@article{fdi:010049226,
  title = {{A}t which scales does landscape structure influence the spatial distribution of elephants in the {W}estern {G}hats ({I}ndia) ?},
  author = {{G}aucherel, {C}. and {B}alasubramanian, {M}. and {K}arunakaran, {P}. {V}. and {R}amesh, {B}. {R}. and {M}uthusankar, {G}. and {H}ely, {C}. and {C}outeron, {P}ierre},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n spatial ecology, detailed covariance analyses are useful for investigating the influences of landscape properties on fauna and/or flora species. {S}uch ecological influences usually operate at multiple scales, involving biological levels from individual to group, population or community and spatial units from field to farms and regions. {T}he aim of this work was to analyze possible multiscale influences of some landscape properties on elephant distribution in the {W}estern {G}hats, {I}ndia, by applying a recent and simple mathematical method to quantify such ecological relationships across space and scales. {T}his method combines a moving window with various correlation indices to investigate the relationship between two mapped variables. {M}aps of landscape heterogeneity (quantified here at all locations of the landscape with a modified {S}hannon index) and {A}sian elephant presence (a two-dimensional presence probability) were significantly correlated. {T}his correlation systematically decreased with increasing scales (i.e. sizes of the reference moving window). {Y}et, this global relationship includes both positive and negative correlations located at distinct places. {W}e documented a positive feedback (reinforcement) because elephants appeared to seek greater habitat heterogeneity, in heterogeneous areas, such as along the interface between natural and a human-disturbed habitat or in the natural part of the studied landscape. {I}n parallel, we observed a negative feedback (compensation) making elephants seeking more homogeneous places in some relatively heterogeneous zones. {S}uch negative feedbacks corresponded to higher than average probabilities of elephant presence. {F}inally, when elephant density varied according to landscape heterogeneity (corresponding to significant correlations), it pointed towards swamps and grasslands, but not towards semi-evergreen or secondary forests (as it may have been expected). {L}and cover information appeared to be less relevant than an integrated heterogeneity index computed at all scales.},
  keywords = {connectivity ; covariance analysis ; heterogeneity ; home range ; land cover ; mammal},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {Z}oology},
  volume = {280},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {185--194},
  ISSN = {0952-8369},
  year = {2010},
  DOI = {10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00652.x},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010049226},
}