Avian habitat selection in space and time: Connecting individual behaviours to population patterns

在不同的情况下，个体之间的行为变化是理解种群生态学的关键。同样，忽视密度依赖和种群过程对动物行为的影响，限制了我们理解动物为什么选择特定栖息地元素的能力。为了深入了解为什么动物选择一个栖息地元素而不是另一个，需要有关栖息地元素内发生的生物过程以及这种生物过程在空间尺度上的差异的信息。生态学家很早就认识到最佳觅食、Fretwell的理想栖息地选择行为模型和种群生态学中密度依赖的重要性之间的联系。然而，证明这些联系的实证检验仍然有限。我的研究计划是集中在使用实证测试和计算机模拟工具，使这些连接，以及使用这些理论，以改善保护决策。在本提案中，我重点关注： 1)性格作为影响竞争能力的因素的作用以及它如何影响草原猛禽系统中的第二和第三阶栖息地选择 2)开发从空间移动数据中识别独特行为（觅食、筑巢防御）的方法，目的是确定竞争如何影响觅食; 3)了解觅食和巢警惕之间的权衡，在高与低食物供应和有和没有竞争对手的地区; 4)建立在过去的工作机构，以提供一个一般的模型，当鸟类避免或选择栖息地的边缘。目前正在应用新技术，以提高我们对空间利用和大量北方物种的鸟类丰度的认识，目的是评估区域密度、个性和食物差异如何影响边缘效应; 5)评估空间尺度和采样努力的作用，作为影响第二和第三阶选择行为是否准确预测人口水平的反应的因素。 HQP是我研究计划的核心。在过去的6年里，我提供了约200个HQP的机会。我预计下一个周期将有类似数量的学生接受培训。我的计划的成功是依赖于开发一个强有力的协调系统的合作学生项目，个别是独特的，但当整合提供更大的机会，揭示行为，人口，保护和景观生态之间的联系的基本见解。正如我的出版记录和过去学生的就业能力所证明的那样，这种方法创造了在应用和理论生态学方面都具有能力的全面发展的个人。DG计划提供了关键的资金，使我的学生能够将他们的应用工作扩展到基本趋势和状态信息之外，以测试有关生态理论的特定假设以及在不同空间尺度上驱动鸟类多样性模式的过程。

Variation in behaviour among individuals in different situations is crucial to understanding population ecology. Similarly, ignoring the effects of density-dependence and population processes on animal behaviour limits our ability to understand why animals select particular habitat elements. To gain insight into why animals select one habitat element over another requires information on the biotic processes occurring within habitat elements and how this differs across spatial scales. Ecologists have long recognized the connections between optimal foraging, Fretwell's behavioural models of ideal habitat selection, and the importance of density-dependence in population ecology. However, empirical tests that demonstrate these connections remain limited. My research program is centered on using empirical tests and computer simulation tools to make these connections, as well as using these theories to improve conservation decision making. In this proposal I focus on: 1) The role of personality as a factor influencing competitive ability and how this influences 2nd and 3rd order habitat selection in a prairie raptor system; 2) Developing ways of identifying unique behaviours (foraging, nest defence) from spatial movement data with the goal of determining how competition influences foraging; 3) Understand the trade-offs between foraging and nest vigilance in areas with high vs low food availability and with and without competitors; 4) Building on a past body of work to provide a general model of when birds avoid or select habitat edges. New technologies are being applied to improve our understanding of space use and bird abundance for a large number of boreal species with the goal of evaluating how regional density, personality, and variation in food influences edge effects; 5) Evaluating the role of spatial scale and sampling effort as factors influencing whether 2nd and 3rd order selection behaviours accurately predict population-level responses. HQP are central to my research program. In the past 6 years I have provided opportunities to ~200 HQP. I foresee similar numbers of students being trained in the next cycle. The success of my program is dependent on developing a strongly-coordinated system of collaborative student projects that individually are unique but when integrated provide greater opportunities to reveal fundamental insights into linkages between behavioural, population, conservation, and landscape ecology. As evidenced by my publication record and the employability of past students, this approach creates well-rounded individuals with competencies in both applied and theoretical ecology. The DG program provides critical funds that allow my students to expand their applied work beyond basic trend and status information to test specific hypotheses about ecological theory and the processes that drive patterns of avian diversity at different spatial scales.