Ecological Relevance of Daily Activity Patterns

Abstract

The environment of any animal species is a complex set of both abiotic and biotic qualities. Dominant abiotic parameters are light conditions, ambient temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and wind speed. Biotic components may be classified by the trophic levels at which they occur. On the same trophic level we find conspecifics as mates, as members of a social group, and as competitors. On the same trophic level there are also competitors from other species. Biotic components from different trophic levels are represented by prey, predators, and parasites. The combination of all these factors determines how the world looks for an individual at a specific moment in time.