Journal articles on the topic 'Habitat features'
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MATSUMOTO, Masamichi, and Syuichirou TAGANE. "Habitat features of Viola orientalis." Journal of the Japanese Society of Revegetation Technology 32, no. 2 (2006): 355–60. http://dx.doi.org/10.7211/jjsrt.32.355.
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Finch, Domhnall, Henry Schofield, and Fiona Mathews. "Habitat Associations of Bats in an Agricultural Landscape: Linear Features Versus Open Habitats." Animals 10, no. 10 (October 12, 2020): 1856. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10101856.
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1. Bats are important components of agricultural ecosystems. However, little is known about the extent to which bats use linear features when foraging and commuting in agricultural settings, when compared to the interior of fields. 2. As part of a large-scale citizen science project, bat detectors were placed in the centre of agricultural fields (arable and pasture) and along linear features (intensively managed hedgerows, sympathetically managed hedgerows and treelines). 3. Our results show that all 10 of the bat species groups identified were found both along linear features and in the middle of agricultural fields. Of the five species groups analysed further, all had significantly more bat activity along linear features compared to the middle of fields, except for Nyctalus noctula. However, our results showed that 29% of calls from Rhinolophus ferrumequinum were recorded in the middle of agricultural fields, compared to only 10% for Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Bat activity was more likely to be associated with treelines compared to other linear feature types. 4. Our results highlight the importance of linear feature management to bat conservation, but also the need to consider field centres during survey design and Environmental Impact Assessments.
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Zhang, Bing, Bingxian Wu, Daode Yang, Xiaqiu Tao, Mu Zhang, Shousheng Hu, Jun Chen, and Ming Zheng. "Habitat association in the critically endangered Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), a species endemic to China." PeerJ 8 (July 1, 2020): e9439. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9439.
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Habitat directly affects the population size and geographical distribution of wildlife species, including the Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis), a critically endangered snake species endemic to China. We searched for Mangshan pit viper using randomly arranged transects in their area of distribution and assessed their habitat association using plots, with the goals of gaining a better understanding of the habitat features associated with P. mangshanensis detection and determining if the association with these features varies across season. We conducted transect surveys, found 48 individual snakes, and measured 11 habitat variables seasonally in used and random plots in Hunan Mangshan National Nature Reserve over a period of 5 years (2012–2016). The important habitat variables for predicting Mangshan pit viper detection were fallen log density, shrub density, leaf litter cover, herb cover and distance to water. In spring, summer and autumn, Mangshan pit viper detection was always positively associated with fallen log density. In summer, Mangshan pit viper detection was related to such habitats with high canopy cover, high shrub density and high herb cover. In autumn, snakes generally occurred in habitats near water in areas with high fallen log density and tall shrubs height. Our study is the first to demonstrate the relationship between Mangshan pit viper detection and specific habitat components. Mangshan pit viper detection was associated with habitat features such as with a relatively high fallen log density and shrub density, moderately high leaf litter cover, sites near stream, and with lower herb cover. The pattern of the relationship between snakes and habitats was not consistent across the seasons. Identifying the habitat features associated with Mangshan pit viper detection can better inform the forestry department on managing natural reserves to meet the habitat requirements for this critically endangered snake species.
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Groff, Luke A., Aram J. K. Calhoun, and Cynthia S. Loftin. "Amphibian terrestrial habitat selection and movement patterns vary with annual life-history period." Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, no. 6 (June 2017): 433–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2016-0148.
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Identification of essential habitat is a fundamental component of amphibian conservation; however, species with complex life histories frequently move among habitats. To better understand dynamic habitat use, we evaluated Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825)) habitat selection and movement patterns during the spring migration and foraging periods and described the spatiotemporal variability of habitats used during all annual life-history periods. We radio-tracked 71 frogs in Maine during 2011–2013 and evaluated spring migration, foraging activity center (FAC), and within-FAC habitat selection. Telemetered frogs spent the greatest percentage of each field season in hibernacula (≥54.4%), followed by FACs (≥25.5%), migration habitat (≥16.9%), and breeding sites (≥4.5%). FACs ranged 49 – 1 335 m2 (568.0 ± 493.4 m2) and annual home ranges spanned 1 413 – 32 165 m2 (11 780.6 ± 12 506.1 m2). During spring migration, Wood Frogs exhibited different movement patterns (e.g., turn angles), selected different habitat features, and selected habitat features less consistently than while occupying FACs, indicating that the migration and foraging periods are ecologically distinct. Habitat-use studies that do not discriminate among annual life-history periods may obscure true ecological relationships and fail to identify essential habitat necessary for sustaining amphibian populations.
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Saniga, M. "Habitat features of the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks in the West Carpathians." Journal of Forest Science 48, No. 9 (May 22, 2019): 415–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.17221/11903-jfs.
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Habitat characteristics of 43 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks were studied in the mountains of Central Slovakia (West Carpathians) in 1984–2002. Macro-habitat was described with respect to topography and succession stage. Micro-habitat was described with respect to forest type and forest stand structure. Twenty-seven out of forty-three display grounds were situated in the upper half of the lateral ridges. Sixteen leks were located on hills of the lateral ridges (slope < 10%). All the leks were situated in old succession stages of the forest (80–200 years old). Twenty-seven display grounds were located in natural forests, sixteen leks were situated in man-managed stands more than 80 years old. Leks were situated in a variety of forest types with overstorey tree-density between 400–1,050 stems per ha. Distribution of leks was limited above all by macro-habitat characteristics (elevated sites, old stands). Age-space structure seemed to be a significant micro-habitat feature (preference of multi-layered stands).
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Egerer, Monika, Jacob Cecala, and Hamutahl Cohen. "Wild Bee Conservation within Urban Gardens and Nurseries: Effects of Local and Landscape Management." Sustainability 12, no. 1 (December 30, 2019): 293. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su12010293.
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Across urban environments, vegetated habitats provide refuge for biodiversity. Gardens (designed for food crop production) and nurseries (designed for ornamental plant production) are both urban agricultural habitats characterized by high plant species richness but may vary in their ability to support wild pollinators, particularly bees. In gardens, pollinators are valued for crop production. In nurseries, ornamental plants rarely require pollination; thus, the potential of nurseries to support pollinators has not been examined. We asked how these habitats vary in their ability to support wild bees, and what habitat features relate to this variability. In 19 gardens and 11 nurseries in California, USA, we compared how local habitat and landscape features affected wild bee species abundance and richness. To assess local features, we estimated floral richness and measured ground cover as proxies for food and nesting resources, respectively. To assess landscape features, we measured impervious land cover surrounding each site. Our analyses showed that differences in floral richness, local habitat size, and the amount of urban land cover impacted garden wild bee species richness. In nurseries, floral richness and the proportion of native plant species impacted wild bee abundance and richness. We suggest management guidelines for supporting wild pollinators in both habitats.
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Jeffers, J. N. R. "Characterization of river habitats and prediction of habitat features using ordination techniques." Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 8, no. 4 (July 1998): 529–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-0755(199807/08)8:4<529::aid-aqc301>3.0.co;2-9.
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Pavignano, Ivana, Cristina Giacoma, and Sergio Castellano. "A multivariate analysis of amphibian habitat determinants in north western Italy." Amphibia-Reptilia 11, no. 4 (1990): 311–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853890x00014.
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AbstractThe distribution of Bufo bufo, Rana esculenta complex, Rana dalmatina, Hyla arborea, Triturus carnifex and Triturus vulgaris were studied in 61 ponds in NW Italy, in relation to a number of specific habitat features. Multivariate analysis identifies those habitat parameters which classify ponds into characteristic habitat groups. Several multivariate statistical tests were carried out to identify habitat features characteristic of each species and to delineate ecological factors that influence amphibian distributions and size of breeding populations. Variables scored at each pond were: extent of aquatic vegetational cover, age of the pond, terrestrial habitats occurring near the ponds, degree of human interference, surface areas, maximum depth, chemical water factors (such as pH and water hardness). The first four of these parameters influenced breeding population presence of R. dalmatina, H. arborea, T. vulgaris and T. cristatus significantly. Densities of H. arborea, R. dalmatina, B. bufo and R. esculenta were apparently unaffected by any of these parameters; these species seem to colonize available habitats almost at random.
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Mohamed, Hassan, Kazuo Nadaoka, and Takashi Nakamura. "Semiautomated Mapping of Benthic Habitats and Seagrass Species Using a Convolutional Neural Network Framework in Shallow Water Environments." Remote Sensing 12, no. 23 (December 7, 2020): 4002. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs12234002.
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Benthic habitats are structurally complex and ecologically diverse ecosystems that are severely vulnerable to human stressors. Consequently, marine habitats must be mapped and monitored to provide the information necessary to understand ecological processes and lead management actions. In this study, we propose a semiautomated framework for the detection and mapping of benthic habitats and seagrass species using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Benthic habitat field data from a geo-located towed camera and high-resolution satellite images were integrated to evaluate the proposed framework. Features extracted from pre-trained CNNs and a “bagging of features” (BOF) algorithm was used for benthic habitat and seagrass species detection. Furthermore, the resultant correctly detected images were used as ground truth samples for training and validating CNNs with simple architectures. These CNNs were evaluated for their accuracy in benthic habitat and seagrass species mapping using high-resolution satellite images. Two study areas, Shiraho and Fukido (located on Ishigaki Island, Japan), were used to evaluate the proposed model because seven benthic habitats were classified in the Shiraho area and four seagrass species were mapped in Fukido cove. Analysis showed that the overall accuracy of benthic habitat detection in Shiraho and seagrass species detection in Fukido was 91.5% (7 classes) and 90.4% (4 species), respectively, while the overall accuracy of benthic habitat and seagrass mapping in Shiraho and Fukido was 89.9% and 91.2%, respectively.
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McSorley, Robert. "Effect of forest and field habitat features on abundance of genera in nematode assemblages." Nematology 15, no. 8 (2013): 947–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685411-00002733.
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Abundances of nematode genera were examined in several forest and field habitats located in close proximity in Florida, USA. Effects of selected habitat features were also evaluated, such as tree type, management and presence of litter, grasses or invasive species. Of 37 common taxa evaluated, ten were more abundant in forest and ten in field habitats. Several genera includingAcrobeloides,AphelenchoidesandMesocriconemawere common in all habitats. Light management, consisting of mowing of grasses, negatively affected 19 taxa. More genera appeared adapted to closed forest over open forest, and most of these were more common in plots with oak trees or oak litter than in plots with pine. Numbers ofParatylenchus,PlectusandXiphinemawere further increased by the presence of herbaceous plants on the forest floor. When invasive elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum) was included in plots with other grasses, numbers of eight genera that typically were common in grass plots were further increased.Alaimus,CervidellusandWilsonemawere negatively affected by the invasive elephantgrass. Most of the nine genera in guild Ba2 were more abundant in either forest (Acrobeles,Cervidellus,Plectus,Wilsonema) or grass (Eucephalobus,Zeldia) habitats, whileAcrobeloideswas common and two genera were rare in all habitats. The effects of habitats and habitat features on many different nematode taxa add to our growing knowledge of the ecological habits of free-living nematodes.
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Guertault, Lucie, Garey Fox, and Shannon Brewer. "Geomorphic identification of physical habitat features in a large, altered river system." E3S Web of Conferences 40 (2018): 02031. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/20184002031.
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Altered flow regimes in streams can significantly affect ecosystems and disturb ecological processes, leading to species loss and extinction. Many river management projects use stream classification and habitat assessment approaches to design practical solutions to reverse or mitigate adverse effects of flow regime alteration on stream systems. The objective of this study was to develop a methodology to provide a primary identification of physical habitats in an 80-km long segment of the Canadian River in central Oklahoma. The methodology relied on basic geomorphic variables describing the stream and its floodplain that were derived from aerial imagery and Lidar data using Geographic Information Systems. Geostatistical tests were implemented to delineate habitat units. This approach based on high resolution data and did not require in-site inspection provided a relatively refined habitat delineation, consistent with visual observations. Future efforts will focus on validation via field surveys and coupling with hydro-sedimentary modeling to provide a tool for environmental flow decisions.
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Ficetola, G. F., E. Padoa-Schioppa, A. Monti, R. Massa, F. De Bernardi, and L. Bottoni. "The importance of aquatic and terrestrial habitat for the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis): implications for conservation planning and management." Canadian Journal of Zoology 82, no. 11 (November 1, 2004): 1704–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z04-170.
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The European pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (L., 1758), is threatened throughout its distribution, prompting management of habitats and populations for conservation. Quantitative data on habitat requirements for this species are needed to better evaluate which areas are the most suitable, or what actions can improve habitat suitability. We studied relationships between the distribution and abundance of E. orbicularis and the environment by analysing water quality and features of 39 wetland and upland habitats in the Po River delta of northern Italy; visual transects and point counts were used to determine turtle presence and relative abundance. Emys orbicularis occurs more frequently and abundantly in permanent wetlands surrounded by woodlands, and its presence does not appear to be related to water eutrophication. Woodlands strongly influence adjacent wetland features and may be important for turtles' terrestrial activities such as nesting and dispersal. Habitat management and conservation plans for E. orbicularis should include protection of extensive terrestrial woodland habitat containing diverse wetland systems, to support turtle survival at different life-history stages. The requirements for wetlands and natural terrestrial habitat are difficult to meet in the currently human-dominated European lowlands; nevertheless, conservation plans for this species should take a broad-scale approach.
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Stammler, Katie L., Robert L. McLaughlin, and Nicholas E. Mandrak. "Streams modified for drainage provide fish habitat in agricultural areas." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65, no. 3 (March 1, 2008): 509–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f07-183.
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Open agricultural drains (ditches) provide necessary drainage for cropland and may also provide habitat supporting native fish assemblages. We tested whether warm-water drains in southwestern Ontario provide fish habitat similar to that of reference watercourses not subjected to drain maintenance. Features of fish assemblages and habitats were characterized using standardized protocols in 24 pairs of drains and reference watercourses. Drains and reference watercourses did not differ significantly in fish species richness, evenness, abundance, biomass, species composition, life stages, or nine of 13 physical habitat attributes expected to be altered by drain maintenance. These findings do not support concerns that drain maintenance has strong, lasting effects on fish assemblages and physical habitat features. Other landscape-level agricultural impacts may affect both drains and reference watercourses but were not examined in this study. We recommend that drains continue to be recognized as fish habitat under the Canadian Fisheries Act and that drain and fish habitat managers strive for logical, scientifically defensible drain maintenance practices that preserve fish biodiversity and habitat, while considering the needs of agriculture.
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Peterken, G. F. "Natural features in the management of upland conifer forests." Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Section B. Biological Sciences 93, no. 1-2 (1987): 223–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0269727000006424.
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SynopsisUpland conifer afforestation has been a major factor in environmental change, and there is every prospect that further afforestation will take place. How can we best develop the existing forests as wildlife habitats? And, if afforestation is to continue, where should further plantations be placed? This paper considers some general aspects of forest habitat design, using the structure and dynamics of natural boreal-temperate conifer forests as its primary reference point.
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Beltman, J. B., and P. Haccou. "Speciation through the learning of habitat features." Theoretical Population Biology 67, no. 3 (May 2005): 189–202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tpb.2005.01.001.
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Sullivan, Thomas P., and Druscilla S. Sullivan. "Dynamics of Peripheral Populations of Great Basin Pocket Mice, Perognathus parvus, and Western Harvest Mice, Reithrodontomys megalotis, in Southern British Columbia." Canadian Field-Naturalist 122, no. 4 (October 1, 2008): 345. http://dx.doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v122i4.642.
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The Great Basin Pocket Mouse (Perognathus parvus) and Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) are two peripheral species occurring in the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Both species are listed as vulnerable to extirpation because of habitat loss, primarily due to conversion of natural habitat to agricultural uses and suburban expansion. Population dynamics of these two species were studied in three habitat types: old field, sagebrush, and pine forest. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse occurred at densities ranging from 12 to 28/ha in sagebrush habitats and at 2-8/ha in old fields and Ponderosa Pine forest. The Western Harvest Mouse occurred at variable densities up to 10/ha in old fields and up to 5/ha in sagebrush habitats. Mean number of lactating females for Great Basin Pocket Mice ranged from 4-8 in sagebrush, 1-5 in old fields and pine forests combined. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood ranged from 3.28 young Great Basin Pocket Mice per pregnant female in sagebrush, 4.67 in old field, and 1.82 in pine forest habitats. Mean juvenile survival to adulthood of Western Harvest Mice ranged from 1.46-1.72 young per female in old field and sagebrush habitats. Conservation of habitat features (high biomass and structural diversity of grasses and forbs) in linear habitats has the potential to maintain populations of Western Harvest Mice. The Great Basin Pocket Mouse needs features of sagebrush and old field habitats that need to be conserved as natural non-linear components in mosaics of natural and anthropogenic habitats. Both species could act as “indicators” of habitat integrity for a wide range of other vertebrate, invertebrate, and plant species in the Okanagan Valley.
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Galiano, Daniel, Bruno B. Kubiak, Luciana S. Menezes, Gerhard E. Overbeck, and Thales Renato O. de Freitas. "Wet soils affect habitat selection of a solitary subterranean rodent (Ctenomys minutus) in a Neotropical region." Journal of Mammalogy 97, no. 4 (April 11, 2016): 1095–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyw062.
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Abstract Subterranean rodents are characterized by limited individual mobility and patchy distribution of local populations. Habitat patches where the species is absent may either be unoccupied, but suitable patches, or in fact unsuitable as habitat due to specific habitat features. In the coastal plain of southern Brazil, Ctenomys minutus (Ctenomyidae) inhabits sandy grasslands and dunes. The aim of our study was to analyze the relationship between the distribution of this subterranean rodent and its environment. We considered vegetation and soil features. Our results showed that habitat occupancy patterns of C. minutus are determined by soil moisture and vegetation (food supply), but there might be other habitat features that regulate the habitat choice of this mammal. Habitat discontinuities in the coastal plain of southern Brazil, with numerous barriers to dispersal, are responsible for restricting individuals to their natal areas. This might result in increased intraspecific competition within each population and, consequently, in inbreeding. Os roedores subterrâneos são caracterizados pela baixa mobilidade dos indivíduos e por apresentarem populações distribuídas em manchas de habitat. As manchas em que os indivíduos estão ausentes podem ser locais desocupados, porém que apresentam condições adequadas para a ocupação, ou de fato serem locais inadequados devido a algumas características ambientais específicas. Na planície costeira do sul do Brasil, a espécie Ctenomys minutus (Ctenomyidae) habita regiões de campos arenosos e dunas costeiras. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a relação entre a distribuição deste roedor subterrâneo e o ambiente em que ele habita. Para tal, consideramos características da vegetação e do solo. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o padrão de ocupação de C. minutus é determinado pela umidade do solo e vegetação (recurso alimentar), mas podem existir outras características que regulam a escolha do habitat deste mamífero. As descontinuidades de habitat na planície costeira do sul do Brasil, com inúmeras barreiras para a dispersão da espécie, são responsáveis por restringir os indivíduos as suas áreas natais. Isso pode resultar no aumento da competição intra-específica dentro das populações e, consequentemente, na endogamia.
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Arvisais, Martin, Esther Lévesque, Jean-Claude Bourgeois, Claude Daigle, Denis Masse, and Jacques Jutras. "Habitat selection by the wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta) at the northern limit of its range." Canadian Journal of Zoology 82, no. 3 (March 1, 2004): 391–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z04-012.
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We characterized the chronology of habitat use by the wood turtle, Clemmys insculpta (LeC., 1829), in the Mauricie region of Quebec, Canada. We also determined if this species used habitats according to availability within a home range and identified habitat features influencing habitat selection. Habitats were characterized for 20 wood turtles followed weekly by telemetry during the active season of 1997. Turtles used a great diversity of terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Alder (Alnus rugosa (Du Roi) Spreng.) stands were the most used terrestrial habitats throughout the active season. Habitat use varied according to activity period. Indeed, wood turtles used aquatic habitats and alder stands during prenesting and prehibernation activity periods, whereas all habitat types were used during nesting and postnesting activity periods. Wood turtles did not use habitats randomly within their home ranges, suggesting that they selected them. Wood turtles seemed to select mixed forest stands that were relatively young (16 years), short (14 m), had low arborescent cover (25%), moderate cover of the upper shrub layer (35%), and low total canopy closure (0%50%). This knowledge will be helpful in the establishment of future conservation measures.
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Lodé, Thierry. "Habitat Selection and Mating Success in a Mustelid." International Journal of Zoology 2011 (2011): 1–6. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/159462.
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Habitat selection remains a poorly understood ecological process, but relating mating behaviour to pattern of habitat selection constitutes a fundamental issue both in evolutionary ecology and in biological conservation. From radiotelemetry protocol, habitat-induced variations in mating success were investigated in a solitary mustelid carnivore, the European polecatMustela putorius. Selection for marshy habitat was regarded as adaptive in that mating success was found greater using marches than other habitats. Males consorted with 1.3 females, revealing a low polygyny rate. Pregnant or lactating females selectively shifted to deciduous woods. That some habitat types may favour a good reproduction forms a key factor for species conservation and environmental management. Nevertheless, such as in various vertebrates, habitat requirements seem to be based on simple broad features of habitat, suggesting that habitat avoidance rather than habitat preference can explain polecat habitat predilection.
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Tanaka, Toshiaki, Hideki Sugiura, and Nobuo Masataka. "Sound transmission in the habitats of Japanese macaques and its possible effect on population differences in coo calls." Behaviour 143, no. 8 (2006): 993–1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853906778623617.
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AbstractRecently, the acoustic features of coo calls were reported to differ between two populations of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata yakui), namely the Ohirayama and Yakushima populations. We hypothesized that this difference may arise through differences in the acoustic environments of the two habitats, and measured the degrees of transmission of pure tones (250-8000 Hz) and the coo calls of the two populations in each habitat. In the Ohirayama habitat, lower frequencies were transmitted more efficiently, and the low-pitched coo calls of the Ohirayama population showed significantly better transmission than the high-pitched calls of the Yakushima population. In the Yakushima habitat, the degrees of transmission of the calls of the two populations did not differ significantly. Therefore, the calls of the Ohirayama population possess acoustic features that allow better transmission in their own habitat, suggesting that the habitat acoustics may be a factor contributing to the population difference between the calls.
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Dickey-Collas, Mark, Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, Eileen Bresnan, Alexandra C. Kraberg, John P. Manderson, Richard D. M. Nash, Saskia A. Otto, Anne F. Sell, Jacqueline F. Tweddle, and Verena M. Trenkel. "Pelagic habitat: exploring the concept of good environmental status." ICES Journal of Marine Science 74, no. 9 (August 20, 2017): 2333–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsx158.
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Abstract Marine environmental legislation is increasingly expressing a need to consider the quality of pelagic habitats. This paper uses the European Union marine strategy framework to explore the concept of good environmental status (GES) of pelagic habitat with the aim to build a wider understanding of the issue. Pelagic ecosystems have static, persistent and ephemeral features, with manageable human activities primarily impacting the persistent features. The paper explores defining the meaning of “good”, setting boundaries to assess pelagic habitat and the challenges of considering habitat biodiversity in a moving medium. It concludes that for pelagic habitats to be in GES and able to provide goods and services to humans, three conditions should be met: (i) all species present under current environmental conditions should be able to find the pelagic habitats essential to close their life cycles; (ii) biogeochemical regulation is maintained at normal levels; (iii) critical physical dynamics and movements of biota and water masses at multiple scales are not obstructed. Reference points for acceptable levels of each condition and how these may change over time in line with prevailing oceanographic conditions, should be discussed by knowledge brokers, managers and stakeholders. Managers should think about a habitat hydrography rather than a habitat geography. Setting the bounds of the habitats requires a consideration of dimension, scale and gradients. It is likely that to deal with the challenges caused by a dynamic environment and the relevance of differing spatial and temporal scales, we will need to integrate multidisciplinary empirical data sets with spatial and temporal models to assess and monitor progress towards, or displacement from GES of the pelagic habitat.
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Kocheshkova, Оlga, Еlena Ezhov, Dmitry Dorokhov, and Evgenia Dorokhova. "Benthic communities and habitats in the near shore zone of the Curonian Spit (the south–eastern part of the Baltic Sea)." Baltica 27, special (February 20, 2014): 45–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.5200/baltica.2014.27.15.
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Benthic communities classified according to species diversity, abundance and composition of dominant complex were defined and mapped. Maps compiled represent the distribution of bottom sediment types, substrata, bathymetry and benthic communities in the pilot area. Combination of data on community distribution and several abiotic habitat features (grain size, substrate types, and photic conditions) allowed recognizing several benthic habitats, according to HELCOM habitat classification. New data on features of coastal benthic biotopes made evident the existence of unique seascape “ancient lagoon mud” in the study area and allowed recommending further establishment of new marine protected areas.
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Jenkins, Amy R., and Ernest R. Keeley. "Bioenergetic assessment of habitat quality for stream-dwelling cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri) with implications for climate change and nutrient supplementation." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 67, no. 2 (February 2010): 371–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f09-193.
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We used a bioenergetic model to determine if cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri ) abundance was related to net energy intake rates (NEI) and the proportion of suitable habitat and to evaluate potential changes in habitat quality due to climate change and stream fertilization efforts. We conducted monthly sampling of cutthroat trout, invertebrate drift, and physical habitat features in pool and riffle habitats. Fish in this study selected foraging positions that enabled them to maximize NEI, and most fish were capable of sustaining high growth rates from July to September. Mean NEI and the proportion of suitable habitat at sites were greater in pools relative to riffle habitats and declined from July to October, primarily due to a decline in temperature over the four months. Cutthroat trout biomass was significantly related to NEI and the proportion of suitable habitat at a site. Model simulations indicated that climate change might reduce habitat quality for small-bodied trout, while extending the growing season for larger fish. Increased food abundance provided only marginal changes to model outcomes, whereas reductions in food significantly reduced habitat quality.
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Knapp, Roland A., and Haiganoush K. Preisler. "Is it possible to predict habitat use by spawning salmonids? A test using California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita)." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 56, no. 9 (September 1, 1999): 1576–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f99-081.
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It is widely believed that stream salmonids select spawning sites based on water depth, water velocity, and substrate size. Attempts to predict spawning locations using these habitat features have met with little success, however. In this study, we used nonparametric logistic regression to determine what habitat features were associated with the locations chosen by spawning California golden trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss aguabonita). From this nonparametric model, we developed a parametric model that incorporated the habitat features most strongly associated with spawning sites and used this model to calculate the probability of use by spawning golden trout for specific stream locations. The overall nonparametric model was highly significant and explained 62% of the variation in spawning location. Four of the eight habitat variables, substrate size, water depth, water velocity, and stream width, had highly significant effects and alone explained 59% of the variation in spawning location. The results of a cross-validation procedure indicated that the parametric model generally provided a good fit to the data. These results indicate that location-specific probabilities of use were predictable based on easily measured habitat characteristics and that nonparametric regression, an approach still rarely used in ecological studies, may have considerable utility in the development of fish-habitat models. Given the escalating pace at which fish habitats are being altered, such models are increasingly important in predicting the effects of these alterations on populations.
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Rambaldini, D. A., and R. M. Brigham. "Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) foraging over native and vineyard habitats in British Columbia, Canada." Canadian Journal of Zoology 89, no. 9 (September 2011): 816–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z11-053.
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Optimal foraging theory predicts organisms will forage in habitats providing the most profitable prey. Human alterations to ecosystems may affect predators’ foraging activity by changing landscape features, prey types, and prey availability. Assessing the selection of foraging habitats in a heterogeneous landscape can provide data to improve land management and conservation policies. In Canada, the pallid bat ( Antrozous pallidus (LeConte, 1856); Vespertilionidae) is listed as threatened partly because of loss or modification of shrub–steppe habitat. Our purpose was to determine if vineyards provide a suitable surrogate for foraging habitat relative to native habitat. We used pitfall traps to compare prey abundance in each habitat and analyzed faeces to assess diet composition. Over 24 nights, we surveyed both habitats for foraging bats. Bats foraged over vineyards, but we recorded significantly more foraging activity over native habitat. We collected over 2000 arthropods in pitfall traps and found significantly more in native habitat compared with vineyards. Species eaten by pallid bats were present in both habitats. Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabidae) and Jerusalem crickets (Orthopthera: Stenopelmatidae) represented the principal prey. The use of vineyards by pallid bats for foraging suggests that while they are adapting to a changing landscape, reduced prey abundance in vineyards may negatively affect them over the long term.
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Lemke, Andreas, Sascha Buchholz, Ingo Kowarik, Uwe Starfinger, and Moritz von der Lippe. "Interaction of traffic intensity and habitat features shape invasion dynamics of an invasive alien species (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in a regional road network." NeoBiota 64 (March 24, 2021): 155–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.64.58775.
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Road corridors are important conduits for plant invasions, and an understanding of the underlying mechanisms is necessary for efficient management of invasive alien species in road networks. Previous studies identified road type with different traffic volumes as a key driver of seed dispersal and abundance of alien plants along roads. However, how the intensity of traffic interacts with the habitat features of roadsides in shaping invasion processes is not sufficiently understood. To elucidate these interactions, we analyzed the population dynamics of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), a common non-indigenous annual species in Europe and other continents, in a regional road network in Germany. Over a period of five years, we recorded plant densities at roadsides along four types of road corridors, subject to different intensities of traffic, and with a total length of about 300 km. We also classified roadsides in regard to habitat features (disturbance, shade). This allowed us to determine corridor- and habitat-specific mean population growth rates and spatial-temporal shifts in roadside plant abundances at the regional scale. Our results show that both traffic intensity and roadside habitat features significantly affect the population dynamics of ragweed. The combination of high traffic intensity and high disturbance intensity led to the highest mean population growth whereas population growth in less suitable habitats (e.g. shaded roadsides) declined with decreasing traffic intensity. We conclude that high traffic facilitates ragweed invasion along roads, likely due to continued seed dispersal, and can compensate partly for less suitable habitat features (i.e. shade) that decrease population growth along less trafficked roads. As a practical implication, management efforts to decline ragweed invasions within road networks (e.g. by repeated mowing) should be prioritized along high trafficked roads, and roadside with disturbed, open habitats should be reduced as far as possible, e.g. by establishing grassland from the regional species pool.
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KRASNOV, B. R., G. I. SHENBROT, S. G. MEDVEDEV, V. S. VATSCHENOK, and I. S. KHOKHLOVA. "Host–habitat relations as an important determinant of spatial distribution of flea assemblages (Siphonaptera) on rodents in the Negev Desert." Parasitology 114, no. 2 (February 1997): 159–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182096008347.
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We studied flea assemblages on rodents in different habitats of the Ramon erosion cirque in the Negev Desert to examine whether host–habitat relations influence flea spatial distribution. Eleven flea species parasitizing 12 rodent species were recorded. There was significant positive relationship between flea species richness and body mass of the host species; no relationships were found between relative richness of flea assemblage and either the number of habitats occupied by the host species or the size of host geographical range. The differences in pattern of flea parasitism among habitat types within host species were determined by both environmental features of a habitat and the specific pattern of habitat use by rodents. There was replacement of Xenopsylla conformis by Xenopsylla ramesis on Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus among different habitats. The results of ordination of the flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the flea assemblages were segregated mainly along 4 axes, which explained 86% of total variance. Each of the ordination axes corresponded with a change in flea species composition. The directions of these changes were (1) among-hosts within a habitat and (2) among-habitats within a host.
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Tentelier, Cédric, Nicolas Larranaga, Olivier Lepais, Aurélie Manicki, Jacques Rives, and Frédéric Lange. "Space use and its effects on reproductive success of anadromous Atlantic salmon." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 73, no. 10 (October 2016): 1461–71. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2015-0518.
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We combined habitat mapping, radio tracking of adults, redd mapping, and genetic parentage analysis on juveniles for 2 consecutive years to test eight predictions on the reproductive payoffs and individual features associated with space use tactics of anadromous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in a natural population. Regarding payoffs, we found that (1) males settled in better habitat, visited more redds, and tended to get more mates than males settled in poorer habitat; (2) they also sired more offspring; (3) the latter effect was stronger in the first year, when redds were more aggregated; and (4) female reproductive success increased with habitat quality in their home range, especially in the first year. For individual features, (5) individuals that settled earlier in their home range had better habitat for juvenile production, but only in the first year; (6) females were less mobile than males, especially in the second year; (7) larger males did not settle in better habitats than smaller males; and (8) smaller males were not more mobile than larger males.
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O’Connor, Bryan J., Nicolas J. Fryda, and Dustin H. Ranglack. "Effects of environmental and anthropogenic landscape features on mule deer harvest in Nebraska." PeerJ 6 (September 10, 2018): e5510. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.5510.
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Understanding the habitat use of wildlife species is important for effective management. Nebraska has a variety of habitat types, with the majority being covered by rangeland and cropland. These habitat types likely influence the harvest of mule deer (MD; Odocoileus hemionus) in Nebraska, but their specific effects are unknown, and moreover, harvest may also be influenced by the accessibility of deer habitats for hunters. We modeled which environmental and anthropogenic landscape features influenced harvest densities. Spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System was used to determine the mean values of environmental and anthropogenic landscape features at the county level. We then used a generalized linear model to determine which of those factors influenced MD harvest from 2014–2016. We found that NDVI amplitude, hunter effort, road density, terrain roughness, and canopy cover influence MD harvest in Nebraska. According to our model, MD harvest densities are significantly greater areas with NDVI amplitude ∼38, increasing hunter effort, road densities near 1,750 m/km2, increasing terrain roughness, and decreasing canopy cover. Understanding increased harvest densities of MD can be beneficial for wildlife managers, allowing for more efficient allocation of efforts and expenses by managers for population management.
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Lemon, R. E., and E. M. Date. "Sound Transmission: a Basis for Dialects in Birdsong?" Behaviour 124, no. 3-4 (1993): 291–312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156853993x00623.
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AbstractThe environmental adaptation hypothesis (EAH) regarding birdsong dialects or ncighbourhoods states that song similarities between neighbouring individuals arise because of common influences on their songs exerted by the acoustic environment of their habitat. An assumption of the hypothesis is that sounds are distorted differently by different types of habitat. A prediction of the hypothesis is that some songs or parts of songs transmit better than others, depending on the habitat of their origin. We tested the assumption and prediction by comparing the attenuation and differential attenuation of pure tones, decreases in modal frequencies of computer simulated songs of American redstarts (Setophaga ruticilla), and the decay of redstart songs and white noise at deciduous, coniferous and open forest sites. The songs were representative of those used by redstarts living in thc three habitats. Results supported the assumption of acoustic differences between habitats but did not support the prediction that some songtypes transmit with less distortion in specific habitats than in others. The EAH also predicts that individuals which inhabit similar vegetation should share more song features than individuals which inhabitat dissimilar vegetation. To test this prediciton samples of songs were taken from the three habitats in different years. There were significant associations by habitat in both samples, but only one of several variables measured was significant and the discriminating variable was not the same for the two periods. Considering together the tests of the assumption and the two predictions, we conclude that for American redstarts evidence of the influence of the acoustic features of habitat on the formation of song dialects is mixed and not convincing.
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Andersson, Luke C., and John D. Reynolds. "Habitat features mediate selective consumption of salmon by bears." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 75, no. 6 (June 2018): 955–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2017-0055.
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Salmon provide a key source of marine-derived nutrients to aquatic and surrounding terrestrial habitats in coastal areas of the North Pacific. Bears are a major predator of salmon and provide an important pathway for carcass transfer to riparian zones. We studied selective consumption of salmon (Oncorhynchus keta and Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) by bears (Ursus arctos and Ursus americanus) on 12 streams on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. We predicted that bears would select more energy-rich parts, and eat less of each fish (i.e., selective consumption), in streams with more prey and simpler habitat (i.e., streams that facilitate salmon capture). Bears were 12% more likely to consume fish selectively in narrow, shallow streams with less pool volume, where salmon are easier to catch, than in deep, wide streams. However, bears were also 21% more likely to selectively consume fish in streams with more wood obstacles and undercut banks, where hunting was predicted to be more difficult. This suggests that stream characteristics can have significant indirect effects on riparian nutrient subsidies to ecosystems through selective feeding by bears.
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Stenhouse, Ian J., and William A. Montevecchi. "Habitat utilization and breeding success in Leach's Storm-Petrel: the importance of sociality." Canadian Journal of Zoology 78, no. 7 (July 1, 2000): 1267–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z00-065.
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Models like "ideal-free distribution" that have been developed to predict the spatial distribution of animal populations typically assume that high densities will occur in preferred habitats. We investigated habitat utilization in Leach's Storm-Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) at the centre of the species' breeding range in the North Atlantic by comparing microhabitat features and breeding success in forest and open meadows on Great Island, Newfoundland. Leach's Storm-Petrels utilized forest more than open habitat. Overall, forest provided consistently better breeding habitat, with burrow density and activity and occupancy rates higher than in open habitat. A strong positive relationship between occupancy and both hatching and breeding success suggests that sociality plays an important role in habitat utilization and reproduction in Leach's Storm-Petrel.
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ŠÁLEK, MARTIN, VÍT ZEMAN, and RADOVAN VÁCLAV. "Habitat selection of an endangered European farmland bird, the Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana, in two contrasting landscapes: implications for management." Bird Conservation International 29, no. 1 (April 2, 2018): 144–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0959270918000060.
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SummaryEffective conservation measures for any bird species across their distribution ranges require detailed knowledge of landscape-specific differences in habitat associations. The Ortolan Bunting Emberiza hortulana is a farmland bird species, which experienced massive population declines during the recent decades and has become a conservation priority in many European countries. Thus, identification of the key habitat features is an important prerequisite for the conservation of the species. Here we investigate habitat associations of the Ortolan Bunting for the remaining breeding population of the species in the Czech Republic. This population is remarkable by its distribution in two markedly different environments – farmland and post-mining landscapes. The main objectives of this study were to identify habitat features associated with Ortolan Bunting occurrence within the two contrasting landscapes and at two spatial scales. Our results reveal a high degree of habitat plasticity by Ortolan Buntings in the Czech Republic which was revealed by the landscape- and scale- specific habitat associations. Habitat heterogeneity, in terms of compositional and configurational diversity, and the cover of bare ground were the most important predictors of Ortolan Bunting occurrence in both landscape types. In farmland, the species occurrence was positively associated with shrub and woody vegetation, poppy fields and set-asides, and negatively associated with grasslands, gardens/orchards, seedlings and urban habitats. In the post-mining landscape, the cover of herb vegetation and greater slope steepness and terrain ruggedness were most important habitat features. Ortolan Buntings in the post-mining landscape appear to avoid patches with a higher cover of shrub and woody vegetation, forests, seedlings and urban areas. We propose that conservation measures for Ortolan Buntings should focus on enhancing farmland habitat heterogeneity, but also on regulating the rate of succession in disturbed environments, such as post-mining landscapes.
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Hawkins, Charles P., Jeffrey L. Kershner, Peter A. Bisson, Mason D. Bryant, Lynn M. Decker, Stanley V. Gregory, Dale A. McCullough, et al. "A Hierarchical Approach to Classifying Stream Habitat Features." Fisheries 18, no. 6 (June 1993): 3–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1577/1548-8446(1993)018<0003:ahatcs>2.0.co;2.
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Carchini, Gianmaria, Marco Di Domenico, Tiziana Pacione, Angelo Giuseppe Solimini, and Carla Tanzilli. "Species distribution and habitat features in lentic Odonata." Italian Journal of Zoology 70, no. 1 (January 2003): 39–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/11250000309356494.
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PODENIENE, VIRGINIJA, HONG-YUL SEO, TAE-WOO KIM, and HYE-WOO BYUN. "First description of the last instar larva and pupa of the aquatic crane fly Limnorimarga limonioides (Alexander, 1945) (Diptera: Limoniidae)." Zootaxa 4338, no. 2 (October 24, 2017): 292. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4338.2.4.
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Descriptions, illustrations and habitat characteristics are given for the previously unknown larvae and pupae of the East Palaearctic monotypic aquatic crane fly genus Limnorimarga Alexander, 1945 collected from Korea in hygropetric habitats. Diagnostic features and phylogenetic relationships are discussed.
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Le Borgne, Hélène, and Daniel Fortin. "Functional responses in habitat use explain changes in animal–habitat interactions during forest succession." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 50, no. 6 (June 2020): 549–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjfr-2019-0099.
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The growing rate of resource extraction forces increasing numbers of late-seral species to occupy habitats that are in early stages of succession. Sustainable management must maintain habitat features that are required for recovery of these species, which may be challenging because their response to those features can vary following nonsystematic trends during stages of succession. We investigated whether simple movement rules could explain such variations by assessing how movements of a late-seral species, the red-backed vole (Myodes gapperi (Vigors, 1830)), vary during postlogging forest succession using the spool and line technique in recent cuts, mid-successional forests, and old-growth forests. We found that voles moved selectively along coarse woody material (CWM), and this selection was weaker in mid-successional forests. This change was best explained by a simple functional response, whereby voles selected CWM more strongly in stands where canopy cover availability was moderately high. Likewise, voles more rapidly left patches that had high canopy cover when it was less available in stands and tended to spend more time in patches with high CWM volumes. Our study demonstrates that the highly dynamic nature of animal–habitat relationships observed during forest succession can be summarized by a few simple functional responses in movement and habitat selection.
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de Gabriel Hernando, M., AA Karamanlidis, K. Grivas, L. Krambokoukis, G. Papakostas, and J. Beecham. "Habitat use and selection patterns inform habitat conservation priorities of an endangered large carnivore in southern Europe." Endangered Species Research 44 (March 11, 2021): 203–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/esr01105.
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Understanding the habitat use and selection patterns of endangered species is essential in developing management measures that will protect critical habitat and mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. This understanding is particularly important in areas with high anthropogenic pressures. To understand the ecological role of various habitat types in the conservation of an endangered large carnivore in southern Europe, with its distinct environmental conditions and predominantly anthropogenic landscapes, we studied 18 GPS-collared brown bears Ursus arctos in Greece. We examined the use and selection of habitats according to age and sex categories and behavioral status during 5 ecologically defined seasons. Areas with rough terrain were identified as important refuge areas and were used by all bears in late hyperphagia and emergence. All bears used areas closer to human-related habitat features during the night. Habitat selection was positive for areas with rough terrain and naturalized (i.e. abandoned or not intensive) crops and areas close to water courses, while high-altitude areas and roads were avoided. The selection or avoidance of other habitats varied across bear categories and between stationary and moving behavior. We recommend that the results of the study be used to develop guidelines for species conservation and allow for prioritizing management actions that will promote the conservation of bears in Greece. In particular, the habitat use patterns provide information on how to limit interactions between humans and bears in space and/or time, while the habitat selection patterns indicate suitable habitats that should be protected/improved based on their importance and ecological role for the species.
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Hamdan, Leila J., Justyna J. Hampel, Rachel D. Moseley, Rachel L. Mugge, Anirban Ray, Jennifer L. Salerno, and Melanie Damour. "Deep-sea shipwrecks represent island-like ecosystems for marine microbiomes." ISME Journal 15, no. 10 (April 22, 2021): 2883–91. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41396-021-00978-y.
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AbstractBiogeography of macro- and micro-organisms in the deep sea is, in part, shaped by naturally occurring heterogeneous habitat features of geological and biological origin such as seeps, vents, seamounts, whale and wood-falls. Artificial features including shipwrecks and energy infrastructure shape the biogeographic patterns of macro-organisms; how they influence microorganisms is unclear. Shipwrecks may function as islands of biodiversity for microbiomes, creating a patchwork of habitats with influence radiating out into the seabed. Here we show microbiome richness and diversity increase as a function of proximity to the historic deep-sea shipwreck Anona in the Gulf of Mexico. Diversity and richness extinction plots provide evidence of an island effect on microbiomes. A halo of core taxa on the seabed was observed up to 200 m away from the wreck indicative of the transition zone from shipwreck habitat to the surrounding environment. Transition zones around natural habitat features are often small in area compared to what was observed at Anona indicating shipwrecks may exert a large sphere of influence on seabed microbiomes. Historic shipwrecks are abundant, isolated habitats with global distribution, providing a means to explore contemporary processes shaping biogeography on the seafloor. This work is a case study for how built environments impact microbial biodiversity and provides new information on how arrival of material to the seafloor shapes benthic microbiomes.
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Colm, J. E., N. E. Mandrak, and B. L. Tufts. "Local habitat features explain the distribution of the imperiled grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus)." Canadian Journal of Zoology 97, no. 5 (May 2019): 479–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2018-0103.
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We investigated patterns of grass pickerel (Esox americanus vermiculatus Lesueur, 1846) distribution in three watersheds in Ontario, Canada, using site- and reach-scale habitat variables and fish community assemblage data to determine why this species occurs sporadically throughout watersheds despite abundant seemingly suitable, but unoccupied, habitat. Habitat and fish community data were collected using conventional field sampling methods, and reach-scale habitat data were compiled with the aid of a geographic information system. We found that occupied sites had lower baseflow indices and reach slopes but higher conductivity and agricultural land uses than unoccupied sites. More grass pickerel were detected when conductivity, channel cover, and wetlands in the floodplain were highest and bank slopes lowest; this is consistent with habitat preferences described elsewhere in its range. Habitat features at the site scale appeared more important than reach-scale features suggesting that grass pickerel may be using small habitat patches. This study identifies habitat elements important to grass pickerel and offers insights into management implications.
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Gerrity, S., T. Alestra, HS Fischman, and DR Schiel. "Earthquake effects on abalone habitats and populations in southern New Zealand." Marine Ecology Progress Series 656 (December 10, 2020): 153–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.3354/meps13458.
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The 2016 Mw 7.8 Kaikōura earthquake lifted 140 km of coastline on New Zealand’s South Island by up to 6.4 m. This caused extensive mortality and destruction of habitat critical for early life stages of blackfoot abalone Haliotis iris (called pāua), a species of cultural and commercial importance. The fishery for pāua was closed, at considerable financial loss to local communities. This study determined the extent to which habitats and populations of pāua survived along the coastline. With aerial imaging, the coast was categorised into broad habitats at a 10 m scale. This was used to select areas for in situ assessments of pāua populations and specific habitat features at 26 sites over 1.5 yr. We quantified key habitat features to identify correlates and potential drivers of pāua abundance and distribution. We found that despite extensive habitat degradation from uplift, erosion and sedimentation, abundant pāua in size classes <30 mm shell length indicated that successful settlement and juvenile recruitment had occurred soon after the earthquake. Pāua up to 170 mm shell length also survived in shallow habitats. A generalized linear mixed model showed that pāua were negatively influenced by the degree of uplift, and positively associated with the cover of unconsolidated layered rocks. Juvenile pāua (<85 mm) abundance was greatest at sites with <2.5 m of uplift. There was further recruitment 1.5 yr post-earthquake and evidence of good growth of the previous year’s cohort. Despite major disruption to this coastline, there appears to be very good potential for recovery of pāua and the fishery.
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Dussault, Christian, Réhaume Courtois, Jean Huot, and Jean-Pierre Ouellet. "The use of forest maps for the description of wildlife habitats: limits and recommendations." Canadian Journal of Forest Research 31, no. 7 (July 1, 2001): 1227–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/x01-038.
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We evaluated the reliability of forest maps for describing wildlife habitats. During the summer of 1997, we sampled 186 boreal forest stands located in Jacques-Cartier Park, Quebec. In each stand, we measured slope, crown closure, basal area, as well as tree height and age. We determined if map classifications, with regard to dominant species composition, density, tree height, tree age, and slope, correlated with field observations. We also measured lateral cover and deciduous browse availability, variables that are considered useful for the characterization of wildlife habitats, to examine how these habitat features were related to map classification. Age (57% of the sites correctly classified) and density (34%) were the variables for which map classification had the best and worst correspondence with field measurements, respectively. Dominant species on maps were correctly identified in <74, <55, and <40% of the sites in coniferous, mixed, and deciduous stands, respectively. The use of a simple classification method based on cover type alone resulted in improved correlations, since 94, 60, and 29% of the coniferous, mixed, and deciduous stands, respectively, were properly identified on maps. We related lateral cover and food availability to stand categories using the most reliable map variables. We conclude that forest maps are useful for describing major habitats at the stand level. When forest resource maps are to be used for studying habitat suitability, we recommend sampling a subset of stands to assess if important wildlife habitat features, which reflect species requirements, can be related to habitat characteristics as determined by the maps.
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Cortés-Arzola, Silvia Ventura, and Jorge L. León-Cortés. "Response of Beetle Assemblages (Insecta: Coleoptera) to Patch Characteristics and Habitat Complexity in an Ever-Expanding Urban Landscape in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico." Annals of the Entomological Society of America 114, no. 4 (May 7, 2021): 511–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/saab017.
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Abstract Insect diversity levels and change in remnant urban habitats have been poorly examined in Neotropical regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diversity and composition of foliage/shrub dwelling beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera) regarding the influence of patch attributes (i.e., patch size, connectivity, and surrounding matrix) and within-patch habitat complexity, in an urban landscape at Chetumal, Yucatán peninsula, Mexico. Despite the potential species-specific responses to urban landscape pattern, our study reveals that there are effects of patch spatial features and habitat complexity on overall beetle diversity. These effects are as follows: 1) relatively larger urban patches contained higher overall beetle richness, 2) beetle species composition varied significantly regarding understory vegetation structure and tree richness, and 3) patches of intermediate vegetation age had highest beetle richness. This research provides a case study of patch and habitat features related to Neotropical insect assemblages in urban settlements, underlying the importance of using ecological information to offer management recommendations in ever-expanding urban tropical settlements.
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Socolar, Jacob B., and David S. Wilcove. "Forest-type specialization strongly predicts avian responses to tropical agriculture." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 286, no. 1913 (October 23, 2019): 20191724. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.1724.
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Species’ traits influence how populations respond to land-use change. However, even in well-characterized groups such as birds, widely studied traits explain only a modest proportion of the variance in response across species. Here, we show that associations with particular forest types strongly predict the sensitivity of forest-dwelling Amazonian birds to agriculture. Incorporating these fine-scale habitat associations into models of population response dramatically improves predictive performance and markedly outperforms the functional traits that commonly appear in similar analyses. Moreover, by identifying habitat features that support assemblages of unusually sensitive habitat-specialist species, our model furnishes straightforward conservation recommendations. In Amazonia, species that specialize on forests along a soil–nutrient gradient (i.e. both rich-soil specialists and poor-soil specialists) are exceptionally sensitive to agriculture, whereas species that specialize on floodplain forests are unusually insensitive. Thus, habitat specialization per se does not predict disturbance sensitivity, but particular habitat associations do. A focus on conserving specific habitats that harbour highly sensitive avifaunas (e.g. poor-soil forest) would protect a critically threatened component of regional biodiversity. We present a conceptual model to explain the divergent responses of habitat specialists in the different habitats, and we suggest that similar patterns and conservation opportunities probably exist for other taxa and regions.
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Puranik, Sampada, Rajesh Ramavadh Pal, Ravi Prabhakar More, and Hemant J. Purohit. "Metagenomic approach to characterize soil microbial diversity of Phumdi at Loktak Lake." Water Science and Technology 74, no. 9 (August 9, 2016): 2075–86. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2016.370.
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Loktak, one of the largest freshwater lakes of India, is known for floating islands (Phumdi), being made up of a heterogeneous biomass of vegetation and soil. This ecological site represents an exclusive environmental habitat wherein the rhizospheric microbial community of Phumdi plays a key role in biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. A culture-independent whole genome shotgun sequencing based metagenomic approach was employed to unravel the composition of the microbial community and its corresponding functional potential at this environmental habitat. Proteobacteria (51%) was found to be the most dominant bacterial phylum followed by Acidobacteria (10%), Actinobacteria (9%) and Bacteroidetes (7%). Furthermore, Loktak metagenome data were compared with available metagenomes from four other aquatic habitats, varying from pristine to highly polluted eutrophic habitats. The comparative metagenomics approach aided by statistical analysis revealed that Candidatus Solibacter, Bradyrhizobium, Candidatus Koribacter, Pedosphaera, Methylobacterium, Anaeromyxobacter, Sorangium, Opitutus and Acidobacterium genera are selectively dominant at this habitat. Correspondingly, 12 different functional categories were found to be exclusively prevalent at Phumdi compared to other freshwater habitats. These differential features have been attributed to the unique habitat at Phumdi and correlated to the phenomenon of bioremediation at Loktak Lake.
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Knierim, Tyler. "Spatial ecology study reveals nest attendance and habitat preference of banded kraits (Bungarus fasciatus)." Herpetological Bulletin, no. 150, Winter 2019 (December 31, 2019): 6–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.33256/hb150.613.
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An understanding of the spatial ecology of species living in and around human-dominated habitats is needed to develop conflict mitigation strategies and predict how organisms cope with ongoing anthropogenic habitat alteration. Here we present the results of a six-month telemetry study in Thailand of the banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus), a venomous elapid snake. We quantified home range size and habitat use of three adult kraits (1 male, 2 females) in an agricultural habitat. The kraits travelled an average of 47.20 m ± 23.54 m between shelter sites and occupied home ranges of on average 21.45 ha ± 19.56 ha (95 % dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Models). They preferred to seek day time refuge amongst less disturbed habitat features, including waterways and rice paddy dykes, while avoiding routinely disturbed monoculture fields. The two female kraits also exhibited reduced movement while simultaneously attending their nests in a shared burrow complex. Fifteen neonates were observed emerging from the nest site. We recommend further investigation of banded krait reproductive ecology and ability to persist in heavily disturbed habitats.
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Pesaresi, Simone, Adriano Mancini, Giacomo Quattrini, and Simona Casavecchia. "Mapping Mediterranean Forest Plant Associations and Habitats with Functional Principal Component Analysis Using Landsat 8 NDVI Time Series." Remote Sensing 12, no. 7 (April 2, 2020): 1132. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs12071132.
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The classification of plant associations and their mapping play a key role in defining habitat biodiversity management, monitoring, and conservation strategies. In this work we present a methodological framework to map Mediterranean forest plant associations and habitats that relies on the application of the Functional Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) to the remotely sensed Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) time series. FPCA, considering the chronological order of the data, reduced the NDVI time series data complexity and provided (as FPCA scores) the main seasonal NDVI phenological variations of the forests. We performed a supervised classification of the FPCA scores combined with topographic and lithological features of the study area to map the forest plant associations. The supervised mapping achieved an overall accuracy of 87.5%. The FPCA scores contributed to the global accuracy of the map much more than the topographic and lithological features. The results showed that (i) the main seasonal phenological variations (FPCA scores) are effective spatial predictors to obtain accurate plant associations and habitat maps; (ii) the FPCA is a suitable solution to simultaneously express the relationships between remotely sensed and ecological field data, since it allows us to integrate these two different perspectives about plant associations in a single graph. The proposed approach based on the FPCA is useful for forest habitat monitoring, as it can contribute to produce periodically detailed vegetation-based habitat maps that reflect the “current” status of vegetation and habitats, also supporting the study of plant associations.
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Gallant, D., L. Vasseur, M. Dumond, E. Tremblay, and C. H. Bérubé. "Habitat selection by river otters (Lontra canadensis) under contrasting land-use regimes." Canadian Journal of Zoology 87, no. 5 (May 2009): 422–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z09-035.
Full textAbstract:
Habitat preferences of river otters ( Lontra canadensis (Schreber, 1777)) are well known, but because most studies were conducted in regions with markedly low or high levels of anthropogenic disturbances, it is not well known how their habitat usage is affected by varied anthropogenic disturbances and land-use regimes on a regional scale. We studied habitat use by otters in eastern New Brunswick, Canada, in an area having both protected and disturbed riparian habitats. Using long-range winter riparian transects, we documented activity-sign distribution along riverbanks in relation to 12 habitat factors and 9 categories of anthropogenic disturbances. We documented variables at site with activity signs and at habitat stations along riverbanks at 500 m intervals. We used logistical regressions and Akaike’s information criterion in an information–theoretic approach to compare models and determine the important factors involved. Habitat-related factors were more important than anthropogenic ones in describing habitat use. The best performing models were those incorporating both habitat and anthropogenic factors. Beaver ( Castor canadensis Kuhl, 1820) ponds were the most important habitat factor, while fields were the most important anthropogenic factor. Our results indicate that otters responded mostly to the presence of habitat features they use and secondarily to the presence of anthropogenic structures or activities in an area.
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Pike, David A., Kelley S. Peterman, and Jay H. Exum. "Habitat structure influences the presence of sand skinks (Plestiodon reynoldsi) in altered habitats." Wildlife Research 35, no. 2 (2008): 120. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr07119.
Full textAbstract:
We studied a fossorial endemic lizard (the sand skink, Plestiodon reynoldsi) to determine habitat structural and vegetation associations in altered habitats at micro-, local, and macroscales. Lizards were present in each of the structural categories and vegetation types we studied, although active orange groves negatively influenced distribution and relative density (determined as the proportion of coverboards within a sampling plot containing signs of sand skink presence). Conversely, relative densities were highest in forested habitats, which contain structural features similar to natural habitats. Sand skinks readily used the two soil types at our site, although the greatest densities were in sampling plots containing both types. We conclude that conditions are suitable for sand skink habitation within a variety of habitats with different structures, including those altered by humans. However, in all cases the underlying soil was also loose and dry, making fossorial locomotion possible for this species. Three lines of evidence suggest that populations in altered habitats were resident, rather than transient: (1) sand skinks are still present in altered habitats more than 35 skink generations after alteration occurred; (2) there was no relationship between sand skink density and distance to natural habitat; and (3) a very small portion of our site (<2%) consisted of natural habitat, which is most likely too small to be a long-term source population to nearby altered habitats. Our results indicate that although P. reynoldsi is often considered habitat-specific, this notion may be due to focusing sampling efforts on natural rather than disturbed habitats. Therefore, relying on preconceived notions of habitat associations may not be sufficient to understand the ecological relationships and local-scale distribution of this threatened species. Using such misinformation may lead to the design and implementation of inadequate conservation plans that ignore altered habitats in which focal species occur.
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Prior, Kent A., and Patrick J. Weatherhead. "Habitat Features of Black Rat Snake Hibernacula in Ontario." Journal of Herpetology 30, no. 2 (June 1996): 211. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1565512.
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