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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.08.03.234781

E-scape: consumer specific landscapes of energetic resources derived from stable isotope analysis and remote sensing

James, W. R.·Santos, R. O.·Rehage, J. S.·Doerr, J. C.·Nelson, J. A.
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Abstract

Energy and habitat distribution are inherently linked. Energy is a major driver of the distribution of consumers, but estimating how much specific habitats contribute to the energetic needs of a consumer can be problematic. We present a new approach that combines remote sensing information and stable isotope ecology to produce maps of energetic resources (E-scapes). E-scapes project species specific resource use information onto the landscape to classify areas based on energetic importance and successfully predict the biomass and energy density of a consumer in salt marsh habitats in coastal Louisiana, USA. Our E-scape maps can be used alone or in combination with existing models to improve habitat management and restoration practices and have potential to be used to test fundamental movement theory.

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James, W. R., Santos, R. O., Rehage, J. S., Doerr, J. C., Nelson, J. A.. 2020-08-04. E-scape: consumer specific landscapes of energetic resources derived from stable isotope analysis and remote sensing. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.03.234781

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