Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 79968, USA.
Sci Rep. 2019 Nov 13;9(1):16690. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52957-1.
Habitat heterogeneity and local resource distribution play key roles in animal search patterns. Optimal strategies are often considered for foraging organisms, but many of the same predictions are applicable to mate searching. We quantified movement and space use by a pitviper to test whether Native Habitats (NH) and human-made Resource Hotspots (RH) facilitate alternative seasonal spatial strategies as a result of critical resources, including potential mating partners, being widely dispersed in NH and clustered in RH. Independent of habitat category, seasonal patterns resembled an intermediate mating system with elements of prolonged male mate-searching and female-defense. However, individuals using primarily NH or RH exhibited alternative strategies. NH rattlesnakes displayed greater movement and larger home ranges than RH rattlesnakes across behavioral seasons. NH males increased movement distances and home ranges during the mating season, while RH males displayed minimal or no seasonal shifts. NH females also elevated movement distances during the mating season, while RH females showed no significant seasonal differences. Despite contrasting spatial patterns, mating success and female-defense effort were not significantly affected by habitat category. This unique study system highlights the potential for interactions among sexual selection, habitat heterogeneity, and behavioral plasticity to facilitate divergent search tactics within populations.
生境异质性和局部资源分布在动物搜索模式中起着关键作用。对于觅食生物，通常会考虑最优策略，但许多相同的预测也适用于寻找配偶。我们量化了一种响尾蛇的运动和空间利用，以检验原生栖息地（NH）和人为资源热点（RH）是否会因为关键资源（包括潜在的交配伙伴）在 NH 中广泛分散而在 RH 中聚集，从而促进替代的季节性空间策略。无论栖息地类别如何，季节性模式都类似于一种中间交配系统，具有雄性长时间寻找配偶和雌性防御的特征。然而，主要使用 NH 或 RH 的个体表现出替代策略。在行为季节中，NH 响尾蛇的运动距离和活动范围大于 RH 响尾蛇。在交配季节，NH 雄性增加了运动距离和活动范围，而 RH 雄性则没有明显的季节性变化。NH 雌性在交配季节也增加了运动距离，而 RH 雌性则没有明显的季节性差异。尽管空间模式存在差异，但交配成功率和雌性防御努力并未受到栖息地类别的显著影响。这个独特的研究系统强调了性选择、生境异质性和行为可塑性之间的相互作用，有可能促进种群内不同的搜索策略。
