Combined effects of fine-scale intensity and spatial extent of exposure to outdoor recreation shape wildlife responses and tolerance to human activity

Friederike Zenth; Ilse Storch; Chiara Giari; Elena Morocutti; Rupert Palme; Sabine Macho-Maschler; Andrea Corradini; Daniel T. Blumstein; Davide Tettamanzi; Mira Huckfeld; Luca Corlatti

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111561

Title (eng)

Combined effects of fine-scale intensity and spatial extent of exposure to outdoor recreation shape wildlife responses and tolerance to human activity

Author

Friederike Zenth

Ilse Storch

Chiara Giari

Elena Morocutti

Rupert Palme

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Sabine Macho-Maschler

University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna

Andrea Corradini

Daniel T. Blumstein

Davide Tettamanzi

Mira Huckfeld

Luca Corlatti

Abstract (eng)

Outdoor recreational activities and nature-based tourism are rapidly expanding, both in intensity and space. Even non-consumptive activities can have adverse effects by altering animal behaviour and physiology, but wildlife can also develop behavioural tolerance to humans and adjust to human activities. However, few general patterns have emerged, likely due to incomplete knowledge of the factors that modulate wildlife responses. For example, it remains unclear how fine-scale intensity and spatial extent of exposure to outdoor recreational activities influence disturbance effects on wildlife. Here, we investigated how the combined effects of current onsite visitor numbers, the extent of areas used by humans, such as around picnic areas, within animal's home ranges and the proximity of animals' activity centres to main recreational infrastructure, such as main hiking trails, affect behavioural and physiological responses to outdoor activity. We used Alpine marmots Marmota marmota in Stelvio National Park (central Italian Alps) as a case study. Marmots occupying territories with low human area use and with activity centres located farther from the main hiking trail in the study area increased anti-predator behaviours and decreased foraging during higher visitor presence. In contrast, marmots from territories with higher area use and/or activity centres closer to the main trail were more tolerant. Stress levels assessed through faecal cortisol metabolites (FCMs) mirrored this pattern, but high uncertainty around FCMs estimates suggests cautious interpretation. This case study demonstrates that wildlife responsiveness to outdoor activity can depend on multiple interacting factors, highlighting the importance of context-specific impact assessment and targeted mitigation strategies.

Keywords (eng)

Anti-predator BehaviourFaecal Cortisol MetabolitesHuman DisturbanceHabituationHuman-wildlife InteractionsBehavioural Plasticity

Type (eng)

journal article

Language

[eng]

Persistent identifier

https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:4555

DOI

10.1016/j.biocon.2025.111561

Is in series

Title (eng)