What can knowledge of the energy landscape tell us about animal movement trajectories and space use? A case study with humans. (14th November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lempidakis, Emmanouil; Wilson, Rory P.; Luckman, Adrian; Metcalfe, Richard S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of theoretical biology. Volume 457(2018)
• Page Start: 101
• Page End: 111
• Publication Date: 2018-11-14
• Subjects: Optimal movement -- Least cost pathways -- Tortuosity -- Energy landscape -- Iso-energy polygons; C Cost of transport -- Cdp Cost of transport, diverted path -- Cmin Minimum cost of transport -- Csp Cost of transport, straight path -- CV Coefficient of variation -- DSM Digital surface model -- E Total energy cost -- Ht Height -- IEP Iso–energy polygon -- J Joules -- kg Kilograms -- Ldp Total length diverted path -- Lsp Total length straight path -- m metre -- M Body mass -- Max. dev. Maximum deviation -- Pu Power use -- RMR Resting metabolic rate -- SD Standard deviation -- SI Straightness index -- tcf terrain coefficient -- V Velocity -- Wvert Vertical mechanical power; Biology -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biologie -- Périodiques; Theoretische biologie; Biology; Periodicals; 571.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.08.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5193

Abstract

Highlights: Modelled least-cost paths can be highly tortuous, mirroring some animal tracks. Least-cost paths are scale-independent. Least-cost paths are a vital starting point for animal trajectory analysis. Abstract: Recent work has highlighted that 'energy landscapes' should affect animal movement trajectories although expected patterns are rarely quantified. We developed a model, incorporating speed, substrate, superstrate and terrain slope, to determine minimized movement costs for an energetically well-understood model animal, Homo sapiens, negotiating an urban environment, to highlight features that promote increased tortuosity and affect area use. The model showed that high differential travel power costs between adjacent areas, stemming from substantial environmental heterogeneity in the energy landscape, produced the most tortuous least-cost paths across scales. In addition, projected territory size and shape in territorial animals is likely to be affected by the details in the energy landscape. We suggest that cognisance of energy landscapes is important for understanding animal movement patterns and that energetic differences between least cost- and observed pathways might code for, and give an explicit value to, other important landscape-use factors, such as the landscape of fear, food availability or social effects.