A comprehensive global study published in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences* has uncovered fundamental differences in how canids (dog family) and felids (cat family) navigate their environments. The research, analyzing GPS data from over 1,200 animals across 34 species on six continents, indicates that canids tend to follow predictable "routeways," akin to invisible highways, while felids exhibit more scattered and exploratory movements. This divergence is deeply rooted in their evolutionary history, dietary habits, hunting techniques, and social structures.
Canids, often omnivorous and social hunters, may engage in pursuits that favor consistent routes, potentially leveraging their superior olfactory abilities to establish and remember these preferred travel paths. In contrast, felids, typically solitary carnivores, employ different tactics that lead to more widespread and less predictable movements, displaying fewer structured pathways. These behavioral differences have been observed even in areas where both canids and felids inhabit the same landscapes, underscoring the fundamental nature of these distinctions.
The study utilized physics-based models to map these animal "routeways," highlighting an interdisciplinary approach to understanding animal behavior. Researchers found that canids displayed 15 to 33 percent more routeways than felids, even when living in the same areas. This structured movement in canids is thought to be linked to their evolutionary history, with species diverging around 45 million years ago, and may also be associated with stronger spatial working memory in canids compared to felids.
These findings carry significant implications for conservation efforts. The predictable routes of canids make them more vulnerable to human-made barriers like roads, but also potentially more responsive to conservation interventions such as wildlife crossings. Conversely, the diffuse movements of felids present unique challenges for targeted protection, though their broader range might aid in hunting. For instance, in regions like British Columbia and Alberta, forestry and energy projects have created roads and seismic lines that can influence canid movement and subsequently affect prey populations.
The research, involving 177 collaborators from 150 research institutions, represents the most comprehensive examination of carnivore movement ecology to date. It challenges long-held assumptions that predator movements are entirely random, revealing instead structured, lineage-specific strategies. This deeper understanding of how different species navigate their environments is crucial for developing effective conservation strategies, predicting human-wildlife interactions, and managing protected areas.