Publication: Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns
Program
KU-Authors
KU Authors
Co-Authors
Tucker, Marlee A.
Schipper, Aafke M.
Adams, Tempe S. F.
Attias, Nina
Avgar, Tal
Babic, Natarsha L.
Barker, Kristin J.
Bastille-Rousseau, Guillaume
Behr, Dominik M.
Belant, Jerrold L.
Publication Date
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Type
Embargo Status
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Volume Title
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Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable with no change in averagemovements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12% and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.
Source
Publisher
Amer Assoc Advancement Science
Subject
Molecular biology and genetics
Citation
Has Part
Source
Science
Book Series Title
Edition
DOI
10.1126/science.abo6499