Habitat selection by European badgers in Mediterranean semi-arid ecosystems

Lara‐Romero, Carlos; Virgós, Emílio; Escribano-Ávila, Gema; Mangas, Julián G.; Barja, Isabel; Pardávila, Xosé

doi:10.1016/j.jaridenv.2011.08.004

Cited by 31 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The biogeographic gradient here analyzed is associated with a transition from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean region and it reflects critically diverse environmental conditions which, in a broad sense, relates to an increasing degree of aridity (higher air temperatures and lower water and food availability). Aridity is a key factor that determines the level of ecophysiological stress and, therefore, constrains species occurrence and abundance, especially for temperate species (Lara-Romero et al 2012). It provides a proxy for the selection pressures experienced by animals (Mueller andDiamond 2001, Rezende et al 2004), since it is directly related to primary production (Emberger 1955) which, in turn, may be considered as an index of food availability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scaling of species distribution models across spatial resolutions and extents along a biogeographic gradient. The case of the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis

Suárez‐Seoane¹,

Virgós²,

Terroba³

et al. 2013

Ecography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Scaling is a key process in modelling approaches since it allows for translating information from one scale to another. However, the success of this procedure may depend on 'source' and 'target' scales, but also on the biogeographic/ecological context of the study area. We aimed to quantify the performance and success of scaling species distribution model (SDM) predictions across spatial resolution and extent along a biogeographic gradient using the Iberian mole as study case. We ran separate MaxEnt models at two extents (national and regional) using independent datasets (species locations and environmental predictors) collected at 10 km and 50 m resolutions respectively. Model performance and success of scaling SDMs were quantified on the basis of accuracy measures and spatial predictions. Complementarily, we calculated marginality and tolerance as indicators of habitat availability and niche truncation along the biogeographic gradient. Model performance increased with resolution and extent, as well as from north to south (mainly for high resolution models). When regional models were validated at different scales, their performance reduced severely, particularly in the case of coarse resolution models (some of them performed worse than random). However, when the 10 km-national model was downscaled within regions, it performed better (AUC test : 0.82, 0.85 and 0.55 respectively for Galicia, Madrid and Granada) than models specifically calibrated within each region at 10 km (0.47, 0.65, 0.44). Indeed, it also had a better accuracy when projected at 50 m (0.77, 0.91, 0.79) than models fitted at that resolution (0.62, 0.83, 0.96) in two of the three cases. The success of scaling model predictions decreased along the biogeographic gradient, being these differences associated to niche truncation. Models representing non-truncated niches were more successfully scaled across resolutions and extents (particularly in areas not offering all possible habitats for species), which has important implications for SDM applications.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scaling of species distribution models across spatial resolutions and extents along a biogeographic gradient. The case of the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis

Suárez‐Seoane¹,

Virgós²,

Terroba³

et al. 2013

Ecography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fruits and seeds are available only seasonally during summer and autumn, but many of them remain on trees and bushes or in the leaf litter, thus acdng as a reservoir of food for a long time, in some cases throughout the year (Kruuk & de Kock, 1981;Marassi & Biancardi, 2002). Plant food is also available in orchards (Lara-Romero et al, 2012), at farm buildings (Cheeseman & Mallinson, 1981;Garnett et al, 2002), as well as at compost heaps, and hunters' baiting places.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in the Western Carpathians and its implications for species conservation in Poland

Mysłajek¹,

Nowak²,

Rożen

et al. 2013

Animal Biol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Food composition of the Eurasian badger Me/eA-meles was studied in the mountain zone and foothills of the Western Carpathians (Southern Poland). The diet, obtained by scat analysis, was compared with availability of earthworms, fruits, amphibians, rodents and ground nesting birds (capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia) within both altitudinal zones. Earthworms and fruits were the most abundant food source in the foothills, while amphibians were scarce and rodents were equally available in both altitudinal zones. Capercaillie and hazel grouse occurred in the forests above 560 m a.s.l. In the foothills, vegetable matter (mainly fruits), constituted 56.3%, and earthworms 39.6%, of the biomass consumed, while mammals were supplementary resources (2.9%). In the mountains, the importance of vegetable matter was smaller (47.9%). Earthworms and insects had a similar share (37.8% and 1.8%, respectively), but mammals were eaten much more intensively (13.9%). Birds (exclusively domestic hen) were taken by badgers only in the foothills (0.6%). There was a seasonal variation in badger diet composition in both altitudinal zones, as earthworms dominated in spring, while fruits were eaten mainly in summer and autumn. The composition of the badgers' diet only slightly differed between foothills and mountains. This was probably caused by regular movement of badgers between elevational zones during foraging. We conclude that the present hunting regulation, which allows year-round hunting on badgers in areas inhabited by capercaillie, is not justified.

show abstract

“…1). Se consideró este área por ser el territorio medio estimado para el tejón en zonas con baja calidad de hábitat (Lara-Romero et al 2012). Por último, se caracterizó la cobertura vegetal y los usos del suelo contenidos en el buffer en base a cartografía temática SIG procedente de la Red de Información Ambiental de Andalucía (2007).…”

Section: Localización Y Descripción Del áRea De Estudiounclassified

“…frutales para la supervivencia del tejón en ambientes áridos mediterráneos (Rodríguez & Delibes 1992, Lara-Romero et al 2012. Las naranjas (invierno -primavera) y los higos (verano -otoño) fueron los frutos más consumidos.…”

Section: Discusión Variación Estacional En La Dietaunclassified

“…Kruuk & Parish (1985) relacionaron la alimentación del tejón y los cambios ocurridos en la agricultura durante ocho años en el norte de Escocia. En la región mediterránea árida, la especie ocupa paisajes mosaico constituidos por cultivos de frutales y huertas, mezclados con parches de vegetación natural, los cuales le proporcionan alimento y protección (Lara-Romero et al 2012). En este estudio, se encontró que el tejón mostró una gran preferencia por las naranjas, siendo este cultivo dependiente del regadío (Agencia Andaluza del Agua 2010), y por tanto, del manejo humano.…”

Section: Impulsores Directos De Cambio Global Y Comportamiento Tróficounclassified

See 1 more Smart Citation

Hábitos alimenticios del tejón europeo en un paisaje árido mediterráneo de la provincia de Almería (SE de España)

Requena‐Mullor¹,

López²,

Castro³

et al. 2015

Galemys

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ResumenEn este estudio se describe estacionalmente la dieta del tejón europeo en un paisaje árido mediterráneo constituido mayoritariamente por matorral xérico y en menor medida por cultivos, y se discute qué impulsores directos de Cambio Global pueden afectar potencialmente a su comportamiento trófico. En base a 140 excrementos recolectados mensualmente entre junio de 2011 y mayo de 2012, se observaron diferencias significativas en el consumo de frutos e invertebrados entre estaciones, mientras que el consumo de vertebrados fue constante. Los higos y naranjas resultaron ser los ítems más consumidos a lo largo del año. Dado que la disponibilidad de naranjas depende del manejo humano y la de higos depende principalmente de las precipitaciones, el comportamiento alimenticio del tejón podría verse afectado tanto por cambios en el uso del suelo, como consecuencia de las actividades humanas, como por variaciones en el patrón de precipitación derivadas del cambio climático. AbstractIn this study we describe the European badger diet in a Mediterranean arid landscape mainly dominated by xeric shrubland, and we discuss the potential implications of direct drivers of Global Change on its feeding behavior. Based on an analysis of 140 scats collected monthly from June 2011 to May 2012, it was observed that the consumption of fruits and invertebrates were significantly different between seasons while vertebrates was not. In addition, we found that figs and oranges were dominant items along the year. Due to the availability of oranges depends on the human management and figs depend more directly on rainfall, the feeding behavior of badger could be affected both by changes in land cover/ use as well as changes in the rainfall patterns derived by climate change.

show abstract

Habitat selection by European badgers in Mediterranean semi-arid ecosystems

Cited by 31 publications

References 41 publications

Scaling of species distribution models across spatial resolutions and extents along a biogeographic gradient. The case of the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis

Scaling of species distribution models across spatial resolutions and extents along a biogeographic gradient. The case of the Iberian mole Talpa occidentalis

Diet of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in the Western Carpathians and its implications for species conservation in Poland

Hábitos alimenticios del tejón europeo en un paisaje árido mediterráneo de la provincia de Almería (SE de España)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About