Puma locations driver#

Importantly, it is likely the very nature of ambush predators’ static habitat specificity that makes predator activity important to temporally varying perceptions of risk. Our study shows that an ambush predator’s temporal activity and space use patterns interact to create diel refugia and shape the antipredator behaviors of its prey. Vicuña habitat selection and movement strategies appeared to reduce the risk of encountering pumas movement rates of pumas and vicuñas were negatively correlated across the diel cycle, and habitat selection was negatively correlated during dawn/dusk and night. Vicuñas avoided areas selected by pumas and reduced activity at night, but selected vegetated areas and increased activity by day and dawn/dusk. Pumas selected the same habitats regardless of diel period-vegetated and rugged areas that feature stalking cover for pumas-but increased their activity levels during dawn/dusk and night when they benefit from reduced detection by prey.

Specifically, we evaluated habitat selection and activity of the vicuña and its only predator, the puma, during three diel periods: day, dawn/dusk, and night. We hypothesized that diel patterns of predator and prey movement and space use would be inversely correlated due to temporal constraints on predator habitat domain. However, prey can navigate the landscape of fear by exploiting temporal refuges from predation risk.

Puma locations driver#

The landscape of fear is an important driver of prey space use.