A predictive occupancy model for vascular plants in temporary freshwater rockpools (TFRs)

Abstract

Temporary freshwater rockpools (TFRs) in the Mediterranean region are dynamic habitats characterised by seasonal drying and inundation. These biotopes are colonised by a suite of species tolerant of their ecological gradients, and which are, in some cases, exclusive to these habitats. Effective conservation and restoration of these habitats is sometimes hampered by their transient nature, as the temporary absence of the characteristic wet-season flora may lead to inaccurate expectations of the phytocoenosis in a given TFR. Previous work had suggested that hydroperiod characteristics are an important discriminant for TFR occupancy by a given species and we therefore focused on this aspect during the present study. [excerpt]