Scrub–Shrub Bird Habitat Associations at Multiple Spatial Scales in Beaver Meadows in Massachusetts

The Auk ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Chandler ◽  
David I. King ◽  
Stephen Destefano
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales ◽  
Bird Habitat

scholarly journals Spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variation in the association of fishes (family Labridae) with rocky-reef habitats

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (7) ◽  
pp. 870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason K. Morton ◽  
William Gladstone
Keyword(s):  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Habitat Variability ◽  
Life History Stages ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales ◽  
Habitat Specialisation ◽  
Rocky Reefs

Habitat variability is an important factor structuring fish assemblages of rocky reefs in temperate Australia. Accepting the generality of this model requires that habitat-related variation is consistent through time, across multiple spatial scales, and applies to all life-history stages. We used repeated underwater visual surveys at multiple spatial scales over a 22-month period to test whether three distinct rocky-reef habitats had different wrasse assemblages and whether these assemblages were subject to spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variability. Overall, the strongest and most consistent habitat association was with sponge gardens, which had the most distinct assemblage, and the greatest species richness and density of individuals. Habitat associations in fringe and barrens were less consistent. A substantial increase in the abundance of small individuals, coinciding with warmer sea temperatures, contributed to temporal fluctuations in the density of wrasses. Overall, habitats were not strongly partitioned among larger individuals of the most abundant species, suggesting that adults are largely habitat generalists whereas small, recruiting individuals showed greater habitat specialisation. The present study emphasises the importance of incorporating spatial, temporal and ontogenetic variability into surveys of fish assemblages to understand more fully the dynamics of temperate rocky-reef systems.

scholarly journals Sources and Expectations for Hierarchical Structure in Bird-habitat Associations

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
William B. Kristan
Keyword(s):  
Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Bird Habitat

Abstract Hierarchical structure in bird-habitat associations can arise from hierarchical structure in environmental variables and from the scale-dependent responses of birds to habitat. Hierarchical structure in environmental variables is expected to result from interactions between variables that differ in grain size (spatial resolution) and frequency, and should occur commonly. Birds cannot accurately sample habitat characteristics at all spatial scales simultaneously, and the habitat chosen for a given purpose may differ depending on whether a bird samples from high above the ground (which is best for sampling coarse-grained variables) or from ground level (which is best for sampling fine-grained variables). Additionally, birds may exhibit an absolute response to a habitat variable, if it is unsuitable beyond some threshold level, or a relative response, if all available habitat is suitable but some is preferred. Models that can represent hierarchical structure in habitat, as well as hierarchical, scale-dependent responses by birds, should provide researchers the best chance of understanding avian habitat associations.

scholarly journals A Variance-decomposition Approach to Investigating Multiscale Habitat Associations

The Condor ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua J. Lawler ◽  
Thomas C. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Variance Decomposition ◽  
Relative Strength ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Decomposition Approach ◽  
Analytical Technique ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales

Abstract The recognition of the importance of spatial scale in ecology has led many researchers to take multiscale approaches to studying habitat associations. However, few of the studies that investigate habitat associations at multiple spatial scales have considered the potential effects of cross-scale correlations in measured habitat variables. When cross-scale correlations in such studies are strong, conclusions drawn about the relative strength of habitat associations at different spatial scales may be inaccurate. Here we adapt and demonstrate an analytical technique based on variance decomposition for quantifying the influence of cross-scale correlations on multiscale habitat associations. We used the technique to quantify the variation in nest-site locations of Red-naped Sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) and Northern Flickers (Colaptes auratus) associated with habitat descriptors at three spatial scales. We demonstrate how the method can be used to identify components of variation that are associated only with factors at a single spatial scale as well as shared components of variation that represent cross-scale correlations. Despite the fact that no explanatory variables in our models were highly correlated (r < 0.60), we found that shared components of variation reflecting cross-scale correlations accounted for roughly half of the deviance explained by the models. These results highlight the importance of both conducting habitat analyses at multiple spatial scales and of quantifying the effects of cross-scale correlations in such analyses. Given the limits of conventional analytical techniques, we recommend alternative methods, such as the variance-decomposition technique demonstrated here, for analyzing habitat associations at multiple spatial scales.

Evaluating habitat associations of a fish assemblage at multiple spatial scales in a minimally disturbed stream using low-cost remote sensing

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon D. Cheek ◽  
Timothy B. Grabowski ◽  
Preston T. Bean ◽  
Jillian R. Groeschel ◽  
Stephan J. Magnelia
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales

Inhibition of coral settlement at multiple spatial scales by a pervasive algal competitor

2019 ◽  
Vol 612 ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
NR Evensen ◽  
C Doropoulos ◽  
KM Morrow ◽  
CA Motti ◽  
PJ Mumby
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Coral Settlement ◽  
Multiple Spatial Scales
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