Giant anteaters on the move: native habitat selection and behavioral responses to land use change

TL;DR

Giant anteaters prefer native habitats over human-modified ones, showing how landscape changes affect their behavior and highlighting the need for conservation in degraded areas.

Contribution

This study uses Bayesian models to reveal sex-independent habitat preferences and behavioral responses of giant anteaters to land use changes.

Findings

Giant anteaters spend more time in native habitats compared to human-modified ones.

The species is more likely to rest in native habitats and more active in disturbed areas.

Findings emphasize the importance of conserving native habitats for this vulnerable species.

Abstract

Landscape fragmentation and habitat loss are major drivers of global biodiversity decline. Understanding how animals adjust their behavior in response to these threats and adapt to human-altered environments is essential for developing effective conservation strategies. In this study, we apply Bayesian models to a unique movement dataset to explore how landscape transformation influences behavioral patterns in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla; Pilosa; Mammalia), a vulnerable species with limited physiological thermoregulatory capacity and strong behavioral responses to environmental changes.

We used an extensive GPS tracking dataset from 41 giant anteaters in the Brazilian savanna—a biodiversity hotspot facing extensive landscape alteration due to land-use and land-cover change. We used the Time-Explicit habitat selection model to investigate giant anteater sex-based differences in habitat selection. Additionally, we evaluated how habitat types influence the species’ activity patterns using a nonparametric Bayesian Hidden Markov model.

Our study reveals that giant anteaters change their movement patterns in response to land use and land cover change. Individuals spent more time in and selected native habitats compared to human-modified habitats, regardless of sex. The time spent on, and selection for, native habitats are likely due to greater resources such as food, shelter, and protection from predation. Additionally, giant anteaters are more likely to rest in native habitats while being more active in human-disturbed areas.

Our research reveals the negative impact of human-disturbed landscapes on animal movement. Consistent with our expectations, giant anteaters spend more time in native habitats and tend to avoid areas with high human disturbance, underscoring the urgent need for conservation efforts in degraded landscapes. Understanding how different land use and land cover classes influence animal habitat selection and activity patterns is essential for assessing the species’ adaptability and ecological requirements in human-modified environments. Our findings can guide the prioritization of critical areas for conservation and restoration, offering valuable insights for policymakers and supporting the effective management of this vulnerable species and the Brazilian savanna.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40462-025-00616-8.

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