Home‐range size and habitat use of European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus nesting in a complex plantation‐forest landscape

In Europe, the consequences of commercial plantation management for birds of conservation concern are poorly understood. The European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus is a species of conservation concern across Europe due to population depletion through habitat loss. Pine plantation‐forest is now a key Nightjar nesting habitat, particularly in northwestern Europe, and increased understanding of foraging habitat selection is required. We radiotracked 31 Nightjars in an extensive (185‐km²) complex conifer plantation landscape in 2009 and 2010. Home‐range 95% kernels for females, paired males and unpaired males were an order of magnitude larger than song territories of paired males, emphasizing the importance of habitats beyond the song territory. Nightjars travelled a mean maximum distance of 747 m from the territory centre each night. Home‐range placement relative to landscape composition was examined by compositional analysis. Pre‐closure canopy forest (aged 5–10 years) was selected at all scales (MCP, 95% and 50% kernels), with newly planted forest (aged 0–4 years) also selected within 50% kernels. For telemetry fixes relative to habitat composition within 2 km of their territory centre, individuals again selected pre‐closure and newly planted forest, and also grazed grass heath. Open ungrazed habitat was not selected, with implications for open habitat planning for biodiversity conservation within public‐owned forests. Despite the Nightjars’ selection for younger growth, moth biomass was greater in older forest stands, suggesting that foraging site selection reflects ease of prey capture rather than prey abundance. Within large plantation‐forest landscapes, a variety of growth stages is important for this species and our results suggest that grazing of open habitats within and adjacent to forest will additionally benefit the European Nightjar.     

Genetic evidence for a complex of species within Rugopharynx australis (Mönnig, 1926) (Nematoda: Stronglyloidea) from macropodid marsupials

An electrophoretic analysis using 17 enzyme loci was carried out on specimens of the gastric nematode of macropodid marsupials, Rugopharynx australis (Mönnig, 1926), collected from Macropus eugenii (Desmarest), M. fuliginosus (Desmarest), M. giganteus Shaw, M. robustus Gould, M. rufogriseus (Desmarest), M. rufus (Desmarest), Thylogale billardierii (Desmarest) and Wallabia bicolor (Desmarest) from south-eastern Australia. The extent of fixed genetic differences between nematodes from different host species ranged from 0–53%. The two distinct morphological forms of the parasite found in M. rufogriseus differed at 50% of loci. Specimens present in M. fuliginosus and M. giganteus were indistinguishable genetically, as were nematodes from M. rufus and M. robustus. Of the two morphologically distinct congeners included in the analysis as controls, Rugopharynx epsilon (Johnston & Mawson, 1939) was genetically distinct (46–69% fixed genetic differences) from all specimens of the R. australis complex while R. rufogrisea Magzoub, 1964 was closely related to one of the two species occuring in M. rufogriseus. It was concluded that R. australis is a species complex, with a genetically distinct species present in M. eugenii, M. fuliginosus/M. giganteus, M. robustus/M. rufus, W. bicolor and T. billardierii, and two species in M. rufogriseus.     

Foraging in a risky environment: a comparison of Bennett's wallabies Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) and red‐bellied pademelons Thylogale billiardierii (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in open habitats

Abstract This study aimed to establish whether red‐bellied pademelons (Thylogale billiardierii) and Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus) alter their foraging distribution in open habitat, in response to food availability and distance to protective shelter, the latter used as a measure of predation risk. Scat counts were used as a measure of the presence or absence of these macropods over two plantations (Russell and Dunalley). These plantations differed in both their on‐site food and shelter characteristics (the presence or absence of windrows). Logistic regression indicated that at Russell, which had low food availability but the presence of on‐site shelter, probability of scats of both species increased with the percentage cover of both edible and inedible vegetation. The probability of both pademelon and wallaby scats decreased with increasing distance from windrows, but increased with increasing distance from forest at the plantation edge. Logistic regression indicated that at Dunalley, which had high food availability but no on‐site shelter, the probability of scats of both species increased with an increase in the percentage cover of edible vegetation. In relation to predation risk, however, the two species differed in their response. Pademelons exhibited a decrease in scat probability with increasing distance from the forest at the plantation edge, while wallabies showed an increase in scat probability with distance from the forest at the plantation edge. Results indicated some differences in antipredation strategies of the two species, which may be a function of differences in body size.     

Additive partitioning of aquatic invertebrate species diversity across multiple spatial scales

1. Additive partitioning of three measures of diversity (species richness, Shannon's diversity index H and Simpson's diversity D) was used to study the relationship between local and regional diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities of boreal lakes (littoral habitats) and streams (riffle habitats) across three spatial scales (sampling sites, ecoregions and biogeographic regions). 2. Alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity are defined as within‐habitat and between‐habitat diversity, respectively. According to the concept of additive partitioning, diversity can be partitioned across multiple spatial scales such that the total (γ) diversity on one spatial scale becomes within‐habitat (α) diversity at the next higher scale. Hence, the total diversity at one scale is determined by the α diversity and the between‐habitat diversity (β) at the next lower scale. Consequently, one of the advantages of additive partitioning is that it is possible to study simultaneously β diversity and the regional‐local species relationship and the scale dependence of α and β components. 3. For both lakes and streams α diversity was low for sites and ecoregions, whereas β diversity was high, indicating that among‐site factors are important in describing the variability among the lakes and streams studied here. 4. Weak, albeit significant, evidence was found for regional and local species saturation patterns. Multiple stepwise regression indicated that local processes might be more important in structuring lake‐littoral and stream‐riffle species assemblages than regional processes. From these results we conclude that environmental heterogeneity may act as an important factor contributing to species coexistence, resulting in the observed saturation patterns. 5. Our study supports the use of additive partitioning for identifying specific patterns of macroinvertebrate diversity on multiple spatial scales and the underlying processes generating these patterns. This information is needed to improve understanding of the relation between patterns and processes affecting (decreasing) trends in aquatic biodiversity.     

Inter‐ and intraspecific effects of body size on habitat use among sexually‐dimorphic macropodids

Body size affects key life‐history parameters including dietary requirements and predation risk. We examined these effects on diel habitat use in a community of three sexually‐dimorphic macropodid marsupial species: western grey kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus, red‐necked wallaby M. rufogriseus and swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor. In particular, our study seeks evidence of these effects operating concurrently at the intra‐ and interspecific levels. We used radio‐tracking to quantify habitat use and characterised each used location by recording the cover of plant functional groups and the presence of plant species. During nocturnal foraging periods we predicted that smaller animals (between and within species) should use habitats with higher‐quality forage, which is often less abundant, than larger animals, as metabolic demand scales with body size. During diurnal resting periods we predicted that smaller animals (between and within species), being more vulnerable to predation, should use greater concealment cover than larger animals. Western grey kangaroos and swamp wallabies behaved as predicted during foraging periods, but red‐necked wallabies did not, using more open, poorer‐quality habitats than expected. Only western grey kangaroos showed a within‐species effect on habitat use: the relatively smaller females foraged in higher‐quality patches. Habitats used by animals during the resting period generally offered greater concealment cover than those used during the foraging period, but there were no clear body size effects on the density of vegetation used. In our system, body size alone could not explain all of the observed patterns, suggesting that there may also be individual differences in habitat requirements influenced by factors such as reproductive costs, predation risk and social facilitation.     

Abundance and night-time habitat use patterns of Ponto-Caspian gobiid species (Pisces, Gobiidae) in the littoral zone of the River Danube, Hungary

We examined the abundance and meso‐habitat use of gobiid species during both day and night along 43 stretches (500‐m long) of the littoral zone at five locations of the Middle Danube, Hungary, in spring and in summer 2004. Electro‐fishing catch per unit effort sampling revealed significantly higher relative densities at night than during the day. Gobiids occupied all the available habitats encountered during sampling. Habitat‐abundance relationships from night‐time samples revealed that the two most abundant species, round goby Neogobius melanostomus and bighead goby Neogobius kessleri, were found in highest relative density along gravel beach and artificial rip‐rap habitats; these species were in relatively low density in sandy areas. Monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis was more abundant in natural shorelines than in rip‐rap habitats and dispersed more consistently between sandy and gravel beaches. Tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus demonstrated great plasticity in meso‐habitat use. In conclusion, Ponto‐Caspian gobies occurred rather consistently along the Hungarian section of the Danube, occupying all available habitats examined. Abundance‐habitat relations suggest plasticity in meso‐habitat use but partial segregation between species. Further studies are required at multiple spatial scales to assess how micro‐ and meso‐habitat use varies with fluctuating population densities.     

A Hierarchical Analysis of Habitat Selection by Raccoons in Northern Indiana

Abstract: Although numerous studies have examined habitat use by raccoons (Procyon lotor), information regarding seasonal habitat selection related to resource availability in agricultural landscapes is lacking for this species. Additionally, few studies using radiotelemetry have investigated habitat selection at multiple spatial scales or core-use areas by raccoons. We examined seasonal habitat selection of 55 (31 M, 24 F) adult raccoons at 3 hierarchical orders defined by the movement behavior of this species (second-order home range, second-order core-use area, and third-order home range) in northern Indiana, USA, from May 2003 to June 2005. Using compositional analysis, we assessed whether habitat selection differed from random and ranked habitat types in order of selection during the crop growing period (season 1) and corn maturation period (season 2), which represented substantial shifts in resource availability to raccoons. Habitat rankings differed across hierarchical orders, between seasons within hierarchical orders, and between sexes within seasons; however, seasonal and intersexual patterns of habitat selection were not consistent across hierarchical orders of spatial scale. When nonrandom utilization was detected, both sexes consistently selected forest cover over other available habitats. Seasonal differences in habitat selection were most evident at the core-area scale, where raccoon selection of agricultural lands was highest during the maturation season when corn was available as a direct food source. Habitat use did not differ from availability for either sex in either season at the third-order scale. The selection of forest cover across both seasons and all spatial orders suggested that raccoon distribution and abundance in fragmented landscapes is likely dependent on the availability and distribution of forest cover, or habitats associated with forest (i.e., water), within the landscape. The lack of consistency in habitat selection across hierarchical scales further exemplifies the need to examine multiple biological scales in habitat-selection studies.     

Spatial separation without territoriality in shark communities

Spatial separation within predator communities can arise via territoriality but also from competitive interactions among and within species. However, linking competitive interactions to predator distribution patterns is difficult and theoretical models predict different habitat selection patterns dependent on habitat quality and how competition manifests itself. While models generally consider competitors to be either equal in ability, or for one phenotype to have a fixed advantage over the other, few studies consider that an animal may only have a competitive advantage in specific habitats. We used  10 years of telemetry data, habitat surveys and behavioral experiments, to show spatial partitioning between and within two species of reef shark (grey reef Carcharhinus amblyrhinchos and blacktip reef sharks C. melanopterus) at an unfished Pacific atoll. Within a species, sharks remained within small ‘sub‐habitats’ with very few movements of individuals between sub‐habitats, which previous models have suggested could be caused by intra‐specific competition. Blacktip reef sharks were more broadly distributed across habitat types but a greater proportion used lagoon and backreef habitats, while grey reef sharks preferred forereef habitats. Grey reef sharks at a nearby atoll where blacktip reef sharks are absent, were distributed more broadly between habitat types than when both species were present. A series of individual‐based models predict that habitat separation would only arise if there are competitive interactions between species that are habitat‐specific, with grey reefs having a competitive advantage on the forereefs and blacktips in the lagoons and backreef. We provide compelling evidence that competition helps drive distribution patterns and spatial separation of a marine predator community, and highlight that competitive advantages may not be constant but rather dependent on habitats.     

Species composition,relative abundance and habitat association of small mammals along the altitudinal gradient of Jiren Mountain,Jimma, Ethiopia

To document the species composition, relative abundance and habitat association of small mammals, wet and dry season surveys were conducted along the altitudinal gradient of Jiren Mountain, Jimma area, Ethiopia. Sherman traps were used to capture small mammals from the six habitats: wetland, mixed plantation, open shrub, eucalyptus plantation, montane grassland and coffee plantation. The 393 trap nights, from the six habitat types, yielded 106 individual small mammals of tweleve species. The trapped rodents were Lophuromys flavopunctatus, Stenocephalemys albipes, Desmomys harringtoni, Mus mahomet, Lemniscomys barbarous, L. striatus, Tachyoryctes splendens, Mastomys natalensis and the insectivores Crocidura fumosa and C. turba. Two species of rodents Hystrix cristata and Helioscuirus gambianus were observed. Lophuromys flavopunctatus and S. albipes contributed 83.8% of the total capture. L. flavopunctatus, S. albipes and D. harringtoni were distributed in all habitats and gradients. T. splendens was captured from montane habitat, while the zebra mice were associated with the lower altitude habitats. Lophuromys flavopunctatus and M. natalensis extended their range deep into the coffee plantation habitats. Uncontrolled vegetation exploitation of the mountains for timber production and fire wood collection are the major threats. Conservation of the area to reduce the anthropogenic pressure is essential.     

Living on the edge: Multiscale habitat selection by cheetahs in a human‐wildlife landscape

Animals select habitats that will ultimately optimize their fitness through access to favorable resources, such as food, mates, and breeding sites. However, access to these resources may be limited by bottom‐up effects, such as availability, and top‐down effects, such as risk avoidance and competition, including that with humans. Competition between wildlife and people over resources, specifically over space, has played a significant role in the worldwide decrease in large carnivores. The goal of this study was to determine the habitat selection of cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) in a human‐wildlife landscape at multiple spatial scales. Cheetahs are a wide‐ranging, large carnivore, whose significant decline is largely attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation. It is believed that 77% of the global cheetah population ranges outside protected areas, yet little is known about cheetahs’ resource use in areas where they co‐occur with people. The selection, or avoidance, of three anthropogenic variables (human footprint density, distance to main roads and wildlife areas) and five environmental variables (open habitat, semiclosed habitat, edge density, patch density and slope), at multiple spatial scales, was determined by analyzing collar data from six cheetahs. Cheetahs selected variables at different scales; anthropogenic variables were selected at broader scales (720–1440 m) than environmental variables (90–180 m), suggesting that anthropogenic pressures affect habitat selection at a home‐range level, whilst environmental variables influence site‐level habitat selection. Cheetah presence was best explained by human presence, wildlife areas, semiclosed habitat, edge density and slope. Cheetahs showed avoidance for humans and steep slopes and selected for wildlife areas and areas with high proportions of semiclosed habitat and edge density. Understanding a species’ resource requirements, and how these might be affected by humans, is crucial for conservation. Using a multiscale approach, we provide new insights into the habitat selection of a large carnivore living in a human‐wildlife landscape.     

Influence of digestive morphology on resource partitioning in Amazonian ungulates

Summary Resource partitioning of diet and habitat use was studied in the entire Amazonian ungulate community of Northeastern Peru, which comprises the red brocket deer (Mazama americana), grey brocket deer (M. gouazoubira), collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu), white-lipped peccary (T. pecari), and lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris). Each ungulate species partitioned at least one type of resource from every other species. Digestive morphology had a greater influence on resource partitioning of diet than body size. Neither digestive morphology nor body size were related to segregation of habitats. However, species with similar diets partitioned habitats, whereas species with different diets often used the same type of forest. Increases in habitat breadth of ungulates were positively correlated with increases in dietary breadth.     

Niche partitioning between close relatives suggests trade‐offs between adaptation to local environments and competition

Niche partitioning among close relatives may reflect trade‐offs underlying species divergence and coexistence (e.g., between stress tolerance and competitive ability). We quantified the effects of habitat and congeneric species interactions on fitness for two closely related herbaceous plant species, Mimulus guttatus and Mimulus laciniatus, in three common habitat types within their sympatric range. Drought stress strongly reduced survival of M. guttatus in fast‐drying seeps occupied by M. laciniatus, suggesting that divergent habitat adaptation maintains this niche boundary. However, neither seedling performance nor congeneric competition explained the absence of M. laciniatus from shady streams where M. guttatus thrives. M. laciniatus may be excluded from this habitat by competition with other species in the community or mature M. guttatus. Species performance and competitive ability were similar in sympatric meadows where plant community stature and the growing season length are intermediate between seeps and streams. Stochastic effects (e.g., dispersal among habitats or temporal variation) may contribute to coexistence in this habitat. Habitat adaptation, species interactions, and stochastic mechanisms influence sympatric distributions for these recently diverged species.     

Niche partitioning and the effect of interspecific competition on microhabitat use by two sympatric galaxiid stream fishes

1. Numerous interacting abiotic and biotic factors influence niche use and assemblage structure of freshwater fishes, but the strength of each factor changes with spatial scale. Few studies have examined the role of interspecific competition in structuring stream fish assemblages across spatial scales. We used field and laboratory approaches to examine microhabitat partitioning and the effect of interspecific competition on microhabitat use in two sympatric stream fishes (Galaxias‘southern’ and Galaxias gollumoides) at large (among streams and among sites within streams) and small (within artificial stream channels) spatial scales. 2. Diurnal microhabitat partitioning and interspecific competition at large spatial scales were analysed among three sympatry streams (streams with allotopic and syntopic sites; three separate catchments) and four allopatry streams (streams with only allotopic sites; two separate catchments). Electro‐fishing was used to sample habitat use of fishes at 30 random points within each site by quantifying four variables for each individual: water velocity, depth, distance to nearest cover and substratum size. Habitat availability was then quantified for each site by measuring those variables at each of 50 random points. Diet and stable isotope partitioning was analysed from syntopic sites only. Diel cycles of microhabitat use and interspecific competition at small spatial scales were examined by monitoring water velocity use over 48 h in artificial stream channels for three treatments: (i) allopatric G. ‘southern’ (10 G. ‘southern’); (ii) allopatric G. gollumoides (10 G. gollumoides) and (iii) sympatry (five individuals of each species). 3. One hundred and ninety‐four G. ‘southern’ and 239 G. gollumoides were sampled across all seven streams, and habitat availability between the two species was similar among all sites. Galaxias‘southern’ utilised faster water velocities than G. gollumoides in both the field and in channel experiments. Both species utilised faster water velocities in channels at night than during the day. Diet differences were observed and were supported by isotopic differences (two of three sites). No interspecific differences were observed for the other three microhabitat variables in the field, and multivariate habitat selection did not differ between species. Interspecific competition had no effect on microhabitat use of either species against any variable either in the field (large scale) or in channels (small scale). 4. The results suggest that niche partitioning occurs along a subset of microhabitat variables (water velocity use and diet). Interspecific competition does not appear to be a major biotic factor controlling microhabitat use by these sympatric taxa at any spatial scale. The results further suggest that stream fish assemblages are not primarily structured by biotic factors, reinforcing other studies de‐emphasising interspecific competition.     

Habitat use by sympatric populations of Pseudomys novaehollandiae and Mus domesticus in coastal heathland

Abstract Patterns of habitat use by Pseudomys novaehollandiae and Mus domesticus were investigated on a 6. 8 ha area of coastal heathland, almost five years after it last burned in Myall Lakes National Park. One hundred and fifty-one trap stations were positioned on 17 traplines across a mosaic of interlocking macrohabitats. This pattern was a consequence of the site's topography and to a lesser extent fire history. Multivariate statistical procedures were employed to identify those microhabitat parameters that contribute to both individual species’ habitat use and the partitioning of habitat to reduce competition for space. Trapping results show P. novaehollandiae to be almost three times as abundant as M. domesticus at this time, although M. domesticus does show strong regional, and hence local, fluctuations in abundance over time. Both species exhibit habitat selection (P< 0. 05) with individuals preferring dry, tall closed heath and open heathland habitats. Immature P. novaehollandiae (< 15 g) were found mostly in short dense wet heath and may have been dispersing. Species exhibit high between-habitat overlap using Pianka's formula (0. 88). This overlap is substantially reduced within macrohabitats (0. 28), when trap stations are considered as resource states, suggesting a considerable degree of microhabitat separation at the trap station level. Discriminant function and multiple regression analyses identify microhabitat selection that is not strongly focused, suggesting both species to be spatial generalists. Elevation was selected as the most significant variable in these analyses and represents a soil moisture gradient that determines changes in the floristic and structural components of the biotic environment. No single habitat variable was found to explain within-habitat separation convincingly, however, when a factor analysis of habitat variables was used to produce a reduced three-dimensional factor space the outcome was marked. The 95% confidence envelopes for the distribution of each species show an extremely low overlap in factor space, with a zero overlap in the X-Y plane and less than 1% overlap in theY-Z plane. Differential micro-habitat selection does produce effective habitat partitioning, thus facilitating coexistence of these two species. We suspect this occurs primarily by M. domesticus altering habitat selection. There is evidence to suggest that M. domesticus acts as a fugitive species occupying resource niches left vacant by P. novaehollandiae and other small mammal species coexisting on the study area.     

Static habitat partitioning and dynamic selection by sympatric young Atlantic salmon and brown trout in south-west England streams

Direct underwater observation of micro‐habitat use by 1838 young Atlantic salmon Salmo salar [mean L_T 7·9 ± 3.1(s.d.) cm, range 3·19] and 1227 brown trout Salmo trutta (L_T 10·9 ± 5·0 cm, range 3·56) showed both species were selective in habitat use, with differences between species and fish size. Atlantic salmon and brown trout selected relatively narrow ranges for the two micro‐habitat variables snout water velocity and height above bottom, but with differences between size‐classes. The smaller fishes <7 cm held positions in slower water closer to the bottom. On a larger scale, the Atlantic salmon more often used shallower stream areas, compared with brown trout. The larger parr preferred the deeper stream areas. Atlantic salmon used higher and slightly more variable mean water velocities than brown trout. Substrata used by the two species were similar. Finer substrata, although variable, were selected at the snout position, and differences were pronounced between size‐classes. On a meso‐habitat scale, brown trout were more frequently observed in slow pool‐glide habitats, while young Atlantic salmon favoured the faster high‐gradient meso‐habitats. Small juveniles <7 cm of both species were observed most frequently in riffle‐chute habitats. Atlantic salmon and brown trout segregated with respect to use of habitat, but considerable niche overlap between species indicated competitive interactions. In particular, for small fishes <7 cm of the two species, there was almost complete niche overlap for use of water depth, while they segregated with respect to water velocity. Habitat suitability indices developed for both species for mean water velocity and water depth, tended to have their optimum at lower values compared with previous studies in larger streams, with Atlantic salmon parr in the small streams occupying the same habitat as favoured by brown trout in larger streams. The data indicate both species may be flexible in their habitat selection depending on habitat availability. Species‐specific habitat overlap between streams may be complete. However, between‐species habitat partitioning remains similar.     

Demography and feeding behavior of the kelp crab Taliepus marginatus in subtidal habitats dominated by the kelps Macrocystis pyrifera or Lessonia trabeculata

We studied the population and feeding ecology of the kelp crab Taliepus marginatus in subtidal kelp forests dominated by either of two morphologically different kelp species (Macrocystis pyrifera or Lessonia trabeculata) in northern Chile. The sizes and abundances of T. marginatus differed between the two kelp habitats. Kelp crabs were more abundant in the M. pyrifera forest than in the L. trabeculata forest. Size‐frequency distributions showed that juvenile and immature crabs were more common in the M. pyrifera forest than in the L. trabeculata forest, where reproductive adults predominated. The smaller crabs in the M. pyrifera habitat also consumed a higher proportion of kelp tissues than the larger crabs in the L. trabeculata habitat, which had a higher proportion of animal food in their diet. In both kelp forests, individuals of T. marginatus showed a similar pattern of nocturnal feeding over a 24‐h period, consuming more food at night than during the day. The more complex and dense forests of M. pyrifera appear to present better nursery habitats for juvenile kelp crabs than the more open and less dense forests dominated by L. trabeculata. These results suggest that the role of the two kelp habitats for T. marginatus varies during the life cycle of the kelp crabs, with M. pyrifera tending to have nursery function and L. trabeculata being more suitable as a reproductive habitat.     

Habitat selection by Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) is primarily driven by avoidance of human activity during day and prey availability during night

The greatest threat to the protected Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Central Europe is human‐induced mortality. As the availability of lynx prey often peaks in human‐modified areas, lynx have to balance successful prey hunting with the risk of encounters with humans. We hypothesized that lynx minimize this risk by adjusting habitat choices to the phases of the day and over seasons. We predicted that (1) due to avoidance of human‐dominated areas during daytime, lynx range use is higher at nighttime, that (2) prey availability drives lynx habitat selection at night, whereas high cover, terrain inaccessibility, and distance to human infrastructure drive habitat selection during the day, and that (3) habitat selection also differs between seasons, with altitude being a dominant factor in winter. To test these hypotheses, we analyzed telemetry data (GPS, VHF) of 10 lynx in the Bohemian Forest Ecosystem (Germany, Czech Republic) between 2005 and 2013 using generalized additive mixed models and considering various predictor variables. Night ranges exceeded day ranges by more than 10%. At night, lynx selected open habitats, such as meadows, which are associated with high ungulate abundance. By contrast, during the day, lynx selected habitats offering dense understorey cover and rugged terrain away from human infrastructure. In summer, land‐cover type greatly shaped lynx habitats, whereas in winter, lynx selected lower altitudes. We concluded that open habitats need to be considered for more realistic habitat models and contribute to future management and conservation (habitat suitability, carrying capacity) of Eurasian lynx in Central Europe.     

Resource selection by an ectothermic predator in a dynamic thermal landscape

Predicting the effects of global climate change on species interactions has remained difficult because there is a spatiotemporal mismatch between regional climate models and microclimates experienced by organisms. We evaluated resource selection in a predominant ectothermic predator using a modeling approach that permitted us to assess the importance of habitat structure and local real‐time air temperatures within the same modeling framework. We radio‐tracked 53 western ratsnakes (Pantherophis obsoletus) from 2010 to 2013 in central Missouri, USA, at study sites where this species has previously been linked to prey population demographics. We used Bayesian discrete choice models within an information theoretic framework to evaluate the seasonal effects of fine‐scale vegetation structure and thermal conditions on ratsnake resource selection. Ratsnake resource selection was influenced most by canopy cover, canopy cover heterogeneity, understory cover, and air temperature heterogeneity. Ratsnakes generally preferred habitats with greater canopy heterogeneity early in the active season, and greater temperature heterogeneity later in the season. This seasonal shift potentially reflects differences in resource requirements and thermoregulation behavior. Predicted patterns of space use indicate that ratsnakes preferentially selected open habitats in spring and early summer and forest–field edges throughout the active season. Our results show that downscaled temperature models can be used to enhance our understanding of animal resource selection at scales that can be addressed by managers. We suggest that conservation of snakes or their prey in a changing climate will require consideration of fine‐scale interactions between local air temperatures and habitat structure.     

Higher rates of sex evolve under K‐selection

The geographical distribution of sexual and related asexual species has been suggested to correlate with habitat stability; sexual species tend to be in stable habitats (K‐selection), whereas related asexual taxa tend to be in unstable habitats (r‐selection). We test whether this broad‐scale pattern can be re‐created at a microevolutionary scale by experimentally evolving populations of facultatively sexual rotifers under different ecological conditions. Consistent with the pattern in nature, we find that the rate of sex evolves to lower levels in the r‐selected than in K‐selection environments. We consider several different explanations for these results.