Movement ecology in upper vertebrates

Movement ecology examines the spatial and temporal dynamics of organisms' movements, shaped by intrinsic and environmental factors. Studying the movement patterns of upper vertebrates is crucial for understanding ecosystem processes, conservation, and managing human-wildlife conflicts. The recent expansion of upper vertebrate populations in Italy, driven by conservation policies and land-use changes, underscores the importance of understanding these movement patterns in anthropogenic landscapes. In Chapter 1, I analyzed the seasonal intrasexual variability in wild boar spatial behaviour, focusing on movement strategies influenced by their polygynous reproductive system. In Chapters 2 and 3, I investigated wolf movement ecology, comparing populations across areas in Italy where wolves settled in different times and analyzing the extent to which intrinsic and environmental factors shape movement behaviour. Spatial data, collected via GPS tracking and advanced analytical methods, revealed variability influenced by both intrinsic social structures and external environmental conditions. For wild boar, the results showed that movement ecology was influenced by their polygynous mating system. Specifically, males exhibited an increase in home range sizes with consistent distances travelled during the breeding season, contrasting with more stable female home ranges and restricted movements during birthing and offspring care. The opposing seasonal trends between home range size and distance travelled, highlighted a complex relationship between these two aspects of movement ecology, suggesting both should be analyzed to fully understand this species’ dynamics. In wolves, differences were particularly apparent between pack members and dispersing individuals. Dispersing wolves, especially males, exhibited larger home ranges compared to resident pack wolves, supporting a more philopatric tendency in females. Larger home ranges were observed in areas of recent recolonization, while smaller ranges were associated with historically occupied areas or areas with high prey density. Only slight differences were observed in distances travelled among all individuals. Anthropogenic activity also influenced the movement ecology of wolves, as increased home range sizes were associated with higher anthropogenic disturbances due to habitat fragmentation and increased human disturbance. This research advances understanding of movement ecology in highly plastic species, which are central to the significant wildlife recolonization experienced in recent decades. Examining movement ecology in relation to social behaviour and higher human presence provides critical information for developing conservation and management strategies in regions where solutions for coexistence between wildlife and human activities are increasingly needed.