Same place, different time, head up: Multiple antipredator responses to a recolonizing apex predator

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Conservation Biology

Background:

• Antipredator behaviors are crucial for prey survival, with spatiotemporal responses to predators being a key area of study.
• The recovery of large carnivores in Europe necessitates understanding their impact on prey behavior and potential ecosystem-level consequences.
• Fallow deer (Dama dama) and wolves (Canis lupus) interactions are re-emerging in Mediterranean ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the antipredator behavioral responses of fallow deer to wolf recolonization in a Mediterranean protected area.
• To assess both spatial and temporal avoidance strategies employed by fallow deer in response to wolf presence.
• To quantify changes in fallow deer vigilance behavior in relation to wolf activity.

Main Methods:

• Intensive camera trapping was used to monitor the spatiotemporal association between fallow deer and wolves.
• Fallow deer vigilance (rate and duration) was studied in forest habitats.
• Detection rates of both species were analyzed to infer behavioral responses.

Main Results:

• Wolf and fallow deer detection rates showed spatial association, but deer did not avoid areas with higher predator detection.
• Significant differences in temporal activity patterns were observed: wolves were primarily nocturnal, while fallow deer were mainly diurnal.
• Fallow deer exhibited increased diurnal activity correlating with stabilized wolf presence.
• Both the rate and duration of vigilance in female fallow deer increased with local wolf activity frequency.

Conclusions:

• Fallow deer primarily employ temporal avoidance and increased vigilance as antipredator tactics against wolves.
• The findings suggest a behavioral shift in fallow deer, adapting to the presence of an apex predator.
• Understanding these behavioral adjustments is vital for managing predator-prey dynamics and ecosystem health in recovering carnivore landscapes.