Brown bear circadian behavior reveals human environmental encroachment

摘要: Abstract Large carnivores adjust their daily movement patterns in response to environmental factors and/or human disturbance, and often respond differently across distribution range. Whether such behavioral plasticity is due or anthropogenic has not yet been fully clarified. Beyond large carnivore conservation management, understanding changes the of these elusive species may prove useful evaluate influences on ecosystems. We used 696 318 GPS locations from 105 radio-collared brown bears 3 study areas Sweden construct bear patterns, calculating distance traveled by every 30 min. a Bayesian approach analyze whether road density around could explain observed differences among areas. Proximity settlements, proxy generally low Scandinavian range, did influence circadian movements. However, moved most nocturnal twilight hours less during daytime with higher density, compared roadless Human-caused have potential ecosystem-level consequences, given key ecological role that can play Limiting creation use roads necessary maintain ranges corridors, reduce human-caused mortality, minimize human-induced disturbance modifies behavior.