10.5061/DRYAD.HHMGQNKFP
Wilson-Aggarwal, Jared
University of Exeter
Goodwin, Cecily
University of Exeter
Moundai, Tchonfienet
Ministry of Public Health, Republic of Chad
Sidouin, Metinou
University of Exeter
Swan, George
University of Exeter
Léchenne, Monique
University of Exeter
McDonald, Robbie
University of Exeter
Spatial and temporal dynamics of space use by free-ranging domestic dogs
Canis familiaris in rural Africa
Dryad
dataset
2020
FOS: Biological sciences
Domestic dogs
GPS tracking
Africa
Natural Environment Research Council
https://ror.org/02b5d8509
University of Exeter
https://ror.org/03yghzc09
Carter Center
https://ror.org/030mbxz29
2020-11-24T00:00:00Z
2020-11-24T00:00:00Z
en
83907 bytes
2
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Variation in the spatial ecology of animals influences the transmission of
infections and so understanding host behaviour can improve the control of
diseases. Despite the global distribution of free-ranging domestic dogs
Canis familiaris and their role as reservoirs for zoonotic diseases,
little is known about the dynamics of their space use. We deployed GPS
loggers on free-ranging dogs from six villages in rural Chad, and tracked
the movements of 174 individuals in the dry season and 151 in the wet
season. We calculated 95% and core home ranges using auto-correlated
kernel density estimates (AKDE95 and AKDEcore), determined the degree to
which their movements were predictable, and identified correlates of
movement patterns. The median AKDE95 range in the dry season was 0.54km2
and in the wet season was 0.31km2, while the median AKDEcore range in the
dry season was 0.08km2 and in the wet season was 0.04km2. Seasonal
variation was, in part, related to owner activities. Dogs from hunting
households had ranges that were five times larger in the dry season. At
least 70% of individuals were more predictably ‘at home’ (<50m from
the household) throughout the day in the dry season. 80% of dogs
demonstrated periodicity in activity levels (speed) and just over half the
dogs exhibited periodicity in location (repeated space use). In the wet
season, dogs mostly exhibited 24-hour cycles in activity and location,
with peaks at midday. In the dry season, dogs exhibited both 12 and
24-hour cycles, with either a single peak at midday, or one peak between
6am and 12 noon and a second between 6 and 10pm. Strategies to control
canine-mediated zoonoses can be improved by tailoring operations to the
local spatial ecology of free-ranging dogs. Interventions using a
door-to-door strategy in rural Chad would best conduct operations during
the dry season, when access to dogs around their household more reliably
exceeds 70% throughout the day. Given the importance of use in hunting for
explaining variation in dog space-use, targeting approaches to disease
control at the household level on the basis of owner activities offers
potential to improve access to dogs.
GPS tracking of a large sample of domestic dogs living in human households
in rural Chad.
See ReadMe.txt file for details of data.