School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences (Journal Articles)

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Temporal shifts in landscape connectivity for an ecosystem engineer, the roe deer, across a multiple-use landscape
(Springer, 2018-04) Martin, Jodie; Vourc’h, Gwenae¨l; Bonnot, Nade`ge; Cargnelutti, Bruno; Chaval, Yannick; Lourte, Bruno; Goulard, Michel; Hoch, Thierry; Plantard, Olivier; Hewison, A. J. Mark; Morellet, Nicolas
Context: Routine movements of large herbivores, often considered as ecosystem engineers, impact key ecological processes. Functional landscape connectivity for such species influences the spatial distribution of associated ecological services and disservices. Objectives: We studied how spatio-temporal variation in the risk-resource trade-off, generated by fluctuations in human activities and environmental conditions, influences the routine movements of roedeer across a heterogeneous landscape, generating shifts in functional connectivity at daily and seasonal time scales. Methods: We used GPS locations of 172 adult roedeer and step selection functions to infer landscape connectivity. In particular, we assessed the influence of six habitat features on fine scale movements across four biological seasons and three daily periods, based on variations in the risk-resource trade-off. Results: The influence of habitat features on roe deer movements was strongly dependent on proximity to refuge habitat, i.e. woodlands. Roe deer confined their movements to safe habitats during daytime and during the hunting season, when human activity is high.