Variable influence of settlement proximity on temporal activity patterns of mammals in Israel Itai Namir1,3, Jonathan Belmaker1,4, Avi Bar-Massada2, Ron Chen3
1- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University. 2- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa at Oranim. 3- Hammarag, The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University. 4- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University
Objective: to quantify the effect of settlement proximity on temporal activity patterns of large mammals in Israel
Methods Margaliot • Camera traps were located in two sampling zones: near settlements (up to 100 m from their perimeter), and far from settlements (500 - 2000 m away). Near • In each zone, nine cameras were placed for 10 days. • 25 settlements (sites) across three different ecological units in Israel. • We used Generalized Additive Mix-effects Models to quantify how time of day interacts with settlement proximity to affect the total number of camera captures
throughout the day, split into half hour bins. ‘Site’ and ‘camera’ as nested random Far effects.
Camera trap
Results * 95% confidence interval Golden jackal (Canis aureus)
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes)
When Golden jackals are far from settlements, they exhibit two clear peaks of activity (in the morning and in the evening). Near settlements, the evening The red fox exhibits similar activity trends regardless of settlement proximity peak is more pronounced and activity levels remain relatively high through the night. Indian crested porcupine (Hystrix indica) Wild boar (Sus scrofa)
Wild boars exhibit activity patterns similar to those of golden jackals. It’s The indian crested porcupine is solely nocturnal both near and far from exhibit activity far from settlements during the morning hours but no near settlements, but its activity window is narrower near settlements. It the settlements. becomes active far from settlements before its activity rises near settlements.
The results of this study indicate that large mammalian species in Israel vary in their response to human settlements. Two opportunistic species (wild boar and golden jackal) have similar activity patterns which reflect an evening peak followed by the utilization of anthropogenic resources throughout the night. The indian crested porcupine, a more fearful species, switches from a bimodal activity curve with morning and evening peaks to a heightened activity patterns across the entire night. Red foxes, in contrast, do not exhibit a temporal response to settlements.