Spatial Ecology and Habitat Selection of Bullsnakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) at the Northern Periphery of Their Geographic Range

Copeia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (4) ◽  
pp. 815-826 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua M. Kapfer ◽  
James R. Coggins ◽  
Robert Hay
2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 328-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
MARTIN ŠÁLEK ◽  
MATĚJ LÖVY

SummaryInformation on habitat requirements and spatial ecology is vital in conservation strategies and management of particular species. Little Owl Athene noctua is a highly threatened owl species whose populations have significantly decreased or are locally extinct in many European countries. In this study we report on spatial ecology and habitat selection of Little Owls during their breeding season in an agricultural landscape and discuss key management actions for its conservation. The mean home range size of radio-tracked Little Owls, determined by the kernel method, was 0.94 ha (SD = 0.95, 0.24–2.72 ha) and 4.30 ha (SD = 3.75, 0.88–11.70 ha) for 50% and 95% home range, respectively. The smallest home ranges were recorded in April–June (incubation and nesting period) with a significant increase in July–August (fledging season). The most important foraging habitat during the entire breeding season was grassland (especially pastures) reaching 90% for all locations. Vegetation height and cover were the main factors determining habitat selection: Little Owls significantly preferred sparse and short sward vegetation patches that enabled hunting of ground-dwelling prey. Conservation efforts for Little Owls should focus on the active management of prey-rich grassland habitats in the vicinity of breeding sites.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 509-520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott W. Buchanan ◽  
Brad C. Timm ◽  
Robert P. Cook ◽  
Richard Couse ◽  
Lisa C. Hazard

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mayumi Sakuragi ◽  
Hiromasa Igota ◽  
Hiroyuki Uno ◽  
Koichi Kaji ◽  
Masami Kaneko ◽  
...  

Paléorient ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amiel Brosh ◽  
M. Ohel

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Yue Sun ◽  
Yanze Yu ◽  
Jinhao Guo ◽  
Minghai Zhang

Single-scale frameworks are often used to analyze the habitat selections of species. Research on habitat selection can be significantly improved using multi-scale models that enable greater in-depth analyses of the scale dependence between species and specific environmental factors. In this study, the winter habitat selection of red deer in the Gogostaihanwula Nature Reserve, Inner Mongolia, was studied using a multi-scale model. Each selected covariate was included in multi-scale models at their “characteristic scale”, and we used an all subsets approach and model selection framework to assess habitat selection. The results showed that: (1) Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the response scale of red deer to environmental factors was different among different covariate. The optimal scale of the single covariate was 800–3200 m, slope (SLP), altitude (ELE), and ratio of deciduous broad-leaved forests were 800 m in large scale, except that the farmland ratio was 200 m in fine scale. The optimal scale of road density and grassland ratio is both 1600 m, and the optimal scale of net forest production capacity is 3200 m; (2) distance to forest edges, distance to cement roads, distance to villages, altitude, distance to all road, and slope of the region were the most important factors affecting winter habitat selection. The outcomes of this study indicate that future studies on the effectiveness of habitat selections will benefit from multi-scale models. In addition to increasing interpretive and predictive capabilities, multi-scale habitat selection models enhance our understanding of how species respond to their environments and contribute to the formulation of effective conservation and management strategies for ungulata.


2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
Samukelisiwe P. Ngcobo ◽  
Amy-Leigh Wilson ◽  
Colleen T. Downs

Author(s):  
Svein Dale

AbstractIn boreal forests, food supplies typically have cyclic variations, and many species here fluctuate in numbers from year to year. One group of species showing large variations in population size is birds specialized on seeds from masting trees. Here, I analyze spatial patterns of a mass occurrence and habitat selection of the Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) during the breeding season in southeastern Norway in 2020 after a year with large seed crops from Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and Downy Birch (Betula pubescens). I found that Common Redpoll numbers increased with elevation and towards the northwest. Numbers were also strongly and positively correlated with snow depth in early April when snow was present mainly above 400 m elevation. Sites with snow cover in early April (30% of all sites) held 96.4% of all individuals recorded. Field observations indicated that Common Redpolls foraged extensively for spruce seeds on the snow until the end of May when young were independent. I suggest that the mass occurrence was due to a unique combination of exceptionally large seed crops of two tree species coinciding in the same year. The masting produced large amounts of food both for overwintering (birch seeds) and for breeding (spruce seeds), and during the breeding season snow cover facilitated access to food resources. Dependency of Common Redpolls on snow cover suggests that climate change may negatively impact some seed-eaters in boreal regions. On the other hand, higher temperatures may induce more frequent masting which may be beneficial for seed-eaters. Thus, climate change is likely to lead to complex ecosystem changes in areas where snow cover may disappear.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan Fatma Zuharah ◽  
◽  
Nik Fadzly ◽  
Wilson Kang Wei Ong ◽  
Zarul Hazrin Hashim ◽  
...  

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