Temperature influences resource selection and predation risk tolerance in a climate generalist

Thermal conditions can influence animal behavior and predator–prey dynamics. Understanding the effects of temperature on animals and their interactions is of increasing importance given predictions for global warming. We determined how temperature influenced avoidance of risky areas and habitat selection in a climate generalist, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus; hereafter “deer”), and how the effect varied between night and day in a system characterized by extreme heat and high predation risk from Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). We collected GPS locations of 224 (79 M, 145F) deer from June through September 2015–2018 in southwestern Florida, USA. We fit step-selection functions with interactions between ambient temperature and covariates including landcover and a spatial model of predation risk informed by panther kill sites. Avoidance of high-risk areas decreased with rising temperatures during night and day, indicating deer were less predation risk averse when balancing higher thermoregulatory costs. As temperatures increased during the day, deer increased avoidance of marshes and hardwood hammocks. However, temperature had weaker effects on habitat selection at night with only a moderate increase in selection of marshes with increasing temperatures. In systems characterized by extreme heat, thermal conditions can have strong effects on animal behavior and species interactions. While climate generalists like deer have high tolerances to thermal stress, temperature still influenced predation risk tolerance and habitat selection of deer during both day and night periods. These responses are likely even stronger in species with narrower thermal tolerances (i.e., climate specialists). Thermal conditions are an important and potentially underappreciated driver of species interactions that is likely to become more significant with climate change.