Habitat studies that encompass a large portion of a species’ geographic distribution can explain characteristics that are either consistent or variable, further informing inference from more localized studies and improving management successes throughout the range. We identified landscape characteristics at Piping Plover nests at 21 sites distributed from Massachusetts to North Carolina and compared habitat selection patterns among the three designated U.S. recovery units (New England, New York–New Jersey, and Southern). Geomorphic setting, substrate type, and vegetation type and density were determined in situ at 928 Piping Plover nests (hereafter, used resource units) and 641 random points (available resource units). Elevation, beach width, Euclidean distance to ocean shoreline, and least‐cost path distance to low‐energy shorelines with moist substrates (commonly used as foraging habitat) were associated with used and available resource units using remotely sensed spatial data. We evaluated multivariate differences in habitat selection patterns by comparing recovery unit‐specific Bayesian networks. We then further explored individual variables that drove disparities among Bayesian networks using resource selection ratios for categorical variables and Welch’s unequal variances t‐tests for continuous variables. We found that relationships among variables and their connections to habitat selection were similar among recovery units, as seen in commonalities in Bayesian network structures. Furthermore, nesting Piping Plovers consistently selected mixed sand and shell, gravel, or cobble substrates as well as areas with sparse or no vegetation, irrespective of recovery unit. However, we observed significant differences among recovery units in the elevations, distances to ocean, and distances to low‐energy shorelines of used resource units. Birds also exhibited increased selectivity for overwash habitats and for areas with access to low‐energy shorelines along a latitudinal gradient from north to south. These results have important implications for conservation and management, including assessment of shoreline stabilization and habitat restoration planning as well as forecasting effects of climate change.

中文翻译：

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管道pl表明美国大西洋沿岸筑巢栖息地选择模式的区域差异

栖息地研究涵盖了一个物种的大部分地理分布，可以解释一致或可变的特征，从而进一步从更局限的研究中得出推论，并提高整个范围内的管理成功率。我们在从马萨诸塞州到北卡罗来纳州的21个站点的管道珩科鸟巢中确定了景观特征，并比较了三个指定的美国恢复单位（新英格兰，纽约-新泽西和南部）的栖息地选择模式。在928个琵琶over巢（以下称为已用资源单位）和641个随机点（可用资源单位）处就地确定了地貌设置，基质类型以及植被类型和密度。海拔高度，海滩宽度，到海洋海岸线的欧几里得距离，利用遥感空间数据，到具有潮湿基质（通常用作觅食栖息地）的低能耗海岸线的最低成本路径距离与已使用和可用的资源单位相关联。通过比较特定于恢复单位的贝叶斯网络，我们评估了栖息地选择模式的多元差异。然后，我们使用分类变量的资源选择率和连续变量的Welch不等方差t检验进一步探索了导致贝叶斯网络之间差异的单个变量。我们发现，变量之间的关系及其与生境选择的联系在恢复单位之间是相似的，如在贝叶斯网络结构的共同点中所见。此外，嵌套的管道管道工始终选择混合的沙子和贝壳，砾石，或卵石基质以及稀疏或没有植被的区域，与恢复单位无关。但是，我们发现恢复单位之间在海拔高度，与海洋的距离以及与已用资源单位的低能耗海岸线之间的距离存在显着差异。鸟类对过水生境和沿北向南沿纬度梯度进入低能耗海岸线的区域也表现出更高的选择性。这些结果对保护和管理具有重要意义，包括评估海岸线稳定和栖息地恢复规划以及预测气候变化的影响。鸟类对过水生境和沿北向南沿纬度梯度进入低能耗海岸线的区域也表现出更高的选择性。这些结果对保护和管理具有重要意义，包括评估海岸线稳定和栖息地恢复规划以及预测气候变化的影响。鸟类对过水生境和沿北向南沿纬度梯度进入低能耗海岸线的区域也表现出更高的选择性。这些结果对保护和管理具有重要意义，包括评估海岸线稳定和栖息地恢复规划以及预测气候变化的影响。