Modeling the daily activities of breeding colonial seabirds: dynamic occupancy patterns in multiple habitat patches.
We constructed differential equation models for the diurnal abundance and distribution of breeding glaucous-winged gulls (Larus glaucescens) as they moved among nesting and non-nesting habitat patches. We used time scale techniques to reduce the differential equations to algebraic equations and connected the models to field data. The models explained the data as a function of abiotic environmental variables with R(2 )=0.57. A primary goal of this study is to demonstrate the utility of a methodology that can be used by ecologists and wildlife managers to understand and predict daily activity patterns in breeding seabirds.
Moore
Andrea L
AL
Department of Mathematics, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, USA.
Damania
Smruti P
SP
Henson
Shandelle M
SM
Hayward
James L
JL
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001947:Breeding; D046091:Charadriiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D008954:Models, Biological