Predator-specific landscapes of fear and resource distribution: effects on spatial range use

Although ecologists have long recognized that animal space use is primarily determined by the presence of predators and the distribution of resources, the effects of these two environmental conditions have never been quantified simultaneously in a single spatial model. Here, in a novel approach, pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology (Durham) 2009-02, Vol.90 (2), p.546-555
Main Authors: Willems, Erik P, Hill, Russell A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autocorrelation
Biological and medical sciences
Cercopithecus aethiops
Cercopithecus aethiops - physiology
Demography
Eagles
Ecology
Ecosystem
Fear - physiology
fearfulness
Female
Forest habitats
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
geographic information system (GIS)
Habitat selection
kernel density estimation
Landscapes
Male
Monkeys
Monkeys & apes
multi-predator environment
Natural resources
Panthera
Papio
perceived predation risk
Predation
predator-prey relationships
Predators
Predatory Behavior
regression analysis
resource distribution
simulation models
Snakes
spatial autocorrelation
spatial data
Spatial models
spatial regression
Studies
utilization distribution
wildlife habitats
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Summary:Although ecologists have long recognized that animal space use is primarily determined by the presence of predators and the distribution of resources, the effects of these two environmental conditions have never been quantified simultaneously in a single spatial model. Here, in a novel approach, predator-specific landscapes of fear are constructed on the basis of behavioral responses of a prey species (vervet monkey; Cercopithecus aethiops), and we show how these can be combined with data on resource distribution to account for the observed variation in intensity of space use. Results from a mixed regressive—spatial regressive analysis demonstrate that ranging behavior can indeed be largely interpreted as an adaptive response to perceived risk of predation by some (but not all) predators and the spatial availability of resources. The theoretical framework behind the model is furthermore such that it can easily be extended to incorporate the effects of additional factors potentially shaping animal range use and thus may be of great value to the study of animal spatial ecology.
ISSN:0012-9658
1939-9170
DOI:10.1890/08-0765.1