Sitka black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis) adjust habitat selection and activity rhythm to the absence of predators

• Published in: Canadian journal of zoology Vol. 94; no. 6; pp. 385 - 394
• Main Authors: Bonnot, Nadège C, Morellet, Nicolas, Hewison, A.J. Mark, Martin, Jean-Louis, Benhamou, Simon, Chamaillé-Jammes, Simon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa NRC Research Press 01.06.2016; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animal behavior; antipredator behavior; British Columbia; cerf Sitka à queue-noire; comportement anti-prédateur; contraste jour–nuit; crepuscular activity peaks; day–night contrast; Deer; Environmental aspects; GPS; habitat preferences; Habitat selection; Habitats; Herbivores; humans; islands; Life Sciences; Observations; Odocoileus hemionus; Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis; pics d’activité crépusculaire; Predation; Predation (Biology); Predators; prediction; relaxed selection; Resource availability; risk; seasonal variation; Seasonal variations; Sitka black-tailed deer; sélection relâchée; Ungulates; British Columbia; Canada; British Columbia Canada; Sitka black-tailed deer; relaxed selection; Odocoileus hemionus sitkensis; antipredator behavior; day-night contrast; GPS; crepuscular activity peaks

Although individuals must generally trade off acquisition of high-quality resources against predation risk avoidance, removal of top predators by humans has resulted in many large herbivores experiencing novel conditions where their natural predators are absent. Antipredator behaviors should be atte...