Spatial and temporal dynamics of space use by free-ranging domestic dogs Canis familiaris in rural Africa

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 ...

动物空间生态学的差异会影响病原体传播，因此解析宿主行为有助于提升疾病防控效能。尽管自由放养家犬（Canis familiaris）在全球广泛分布，且作为人畜共患病的储存宿主发挥关键作用，但目前对其空间利用动态的认知仍较为匮乏。我们在乍得农村地区6个村庄的自由放养家犬身上部署了GPS记录器，分别于旱季和雨季追踪了174只与151只个体的活动轨迹。我们采用自相关核密度估计法（auto-correlated kernel density estimates，AKDE）计算了95%家域与核心家域，评估了其活动轨迹的可预测程度，并识别了活动模式的相关影响因子。旱季AKDE95家域的中位数为0.54平方千米，雨季则为0.31平方千米；旱季AKDEcore核心家域的中位数为0.08平方千米，雨季为0.04平方千米。季节差异在一定程度上与主人的活动相关。来自狩猎活动的家犬……