Safety first: an extreme flood event shifts the energetic trade-offs in a savannah mammal community

To maximise resource gain relative to the cost of movement, animals must make movement decisions that incorporate environmental constraints, the risk of predation, and intra- and inter-specific interactions. This presents dynamic trade-offs between gains and costs, that vary with seasonal changes and between species. These trade-offs may be further shifted or disrupted during extreme weather events, when animals may prioritize safety over other benefits. As the frequency and amplitude of extreme weather events increases, understanding how animals adjust their behaviour to such events is essential to mitigate impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functions. To address this topic, we investigated the movements of hundreds of GPS-tagged individuals, comprising a community of six ungulate and three carnivore species across 20,000 km2 of African savannah. Using integrated Step Selection Functions (iSSF) and linear mixed-model we characterized individual movements and resource selection during typical dry and wet seasons, accounting for contrasting landscape characteristics, species-specific dietary requirements and body size. We then compared these typical behaviours with the response to an extreme flood event, and quantified the shift in movement decisions from energy-driven to safety-driven strategies. Finally, we investigated a post-event period to evaluate the potential and timing of recovery of typical movement patterns.