An application of upscaled optimal foraging theory using hidden Markov modelling: year-round behavioural variation in a large arctic herbivore

TY - JOUR

T1 - An application of upscaled optimal foraging theory using hidden Markov modelling: year-round behavioural variation in a large arctic herbivore

AU - Beumer, Larissa T.

AU - Pohle, Jennifer

AU - Schmidt, Niels M.

AU - Chimienti, Marianna

AU - Desforges, Jean-Pierre

AU - Hansen, Lars H.

AU - Langrock, Roland

AU - Pedersen, Stine Højlund

AU - Stelvig, Mikkel

AU - van Beest, Floris M.

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - In highly seasonal environments, animals face critical decisions regarding time allocation, diet optimisation, and habitat use. In the Arctic, the short summers are crucial for replenishing body reserves, while low food availability and increased energetic demands characterise the long winters (9–10 months). Under such extreme seasonal variability, even small deviations from optimal time allocation can markedly impact individuals’ condition, reproductive success and survival. We investigated which environmental conditions influenced daily, seasonal, and interannual variation in time allocation in high-arctic muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and evaluated whether results support qualitative predictions derived from upscaled optimal foraging theory.

AB - In highly seasonal environments, animals face critical decisions regarding time allocation, diet optimisation, and habitat use. In the Arctic, the short summers are crucial for replenishing body reserves, while low food availability and increased energetic demands characterise the long winters (9–10 months). Under such extreme seasonal variability, even small deviations from optimal time allocation can markedly impact individuals’ condition, reproductive success and survival. We investigated which environmental conditions influenced daily, seasonal, and interannual variation in time allocation in high-arctic muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) and evaluated whether results support qualitative predictions derived from upscaled optimal foraging theory.

KW - Activity budgets

KW - Arctic ungulate

KW - Behavioural state classification

KW - Hidden Markov modelling

KW - Optimal foraging theory

KW - Seasonality

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85086771235

U2 - 10.1186/s40462-020-00213-x

DO - 10.1186/s40462-020-00213-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32518653

SN - 2051-3933

VL - 8

JO - Movement Ecology

JF - Movement Ecology

IS - 1

M1 - 25

ER -