Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
INTRODUCTION
Habitats for species vary substantially in their stability, whether temporally or spatially. Some habitats, such as rocks and lakes, may be present for centuries and only subject to changes in climate, whereas others, such as dung patches or carcasses, may be available only for a single season or even shorter. This variation in predictability constitutes an important selective force for associated species. It has been suggested that the habitat is the template for ecological strategies (Southwood 1977). In this sense, individuals of a species are confronted with the challenge of determining whether reproduction is best achieved “here” or “somewhere else” as well as “now” or “sometime in the future”. By addressing these tradeoffs, the successful reproductive strategy will represent the life history of the species. Species adapted to long-lasting, predictable habitats are expected to generally be more sedentary; for them, the spatial distribution of the habitat is particularly important. This is a basic ecological starting point for appreciating the need to include time and space to a greater extent in forest conservation management. If only total habitat amount is considered, but the temporal and spatial distribution is ignored, important factors influencing the long-term viability of focal species will be missed and thus, at least for some species, the risk of decline and extinction will be severely underestimated.
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