Animals travel across their habitat for a variety of reasons. They may be seeking food, shelter or a mate, evading predators, finding their own territory, or migrating. These drivers vary over time, with hotspots at key stages, such as the breeding season. Amphibians, for example, have to move to a body of water in order to complete their life cycle.
Movement also varies depending on environmental conditions. The movement of mammals and reptiles usually increases at higher temperatures, while in drier conditions amphibian movement declines. Roads also provide a warm surface on which to bask – tempting for an ectothermic reptile – and they are responsible for increased animal fatalities.
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