Habitat Selection Process Research Articles

Habitat and movement selection processes of American lobster/jakej within a restricted bay in the Bras d’Or Lake/Pitu’paq, Nova Scotia, Canada

American lobster inhabit the unique, brackish Bras d’Or Lake system, although densities are low compared to areas with similar habitats in the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, lobsters are an important part of local First Nation (Mi’kmaq) food and culture. We used acoustic telemetry and habitat mapping, combined with local Mi’kmaw knowledge, to document the movements and habitat use of adult lobsters within a section of the Lake. Movement patterns of acoustically tagged individual lobsters were analyzed with both resource selection functions and integrated step selection functions using data obtained from a high-resolution VEMCO Positioning System within a restricted bay in the Bras d’Or Lake. The resource selection function suggested stronger selections of substrates that contained a combination of soft and hard sediments. While the integrated step selection functions found substantial individual variability in habitat selections, there was a trend for lobsters to exhibit more resident behaviour on the combined soft/hard substrates despite the fact these sediments provided little in the way of obvious shelters for the animals. Adult lobsters at this site have very little risk of predation, which presumably allows them to freely exhibit exploratory behaviours and reduce their association with substrates that provide shelters.

A multi-evidence approach in an Amazonian river based on land use, water quality, histopathological effects and habitat selection behavior in fish

The Amazon rivers constitute the largest river basin in the world, with a high level of biodiversity. The Tocantins River is one of the most important rivers in this region, which has been impacted by different land uses. The objective of this study was to carry out a multi-evidence analysis focusing on the water quality of the Tocantins River, close to the municipality of Marabá-PA. We analyzed forest cover and water quality and, using the model organism Danio rerio, performed toxicity tests for histopathological effects, as well as the habitat selection approach by exposing fish to different river water samples in a multi-compartment device. The results showed that the studied area has already lost almost 30% of its forests in recent decades. Regarding water quality, the upstream (C1) and downstream (C5) points are the least impacted. On the other hand, the other points (C2–C4), closer to the city, greater input of pollutants was detected. Fish exposed to water samples from the most impacted sites showed several oedemas and hyperplastic cells in the gills. Regarding habitat selection behavior, there was a marked avoidance by samples with the highest contamination load. The results of this study lead to the understanding of the potential negative effects of human activities on local Amazonian biodiversity, since the potential toxicity of the environment, in conjunction with changes in the habitat selection process, could lead to a decline in populations of aquatic organisms, altering the environmental balance.

Relative importance of vegetation features and intra- and inter-specific interactions on habitat preferences of a raptor guild in eucalypt plantations

Forest plantations are increasingly recognized for their role in providing ecosystem services in agroforestry systems. Understanding the habitat preferences of potentially beneficial birds supports effective forest management. Our study focused on identifying breeding habitat preferences of a raptor guild and assessing exotic eucalypt plantations as potential breeding sites. We explored preferences at various spatial scales considering vegetation features, intraspecific territorial behaviour, and interspecific interactions within the guild to determine their importance. We hypothesized that feeding habits and body mass explain differences in habitat preferences among three diurnal raptors (Northern goshawk, Common buzzard, Eurasian sparrowhawk). We employed random forest models to differentiate breeding sites from control plots, assessing factors' relative importance and unravelling the hierarchical process of habitat selection in southwestern Europe's eucalypt plantations. The studied eucalypt plantations emerged as suitable breeding habitats, harbouring dense breeding populations with uniform spatial distribution. Intraspecific territoriality and vegetation significantly influenced breeding habitat selection, while interspecific interactions held lesser influence. Species-specific variations were attributed to feeding habits and body masses. Tall eucalypt trees and mature-like patches were crucial elements driving breeding habitat selection. Raptors' preference for specific woody elements primarily influences areas within a relatively small radius around their nests (including the nest tree, nest site −10 m radius, and nest stand −50 m), with sparrowhawks showing preferences extending to 125 m. Raptors' inclination for mature woody elements and mature forest patches should steer forest management to bolster these apex predators and their contributions in eucalypt plantations within agroforestry systems.

Stowaways: Maritime ecology of the oldest commensal ship rats (Rattus rattus) found on a Mediterranean shipwreck

Ship rats (Rattus rattus) have successfully colonized six continents and 80% of islands worldwide by stowing-away on anthropogenic vessels. Numerous zooarchaeological and metagenomic studies have contributed to tracing the western dispersal of ship rats out of the Indian subcontinent and into the Mediterranean Basin, North Africa, and Europe. This has increased understanding of historical maritime mobility, trade contacts, and the spread of pandemic disease such as the plague. Moreover, considerable research has been conducted on the behavior, ecology, and population dynamics of ship rats in invaded areas, which supports conservation and eradication efforts. However, few studies have shed light on the mode of travel in between the geographic origins and destinations of ship rats, such as ships and boats, which act as mobile, commensal habitat for this cosmopolitan species. We address this lacuna here, by analyzing an assemblage of ship rat remains from an early Islamic period shipwreck, the Ma‘agan Mikhael B, located on the Carmel coast of modern Israel. Using zooarchaeological, biometrical, and palaeogenetic (aDNA) methodologies, we investigated the maritime ecology of ship rats regarding dispersal behavior, habitat selection, source–sink dynamics, and relative body size. The results of this study suggest that ship rats actively inhabited the Ma‘agan Mikhael B as part of their habitat selection processes, that conditions onboard provided high-quality habitat (adequate food and harborage, likely absence of predators and disease), and that they appear to have exhibited a degree of gigantism, possibly due to ‘island rule’. This study has implications for future metapopulation genetic studies on ship rats, as well as shows the value of zooarchaeological analysis in understanding the ecological circumstances of the maritime mobility of ship rats in the Mediterranean region.

Effects of Inter- and Intra-Specific Interactions on Moose Habitat Selection Limited by Temperature

Habitat selection and daily activity patterns of large herbivores might be affected by inter- and intra-specific interaction, changes of spatial scale, and seasonal temperature. To reveal what factors were driving the habitat selection of moose, we collected moose (Alces alces) and roe deer (Capreolus pygargus bedfordi) occurrence data, analyzed the multi-scale habitat selection and daily activity patterns of moose, and quantified the effects of spatial heterogeneity distribution of temperature, as well as the occurrence of roe deer on these habitat selection processes. Our results suggested that moose and roe deer distribution spatially overlap and that moose habitat selection is especially sensitive to landscape variables at large scales. We also found that the activity patterns of both sexes of moose had a degree of temporal separation with roe deer. In the snow-free season, temperatures drove moose habitat selection to be limited by threshold temperatures of 17 °C; in the snowy season, there were no similar temperature driving patterns, due to the severe cold environment. The daily activity patterns of moose showed seasonal change, and were more active at dawn and nightfall to avoid heat pressure during the snow-free season, but more active in the daytime for cold adaptation to the snow season. Consequently, this study provides new insights on how the comprehensive effects of environmental change and inter- and intra- specific relationships influence the habitat selection and daily activity patterns of moose and other heat sensitive animals with global warming.

Chemical footprints mediate habitat selection in co-occurring aphids.

Habitat selection is a critical process that shapes the spatial distribution of species at local and regional scales. The mechanisms underlying habitat preference rely on environmental factors, species traits, and ecological interactions with other species. Here, we examined spatial segregation between two co-occurring aphid species (Rhopalosiphum maidis and R. padi) on wheat plants. We hypothesized that spatial segregation between these aphid species was mediated by aphid cuticular compounds left as chemical "footprints" on plant surfaces. Combining field and laboratory experiments, we first examined how plant microsites alter fitness by measuring the fecundity of each species. Next, we tested whether intra- and interspecific pre-inhabitation modified habitat selection in both aphid species. Both aphid species preferred and exhibited higher fecundity on wheat stems versus leaves. Laboratory trials showed that R. maidis pre-inhabitation altered R. padi spatial preference. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and bioassays testing the effects of aphid density and footprint extracts, we found a density-dependent response, with R. padi avoiding locations previously inhabited by R. maidis. The chemical analysis of footprint crude extracts revealed a highly abundant compound, 1-hexacosanol, and when presented in the synthetic form, also elicited R. padi displacement. Altogether, it indicated that R. maidis footprints altered R. padi habitat selection with cuticular compounds playing a relevant role in the habitat selection process in co-occurring aphid species.

Remotely sensed variables explain microhabitat selection and reveal buffering behaviours against warming in a climate‐sensitive bird species

AbstractFine‐scale habitat selection modelling can allow a mechanistic understanding of habitat selection processes, enabling better assessments of the effects of climate and habitat changes on biodiversity. Remotely sensed data provide an ever‐increasing amount of environmental and climatic variables at high spatio‐temporal resolutions, and a unique opportunity to produce fine‐scale habitat models particularly useful in challenging environments, such as high‐elevation areas. Working at a 10‐m spatial resolution, we assessed the value of remotely sensed data for investigating foraging habitat selection (in relation to topography, microclimate, land cover) in nestling‐rearing white‐winged snowfinch (Montifringilla nivalis), a high‐elevation species highly sensitive to climate change. Adult snowfinches foraged at locations with intermediate vegetation cover and higher habitat heterogeneity, also avoiding extremely warm or extremely cold microclimates. Temperature interacted with other environmental drivers in defining habitat selection, highlighting trade‐offs between habitat profitability and thermoregulation: snowfinches likely adopted mechanisms of behavioural buffering against physiologically stressful conditions by selecting for cooler, shaded and more snowy foraging grounds at higher temperatures. Our results matched those from previous studies based on accurate field measurements, confirming the species' reliance on climate‐sensitive microhabitats (snow patches and low‐sward grassland, in heterogeneous patches) and the usefulness of satellite‐derived fine‐scale modelling. Habitat suitability models built on remotely sensed predictors can provide a cost‐effective method for periodic monitoring of species' habitats both at fine grain and over large extents. Fine‐scale models also enhance our understanding of the actual drivers of (micro)habitat selection and of possible buffering behaviours against warming, allowing more accurate and robust distribution models, finer predictions of potential future changes and carefully targeted conservation strategies and habitat management.

Conceptual and methodological advances in habitat-selection modeling: guidelines for ecology and evolution.

Habitat selection is a fundamental animal behavior that shapes a wide range of ecological processes, including animal movement, nutrient transfer, trophic dynamics and population distribution. Although habitat selection has been a focus of ecological studies for decades, technological, conceptual and methodological advances over the last 20 yr have led to a surge in studies addressing this process. Despite the substantial literature focused on quantifying the habitat‐selection patterns of animals, there is a marked lack of guidance on best analytical practices. The conceptual foundations of the most commonly applied modeling frameworks can be confusing even to those well versed in their application. Furthermore, there has yet to be a synthesis of the advances made over the last 20 yr. Therefore, there is a need for both synthesis of the current state of knowledge on habitat selection, and guidance for those seeking to study this process. Here, we provide an approachable overview and synthesis of the literature on habitat‐selection analyses (HSAs) conducted using selection functions, which are by far the most applied modeling framework for understanding the habitat‐selection process. This review is purposefully non‐technical and focused on understanding without heavy mathematical and statistical notation, which can confuse many practitioners. We offer an overview and history of HSAs, describing the tortuous conceptual path to our current understanding. Through this overview, we also aim to address the areas of greatest confusion in the literature. We synthesize the literature outlining the most exciting conceptual advances in the field of habitat‐selection modeling, discussing the substantial ecological and evolutionary inference that can be made using contemporary techniques. We aim for this paper to provide clarity for those navigating the complex literature on HSAs while acting as a reference and best practices guide for practitioners.

Could Contamination Avoidance Be an Endpoint That Protects the Environment? An Overview on How Species Respond to Copper, Glyphosate, and Silver Nanoparticles.

The use of non-forced multi-compartmented exposure systems has gained importance in the assessment of the contamination-driven spatial avoidance response. This new paradigm of exposure makes it possible to assess how contaminants fragment habitats, interfering in the spatial distribution and species’ habitat selection processes. In this approach, organisms are exposed to a chemically heterogeneous scenario (a gradient or patches of contamination) and the response is focused on identifying the contamination levels considered aversive for organisms. Despite the interesting results that have been recently published, the use of this approach in ecotoxicological risk studies is still incipient. The current review aims to show the sensitivity of spatial avoidance in non-forced exposure systems in comparison with the traditional endpoints used in ecotoxicology under forced exposure. To do this, we have used the sensitivity profile by biological groups (SPBG) to offer an overview of the highly sensitive biological groups and the species sensitive distribution (SSD) to estimate the hazard concentration for 5% of the species (HC5). Three chemically different compounds were selected for this review: copper, glyphosate, and Ag-NPs. The results show that contamination-driven spatial avoidance is a very sensitive endpoint that could be integrated as a complementary tool to ecotoxicological studies in order to provide an overview of the level of repellence of contaminants. This repellence is a clear example of how contamination might fragment ecosystems, prevent connectivity among populations and condition the distribution of biodiversity.

Dichlorvos and Paraquat induced spatial avoidance response: A more realistic determinant of population decline of Oreochromis niloticus

The present study evaluated the ability of Dichlorvos and Paraquat to provoke avoidance response in fingerlings of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and estimate the population immediate decline (PID). The non-forced multi-compartmented system used for non-forced assays, were constructed to allow free movement of fishes along six compartments. Fishes (n=3 per compartment/treatment, totaling 18 per system) were exposed to a gradient of Dichlorvos (1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mg L-1) and Paraquat (10.0, 30.0, 50.0, 70.0, 100.0 mg L-1) and their distribution were recorded at 20 min interval for a 3-h period. Mortalities recorded in forced exposures were 17% and 0% at lowest concentrations and, 67% and 83% at highest concentrations for Dichlorvos and Paraquat correspondingly. For non-forced exposure, fishes presented a significant (p < 0.005) gradient-dependent spatial avoidance for both pesticides after 3-h. They avoided the lowest concentrations of Dichlorvos and Paraquat (1.0 and 10.0 mg L-1) by 40% and 90% respectively and 100% at the highest concentrations for both pesticides. The PID was driven by avoidance behavior rather than mortality. This result indicates that the dangers of pesticide contamination is not only in their toxicity to organisms, but also, in habitat selection processes by organism resulting in serious environmental turbulence.

Do human infrastructures shape nest distribution in the landscape depending on individual personality in a farmland bird of prey?

Individuals' distribution across habitats may depend on their personality. Human activities and infrastructures are critical elements of the landscape that may impact the habitat selection process. However, depending on their personality, individuals may respond differently to these unnatural elements. In the present study, we first investigated whether some human infrastructures (buildings, roads and paths) shaped Montagu's harrier nest spatial distribution in the landscape according to female personality (boldness). Second, we tested if the reproductive success of females depended on their boldness and nest location regarding infrastructures. Using a long-term (19years) dataset, we calculated, for each infrastructure type, the distance from each nest to the nearest infrastructure and the infrastructure density around the nest. We tested the effects of female boldness (bold vs. shy) and its interaction with egg-laying date on these six metrics. Nest location in the landscape depended on female personality and on some human infrastructures: the building density was smaller around nests from shy females than from bold ones. Nest distribution related to other infrastructure metrics did not depend on female boldness. The pattern related to building density is consistent with some habitat choice hypotheses, which are discussed. Path density around nests negatively affected reproductive success regardless of female boldness, and late breeders nested further away from paths than early breeders. Human activities on paths (more common later in the season) could lead to disturbance and a decrease in parental care, reducing reproductive success. Increasing human presence in farmlands implies a need to better understand its impact on population composition, in terms of personality. Our results suggest that individual behavioural differences should be taken into account in studies assessing the effects of human disturbance on animal populations, to propose more appropriate conservation measures.

An Experimental Analysis of Perch Diameter and Substrate Preferences of Anolis Lizards from Natural Forest and Urban Habitats

Determining whether organisms have preferences for certain aspects of the habitat is important for understanding the process of habitat selection. Anolis lizards (anoles) have evolved to occupy distinct parts of the arboreal environment. Depending on the population or species, anoles perch on different aspects of the structural habitat varying in diameter, height, and type of substrate. We used laboratory and mesocosm trials to assess whether 2 species of Anolis lizards have preferences for the diameter and type of substrate they use for perching. Results reveal A. cristatellus and A. sagrei both prefer larger diameter perches. Lizards from natural forests and urban populations showed no difference in perch-diameter preference. In contrast, A. sagrei from an urban site overwhelmingly preferred to perch on wood substrates over polyvinyl chloride and metal ones. The larger diameter and wood substrates preferred by anoles in our trials should confer increased locomotor performance for these species based on previous studies. Rapid environmental change caused by humans can decouple the relationship between habitat preferences and fitness, so it is essential to test for changing preferences in organisms that experience urbanization and other forms of global change.

Fine-scale habitat selection limits trade-offs between foraging and temperature in a grassland bird

AbstractMany species are frequently faced with the decision about how to balance the use of thermal refuge against access to food resources. We evaluated the habitat use of female greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) to assess the potential for trade-offs between thermal conditions and food resources during the habitat selection process. Our objectives were to 1) compare near-ground temperatures, invertebrate availability, and vegetation characteristics at sites used by greater prairie chickens to conditions at random landscape locations in various time since fire patches and 2) assess changes in conditions at used sites throughout the day to determine if selection for resources changes relative to ambient conditions, resulting in trade-offs between foraging sites and thermal refuge. We found that greater prairie chickens primarily used patches 0–12 months postfire that had relatively high abundances and biomasses of invertebrates compared to other time since fire patches. Greater prairie chickens further modified their selection at relatively fine spatial scales within these food-rich patches to select for areas with cooler temperatures during the hottest part of the day. The use of thermal refuge did not appear to influence the access to food resources as invertebrate abundance and biomass at used sites were consistent throughout the day. Our results show that food resources and thermal cover influences habitat selection for greater prairie chickens, but there was little evidence for trade-offs during the habitat selection process. Consideration of spatial and temporal scales is critical for evaluating trade-offs in habitat selection for animals and this research provides insights into the decision-making process by prairie chickens.

A 'How to' guide for interpreting parameters in habitat-selection analyses.

Habitat‐selection analyses allow researchers to link animals to their environment via habitat‐selection or step‐selection functions, and are commonly used to address questions related to wildlife management and conservation efforts. Habitat‐selection analyses that incorporate movement characteristics, referred to as integrated step‐selection analyses, are particularly appealing because they allow modelling of both movement and habitat‐selection processes.Despite their popularity, many users struggle with interpreting parameters in habitat‐selection and step‐selection functions. Integrated step‐selection analyses also require several additional steps to translate model parameters into a full‐fledged movement model, and the mathematics supporting this approach can be challenging for many to understand.Using simple examples, we demonstrate how weighted distribution theory and the inhomogeneous Poisson point process can facilitate parameter interpretation in habitat‐selection analyses. Furthermore, we provide a ‘how to’ guide illustrating the steps required to implement integrated step‐selection analyses using the amt packageBy providing clear examples with open‐source code, we hope to make habitat‐selection analyses more understandable and accessible to end users.

Social information affects prospecting, but not settlement, by Black‐and‐white Warblers (Mniotilta varia)

Birds use social as well as environmental cues to inform their habitat selection decisions. By manipulating social cues with song playbacks, biologists can influence where individuals search for breeding territories, which could be useful for conservation. Yet before we can predict how birds will respond to playback treatments, we must first understand how they integrate social cues with information about habitat quality at different stages in the habitat selection process. In this experiment, we examined whether vegetation structure and/or social cues affected Black‐and‐white Warbler Mniotilta varia abundance at three study areas that differed in habitat quality. We monitored Black‐and‐white Warbler habitat use across the breeding season, from the early prospecting period until after settlement decisions were made. During seasons without playback treatments, Black‐and‐white Warbler abundance was positively associated with levels of understorey vegetation cover. We then played Black‐and‐white Warbler songs daily for 5–6 weeks at selected survey sites at all study areas. We found that the model‐predicted abundance of Black‐and‐white Warblers was nearly three times greater at playback sites than at control sites during the prospecting period. During seasons with playbacks, understorey vegetation cover was no longer associated with Black‐and‐white Warbler abundance, indicating that individuals prioritized social information when searching for breeding territories. However, during the post‐settlement period, neither playbacks nor levels of understorey vegetation cover were associated with increased abundance, suggesting that playback treatments did not influence final breeding territory choice. We also found no difference in abundance between playback and control sites at a study area that represented low‐quality habitat, which suggests that playbacks should not induce maladaptive site selection.

Habitat Selection and the Evolutionary Aesthetics of Landscape Preference

This paper analyses the processes of habitat selection and human landscape preferences from an evolutionary perspective, with the aim of demonstrating how humans aesthetically choose, assess and aspire to live in an environment in which our species and our ancestors evolved in during the pre-Neolithic period. We present the basics of evolutionary aesthetics, then analyse the process of habitat selection and the most influential evolutionary theories of landscape preference. Finally, we refer to applied empirical research and point out that a comprehensive evolutionary theory must also take into account the psychological and cultural elements that affect human well-being.

Temperature but not nutrient addition affects abundance and assemblage structure of colonizing aquatic insects

Abiotic conditions are important considerations in the species sorting process, which ultimately determines the distribution and abundance of species. Freshwater ecosystems will be impacted by ongoing temperature rise and other anthropogenically induced changes, such as nutrient enrichment and eutrophication. Changing characteristics of freshwater habitats will likely impact organisms in numerous ways, including through effects on colonization dynamics. Species are expected to colonize habitat patches where fitness will be the highest for themselves and their offspring, and how habitat selection interacts with changing environments remains an important question. We conducted a warming experiment to test the habitat selection preferences of aquatic beetles and hemipterans between habitat patches (mesocosms) of varying temperatures (via heaters), nutrient addition, and their interaction. Overall, insect abundance and richness were higher in unheated patches, with taxon-specific variation in response to heating. Although nutrients had limited effects on environmental conditions in mesocosms, their addition had no significant effects on insects. Insect assemblages had unique structures across heating treatments, with lower beta diversity and higher effective numbers of species in the warmest mesocosms. Our data support the importance of spatial variation in abiotic factors during the habitat selection process, and in determining species distributions and abundances as shallow lentic ecosystems are impacted by rising global temperatures.

Predicting greater sage-grouse habitat selection at the southern periphery of their range.

Mapping suitable habitat is an important process in wildlife conservation planning. Species distribution reflects habitat selection processes occurring across multiple spatio‐temporal scales. Because habitat selection may be driven by different factors at different scales, conservation planners require information at the scale of the intervention to plan effective management actions. Previous research has described habitat selection processes shaping the distribution of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) at the range‐wide scale. Finer‐scale information for applications within jurisdictional units inside the species range is lacking, yet necessary, because state wildlife agencies are the management authority for sage‐grouse in the United States. We quantified seasonal second‐order habitat selection for sage‐grouse across the state of Utah to produce spatio‐temporal predictions of their distribution at the southern periphery of the species range. We used location data obtained from sage‐grouse marked with very‐high‐frequency radio‐transmitters and lek location data collected between 1998 and 2013 to quantify species habitat selection in relation to a suite of topographic, edaphic, climatic, and anthropogenic variables using random forest algorithms. Sage‐grouse selected for greater sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover, higher elevations, and gentler slopes and avoided lower precipitations and higher temperatures. The strength of responses to habitat variables varied across seasons. Anthropogenic variables previously reported as affecting their range‐wide distribution (i.e., roads, powerlines, communication towers, and agricultural development) were not ranked as top predictors at our focal scale. Other than strong selection for sagebrush cover, the responses we observed differed from what has been reported at the range‐wide scale. These differences likely reflect the unique climatic, geographic, and topographic context found in the southern peripheral area of the species distribution compared to range‐wide environmental gradients. Our results highlight the importance of considering appropriateness of scale when planning conservation actions for wide‐ranging species.

Changes in climate and land use interact to create an ecological trap in a migratory species.

Anthropogenic landscape alteration and climate change can have multiscale and interrelated effects on ecological systems. Such changes to the environment can disrupt the connection between habitat quality and the cues that species use to identify quality habitat, which can result in an ecological trap. Ecological traps are typically difficult to identify without fine-scale information on individual survival and fitness, but this information is rarely available over large temporal and spatial scales. The Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States and Canada has undergone extensive changes in the latter half of the 20th century due to advancements in agricultural technologies, water management practices and climate change. Historically, the PPR has been a highly productive area for breeding waterfowl. While the overall trends for dabbling ducks in the PPR have exhibited increasing abundances since the late 1980s, some species, such as the northern pintail, have been declining in abundance. We used a long-term dataset of pintail counts across the PPR to separate count data into a demographic process and a habitat selection process using a hierarchical model. The hierarchical model provided an alternative way of identifying ecological traps in the absence of individual survival and fitness. Our model also allowed us to account for the indirect pathways by which climate and agriculture impact pintail through their additional contribution to wetland availability, which is a primary driver of pintail demography and habitat selection. Decoupling these processes allowed us to identify an ecological trap related to increasing cropland land cover, in which pintail selected for cropland over alternative nesting habitat, likely due to the similarities with productive native mixed-grass prairie. However, large proportions of cropland within a region resulted in fewer pintail the following year, likely due to nest failures from predation and agricultural practices. In addition, we identified several regions in Canada where this ecological trap is contributing significantly to mismatches between habitat selection and demographic processes.

Through the taste buds of a large herbivore: foodscape modeling contributes to an understanding of forage selection processes

How large herbivores track resource quantity and quality through time has formed the core of an abundance of literature on migratory populations in recent decades. Yet, relating foraging processes and habitat selection patterns in resident populations, where spatial heterogeneity of food resources is fine‐grained and/or where the portion of edible plants (i.e. the foodscape) is low, is challenging. We addressed this issue in a mountain population of chamois Rupicapra rupicapra, an intermediate feeder, whose individuals do not migrate. We relied on a rare combination of data on habitat use of 50 GPS‐collared females and data on the quantity (biomass) and quality (phenology) of edible resources in their landscape, derived from field sampling of vegetation, remote sensing and diet (DNA barcoding). The foodscape of the chamois was composed of a low proportion of the available biomass (<18%), including relatively high‐quality plants, with low spatial covariation between plant phenology and biomass. Chamois avoided areas with a low edible biomass (where the intake rate may be too low) and focused on areas with plants at approximately the flowering stage, whatever the average plant phenological stage available. Due to this constant preference for flowering plants, home range selection ratios therefore shifted during the summer from a selection of more advanced plants in June to their avoidance in August. When the phenology scores of all plants available, rather than edible plants only, were considered, areas with relatively more advanced plants were selected all summer long. This exemplifies that, when traits from edible plants are different from those of all plants available, it is crucial to consider the actual foodscape to decipher forage and habitat selection processes. By integrating species‐specific dimensions of resources in habitat selection studies, we believe understanding of the foraging processes will be improved.