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Nocturnal activity by the primarily diurnal Central American agouti (Dasyprocta punctata) in relation to environmental conditions, resource abundance and predation risk

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2009

Thomas D. Lambert ,
Roland W. Kays ,
Patrick A. Jansen ,
Enzo Aliaga-Rossel  and
Martin Wikelski
Thomas D. Lambert*
Affiliation:
Department of Natural Sciences, University of Virginia College at Wise, Wise, VA 24293, USA
Roland W. Kays
Affiliation:
New York State Museum, 3140 CEC, Albany NY 12230, USA, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Republica de Panamá
Patrick A. Jansen
Affiliation:
Center of Ecological and Evolutionary Sciences, University of Groningen, P.O. Box 14, 9700 AA Haren, the Netherlands, and Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Republica de Panamá
Enzo Aliaga-Rossel
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology, Bolivia, and University of Hawaii, EECB Program, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
Martin Wikelski
Affiliation:
University of Konstanz, Department of Biology, Konstanz, Germany, and Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Radolfzell, Germany
*
1Corresponding author. Current address: Department of Biology, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD 21532, USA. Email: [email protected]
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Extract

An animal's fitness is in part based on its ability to manage the inherent risks (foraging costs, predation, exposure to disease) with the benefits (resource gain, access to mates, social interactions) of activity (Abrams 1991, Altizer et al. 2003, Lima & Bednekoff 1999, Rubenstein & Hohmann 1989, Wikelski et al. 2001). Thus, understanding an animal's pattern of activity is key to understanding behavioural and ecological processes. However, while numerous laboratory methodologies are available to continuously quantify activity over long periods of time, logistical difficulties have greatly hindered activity studies of animals in the field (DeCoursey 1990).

Keywords

activity patternsBCIPanamaradio-telemetryrisk behaviour
Type
Short Communication
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , March 2009 , pp. 211 - 215
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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References

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