Weather-dependent changes in habitat use by Alpine chamois.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alterations in weather patterns due to climate change are accelerated in alpine environments, but mountains also provide a wide range of niches and potential refuge areas. In order to identify future critical habitat for mountain ungulates for effective protection, it is important to understand their spatial responses to changing weather conditions without movement constraints by human disturbance.

Methods

Using integrated step selection functions, we investigated fine-scale changes in seasonal habitat use in response to weather and time of day for 55 GPS-collared adult Alpine chamois in summer and 42 individuals in winter in a strictly protected area.

Results

Chamois reacted to increasing precipitation and wind speeds primarily by moving to lower elevation

SUBMITTER: Anderwald P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10792825 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature