scholarly journals Gender is not a relevant matter in habitat selection of the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi Ginsburg, 1933 (Teleostei: Syngnathidae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 194-198
Author(s):  
Natalie V Freret-Meurer
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Strong Association ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Sargassum Vulgare ◽  
Selection Of

Habitat selection in certain species may vary according to context and environmental conditions. Sexual differences regarding habitat use have been reported for several species, such as mammals, birds and fish, and have been explained by protection and food resource contexts. This issue is not well studied in seahorses, but it may provide useful data for the management of threatened species. The Longsnout Seahorse has recently been considered near threatened, but many gaps regarding its habitat use are still noted. Seahorses display a particular breeding characteristic, in which males carry the embryos inside a breeding pouch, therefore leading to supposed careful selection of breeding habitats, avoiding predation risks and choosing habitats with high prey availability. In this context, this study aimed to verify differences in habitat selection between male and female Longsnout Seahorse Hippocampus reidi specimens along the coast of the state of Rio de Janeiro. This study took place at 11 sites along the Rio de Janeiro coastline, in southeastern Brazil. Random belt transects (20x5m) were assessed, searching for seahorses and their holdfasts. Random quadrats (50x50cm) divided into 100 cells/each were placed along the transects and benthic cover was counted, in order to establish substrate availability. Results suggested that males select fewer substrate types than females, but no statistical difference was detected. Both male and female H. reidi specimens select mostly Sargassum vulgare as a frequent habitat. The strong association of H. reidi to these seaweed beds suggests vulnerability concerning the degradation of this habitat.

scholarly journals Habitat complexity and lifetime predation risk influence mesopredator survival in a multi-predator system

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Gigliotti ◽  
Rob Slotow ◽  
Luke T. B. Hunter ◽  
Julien Fattebert ◽  
Craig Sholto-Douglas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Apex Predators ◽  
Acinonyx Jubatus ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Variability in habitat selection can lead to differences in fitness; however limited research exists on how habitat selection of mid-ranking predators can influence population-level processes in multi-predator systems. For mid-ranking, or mesopredators, differences in habitat use might have strong demographic effects because mesopredators need to simultaneously avoid apex predators and acquire prey. We studied spatially-explicit survival of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in the Mun-Ya-Wana Conservancy, South Africa, to test hypotheses related to spatial influences of predation risk, prey availability, and vegetation complexity, on mesopredator survival. For each monitored cheetah, we estimated lion encounter risk, prey density, and vegetation complexity within their home range, on short-term (seasonal) and long-term (lifetime) scales and estimated survival based on these covariates. Survival was lowest for adult cheetahs and cubs in areas with high vegetation complexity on both seasonal and lifetime scales. Additionally, cub survival was negatively related to the long-term risk of encountering a lion. We suggest that complex habitats are only beneficial to mesopredators when they are able to effectively find and hunt prey, and show that spatial drivers of survival for mesopredators can vary temporally. Collectively, our research illustrates that individual variation in mesopredator habitat use can scale-up and have population-level effects.

Habitat selection by the Puerto Rican yellow-chinned anole, Anolis gundlachi

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (7) ◽  
pp. 983-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier A Rodríguez-Robles ◽  
Manuel Leal ◽  
Jonathan B Losos
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Evolutionary Dynamics ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Woody Substrates ◽  
Selection Of

Habitat selection can directly affect the fitness of an individual and the evolutionary dynamics of the population to which that organism belongs. We studied habitat use of the Puerto Rican yellow-chinned anole (Anolis gundlachi Peters, 1876) to examine whether this arboreal lizard uses its environment in a nonrandom manner. Males and females preferred woody vegetation substrates over nonwoody plants and sierra palms (Prestoea acuminata var. montana (Graham) A. Henderson and G. Galeano) as perching sites, and they also selected wider vegetation than what was randomly available. Selection for minimizing conspicuousness to potential predators and for increased locomotion capacity may help explain the preference for woody substrates and broader surfaces, respectively. Anolis gundlachi relies almost exclusively on visual cues for foraging and social interactions, and using wider perches also increases an individual's ability to scan a larger proportion of its territory. Our findings thus indicate that the nonrandom habitat use of free-ranging A. gundlachi leads to the selection of perching substrates that may increase performance of ecologically relevant capabilities.

Habitat use by female western roe deer (Capreolus capreolus): influence of resource availability on habitat selection in two contrasting years

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 1052-1062 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Pellerin ◽  
C. Calenge ◽  
S. Saïd ◽  
J.- M. Gaillard ◽  
H. Fritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Roe Deer ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Capreolus Capreolus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Distribution Of Resources ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Selection Of

In most previous studies of habitat selection, the use of a given habitat type is assumed to be directly proportional to its availability. However, the use and (or) the selection of a given habitat may be conditional on the availability of that habitat. We aim here to (i) identify the environmental variables involved in habitat selection, (ii) identify classes of individuals with similar patterns of habitat selection, and (iii) assess whether habitat use changes with changing availability of habitat types, within monthly home ranges of female western roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus (L., 1758)). We found that some females adjust their habitat use according to the distribution of resources within habitats. Females with similar home ranges in terms of resource quantity and quality showed similar patterns of habitat selection. Differences in habitat use between 2 years with contrasting resource availability showed that temporal changes of environmental conditions influenced the pattern of habitat selection by female roe deer. Habitat selection also differed between periods of the life cycle likely because of contrasted energy requirements. This study shows that the relationship between habitat use by herbivores and habitat availability is nonproportional, and that the availability of resources influences use mostly at intermediate values.

scholarly journals Feeding habits of the leaf litter frog Haddadus binotatus (Anura, Craugastoridae) from two Atlantic Forest areas in southeastern Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-249 ◽  
Author(s):  
LÍVIA COCO ◽  
VITOR N.T. BORGES JÚNIOR ◽  
LUCIANA A. FUSINATTO ◽  
MARA C. KIEFER ◽  
JANE C.F. OLIVEIRA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
The State ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Espírito Santo ◽  
Espirito Santo ◽  
Two Populations

Haddadus binotatus is an endemic anuran of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and currently, there is no information about the diet of this species. We analyzed the diet of two populations of this anuran in two states in southeast Brazil. Samplings were carried out in 2004 in the state of Rio de Janeiro and in 2009 and 2010 in the state of Espírito Santo. Haddadus binotatus presented a rich diet composition, preying 19 prey types. Orthoptera, Coleoptera, and Blattodea were the most important preys in the Rio de Janeiro population, and Orthoptera, Araneae and Hemiptera were the most important in the Espírito Santo population. The diet composition differed numerically between the two localities, but not in terms of volume, which can reflect local differences in the prey availability in the two habitats. The jaw width limited the size of prey, which is expected for predators who swallow the preys without chewing. The proportion of individuals with empty stomachs was higher in the Rio de Janeiro population (39.2%) than in the Espírito Santo population (17.9%), suggesting that the former could be in a lower energy balance. The females of the species were larger than the males, which may result from the production of larger eggs.

scholarly journals Space and Habitat Use by Male and Female Raccoons, Procyon lotor, in Kansas

2003 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan F. Kamler ◽  
Philip S. Gipson
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Procyon Lotor ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Behavioral Strategies ◽  
Seasonal Differences ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Grassland Habitats

We monitored 12 radio-tagged adult Raccoons (Procyon lotor) from an unexploited population in northeastern Kansas to determine intersexual differences in space and habitat use. Home ranges (mean ± SE) of males were relatively large (266 ± 14 ha) and mutually exclusive, whereas home ranges of females were relatively small (122 ± 52 ha) and overlapped extensively. Sizes of home ranges were smaller (P < 0.05) in winter than summer for both sexes, although females reduced their home ranges more than males. Females used more grassland habitats than males during summer (P < 0.05), whereas males used more grassland habitats than females during winter (P < 0.05). Seasonal differences in habitat selection was detected for females (P < 0.05), but not males. Intersexual differences in space and habitat use were likely related to different behavioral strategies employed by male and female Raccoons.

scholarly journals Fine-scale habitat selection of Chilean dolphins (Cephalorhynchus eutropia): interactions with aquaculture activities in southern Chiloé Island, Chile

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 119-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Ribeiro ◽  
Francisco A. Viddi ◽  
José Luís Cordeiro ◽  
Thales R.O. Freitas
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Behavioural Determinants ◽  
Entire Study Area ◽  
Selection Of

Fine-scale habitat selection of Chilean dolphins was studied between January and April 2002 through shore-based theodolite tracking in order to investigate the environmental and behavioural determinants of habitat use, and to evaluate the interactions between this species and aquaculture activities in Yaldad Bay, southern Chile. During 293.5 h of effort, movement and habitat selection patterns of dolphins exhibited a significantly concentrated use of only 21% of the entire study area. Correspondence analysis showed that shallow waters (5–10 m), proximity to coast and rivers were the most significant environmental parameters determining fine-scale dolphin distribution patterns, with foraging the most frequently observed activity. Aquaculture activities in the area were observed to affect dolphin habitat use patterns by restricting space available for biologically important dolphin behaviours.

Habitat use and selection by takin in the Qinling Mountains, China

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Bo Yan ◽  
Zhi-Gao Zeng ◽  
Hui-Sheng Gong ◽  
Xiang-Bo He ◽  
Xin-Yu Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
Landscape Scale ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Large Species ◽  
Qinling Mountains ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Forest Habitats ◽  
Selection Of

Context Understanding habitat use and selection by threatened ungulates is a crucial prerequisite to prioritise management areas and for developing effective conservation strategies. Aims The aim of our research was to determine the habitat use and selection of takins (Budorcas taxicolor) in the middle range of the Qinling Mountains, China. Methods The study was conducted from August 2013 to August 2015. Global positioning system (GPS) radio-tracking was used to monitor 10 collared takins to gain their location information. The Manly–Chesson selectivity index and Bonferroni-adjusted 95% confidence intervals were applied to determine which habitats were selected. Key results Habitat use and selection by takins showed obvious individual differences. At the landscape scale, all of the four most common habitat types were preferred by takins. However, all takins avoided artificially planted larch forest, and farmland and village. Available habitats within the home ranges also mostly included the four common habitat types. At the home-range scale, all individuals had significant habitat selectivity during the entire tracking period and each season. The habitat use and selection within the home range varied obviously with season and showed sexual differences to a certain extent. Conclusions The habitat selection by takins is scale-dependent. At the landscape scale, takins are most likely to occur at sites covered by forest. At both landscape and home-range scales, our results indicated that takins need more diverse forest habitats, but none of the four most common forest habitats is essential for survival of this species. Implications The present work has provided more insight into the habitat use and habitat selection of takins in mountainous forest landscapes. Many measures such as maintaining a diversity of forest habitats, avoiding habitat alteration by invasion of exotic plants, and increasing the area of available habitats by relocating the villages from within to outside of the reserve are recommended to conserve this large species.

scholarly journals Prey and habitat distribution are not enough to explain predator habitat selection: addressing intraspecific interactions, behavioural state and time

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Grenier-Potvin ◽  
Jeanne Clermont ◽  
Gilles Gauthier ◽  
Dominique Berteaux
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Nest Density ◽  
Habitat Distribution ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
Egg Hatching ◽  
Prey Distribution ◽  
Behavioural State ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background Movements and habitat selection of predators shape ecological communities by determining the spatiotemporal distribution of predation risk. Although intraspecific interactions associated to territoriality and parental care are involved in predator habitat selection, few studies have addressed their effects simultaneously with those of prey and habitat distribution. Moreover, individuals require behavioural and temporal flexibility in their movement decisions to meet various motivations in a heterogeneous environment. To untangle the relative importance of ecological determinants of predator fine-scale habitat selection, we studied simultaneously several spatial, temporal, and behavioural predictors of habitat selection in territorial arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) living within a Greater snow goose (Anser caerulescens atlantica) colony during the reproductive season. Methods Using GPS locations collected at 4-min intervals and behavioural state classification (active and resting), we quantified how foxes modulate state-specific habitat selection in response to territory edges, den proximity, prey distribution, and habitats. We also assessed whether foxes varied their habitat selection in response to an important phenological transition marked by decreasing prey availability (goose egg hatching) and decreasing den dependency (emancipation of cubs). Results Multiple factors simultaneously played a key role in driving habitat selection, and their relative strength differed with respect to the behavioural state and study period. Foxes avoided territory edges, and reproductive individuals selected den proximity before the phenological transition. Higher goose nest density was selected when foxes were active but avoided when resting, and was less selected after egg hatching. Selection for tundra habitats also varied through the summer, but effects were not consistent. Conclusions We conclude that constraints imposed by intraspecific interactions can play, relative to prey distribution and habitat characteristics, an important role in the habitat selection of a keystone predator. Our results highlight the benefits of considering behavioural state and seasonal phenology when assessing the flexibility of predator habitat selection. Our findings indicate that considering intraspecific interactions is essential to understand predator space use, and suggest that using predator habitat selection to advance community ecology requires an explicit assessment of the social context in which movements occur.

scholarly journals Gametogenesis in Madracis decactis Lyman, 1859 (Cnidaria, Scleractinia) from Ilha Grande Bay (Rio de Janeiro), southeastern Brazil

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Muramatsu ◽  
Fábio Lang da Silveira
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Simultaneous Presence ◽  
Histological Techniques ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Histological Sections

Collections were made every two months in Ilha Grande Bay, Rio de Janeiro, for 21 months (August/2004-May/2006) to study the gametogenesis of Madracis decactis Lyman, 1859. A total of 1800 polyps were examined using standard histological techniques. Madracis decactis is a hermaphroditic species whose male and female gametes develop within different mesenteries. Oogenesis begins in October, while spermatogenesis begins at the end of February, both reaching maturity at the end of April. The peak of reproductive activity occurred between February and April, when all the polyps were fertile, containing mainly stage III oocytes. Examination of fertile polyps indicated the simultaneous presence of stages I, II and III for oogenesis and I, II, III and IV for spermatogenesis. No embryos or planulae were observed in the histological sections. The gametes or planulae spawning may occur between April and May.

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