Munkhnast Dalannast, Joseph R. Hoyt, Delgermurun Byambajav, Uurdmunkh Munkhtaivan, Namsrai Narantsetseg, Bold‐Erdene Batbold, Ariunbold Jargalsaikhan
<p>Anthropogenic factors are an important driving force impacting bat populations across the globe. These include habitat loss and alteration, infectious diseases, climate change, and human persecution. Multiple factors typically impact populations simultaneously, which can have severe consequence for biodiversity. Mongolia has a large number of cave systems with over 500 documented in the country, of which only ~300 have been explored (Avirmed, <span>2020</span>). The lack of exploration in these sites reveals a significant information gap in our understanding of Mongolian bat species and their use of the extensive cave systems throughout the country. Most temperate bat species hibernate in caves (Romero, <span>2009</span>; Furey & Racey, <span>2016</span>). Of the 20 species of bats currently recorded in Mongolia, seven are found in caves during hibernation. With harsh and dry climate of Mongolia most of the caves host a low abundance of bats, with just a few sites serving as critical winter sites for these populations.</p> <p>The Shar khanan cave, located in Undurshil soum of Dundgobi province, in southern Mongolia, is one of the hibernacula sites for David's Myotis (<i>Myotis davidii</i>) in the country (Fig. 1). The cave is surrounded by semi-desert (North Desert) with vegetation communities primarily comprised of psammophytic bunchgrass (<i>Stipa gobica</i>, <i>S. glareosa</i>) Caragana, (<i>Ceratoides papposa</i>) and Stipa-Cleistogenes communities growing on brown loose-sandy soils and sands (Gunin & Saandar, <span>2019</span>). The cave is 25 m deep and 173 m long (Avirmed, <span>2020</span>). The site is completely dry with no water (Vaks <i>et al</i>., <span>2013</span>). The average air temperature in the cave is 4°C.</p> <figure><picture> <source media="(min-width: 1650px)" srcset="/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg"/><img alt="Details are in the caption following the image" data-lg-src="/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg" loading="lazy" src="/cms/asset/c162b5f4-1537-4fc2-a670-16889529ef46/acv12990-fig-0001-m.png" title="Details are in the caption following the image"/></picture><figcaption> <div><strong>Figure 1<span style="font-weight:normal"></span></strong><div>Open in figure viewer<i aria-hidden="true"></i><span>PowerPoint</span></div> </div> <div>Location of Shar khanan cave in Undurshil, Dundgobi, Mongolia and the surrounding habitat.</div> </figcaption> </figure> <p><i>Myotis davidii</i> is listed as Least Concern by IUCN (Jiang & Feng, <span>2019</span>) that primarily occurs in arid habitats (desert and desert-steppe), and is known to use rock crevices, tree hollows, livestock pens, buildings and caves for roosting and hibernation (Batsaikhan <i>et al</i>., <span>2022</span>). It has also been associated with forest habitat in China, where it exclusively uses cave sites for roosting (Jiang & Feng, <span>2019</span>). This species has b
2000 只蝙蝠可能会对该地区的蝙蝠数量产生重大影响。蒙古亟需制定政策、开展教育和保护活动，重点关注人为因素造成的死亡，以防止类似事件再次发生。提高公众意识，与当地人合作确保蝙蝠和牲畜的安全，将是最有效的保护措施。未来的工作将对收集到的 1208 只蝙蝠进行检查，以确定年龄结构。我们还部署了温度和湿度记录仪（HOBO Pro v2）来监测环境条件的变化，这些变化也可能影响蝙蝠在冬眠期间的死亡率。最后，我们将在该地点安装蝙蝠友好型闸门和围栏，以降低今后发生这种情况的风险。(a）洞穴周围；（b 和 c）被堵塞的洞穴入口；（d）被挖掘的入口；（e）被打开的入口；（f）从洞穴内部（黄色箭头）和外部（红色箭头）看洞穴的木门；（g-i）在洞穴的墙壁、前庭和地板上发现的数千具蝙蝠木乃伊遗骸。
{"title":"Human impact and environmental conditions lead to a mass mortality event of David's Myotis (Myotis davidii) in Mongolia","authors":"Munkhnast Dalannast, Joseph R. Hoyt, Delgermurun Byambajav, Uurdmunkh Munkhtaivan, Namsrai Narantsetseg, Bold‐Erdene Batbold, Ariunbold Jargalsaikhan","doi":"10.1111/acv.12990","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12990","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anthropogenic factors are an important driving force impacting bat populations across the globe. These include habitat loss and alteration, infectious diseases, climate change, and human persecution. Multiple factors typically impact populations simultaneously, which can have severe consequence for biodiversity. Mongolia has a large number of cave systems with over 500 documented in the country, of which only ~300 have been explored (Avirmed, <span>2020</span>). The lack of exploration in these sites reveals a significant information gap in our understanding of Mongolian bat species and their use of the extensive cave systems throughout the country. Most temperate bat species hibernate in caves (Romero, <span>2009</span>; Furey & Racey, <span>2016</span>). Of the 20 species of bats currently recorded in Mongolia, seven are found in caves during hibernation. With harsh and dry climate of Mongolia most of the caves host a low abundance of bats, with just a few sites serving as critical winter sites for these populations.</p>\u0000<p>The Shar khanan cave, located in Undurshil soum of Dundgobi province, in southern Mongolia, is one of the hibernacula sites for David's Myotis (<i>Myotis davidii</i>) in the country (Fig. 1). The cave is surrounded by semi-desert (North Desert) with vegetation communities primarily comprised of psammophytic bunchgrass (<i>Stipa gobica</i>, <i>S. glareosa</i>) Caragana, (<i>Ceratoides papposa</i>) and Stipa-Cleistogenes communities growing on brown loose-sandy soils and sands (Gunin & Saandar, <span>2019</span>). The cave is 25 m deep and 173 m long (Avirmed, <span>2020</span>). The site is completely dry with no water (Vaks <i>et al</i>., <span>2013</span>). The average air temperature in the cave is 4°C.</p>\u0000<figure><picture>\u0000<source media=\"(min-width: 1650px)\" srcset=\"/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg\"/><img alt=\"Details are in the caption following the image\" data-lg-src=\"/cms/asset/b86fc1cb-14fb-4190-8075-cc6ae60a1869/acv12990-fig-0001-m.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"/cms/asset/c162b5f4-1537-4fc2-a670-16889529ef46/acv12990-fig-0001-m.png\" title=\"Details are in the caption following the image\"/></picture><figcaption>\u0000<div><strong>Figure 1<span style=\"font-weight:normal\"></span></strong><div>Open in figure viewer<i aria-hidden=\"true\"></i><span>PowerPoint</span></div>\u0000</div>\u0000<div>Location of Shar khanan cave in Undurshil, Dundgobi, Mongolia and the surrounding habitat.</div>\u0000</figcaption>\u0000</figure>\u0000<p><i>Myotis davidii</i> is listed as Least Concern by IUCN (Jiang & Feng, <span>2019</span>) that primarily occurs in arid habitats (desert and desert-steppe), and is known to use rock crevices, tree hollows, livestock pens, buildings and caves for roosting and hibernation (Batsaikhan <i>et al</i>., <span>2022</span>). It has also been associated with forest habitat in China, where it exclusively uses cave sites for roosting (Jiang & Feng, <span>2019</span>). This species has b","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Shams, M. S. Farhadinia, M. J. O'Riain, A. Gaylard, M. Smit, C. Fraticelli, M. Koutou, K. B. Clement, S. M. Durant, J. Melzheimer, V. N. Naude
Northwest African cheetah populations have declined precipitously, with expert opinion estimating that <420 individuals persist across parts of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mali. However, no reliable density estimates exist in the remaining subspecies strongholds throughout the Sudano‐Sahel Zone, including the W‐Arly‐Pendjari Complex and Greater Zakouma Ecosystem within the Bahr/Salamat landscape. Camera trap surveys were combined with spatially explicit capture–recapture methodologies in both regions to estimate the cheetah density and detectable demographic composition of these populations. Following 15 429 camera trap nights, we detected nine individuals during the dry season and four individuals during the wet season in Pendjari (2021), nine individuals (dry season; 2023) in Zakouma and none in Siniaka Minia. Cheetah densities were thus estimated at 0.17–0.24 and 0.37 cheetah per 100 km2 in Pendjari and Zakouma, respectively. While marginally higher than predicted, such low‐density estimates are concerning in the last remaining habitats harbouring this critically endangered subspecies. Considering the substantial contraction of regional cheetah distribution, we estimate an overall population size of 68 ± 29 individuals across the studied areas. These novel estimates are among the lowest formally determined densities throughout cheetah range in Africa, where a high frequency of people and livestock detected on camera traps highlight the ongoing risks to large carnivores in these protected areas. Subsequent management recommendations include implementation of the established regional conservation strategies that encompass the distributional range of these cheetah, continuous monitoring of populations, genetic analyses to inform management, curbing illegal trade and increasing international awareness around the plight of the subspecies.
{"title":"Perilous state of critically endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) across the Sudano‐Sahel","authors":"A. Shams, M. S. Farhadinia, M. J. O'Riain, A. Gaylard, M. Smit, C. Fraticelli, M. Koutou, K. B. Clement, S. M. Durant, J. Melzheimer, V. N. Naude","doi":"10.1111/acv.12974","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12974","url":null,"abstract":"Northwest African cheetah populations have declined precipitously, with expert opinion estimating that <420 individuals persist across parts of Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger and Mali. However, no reliable density estimates exist in the remaining subspecies strongholds throughout the Sudano‐Sahel Zone, including the W‐Arly‐Pendjari Complex and Greater Zakouma Ecosystem within the Bahr/Salamat landscape. Camera trap surveys were combined with spatially explicit capture–recapture methodologies in both regions to estimate the cheetah density and detectable demographic composition of these populations. Following 15 429 camera trap nights, we detected nine individuals during the dry season and four individuals during the wet season in Pendjari (2021), nine individuals (dry season; 2023) in Zakouma and none in Siniaka Minia. Cheetah densities were thus estimated at 0.17–0.24 and 0.37 cheetah per 100 km<jats:sup>2</jats:sup> in Pendjari and Zakouma, respectively. While marginally higher than predicted, such low‐density estimates are concerning in the last remaining habitats harbouring this critically endangered subspecies. Considering the substantial contraction of regional cheetah distribution, we estimate an overall population size of 68 ± 29 individuals across the studied areas. These novel estimates are among the lowest formally determined densities throughout cheetah range in Africa, where a high frequency of people and livestock detected on camera traps highlight the ongoing risks to large carnivores in these protected areas. Subsequent management recommendations include implementation of the established regional conservation strategies that encompass the distributional range of these cheetah, continuous monitoring of populations, genetic analyses to inform management, curbing illegal trade and increasing international awareness around the plight of the subspecies.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"19 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. Donaldson, R. Hughes, J. Smart, N. S. Jarrett, M. D. Burgess, C. Batey, N. Dessi, G. M. Hilton
Measures to boost populations can help ensure population persistence in the short‐term while longer‐term conservation interventions take effect. Headstarting, involving the collection of wild early life‐stage individuals, rearing in captivity, and release into a new or existing population once independent, has recently been identified as a potential translocation technique to assist small breeding populations of waders declining due to low levels of productivity. However, the demographic rates of headstarted individuals have not been quantified, and their impact on target populations not understood, which is required to determine the efficacy of this technique as a tool for species recovery. Between 2017 and 2022, headstarting was trialled as a tool to supplement the critically small sub‐population of black‐tailed godwit (Limosa limosa limosa) breeding at the Ouse Washes, Eastern England. We demonstrate that a high survival rate for eggs and chicks can be achieved through artificial incubation and hand‐rearing, and that headstarting can substantially increase the overall productivity of a small population. Using survival analysis and mixed effects modelling, we show that apparent survival and breeding success of headstarted individuals is comparable to wild‐reared conspecifics. The survival rate of released birds was sufficient to significantly boost the breeding population, reaching over five times the number of breeding pairs at the release site during the trial. Providing demographic rates remain the same, the number of godwits breeding at the Ouse Washes is predicted to continue to increase moderately over the next 20 years. This study highlights the potential of headstarting to boost small populations of breeding waders, and demonstrates the value of this technique to assist with the recovery of threatened populations when there is a clear justification that headstarting can negate the effects of population limiting factors.
{"title":"Headstarting boosts population of a threatened wader, the black‐tailed godwit","authors":"L. Donaldson, R. Hughes, J. Smart, N. S. Jarrett, M. D. Burgess, C. Batey, N. Dessi, G. M. Hilton","doi":"10.1111/acv.12984","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12984","url":null,"abstract":"Measures to boost populations can help ensure population persistence in the short‐term while longer‐term conservation interventions take effect. Headstarting, involving the collection of wild early life‐stage individuals, rearing in captivity, and release into a new or existing population once independent, has recently been identified as a potential translocation technique to assist small breeding populations of waders declining due to low levels of productivity. However, the demographic rates of headstarted individuals have not been quantified, and their impact on target populations not understood, which is required to determine the efficacy of this technique as a tool for species recovery. Between 2017 and 2022, headstarting was trialled as a tool to supplement the critically small sub‐population of black‐tailed godwit (<jats:italic>Limosa limosa limosa</jats:italic>) breeding at the Ouse Washes, Eastern England. We demonstrate that a high survival rate for eggs and chicks can be achieved through artificial incubation and hand‐rearing, and that headstarting can substantially increase the overall productivity of a small population. Using survival analysis and mixed effects modelling, we show that apparent survival and breeding success of headstarted individuals is comparable to wild‐reared conspecifics. The survival rate of released birds was sufficient to significantly boost the breeding population, reaching over five times the number of breeding pairs at the release site during the trial. Providing demographic rates remain the same, the number of godwits breeding at the Ouse Washes is predicted to continue to increase moderately over the next 20 years. This study highlights the potential of headstarting to boost small populations of breeding waders, and demonstrates the value of this technique to assist with the recovery of threatened populations when there is a clear justification that headstarting can negate the effects of population limiting factors.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"77 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Lavigne, R. Bullock, N. J. Shah, C. Tagg, A. Zora, N. Hemmings
Turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) are facing an extinction crisis, and ecosystems are at risk of collapsing with the loss of key roles they play. Hatching failure is a crucial barrier to population growth and persistence, but its causes are poorly understood, and it is unknown whether fertilization rates are declining as many populations become smaller and more female‐biased. Here, we show that very few studies of turtle and tortoise hatching success consider fertilization rates, and those that do use unreliable methods to determine egg fertility. We also show that studies of hatching success are biased towards marine turtles, as opposed to freshwater and terrestrial species, and wild rather than captive populations. To address the lack of reliable methods for assessing fertilization rates in turtles and tortoises, a microscopy‐based method (originally designed for bird eggs) for detecting perivitelline membrane (PVM) bound sperm and embryonic nuclei in the germinal disc of unhatched eggs has been developed and tested (in turtle and tortoise eggs). We demonstrate that this method provides unequivocal evidence of egg fertilization in five different turtle and tortoise species from both captive and wild populations, even after eggs have been left in wild nests for the full incubation period. This methodological approach represents a valuable tool for monitoring egg fertility and embryo survival rates in turtles and tortoises, with the potential to provide important insights into the underlying drivers of reproductive failure in threatened captive and wild populations.
{"title":"Understanding early reproductive failure in turtles and tortoises","authors":"A. Lavigne, R. Bullock, N. J. Shah, C. Tagg, A. Zora, N. Hemmings","doi":"10.1111/acv.12986","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12986","url":null,"abstract":"Turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) are facing an extinction crisis, and ecosystems are at risk of collapsing with the loss of key roles they play. Hatching failure is a crucial barrier to population growth and persistence, but its causes are poorly understood, and it is unknown whether fertilization rates are declining as many populations become smaller and more female‐biased. Here, we show that very few studies of turtle and tortoise hatching success consider fertilization rates, and those that do use unreliable methods to determine egg fertility. We also show that studies of hatching success are biased towards marine turtles, as opposed to freshwater and terrestrial species, and wild rather than captive populations. To address the lack of reliable methods for assessing fertilization rates in turtles and tortoises, a microscopy‐based method (originally designed for bird eggs) for detecting perivitelline membrane (PVM) bound sperm and embryonic nuclei in the germinal disc of unhatched eggs has been developed and tested (in turtle and tortoise eggs). We demonstrate that this method provides unequivocal evidence of egg fertilization in five different turtle and tortoise species from both captive and wild populations, even after eggs have been left in wild nests for the full incubation period. This methodological approach represents a valuable tool for monitoring egg fertility and embryo survival rates in turtles and tortoises, with the potential to provide important insights into the underlying drivers of reproductive failure in threatened captive and wild populations.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. J. Faust, T. M. Martínez, A. W. Parsons, T. H. White, R. Valentin, J. Vélez‐Valentín, B. Ramos‐Güivas, S. S. Nelson, M. Lopez
Recovery of endangered species is challenging and lengthy, especially when it involves reintroduction and dynamic environmental conditions. Because managers often need to decide between many management strategies with uncertain outcomes, periodically assessing progress toward recovery using population viability analysis (PVA) can help guide decision‐making. We developed a PVA for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (Amazona vittata) to evaluate current status and potential future management strategies to reach goals set in the Recovery Plan. Having grown from their nadir of 13 birds in 1976 to 686 in 2021, the recovery effort has made great progress. Using 15 years of data, we built an individual‐based PVA that included interactions between two captive and three wild populations connected via annual releases. If management continues as planned, the wild populations have no to moderate risks of extinction (0–32%) over the next 100 years. However, wild populations remain dependent on releases to sustain growth, and recovery targets for stable population growth and connectivity have not yet been reached. Our analysis suggests that hurricanes are an impediment to reaching recovery targets and impact some wild populations more than others based on geography. Projections with climate‐change‐induced higher hurricane impact resulted in wild populations being less likely to stabilize. We identified demographic rates and associated management strategies that could positively impact wild populations: increasing reproduction (e.g., via increasing artificial nests, improving nest success) and decreasing first‐year mortality (e.g., via targeted predator control). Based on our current understanding of Puerto Rican parrot demographics, species recovery will continue to be management‐dependent unless demographic rates can be altered. As more data are gathered, especially for data‐sparse populations and in the face of environmental change, future iterations of this model can re‐evaluate progress, update management strategies, and provide support for deciding if and when to delist this iconic species.
{"title":"Assessing population viability and management strategies for species recovery of the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot","authors":"L. J. Faust, T. M. Martínez, A. W. Parsons, T. H. White, R. Valentin, J. Vélez‐Valentín, B. Ramos‐Güivas, S. S. Nelson, M. Lopez","doi":"10.1111/acv.12987","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12987","url":null,"abstract":"Recovery of endangered species is challenging and lengthy, especially when it involves reintroduction and dynamic environmental conditions. Because managers often need to decide between many management strategies with uncertain outcomes, periodically assessing progress toward recovery using population viability analysis (PVA) can help guide decision‐making. We developed a PVA for the critically endangered Puerto Rican parrot (<jats:italic>Amazona vittata</jats:italic>) to evaluate current status and potential future management strategies to reach goals set in the Recovery Plan. Having grown from their nadir of 13 birds in 1976 to 686 in 2021, the recovery effort has made great progress. Using 15 years of data, we built an individual‐based PVA that included interactions between two captive and three wild populations connected via annual releases. If management continues as planned, the wild populations have no to moderate risks of extinction (0–32%) over the next 100 years. However, wild populations remain dependent on releases to sustain growth, and recovery targets for stable population growth and connectivity have not yet been reached. Our analysis suggests that hurricanes are an impediment to reaching recovery targets and impact some wild populations more than others based on geography. Projections with climate‐change‐induced higher hurricane impact resulted in wild populations being less likely to stabilize. We identified demographic rates and associated management strategies that could positively impact wild populations: increasing reproduction (e.g., via increasing artificial nests, improving nest success) and decreasing first‐year mortality (e.g., via targeted predator control). Based on our current understanding of Puerto Rican parrot demographics, species recovery will continue to be management‐dependent unless demographic rates can be altered. As more data are gathered, especially for data‐sparse populations and in the face of environmental change, future iterations of this model can re‐evaluate progress, update management strategies, and provide support for deciding if and when to delist this iconic species.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"49 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are designated as Threatened or Endangered in Canada, with many populations being at risk of extirpation. Approaches for caribou conservation can be both invasive and expensive. For example, maternity penning involves the relocation of pregnant females to a predator‐free fenced enclosure where they are held for 20–22 weeks. This activity greatly reduces the risk of predation for adult females and their dependent calves, but requires the construction, maintenance, and monitoring of a penning facility as well as the risk associated with the capture and transport of adult caribou. With only four maternity pen trials within the last decade, there has been little study of the potential influence of maternity penning on the distribution and habitat use of caribou after release. We used Brownian Bridge Movement Models to examine changes in range fidelity and overall range use of the Klinse‐Za caribou herd in north‐central British Columbia, Canada, following eight years of maternity penning. We generated annual home range utilisation distributions and examined the space use of caribou among years and between penned and unpenned animals, as well as pre‐penning and post‐penning time periods. We found that following penning, caribou shifted distribution to areas near maternity pens and expanded their overall use of range. However, caribou did not shift their distribution relative to the elevation of their mountainous habitats. Our results suggest that caribou can adapt to capture and forced displacement without altering patterns of instinctual or learned habitat use.
{"title":"Go where you know: range expansion and fidelity in mountain caribou following eight years of maternity penning","authors":"D. Hoffart, C. J. Johnson, R. S. McNay","doi":"10.1111/acv.12975","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12975","url":null,"abstract":"Woodland caribou (<jats:italic>Rangifer tarandus caribou</jats:italic>) are designated as Threatened or Endangered in Canada, with many populations being at risk of extirpation. Approaches for caribou conservation can be both invasive and expensive. For example, maternity penning involves the relocation of pregnant females to a predator‐free fenced enclosure where they are held for 20–22 weeks. This activity greatly reduces the risk of predation for adult females and their dependent calves, but requires the construction, maintenance, and monitoring of a penning facility as well as the risk associated with the capture and transport of adult caribou. With only four maternity pen trials within the last decade, there has been little study of the potential influence of maternity penning on the distribution and habitat use of caribou after release. We used Brownian Bridge Movement Models to examine changes in range fidelity and overall range use of the Klinse‐Za caribou herd in north‐central British Columbia, Canada, following eight years of maternity penning. We generated annual home range utilisation distributions and examined the space use of caribou among years and between penned and unpenned animals, as well as pre‐penning and post‐penning time periods. We found that following penning, caribou shifted distribution to areas near maternity pens and expanded their overall use of range. However, caribou did not shift their distribution relative to the elevation of their mountainous habitats. Our results suggest that caribou can adapt to capture and forced displacement without altering patterns of instinctual or learned habitat use.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"87 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142260625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. D. G. Ranjeewa, R. J. Thomas, D. K. Weerakoon, G. H. N. A. Sandanayake, P. Fernando
Electric fences are widely used in human–elephant conflict mitigation. However, elephants constantly challenge and overcome fences, which is a growing concern. We studied how elephants crossed the perimeter electric fence around the Udawalawe National Park (UWNP), Sri Lanka. Using camera traps, we monitored 18 fence posts and an open gate in the fence over 605 days from 2016 to 2019. Photographs of 3097 fence crossings were analysed to obtain demographic data for fence crossing elephants, crossing methods, and the daily and seasonal timing of fence crossing. We identified 77 adult males and 12 adult females that crossed the fence, which represent about 17% of the adult elephants in UWNP. Most of the crossings were through the open gate at night. Elephants used a variety of crossing methods, comprised of crossing at the open gate, at previously toppled posts, by crashing through wires and stepping over wires, as well as by using the trunk or forefeet to topple posts. Fence voltage was not a determinant of fence crossing. The frequency and timing of fence crossings varied between locations with later exits and less time spent outside, at crossing points bordering human dominated areas. Our results emphasis on the importance of taking into account the problem solving abilities of elephants in fence design and location, such as energising fence posts and constructing exclosure fences at the boundaries of crop fields and settlements, in employing electric fences to mitigate human‐elephant conflict.
{"title":"How did the elephant cross the fence? Electric fence crossing by elephants in Udawalawe, Sri Lanka","authors":"A. D. G. Ranjeewa, R. J. Thomas, D. K. Weerakoon, G. H. N. A. Sandanayake, P. Fernando","doi":"10.1111/acv.12982","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12982","url":null,"abstract":"Electric fences are widely used in human–elephant conflict mitigation. However, elephants constantly challenge and overcome fences, which is a growing concern. We studied how elephants crossed the perimeter electric fence around the Udawalawe National Park (UWNP), Sri Lanka. Using camera traps, we monitored 18 fence posts and an open gate in the fence over 605 days from 2016 to 2019. Photographs of 3097 fence crossings were analysed to obtain demographic data for fence crossing elephants, crossing methods, and the daily and seasonal timing of fence crossing. We identified 77 adult males and 12 adult females that crossed the fence, which represent about 17% of the adult elephants in UWNP. Most of the crossings were through the open gate at night. Elephants used a variety of crossing methods, comprised of crossing at the open gate, at previously toppled posts, by crashing through wires and stepping over wires, as well as by using the trunk or forefeet to topple posts. Fence voltage was not a determinant of fence crossing. The frequency and timing of fence crossings varied between locations with later exits and less time spent outside, at crossing points bordering human dominated areas. Our results emphasis on the importance of taking into account the problem solving abilities of elephants in fence design and location, such as energising fence posts and constructing exclosure fences at the boundaries of crop fields and settlements, in employing electric fences to mitigate human‐elephant conflict.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142180649","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) have become a species of great conservation priority because of widespread and ongoing population declines. Long‐distance translocations are becoming increasingly used to access a source population with densities high enough to support translocation. Two key uncertainties exist regarding the efficacy of long‐distance translocations: choosing a source population with adaptations that will be successful in a novel environment and mitigating the stress response common during the translocation process. We translocated bobwhites from the South Texas Plains and the Floridian Coastal Plain to a recipient site in the Floridian Coastal Plain in 2021 and 2022 to compare the survival and productivity of bobwhites translocated from two different source populations. We also evaluated how varying holding times during the translocation process influenced the success of the translocated individuals. Breeding season survival, nest propensity and fecundity were greater for Florida resident and Florida translocated bobwhites relative to Texas translocated bobwhites. We observed high rates of mortality during the transport and holding processes, but holding time did not affect breeding season survival of Texas translocated bobwhites. Both nest success and fecundity of Texas translocated bobwhites were negatively affected by holding time. Bobwhites translocated long distances may have the adaptive capacity to be successful in novel environments, but the consequences of translocation stress can be detrimental. Future translocation planning should consider choosing source populations from similar ecoregions to simultaneously decrease translocation distances and potential stress from translocation.
{"title":"Source population and time spent in captivity affect survival and reproduction of long‐distance translocated northern bobwhites","authors":"A. Schmidt, G. Beane, J. A. Martin","doi":"10.1111/acv.12985","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12985","url":null,"abstract":"Northern bobwhites (<jats:italic>Colinus virginianus</jats:italic>) have become a species of great conservation priority because of widespread and ongoing population declines. Long‐distance translocations are becoming increasingly used to access a source population with densities high enough to support translocation. Two key uncertainties exist regarding the efficacy of long‐distance translocations: choosing a source population with adaptations that will be successful in a novel environment and mitigating the stress response common during the translocation process. We translocated bobwhites from the South Texas Plains and the Floridian Coastal Plain to a recipient site in the Floridian Coastal Plain in 2021 and 2022 to compare the survival and productivity of bobwhites translocated from two different source populations. We also evaluated how varying holding times during the translocation process influenced the success of the translocated individuals. Breeding season survival, nest propensity and fecundity were greater for Florida resident and Florida translocated bobwhites relative to Texas translocated bobwhites. We observed high rates of mortality during the transport and holding processes, but holding time did not affect breeding season survival of Texas translocated bobwhites. Both nest success and fecundity of Texas translocated bobwhites were negatively affected by holding time. Bobwhites translocated long distances may have the adaptive capacity to be successful in novel environments, but the consequences of translocation stress can be detrimental. Future translocation planning should consider choosing source populations from similar ecoregions to simultaneously decrease translocation distances and potential stress from translocation.","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142180651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
<p>The disruption in socio-economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, commonly labeled the “anthropause,” provided an opportunity to observe the effects of a pause in human-related activities on ecological systems (e.g., Naidoo & Burton, <span>2020</span>; Gaiser <i>et al</i>., <span>2022</span>; Perkins, Shilling, & Collinson, <span>2022</span>). However, this treatment of reduced activity was not under the spatial or temporal control of researchers, and therefore, estimated effects could be confounded in time by unobserved factors that varied over the course of the study.</p><p>In British Columbia, Canada, heli-ski operators suspended or severely curtailed their activities for the 2020–2021 season in response to international border closures and public health requirements (HeliCat Canada, <span>2022</span>). Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) analyzed the late winter movements of woodland caribou (<i>Rangifer tarandus caribou</i>) before, during, and after the anthropause. They reported that caribou home ranges were largest during the anthropause, and inferred that the reduction in heli-skiing activity released caribou from a “landscape of fear” (Bleicher, <span>2017</span>). However, Gill <i>et al</i>.'s (2023) analysis identified a year effect, but not evidence that heli-skiing was the cause.</p><p>Mean home range size during the late winter anthropause year of 2020–21 was indeed larger than in years before or after. But Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) found that home range overlap with heli-ski tenures was not a significant covariate, meaning that ranges were larger during the anthropause regardless of their pre- or post-anthropause exposure to heli-ski activity. With nearly a third of home ranges occurring entirely outside tenures, their data are well-suited for re-analysis as a Before-After-Control-Impact design, with ranges located outside tenures serving as a quasi-control group (untreated but not randomly assigned). I conducted this analysis (Appendix S1) and found a larger increase in home range size during the anthropause among “control” caribou than among “impact” caribou that had home ranges that overlapped tenures (<i>P =</i> 0.01, <i>β</i> = −1.03). Post-anthropause, the resumption of heli-skiing was associated with a reduction in home range size that did not differ among “control” and “impact” caribou (<i>P =</i> 0.28, <i>β</i> = −0.31; Fig. 1). Thus, changes in home range size from before, during the anthropause treatment, and after, did not provide evidence of a heli-ski effect.</p><p>As Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) noted, tenure overlap is only a coarse measure of exposure to heli-skiing because the distribution of flights and skiing is not uniform in space or time within tenures. But outside tenures, caribou would not have been subject to landings, take-offs, or skiing during years of normal operation, but some might have experienced some helicopter overflights. Detailed flight and skiing dat
{"title":"That woodland Caribou were released during the anthropause from a ‘landscape of fear’ caused by heli-skiing is not supported by available evidence","authors":"Steven F. Wilson","doi":"10.1111/acv.12967","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12967","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The disruption in socio-economic activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, commonly labeled the “anthropause,” provided an opportunity to observe the effects of a pause in human-related activities on ecological systems (e.g., Naidoo & Burton, <span>2020</span>; Gaiser <i>et al</i>., <span>2022</span>; Perkins, Shilling, & Collinson, <span>2022</span>). However, this treatment of reduced activity was not under the spatial or temporal control of researchers, and therefore, estimated effects could be confounded in time by unobserved factors that varied over the course of the study.</p><p>In British Columbia, Canada, heli-ski operators suspended or severely curtailed their activities for the 2020–2021 season in response to international border closures and public health requirements (HeliCat Canada, <span>2022</span>). Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) analyzed the late winter movements of woodland caribou (<i>Rangifer tarandus caribou</i>) before, during, and after the anthropause. They reported that caribou home ranges were largest during the anthropause, and inferred that the reduction in heli-skiing activity released caribou from a “landscape of fear” (Bleicher, <span>2017</span>). However, Gill <i>et al</i>.'s (2023) analysis identified a year effect, but not evidence that heli-skiing was the cause.</p><p>Mean home range size during the late winter anthropause year of 2020–21 was indeed larger than in years before or after. But Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) found that home range overlap with heli-ski tenures was not a significant covariate, meaning that ranges were larger during the anthropause regardless of their pre- or post-anthropause exposure to heli-ski activity. With nearly a third of home ranges occurring entirely outside tenures, their data are well-suited for re-analysis as a Before-After-Control-Impact design, with ranges located outside tenures serving as a quasi-control group (untreated but not randomly assigned). I conducted this analysis (Appendix S1) and found a larger increase in home range size during the anthropause among “control” caribou than among “impact” caribou that had home ranges that overlapped tenures (<i>P =</i> 0.01, <i>β</i> = −1.03). Post-anthropause, the resumption of heli-skiing was associated with a reduction in home range size that did not differ among “control” and “impact” caribou (<i>P =</i> 0.28, <i>β</i> = −0.31; Fig. 1). Thus, changes in home range size from before, during the anthropause treatment, and after, did not provide evidence of a heli-ski effect.</p><p>As Gill <i>et al</i>. (<span>2023</span>) noted, tenure overlap is only a coarse measure of exposure to heli-skiing because the distribution of flights and skiing is not uniform in space or time within tenures. But outside tenures, caribou would not have been subject to landings, take-offs, or skiing during years of normal operation, but some might have experienced some helicopter overflights. Detailed flight and skiing dat","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"27 4","pages":"409-411"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/acv.12967","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142123360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Gill, R. Serrouya, A. M. Calvert, A. Ford, R. Steenweg, M. J. Noonan
{"title":"Movement ecology of endangered caribou during a COVID-19 mediated pause in winter recreation – response to Wilson (2024)","authors":"R. Gill, R. Serrouya, A. M. Calvert, A. Ford, R. Steenweg, M. J. Noonan","doi":"10.1111/acv.12981","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12981","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50786,"journal":{"name":"Animal Conservation","volume":"27 4","pages":"412-414"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2024-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142123361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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