Nest survival is a key vital rate of game birds and frequently studied to guide population management. Common scientific protocols are invasive and often involve flushing females from their nests to assess nest contents and status. Biased inference of population dynamics, and thus improper management recommendations, may result if nest survival estimates are affected by researcher activities. We evaluated whether standard nest monitoring protocols for game birds biased estimates of nest survival for sharp-tailed grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus, a common ground-nesting bird in northern grassland ecosystems in the US. We hypothesized that flushing females from nests would negatively affect estimates of daily nest survival and result in biased inferences about population growth regardless of potentially mediating environmental conditions. Our results indicated that cumulative precipitation received during the nesting period had the largest effect on nest survival. Flushing sharp-tailed grouse from nests resulted in reduced nest survival during dry periods, although differences over the entire nesting period were not statistically significant. Downward-biased estimates of nest survival for females that were flushed did not significantly bias estimates of population growth rates. With minimal data loss, we successfully monitored nests of radio-marked females without flushing and recommend that researchers carefully consider potential biases related to research techniques when determining nest monitoring protocols.
{"title":"Does researcher activity impact nest survival of sharp-tailed grouse?","authors":"M. Milligan, Lance B. McNew","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00690","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00690","url":null,"abstract":"Nest survival is a key vital rate of game birds and frequently studied to guide population management. Common scientific protocols are invasive and often involve flushing females from their nests to assess nest contents and status. Biased inference of population dynamics, and thus improper management recommendations, may result if nest survival estimates are affected by researcher activities. We evaluated whether standard nest monitoring protocols for game birds biased estimates of nest survival for sharp-tailed grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus, a common ground-nesting bird in northern grassland ecosystems in the US. We hypothesized that flushing females from nests would negatively affect estimates of daily nest survival and result in biased inferences about population growth regardless of potentially mediating environmental conditions. Our results indicated that cumulative precipitation received during the nesting period had the largest effect on nest survival. Flushing sharp-tailed grouse from nests resulted in reduced nest survival during dry periods, although differences over the entire nesting period were not statistically significant. Downward-biased estimates of nest survival for females that were flushed did not significantly bias estimates of population growth rates. With minimal data loss, we successfully monitored nests of radio-marked females without flushing and recommend that researchers carefully consider potential biases related to research techniques when determining nest monitoring protocols.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00690"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46649362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sophie Zhu, E. Buckles, E. Bunting, K. Hynes, K. Schuler
White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus are the most popular big game animal in the United States. Recreational harvest of these animals is a critical tool in population management, as well as an important financial resource for state economies and wildlife agencies. Thus, herd health evaluations can provide information to wildlife managers tasked with developing sustainable harvest practices while monitoring for emergent problems. The purpose of our study was to document causes of illness and natural mortality in New York white-tailed deer submitted for post mortem evaluation. Animals were presented by members of the public and wildlife management personnel due to abnormal behavior or unexplained death. We describe demographic and seasonal associations among gross and histologic evaluation and diagnostic testing. Post mortem examinations were performed on 735 white-tailed deer submitted for necropsy in New York from January 2011 to November 2017. Causes of euthanasia or mortality were classified into nine categories. The most common findings were bacterial infections, trauma not evident at time of collection, and nutritional issues, primarily starvation. Using a multinomial logistic regression model, we looked for associations between the mortality categories and age, sex and season. Compared to the baseline of bacterial deaths, adults were less likely to have died from nutritional and parasitic causes, males were less likely to have died from other causes, and risk of death from nutritional reasons decreased from season to season, with lowest risk in winter. These methods can help wildlife biologists track changes in disease dynamics over time.
{"title":"Diagnostic evaluation of unknown white-tailed deer morbidity and mortality in New York State: 2011–2017","authors":"Sophie Zhu, E. Buckles, E. Bunting, K. Hynes, K. Schuler","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00860","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00860","url":null,"abstract":"White-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus are the most popular big game animal in the United States. Recreational harvest of these animals is a critical tool in population management, as well as an important financial resource for state economies and wildlife agencies. Thus, herd health evaluations can provide information to wildlife managers tasked with developing sustainable harvest practices while monitoring for emergent problems. The purpose of our study was to document causes of illness and natural mortality in New York white-tailed deer submitted for post mortem evaluation. Animals were presented by members of the public and wildlife management personnel due to abnormal behavior or unexplained death. We describe demographic and seasonal associations among gross and histologic evaluation and diagnostic testing. Post mortem examinations were performed on 735 white-tailed deer submitted for necropsy in New York from January 2011 to November 2017. Causes of euthanasia or mortality were classified into nine categories. The most common findings were bacterial infections, trauma not evident at time of collection, and nutritional issues, primarily starvation. Using a multinomial logistic regression model, we looked for associations between the mortality categories and age, sex and season. Compared to the baseline of bacterial deaths, adults were less likely to have died from nutritional and parasitic causes, males were less likely to have died from other causes, and risk of death from nutritional reasons decreased from season to season, with lowest risk in winter. These methods can help wildlife biologists track changes in disease dynamics over time.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00860"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43551412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flush-count surveys of game bird broods are a common method of deriving estimates of brood survival, but detection of chicks during surveys is < 1 due to factors such as vegetation obscurity, adult brooding behavior and variation by observer. Radio-telemetry is an alternative method for estimating survival that circumvents such factors and allow for higher detection. However, this practice is costly and labor-intensive and therefore not readily adopted. We sought to estimate detection probability of chicks during flush-counts as a function of vegetation height and adult brooding behavior. Secondly, we evaluated compromises in detection by comparing estimates of brood survival derived from flush-counts and radiotelemetry. Lastly, we compared counts between two observers to discern whether an additional observer could increase accuracy of counts. We radiomarked 247 northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus chicks at 10–12 days of age and conducted 46 flush-counts at 21 days of age. Vegetation height substantially decreased detection (β = –1.18; 95 CrI: –1.68 to –0.73); mean detection probability was 0.30 (95 CrI: 0.22–0.40). Observers failed to detect radio-marked chicks when adults exhibited running behavior (n = 16 chicks, n = 6 surveys), orphaning occurred (n = 11 chicks, n = 5 surveys) or brooding adults died or had transmitter failures (n = 4 chicks, n = 3 surveys). An additional observer did not affect counts with a mean difference of –0.6 chicks (95 CrI: –4.0 to 2.7) counted between observers. Chicks were not detected during 47% of surveys when ≥ 1 radio-marked individuals were known to be alive. Brood survival was 0.83 (95 CrI: 0.70–0.92) and 0.48 (95 CrI: 0.34–0.62) for radiotelemetry and naïve flush-counts, respectively. Because of low detectability of chicks during flush-counts, alternative methods should be considered by future researchers.
{"title":"Brood success of northern bobwhite is biased by incomplete detectability during flush-counts","authors":"Bradley W Kubečka, Theron M. Terhune, J. Martin","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00849","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00849","url":null,"abstract":"Flush-count surveys of game bird broods are a common method of deriving estimates of brood survival, but detection of chicks during surveys is < 1 due to factors such as vegetation obscurity, adult brooding behavior and variation by observer. Radio-telemetry is an alternative method for estimating survival that circumvents such factors and allow for higher detection. However, this practice is costly and labor-intensive and therefore not readily adopted. We sought to estimate detection probability of chicks during flush-counts as a function of vegetation height and adult brooding behavior. Secondly, we evaluated compromises in detection by comparing estimates of brood survival derived from flush-counts and radiotelemetry. Lastly, we compared counts between two observers to discern whether an additional observer could increase accuracy of counts. We radiomarked 247 northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus chicks at 10–12 days of age and conducted 46 flush-counts at 21 days of age. Vegetation height substantially decreased detection (β = –1.18; 95 CrI: –1.68 to –0.73); mean detection probability was 0.30 (95 CrI: 0.22–0.40). Observers failed to detect radio-marked chicks when adults exhibited running behavior (n = 16 chicks, n = 6 surveys), orphaning occurred (n = 11 chicks, n = 5 surveys) or brooding adults died or had transmitter failures (n = 4 chicks, n = 3 surveys). An additional observer did not affect counts with a mean difference of –0.6 chicks (95 CrI: –4.0 to 2.7) counted between observers. Chicks were not detected during 47% of surveys when ≥ 1 radio-marked individuals were known to be alive. Brood survival was 0.83 (95 CrI: 0.70–0.92) and 0.48 (95 CrI: 0.34–0.62) for radiotelemetry and naïve flush-counts, respectively. Because of low detectability of chicks during flush-counts, alternative methods should be considered by future researchers.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00849"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41793126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Age-specific patterns of primary molt facilitate age classification of native North American upland gamebirds, a critical step in understanding their ecology, behavior, life history, population dynamics and harvest. However, deviations from typical molt patterns can create confusing plumages that complicate age classification. We examined data from live-captured greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus across seven studies in five U.S. states and wings from harvested birds in Oregon and Colorado for evidence of atypical primary molt. We documented atypical replacement through primary nine during preformative molt, atypical retention of juvenile primary 10 during second prebasic molt, and atypical retention of basic outer primaries during definitive prebasic molt. Atypical primary molts were observed more often in live-captured females (3.2%, n = 561) than males (0.8%, n = 494). Many individuals with atypical primary patterns, especially females, are difficult or impossible to reliably age by plumage or morphology and may bias research and harvest data.
{"title":"Atypical primary molt patterns in greater sage-grouse: implications for age classification","authors":"B. Walker, M. Schroeder","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00855","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00855","url":null,"abstract":"Age-specific patterns of primary molt facilitate age classification of native North American upland gamebirds, a critical step in understanding their ecology, behavior, life history, population dynamics and harvest. However, deviations from typical molt patterns can create confusing plumages that complicate age classification. We examined data from live-captured greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus across seven studies in five U.S. states and wings from harvested birds in Oregon and Colorado for evidence of atypical primary molt. We documented atypical replacement through primary nine during preformative molt, atypical retention of juvenile primary 10 during second prebasic molt, and atypical retention of basic outer primaries during definitive prebasic molt. Atypical primary molts were observed more often in live-captured females (3.2%, n = 561) than males (0.8%, n = 494). Many individuals with atypical primary patterns, especially females, are difficult or impossible to reliably age by plumage or morphology and may bias research and harvest data.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00855"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42290655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Fischer, M. Stillfried, G. Coulson, D. Sutherland, S. Kramer‐Schadt, J. Stefano
Roads can have significant impacts on wildlife populations by impeding movement, restricting access to resources and causing wildlife–vehicle collisions. In particular, wildlife–vehicle collisions represent a substantial conservation and social problem, and although mitigation measures are available, an increased understanding of the temporal and spatial patterns of animal movement around roads will enhance their effectiveness. We analysed GPS telemetry data from 47 swamp wallabies Wallabia bicolor on Phillip Island, south-east Australia, within patches of native vegetation dissected by roads. Our aims were to determine if (a) road crossing frequency was influenced by time period (day, night) or sex, (b) wallabies avoided roads, and if avoidance was influenced by time period or sex and (c) road crossing locations were associated with dense vegetation, and other habitat characteristics. We found that males crossed roads more often at night than during the day while females showed the opposite pattern. Further, wallabies avoided roads, with some evidence that avoidance increased at night (p = 0.07). The chance of a wallaby crossing roads with high speed limits (80–100 km h-1) increased with vegetation density during the day but not at night. In contrast, vegetation density had no influence on crossing locations along roads with lower (50–70 km h-1) speed limits during the day or night. Both vegetation density and vehicle speed may influence wallaby–vehicle collisions and suggest management strategies targeting these factors. Partial fencing guiding wallabies towards safer crossing locations, combined with other measures such as reduced speed limits and signage, could reduce collisions between vehicles and swamp wallabies on Phillip Island.
道路会阻碍野生动物的活动，限制获取资源，并造成野生动物与车辆的碰撞，从而对野生动物种群产生重大影响。特别是，野生动物与车辆的碰撞是一个重大的保护和社会问题，虽然有缓解措施，但对道路周围动物运动的时空格局的进一步了解将提高这些措施的效力。我们分析了澳大利亚东南部菲利普岛47只沼泽小袋鼠的GPS遥测数据，这些小袋鼠位于被道路分割的原生植被区域内。我们的目的是确定(a)穿越道路的频率是否受到时间段(白天、夜晚)或性别的影响，(b)小袋鼠避开道路，以及避开道路是否受到时间段或性别的影响，以及(c)穿越道路的地点是否与茂密的植被和其他栖息地特征有关。我们发现，雄性在晚上过马路的次数比白天多，而雌性则相反。此外，小袋鼠会避开道路，有证据表明，在夜间，这种避开会增加(p = 0.07)。白天，小袋鼠穿越高速公路(80-100公里每小时)的几率随着植被密度的增加而增加，但在夜间则不然。相比之下，植被密度对白天和夜间较低限速(50-70 km h-1)道路的交叉口位置没有影响。植被密度和车速都可能影响小袋鼠与车辆的碰撞，并针对这些因素提出了管理策略。部分围栏引导小袋鼠到更安全的十字路口，再加上其他措施，如降低速度限制和标志，可以减少菲利普岛车辆和沼泽小袋鼠之间的碰撞。
{"title":"Spatial and temporal responses of swamp wallabies to roads in a human-modified landscape","authors":"M. Fischer, M. Stillfried, G. Coulson, D. Sutherland, S. Kramer‐Schadt, J. Stefano","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00691","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00691","url":null,"abstract":"Roads can have significant impacts on wildlife populations by impeding movement, restricting access to resources and causing wildlife–vehicle collisions. In particular, wildlife–vehicle collisions represent a substantial conservation and social problem, and although mitigation measures are available, an increased understanding of the temporal and spatial patterns of animal movement around roads will enhance their effectiveness. We analysed GPS telemetry data from 47 swamp wallabies Wallabia bicolor on Phillip Island, south-east Australia, within patches of native vegetation dissected by roads. Our aims were to determine if (a) road crossing frequency was influenced by time period (day, night) or sex, (b) wallabies avoided roads, and if avoidance was influenced by time period or sex and (c) road crossing locations were associated with dense vegetation, and other habitat characteristics. We found that males crossed roads more often at night than during the day while females showed the opposite pattern. Further, wallabies avoided roads, with some evidence that avoidance increased at night (p = 0.07). The chance of a wallaby crossing roads with high speed limits (80–100 km h-1) increased with vegetation density during the day but not at night. In contrast, vegetation density had no influence on crossing locations along roads with lower (50–70 km h-1) speed limits during the day or night. Both vegetation density and vehicle speed may influence wallaby–vehicle collisions and suggest management strategies targeting these factors. Partial fencing guiding wallabies towards safer crossing locations, combined with other measures such as reduced speed limits and signage, could reduce collisions between vehicles and swamp wallabies on Phillip Island.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47215226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
I. Kojola, V. Hallikainen, S. Heikkinen, V. Nivala
Family groups with cubs-of-the-year (cubs) in Finland's brown bear Ursus arctos population are protected from hunting, but sport hunters inadvertently shoot some cubs almost every year. In our data, 39 of 1463 bears from hunting bags (and 39 of all 1503 shot bears) during 1996–2018 were cubs. Mortality of cubs owing to inadvertent shooting by hunters was estimated to be relatively low (ca 8%) and was therefore above all an ethical problem. Male bias from the 1:1 sex ratio was significant (67%, χ2 = 4.333, p = 0.037) and possibly attributed to a greater resemblance with yearlings (legal game) given their larger body size. The year trend in the proportion of cubs in hunting bag was not significant (t = -1.832, p = 0.076) We examined whether the risk of cub to being killed by hunters was related to the distance from the Russian border because bear hunting has been practised for more years in eastern Finland compared with mid- and western Finland. The risk of cub being killed was not related to the distance but the risk of female cubs being killed was highest within a narrow zone at the Russian border. If the family group escapes to the Russian side, the risk of losing the hunting dog is presumably high. Given hunters' high motivation to keep their valuable bear-hunting dogs, the proportion of female cubs might be highest near the border. Systematic educational programs for hunters would likely reduce the risk of inadvertent killing of cubs. The full legal protection of all family groups is potentially the most efficient method to reduce the risk and thereby formally provide improved ethics in bear hunting. However, this practice might also prolong the mother–offspring bond.
在芬兰的棕熊种群中，有幼崽的家庭团体受到保护，不被狩猎，但体育猎人几乎每年都会无意中射杀一些幼崽。在我们的数据中，1996年至2018年期间，狩猎袋中的1463只熊中有39只是幼熊(1503只被射杀的熊中有39只)。据估计，由于猎人无意中射杀幼崽的死亡率相对较低(约8%)，因此首先是一个道德问题。1:1的性别比例对雄性的偏见是显著的(67%，χ2 = 4.333, p = 0.037)，这可能是由于它们的体型更大，与一岁的幼崽(合法游戏)更相似。猎袋中幼崽比例的年度趋势不显著(t = -1.832, p = 0.076)。我们研究了幼崽被猎人杀死的风险是否与与俄罗斯边境的距离有关，因为与芬兰中部和西部相比，芬兰东部的猎熊时间更长。幼崽被杀的风险与距离无关，但在俄罗斯边境的一个狭窄区域内，雌崽被杀的风险最高。如果这家人逃到俄罗斯一侧，失去猎犬的风险可能很高。考虑到猎人留住宝贵的猎熊犬的强烈动机，在边境附近，雌性幼崽的比例可能是最高的。对猎人进行系统的教育计划可能会降低无意中杀死幼崽的风险。对所有家庭群体提供充分的法律保护可能是减少风险的最有效方法，从而正式提高猎熊的道德标准。然而，这种做法也可能延长母子关系。
{"title":"Inadvertent shooting of brown bear cubs in Finland: what can managers do to reduce it?","authors":"I. Kojola, V. Hallikainen, S. Heikkinen, V. Nivala","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00773","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00773","url":null,"abstract":"Family groups with cubs-of-the-year (cubs) in Finland's brown bear Ursus arctos population are protected from hunting, but sport hunters inadvertently shoot some cubs almost every year. In our data, 39 of 1463 bears from hunting bags (and 39 of all 1503 shot bears) during 1996–2018 were cubs. Mortality of cubs owing to inadvertent shooting by hunters was estimated to be relatively low (ca 8%) and was therefore above all an ethical problem. Male bias from the 1:1 sex ratio was significant (67%, χ2 = 4.333, p = 0.037) and possibly attributed to a greater resemblance with yearlings (legal game) given their larger body size. The year trend in the proportion of cubs in hunting bag was not significant (t = -1.832, p = 0.076) We examined whether the risk of cub to being killed by hunters was related to the distance from the Russian border because bear hunting has been practised for more years in eastern Finland compared with mid- and western Finland. The risk of cub being killed was not related to the distance but the risk of female cubs being killed was highest within a narrow zone at the Russian border. If the family group escapes to the Russian side, the risk of losing the hunting dog is presumably high. Given hunters' high motivation to keep their valuable bear-hunting dogs, the proportion of female cubs might be highest near the border. Systematic educational programs for hunters would likely reduce the risk of inadvertent killing of cubs. The full legal protection of all family groups is potentially the most efficient method to reduce the risk and thereby formally provide improved ethics in bear hunting. However, this practice might also prolong the mother–offspring bond.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00773"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-06-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44531740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maciej Szewczyk, C. Nowak, P. Hulva, J. Mergeay, A. V. Stronen, B. Bolfíková, Sylwia D. Czarnomska, T. A. Diserens, V. Fenchuk, M. Figura, A. Groot, Andżelika Haidt, M. M. Hansen, H. Jansman, Gesa Kluth, I. Kwiatkowska, K. Lubińska, J. Michaux, Natalia Niedźwiecka, S. Nowak, K. Olsen, I. Reinhardt, M. Romański, L. Schley, Steve Smith, R. Špinkytė-Bačkaitienė, P. Stachyra, K. Stępniak, P. Sunde, P. F. Thomsen, T. Zwijacz-Kozica, R. Mysłajek
The gray wolf Canis lupus range in central Europe is dynamically expanding, reconnecting previously isolated populations. Thus, a recent paper has proposed to merge the current Baltic and Central European (CE) wolf management units, which are no longer isolated by distance. However, recent genetic findings indicate that these two populations are not genetically homogenous. Here we review the most recent data on wolf genetic structure in central Europe and show that even though the CE and Baltic wolves represent the same phylogeographic lineage, their demographic history has resulted in significant genetic structure between these two populations. While the groups are interconnected by moderate gene flow, it is not high enough to reduce the strong founder signal observed in the CE population, suggesting that population dynamics within the CE wolf range are largely independent from those of its source (Baltic) population. Consequently, a management unit combining the CE and Baltic wolves would not form a demographically coherent entity. Thus, we recommend that conservation management units maintain their separate status.
{"title":"Genetic support for the current discrete conservation unit of the Central European wolf population","authors":"Maciej Szewczyk, C. Nowak, P. Hulva, J. Mergeay, A. V. Stronen, B. Bolfíková, Sylwia D. Czarnomska, T. A. Diserens, V. Fenchuk, M. Figura, A. Groot, Andżelika Haidt, M. M. Hansen, H. Jansman, Gesa Kluth, I. Kwiatkowska, K. Lubińska, J. Michaux, Natalia Niedźwiecka, S. Nowak, K. Olsen, I. Reinhardt, M. Romański, L. Schley, Steve Smith, R. Špinkytė-Bačkaitienė, P. Stachyra, K. Stępniak, P. Sunde, P. F. Thomsen, T. Zwijacz-Kozica, R. Mysłajek","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00809","url":null,"abstract":"The gray wolf Canis lupus range in central Europe is dynamically expanding, reconnecting previously isolated populations. Thus, a recent paper has proposed to merge the current Baltic and Central European (CE) wolf management units, which are no longer isolated by distance. However, recent genetic findings indicate that these two populations are not genetically homogenous. Here we review the most recent data on wolf genetic structure in central Europe and show that even though the CE and Baltic wolves represent the same phylogeographic lineage, their demographic history has resulted in significant genetic structure between these two populations. While the groups are interconnected by moderate gene flow, it is not high enough to reduce the strong founder signal observed in the CE population, suggesting that population dynamics within the CE wolf range are largely independent from those of its source (Baltic) population. Consequently, a management unit combining the CE and Baltic wolves would not form a demographically coherent entity. Thus, we recommend that conservation management units maintain their separate status.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00809"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42072912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. R. Matykiewicz, S. Windels, B. Olson, Reid T. Plumb, T. Wolf, Adam A. Ahlers
Muskrats Ondatra zibethicus are semiaquatic herbivores experiencing long-term and widespread population declines across North America. Translocation may be a viable tool to bolster or reestablish local populations; however, subsequent effects of translocation on muskrats are unknown. We live-trapped and translocated radiomarked muskrats (n = 65) during the summers of 2018–2019 in Voyageurs National Park, MN, USA and assessed post-translocation effects on weekly survival probabilities and space-use patterns. We did not observe homing behavior, though individuals moved an average of 2.2 km (SE = 0.30 km) from release sites and established home ranges within ∼8 days (SE = 1.16 days) post-translocation. Weekly post-translocation survival probabilities (0.95, SE = 0.001) and average home-range sizes (2.52 ha, SE = 0.44 ha) were similar to other studies of non-translocated muskrats. Our most-supported known-fate survival model revealed muskrats using beaver Castor canadensis lodges had greater weekly survival probabilities. Additionally, weekly muskrat survival varied between years suggesting a positive response to a novel soft-release technique applied in 2019. Our study provides the first empirical assessment of translocation effects on muskrats and suggests translocation may be effective for establishing or enhancing local muskrat populations. Additionally, our study suggests beaver lodges may confer fitness benefits to sympatric muskrats particularly during dispersal.
{"title":"Assessing translocation effects on the spatial ecology and survival of muskrats Ondatra zibethicus","authors":"B. R. Matykiewicz, S. Windels, B. Olson, Reid T. Plumb, T. Wolf, Adam A. Ahlers","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00823","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00823","url":null,"abstract":"Muskrats Ondatra zibethicus are semiaquatic herbivores experiencing long-term and widespread population declines across North America. Translocation may be a viable tool to bolster or reestablish local populations; however, subsequent effects of translocation on muskrats are unknown. We live-trapped and translocated radiomarked muskrats (n = 65) during the summers of 2018–2019 in Voyageurs National Park, MN, USA and assessed post-translocation effects on weekly survival probabilities and space-use patterns. We did not observe homing behavior, though individuals moved an average of 2.2 km (SE = 0.30 km) from release sites and established home ranges within ∼8 days (SE = 1.16 days) post-translocation. Weekly post-translocation survival probabilities (0.95, SE = 0.001) and average home-range sizes (2.52 ha, SE = 0.44 ha) were similar to other studies of non-translocated muskrats. Our most-supported known-fate survival model revealed muskrats using beaver Castor canadensis lodges had greater weekly survival probabilities. Additionally, weekly muskrat survival varied between years suggesting a positive response to a novel soft-release technique applied in 2019. Our study provides the first empirical assessment of translocation effects on muskrats and suggests translocation may be effective for establishing or enhancing local muskrat populations. Additionally, our study suggests beaver lodges may confer fitness benefits to sympatric muskrats particularly during dispersal.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00823"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49328056","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Thye Lim Tee, Frank T. van Manen, P. Kretzschmar, S. P. Sharp, S. T. Wong, S. Gadas, S. Ratnayeke
Wildlife populations in southeast Asia are increasingly experiencing a broad array of anthropogenic threats, and mammalian carnivores are particularly vulnerable. Populations of the Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus are estimated to have declined by 30% over the last 30 years from forest conversion to industrial plantations and mortality associated with human–bear conflicts and illegal wildlife trade. However, the effects of industrial plantations on habitat selection and activity patterns of mammals that live at the protected area-plantation interface, including sun bears, are not well known. We investigated habitat selection and activity patterns of sun bears in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia. We deployed 83 remote camera sites to record sun bear detections during two sampling periods (2012–2013 and 2017). We used generalized linear models to examine relationships between sun bear presence and site covariates representing physical, environmental and anthropogenic elements of the landscape. Relative probability of sun bear presence was positively associated with distance to roads and elevation. Because most roads were on the reserve boundary and often associated with oil palm plantations, proximity to roads likely served as a surrogate measure of human accessibility and activity in peripheral areas of the reserve. Supporting that interpretation, sun bears close to the reserve boundary were primarily active at night, whereas daytime activity was more common for bears in the interior. Our findings indicate that sun bears alter behaviour and habitat selection likely in response to anthropogenic activities at the edges of Tabin Wildlife Reserve (112 200 ha). Because the ratio of edge to interior increases steeply with declining habitat area, smaller protected areas bordered by plantations are predicted to have greater impacts on sun bear behaviour and, potentially, population persistence. Effective conservation actions may benefit from management to improve the security of edge habitats for sun bears and other vulnerable species.
{"title":"Anthropogenic edge effects in habitat selection by sun bears in a protected area","authors":"Thye Lim Tee, Frank T. van Manen, P. Kretzschmar, S. P. Sharp, S. T. Wong, S. Gadas, S. Ratnayeke","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00776","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00776","url":null,"abstract":"Wildlife populations in southeast Asia are increasingly experiencing a broad array of anthropogenic threats, and mammalian carnivores are particularly vulnerable. Populations of the Malayan sun bear Helarctos malayanus are estimated to have declined by 30% over the last 30 years from forest conversion to industrial plantations and mortality associated with human–bear conflicts and illegal wildlife trade. However, the effects of industrial plantations on habitat selection and activity patterns of mammals that live at the protected area-plantation interface, including sun bears, are not well known. We investigated habitat selection and activity patterns of sun bears in Tabin Wildlife Reserve in Sabah, Malaysia. We deployed 83 remote camera sites to record sun bear detections during two sampling periods (2012–2013 and 2017). We used generalized linear models to examine relationships between sun bear presence and site covariates representing physical, environmental and anthropogenic elements of the landscape. Relative probability of sun bear presence was positively associated with distance to roads and elevation. Because most roads were on the reserve boundary and often associated with oil palm plantations, proximity to roads likely served as a surrogate measure of human accessibility and activity in peripheral areas of the reserve. Supporting that interpretation, sun bears close to the reserve boundary were primarily active at night, whereas daytime activity was more common for bears in the interior. Our findings indicate that sun bears alter behaviour and habitat selection likely in response to anthropogenic activities at the edges of Tabin Wildlife Reserve (112 200 ha). Because the ratio of edge to interior increases steeply with declining habitat area, smaller protected areas bordered by plantations are predicted to have greater impacts on sun bear behaviour and, potentially, population persistence. Effective conservation actions may benefit from management to improve the security of edge habitats for sun bears and other vulnerable species.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00776"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45898550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Gutowsky, Katharine R. Studholme, Robert A. Ronconi, K. Allard, Katherine R Shlepr, A. Diamond, Jessie A. McIntyre, S. Craik, M. Mallory
Opportunist gulls use anthropogenic food subsidies, which can bolster populations, but negatively influence sensitive local ecosystems and areas of human settlement. In the eastern Gulf of Maine, Canada, breeding herring gulls Larus argentatus have access to resources from aquaculture, fisheries and mink farms, but the relative influence of industry on local gull populations is unknown. Our objectives were to 1) assess use of natural and anthropogenic habitats by herring gulls from multiple colonies, 2) evaluate variation among colonies in use of distinct resource types within these habitats and 3) highlight areas of high gull:industry interaction. Using GPS devices on 39 gulls from four colonies, we identified visitation behaviour (slow, localized movements) and assigned visits to nine resource types. To evaluate the spatial distribution of visits, we created a use intensity index, reflecting both fidelity (i.e. repeated visits) and time spent in specific areas. All four anthropogenic resource types were heavily used (56 ± 11% of visiting time across colonies), notably, fish plants and mink farms. Despite large distances among three colonies, birds overlapped at particular distant, inland mink farms. In contrast, birds from close colonies overlapped in visitation to specific nearby resources (e.g. fish plants and human settlement), and otherwise diverged in distribution and use of offshore and coastal areas. Birds from three colonies also made frequent, long visits to uninhabited islands. Industry is clearly influencing the behaviour of breeding gulls in the eastern Gulf of Maine, Canada, where birds are travelling great distances or spending large proportions of time interacting with anthropogenic resources, while otherwise paying lengthy visits to nearby coastal islands. Studies have shown that concentrations of gulls can have harmful direct and indirect ecological and societal impacts. Our findings have implications for the management and regulation of industry to mitigate detrimental effects on local ecosystems and humans.
{"title":"The influence of multiple industries on the behaviour of breeding gulls from four colonies across the eastern Gulf of Maine, Canada","authors":"S. Gutowsky, Katharine R. Studholme, Robert A. Ronconi, K. Allard, Katherine R Shlepr, A. Diamond, Jessie A. McIntyre, S. Craik, M. Mallory","doi":"10.2981/wlb.00804","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00804","url":null,"abstract":"Opportunist gulls use anthropogenic food subsidies, which can bolster populations, but negatively influence sensitive local ecosystems and areas of human settlement. In the eastern Gulf of Maine, Canada, breeding herring gulls Larus argentatus have access to resources from aquaculture, fisheries and mink farms, but the relative influence of industry on local gull populations is unknown. Our objectives were to 1) assess use of natural and anthropogenic habitats by herring gulls from multiple colonies, 2) evaluate variation among colonies in use of distinct resource types within these habitats and 3) highlight areas of high gull:industry interaction. Using GPS devices on 39 gulls from four colonies, we identified visitation behaviour (slow, localized movements) and assigned visits to nine resource types. To evaluate the spatial distribution of visits, we created a use intensity index, reflecting both fidelity (i.e. repeated visits) and time spent in specific areas. All four anthropogenic resource types were heavily used (56 ± 11% of visiting time across colonies), notably, fish plants and mink farms. Despite large distances among three colonies, birds overlapped at particular distant, inland mink farms. In contrast, birds from close colonies overlapped in visitation to specific nearby resources (e.g. fish plants and human settlement), and otherwise diverged in distribution and use of offshore and coastal areas. Birds from three colonies also made frequent, long visits to uninhabited islands. Industry is clearly influencing the behaviour of breeding gulls in the eastern Gulf of Maine, Canada, where birds are travelling great distances or spending large proportions of time interacting with anthropogenic resources, while otherwise paying lengthy visits to nearby coastal islands. Studies have shown that concentrations of gulls can have harmful direct and indirect ecological and societal impacts. Our findings have implications for the management and regulation of industry to mitigate detrimental effects on local ecosystems and humans.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2021 1","pages":"wlb.00804"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2021-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45872591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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