Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns
Data files
Jun 08, 2023 version files 61.58 MB
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README.md
15.08 KB
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Tucker_10d_Move_Data.rds
333.24 KB
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Tucker_1h_Move_Data.rds
9.36 MB
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Tucker_Move_AnalysisData.xlsx
309.62 KB
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Tucker_Road_AnalysisData.xlsx
243.96 KB
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Tucker_Road_Data.rds
51.32 MB
Abstract
COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data, we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43 species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019. Individual responses were variable, with no change in average movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown conditions. However, under strict lockdowns, 10-day 95th percentile displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined by 12%, and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall, lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.
This repository contains the code and data to run the analyses from Tucker, M.A., et al. Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns. Data includes terrestrial mammal displacement distances and distance to road values before and during the early 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns for 2,300 individuals representing 43 species. Associated information on body mass, NDVI, human footprint, lockdown stringency, activity and relative brain size are also included. See the associated paper for additional details.
The two analysis files are in .xls format, the 1-hour displacement, 10-day displacement and distance to road data are in R Data (.rds) format, and the code is in R format.
Important Note
Please be mindful and respectful of the amount of time, effort, and funds invested in collecting these data. Please read the following recommendations on involving data contributors before using the data.
- These data come from an international collaborative effort with a diverse range of contributors and studies. Each contributed study has their own ecological context and important idiosyncrasies.
- We strongly encourage a collaborative approach when using these data. We encourage you to reach out to the contact person of each study you plan to use data from. In addition to reaching out, we consider it good practice to offer involvement and co-authorship when possible. For each study, the contact person is listed on Dryad (https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c59zw3rbd) and Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6915169) and in the Supporting Materials associated with the manuscript.
- Please also note that the data should be used for research, conservation or education purposes. Do not use the data in any way that could jeopardize conservation or animal welfare.