Data from: High ambient temperatures are associated with reduced foraging capacity in an equatorial mammal, the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo)

Due to anthropogenic climate change, there is substantial interest in how
temperature variation impacts reproduction and survival in animal
populations, however the underlying mechanisms are often poorly
understood. Animals often behaviourally thermoregulate under high ambient
temperatures (Tas) to avoid their body temperatures rising, for instance
becoming less active and resting in shade. However, this can trade off
with performing vital activities including foraging, reproduction and
social behaviours. We studied a Ugandan population of banded mongooses
(Mungos mungo) to investigate how changing temperatures impact behaviour.
We found that banded mongooses reduce activity under high Tas, such that
foraging opportunities in particular are constrained. This may explain why
previous studies on this species have found that offspring care is reduced
under high Tas, resulting in lower pup weight and survival, as adults may
struggle to meet their daily food requirements and therefore prioritise
their own survival over helping to raise pups. As global temperatures
continue to increase, lowland equatorial species (which are already
subject to high Tas) may struggle to both behaviourally thermoregulate and
maintain energy intake through foraging. Our study highlights the
importance of fine-scale quantification of behaviours in wild systems for
understanding the mechanisms underlying the impact of changing
environmental conditions on natural populations.