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Kont R, Leivits M, Lõhmus A. Breaking out from a restricted range: alternative habitat models to assess population perspectives. J Nat Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2023.126365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
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Carpentier F, Martin O. Siland a R package for estimating the spatial influence of landscape. Sci Rep 2021; 11:7488. [PMID: 33820933 PMCID: PMC8021544 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-86900-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial distributions of populations are both influenced by local variables and by characteristics of surrounding landscapes. Understanding how landscape features spatially structure the frequency of a trait in a population, the abundance of a species or the species' richness remains difficult specially because the spatial scale effects of the landscape variables are unknown. Various methods have been proposed but their results are not easily comparable. Here, we introduce "siland", a general method for analyzing the effect of landscape features. Based on a sequential procedure of maximum likelihood estimation, it simultaneously estimates the spatial scales and intensities of landscape variable effects. It does not require any information about the scale of effect. It integrates two landscape effects models: one is based on focal sample site (Bsiland, b for buffer) and one is distance weighted using Spatial Influence Function (Fsiland, f for function). We implemented "siland" in the adaptable and user-friendly R eponym package. It performs landscape analysis on georeferenced point observations (described in a Geographic Information System shapefile format) and allows for effects tests, effects maps and models comparison. We illustrated its use on a real dataset by the study of a crop pest (codling moth densities).
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Carpentier
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, UR MaIAGE, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France. .,AgroParisTech, 75005, Paris, France.
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Guo C, Gao S, Zhou S, Zhang L, Xiang Z. Burrowing and Anti-Predator Requirements Determine the Microhabitat Selection of Himalayan Marmot in Zoige Wetland. Zoolog Sci 2021; 37:554-562. [PMID: 33269871 DOI: 10.2108/zs190148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To satisfy their requirements for food and safety, animals need certain habitats to live. Marmots generally select habitats with certain elevation, land surface temperature, soil and vegetation type, and certain mountain slope and aspect; however, what habitats are needed at relatively smaller scales are poorly known. The Himalayan marmot (Marmota himalayana) is distributed mainly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a region exhibiting diversified topographic features, and the Zoige wetland in the northeast part of the plateau is also the home of the Himalayan marmot. The region is famous for its plateau peat bog, and the suitable habitats for Himalayan marmots are patchily distributed in the wetland. To investigate what kinds of patches are preferred by the marmot in this wetland ecosystem, we measured and compared the soil and vegetation characteristics of used and unused patches. We found that unlike factors governing the habitat selection at macroscales, patches characterized by flat ground and low soil moisture content, with medium vegetation standing height and low vegetation density, are selected in the Zoige wetland. Patches of this kind are selected to meet the marmots' requirements for burrow construction and predator avoidance in such a wetland ecosystem. Together with previous studies on habitat selection of the marmot species at macroscales, we showed that to explore how the animals survive in an environment, it is important to conduct the analysis at multiple scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Guo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China
| | - Shuailing Zhou
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China
| | - Long Zhang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China
| | - Zuofu Xiang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China,
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Kim JU, Kim JS, Jeon JH, Lee WS. Home Range Estimates and Habitat Use of Siberian Flying Squirrels in South Korea. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10081378. [PMID: 32784486 PMCID: PMC7459940 DOI: 10.3390/ani10081378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Siberian flying squirrel is the only flying squirrel species in South Korea, where it is designated a natural heritage and classed as an endangered species. The population of the species is declining worldwide throughout its distribution range. Its ecology has been studied well in different regions, especially in Finland. While several studies have been carried out on Siberian flying squirrels, little is known concerning the species’ spatial ecology in South Korea. In this study, we captured, collared, and tracked 21 animals at Mt. Baekwoon, Gangwon Province, South Korea, to investigate their movement ecology. We obtained home range size and habitat use estimates. The home range size of Siberian flying squirrels differs from those of populations in other regions. They show active movement after sunset as nocturnal species and prefer old mature deciduous forest. Our research provides valuable ecological information on this species that could help in developing management guidelines in South Korea. Abstract Conservation measures or management guidelines must be based on species’ ecological data. The home range of the target species was studied to understand its spatial ecology, in order to protect it. The Siberian flying squirrel is the only flying squirrel species present and is considered as a protected species in South Korea. In this study, we investigated the home range, habitat use, and daily movement of Siberian flying squirrels from February 2015 to June 2016 at Mt. Baekwoon, Gangwon Province, South Korea. We tracked 21 flying squirrels using radio transmitters and analyzed the home range of 12 individuals. Flying squirrels appeared to have an overall mean home range of 18.92 ± 14.80 ha with a core area of 3.54 ha ± 3.88 ha. Movement activity peaked between 18:00–19:00 with the longest distance traveled, coinciding with sunset. In addition, we observed the preference of Siberian flying squirrels to the old deciduous forest with dense crowns. The results of the present study indicate that it is important to manage their habitat; for instance, preserving an appropriate size of mature deciduous forest is essential for Siberian flying squirrels. While our study provides needed baseline information on the spatial activity of the species, further research on topics such as the national distribution, behavior, and population dynamics of Siberian flying squirrels is needed in South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong-U. Kim
- Division of Polar Life Science, Korea Polar Research Institute, Incheon 21990, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-2702-5241
| | - Jun-Soo Kim
- Restoration Assessment Team, Research Center for Endangered Species, National Institute of Ecology, Yeongyang-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do 36531, Korea;
| | - Jong-Hoon Jeon
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.-H.J.); (W.-S.L.)
| | - Woo-Shin Lee
- Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; (J.-H.J.); (W.-S.L.)
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Selonen V, Remm J, Hanski IK, Henttonen H, Huitu O, Jokinen M, Korpimäki E, Mäkelä A, Sulkava R, Wistbacka R. Population fluctuations and spatial synchrony in an arboreal rodent. Oecologia 2019; 191:861-871. [PMID: 31667601 PMCID: PMC6853850 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Climatic conditions, trophic links between species and dispersal may induce spatial synchrony in population fluctuations. Spatial synchrony increases the extinction risk of populations and, thus, it is important to understand how synchrony-inducing mechanisms affect populations already threatened by habitat loss and climate change. For many species, it is unclear how population fluctuations vary over time and space, and what factors potentially drive this variation. In this study, we focus on factors determining population fluctuations and spatial synchrony in the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans, using long-term monitoring data from 16 Finnish populations located 2–400 km apart. We found an indication of synchronous population dynamics on a large scale in flying squirrels. However, the synchrony was not found to be clearly related to distance between study sites because the populations seemed to be strongly affected by small-scale local factors. The regularity of population fluctuations varied over time. The fluctuations were linked to changes in winter precipitation, which has previously been linked to the reproductive success of flying squirrels. Food abundance (tree mast) and predator abundance were not related to population fluctuations in this study. We conclude that spatial synchrony was not unequivocally related to distance in flying squirrels, as has been observed in earlier studies for more abundant rodent species. Our study also emphasises the role of climate in population fluctuations and the synchrony of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesa Selonen
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
| | - Jaanus Remm
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Heikki Henttonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 2, 00791, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 2, 00791, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maarit Jokinen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Risto Sulkava
- University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Savonrannantie 12a, 79940, Vihtari, Finland
| | - Ralf Wistbacka
- Department of Biology, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
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Nurmi T, Parvinen K, Selonen V. Joint evolution of dispersal propensity and site selection in structured metapopulation models. J Theor Biol 2018; 444:50-72. [PMID: 29452172 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2018.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We propose a novel mathematical model for a metapopulation in which dispersal occurs on two levels: juvenile dispersal from the natal site is mandatory but it may take place either locally within the natal patch or globally between patches. Within each patch, individuals live in sites. Each site can be inhabited by at most one individual at a time and it may be of high or low quality. A disperser immigrates into a high-quality site whenever it obtains one, but it immigrates into a low-quality site only with a certain probability that depends on the time within the dispersal season. The vector of these low-quality-site-acceptance probabilities is the site-selection strategy of an individual. We derive a proxy for the invasion fitness in this model and study the joint evolution of long-distance-dispersal propensity and site-selection strategy. We focus on the way different ecological changes affect the evolutionary dynamics and study the interplay between global patch-to-patch dispersal and local site-selection. We show that ecological changes affect site-selection mainly via the severeness of competition for sites, which often leads to effects that may appear counterintuitive. Moreover, the metapopulation structure may result in extremely complex site-selection strategies and even in evolutionary cycles. The propensity for long-distance dispersal is mainly determined by the metapopulation-level ecological factors. It is, however, also strongly affected by the winter-survival of the site-holders within patches, which results in surprising non-monotonous effects in the evolution of site-selection due to interplay with long-distance dispersal. Altogether, our results give new additional support to the recent general conclusion that evolution of site-selection is often dominated by the indirect factors that take place via density-dependence, which means that evolutionary responses can rarely be predicted by intuition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuomas Nurmi
- Department of Biology, FIN-20014 University of Turku, Finland.
| | - Kalle Parvinen
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, FIN-20014 University of Turku, Finland; Evolution and Ecology Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria
| | - Vesa Selonen
- Department of Biology, FIN-20014 University of Turku, Finland
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Remm J, Hanski IK, Tuominen S, Selonen V. Multilevel landscape utilization of the Siberian flying squirrel: Scale effects on species habitat use. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:8303-8315. [PMID: 29075450 PMCID: PMC5648651 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Animals use and select habitat at multiple hierarchical levels and at different spatial scales within each level. Still, there is little knowledge on the scale effects at different spatial levels of species occupancy patterns. The objective of this study was to examine nonlinear effects and optimal-scale landscape characteristics that affect occupancy of the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans, in South- and Mid-Finland. We used presence-absence data (n = 10,032 plots of 9 ha) and novel approach to separate the effects on site-, landscape-, and regional-level occupancy patterns. Our main results were: landscape variables predicted the placement of population patches at least twice as well as they predicted the occupancy of particular sites; the clear optimal value of preferred habitat cover for species landscape-level abundance is a surprisingly low value (10% within a 4 km buffer); landscape metrics exert different effects on species occupancy and abundance in high versus low population density regions of our study area. We conclude that knowledge of regional variation in landscape utilization will be essential for successful conservation of the species. The results also support the view that large-scale landscape variables have high predictive power in explaining species abundance. Our study demonstrates the complex response of species occurrence at different levels of population configuration on landscape structure. The study also highlights the need for data in large spatial scale to increase the precision of biodiversity mapping and prediction of future trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaanus Remm
- Department of BiologySection of EcologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | | | | | - Vesa Selonen
- Department of BiologySection of EcologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
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