Seasonal variation in microhabitat of salamanders: environmental variation or shift of habitat selection?

ABSTRACT: Relationships between species and their habitats are not always constant. Different processes may determine changes in species-habitat association: individuals may prefer different habitat typologies in different periods, or they may be forced to occupy a different habitat in order to follow the changing environment. The aim of our study was to assess whether cave salamanders change their habitat association pattern through the year, and to test whether such changes are determined by environmental changes or by changes in preferences. We monitored multiple caves in Central Italy through one year, and monthly measured biotic and abiotic features of microhabitat and recorded Italian cave salamanders distribution. We used mixed models and niche similarity tests to assess whether species-habit

SUBMITTER: Lunghi E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4540018 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature