ZOOL 462A Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Interspecific Competition, Umbrella Species, Species Richness
Document Summary
Factors driving habitat selection during migration and winter. First order: how far do they go. Assumed waterfowl selected habitat during migration and winter based on food avail. Ideal free distribution: ideal know the exact distribution of food. Food underwater thus have to use cues. Other individuals: free nothing prevents them from freely distributing themselves. Likely a combo of competition, food, and predator avoidance. Latitude vs species richness more sp richness at lower latitude. Growth rate of vegetation increases as latitude increases. C:n ratio decreases as growth rate of vegetation increases. At freeze line nutritional quality of vegetation increases as latitude increases. Selection of specific nest sites predator avoidance. Umbrella species: snowy owls protects eggs, keep predators away. Near coasts (colonial nesting: big group intimidates predators. Tall and thick vegetation: prevents scent from distributing mammalian predators, but not too tall or too thick. Difficult to see if something is coming.
