Behavioural context of multi-scale species distribution models assessed by radio-tracking

• Published in: Basic and applied ecology 2012-03, Vol.13 (2), p.188-195
• Main Authors: Lundy, Mathieu G., Buckley, Daniel J., Boston, Emma S.M., Scott, David D., Prodöhl, Paulo A., Marnell, Ferdia, Teeling, Emma C., Ian Montgomery, W.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal behavior; biogeography; breeding sites; Central place forager; Habitat selection; habitats; land cover; Multi-scale modelling; Myotis; Myotis nattereri; pastures; Radio telemetry; Species Distribution Modelling (SDM)
• ISSN: 1439-1791
• DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2011.12.003

Incorporating ecological processes and animal behaviour into Species Distribution Models (SDMs) is difficult. In species with a central resting or breeding place, there can be conflict between the environmental requirements of the ‘central place’ and foraging habitat. We apply a multi-scale SDM to examine habitat trade-offs between the central place, roost sites, and foraging habitat in Myotis nattereri. We validate these derived associations using habitat selection from behavioural observations of radio-tracked bats. A Generalised Linear Model (GLM) of roost occurrence using land cover variables with mixed spatial scales indicated roost occurrence was positively associated with woodland on a fine scale and pasture on a broad scale. Habitat selection of radio-tracked bats mirrored the SDM with bats selecting for woodland in the immediate vicinity of individual roosts but avoiding this habitat in foraging areas, whilst pasture was significantly positively selected for in foraging areas. Using habitat selection derived from radio-tracking enables a multi-scale SDM to be interpreted in a behavioural context. We suggest that the multi-scale SDM of M. nattereri describes a trade-off between the central place and foraging habitat. Multi-scale methods provide a greater understanding of the ecological processes which determine where species occur and allow integration of behavioural processes into SDMs. The findings have implications when assessing the resource use of a species at a single point in time. Doing so could lead to misinterpretation of habitat requirements as these can change within a short time period depending on specific behaviour, particularly if detectability changes depending on behaviour. Es ist schwierig die ökologischen Prozesse und das Verhalten von Tieren in Modellen der Artverbreitung (species distribution model: SDM) zu berücksichtigen. Bei Arten, die einen zentralen Ruhe- oder Brutplatz haben, kann es einen Konflikt zwischen den Umweltanforderungen an diesen zentralen Platz und dem Nahrungshabitat geben. Wir wenden ein SDM auf multiplen Skalen an, um die “trade offs” in Bezug auf das Habitat zwischen dem zentralen Ort, den Rastplätzen und dem Nahrungshabitat bei Myotis natteri zu untersuchen. Wir validieren die abgeleiteten Beziehungen indem wir die Habitatselektion auswerten, die wir durch Verhaltensbeobachtungen an besenderten Fledermäusen feststellen. Ein generalisiertes lineares Modell (GLM) der Rastvorkommen, das die Variablen der Fl