Recent research has revealed that mountain goats, specifically the Alpine ibex species, are adjusting their behavior to become more active at night as a response to climate change. Scientists at the University of Sassari, Sardinia, conducted a study tracking the activity patterns of these goats from 2006 to 2019 using GPS collars.
The study found that as temperatures rise, the ibex are increasingly active during the night, even in areas where there are nocturnal predators present. This shift in behavior is believed to be a strategy to escape the heat rather than to avoid predators.
Dr. Francesca Brivio, a co-author of the study, noted that the goats' nocturnal activity levels were unexpectedly higher in areas with predators, indicating a strong correlation with rising temperatures. The findings suggest that other animals may also adjust their activity to nighttime hours to cope with heat stress.
Previous studies have shown that human-induced global warming is causing various herbivores to seek shelter during the day and increase their nighttime activity. The ibex, being naturally diurnal animals, may face challenges in foraging and movement during the night, potentially impacting their food acquisition efficiency and overall fitness.
While the study did not directly measure the impact on population dynamics, it is speculated that the reduced foraging efficiency during nighttime could have consequences on the long-term survival and reproductive success of the Alpine ibex population.
This research sheds light on the complex ways in which wildlife is responding to environmental changes, highlighting the need for further studies to understand and mitigate the effects of climate change on mountain ecosystems.
