Microhabitat Scale Research Articles

Den-site selection at multiple scales by the red fox (Vulpes vulpes subsp. montana) in a patchy human-dominated landscape

Human-wildlife conflict impacts native wildlife populations and people in socio-economically poor areas. In the Shigar Valley, Karakoram range, Pakistan, subsistence mixed farming is the predominant land use and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes montana) are widely persecuted. Knowledge of the effects of human activity on fox behavior and populations in the region is lacking.We carried out 38 transect surveys within 87 sampling units of grid size 3 km × 3 km and recorded 42 resting and 24 active natal dens from 2015 to 2017. We evaluated 17 model subsets for describing probabilistic Resource Selection Functions (RSFs) predicting den occurrence at landscape, patch, and micro-habitat scales in terms of anthropogenic factors, including distance to agricultural land and roads. We also tested and controlled for associations between den occurrence and biotic and abiotic variables, including prey occurrence. We found that: 1) distance to roads negatively influenced fox den occurrence; 2) Indian pika (Ochotona roylei) burrow occurrence positively influenced fox den occurrence; (3) Natal dens had larger and more numerous openings than resting dens; 4) den occurrence was greatest at moderate elevations; and 5) den occurrence was negatively related to forest cover and positively correlated with shrub cover. The findings suggest that foxes do not strongly avoid human activity, and that den types are variable. Further studies are required on the function of foxes in this landscape focusing on ecosystem services such as seed dispersal, carrion removal and regulation of prey populations.

Differences in heat tolerance plasticity between supratidal and intertidal snails indicate complex responses to microhabitat temperature variation.

Tropical intertidal gastropods that experience extreme and highly variable daily temperatures have evolved significant and complex heat tolerance plasticity, comprising components that respond to different timescales of temperature variation. An earlier study showed different plasticity attributes in snails from differently-heated coastlines, suggesting lifelong irreversible responses that matched habitat thermal regimes. To determine whether heat tolerance plasticity varied at a finer, within-shore spatial scale, we compared the responses of supratidal (predominantly shade-dwelling) and intertidal (frequently solar-exposed) populations of the tropical thermophilic gastropod, Echinolittorina malaccana. Snails modified lethal temperature (LT50) under warm or cool laboratory acclimation, with the overall variation in LT50 being greater in the supratidal (56.0-58.0°C) than in the intertidal population (57.1-58.1°C). Similar maximum LT50s expressed by the populations after warm acclimation suggest a capacity limitation under these temperature conditons. The different minimum LT50s after cool acclimation corresponded with microhabitat temperature and field acclimatization of the snails. Different responses to the same laboratory acclimation treatment imply long-term (and possibly lifelong) thermal acclimatization, which could benefit sedentary organisms that are randomly recruited as larvae from a common thermally-stable aquatic environment to thermally-unpredictable intertidal microhabitats. These findings provide another example of thermal tolerance plasticity operating at microhabitat scales, suggesting the importance of considering microhabitat thermal responses when assessing broad-scale environmental change.

Ecology and calculation of population density of the protected saproxylic beetle species Boros schneideri (Panzer, 1796) (Coleoptera, Boridae) in capercaillie lek areas

Boros schneideri is an endangered saproxylic beetle species in Europe, included in the list of species for which micro-reserves are established in Latvia. Micro-reserves for capercaillie lek areas are created in similar habitats in Latvia; therefore, these sites might be suitable for B. schneideri and play an important role in the protection of the species. This study aimed to identify ecological factors affecting the occurrence of B. schneideri and to estimate the species’ population density in Central Latvia. In total, six micro-reserves (primarily established to protect capercaillie lek areas) and six, randomly picked, control territories were examined, including 304 forest stands and 312 pine snags. In total, 109 B. schneideri specimens were found. The most important ecological factors for B. schneideri were the age of the forest stand, the presence of deadwood in different stages of decomposition, and the number of snags per forest stand. All mentioned factors are important structural elements of natural forests; hence, B. schneideri can be considered as an indicator species of natural forest habitats. The most important ecological factors for B. schneideri on a micro-habitat scale are the area and thickness of the remaining bark, presence of Ascomycota fungi mycelium on a trunk, and trunk’s circumference. We suggest that B. schneideri is a pioneer species since larger areas of bark, as well as Ascomycota fungi mycelium are more often found on recently dead trees.

Tortoise ecology in the West African savannah: Multi-scale habitat selection and activity patterns of a threatened giant species, and its ecological relationships with a smaller-sized species

The status of most vertebrates in the African Sahel is not well known. Among these, the African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata), a charismatic but also one of most threatened vertebrates in the Sahel, is still poorly studied. We investigated the status of this species, its potential distribution, habitat selection (at multiple spatial scales) and activity patterns in Mali and Burkina Faso, two countries within the tortoise’ known range. We employed field surveys and villager interviews in 23 sites to determine the presence of the species. In these surveys and interviews, we also included the Western hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys nogueyi), a sympatric chelonian also suspected of being in decline. Age-stratified interviews revealed that C. sulcata is widespread in Mali, but since there was a statistically higher frequency of older respondents that remembered C. sulcata present around their village, compared to younger respondents, it is likely that the species has been declining throughout the study area. We encountered a total 77 C. sulcata and 20 K. nogueyi individuals during our field surveys. Most C. sulcata were found along areas of intermittent streams and stabilised dunes, known locally as koris. Centrochelys sulcata individuals were more likely to occur in sandy dry savannah areas that were further away from human settlements, and which contained inland waters or were closer to these. Kinixys nogueyi exhibited instead an allopatric distribution, with no ascertained sympatry with C. sulcata at the microhabitat scale. Cattle incidence was negatively correlated with the presence by C. sulcata. Our results also indicate that aboveground activity of C. sulcata is limited to the wet season and has a clearly bimodal diel activity cycle, with most sightings in the early morning hours. We provide suggestions on how best to survey this species in the wild while advancing new information on its distribution and biology. These data are invaluable to assess the status of this species as part of future conservation planning efforts.

Factors affecting sharp-tailed grouse brood habitat selection and survival

Sharp-tailed grouse occur across much of the northern Great Plains of North America where large grassland tracts remain. Though extirpated from areas within the Great Plains, primarily due to habitat loss, sharp-tailed grouse populations have remained relatively stable since European Settlement. Because of their need for large contiguous grasslands, sharp-tailed grouse typically occur in areas managed for or with cattle. In an effort to better understand how land management affects sharp-tailed grouse, we studied hen sharp-tailed grouse during the brooding season to identify habitat use and factors that influenced the daily survival rate of broods. We conducted our study on the Grand River National Grassland in South Dakota where cattle herbivory is the primary form of disturbance. We monitored 42 broods from 2013 to 2015. Using conditional logistic regression, we found brood-rearing hens used areas based on the distance to the nearest drainage and choose sites with less litter cover and bare ground relative to random sites at a microhabitat scale. Variables associated with variation in survival did not align with those shown to influence habitat selection. We found that brood survival decreased as the relative slope of a site increased and that survival increased as the distance a hen kept her chicks from a fence line also increased. At the microhabitat scale, survival was positively related to visual obstruction and vegetation height. Our findings demonstrate the importance of numerous variables across multiple scales to brood-rearing sharp-tailed grouse. Managers of grouse populations should manage for heterogeneity, as many factors appear to shape sharp-tailed grouse brood ecology in the Great Plains.

Never forget where you came from: Microhabitat of origin influences boldness and exploration in the hermit crab Clibanarius symmetricus (Diogenidae)

Behavioral traits can differ between individuals in a population and affect their fitness if they differentially influence survivorship in a microhabitat scale. This may occur when individuals experience different predation risks between microhabitats. In this study, we investigated boldness, exploration, and their correlation depending on the microhabitat of origin in the hermit crab Clibanarius symmetricus. Individuals of both sexes were collected from four microhabitats with different levels of predation exposure within the intertidal zone of a mangrove. We conducted experiments introducing the hermit crabs to a new standard environment and simulated predation attempts to assess exploration and boldness. Latency to re-emerge from the shell (boldness) was consistent and not affected by size, sex, or microhabitat type, but was slightly different between years. Exploration, in turn, varied only according to the microhabitat from which individuals were collected. Hermit crabs from the less risky environments explored the experimental arena for longer than individuals from the microhabitat most exposed to predators. This behavioral consistency in exploration activity can influence microhabitat choice in C. symmetricus. In addition, boldness and exploration were weakly correlated in a behavioral syndrome. Therefore, predation exposure can be a source of variation in exploration-avoidance personalities and can indirectly influence the expression of boldness in C. symmetricus. We conclude that personality traits can coevolve and have implications for habitat choice, but traditional theories of individual behavioral consistency still lack a unified theoretical background linking animal personality to niche specialization with empirical support.

Can an herbivore affect where a top predator kills its prey by modifying woody vegetation structure?

In large mammal communities, little is known about modification of interspecific interactions through habitat structure changes. We assessed the effects of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) on features of woody habitat structure that can affect predator-prey interactions. We then explored how this can influence where African lions (Panthera leo) kill their prey. Indeed, lions are stalk-and-ambush predators and habitat structure and concealment opportunities are assumed to influence their hunting success. During 2years, in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, kill sites (n = 167) of GPS-collared lions were characterized (visibility distance for large mammals, distance to a potential ambush site and presence of elephant impacts). We compared characteristics of lion kill sites with characteristics of random sites (1) at a large scale (i.e. in areas intensively used by lions, n = 418) and (2) at the microhabitat scale (i.e. in the direct surrounding available habitat, < 150m, n = 167). Elephant-impacted sites had a slightly higher visibility and a longer distance to a potential ambush site than non-impacted sites, but these relationships were characterized by a high variability. At large scale, kill sites were characterized by higher levels of elephant impacts compared to random sites. At microhabitat scale, compared to the direct nearby available habitat, kill sites were characterized by a reduced distance to a potential ambush site. We suggest a conceptual framework whereby the relative importance of habitat features and prey abundance could change upon the scale considered.

Evolutionary history of two cryptic species of northern African jerboas

BackgroundClimatic variation and geologic change both play significant roles in shaping species distributions, thus affecting their evolutionary history. In Sahara-Sahel, climatic oscillations shifted the desert extent during the Pliocene-Pleistocene interval, triggering the diversification of several species. Here, we investigated how these biogeographical and ecological events have shaped patterns of genetic diversity and divergence in African Jerboas, desert specialist rodents. We focused on two sister and cryptic species, Jaculus jaculus and J. hirtipes, where we (1) evaluated their genetic differentiation, (2) reconstructed their evolutionary and demographic history; (3) tested the level of gene flow between them, and (4) assessed their ecological niche divergence.ResultsThe analyses based on 231 individuals sampled throughout North Africa, 8 sequence fragments (one mitochondrial and seven single copy nuclear DNA, including two candidate genes for fur coloration: MC1R and Agouti), 6 microsatellite markers and ecological modelling revealed: (1) two distinct genetic lineages with overlapping distributions, in agreement with their classification as different species, J. jaculus and J. hirtipes, with (2) low levels of gene flow and strong species divergence, (3) high haplotypic diversity without evident geographic structure within species, and (4) a low level of large-scale ecological divergence between the two taxa, suggesting species micro-habitat specialization.ConclusionsOverall, our results suggest a speciation event that occurred during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. The contemporary distribution of genetic variation suggests ongoing population expansions. Despite the largely overlapping distributions at a macrogeographic scale, our genetic results suggest that the two species remain reproductively isolated, as only negligible levels of gene flow were observed. The overlapping ecological preferences at a macro-geographic scale and the ecological divergence at the micro-habitat scale suggest that local adaptation may have played a crucial role in the speciation process of these species.

Microhabitat analyses support relationships between niche breadth and range size when spatial autocorrelation is strong

Multiple evidence of positive relationships between nice breadth and range size (NB–RS) suggested that this can be a general ecological pattern. However, correlations between niche breadth and range size can emerge as a by‐product of strong spatial structure of environmental variables. This can be problematic because niche breadth is often assessed using broad‐scale macroclimatic variables, which suffer heavy spatial autocorrelation. Microhabitat measurements provide accurate information on species tolerance, and show limited autocorrelation. The aim of this study was to combine macroclimate and microhabitat data to assess NB–RS relationships in European plethodontid salamanders (Hydromantes), and to test whether microhabitat variables with weak autocorrelation can provide less biased NB–RS estimates across species. To measure macroclimatic niche, we gathered comprehensive information on the distribution of all Hydromantes species, and combined them with broad‐scale climatic layers. To measure microhabitat, we recorded salamander occurrence across &gt; 350 caves and measured microhabitat features influencing their distribution: humidity, temperature and light. We assessed NB–RS relationships through phylogenetic regression; spatial null‐models were used to test whether the observed relationships are a by‐product of autocorrelation. We observed positive relationships between niche breadth and range size at both the macro‐ and microhabitat scale. At the macroclimatic scale, strong autocorrelation heavily inflated the possibility to observe positive NB–RS. Spatial autocorrelation was weaker for microhabitat variables. At the microhabitat level, the observed NB–RS was not a by‐product of spatial structure of variables. Our study shows that heavy autocorrelation of variables artificially increases the possibility to detect positive relationships between bioclimatic niche and range size, while fine‐scale data of microhabitat provide more direct measure of conditions selected by ectotherms, and enable less biased measures of niche breadth. Combining analyses performed at multiple scales and datasets with different spatial structure provides more complete niche information and effectively tests the generality of niche breadth–range size relationships.

Spatial Control of Carbon Dynamics in Soil by Microbial Decomposer Communities

Trait-based models have improved the understanding and prediction of soil organic matter dynamics in terrestrial ecosystems. Microscopic observations and pore scale models are now increasingly used to quantify and elucidate the effects of soil heterogeneity on microbial processes. Combining both approaches provides a promising way to accurately capture small-scale microbial-physicochemical interactions and to predict overall system behavior. The present study aims to quantify controls on carbon (C) turnover in soil due to the small-scale distribution of microbial decomposer communities in soil. A new spatially explicit trait-based model (SpatC) has been developed that captures the combined dynamics of microbes and soil organic matter (SOM) by taking into account microbial lifehistory traits and SOM accessibility. We performed Monte-Carlo scenario simulations for sets of spatial distributions of microbes that differ in small-scale spatial heterogeneity and microbial community functional composition (oligotrophs, copiotrophs and copiotrophic cheaters). Samples of spatial distributions of microbes were generated using a spatial statistical model based on Log Gaussian Cox Processes which was originally used to analyze distributions of bacterial cells in soil thin sections. Our modelling approach revealed that the spatial distribution of soil microorganisms triggers spatiotemporal patterns of C utilization and microbial succession. Only strong spatial clustering of decomposer communities induces diffusion-limited C availability at the microhabitat scale, resulting in lower aggregated decomposition of C compounds and microbial growth. However, decomposer communities act as functionally redundant microbial guilds with only slight changes in C utilization. The combined statistical and process-based modelling approach bridges microbial biogeography at the microhabitat scale (µm) with emergent macroscopic (cm) microbial and C dynamics. Our study points out the importance of parameterizing functional trait continua of decomposer communities and highlights promising model extensions that may provide further insights into the biological controls on soil organic matter turnover.

Ecology of the hyperoceanic liverwort Leptoscyphus cuneifolius (Hook.) Mitt. at a key site in the British Isles

ABSTRACT Introduction. Leptoscyphus cuneifolius has a very limited distribution in Europe and is threatened with extinction in several regions. This study investigates its ecology at Coed y Rhygen, the most important site in Wales. Methods. GPS-based surveys documented the distribution of L. cuneifolius within the study site. Hillshade analysis was used to investigate preference for topographic locations in relation to solar illumination. Thirty relevés were recorded to describe habitat conditions and community composition. Four monitoring plots for L. cuneifolius, first recorded in 1997, were re-visited. Results. A total of 309 locations of L. cuneifolius was recorded, distributed across 226 10 m grid cells. Hillshade analysis showed a preference for shaded topography. The liverwort comprised only sterile material at all locations and occurred almost exclusively on the trunks of trees. Results from relevés show a marked preference for micro-habitats with a northerly aspect. The most common associates are the liverworts Frullania tamarisci and Plagiochila punctata. Trend in abundance of four monitored colonies of L. cuneifolius during 1997–2019 shows a decline at all locations, including extinction at two. Conclusions. Within the study area, L. cuneifolius prefers shaded locations at both macro- and micro-habitat scales, and is almost exclusively an epiphyte, with a clear preference for the acidic bark of Betula pubescens. It is entirely dependent on asexual reproduction, via tiny caducous leaves, produced abundantly. The tiny size of L. cuneifolius makes it particularly vulnerable to competitive exclusion from habitat patches, not only due to over-growth by larger bryophytes, but also mucilaginous algae.

Habitat selection and diet of the Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) on the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, and range-wide monitoring recommendations

ABSTRACT The Neotropical otter (Lontra longicaudis) is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN, which describes the standardization of field survey techniques and identification of key habitats as two research priorities. Basic ecological information such as habitat selection and diet is also lacking, especially in Central America. Using surveys for tracks and latrines from ten rivers on the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica, we report results on habitat selection at the local and micro-habitat scales, describe the general diet from 127 scats, and broadly discuss detection and general survey methods. We found that otters were positively associated with small-scale pastures surrounded by nearby forests at a local scale and/or negatively associated with densely forested areas. Otters further preferred deeper rivers at both local and microhabitat scales, while the availability of latrine substrates and sandbars was both important predictors of detection probability. We also deployed 12 camera traps to detect otters, and found they were much less efficient than sign surveys at determining occupancy, though our sample size is small. We conclude by proposing a methodology for standardized monitoring protocol using occupancy surveys which could be implemented across the Neotropical otter’s range.

Habitat requirements of an arboreal Australian snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus) are influenced by hollow abundance in living trees

The value of tree hollows (cavities) to wildlife is well documented among birds and mammals, however few studies focus on their importance for snakes. Given increasing concern about the global net loss of hollow-bearing trees, it is imperative that studies extend to other vertebrate classes that may be dependent on this structural habitat component. We tested the hypothesis that habitat selection of an arboreal elapid, the pale-headed snake (Hoplocephalus bitorquatus), is primarily influenced by shelter requirements at multiple spatial scales. Consistent with our hypothesis, snake detection was biased towards a riparian ecosystem where hollow-bearing tree density was on average nine times greater than adjoining vegetation communities. In contrast, we found that the relative abundance of potential prey was equivalent among vegetation communities (frogs: P = 0.882; geckos: P = 0.306). At the microhabitat scale, snakes selected live hollow-bearing trees that were significantly larger (mean diameter: 74.5 cm ± 3.4, s.e.) than those otherwise available (42.4 ± 1.2 cm, s.e.) and estimated to be on average 111 years old. We recorded temperatures inside tree cavities to investigate whether the preference for live trees might be influenced by temperature buffering. Temperatures inside live trees were up to 16.4 °C below ambient in summer and 13.0 °C above ambient in winter. Temperature buffering was more pronounced in living trees (regression of cavity temperature against ambient, winter: r = −0.621; summer: r = −0.630) compared to dead trees (winter: r = −0.219; summer: r = −0.328), suggesting microhabitat selection may be driven by thermal requirements. Our study demonstrates the important role that mature, live hollow-bearing trees play in habitat selection by the pale-headed snake. It also suggests that the conservation of this species will be difficult in environments where such trees have been depleted due to land management practices. Managing forests for the persistence and recruitment of live hollow-bearing trees must be the primary conservation objective for threatened hollow-dependent fauna globally.

Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in the Qinghai Lake Basin, China.

Simple SummaryThe plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a keystone species on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau (QTP). We identified key factors affecting its distribution and predicted it in Qinghai Lake basin by the maximum entropy (Maxent) model at 1-km spatial resolution. Our results showed that the suitable area for plateau pika in Qinghai Lake basin is approximately 3982 km2, which occupies 15.8% of the land area in the whole watershed. The distance to road emerged as the most important predictor of distribution patterns of plateau pika, while the soil type was of ancillary importance. With the constraint of human factors, the presence probability of plateau pika in about 1661 km2 will increase. These findings indicate that human factors have significant importance for plateau pika’s distribution, and provide evidence to guide plateau pika control in this and other similar regions. The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a keystone species in the alpine rangeland ecosystem of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Most previous studies of habitat selection by plateau pika have been conducted at a local microhabitat scale; however, little is known about the relationship between the distribution of plateau pika and macrohabitat factors at broad spatial scales. Using a presence-only ecological niche model (maximum entropy, Maxent), we predicted the distribution of plateau pika in the Qinghai Lake basin based on a set of environmental and anthropogenic variables at 1-km spatial resolution, and identified key macrohabitat factors that contribute to the predictive performance. Our results showed suitable area for plateau pika in the Qinghai Lake basin being approximately 3982 km2, which is 15.8% of the land area in the whole watershed. The distance to road emerged as the most important predictor of the distribution patterns of plateau pika, while the soil type was of ancillary importance. Mean air temperature of wettest quarter, distance to resident site and altitude also produced high gains in defining plateau pika’s distribution. A higher predictive accuracy was achieved by the model that combined environmental and anthropogenic variables. With the constraint of human factors, the presence probability of plateau pika in about 1661 km2 will increase. These findings demonstrate the impact of human activities on the distribution of plateau pika, and the importance of vegetation reservation for plateau pika control.

Habitat and space use of wintering Sprague's Pipits (Anthus spragueii) in northern Mexico

Understanding home range size and habitat preferences is an important component of monitoring species in steep decline. Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) is a declining grassland specialist with a substantial portion of its population wintering in the highly threatened grasslands of the Chihuahuan Desert. We radio-tagged and tracked 10 wintering pipits between 2014 and 2017 at 3 sites across northern Mexico to generate baseline home range estimates and habitat preferences on their wintering grounds. We found that mean home range and core-use area size with 95% and 50% kernel density estimators were 11.4 ha and 2.4 ha, respectively, almost twice as large as some other grassland specialist passerines. Two birds left the study area and one individual shifted its home range 1.3 km after 20 d of monitoring, indicating that some individuals are flexible in their space use strategies. Within their home ranges, pipits selected grasslands with more bare ground and less “other cover” (litter, duff, animal excrement, and rocks) than what was available on the landscape. We found no relationship at the microhabitat scale between pipits and grass height nor shrub cover and heights, which in previous studies have been shown to influence habitat selection at larger scales. These findings may reflect different habitat use, diet, and predator avoidance strategies than other grassland passerines that select for denser grass cover during winter in the Chihuahuan Desert and highlight the importance of structurally heterogeneous grasslands. For this reason, strategies to manage and conserve Chihuahuan Desert grasslands and its avifauna must consider the diverse habitat and area needs of grassland birds to be effective.

A Lack of “Environmental Earth Data” at the Microhabitat Scale Impacts Efforts to Control Invasive Arthropods That Vector Pathogens

We currently live in an era of major global change that has led to the introduction and range expansion of numerous invasive species worldwide. In addition to the ecological and economic consequences associated with most invasive species, invasive arthropods that vector pathogens (IAVPs) to humans and animals pose substantial health risks. Species distribution models that are informed using environmental Earth data are frequently employed to predict the distribution of invasive species, and to advise targeted mitigation strategies. However, there are currently substantial mismatches in the temporal and spatial resolution of these data and the environmental contexts which affect IAVPs. Consequently, targeted actions to control invasive species or to prepare the population for possible disease outbreaks may lack efficacy. Here, we identify and discuss how the currently available environmental Earth data are lacking with respect to their applications in species distribution modeling, particularly when predicting the potential distribution of IAVPs at meaningful space-time scales. For example, we examine the issues related to interpolation of weather station data and the lack of microclimatic data relevant to the environment experienced by IAVPs. In addition, we suggest how these data gaps can be filled, including through the possible development of a dedicated open access database, where data from both remotely- and proximally-sensed sources can be stored, shared, and accessed.

Perception of predation risk by African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys sp. nov) is higher in forest-edge microhabitats

How rodents perceive predation risk may alter their seed foraging behaviour and therefore potentially influence the recruitment of tree species. In this study we used two methods to investigate the effect of predation risk on habitat use by the African giant pouched rat (Cricetomys sp. nov) in Ngel Nyaki forest reserve, Nigeria. The first method was ‘giving up density’ (GUD), an index of perceived risk of predation at an artificial food patch, and the second was the ‘spool-and-line’ approach, whereby unravelling spools attached to rodent bodies are used to trace their tracks. For our GUD experiment, we chose four major sites in the forest; two representative of core habitat and two at the forest edge. Additionally, three characteristic microsites were used in the GUD experiment: dense understory, open understory and near-burrows. We hypothesised that GUDs would be lower on every succeeding observation day as rats learn to use the food patches, higher GUDs would be observed in the forest edges and open microsites, and rats would show preference for the microhabitats with least exposure to potential predators. In support of our first hypothesis, we found that GUDs were highest on the first experimental nights of every session. We also found that GUDs in the forest edges were higher than GUDs in the forest core. Lower GUDs were observed close to the rat burrows and in dense understory microsites, even though these differences were not statistically significant. Tracking of rat movements using the spool-and-line method overall revealed an even use across microhabitats, with a weak preference for those with logs, dense understory or exposed ground. Overall, our results suggest that vegetation density on a microhabitat scale has little or no effect on the perception of predation risk by African giant pouched rats.

Do Red Foxes (Vulpes Vulpes) Increase the Detectability of Scent Marks by Selecting Highly Conspicuous Substrates

In mammals, especially those that are nocturnal or crepuscular, chemical marks usually play a significant role as environmental labels. Scent marks in mammals can have many functions, including territorial defense and communication signals in the mating season. Furthermore, animals can increase the detectability of marks by selecting highly conspicuous locations and substrates on which to mark, such as stones and sticks, on or around faeces, other animal carcasses, anthropogenic features, and plants. Human-carnivore interactions can result in a conflict where perceived damage to livelihoods occurs in socio-economically poor areas. In the Shigar Valley, Karakorum Range, Pakistan, subsistence mixed farming is the predominant land use and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are widely persecuted. Understanding the effects of human activity and habitat factors on fox behaviors in the region are lacking. We used line transect surveys aided by a domestic dog (Canis familiaris) to detect fox faeces locations and characterize fox den form 2015-16-17. We encountered 467 fox scats by dog assistance. We tested for associations between scent deposition, and environmental variables including vegetation and substrate type, distribution of livestock carcasses and dung, roads and agricultural land at micro-habitat. We found more fox scats on aromatic plants, shrubs, and on or near livestock feaces and carcasses. Fox scent marking site selection varied for forested and shrub areas relative to open grassland or barren ground and vegetation cover and tree density at the microhabitat scale. The findings suggest that foxes do not avoid human activity per se and anthropogenic benefits (road kill, livestock carrion, crop food sources) may outweigh the costs of persecution. Foxes may also provide ecosystem benefits via seed dispersal, carrion removal and regulation of prey populations.

Resource selection by Javan Slow Loris Nycticebus javanicus E. Geoffroy, 1812 (Mammalia: Primates: Lorisidae) in a lowland fragmented forest in Central Java, Indonesia

Habitat loss and forest fragmentation have negative impacts on Javan Slow Loris Nycticebus javanicus, a Critically Endangered nocturnal primate endemic to Java. Reports confirmed that less than 9% of forest area remains on Java Island. One of the remaining natural habitats of the Javan Slow Loris is the fragment of Kemuning Forest in Temanggung Regency, Central Java. The purpose of this study was to determine resource selection and habitat variables that determine the presence of Javan Slow Loris. Habitat variables measured were basal area, tree connectivity, crown coverage on tree stage, slope, elevation, and distance to river. Data analysis performed was logistic regression, likelihood ratio test, and Akaike’s Information Criterion with a backward elimination procedure. We also used direct observation and interviews with locals to collect data on environment and anthropogenic features of this forest. The results showed that the Javan Slow Loris uses resources selectively on a microhabitat scale. The habitat factors that influence the probability of resource selection by the species are canopy cover and slope. Habitat characteristics preferred by the Javan Slow Loris in Kemuning Forest are secondary lowland tropical rainforest with dense canopy cover located on a steep slope with low level of habitat disturbances. Although this study uses a small sample size, the expectation is that the results can be used as preliminary information for the habitat and population management of Javan Slow Loris in Kemuning Forest to guide conservation efforts and design management strategies.

Alley cropping agroforestry mediates carabid beetle distribution at a micro-habitat scale

Temperate agroforestry systems are being strongly promoted for ecological reasons in many regions of the world. Pest management in these highly-structured environments is however barely studied, despite widespread claims of increased biological control enhanced by the presence of trees and grassy strips at their base. The aim of this study is to assess how different carabid species use space in an alley cropping agroforestry system. We carried out spatially and temporally-tight pitfall trap experiments in an old grown agroforestry plot and characterized how the activity density of two abundant carabid species of the field, Nebria brevicollis (F.) and Anchomenus dorsalis (Pont.), varied with the distance to the strip. The grassy strips were either un-mowed or used to stack branches, and were planted with or without trees. Both species clearly responded to the differences between strips and culture, but in a different way. N. brevicollis had a strong preference for the strip, but only when the strip had trees on it. Conversely, almost no captures of A. dorsalis occurred in the strip, whereas plenty were captured in crops. Our results are similar to those obtained on field margins and beetle banks, implying that the rich knowledge drawn from these studies can be applied to alley cropping agroforestry systems. These systems however differ by the regular arrangement of strips, which may support an assemblage of species with varying habitat requirements. These results imply that grassy strips can be managed for increasing their role in conservation biological control.