Populations are not continuous ecological units
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14295/cerrado.v3i2.841Keywords:
fragmentation, landscape connectivity, spatial structure, alpha-hull, Chrysocyon brachyurusAbstract
Ecological populations are typically treated as continuous units, implicitly assumed to occupy homogeneous environments and to respond uniformly to ecological pressures. However, spatial analyses have shown that populations can be structured into discrete spatial units, raising the question of whether such units represent meaningful ecological entities. Here, we integrate spatial clustering, land-use and land-cover composition, and behavioural data to evaluate the ecological relevance of α-populations within a widely distributed mammal population. We show that α-populations are embedded in contrasting landscape contexts and exhibit consistent behavioural differentiation, despite behavioural measurements being obtained under standardized conditions. Multivariate analyses revealed congruent structuring of landscape and behaviour at the α-population level, with limited overlap among units. Together, these results provide evidence that α-p represent a useful operational frameworks for capturing internal population heterogeneity, suggesting that populations may not function as continuous ecological units. Recognising this hidden structure has implications for population ecology, spatial modelling and conservation assessments.
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