Habitat Units Research Articles

Estimates of Effective Number of Breeders Identify Drivers of Decline in Mid-Atlantic Brook Trout Populations.

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations have experienced marked declines throughout their native range and are presently threatened due to isolation in small habitat fragments, land use changes, and climate change. The existence of numerous, spatially distinct populations poses substantial challenges for monitoring population status (e.g., abundance, recruitment, or occupancy). Genetic monitoring with estimates of effective number of breeders (N b) provides a potentially powerful metric to complement existing population monitoring, assessment, and prioritization. We estimated N b for 71 Brook Trout habitat units in mid-Atlantic region of the United States and obtained a mean N b of 73.2 (range 6.90-493). Our modeling approach tested whether N b estimates were sensitive to differences in habitat size, presence of non-native salmonids, base flow index, temperature, acidic precipitation, and indices of anthropogenic disturbance. We found significant support for three of our hypotheses including the positive influences of available habitat and base flow index and negative effect of temperature. Our results are consistent with presently observed and predicted future impacts of climate change on populations of this cold-water fish. Importantly, these findings support the use of N b in population assessments as an index of relative population status.

Context specific effects of substrate composition on the taxonomic and functional diversity of macroinvertebrate communities in temperate lowland streams.

Substrate composition has been widely recognised as a primary variable shaping lotic macroinvertebrate communities at the habitat unit level. However, fundamental understanding of how communities inhabiting mineralogical habitats (i.e., gravel, sand and silt) are structured across differing rivers is lacking. Moreover, research largely focusses on gravel beds and fine sediment in general (<2 mm) and as a result detailed field observations specifically of the sand and silt fractions are lacking. Using data from five UK streams collated from published studies, we assess taxonomic and functional biodiversity (alpha and beta diversity) at the habitat unit level (as defined by substrate composition of sand, silt and gravel). We found that the composition of taxonomic communities were clearly different in all habitat units for each individual stream (and at the landscape scale), with comparable, but less strong, distinctions between substrates for functional macroinvertebrate community composition. However, alpha diversity metrics and Local Contribution to Beta Diversity (LCBD) recorded among the different habitat units varied significantly across individual rivers, and the amount of variation explained by the habitat unit for taxonomic and functional composition demonstrated considerable differences suggesting strong context dependence. The depositional fine sediment habitats of sand and silt were found to support a discrete community composition and differing levels of alpha and beta diversity within and between rivers. We advocate that care should be taken when seeking to generalise biodiversity patterns at a landscape scale as our study highlights the high degree of context dependency when considering the role of the habitat template. Moreover, our results provide evidence that discriminating between the size fractions of fine sediment habitats (sand or silt) is important to fully elucidate the wider ecological importance of these habitats and the distinct taxonomic and functional biodiversity they support.

Maintenance of different life stages of old-growth forest trees in deforested tropical landscapes.

Tropical tree species are increasingly being pushed to inhabit deforested landscapes. The habitat amount hypothesis posits that, in remaining forest patches, species diversity in equal-sized samples decreases with decreasing forest cover in the surrounding landscape. We tested this prediction by taking into account three important factors that can affect species responses to forest loss. First, forest loss effects can be linear (proportional) or nonlinear, as there can be threshold values of forest loss beyond which species extirpation may be accelerated. Second, such effects are usually scale dependent and may go unnoticed if assessed at suboptimal scales. Finally, species extirpation may take decades to become evident, so the effects of forest loss can be undetected when assessing long-lived organisms, like adult old-growth forest trees. Here, we evaluated the linear and nonlinear effects of landscape forest loss across different spatial scales on site-scale abundance and diversity of old-growth forest trees, separately for four plant-life stages (seeds, saplings, juveniles, and adults) in two rainforest regions with different levels of deforestation. We expected stronger (and negative) forest loss effects on early plant-life stages, especially in the region with the highest deforestation. Surprisingly, in 13 of 16 study cases (2 responses × 4 life stages × 2 regions), null models showed higher empirical support than linear and nonlinear models at any scale. Therefore, the species richness and abundance of local tree assemblages seem to be weakly affected by landscape-scale forest loss independently of the spatial scale, life stage, and region. Yet, as expected, the predictive power of forest cover was relatively lower in the least deforested region. Our findings suggest that landscape-scale forest loss is poorly related to site-scale processes, such as seed dispersal and seedling recruitment, or, at least, such effects are too small to shape the abundance and diversity of tree assemblages within forest patches. Therefore, our findings do not support the most important prediction of the habitat amount hypothesis but imply that, on a per-area basis, a unit of habitat (forest) in a highly deforested landscape has a conservation value similar to that of a more forested one, particularly in moderately deforested rainforests.

Pengkayaan Sumberdaya Ikan di Oxbow Melalui Penerapan Artifisial Habitat Oleh Nelayan Desa Rantau Baru Kecamatan Pangkalan Kerinci Kabupaten Pelalawan Riau

This community dedication is aimed at informing the community about the creation of a new fish habitat by floating a set of artificial habitat units in the selected zone based on oxbow batimetry, so that the fish resources in the oxbows remain available. The dedication activities were carried out in the Rantau Baru Village, Pangkalan Kerinci district of Pelalawan Regency, and the delivery of material was carried out on August 2, 2023. There are 30 participants in this selection, consisting of the village equipment and the oxbow fishermen in the New Rantau Village. The materials to be provided for this dedication are: (a) Oxbow and its uses; (b) biodiversity of fish and public waters; (c) threats to fish biodiversity; (d) artificial habitat; and (e) methods of creation, operation, and maintenance of artificial habitat. The method used in the implementation of this activity is to survey the field first, then conduct deliberations in the form of lectures and interactive discussions, followed by demonstrating the artificial creation of habitats and placing the tools in the oxbow. The results of the evaluation of the change in knowledge carried out on 30 participants in the service to the community showed that 5 people (16.7%) have been able to absorb the material given with the preaching very well, 13 people (43.3%) can absorb materials given with good preaching, 10 people (33.3%) can absorb material with sufficient preaching, and 2 people (6.7%) could absorb material with less preaching. As for the impact on implementation in the field, there has been a process of dissemination of knowledge to fishermen carried out by community leaders. So that the diversity of fish in public waters (especially the oxbow lake) that exists in the Rantau Baru Village can be well awakened.

Habitat traits and predation interact to drive abundance and body size patterns in associated fauna.

Habitat-forming organisms provide three-dimensional structure that supports abundant and diverse communities. Variation in the morphological traits of habitat formers will therefore likely influence how they facilitate associated communities, either via food and habitat provisioning, or by altering predator-prey interactions. These mechanisms, however, are typically studied in isolation, and thus, we know little of how they interact to affect associated communities. In response to this, we used naturally occurring morphological variability in the alga Sargassum vestitum to create habitat units of distinct morphotypes to test whether variation in the morphological traits (frond size and thallus size) of S. vestitum or the interaction between these traits affects their value as habitat for associated communities in the presence and absence of predation. We found morphological traits did not interact, instead having independent effects on epifauna that were negligible in the absence of predation. However, when predators were present, habitat units with large fronds were found to host significantly lower epifaunal abundances than other morphotypes, suggesting that large frond alga provided low-value refuge from predators. The presence of predators also influenced the size structure of epifaunal communities from habitat units of differing frond size, suggesting that the refuge value of S. vestitum was also related to epifauna body size. This suggests that habitat formers may chiefly structure associated communities by mediating size-selective predation, and not through habitat provisioning. Furthermore, these results also highlight that habitat traits cannot be considered in isolation, for their interaction with biotic processes can have significant implications for associated communities.

Study of the Culicoides (Insecta, Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) Fauna in Nakhchivan

During hydrobiological studies in the Nakhchivan territory, 15 species of midge larvae were found in macrozoobenthos of different types of water bodies. The Culicoides genus prevails by the number of species (10 species). The number of Culicoides nubeculosus and C. longicollislarvae in lakes, rivers, springs and small water bodies of the region amounted to 3-21 spec./m2. During the warm period of the year, these two similar in appearance larvae were permanent organisms of water bodies at all altitudinal belts of the region. The distribution pattern of larvae across altitudinal belts was established; the number of species and density per habitat unit decreased from lowlands to altitudinal zones. Water and air temperature are the main factors determining the seasonal dynamics of the development of midges larvae. Considering that Ceratopogonidae larvae lead an aquatic lifestyle and have a wide variety of breeding centers, it is preferable to carry out appropriate control measures against adult biting midges.

Seasonal variability of lotic macroinvertebrate communities at the habitat scale demonstrates the value of discriminating fine sediment fractions in ecological assessments.

Despite lotic systems demonstrating high levels of seasonal and spatial variability, most research and biomonitoring practices do not consider seasonality when interpreting results and are typically focused at the meso-scale (combined pool/riffle samples) rather than considering habitat patch dynamics. We therefore sought to determine if the sampling season (spring, summer and autumn) influenced observed macroinvertebrate biodiversity, structure and function at the habitat unit scale (determined by substrate composition), and if this in turn influenced the assessment of fine sediment (sand and silt) pressures. We found that biodiversity supported at the habitat level was not seasonally consistent with the contribution of nestedness and turnover in structuring communities varying seasonally. Habitat differences in community composition were evident for taxonomic communities regardless of the season but were not seasonally consistent for functional communities, and, notably, season explained a greater amount of variance in functional community composition than the habitat unit. Macroinvertebrate biodiversity supported by silt habitats demonstrated strong seasonal differences and communities were functionally comparable to sand habitats in spring and to gravel habitats in autumn. Sand communities were impoverished compared to other habitats regardless of the season. Silt habitats demonstrated a strong increase in Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) taxa and functional richness from spring into autumn, while vegetation habitats displayed a peak in EPT abundance in summer. Only silt and sand habitats demonstrated temporal variability in functional evenness suggesting that these habitats are different in terms of their resource partitioning and productivity over time compared to other habitats. Gravel and vegetation habitats appeared to be more stable over time with functional richness and evenness remaining consistent. To accurately evaluate the influence of fine sediment on lotic ecosystems, it is imperative that routine biomonitoring and scientific research discriminate between sand and silt fractions, given they support different biodiversity, particularly during summer and autumn months.

Space-technological and architectural methodology and process towards design of long-term habitats for scientific human missions on mars

Centered on the core idea of long duration habitat design for research crew on Mars, the Martian Habitat Units (MHUs) are designed as a cluster of 10 units each with the maximum capacity of 9 crew members to live and carry on with the local challenges of scientific and exploratory life, while enjoying their lives as intellectual, social individuals in the harsh environment of Mars for durations in the order of magnitude of several years. This approach to the concept of a living environment in sharp contradiction to that of a shelter with the minimal capabilities to meet the requirements of terrestrial life to the point of survival, has led the outcoming design to be a fulfilling environment for the inhabitants of the units to evolve and thrive culturally, while being on a years-long mission. This manuscript provides detailed insight on the lessons learned of the aforementioned comprehensive design attempt with, but not limited to, the following core concerns:•The initial stand-point of such a design procedure relies on an ever increasing and comprehensive list of concerns, be it classically discussed in the literature and predictable, or unforeseen on the face of it, but to be prevented anyhow. The manuscript discusses the most crucial ones of such criteria/concerns.•The infamous saying of “Whatever that can go wrong, will go wrong” demands a rather complex level of redundancies in all layers of the design and the thought procedure behind its all aspects. The manuscript addresses the adequate steps towards its realization.•Modularity in all layers of the design plays a key role in reducing construction, maintenance, and installation costs, as for any deep space mission the mentioned expenses are astronomically high themselves. The manuscript presents our solution for geometric modularity of the design.

Assessing downstream aquatic habitat availability relative to headwater reservoir management in the Henrys Fork Snake River

AbstractReservoirs are sometimes managed to meet agricultural and other water demands, while also maintaining streamflow for aquatic species and ecosystems. In the Henrys Fork Snake River, Idaho (USA), irrigation‐season management of a headwater reservoir is informed by a flow target in a management reach ~95 km downstream. The target is in place to meet irrigation demand and maintain aquatic habitat within the 11.4 km management reach and has undergone four flow target assignments from 1978 to 2021. Recent changes to irrigation‐season management to maximize reservoir carryover warranted investigation into the flow target assignment. Thus, we created a streamflow‐habitat model using hydraulic measurements, habitat unit mapping, and published habitat suitability criteria for Brown Trout (Salmo trutta), Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Mountain Whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni). We used model output to compare habitat availability across two management regimes (1978–2017 and 2018–2021). We found that efforts to minimize reservoir releases in 2018–2021 did not reduce mean irrigation‐season fish habitat relative to natural flow, but did reduce overall fish habitat variability during the irrigation season compared to streamflow management in 1978–2017. Field observations for this research led to an adjusted flow target in 2020 that moved the target location downstream of intervening irrigation diversions. Using our model output, we demonstrated that moving the location of the target to account for local irrigation diversions will contribute to more consistently suitable fish habitat in the reach. Our study demonstrates the importance of site selection for establishing environmental flow targets.

Ecological consequences of shifting habitat mosaics within and across years in an intermittent stream

Abstract Intermittent streams that cease to flow during dry periods represent more than half of the global river network, and are particularly common in arid and semi‐arid regions. They are characterised by high spatial and temporal variability in aquatic habitat, forming a shifting habitat mosaic that supports diverse assemblages of native and endemic species. Climate projections for much of the world predict greater variation in precipitation and increasing drought severity, suggesting a need to better understand species' responses to habitat variability within intermittent stream ecosystems. Here we explored changes in the distribution and abundance of aquatic vertebrates in response to a wide range of annual hydrologic conditions within a Mediterranean‐climate intermittent stream in California. We conducted wetted habitat and vertebrate abundance surveys during the dry season for 7 years, spanning both extreme wet and extreme dry annual precipitation conditions, and characterised the variation in the size, persistence, and spatial configuration of wetted habitats in relation to the observed abundance and composition of fishes, amphibians, and aquatic reptiles. We characterised the habitat mosaic using a k‐means clustering approach, and identified three habitat types with distinct size, persistence, and connectivity distributions. We found that some wetted habitat units persisted across all years, regardless of antecedent precipitation, whereas others dried in all but the wettest years. We determined that persistent pools, a subset of wetted habitats present in the stream, supported diverse assemblages of native species even during extreme dry conditions, while transient pools acted as important habitat for particular species and life stages, including a young‐of‐year minnow species. Linear mixed models indicated that species' abundances were influenced by habitat quantity, quality, and connectivity. Our study ‐ considers intermittent streams as shifting habitat mosaics and uses multi‐year surveys to understand the ecological consequences of habitat variability within and across years to advance our understanding of intermittent stream ecology and the implications of climate change for spatial and temporal patterns of refuge habitat.

Spatial scales in instream flow modeling: Why and how to use ecologically appropriate resolutions

AbstractThis paper discusses why and how to use ecologically appropriate spatial resolutions (e.g., cell size or range of cell sizes) when modeling instream flow effects on aquatic animals. Resolution is important because relations between habitat and animal habitat use vary with spatial resolution, and different habitat variables may best predict habitat use at different resolutions. Using appropriate resolutions consistently would bring clarity and coherence to how we quantify and model habitat characteristics and habitat use by fish, facilitate the use of standard and more credible measures of habitat preference, incorporate more fisheries knowledge to improve models for different kinds of fish, and avoid well‐known (and perhaps unknown) biases. Doing so involves describing habitat, and habitat use by fish, with spatially explicit measures with clear resolutions; using the same resolution for physical habitat and fish habitat use; selecting that resolution for ecological reasons; and using habitat variables and fish observation methods appropriate for the resolution. The choice of resolution considers factors such as how much space fish use for specific activities and the size of important habitat patches. For drift‐feeders, cell sizes and fish habitat use observations should use a resolution no smaller than feeding territories. Piscivores typically hunt over large areas so should be modeled with larger habitat units. Models of small and less‐mobile organisms (e.g., benthic invertivores) may need fine resolutions to capture the small areas of unusual habitat they depend on. Because of such differences, instream flow studies (like any spatial ecology exercise) should clearly state what resolution(s) they use and why.

A high‐accuracy vegetation restoration potential mapping model integrating similar habitat and machine learning

AbstractVegetation restoration potential (VRP) mapping provides important information for ecosystem restoration planning. However, the inappropriate assumption of traditional models that VRPs are identical within an individual similar habitat unit may result in low accuracy of VRP maps. This study proposes an improved data‐driven model, namely, the similar habitat and machine learning‐based VRP mapping (SHMLVRPM) model. This new model introduces a variety of machine‐learning models to mine information on geographical environment heterogeneity in areas of similar habitat, which helps to improve the accuracy of VRP maps. Taking Yan'an City, Shanxi Province, China as our study area, we demonstrate the modelling process and validate the model. Our results show that the SHMLVRPM model can effectively construct high‐accuracy VRP maps, and its information entropy is approximately 5.8 greater than that derived from the traditional models. The random forest method has the highest prediction accuracy (R2 = 0.8) among the tested machine‐learning methods. The average VRP value of Yan'an is approximately 68%; counties with the low VRP achievement are concentrated in the northern part of Yan'an, only 54%. Our research results can assist policymakers in optimizing vegetation restoration options and promoting the protection and sustainable development of fragile ecosystems.

Turbulence signatures of natural river morphology in four dimensions

AbstractTurbulent flow in natural river channels drives geophysical processes and exerts a fundamental influence on aquatic biota. An extensive range of turbulence properties have previously been synthesized into four categories or “dimensions” with ecological relevance: intensity, periodicity, orientation and scale (IPOS). We apply this framework across three rivers with differing morphologies in order to assess the statistical coherence of the four IPOS categories within turbulence field data and their utility in discriminating between fundamental units of river habitat. Intensity, periodicity‐scale and orientation were identified as the key gradients in the turbulence data set using multivariate analysis. These gradients all revealed statistically significant differences between rivers and/or geomorphic units. The intensity gradient accounted for the highest variance and most pronounced inter‐reach differences, but the periodicity‐scale and orientation gradients were also useful in distinguishing between certain combinations of rivers and/or geomorphic units. Different turbulence gradients, or combinations of gradients, were important in characterizing differences between rivers and geomorphic units (riffes, pools, steps). The gradients provided improved prediction of geomorphic units compared to standard hydraulic variables (mean velocity, depth), although the extent of improvement in prediction varied between river morphologies. The analysis reveals the statistical coherence of the four categories or “dimensions” of turbulence in multivariate space, connects the ecologically defined IPOS categories of turbulence properties with river types and fundamental units of river habitat (geomorphic units). Turbulence signatures of natural channel morphology are expressed across all four dimensions of turbulence, providing clear evidence that these four dimensions should be routinely considered in ecohydraulics and hydromorphology research to facilitate a full understanding hydraulic habitat.

Regional habitat units in the context of urban-rural China: Concept, mechanism and features

In the context of regional urbanization, large-scale city regions are becoming the main form of human habitats worldwide. However, top-down regional integration policy faces the risk of being ineffective because politics- and economy-oriented city regions are deficient in local culture, regional identity and spatial logic. City regions emphasize a nodal system centred around multiple cities but ignore large rural hinterlands and wild lands, which calls into question their approach to ecological sustainability. In China, traditional settlements are region-based place systems, which are spatially manifested as town-village-field continuums. After undergoing urban-rural dual development in modern times, Chinese society has now entered the stage of ‘urban-rural China’. Based on the above background, this study presents a conceptual framework of ‘regional habitat units' (RHUs) from the perspective of cultural geography and human settlement science. This concept emphasizes three core elements: 1) a hyper-city regional scale; 2) continuous spatial composition of ‘built settlement−semi-built and semi-natural environment−wild nature’; 3) a formation mechanism based on placeness and regional identity. This study shows that RHUs can provide a cultural-geographic analytical framework for regional urbanization in China and the rest of the world, offer an alternative spatial form to future human settlements, and enrich literature on city-regionalism.

Общеевропейские подходы к классификации местообитаний, растительности и типов леса

The article describes the approaches and features of classification of forests, habitats and vegetation at the Pan-European level on the example of the classification of European forest types (EFT), the EUNIS habitat classification and the Europe vegetation classification created by the phytosociologists of the European Vegetation Survey (EVS). The forest type in the EFT classification is a large forest vegetation unit distinguished within biogeographic regions by the similarity of forest site conditions, structure and productivity of the plantation, and the degree of anthropogenic transformation of forests. Accounting for the successional dynamics of forest biogeocoenosis is worked out at the theoretical level, in practice, the accounting is possible due to the information obtained from the EUNIS habitat classification, which is linked to the EVS classification by cross-references. The EUNIS classification is a Pan-European reference set of habitat units. It was created using the results of previous large-scale studies in Europe, which resulted in the creation of a number of classifications of biotopes, soil cover and marine habitats. The EVS classification is a comprehensive hierarchical syntaxonomic system of unions, orders and classes of Brown-Blanquet syntaxonomy for vascular plants, mosses, lichens and algae native to Europe. The great advantage of the EFT classification is the inclusion of anthropogenic impacts among the key diagnostic features of a forest type, which are defined by assessing the degree of naturalness of forests, the number of forest species, the type and intensity of anthropogenic impacts. The strength of the EFT classification is to establish cross-links with other forest type classification systems used both within national forest inventory systems and at the EU level. The use of the Braun-Blanquet ecological and floristic approach implemented in the classification of phytosociological alliances makes it possible to conduct a detailed ecological analysis and taking into account not only the stand productivity, but also the level of stand biodiversity, which makes the classification more useful for scientific research and nature preservation.

Design of a set of habitat units and the corresponding surrounding cluster for long-term scientific missions in the pre-terraforming era on Mars

We are living in a point in the history of science and technology, where space travel for research and settlement is inevitable. As the utmost crucial technology pieces for leaving Earth and travelling into the cosmos is being established one after another, it is just a matter of decades, until it all gets integrated together, solving the engineering problems ahead of the way and being able to step on the planets and moons of the solar system. In this quest, as has been the case for most of the technological advancements so far, there ought to be mind experiments, in which one skips one step, assumes the availability of responses to the skipped-over step, and searches for the solution to the questions of the next level. This way, by getting passed the first, i.e. current step, the solution to the next one is already available. The current manuscript is addressing this very ‘next step’, on the long path to eventually colonize Mars and inhabit it for long-term research-based missions; let it be for terraforming, or other agenda to be defined by the research strategists, then. And as mentioned earlier, the current step; being setting foot on Mars, is well-deservedly taken for granted, as is to come forth undoubtedly. Having that realized, we might find ourselves faced by the engineering complexities of surviving and thriving on Mars, which is the subject matter of the current research, from the aspect point of space technological and architectural design. The design procedure beginning from setting the philosophy of design upon the concerns of sustaining in the hostile environment of Mars, to the stepwise emergence of the final design of a cluster of Martian Habitat Units (MHUs) considering the high-criteria of the case, is the subject matter covered in this manuscript.

Population density and habitat selection in the San Pedro Mártir rainbow trout in mountain streams of northwestern Baja California, Mexico

We assessed the population density and habitat selection of the southernmost rainbow trout subspecies, Oncorhynchus mykiss nelsoni, in three stream sites of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, Baja California, Mexico. Habitat units (sections of the streams visually delimited on the basis of morphological and hydrological features) were sampled between February 2014 and April 2017, along a sample length of 2,980 m corresponding to 105 habitat units, which were classified into ten types. Mean population density (individuals/m2) was similar among the streams sampled (0.035–0.039/m2), as also over time for each stream, except for San Rafael Creek. Low gradient riffle was the habitat unit with the highest mean density of trout (0.151/m2). Of overall manner (dates and sites combined), population density was positively correlated to mean total length (TL), number of trout, and pH levels, and inversely correlated to total of dissolved solids. The total length of the trout was different among sample sites with the lowest and highest values in San Antonio de Murillo Creek and La Grulla Creek, respectively. Also, the total length of individuals among types of habitat units was different, with the highest values for MCP (mid-channel pool) and SRN (step run). Dates and sites pooled, the mean total length of individuals was positively correlated to population density, number of trout, habitat unit area, macrophyte cover, and inversely correlated to temperature. Low population densities (0.011–0.106/m2) combined with its small body size (38–216 mm TL) characterize this endemic trout in the southernmost part of species’ geographic range.

USO DE HÁBITAT POR ZORRO GRIS (Urocyon cinereoargenteus, CARNIVORA: CANIDAE) EN UN ECOSISTEMA TROPICAL ANTROPIZADO

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background. &lt;/strong&gt;Gray fox, &lt;em&gt;Urocyon cinereoargenteus&lt;/em&gt; is tolerant to habitat disturbance, but the biotic and abiotic factors that determine the selection of space in the subperennial medium forest (SMF) with different degrees of anthropization are not known, which is relevant to explain a fraction of an animal’s niche. &lt;strong&gt;Objective.&lt;/strong&gt; We described the use of habitat by the gray fox, in four habitat units in the SMF, with different degrees of anthropization. &lt;strong&gt;Methodology.&lt;/strong&gt; We classified four habitat units with vegetation structure criteria: Sugar cane-coffee plantation, Coffee plantation-forest, forest and Coffee plantation, where we evaluated parameters such as number of carnivores and potential prey and plant cover. In addition, we evaluated the altitude, temperature, precipitation and evaporation. Using indirect techniques, we obtained gray fox records in each habitat unit, which we related to biotic and abiotic parameters through a χ&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; test and a partial least squares analysis; we applied a dendrogram to estimate the similarity of use of the habitats; and a response surface-based model to describe habitat use. &lt;strong&gt;Results.&lt;/strong&gt; We associated fourteen independent records of gray fox and six of them with the Coffee plantation-SMF habitat, where it was correlated with temperature. &lt;strong&gt;Implications.&lt;/strong&gt; Shrub coverage, the number of competitors and evaporation in SMF and Coffee plantation-SMF are factors correlated with a low number of gray fox records. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion.&lt;/strong&gt; In this ecosystem anthropized by the production of coffee and sugarcane, the gray fox may be using open habitats for hunting and closed habitats to seek refuge while it is not active.&lt;/p&gt;

Habitat Buatan Cumi Untuk Menunjang Konservasi dan Wisata Bahari Pantai Pangi, Blitar

This community service activity for the Doctoral Serving UB funding scheme is one of the efforts to help partners in Pangi Beach in managing Pangi beach marine tourism. The activity will be held from June to November 2021 located on Pangi beach. There are three main activities, namely discussions with partners, designing and producing artificial squid habitats and finally setting up artificial squid habitats on the seabed of Pangi beach. The method implemented in this service is workshop, training, discussion and assistance starting from training to setting 4 artificial squid habitat units on Pangi beach which is carried out well. The results of the activities in addition to the installation of artificial squid habitats, are also the transfer of knowledge in conservation-based tourism management. The follow-up activity is monitoring which is planned to be carried out through Internship and Student Thesis Research activities in 2022. Cooperation and public awareness (partners) of the importance of developing conservation-based tourism are the main things for this service activity to run well.

Day versus night use of forest by red and roe deer as determined by Corine Land Cover and Copernicus Tree Cover Density: assessing use of geographic layers in movement ecology

ContextDiel use of forest and open habitats by large herbivores is linked to species-specific needs of multiple and heterogeneous resources. However, forest cover layers might deviate considerably for a given landscape, potentially affecting evaluations of animals’ habitat use.ObjectivesWe assessed inconsistency in the estimates of diel forest use by red and roe deer at GPS location and home range (HR) levels, using two geographic layers: Tree Cover Density (TCD) and Corine Land Cover (CLC).MethodsWe first measured the classification mismatch of red and roe deer GPS locations between TCD and CLC, also with respect to habitat units’ size. Then, we used Generalised Least Squares models to assess the proportional use of forest at day and night at the GPS location and HR levels, both with TCD and CLC.ResultsAbout 20% of the GPS locations were inconsistently classified as forest or open habitat by the two layers, particularly within smaller habitat units. Overall proportion of forest and open habitat, though, was very similar for both layers. In all populations, both deer species used forest more at day than at night and this pattern was more evident with TCD than with CLC. However, at the HR level, forest use estimates were only marginally different between the two layers.ConclusionsWhen estimating animal habitat use, geographic layer choice requires careful evaluation with respect to ecological questions and target species. Habitat use analyses based on GPS locations are more sensitive to layer choice than those based on home ranges.