Similarly, the niche based models used here could enable a decoupling of environmental from social factors to assess the importance of the latter on leishmaniasis transmission in particular areas.
We use an individual based model in which organisms compete in a multi-niche environment to induce disruptive selection.
Many communities appear to be structured by this alternate model of the niche, based on shared preferences; coexistence is achieved not through divergent niches, but by a tradeoff between competitive dominance and the ability to survive and reproduce in habitats with lower concentrations of resources [4], [6].
The patterns of habitat selection by sun bears and black bears that we observed were consistent with a model of the niche based on shared preferences.
To optimize model performance, we developed 100 replicate models of each species' ecologic niche based on random 50-50 splits of available occurrence points.
Species distribution models quantitatively describe this niche based on known occurrence records of the organism and their associated environmental conditions, enabling predictions of the likely geographic distribution of the species in other regions (Elith and Leathwick, 2009).
The method involved producing a standard niche-based model using established techniques, such as Maxent, and then calculating the neighbourhood average of the model output in geographic space.
Maxent, a niche-based model of species/habitat distribution, allowed researchers to estimate the potential distribution of four forest types: Holm oak, Mixed oak, Mixed broadleaved and Riparian forests.
This is a niche-based model of coexistence as it requires that species have different optimal conditions for growth and recruitment (i.e. segregation along a niche axis, e.g. [22]).
In addition, 13 micro-endemic species, those without a niche-based model, were represented within social action areas: Bolitoglossa alberchi, B. oaxacensis, B. zapoteca, Ecnomiohyla echinata, Plectrohyla ameibothalame, P. calvicollina, P. labedactyla, Pseudoeurycea longicauda, P. mixcoatl, P. orchileucus, P. tenchalli, Thorius insperatus and Craugastor silvicola.
Tiger habitat was best predicted by a niche-based RSPF model based on biotic interactions with red deer, sika deer and wild boar, as well as avoidance of areas of high human activity and road density.
