Effects of urbanization on wildlife diel activity at SUNY Purchase College
By Skylar Cullen
Abstract
As urbanization continues to increase across the globe, it is important to understand the effects that anthropogenic activity will have on local wildlife communities in urban areas. Our study was used to determine the species diversity and general abundance on SUNY Purchase College Campus, and examine the diel activity of said species. Trail cameras were used to observe both human and animal occurrences, in order to study spatial and temporal avoidance of wildlife. In support of other studies, animals display an increasingly nocturnal diel activity pattern, with the exception of the smallest mammals observed, squirrels and chipmunks, a diurnal species that was seen predominantly throughout the day, regardless of human frequency.