Abstract
Animal movement is fundamental for ecosystem functioning and species survival, yet the effects of the anthropogenic footprint on animal movements have not been estimated across species. Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, we found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in areas with a low human footprint.We attribute this reduction to behavioral changes of individual animals and to the exclusion of species with long-range movements from areas with higher human impact. Global loss of vagility alters a key ecological trait of animals that affects not only population persistence but also ecosystem processes such as predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and disease transmission.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 466-469 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 359 |
Issue number | 6374 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 26 Jan 2018 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General