Context: Alpine ecosystems are among the environments most exposed to the effects of climate change. Rising temperatures and altered precipitation are expected to pose increasing challenges to cold-adapted mountain ungulates. How these species adjust their behaviour to cope with short-term adverse weather conditions remains poorly understood.
Objectives: In this study, we investigated the influence of summer weather conditions on habitat selection and movement behaviour in Alpine ibex (Capra ibex). Specifically, we aimed to evaluate how temperature and precipitation affect topographic habitat selection and movement distances, with focus on thermoregulatory behaviour and shelter-seeking strategies.
Methods: We analysed high-resolution GPS telemetry data collected from 21 adult Alpine ibex monitored in the Swiss National Park. We used integrated step selection analyses (iSSA) to link individual movements and habitat selection to meteorological (temperature, precipitation) and topographic variables.
Results: Alpine ibex exhibited clear behavioural responses to weather conditions. Daily vertical movements resulted in an overall preference for higher elevations during warm temperatures. Moreover, ibex selected for more rugged terrain, shaded areas, and less productive habitats likely to reduce heat exposure. Longer step length suggested that movement distances increased with temperature. Therefore, at short-temporal scales, ibex appear to rely more on microhabitats, rather than on performing large-scale altitudinal shifts for thermoregulation. Precipitation was associated with downslope movements, alongside an increased selection for steeper but less rugged terrain as precipitation intensity rose. Overall, our findings suggest that Alpine ibex rely on landscape heterogeneity to cope with contrasting weather conditions. Behavioural adjustments to severe weather may, however, involve a trade-off between thermoregulation and foraging opportunities
Conclusions: Alpine ibex rely on behavioural plasticity to cope with severe short-term weather conditions. Conserving landscape heterogeneity and altitudinal connectivity thus will be essential for the long-term persistence of ibex populations under climate change.