Group density, disease, and season shape territory size and overlap of social carnivores.

ABSTRACT: The spatial organization of a population can influence the spread of information, behaviour and pathogens. Group territory size and territory overlap and components of spatial organization, provide key information as these metrics may be indicators of habitat quality, resource dispersion, contact rates and environmental risk (e.g. indirectly transmitted pathogens). Furthermore, sociality and behaviour can also shape space use, and subsequently, how space use and habitat quality together impact demography. Our study aims to identify factors shaping the spatial organization of wildlife populations and assess the impact of epizootics on space use. We further aim to explore the mechanisms by which disease perturbations could cause changes in spatial organization. Here we assessed the seasonal

SUBMITTER: Brandell EE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9844152 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature