Niche conservatism is the phenomenon in which species or other phylogenetic lineages seem to exhibit much the same ecological niche over their geographical ranges or over evolutionary time scales. Previous studies have suggested that optimal habitat selection can constrain niche evolution (and thus may help explain niche conservatism), in effect by preventing populations from experiencing unfav...

Habitat selection is an important behavioural process widely studied for its population-level effects. Models of habitat selection are, however, often fit without a mechanistic consideration. Here, we investigated whether patterns in habitat selection result from instinct or learning for a population of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in Alberta, Canada. We found that habitat selection and related...

1. Research on habitat selection has focused on the role of vegetative and geologic characteristics or antagonistic behavioural interactions. 2. Conspecifics can confer information about habitat quality and provide positive density-dependent effects, suggesting habitat selection in response to the presence of conspecifics can be an adaptive strategy. 3. We conducted a manipulative field experim...

Asiatic Houbara ( Chlamydotis macqueenii ) is a flagship and vulnerable species. In-situ conservation of this threatened species demands for knowledge of its habitat selection. The aim of this study was to determine habitat variables influencing birds wintering and breeding selection in semiarid central Iran. Habitat features of the detected nest and pellet sites were compared with paired and r...

The marbled murrelet (Brachyramphus marmoratus) is a declining seabird that is well-known for nesting in coastal old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest. Most studies of habitat selection have focused on modeling terrestrial nesting habitat even though marine habitat is believed to be a major contributor to population declines in some regions. To address this information gap, we conducted a...

iranian cave barb (iranocypris typhlops, bruun and kaiser, 1944)is one of thevery rareandendemicspeciesof iran. its distributionrangeislimitedina habitat that causes some problems for its conservation. thisuniquehabitatfaces somenatural and humanthreatsand the habitatdestructionmeansthe extinctionof the species. based on, habitat selection for translocation of the species is an important object...

Habitat segregation among competing species is widespread yet very little is know how this is achieved in practice. In a case study, we examined short-term effects of conspecific and congeneric density on habitat selection in two competing marine isopod species, Idotea emarginata and Idotea baltica. Under semi-natural conditions in large outdoor cylindrical tanks (4 m high; volume 5.5 m), anima...