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Increasing ambient temperatures trigger shifts in activity patterns and temporal partitioning in a large carnivore guild

Rafiq, K; Jordan, NR; Golabek, K; Mcnutt, JW; Wilson, A; Abrahms, B

Authors

K Rafiq

NR Jordan

K Golabek

JW Mcnutt

A Wilson

B Abrahms



Abstract

Shifts in species' interactions are implicated as an important proximate cause underpinning climate-change-related extinction. However, there is little empirical evidence on the pathways through which climate conditions, such as ambient temperature, impact community dynamics. The timing of activities is a widespread behavioural adaptation to environmental variability, and temporal partitioning is a key mechanism that facilitates coexistence, especially within large carnivore communities. We investigated temperature impacts on community dynamics through its influence on the diel activity of, and temporal partitioning amongst, four sympatric species of African large carnivores: lions (Panthera leo), leopards (Panthera pardus), cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) and African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus). Activity of all species was shaped by a combination of light availability and temperature, with most species becoming more nocturnal and decreasing activity levels with increasing temperatures. A nocturnal shift was most pronounced in cheetahs, the most diurnal species during median temperatures. This shift increased temporal overlap between cheetahs and other carnivore species by up to 15.92%, highlighting the importance of considering the responses of interacting sympatric species when inferring climate impacts on ecosystems. Our study provides evidence that temperature can significantly affect temporal partitioning within a carnivore guild by generating asymmetrical behavioural responses amongst functionally similar species.

Citation

Rafiq, K., Jordan, N., Golabek, K., Mcnutt, J., Wilson, A., & Abrahms, B. (2023). Increasing ambient temperatures trigger shifts in activity patterns and temporal partitioning in a large carnivore guild. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290(2010), https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1938

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Oct 9, 2023
Online Publication Date Nov 8, 2023
Publication Date 2023
Deposit Date Dec 20, 2023
Print ISSN 0962-8452
Electronic ISSN 1471-2954
Publisher The Royal Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 290
Issue 2010
DOI https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1938
Keywords carnivore ecology; niche partitioning; wildlife community interactions; environmental change; competition; temporal activity patterns; RESPONSES; SELECTION; SOLITARY; BEHAVIOR; OVERLAP; ECOLOGY; CLIMATE; LION