DOI: 10.5061/dryad.79cnp5j8p
title: Harvest and natural predation shape selection for behavioral predictability in male wild turkeys

description: Previous research has shown that traits increasing prey detectability,
 such as using open areas, higher activity levels, and using areas
 frequented by hunters, reduce survival rates and are considered
 risk-taking behaviors. Despite extensive studies on how harvest-induced
 and natural selection impact average phenotypic expression, the influence
 of these factors on behavior predictability remains unclear. Using a
 double hierarchical generalized linear modeling framework, we assessed
 variation in both average behavioral expression and predictability in male
 wild turkeys (n = 108) and explored how it related to susceptibility to
 harvest and predation. Our analysis revealed individual variation in
 predictability linked to risk-taking and activity (Average speed—CVp =
 0.28, 95% CrI = 0.23–0.33), with some males exhibiting more consistent
 behavior than others. We also identified a behavioral type–predictability
 syndrome, where riskier individuals were more predictable, and more active
 individuals were less predictable (Average speed—r = 0.71, 95% CrI =
 0.59–0.81). Additionally, individuals became more predictable and occurred
 closer to risky areas during the hunting season, coinciding with peak
 mortality for male wild turkeys. Our data suggests harvest-induced and
 natural selection on both behavioral types and behavioral predictability.
 Riskier behavior types were more predictable in their behavioral
 expression and were more likely to be killed by both hunters and
 predators. We also found evidence that hunters selectively targeted
 individuals that were more active and unpredictable in their activity
 patterns, whereas predators preferentially targeted turkeys exhibiting
 less active, more predictable behaviors. Our findings suggest that
 adopting a cautious, sit-and-wait tactic may help male wild turkeys detect
 and avoid hunters, but may increase their vulnerability to predators that
 use a combination of visual and olfactory cues, along with area-restricted
 search behaviors, to locate prey.
description: # Harvest and natural predation shape selection for behavioral
 predictability in male wild turkeys Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.79cnp5j8p](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.79cnp5j8p) ##
 Description of the data and file structure ├── Data │ ├──
 GA_Webb_male_2014_2023_fixes_FINAL.csv    &lt;- Behavioral data from both
 GA/SC used in main analysis     └── survival_data_FINAL.csv               
                        &lt;- survival data frame used for fitness
 analysis  ### Files and variables #### File: survival_data_FINAL.csv
 **Description:** Survival data frame ##### Variables * ID2: Transmitter ID
 for individual wild turkeys * ID: Transmitter ID for individual wild
 turkeys * Site: Study site * Year: Year of the study * Age: Age of male
 wild turkeys (A = adult; J = Juvenile) * Year_Status: Mortality status of
 individual wild turkeys during the year they were tracked with GPS-VHF
 transmitters * Survival: Binary survival outcome (1= survived, 0 = dead)
 #### File: GA_Webb_male_2014_2023_fixes_FINAL.csv **Description:** GPS
 movement metrics used in the main analysis ##### Variables *
 ID: Transmitter ID for individual turkey. * GMT_DATE: date (Date the data
 was collected) * Site: study site  * Year: year (year the data was
 collected) * Stage: Hunting stage * Open: Distance to open landcover (in
 meters) * dist_edge: Distance to edge landcover (in meters) *
 Dist_Access: Distance to hunter access areas (in meters) * total_dist:
 Total distance traveled (in meters) * mean_speed: Mean speed (in
 meters/hour) * Age: Age of wild turkeys (A = adult; J = Juvenile) *
 Status: Daily mortality status * fixes: number of GPS fixes taken in a day
 ## Code/software We used R version 4.3.1 for all statistical analyses.