Animal niches in the airspace

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Zoology
• Bioacoustics

Background:

• The airspace is a vital habitat for numerous flying animal species, including birds, bats, and insects.
• Technological advancements in tracking and radar provide unprecedented insights into aerial behaviors and habitat utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review environmental conditions and biological interactions influencing animal distribution in the airspace across life cycles.
• To establish an ecological framework for understanding aerial habitat niches and realized niches shaped by biotic interactions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on flying animal aerial behavior.
• Analysis of data from advanced tracking technologies and radar systems.
• Ecological framework development for aerial niche definition.

Main Results:

• Identified key environmental factors (e.g., energetics, risk) shaping aerial niches.
• Highlighted the role of biotic interactions in defining realized aerial niches.
• Demonstrated the utility of new technologies in studying aerial ecology.

Conclusions:

• Understanding aerial niches requires integrating environmental and biotic factors.
• Technological progress is crucial for advancing the study of flying animal ecology in the airspace.
• An ecological framework is proposed to guide future research on aerial habitat use.