Abstract

The way in which animals move and use the landscape is influenced by the spatial distribution of resources, and is of importance when considering species conservation. We aimed at exploring how landscape-related factors affect a large herbivore’s space-use patterns by using a combined approach, integrating movement (displacement and recursions) and habitat selection analyses. We studied the endangered Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus) in the Negev Desert, Israel, using GPS monitoring and direct observation. We found that the main landscape-related factors affecting the species’ space-use patterns, on a daily and seasonal basis, were vegetation cover, water sources and topography. Two main habitat types were selected: high-elevation sites during the day (specific microclimate: windy on warm summer days) and streambed surroundings during the night (coupled with high vegetation when the animals were active in summer). Distribution of recursion times (duration between visits) revealed a 24-hour periodicity, a pattern that could be widespread among large herbivores. Characterizing frequently revisited sites suggested that recursion movements were mainly driven by a few landscape features (water sources, vegetation patches, high-elevation points), but also by social factors, such as territoriality, which should be further explored. This study provided complementary insights into the space-use patterns of E. hemionus. Understanding of the species’ space-use patterns, at both large and fine spatial scale, is required for developing appropriate conservation protocols. Our approach could be further applied for studying the space-use patterns of other species in heterogeneous landscapes.

Highlights

  • The way in which animals move and use the landscape is influenced by the spatial distribution of resources such as forage, water and shelter [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]

  • We used a combined approach, integrating movement, activity patterns and habitat selection analyses, for exploring the space-use patterns of a water-dependent, desert-dwelling herbivore. This combined approach provided complementary insights: (a) Two main habitat types were found to be selected in both summer and winter: high-elevation areas during the day, and thalweg surroundings during the night. (b) In summer, the former habitat type was mostly used for resting, whereas the latter was likely used for feeding

  • Some of the sites frequently revisited in winter resulted from the regular returns of males to their respective summer territories. (d) in both seasons, the distribution of recursion times revealed a 24-hour periodicity, consistent with the hourly patterns of habitat selection highlighted

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Summary

Introduction

The way in which animals move and use the landscape is influenced by the spatial distribution of resources such as forage, water and shelter [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. One way to identify the relevant factors is to investigate habitat selection by comparing habitat use with availability [8]. Another way is to analyse the animals’ movements within their home ranges, assuming individuals return more often to preferred sites [9,10]. Characterizing recursion sites—in terms of habitat, landscape characteristics, and time interval among recursions—may help to identify the different factors that influence movement patterns [11,13], and may provide complementary insights to the habitat selection approach [20]

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