DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ttdz08m48
title: Data from: Behavioral trade-offs and multitasking by elk in relation to predation risk from Mexican gray wolves

description: Non-consumptive effects of predation can alter foraging time, stress
 levels, and habitat use by prey, potentially resulting in reduced fitness.
 However, prey can mitigate the non-consumptive effects of predation by
 increasing vigilance, chewing and vigilance synchronization (i.e.,
 multitasking), and spatiotemporal avoidance of predators. We quantified
 the effects of the Mexican wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) predation risk on
 elk (Cervus canadensis) behavior in the southwestern United States. We
 conducted behavioral observations on adult female elk and developed
 predation risk indices using Mexican wolf GPS collar data, locations of
 elk killed by Mexican wolves, and landscape covariates. We compared a
 priori models to determine the best predictors of adult female behavior
 and multitasking, separately. Metrics that quantified both spatial and
 temporal predation risk were top predictors in both datasets. Adult female
 vigilance was positively associated with increased predation risk.
 Increased predation risk had little effect on the probability of foraging,
 but resulted in decreased time spent resting. In a post hoc analysis, the
 effect of predation risk on foraging and resting differed across diurnal
 periods. During midday when wolf activity was relatively low, the
 probability of foraging increased while resting decreased, in areas with
 high spatial predation risk. During crepuscular periods when elk and
 wolves were most active, increased predation risk was associated with
 increased vigilance and slight decreases in foraging. Our results suggest
 elk are temporally avoiding predation risk from Mexican wolves by trading
 resting for foraging, a trade-off often not evaluated in behavioral
 studies. The probability of multitasking increased with predation risk,
 suggesting that adult female elk may be offsetting the non-consumptive
 effects of risk on feeding time. These results highlight potentially
 important but often excluded behaviors and trade-offs prey species may use
 to reduce the indirect effects of predation and contribute additional
 context to our understanding of predator-prey dynamics.
description: See methods section in manuscript and supplementary material file
 for details.
description: R
description: # Data from: Behavioral trade-offs and multitasking by elk in relation to
 predation risk from Mexican gray wolves Authors: Farley, Zachary;
 Thompson, Cara; Boyle, Scott; Tatman, Nicole; Cain III, James Date
 Created: 15-July-23 Corresponding author: Dr. James W. Cain;
 [jwcain@nmsu.edu](mailto:jwcain@nmsu.edu) ##### Pertinent information for
 Focal and Multitasking Analysis scripts. **Description of the Data and
 file structure** Focal Data: Data provided is wrangled, cleaned, and ready
 for modelling. Acronyms: UD = Utilization distribution RSF = Resource
 selection function RP = Risky Places Column descriptions for file
 "General_Behavior_E&E_2024_Farley.csv": Ave_Herd_CS_Focal -
 Average herd size centered and scaled Day_Period - 1 = Midday, 2 =
 Morning, 3 = Evening Dist_CL_CS_Focal - Distance to cover centered and
 scaled Foraging - Relative amount of time subject was foraging
 Maternal_Period - 1 = Limited mobility, 2 = Pre-parturition, 3 = Social
 mobility, 4 = Winter OP_LG - Openness log transformed Openness_CS_Focal -
 Openness centered and scaled Other - Relative amount of time subject spent
 in "other" behaviors PackSY2000RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Season
 Year UD within a 2000 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by
 the transformed and centered/scaled RP value. That product then log
 transformed. PackSY2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Season Year UD
 within a 2000 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and
 scaled. PackSY2000RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transfored.
 PackSY200RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackSY200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter radius
 buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled
 RP value. That product then log transformed. PackSY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal
 - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed
 and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That
 product then centered and scaled. PackSY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack
 Season Year UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and
 multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product
 then log transfored. PackSY800RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Season Year
 UD within a 800 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and
 scaled. PackSY800RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 800
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transfored.
 PackYm2000RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm2000RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm200RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm800RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 800
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm800RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm800RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 800
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY2000RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY2000RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a
 2000 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed
 and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY2000RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY200RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY800RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a 800
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY800RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY800RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Season Year UD within a 800
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY800RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopY2000RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopY2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopY200RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopY200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter radius
 buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled
 RP value. That product then log transformed. PopY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal -
 mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and
 multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product
 then centered and scaled. PopY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Year UD
 within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log
 transformed. PopY800RT_RP_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Year UD within a
 800 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopY800RT_RSF_CST_CS_Focal - mean Population Year UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 Prop_Cow_CS_Focal - Proportion of cows Resting_Ruminating - Relative
 amount of time subject was resting/ruminating RP_CS_CS_Focal - Risky
 places centered and scaled Session - Grouping ID Slope_CS_Focal - Slope
 centered and scaled Traveling - Relative amount of time subject was
 traveling Vigilant - Relative amount of time subject was vigilant
 Wolf_Activity_CS_Focal - Predicted wolf activity centered and scaled
 Column descriptions for file
 "Multitasking_E&E_2024_Farley.csv": Ave_Herd_CS_MT - Average
 herd size centered and scaled Bayes_Mods - Response variable, 0 =
 non-chewing vigilance, 1 = multitasking Canopy - Open = 0, Closed = 1
 Day_Period - 1 = Midday, 2 = Morning, 3 = Evening Dist_CL_CS_MT - Distance
 to cover centered and scaled Maternal_Period - 1 = Limited mobility, 2 =
 Pre-parturition, 3 = Social mobility, 4 = Winter OP_LG - Openness log
 transformed Openness_CS_MT - Openness centered and scaled
 PackSY2000RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackSY2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackSY2000RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transfored.
 PackSY200RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackSY200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter radius
 buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled
 RP value. That product then log transformed. PackSY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT -
 mean Pack Season Year UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and
 multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product
 then centered and scaled. PackSY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year
 UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log
 transfored. PackSY800RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Season Year UD within a
 800 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackSY800RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year UD within a 800 meter radius
 buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled
 RP value. That product then log transformed. PackSY800RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT -
 mean Pack Season Year UD within a 800 meter radius buffer, transformed and
 multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product
 then centered and scaled. PackSY800RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Season Year
 UD within a 800 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log
 transfored. PackYm2000RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within
 a 2000 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed
 and centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm2000RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 2000 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm2000RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm200RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PackYm800RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PackYm800RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Pack Yearly Maximum UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY2000RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 2000
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY200RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY200RT_RP_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RP value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200
 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and scaled.
 PopSY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopSY800RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Season Year UD within a 800 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 PopY200RT_RP_CST_CS_MT - mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter radius
 buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled
 RP value. That product then centered and scaled. PopY200RT_RP_CST_LG -
 mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and
 multiplied by the transformed and centered/scaled RP value. That product
 then log transformed. PopY200RT_RSF_CST_CS_MT - mean Population Year UD
 within a 200 meter radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the
 transformed and centered/scaled RSF value. That product then centered and
 scaled. PopY200RT_RSF_CST_LG - mean Population Year UD within a 200 meter
 radius buffer, transformed and multiplied by the transformed and
 centered/scaled RSF value. That product then log transformed.
 Prop_Cow_CS_MT - Proportion of cows RP_LG - Risky places centered and
 scaled Slope_CS_MT - Slope centered and scaled Unique_ID - Grouping
 variable for response Wolf_Activity_CS_MT - Predicted wolf activity
 centered and scaled ## Sharing/access Information None