Abstract
Energy and habitat distribution are inherently linked. Energy is a major driver of the distribution of consumers, but estimating how much specific habitats contribute to the energetic needs of a consumer can be problematic. We present a new approach that combines remote sensing information and stable isotope ecology to produce maps of energetic resources (E-scapes). E-scapes project species specific resource use information onto the landscape to classify areas based on energetic importance and successfully predict the biomass and energy density of a consumer in salt marsh habitats in coastal Louisiana, USA. Our E-scape maps can be used alone or in combination with existing models to improve habitat management and restoration practices and have potential to be used to test fundamental movement theory.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.