Assessing habitat differentiation between coexisting species: The role of spatial scale

摘要: Although the importance of spatial scale for understanding habitat selection patterns and processes has long been recognized, little is known about its impact on identification differentiation between sympatric species, despite likely utility in assessing niche partitioning thus explaining species coexistence. Here we used radio-telemetry data to examine seasonal by Cabrera (n = 28) water voles 29) within patches a highly fragmented landscape, across extents resolutions. Habitat was found both at home-range core-area scales, tending be strongest coarse fine resolutions, respectively. Water showed higher preference humid sedge/rush reed habitats seasons scales. consistently selected tall grass shrub during wet season, whereas dry season Niche overlap highest lowest scale, increased with resolution. These reflected fine-scale, preferences vole, which use small embedded larger meadows, thereby bringing it closer contact resolutions vole throughout year. Overall, this study suggests that may critically influence perception coexisting species.