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Intraseasonal variations in the spatial behaviour of an Arctic predator
Laura Bonnefond1,2, David Pinaud3, Loïc Bollache4,5
1Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372, CNRS & La Rochelle Université, Villiers-en-bois, 79360, France. laura.bonnefond@cebc.cnrs.fr.
Movement Ecology
|March 5, 2025
Summary
Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) adjust their movement patterns within a season, not just between seasons. Daily travel distance and speed varied intraseasonally, peaking mid-summer, highlighting the need for fine-scale analysis of predator behavior.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Arctic Biology
Background:
- Arctic ecosystems present unique challenges for animal movement due to environmental variability.
- Previous research primarily focused on seasonal differences in animal spatial behavior, neglecting intraseasonal dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate intraseasonal movement patterns of Arctic predators.
- To understand how Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) adjust their space use and movement metrics within a single season.
Main Methods:
- Utilized GPS tracking data from 20 Arctic foxes in North-East Greenland (2017-2023).
- Analyzed temporal patterns in space use and movement metrics at the intraseasonal scale.
- Employed Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimates for home range analysis.
Main Results:
- Home range size and turning angles remained constant throughout the summer.
- Daily distance traveled, speed, and activity proportion exhibited intraseasonal variation, peaking in mid-July.
- Movement patterns differed between sexes and breeding status, and varied across different site productivities.
Conclusions:
- Predator space use and behavior are influenced by intraseasonal environmental changes.
- Different movement metrics display distinct intraseasonal patterns.
- Studying animal behavior at fine spatiotemporal scales is crucial for comprehensive understanding.
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