The influence of human disturbance on wildlife nocturnality

TLDR

As human populations expand, fewer habitats remain for wildlife, and because humans are mostly diurnal, the night remains a relatively undisturbed refuge. Across mammals worldwide, human activities are driving species to shift toward increased nocturnality, which may offer temporary respite but could also disrupt ecosystem dynamics. Science, this issue, pp.

Abstract

Nocturnal refuge As the human population grows, there are fewer places for animals to live out their lives independently of our influence. Given our mostly diurnal tendencies, one domain that remains less affected by humans is the night. Gaynor et al. found that across the globe and across mammalian species—from deer to coyotes and from tigers to wild boar—animals are becoming more nocturnal (see the Perspective by Benítez-López). Human activities of all kinds, including nonlethal pastimes such as hiking, seem to drive animals to make use of hours when we are not around. Such changes may provide some relief, but they may also have ecosystem-level consequences. Science , this issue p. 1232 ; see also p. 1185