Fine-scale habitat use by the southern emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus)

Fine-scale variation in habitat structure and composition is likely to influence habitat use by avian species with limited flight capabilities. I investigated proportional use of available habitat and microhabitat by the southern emu-wren (Stipiturus malachurus), a threatened, flight-limited passerine, at three sites in Victoria, in relation to vegetation structure and composition. Emu-wrens appeared to discriminate between habitats with regard to structural rather than floristic characteristics. Habitats with dense vertical foliage of shrubs, grasses and sedges/rushes between ground level and 100 cm, and dense horizontal cover of medium to tall shrubs, were used most frequently. However, when availability of habitat was taken into account, habitat use was negatively correlated with the vertical density of low shrub foliage and species richness. Within habitats, emu-wrens more frequently used plant species that had a dense canopy cover (26 ± 2% of total cover, crown diameter 93 ± 5 cm), high foliage density between 50 and 100 cm, and average heights of ~1 m. Plant species in which the birds nested comprised ~14% of total canopy cover and were densest between ground level and 50 cm. Canopy cover, vegetation height and vertical foliage density were consistently important variables correlated with emu-wren habitat use at multiple fine-scales. This study provides valuable information for conservation management of the species; in particular, the restoration of degraded habitats.

Download Full-text

HABITAT UTILIZATION BY THE TEXAS HORNED LIZARD (PHRYNOSOMA CORNUTUM) FROM TWO SITES IN CENTRAL TEXAS

Journal of North American Herpetology ◽

10.17161/jnah.vi1.11921 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 28-33

Author(s):

Wesley M. Anderson ◽

David B. Wester ◽

Christopher J. Salice ◽

Gad Perry

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Ground Cover ◽

Plant Species Richness ◽

Phrynosoma Cornutum ◽

Vegetation Height ◽

Blue Mountain ◽

Texas Horned Lizard ◽

Central Texas ◽

Vegetation Encroachment

The Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum) is found in a variety of habitats. Although several studies have been conducted on habitat use by this species, none have been performed in central Texas, a more mesic habitat than most of those previously studied. This area is of special interest because horned lizard populations have been experiencing sharp declines in central Texas over the last approximately 50 years. We collected habitat data at two sites in central Texas, Camp Bowie and Blue Mountain Peak Ranch. Microhabitat data included canopy cover and ground cover from digitized photographs of Daubenmire quadrats; macrohabitat variables included vegetation height and length, cactus height, soil penetrability, woody plant species richness, tree density, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), and density of ant mounds collected along 100-m by 2-m transects. Similar patterns of habitat use were observed between the two sites. At Blue Mountain Peak Ranch, lizards appeared to be located in areas with a diversity of ground cover types, as observed in previous studies. At Camp Bowie, vegetation encroachment limited lizards in some areas to the use of roads and road margins. Implementation of prescribed burns or other vegetation management could create the preferred ground cover mosaic at such sites.

Download Full-text

Composition and diversity of bat assemblages at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and the adjacent farmlands, Kenya

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2018-0117 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 84 (2) ◽

pp. 121-135

Author(s):

Simon Musila ◽

Nathan Gichuki ◽

Ivan Castro-Arellano ◽

Ana Rainho

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Ground Level ◽

Eastern Africa ◽

Coastal Forests ◽

Structure Changes ◽

Under Sampling ◽

Acoustic Surveys ◽

The Rich ◽

Bat Diversity

AbstractRecognized as a global biodiversity hotspot, coastal forests in eastern Africa are currently reduced to fragments amidst human modified habitats. Managing for biodiversity depends on our understanding of how many and which species can persist in these modified areas. Aiming at clarifying how habitat structure changes affect bat assemblage composition and richness, we used ground-level mist nets at Arabuko-Sokoke Forest (ASF) and adjacent farmlands. Habitat structure was assessed using the point-centered quarter (PCQ) method at 210 points per habitat. We captured a total of 24 bat species (ASF: 19, farmlands: 23) and 5217 individuals (ASF: 19.1%, farmlands: 82.9%). Bat diversity was higher at ASF (H′, ASF: 1.48 ± 0.2, farm: 1.33 ± 0.1), but bat richness and abundance were higher in farmlands [Chao1, ASF: 19 (19–25), farmlands: 24 (24–32) species (95% confidence interval [CI])]. Understory vegetation and canopy cover were highest at ASF and the lower bat richness and abundance observed may be the result of the under-sampling of many clutter tolerant and high flying species. Future surveys should combine different methods of capture and acoustic surveys to comprehensively sample bats at ASF. Nonetheless, the rich bat assemblages observed in farmlands around ASF should be valued and landowners encouraged to maintain orchards on their farms.

Download Full-text

Display dispersion and micro-habitat use by the Malaysian peacock pheasant Polyplectron malacense in Peninsular Malaysia

Journal of Tropical Ecology ◽

10.1017/s0266467400007872 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 229-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Philip J. K. McGowan

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Forest Floor ◽

Habitat Structure ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Ground Level ◽

Peninsular Malaysia ◽

Objective Method ◽

Male Calling ◽

A Site

ABSTRACTThe spatial distribution of displaying Malaysian peacock pheasants was documented at a site in Peninsular Malaysia. Calling males were clustered and, therefore, were not evenly distributed throughout the available habitat. The location of these clusters differed between calling periods. An objective method of assessing micro-habitat structure at the forest-floor level was devised to investigate habitat use by displaying males. Habitat structure was measured at 197 points throughout the study site, both in areas used by the pheasant and in those areas not used by the pheasant. A DECORANA ordination revealed that two gradients explained much of the variation in micro-habitat structure. Male calling clusters were located in areas that were away from the river and more stable (e.g. fewer treefalls). Within these clusters, display scrapes were sited in areas that were more stable and were more influenced by the rivers than elsewhere within the area used by the calling males. It is suggested that the environmental gradients described by the ordination are more likely to determine the position of the calling cluster than individual habitat structure variables. Within calling clusters, however, it seems probable that the presence or absence of ground-level vegetation directly influences the siting of display scrapes.

Download Full-text

Surface-Based Observations Can Be Used to Assess Behavior and Fine-Scale Habitat Use by an Endangered Killer Whale (Orcinus orca) Population

Aquatic Mammals ◽

10.1578/am.42.2.2016.168 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 42 (2) ◽

pp. 168-183 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Dawn P. Noren ◽

Donna D. W. Hauser

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Killer Whale ◽

Orcinus Orca ◽

Fine Scale

Download Full-text

Vegetation Height and Diurnal Period Influenced the Landscape-Use Pattern of Small Ruminants in Woodlands around Summer

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020205 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 205

Author(s):

Shailes Bhattrai ◽

Uma Karki ◽

Sanjok Poudel

Keyword(s):

Feeding Behavior ◽

Animal Species ◽

Small Ruminants ◽

Ground Level ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Control Area ◽

Weather Data ◽

Vegetation Height ◽

Understory Shrubs ◽

Diurnal Period

Despite the huge potential of using woodlands for small ruminant grazing in the southeast US, unmanaged understory shrubs grown beyond animals’ access minimize the utilization of such vegetation. This study aimed to determine the effect of vegetation height and diurnal period on the behavior and distribution patterns of goats and sheep in woodlands around summer. The study was conducted in six woodland plots (0.4 ha each) comprising southern pines and non-pine (non-target) plant species. Non-pine plants in each study plot were assigned to four treatments: cut to 0 m, 0.9 m, or 1.5 m from the ground level or left uncut (control). Cut plant stubs were allowed to regrow to full canopy before stocking animals. Eight Kiko wethers and five Katahdin rams were rotationally stocked in separate plots, and their diurnal (dawn–dusk) behaviors and distribution patterns were monitored when they were in each plot (three plots per animal species) around the summer of 2018. Animal behavior data were analyzed using the general linear model (GLM) procedure with multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) in SAS, while animal distribution pattern and weather data were analyzed in SAS using a GLM procedure and the distribution evenness index (DEI) using the Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test in R. Level of significance was set at 5%. Both animal species visited the control area the least. Wethers browsed predominantly in areas where non-pine plants were cut to 0.9 m from the ground level, and rams grazed mostly in areas where non-pine plants were cut to the ground level, mostly during the post-midday period. Browsing was the dominant feeding behavior of wethers (39% browsing vs. 4% grazing), while rams’ feeding behavior was dominated with grazing (24% grazing vs. 12% browsing). Lying was a predominant diurnal behavior in both wethers (46%) and rams (35%), mostly during the midday period. Wethers had a higher value for DEI than rams during the morning and post-midday periods. This study established that (1) the utilization of woodland understory foliage by small ruminants can be increased by lowering plant height, and (2) both vegetation characteristics and diurnal period are important factors for influencing small ruminants’ behavior while stocked in woodlands around summer.

Download Full-text

Shifts in fine‐scale distribution and breeding success of boreal waterbirds along gradients in ice‐out timing and habitat structure

Freshwater Biology ◽

10.1111/fwb.13812 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hannu Pöysä ◽

Antti Paasivaara

Keyword(s):

Breeding Success ◽

Habitat Structure ◽

Fine Scale

Download Full-text

Very high resolution environmental predictors in species distribution models

Progress in Physical Geography Earth and Environment ◽

10.1177/0309133313512667 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 79-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 63

Author(s):

Jean-Nicolas Pradervand ◽

Anne Dubuis ◽

Loïc Pellissier ◽

Antoine Guisan ◽

Christophe Randin

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Species Distribution ◽

Species Distribution Models ◽

Environmental Data ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Distribution Models ◽

Model Quality ◽

Vegetation Height ◽

Very High

Recent advances in remote sensing technologies have facilitated the generation of very high resolution (VHR) environmental data. Exploratory studies suggested that, if used in species distribution models (SDMs), these data should enable modelling species’ micro-habitats and allow improving predictions for fine-scale biodiversity management. In the present study, we tested the influence, in SDMs, of predictors derived from a VHR digital elevation model (DEM) by comparing the predictive power of models for 239 plant species and their assemblages fitted at six different resolutions in the Swiss Alps. We also tested whether changes of the model quality for a species is related to its functional and ecological characteristics. Refining the resolution only contributed to slight improvement of the models for more than half of the examined species, with the best results obtained at 5 m, but no significant improvement was observed, on average, across all species. Contrary to our expectations, we could not consistently correlate the changes in model performance with species characteristics such as vegetation height. Temperature, the most important variable in the SDMs across the different resolutions, did not contribute any substantial improvement. Our results suggest that improving resolution of topographic data only is not sufficient to improve SDM predictions – and therefore local management – compared to previously used resolutions (here 25 and 100 m). More effort should be dedicated now to conduct finer-scale in-situ environmental measurements (e.g. for temperature, moisture, snow) to obtain improved environmental measurements for fine-scale species mapping and management.

Download Full-text