Landscape Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Competitive exclusion drives termite community assembly process on islands","authors":"Yuanyuan Luo, Donghao Wu, Changlu Weng, Wenjie Zhou, Mingjian Yu, Aiying Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01922-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01922-z","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Abiotic filtering, including environmental and dispersal filtering, is frequently observed resulting in reduced diversity and more similar species assemblages following habitat fragmentation. Nonetheless, the significance of competitive exclusion is often underestimated.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We investigated the dominant assembly process among termite communities on land-bridge islands, focusing on species known for their high territoriality. We hypothesized that competitively superior species tend to dominate more favorable habitats, such as larger and less isolated islands. Consequently, we anticipated lower diversity and greater similarity in species assemblages than would be expected.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Termite communities were surveyed using standardized transects on 24 islands. We quantified the standardized effects of island area and isolation on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity by comparing observed patterns with randomly generated communities (i.e., stochastic process). A phylogenetic generalized linear mixed model (PGLMM) was conducted to examine species-specific responses to environmental factors and competition intensity (i.e., heterospecific abundance).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>We found that taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity were lower than expected on larger and less isolated islands, suggesting that competitive exclusion was the dominant mechanism shaping termite communities in TIL. PGLMM showed that two fungus-growing species with larger body sizes increased with competition intensity, while other species exhibited negative responses. Notably, the abundance of fungus-growing species showed sharper increase with island area and decrease with isolation compared to other feeding groups. These findings demonstrate that competitively superior species prefer high-quality habitats and are more sensitive to habitat fragmentation.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Our study highlights the significance of competitive exclusion in shaping termite communities and emphasizes the need to consider both competitive and niche difference among species or functional groups when predict changes in community structure and biodiversity loss resulting from habitat fragmentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142186391","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Landscape properties and density dependence shape the movement patterns of three threatened butterflies","authors":"Markus Franzén, John Askling, Oskar Kindvall, Victor Johansson, Johanna Sunde, Anders Forsman","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01963-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01963-4","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Conservation of endangered species necessitates an in-depth understanding of their ecological requirements. Particularly in landscape ecology, the behavioural tendencies of threatened butterfly species in Gotland, a biodiversity-rich island in the Baltic Sea, become crucial.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>The primary aim of this study was to elucidate the movement patterns of three threatened butterfly species—<i>Euphydryas aurinia</i>, <i>Parnassius apollo</i>, and <i>Phengaris arion</i>—in Gotland and to identify the influence of specific land characteristics on these patterns.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Our study, conducted from 2017 to 2020 across 60 km² in Gotland, involved detailed capture-mark-recapture (CMR) efforts of 29,584 captures including 16,223 unique butterflies. We investigate the departure and arrival events of butterflies, specifically focusing on the associations between movements when individuals leave or enter a hectare grid different from their previously recorded location and key landscape features: open vegetated land, ground moisture, and forest cover. We model landscape features to examine the interplay between these and butterfly movement patterns, providing insights into preferred landscape features and conservation strategies.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Among the 4821 arrivals and 5083 departures documented, the species exhibited differential responses to the evaluated habitat features. Both <i>E. aurinia</i> and <i>P. apollo</i> displayed a positive density-dependent dispersal, while <i>P. arion’s</i> movements were not significantly associated with any of the examined habitat features. Landscape properties like open vegetated land and ground moisture index statistically influenced the likelihood of arrival and departure.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>The study accentuates the relationship between land cover and the behavioural tendencies of the subject butterfly species. It has broader implications for the targeted habitat management strategies that would benefit threatened butterfly populations in Gotland.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"6 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142224328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment and forecast of the water-related nature’s contributions to people on the Loess Plateau from a spatial flow perspective","authors":"Yu Han, Yanxu Liu, Xutong Wu, Qing Zhang","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01959-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01959-0","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Integrating the spatial flow perspective, temporal trade-off perspective, and future tendency perspective enables a comprehensive assessment of nature’s contributions to people (NCPs). However, assessments that integrate these perspectives and combine them with regional ecological restoration policy remain limited.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Based on the perspective of spatial flow and considering the two dimensions of nature’s contributions and people’s needs, we assessed and forecasted water-related NCPs, including water yield (NCP6), water purification (NCP7), and soil conservation (NCP8), from the Loess Plateau to downstream regions of the Yellow River in China.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>To forecast the future tendencies of the NCPs and their temporal trade-offs, we simulate land use changes based on rapid landscape restoration and slow landscape restoration under five shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs) from 2020 to 2100.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The results showed that the spatial distributions of the values of the three NCPs differ greatly from the corresponding values of nature’s contributions. The soil conservation NCP and water purification NCP will decrease under all scenarios, while the water yield NCP will be stable in most of the scenarios except SSP3. The soil conservation NCP showed a faster decrease under R2 compared to R1, with the highest rate observed at 2.11%. Conversely, the water purification NCP and water yield NCP experienced a faster decrease under R1 than under R2, with rates of 8.61% and 14.30% respectively. The rapid landscape restoration will have a more positive impact on the soil conservation NCP, and a more negative impact on the other two water-related NCPs than the slow landscape restoration.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>This assessment provides a forecast of the future benefits of landscape restoration from dual dimensions of nature’s contributions and people’s needs, indicating the importance of integrating the future changes in both dimensions when making regional landscape restoration policy.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"72 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142186393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plants, fungi, and carabid beetles in temperate forests: both observed and dark diversity depend on habitat availability in space and time","authors":"Kersti Riibak, Norbertas Noreika, Aveliina Helm, Maarja Öpik, Ene Kook, Liis Kasari-Toussaint, Madli Jõks, Bruno Paganeli, Oscar Zárate Martínez, Hardi Tullus, Tea Tullus, Reimo Lutter, Ede Oja, Andres Saag, Tiina Randlane, Meelis Pärtel","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01960-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01960-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>The loss of ancient forests threatens many species. Effective nature conservation needs information on how forest availability in the surrounding landscape in space and time determines the diversity of multiple taxa.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We explored the relationship between forest availability at different spatiotemporal scales and the diversity of various groups: vascular plants (woody species, ground layer), epiphytes (bryophytes and lichens), fungi (ectomycorrhizal, arbuscular mycorrhizal, pathogenic, saprotrophic), and carabid beetles. Besides the observed diversity, we also estimated dark diversity, i.e. suitable but absent species. Dark diversity is theoretically a sensitive metric in detecting ecosystem conditions as it is typically relatively large and contains susceptible species.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We recorded the observed diversity by field sampling and soil DNA in 100 temperate ancient old-growth forest sites in southern Estonia; dark diversity was estimated for the same sites using species co-occurrence data. Forest availability estimates were obtained from four topographic maps (1900s-2010s) at the 0.5–5 km radius.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The biodiversity of forest specialists was higher at larger historical forest availability at the spatial scale of 2–5 km radius. The diversity of light-demanding forest ecotone taxa mainly had negative relationships with young forests on previous agricultural lands (at 0.5–2 km radius). Dark diversity models were often more strongly associated with forest availability than observed diversity models.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Dark diversity enhances our understanding of how current and historical forest availability affects local biodiversity. As young forests cannot provide suitable habitats for many forest-dwelling species, stable forest habitats must be preserved as source areas to enhance biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"159 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142186392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and temporal ecology of Cerdocyon thous: a mesopredator canid coping with habitat loss, fragmentation, and chronic anthropogenic disturbances","authors":"Tamara Santos, Paulo Henrique Marinho, Eduardo M. Venticinque, Carlos Roberto Fonseca","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01913-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01913-0","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Human activities are reducing the amount and quality of natural landscapes. Understanding how such changes affect the spatial and temporal ecology of mammal populations will enable us to foresee how communities will be structured in the Anthropocene.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Here, we evaluated how the occupancy, intensity of use, and activity patterns of the mesopredator canid <i>Cerdocyon thous</i> are affected by topographic variation, habitat amount, fragmentation and chronic anthropogenic disturbances.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>Camera trapping data were obtained between May and September 2014 in 179 sampling points within ten priority areas for conservation in a seasonally dry tropical forest (Caatinga) in Brazil, totaling an effort of 6,701 camera.days. We use occupancy models for analyzed occupancy, generalized linear models (GLM) for the intensity of use and kernel density curve for activity pattern.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p><i>Cerdoyon thous</i> benefited from human disturbance, showing greater occupancy and intensity of use near anthropogenic habitats, fragmentation, human density and cattle density. Moreover, temporal analyses showed that it modulates its daily activity according to habitat amount, human density, cattle density and altitude. However, <i>C. thous</i> tends to avoid areas with excess of fire, logging and infrastructures.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>These results allow us to understand the mechanisms that contribute to the dominance of generalist mesocarnivores in human-dominated environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"2022 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142186425","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial multi-objective optimization towards low-carbon transition in the Yangtze River Economic Belt of China","authors":"Haiyue Fu, Mengmeng Cai, Penghui Jiang, Ding Fei, Chuan Liao","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01941-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01941-w","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>In the context of urbanization and climate change, optimizing land use patterns is fundamental for sustainable regional development and low-carbon transition. However, achieving sustainable land use patterns that support a low-carbon transition while maintaining economic prosperity remains challenging.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Our goals are to develop a model for low-carbon transition and explore strategies for optimizing land use given future land use constraints.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We propose a multi-objective optimization approach to explore land use transitions towards low carbon by considering emissions reduction, ecological protection, and economic development, taking Yangtze River Economic Belt of China was selected as a case study area for empirical research.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our research on Yangtze River Economic Belt of China from 2000 to 2020 reveals that the refined land use strategies, aiming at achieving a low-carbon transition by 2035, have the capacity to substantially reduce carbon emissions. Simultaneously, these strategies ensure the preservation of a higher ecosystem service value and enhance economic advantages. Our multi-objective optimized land use patterns reduce the emission growth by nearly 5% compared to the baseline. Meanwhile, our multi-objective optimized land use patterns demonstrate a nearly 7% growth rate in economic benefits and the ecosystem service value also shows slight improvement. Recognizing regional variations in sustainable land use patterns, we recommend customized local guidance towards aligning with these optimal outcomes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our study offers valuable policy insights for regional land use to facilitate a low-carbon transition, which can contribute to navigating the trade-offs between carbon reduction, ecological protection, and economic prosperity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142186394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Landscape structure influences the spatial distribution of urban bird attractiveness","authors":"Andres F. Suarez-Castro, Rachel R. Y. Oh, Ayesha I. T. Tulloch, Aletta Bonn, Richard A. Fuller, Jonathan R. Rhodes","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01950-9","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01950-9","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Landscape change affects biological diversity and the distribution of species traits related to spiritual, educational, and recreational benefits people derive from nature. These traits are associated with color, song and behavioral characteristics that influence people's perceptions of how attractive an assemblage is. However, the environmental variables that affect the spatial distribution of traits related to the attractiveness of biological diversity remain unexplored.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>We tested how landscape structure influences patterns of perceived bird attractiveness (trait diversity associated with colorfulness, behavioral and song categories) across an urbanization gradient.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We used data from standardized surveys of birds and landscapes within 42 landscape units of 1km² across the city of Brisbane in eastern Australia. We used structural equation modeling to test effects of landscape composition (built infrastructure, percentage of tree cover) and landscape configuration (fragmentation of tree cover) on mean bird community attractiveness. Relationships between individual traits and landscape structure were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression models.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our analysis across 82 bird species shows that the relative amount of built infrastructure in a landscape interacts with fragmentation to reduce the overall attractiveness of the landscape’s bird assemblage. However, built areas can exhibit high overall bird attractiveness where there is (1) reduced fragmentation and (2) increased diversity of vegetation structure that provides key habitats for many colorful species with a high diversity of calls. Relationships between bird attractiveness and landscape structure change when they are analyzed at the guild level (insectivores vs frugivores/nectarivores). In addition, body size moderates the effects of landscape structure on song complexity, personality, and color.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Small bodied, colorful and melodious species are negatively affected by built infrastructure and fragmentation. By learning how habitat loss and fragmentation affect the distribution of species-rich, attractive bird assemblages, our findings can inform how urban landscapes might be structured to increase people’s connection with nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"86 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141930996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Uncovering habitat associations and thresholds—insights for managing breeding waterfowl in Eastern Canada","authors":"Barbara Frei, Amelia R. Cox, Andrea Brown, Matthew E. Dyson, Shawn Meyer, Alan Hanson, Kristina Hick, Scott G. Gilliland, Christine Lepage, Mathieu Tétreault, Christian Roy","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01946-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01946-5","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Understanding how habitat influences species abundance is crucial in developing ecologically sound wildlife conservation management plans. Exploring habitat associations and ecological thresholds in species’ responses allows for better conservation and management on a landscape-scale.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>This work aimed to identify habitat drivers and response thresholds of waterfowl and waterbird species’ densities in eastern Canada to support key landscape-level decisions for habitat conservation and wetland management.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We developed predictive abundance models for 17 species across eastern Canada from 2001 to 2015 using data from four regional surveys and identified areas where prioritizing enhancement of wetlands would increase the breeding density of five priority waterfowl species.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Habitat associations and spatial abundance patterns varied across species, but most species responded strongly to forest composition, agriculture, and wetland features. Threshold effects occurred and varied among species, yet generally once 14% of a plot was covered in wetlands, positive effects of increased wetland diminished for most species. Our results allow for the targeting of investments in increasing wetland area along portions of eastern Canada that provide the best opportunities to increase breeding densities for priority waterfowl species.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>Understanding species-habitat associations and response thresholds allows for landscape management and planning and prioritization of limited resources. We suggest that management and wetland enhancement efforts for waterfowl in eastern Canada should be guided by predictive models and response thresholds of key habitat attributes to best prioritize actions that will have the biggest positive impact on multiple species.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141930993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Identification of landscape features structuring movement connectivity for Namibian elephants","authors":"A. N. Chan, P. Leimgruber, K. Werner, J. Stabach, G. Wittemyer","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01957-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01957-2","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>Human modification of landscapes poses a significant threat to wildlife, particularly in Africa where population growth and land conversion are expected to increase. Habitat loss and fragmentation have led to declines in wildlife populations, highlighting the need to identify and preserve critical habitats, including core use areas and connectivity between them. Most recently, the identification of habitat corridors has become a key objective.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Our study objectives are to (1) empirically quantify connectivity across the Kunene—Etosha landscape in Northwestern Namibia using GPS tracking data on wild African elephants, and (2) assess the landscape features (i.e., geologic, biotic, and human-made) influencing connectivity and corridor types (e.g., fast movement corridors versus slow multi-use movement corridors).</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We used GPS telemetry data from 66 elephants collared in Northwestern Namibia to empirically quantify connectivity using a graph theoretic approach and assess landscape features influencing connectivity. Based on the ‘movescape’ approach, we identify different types of corridors and examined how landscape features differed across these corridors using multiple regression models on locations classified into different types of use categories by machine learning algorithms.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Our results revealed strong variation in connectivity across the landscape, with paths of high connectivity near water sources between the study areas. We found that factors related to water sources and human presence primarily influenced connectivity. Water holes serve as hubs across the ecosystem for both male and female elephants with lower use areas peripheral to areas with water. Connectivity between Kunene and Etosha National Park was relatively rare among the collared elephants, but we highlight the key areas used to move between the two regions.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Water was the key feature structuring space use, and human presence influenced connectivity between water points, highlighting the importance of landscape planning in relation to limited water sources and human activities. Our results suggest that focusing management efforts on areas where water is limited for both elephants and humans will be important to reduce conflict and maintain ecosystem connectivity.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"3 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141968715","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Scale of effect of landscape patterns on resource selection by bobcats (Lynx rufus) in a multi-use rangeland system","authors":"Aidan B. Branney, Amanda M. Veals Dutt, Zachary M. Wardle, Evan P. Tanner, Michael E. Tewes, Michael J. Cherry","doi":"10.1007/s10980-024-01944-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-024-01944-7","url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Context</h3><p>There is a growing appreciation that wildlife behavioral responses to environmental conditions are scale-dependent and that identifying the scale where the effect of an environmental variable on a behavior is the strongest (i.e., scale of effect) can reveal how animals perceive and respond to their environment. In South Texas, brush management often optimizes agricultural and wildlife management objectives through the precise interspersion of vegetation types creating novel environments which likely affect animal behavior at multiple scales. There is a lack of understanding of how and at what scales this management regime and associated landscape patterns influence wildlife.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Objectives</h3><p>Our objective was to examine the scale at which landscape patterns had the strongest effect on wildlife behavior. Bobcats (<i>Lynx rufus</i>) our model species, are one of the largest obligated carnivores in the system, and have strong associations with vegetation structure and prey density, two aspects likely to influenced by landscape patterns. We conducted a multiscale resource selection analysis to identify the characteristic scale where landscape patterns had the strongest effect on resource selection.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>We examined resource selection within the home range for 9 bobcats monitored from 2021 to 2022 by fitting resource selection functions which included variables representing landcover, water, energy infrastructure, and landscape metrics (edge density, patch density, and contagion). We fit models using landscape metrics calculated at 10 different scales and compared model performance to identify the scale of effect of landscape metrics on resource selection.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>The scale of effect of landscape metrics occurred at finer scales. The characteristic scale for edge density and patch density was 30 m (the finest scale examined), and the characteristic scale for contagion occurred at 100 m. Bobcats avoided locations with high woody patch density and selected for greater woody edge density and contagion. Bobcats selected areas closer to woody vegetation and water bodies while avoiding herbaceous cover and energy development infrastructure.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusions</h3><p>A key step in understanding the effect of human development and associated landscape patterns on animal behavior is the identifying the scale of effect. We found support for our hypothesis that resource selection would be most strongly affected by landscape configuration at finer scales. Our study demonstrates the importance of cross-scale comparisons when examining the effects of landscape attributes on animal behavior.</p>","PeriodicalId":54745,"journal":{"name":"Landscape Ecology","volume":"28 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.2,"publicationDate":"2024-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141930994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}