Mammals are becoming more nocturnal to avoid humans, study finds

Here's a link to the published study.

And the abstract:

Rapid expansion of human activity has driven well-documented shifts in the spatial distribution of wildlife, but the cumulative effect of human disturbance on the temporal dynamics of animals has not been quantified. We examined anthropogenic effects on mammal diel activity patterns, conducting a meta-analysis of 76 studies of 62 species from six continents. Our global study revealed a strong effect of humans on daily patterns of wildlife activity. Animals increased their nocturnality by an average factor of 1.36 in response to human disturbance. This finding was consistent across continents, habitats, taxa, and human activities. As the global human footprint expands, temporal avoidance of humans may facilitate human-wildlife coexistence. However, such responses can result in marked shifts away from natural patterns of activity, with consequences for fitness, population persistence, community interactions, and evolution.

Joke's on them, at this point I'm pretty much nocturnal already.

I found this bit pretty interesting from the abstract:

As the global human footprint expands, temporal avoidance of humans may facilitate human-wildlife coexistence. However, such responses can result in marked shifts away from natural patterns of activity, with consequences for fitness, population persistence, community interactions, and evolution.

It reminded me of a very compelling argument by David Gabbard's take on 'the Market as the current dominant social paradigm' and the set of patterns that have brought us to our present situation (the majority of the population trying to satisfy its wants).

Also quoted in the previous link is the famous Wachowski brother's quote from the Matrix, where Agent Smith likens humanity to a virus. I've tried searching in the Journal of the History of Ideas but haven't been able to find more on the evolution of the idea of "humans as the baddies".

In my personal opinion (and as I interpreted it), the postulation of that idea was the equivalent of the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus: the idea that something 'unseen to the naked eye' could be the cause of the sickness of the tobacco plant. In the case of the idea by the Wachowskis, humanity's average way of life isn't sustainable and -- in a way -- it is causing harm.