Thermal Adapt Animal Behavior Model for Studying Wildlife Responses to Rising Environmental Temperatures

Abstract

Behavior is expected to be the first response as environmental temperature increases, leading to changes in diurnal activity, habitat usage and movement patterns, as well as changes in social behavior. However most existing research either assesses behavioral and physiological responses independently or has explored it in species at a single time frame and spatial scale limiting understanding of broad ecosystem thermal adaptations. A Thermal Adapt Animal Behavior Model is proposed that connects behavioral responses and physiological indices of heat stress across a range of temporal and spatial scales. This model links habitat choice, altered diurnal activity patterns, altered spatial movement and tolerance limits to predict an animal's response to increasing thermal conditions. Supported by recent research exploring: temperature sensitive mammals, nocturnal refuge use, impacts of heatwaves on ungulates, assessing non-invasively stress responses, evidence for genetic adaptation, and cognitive changes due to increasing temperature. The proposed framework can predict adaptive capability. Multi-species testing needs to be done in the field to determine the predictive utility in different climates.