130354 20260217205503.0 doi 10.1111/ddi.13761 sideral 136573 ART-2024-136573 eng Núñez-Tobajas, Zulema Niche shifts over spread of a biological invasion: unveiling the role of changing habitat preference and density-dependence 2024 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Aim: Anticipating the ultimate fraction of a landscape that might be susceptible to invasion is challenging as several species are able to expand the range of environmental conditions used over invasion. Despite its relevance, the more proximate processes underlying observed shifts are not sufficiently understood. Habitat selection theory predicts that as population density increases, individuals start using sub-optimal resources to compensate for the limitation of the preferred ones. However, niche shifts might also occur as result of changes in habitat preferences over time. Here, we tested these alternative hypotheses by investigating nesting resource use and selection over a biological invasion and the relative effect of density-dependence on such patterns. Location: Barcelona, Spain. Methods: We take advantage of a large dataset recording the occurrence of the invasive monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus in Barcelona in the period 1975–2015. We apply generalized linear models to analyse changes in nesting habitat preferences and its interactive effect with conspecific presence. Results: Temporal changes in nesting habitat use occurred. Palm species were the most commonly used nesting substrate since the beginning of the invasion but the diversity and frequency of use of other nesting substrates increased over time. Changes in nesting substrate use were consistent with a change in habitat selection, when accounting for habitat availability. Although a general role of conspecific aggregation on occupation patterns was found, it was mostly additive. That is, shifts in nesting substrate did not structure in relation to conspecific distribution. Conclusions: Shifts in nesting resource selection can occur during the spread stage of biological invasions, probably related to innovation and learning, rather than to optimal habitat selection. These shifts present a significant challenge for forecasting efforts and management. However, changes do not happen rapidly over time, highlighting that there is a management opportunity window before significant shifts occur. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI/CGL2020-114907GB-C21 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es 4.2 2024 BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION 9 / 74 = 0.122 2024 Q1 T1 ECOLOGY 35 / 200 = 0.175 2024 Q1 T1 1.79 2024 Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics 2024 Q1 10.0 2024 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Senar, Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Pastor, Ruth Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-8435-6386 Carrillo-Ortiz, José G. Cardador, Laura 1009 773 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Patología Animal Área Sanidad Animal 30, 1 (2024), 4-12 Divers. distrib. DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS 1366-9516 3632336 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/130354/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2255673 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/130354/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:130354 articulos driver 2026-02-17-20:22:41 ARTICLE