Pett, Brogan L. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0461-3715 and Bailey, Joseph J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9526-7095 (2019) Ghost-busting: Patch occupancy and habitat preferences of Ocyale ghost (Araneae: Lycosidae), a single site endemic in north-western Madagascar. Austral Entomology, 58 (4). pp. 875-885.

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Abstract

Microendemic species are of great conservation concern due to their vulnerability to stochastic events and environmental change. Therefore, understanding the basic ecology of such organisms is integral to future efforts to conserve them. Here, we present the first ecological study of the only known population of Ocyale ghost (Lycosidae) – the single species within this genus in Madagascar – located at a small lake shore in the north-west of the island. We aimed to reveal spatial patterns of microhabitat selection and patch occupancy in relation to substrate patch covariates, including distance to lake edge, topography, and sand coverage. We found microhabitat selection to be strong in our occupancy models, with plots closer to the lake edge and with a higher proportion of sand showing the highest estimated occupancy. We suggest decreases in prey availability and changes in the physical characteristics of the substrate in relation to the distance from lake shore and sand availability (important for burrowing and temperature regulation), respectively, as potential factors behind occupancy. We discuss our findings in the context of the proportional underrepresentation of invertebrates in conservation research, which threatens the persistence of endemic and microendemic invertebrates in the face of significant global and local environmental change.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Pett, Brogan L. and Bailey, Joseph J. (2019) Ghost-busting: Patch occupancy and habitat preferences of Ocyale ghost (Araneae: Lycosidae), a single site endemic in north-western Madagascar. Austral Entomology. which has been published in final form at ttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/aen.12425 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving."
Status:	Published
DOI:	10.1111/aen.12425
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > Q Science (General) Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology
School/Department:	School of Humanities
URI:	https://ray.yorksj.ac.uk/id/eprint/4040

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