Abiotic and Biotic Factors Influence Refuge Use at the Community and Organismal Level

摘要: Animal behavior is influence by a wide range of factors. One factor that can heavily the presence or absence refuge (i.e., provides direct benefit to animals’ fitness). Many animals seek avoid predation despite clear costs other life processes. The decision use complex and anthropogenic activities may alter abundance refuge. Artificial structures be successful in conservation efforts are an effective means measure biodiversity. Thus, I used cover boards examine how habitat structure season vertebrate diversity southeastern U.S. Vertebrate was driven proximity roads where higher at sites were further from roads. Season influenced classes greater summer than fall winter. My results provide evidence anthropogenic, biotic, temporal factors In addition spatial factors, biotic use. These create tradeoffs well-studied some contexts history evolution. such tradeoff affects thermoregulation-predator avoidance tradeoff. This plastic response environmental conditions as pathogen exposure. examined dynamics using cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) controlled lab setting. Immune activation did not elicit behavioral fever change shelter when available across entire thermal gradient. Although snakes strongly prioritized use, their prioritization shifted during immune challenge. Snakes injected with LPS forced choose between preferred temperature maintained thermoregulation, but they spent up 9-fold more time exposed relative saline. demonstrate plasticity widespread thermoregulation INDEX WORDS: Ecological immunology, fever, utilization, temperature, preference ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC FACTORS INFLUENCE REFUGE USE AT THE COMMUNITY ORGANISMAL LEVEL