Data from: The effect of simulated intergroup encounters on movement patterns and home range use in banded mongooses

Intergroup conflicts have a wide range of impacts, including affecting
movement and ranging patterns. Previous studies found contrasting movement
responses to intergroup conflicts, but no explanation for these
differences has been suggested. However, these can be broadly grouped into
“conflict avoidance” responses: avoiding areas close to the fight, and
“defence” responses: “patrolling” and using the edges of the group’s
territory. We experimentally simulated intergroup encounters in banded
mongoose groups to assess whether mongooses respond to intergroup
encounters by avoiding conflict or investing in defence. We measured
movement characteristics, path characteristics in the core vs periphery of
the home range, and changes to home range use. We found that mongooses
spend more time in the core during the day after presentations, and after
presentations, groups moved further and faster when in the periphery.
However, these effects were similar in both control and experimental
trials, potentially because control stimuli were also perceived as threats
by the mongooses. Overall, our results suggest that our presentation of
stimuli affects the use of the home range over a single day, but not in
the next seven days, suggesting a limited longer-term impact of conflict
on mongoose behaviour. This finding raises questions as to how intergroup
conflicts impact social groups in the long term.