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Wind conditions do not consistently affect large-scale movement decisions of large savanna herbivores.

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Title: Wind conditions do not consistently affect large-scale movement decisions of large savanna herbivores.
Authors: Gomez S; CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France. gomez.sara@icloud.com., Boyers M; School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G128QQ, UK., Caron A; UMR ASTRE, Univ. Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France.; International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.; UPR Forêts Et Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France., Cornelis D; UPR Forêts Et Sociétés, CIRAD, Montpellier, France., de Knegt H; Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands., de Garine-Wichatitsky M; CIRAD, UMR ASTRE, Montpellier, France.; ASTRE, Univ Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE, Montpellier, France., Eikelboom JAJ; Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands., Kilian JW; Etosha Ecological Institute, Etosha National Park, Okaukuejo, Namibia., Owen-Smith N; Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Wits, 2050, South Africa., Prin T; Nyati Consulting, Paris, France., Shrader AM; Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa., Stabach JA; Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, 22630, USA., Turner WC; U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI, 53706, USA., van Langevelde F; Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Group, Wageningen University and Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands., Chamaillé-Jammes S; CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
Source: Oecologia [Oecologia] 2026 Mar 28; Vol. 208 (4). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Mar 28.
Publication Type: Journal Article
Language: English
Journal Info: Publisher: Springer Country of Publication: Germany NLM ID: 0150372 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1432-1939 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00298549 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Oecologia Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s): Original Publication: Berlin ; New York, Springer.
MeSH Terms: Wind* , Herbivory*, Animals ; Grassland ; Movement
Abstract: To decide where and when to move, animals combine memorised information with environmental cues. Wind speed and direction can affect the way animals perceive the environment by reducing the detection and shaping the spatial distribution of sensory cues. Although these cues are expected to be used for forage localisation and predation avoidance in large herbivores, for instance, we still do not know to what extent wind can ultimately influence their large-scale movement decisions. To tackle this knowledge gap, we used GPS data from four species of large African herbivores experiencing contrasted predation risks (blue wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus, plain zebras, Equus quagga, African buffalo, Syncerus caffer, African elephant, Loxodonta africana), in multiple protected areas. We first investigated whether individuals reduce predation risk by avoiding long-distance movements under windy conditions. We then analysed whether they favour moving upwind to maximise their information gain as they travel. We found no clear decrease in the largest step length as wind speed increases and suggest that local habitat could buffer the strength of wind speed (i.e. topography or vegetation). We, however, found that large herbivores tend to move upwind rather than cross- or downwind, although the effect was generally small. We point out that individuals might be more constrained in their use of cues carried by the wind than initially thought, due to the existence of dominant wind directions at all sites. Altogether, our study suggests that wind has little general, consistent, effects on large herbivore movement decisions. Some sites or species-specific results, however, call for delving deeper into the context-specificity of wind effects.
(© 2026. The Author(s). Parts of this work were authored by US Federal Government authors and are not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)
Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable.
Comments: Erratum in: Oecologia. 2026 May 20;208(6):68. doi: 10.1007/s00442-026-05908-3.. (PMID: 42162344)
References: J Chem Ecol. 2008 Jul;34(7):854-66. (PMID: 18581182)
J Anim Ecol. 2017 Oct;86(6):1317-1328. (PMID: 28833142)
Anim Behav. 1974 Feb;22(1):192-202. (PMID: 4836743)
Ecol Evol. 2019 Feb 05;9(2):880-890. (PMID: 30766677)
Math Biosci. 2013 Mar;242(1):25-32. (PMID: 23246804)
J Anim Ecol. 2021 May;90(5):1027-1043. (PMID: 33583036)
Ecol Evol. 2017 Jun 14;7(14):5322-5330. (PMID: 28770070)
Ecology. 2008 May;89(5):1208-15. (PMID: 18543615)
Ecol Lett. 2013 Oct;16(10):1316-29. (PMID: 23953128)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 9;105(49):19052-9. (PMID: 19060196)
Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2024 Jun;99(3):778-796. (PMID: 38174819)
Oecologia. 2022 Dec;200(3-4):349-358. (PMID: 36175692)
Evid Based Ment Health. 2019 Nov;22(4):153-160. (PMID: 31563865)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Oct 17;120(42):e2218679120. (PMID: 37812719)
Curr Biol. 2013 Nov 18;23(22):R990-R994. (PMID: 24262832)
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017 Apr 19;372(1718):. (PMID: 28242739)
J Anim Ecol. 2020 Feb;89(2):623-634. (PMID: 31648375)
J Exp Biol. 2016 Nov 1;219(Pt 21):3329-3338. (PMID: 27591308)
Oecologia. 1984 Aug;63(2):225-228. (PMID: 28311017)
Science. 2023 Jun 9;380(6649):1059-1064. (PMID: 37289888)
Trends Ecol Evol. 2008 Apr;23(4):194-201. (PMID: 18308423)
Oecologia. 2022 Apr;198(4):957-966. (PMID: 35279724)
J Anim Ecol. 2017 Mar;86(2):371-383. (PMID: 27981576)
J Exp Biol. 2008 Jun;211(Pt 11):1706-13. (PMID: 18490385)
Ecology. 2009 Jan;90(1):23-30. (PMID: 19294909)
Bioscience. 2022 Jul 06;72(8):745-752. (PMID: 35923186)
Biol Lett. 2020 Jul;16(7):20200329. (PMID: 32673541)
Oecologia. 2014 Apr;174(4):1151-8. (PMID: 24288079)
Ecology. 2012 Nov;93(11):2336-42. (PMID: 23236905)
Prev Sci. 2013 Apr;14(2):134-43. (PMID: 23479191)
Contributed Indexing: Keywords: GPS data; Movement behaviour; Olfaction; Predator–prey; Sensory cues
Entry Date(s): Date Created: 20260328 Date Completed: 20260714 Latest Revision: 20261009
Update Code: 20261009
DOI: 10.1007/s00442-025-05860-8
PMID: 41902847
Database: MEDLINE
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  Data: To decide where and when to move, animals combine memorised information with environmental cues. Wind speed and direction can affect the way animals perceive the environment by reducing the detection and shaping the spatial distribution of sensory cues. Although these cues are expected to be used for forage localisation and predation avoidance in large herbivores, for instance, we still do not know to what extent wind can ultimately influence their large-scale movement decisions. To tackle this knowledge gap, we used GPS data from four species of large African herbivores experiencing contrasted predation risks (blue wildebeest, Connochaetes taurinus, plain zebras, Equus quagga, African buffalo, Syncerus caffer, African elephant, Loxodonta africana), in multiple protected areas. We first investigated whether individuals reduce predation risk by avoiding long-distance movements under windy conditions. We then analysed whether they favour moving upwind to maximise their information gain as they travel. We found no clear decrease in the largest step length as wind speed increases and suggest that local habitat could buffer the strength of wind speed (i.e. topography or vegetation). We, however, found that large herbivores tend to move upwind rather than cross- or downwind, although the effect was generally small. We point out that individuals might be more constrained in their use of cues carried by the wind than initially thought, due to the existence of dominant wind directions at all sites. Altogether, our study suggests that wind has little general, consistent, effects on large herbivore movement decisions. Some sites or species-specific results, however, call for delving deeper into the context-specificity of wind effects.<br /> (© 2026. The Author(s). Parts of this work were authored by US Federal Government authors and are not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)
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  Data: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. Ethics approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable.
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  Data: Erratum in: Oecologia. 2026 May 20;208(6):68. doi: 10.1007/s00442-026-05908-3.. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2242162344%22">42162344)</searchLink>
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  Data: J Chem Ecol. 2008 Jul;34(7):854-66. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2218581182%22">18581182)</searchLink><br />J Anim Ecol. 2017 Oct;86(6):1317-1328. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2228833142%22">28833142)</searchLink><br />Anim Behav. 1974 Feb;22(1):192-202. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%224836743%22">4836743)</searchLink><br />Ecol Evol. 2019 Feb 05;9(2):880-890. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2230766677%22">30766677)</searchLink><br />Math Biosci. 2013 Mar;242(1):25-32. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2223246804%22">23246804)</searchLink><br />J Anim Ecol. 2021 May;90(5):1027-1043. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2233583036%22">33583036)</searchLink><br />Ecol Evol. 2017 Jun 14;7(14):5322-5330. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2228770070%22">28770070)</searchLink><br />Ecology. 2008 May;89(5):1208-15. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2218543615%22">18543615)</searchLink><br />Ecol Lett. 2013 Oct;16(10):1316-29. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2223953128%22">23953128)</searchLink><br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Dec 9;105(49):19052-9. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2219060196%22">19060196)</searchLink><br />Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2024 Jun;99(3):778-796. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2238174819%22">38174819)</searchLink><br />Oecologia. 2022 Dec;200(3-4):349-358. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2236175692%22">36175692)</searchLink><br />Evid Based Ment Health. 2019 Nov;22(4):153-160. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2231563865%22">31563865)</searchLink><br />Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 Oct 17;120(42):e2218679120. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237812719%22">37812719)</searchLink><br />Curr Biol. 2013 Nov 18;23(22):R990-R994. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2224262832%22">24262832)</searchLink><br />Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2017 Apr 19;372(1718):. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2228242739%22">28242739)</searchLink><br />J Anim Ecol. 2020 Feb;89(2):623-634. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2231648375%22">31648375)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2016 Nov 1;219(Pt 21):3329-3338. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227591308%22">27591308)</searchLink><br />Oecologia. 1984 Aug;63(2):225-228. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2228311017%22">28311017)</searchLink><br />Science. 2023 Jun 9;380(6649):1059-1064. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2237289888%22">37289888)</searchLink><br />Trends Ecol Evol. 2008 Apr;23(4):194-201. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2218308423%22">18308423)</searchLink><br />Oecologia. 2022 Apr;198(4):957-966. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235279724%22">35279724)</searchLink><br />J Anim Ecol. 2017 Mar;86(2):371-383. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2227981576%22">27981576)</searchLink><br />J Exp Biol. 2008 Jun;211(Pt 11):1706-13. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2218490385%22">18490385)</searchLink><br />Ecology. 2009 Jan;90(1):23-30. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2219294909%22">19294909)</searchLink><br />Bioscience. 2022 Jul 06;72(8):745-752. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2235923186%22">35923186)</searchLink><br />Biol Lett. 2020 Jul;16(7):20200329. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2232673541%22">32673541)</searchLink><br />Oecologia. 2014 Apr;174(4):1151-8. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2224288079%22">24288079)</searchLink><br />Ecology. 2012 Nov;93(11):2336-42. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2223236905%22">23236905)</searchLink><br />Prev Sci. 2013 Apr;14(2):134-43. (PMID: <searchLink fieldCode="PM" term="%2223479191%22">23479191)</searchLink>
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