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Intraspecific application of the mid‐domain effect model: spatial and temporal nest distributions of green turtles, Chelonia mydas , at Tortuguero, Costa Rica
Author(s) -
Tiwari Manjula,
Bjorndal Karen A.,
Bolten Alan B.,
Bolker Benjamin M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2005.00793.x
Subject(s) - intraspecific competition , turtle (robot) , nest (protein structural motif) , spatial distribution , interspecific competition , range (aeronautics) , ecology , species distribution , spatial ecology , environmental niche modelling , geography , biology , ecological niche , habitat , biochemistry , materials science , remote sensing , composite material
The mid‐domain effect (MDE) model was developed to evaluate patterns of species richness. We applied the MDE model to intraspecific distribution patterns – the spatial and temporal nest distributions of green turtles, Chelonia mydas , at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, from 1972 to 2000. Spatial and temporal distributions of green turtle nests at Tortuguero did not exhibit significant annual variation over this time period. The spatial and temporal distribution of nests largely conformed to the predictions of the MDE model, although the spatial model has a better fit. Environmental factors that may cause deviations from the MDE model are discussed. The model also indirectly provided a first estimate of the mean spatial nesting range of individual green turtles at Tortuguero: 10.1 km (SD 8.7 km). The MDE model provides insight into intraspecific as well as interspecific distribution patterns.