Response to sudden surge in human movement by an urban-adapted animal

TL;DR

This study examines how sudden increases in human foot traffic affect urban free-ranging dogs, revealing declines in their population and activity levels, with behavioral activity rebounding but population numbers remaining low.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the immediate behavioral and population responses of urban dogs to abrupt human disturbances.

Findings

Dog abundance decreases with increased human footfall.

Behavioral activity of dogs declines during high human activity.

Behavioral activity recovers after disturbance, but population remains reduced.

Abstract

Interaction with its immediate environment determines the ecology of an organism. Species present in any habitat, wild or urban, may face extreme pressure due to sudden perturbations. When such disturbances are unpredictable, it becomes more challenging to tackle. Implementation of specific strategies is therefore essential for different species to overcome adverse situations. Numerous biotic and abiotic factors can alter the dynamics of a species. Anthropogenic disturbance is one such factor that has considerable implications and also the potential to impact species living in the proximity of human habitats. We investigated the response of an urban adapted species to a sudden surge in human footfall or overcrowding. Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) living freely in the streets of developing countries experience tremendous anthropogenic pressure. It is known that human movement in an area can predict the behaviour of these dogs by largely influencing their personalities. In the current study, we observed a strong effect of high and sudden human footfall on the abundance and behavioural activity of dogs. A decline in both the abundance of dogs and behavioural activities was seen with the increase in human movement. Further investigation over a restricted temporal scale revealed reinstated behavioural activity but non-restoration of population abundance. This provides important evidence on the extent to which humans influence the behaviour of free-ranging dogs in urban environments.