Activity patterns of the marsh deer: Effects of proxies of human movement, cattle presence, and moon phases on its behavior

Abstract

Activity is an important aspect of animal behavior. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can shape species activity patterns, which can alter and reshape several ecological aspects of the species. Human disturbance is known to modify the activity patterns of various species. The Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the largest Neotropical cervid, and has its southernmost distribution located in the wetlands of the lower Delta of the Paraná river, an area characterized by forestry plantations. We studied how the activity patterns of the marsh deer are affected by proxies of human movement, cattle presence, and moon phases in Argentina. We found that marsh deer presented activity peaks during crepuscular hours and moderate levels of activity during the entire night period. The majority of the independent camera-trapping events of marsh deer occurred during the first quarter and last quarter phases, and the species was more active on sites far from rivers, which could infer an avoidance of human disturbances. In order to comprehend more deeply the variable effects on the activity patterns of marsh deer in this area, further analyses are needed, particularly using movement data of marked individuals.