Does the presence of a human tracker affect the behaviour of radio‐tagged wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus? |
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Authors: | PHIL PROSSER SARA BROWN KATE BROOKES |
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Affiliation: | Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK |
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Abstract: | 1. While the effect on animals of handling them and fitting them with radio tags has been investigated, little work has been reported testing the effect of the presence of a human observer tracking an animal. 2. The activity of wood mice fitted with radio collars and confined to a semifield pen was measured in the presence and the absence of a human observer. Free‐ranging wood mice were radio tracked by using two protocols: ‘fixes’ taken periodically, and periods of continuous tracking. 3. There was no significant difference in any quantified aspect of the animals’ behaviour. This suggests that the presence of a human tracker has a negligible effect on the behaviour of wood mice. |
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Keywords: | disturbance home range radio tracking telemetry |
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