Unbearable heat
Heat affects the habits of both humans and animals. This was recently confirmed by a study published in the journal "Integrative Zoology." The study, conducted in eight protected areas in the Tuscany Region, including the Maremma Regional Park and Regional Nature Reserves, examined the behavior of two species widespread in Mediterranean ecosystems: the roe deer and the fallow deer. The multi-year research, funded over time by the Maremma Regional Park Authority, the Tuscany Region, and the National Biodiversity Future Center (PNRR) project, was coordinated by Francesco Ferretti, a zoologist at the University of Siena, and used a network of camera traps over more than 12.400 sampling days during the summer.
Protected areas at risk
"In summer, high temperatures," says Francesco Ferretti, "are a crucial factor capable of altering the behavior of ungulates: the data we have collected indicate a much greater impact of heat than the presence of humans or, in the case of roe deer, other species. Assuming these results are projected into the long term, it is very likely that further increases in temperatures will significantly impact the behavior of ungulates, even within protected areas, and roe deer appears to be a particularly sensitive species."
Intense nighttime activity
"Going into more detail," explains Dr. Noemi Pallari, a doctoral student at the University of Siena and lead author of the study, "we observed that roe deer significantly reduce their activity on warmer days, increasing their nocturnal activity, even though this carries a greater risk of encountering wolves, in addition to potentially disrupting their normal feeding patterns. Fallow deer also reduce their daytime activity on warmer days, but to a lesser extent than roe deer, and continue to organize their daily rhythms based on the possibility of encountering predators."
Long-term outcomes
Another aspect that emerged from the research is that in the protected areas examined, including the Maremma Park, the main changes in roe deer and fallow deer behavior were driven by high temperatures and not by the increased presence of humans at certain times of the year. "The study," comments Simone Rusci, president of the Maremma Park, "should help us keep in mind that the impact of climate change has cascading effects on multiple aspects, including animal behavior, which can, in the long term, also lead to changes in the numerical balance between species. Climate change, therefore, is becoming one of the main factors to consider in the management and conservation of biodiversity. As always, scientific data and knowledge of the phenomena are essential elements for implementing effective public management policies." (Source: Maremma Park)
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