Scaling Local Species-habitat Relations to the Larger Landscape with a Hierarchical Spatial Count Model |
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| Authors: | Wayne E Thogmartin Melinda G Knutson |
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| Institution: | (1) U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, 2630 Fanta Reed Road, La Crosse, WI 54603-1223, USA |
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| Abstract: | Much of what is known about avian species-habitat relations has been derived from studies of birds at local scales. It is
entirely unclear whether the relations observed at these scales translate to the larger landscape in a predictable linear
fashion. We derived habitat models and mapped predicted abundances for three forest bird species of eastern North America
using bird counts, environmental variables, and hierarchical models applied at three spatial scales. Our purpose was to understand
habitat associations at multiple spatial scales and create predictive abundance maps for purposes of conservation planning
at a landscape scale given the constraint that the variables used in this exercise were derived from local-level studies.
Our models indicated a substantial influence of landscape context for all species, many of which were counter to reported
associations at finer spatial extents. We found land cover composition provided the greatest contribution to the relative
explained variance in counts for all three species; spatial structure was second in importance. No single spatial scale dominated
any model, indicating that these species are responding to factors at multiple spatial scales. For purposes of conservation
planning, areas of predicted high abundance should be investigated to evaluate the conservation potential of the landscape
in their general vicinity. In addition, the models and spatial patterns of abundance among species suggest locations where
conservation actions may benefit more than one species. |
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| Keywords: | Abundance map Black-billed cuckoo Hierarchical model Information-theoretic model selection Multi-level model Red-headed woodpecker Spatial count model Wood thrush |
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