Stay home, stay safe-Site familiarity reduces predation risk in a large herbivore in two contrasting study sites.

摘要: Restricting movements to familiar areas should increase individual fitness as it provides animals with information about the spatial distribution of resources and predation risk. While benefits familiarity for locating have been reported previously, potential value avoidance has accorded less attention. It suggested that be beneficial anti‐predator behaviour when direct cues risk are unclear do not allow prey identify well‐defined refuges. However, our knowledge, this hypothesis yet tested. Here, we assessed how site familiarity, measured intensity use a given location, is associated probability roe deer Capreolus capreolus being killed by two predators contrasting hunting tactics, Eurasian lynx Lynx human hunters. was confined open habitats, more diffuse, no clear refuge areas. We estimated cause‐specific mortality rates in competing framework 212 GPS‐collared ecologically distinct Central Europe test daily or hunters lower high familiarity. We found strong evidence reduces predated lynx, whereas hunted linked weak. We suggest local knowledge small‐scale differences efficient escape routes affect an individual's ability avoid attack ambush predator. Our study emphasizes role determining susceptibility predation. Further research will required understand better cognitive map avoiding arms race drives predator–prey shell game.