use and
movement behaviour due to the different life history phases
that they attain during their lifetime. The knowledge of the
different needs of a species across life stages may represent
an important tool for species conservation because each phase
of an individual life may need different requirements.
Description
Keywords
Animal movement Dispersal Floaters Home range behaviour Rhythms of activity Bubo bubo
Citation
Science of Nature, 102, 21. doi: 10.1007/s00114-015-1271-x
Publisher
Springer