Reproductive and Environmental Drivers of Time and Activity Budgets of Striped Skunks.

ABSTRACT: The regulation of daily and circannual activity patterns is an important mechanism by which animals may balance energetic requirements associated with both abiotic and biotic variables. Using collar-mounted accelerometers, we assess the relative importance of reproductive stage and environmental conditions on the overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) of free-living striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis). We found that activity timing relative to photoperiod varied across seasonal stages for both sexes. Surprisingly, male skunks did not commence activity earlier than females during the mating interval. Moreover, while female skunks began activity before dusk and terminated activity after dawn during mid- through late summer (lactation period), the duration of activity bouts in females

SUBMITTER: Zhang VY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7671141 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature