Wild turkeys Meleagris gallopavo are diurnally active birds that spend the dark hours roosting in trees. We tested the hypothesis that multiple benefits exist for roost tree selection by wild turkeys, including thermoregulation, resource acquisition, and protection from predators. We compared 48 roost trees used by eastern wild turkeys M. g. silvestris in Ontario, Canada to 48 non‐roost trees sampled contemporaneously during 2017–2019 to determine roost site selection between seasons. Mean (± SE) roost tree height (21.4 ± 0.8 m) was taller than non‐roost trees (18.2 ± 0.8 m), and roost trees were also larger in diameter at breast height (58.1 ± 5.5 vs 38.7 ± 3.1 cm). Using ibuttons to collect microclimate temperatures at the tree, we found that mean temperature (± SE) of a deciduous roost (14.5 ± 0.1°C) was higher than temperature at either a coniferous roost (13.9 ± 0.1°C) or ambient temperature (13.2 ± 0.1°C) during the summer months. In winter however, we did not find any relationship between temperature and tree type. Roosts were closer to buildings (150.8 ± 26.0 m) in the winter compared to summer and year‐round roosts, and winter roosts were also farther away from crops (395.2 ± 63.7 m) compared to roost sites used year‐round. Summer roosts were closer to roads (143 ± 36.3 m) than the roosts in the winter and roosts used year‐round. Our data suggest that thermoregulation is not the driving force behind roost selection; instead, predator avoidance appears to play the most important role, with some weaker evidence in support of proximity to resources.
野生火鸡是一种白天活跃的鸟类，在黑暗的时候栖息在树上。我们验证了野生火鸡选择栖息树的多重好处，包括体温调节、资源获取和保护免受捕食者的侵害。我们将加拿大安大略省东部野生火鸡M. g. silvestris使用的48棵栖息树与2017-2019年同期采样的48棵非栖息树进行了比较，以确定季节之间的栖息地点选择。平均(±SE)栖息树高(21.4±0.8 m)高于非栖息树(18.2±0.8 m)，且栖息树胸高直径较大(58.1±5.5 vs 38.7±3.1 cm)。利用ibuttons采集树木的小气候温度，我们发现在夏季，落叶林的平均温度(±SE)(14.5±0.1°C)高于针叶林的平均温度(13.9±0.1°C)或环境温度(13.2±0.1°C)。然而，在冬季，我们没有发现温度与树木类型有任何关系。与夏季和全年相比，冬季的栖息地距离建筑物较近(150.8±26.0 m)，冬季的栖息地距离农作物较远(395.2±63.7 m)。夏季栖息地距离道路较近(143±36.3 m)，冬季和全年使用的栖息地距离较近。我们的数据表明，体温调节并不是栖息地选择背后的驱动力;相反，躲避捕食者似乎发挥了最重要的作用，有一些较弱的证据支持靠近资源。
{"title":"Seasonal roost selection of wild turkeys at their northern range edge","authors":"Elizabeth A. Adey, Jennifer E. Baici, Jeff Bowman","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01133","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01133","url":null,"abstract":"Wild turkeys Meleagris gallopavo are diurnally active birds that spend the dark hours roosting in trees. We tested the hypothesis that multiple benefits exist for roost tree selection by wild turkeys, including thermoregulation, resource acquisition, and protection from predators. We compared 48 roost trees used by eastern wild turkeys M. g. silvestris in Ontario, Canada to 48 non‐roost trees sampled contemporaneously during 2017–2019 to determine roost site selection between seasons. Mean (± SE) roost tree height (21.4 ± 0.8 m) was taller than non‐roost trees (18.2 ± 0.8 m), and roost trees were also larger in diameter at breast height (58.1 ± 5.5 vs 38.7 ± 3.1 cm). Using ibuttons to collect microclimate temperatures at the tree, we found that mean temperature (± SE) of a deciduous roost (14.5 ± 0.1°C) was higher than temperature at either a coniferous roost (13.9 ± 0.1°C) or ambient temperature (13.2 ± 0.1°C) during the summer months. In winter however, we did not find any relationship between temperature and tree type. Roosts were closer to buildings (150.8 ± 26.0 m) in the winter compared to summer and year‐round roosts, and winter roosts were also farther away from crops (395.2 ± 63.7 m) compared to roost sites used year‐round. Summer roosts were closer to roads (143 ± 36.3 m) than the roosts in the winter and roosts used year‐round. Our data suggest that thermoregulation is not the driving force behind roost selection; instead, predator avoidance appears to play the most important role, with some weaker evidence in support of proximity to resources.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"45 7","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135681982","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}
Matteo Panaccio, Alice Brambilla, Bruno Bassano, Tessa Smith, Achaz von Hardenberg
Monitoring population dynamics is of fundamental importance in conservation but assessing trends in abundance can be costly, especially in large and rough areas. Obtaining trend estimations from counts performed in only a portion of the total area (sample counts) can be a cost‐effective method to improve the monitoring and conservation of species difficult to count. We tested the effectiveness of sample counts in monitoring population trends of wild animals, using as a model population the Alpine ibex Capra ibex in the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy), both with computer simulations and using historical count data collected over the last 65 years. Despite sample counts failed to correctly estimate the true population abundance, sampling half of the target area could reliably monitor the trend of the target population. In case of strong changes in abundance, an even lower proportion of the total area could be sufficient to identify the direction of the population trend. However, when there is a high yearly trend variability, the required number of samples increases and even counting in the entire area can be ineffective to detect population trends. The effect of other parameters, such as which portion of the area is sampled and detectability, was lower, but these should be tested case by case. Sample counts could therefore constitute a viable alternative to assess population trends, allowing for important, cost‐effective improvements in the monitoring of wild animals of conservation interest.
监测种群动态对保护具有根本的重要性，但评估种群丰富的趋势可能代价高昂，特别是在大而粗糙的地区。仅在总面积的一部分(样本计数)中进行计数就可以获得趋势估计，这是一种经济有效的方法，可以改善对难以计数的物种的监测和保护。我们测试了样本计数在监测野生动物种群趋势方面的有效性，以意大利大天堂国家公园(Gran Paradiso National Park)的高山野山羊(Capra ibex)为模型种群，同时使用计算机模拟和过去65年收集的历史计数数据。尽管样本计数不能正确地估计真实的种群丰度，但采样目标区域的一半可以可靠地监测目标种群的趋势。在丰度发生强烈变化的情况下，即使在总面积中所占的比例更低，也足以确定人口趋势的方向。然而，当年趋势变异性较高时，所需的样本数量增加，甚至在整个地区进行计数也可能无法检测人口趋势。其他参数的影响，如采样区域的哪一部分和可探测性，是较低的，但这些应该逐个测试。因此，样本计数可以成为评估种群趋势的一种可行的替代方法，从而对具有保护意义的野生动物的监测进行重要的、具有成本效益的改进。
{"title":"Monitoring wildlife population trends with sample counts: a case study on the Alpine ibex (<i>Capra ibex</i>)","authors":"Matteo Panaccio, Alice Brambilla, Bruno Bassano, Tessa Smith, Achaz von Hardenberg","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01162","url":null,"abstract":"Monitoring population dynamics is of fundamental importance in conservation but assessing trends in abundance can be costly, especially in large and rough areas. Obtaining trend estimations from counts performed in only a portion of the total area (sample counts) can be a cost‐effective method to improve the monitoring and conservation of species difficult to count. We tested the effectiveness of sample counts in monitoring population trends of wild animals, using as a model population the Alpine ibex Capra ibex in the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy), both with computer simulations and using historical count data collected over the last 65 years. Despite sample counts failed to correctly estimate the true population abundance, sampling half of the target area could reliably monitor the trend of the target population. In case of strong changes in abundance, an even lower proportion of the total area could be sufficient to identify the direction of the population trend. However, when there is a high yearly trend variability, the required number of samples increases and even counting in the entire area can be ineffective to detect population trends. The effect of other parameters, such as which portion of the area is sampled and detectability, was lower, but these should be tested case by case. Sample counts could therefore constitute a viable alternative to assess population trends, allowing for important, cost‐effective improvements in the monitoring of wild animals of conservation interest.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"46 16","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135682324","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}
Robin M. Cook, Edward T. F. Witkowski, Michelle D. Henley
African elephants Loxodonta africana can alter the structural components of savanna ecosystems, often through the reduction of the large tree (≥ 5 m height) cover component. Elephant impact can be amplified in small, protected areas, or areas where water is readily available to elephants. One management option is to protect large trees directly using applied mitigation methods to limit elephant impact. In this paper, we assessed and compared the effectiveness and logistical requirements of four mitigation methods that have been applied to protect large trees from elephant impact in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park – namely African honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata in beehives; creosote oil in glass jars, concrete pyramids arranged in circles around trees, as well as wire‐netting the trees' main stems. For each method, elephant impact levels and tree mortality rates were measured over a 2–5‐year period depending on the method in use. Sample sizes ranged from 43 to 59 trees per mitigation method, with a comparable control, which was a tree of the same species and morphological dimensions but lacking any mitigation application. Beehives were the most effective method at reducing tree loss, significantly reducing tree mortality from 34% (6.8%/year) in control trees to only 10% (2% year ‐1 ) over the five‐year experimental period. However, beehives were the most expensive method to apply to a tree, although this cost can be compensated through honey sales. Concrete pyramids reduced tree loss when the combined pyramid radius was > 1.5 m in length, whilst wire‐netting was effective against bark‐stripping by elephants but was still vulnerable to heavier forms of impact such as uprooting and stem snapping. Creosote jars did not prevent elephants from impacting treated trees. Our results provide managers with a toolkit for protecting large trees against elephant impact, commenting on both the efficacy and the logistical constraints for each method.
{"title":"Protecting the resource: an assessment of mitigation methods used to protect large trees from African elephant impact in a savanna system","authors":"Robin M. Cook, Edward T. F. Witkowski, Michelle D. Henley","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01170","url":null,"abstract":"African elephants Loxodonta africana can alter the structural components of savanna ecosystems, often through the reduction of the large tree (≥ 5 m height) cover component. Elephant impact can be amplified in small, protected areas, or areas where water is readily available to elephants. One management option is to protect large trees directly using applied mitigation methods to limit elephant impact. In this paper, we assessed and compared the effectiveness and logistical requirements of four mitigation methods that have been applied to protect large trees from elephant impact in South Africa's Greater Kruger National Park – namely African honeybees Apis mellifera scutellata in beehives; creosote oil in glass jars, concrete pyramids arranged in circles around trees, as well as wire‐netting the trees' main stems. For each method, elephant impact levels and tree mortality rates were measured over a 2–5‐year period depending on the method in use. Sample sizes ranged from 43 to 59 trees per mitigation method, with a comparable control, which was a tree of the same species and morphological dimensions but lacking any mitigation application. Beehives were the most effective method at reducing tree loss, significantly reducing tree mortality from 34% (6.8%/year) in control trees to only 10% (2% year ‐1 ) over the five‐year experimental period. However, beehives were the most expensive method to apply to a tree, although this cost can be compensated through honey sales. Concrete pyramids reduced tree loss when the combined pyramid radius was > 1.5 m in length, whilst wire‐netting was effective against bark‐stripping by elephants but was still vulnerable to heavier forms of impact such as uprooting and stem snapping. Creosote jars did not prevent elephants from impacting treated trees. Our results provide managers with a toolkit for protecting large trees against elephant impact, commenting on both the efficacy and the logistical constraints for each method.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"42 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135413983","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}
Erica von Essen, Martin Drenthen, Manisha Bhardwaj
The fence provides two functions in wildlife management. First, it physically blocks, deters or impedes wild animals from access to protected areas or resources. Second, the fence signals impassability, danger, pain or irritation to animals through both of these pathways: the actual blockade and the signal of no access both communicates to wild animals that they should stay away, producing area effects which constrain animal mobility. The mere presence of a fence, while imperfect and potentially passable, can come to establish an area effect of avoidance. In this regard, fences are part of an interspecies communication on the basis of mutually understood signals in the landscape. In this paper, we consider how fences, both physical, such as walls, and virtual, such as ‘biofences' that use sensory deterrents, signal danger or no access to wildlife, and with what practical and conceptual limitations. Through a framework of ecosemiotics, the communication of signals between wildlife and humans, we discuss the communicative role fences play in human–wildlife interactions. First, we outline the way in which ecosemiotics may be leveraged to manage human–wildlife conflicts by utilizing fences as signals. Then we explain miscommunication, and how this impacts the success of fences. Finally, we discuss the normative problems of attempting to signal to wildlife how to behave and where to be, and raise the need for bidirectional communication across species, such that wild animals are also seen as participants in negotiating space and access around humans.
{"title":"How fences communicate interspecies codes of conduct in the landscape: toward bidirectional communication?","authors":"Erica von Essen, Martin Drenthen, Manisha Bhardwaj","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01146","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01146","url":null,"abstract":"The fence provides two functions in wildlife management. First, it physically blocks, deters or impedes wild animals from access to protected areas or resources. Second, the fence signals impassability, danger, pain or irritation to animals through both of these pathways: the actual blockade and the signal of no access both communicates to wild animals that they should stay away, producing area effects which constrain animal mobility. The mere presence of a fence, while imperfect and potentially passable, can come to establish an area effect of avoidance. In this regard, fences are part of an interspecies communication on the basis of mutually understood signals in the landscape. In this paper, we consider how fences, both physical, such as walls, and virtual, such as ‘biofences' that use sensory deterrents, signal danger or no access to wildlife, and with what practical and conceptual limitations. Through a framework of ecosemiotics, the communication of signals between wildlife and humans, we discuss the communicative role fences play in human–wildlife interactions. First, we outline the way in which ecosemiotics may be leveraged to manage human–wildlife conflicts by utilizing fences as signals. Then we explain miscommunication, and how this impacts the success of fences. Finally, we discuss the normative problems of attempting to signal to wildlife how to behave and where to be, and raise the need for bidirectional communication across species, such that wild animals are also seen as participants in negotiating space and access around humans.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"205 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135995531","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}
Joseph M. Wolske, Adam C. Behney, Larkin A. Powell
Northern bobwhites have experienced population declines in Colorado and range wide. Estimating vital rates can provide clues to factors limiting population growth rate. Although recent estimates of breeding season survival in the northwest corner of the northern bobwhite range are available, there have been no recent studies on nonbreeding season survival. We used radio‐telemetry to estimate nonbreeding season (October–March) survival of northern bobwhites at two study sites in northeastern Colorado during winter 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Based on our sample of 157 bobwhites, we found that survival was highly variable between years and was negatively affected by colder daily minimum temperatures and deeper snow depths. Seasonal (six‐month) survival during the first year was 0.219 (SE = 0.040) and during the second year was 0.006 (SE = 0.005). We found no evidence that sex, age or study site influenced survival, and very weak support for an effect of body mass. During our study, there were two extreme winter weather events, during which we found unusually high numbers of non‐predation mortality. Overall, northern bobwhite nonbreeding season survival in the northwest corner of their range appears to be generally similar to other regions, except during extreme winter weather events, which resulted in high mortality. We encourage managers to create or maintain vegetation characteristics that will provide shelter from winter weather while also providing abundant food in close proximity.
{"title":"Nonbreeding season survival of northern bobwhite in northeastern Colorado","authors":"Joseph M. Wolske, Adam C. Behney, Larkin A. Powell","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01126","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01126","url":null,"abstract":"Northern bobwhites have experienced population declines in Colorado and range wide. Estimating vital rates can provide clues to factors limiting population growth rate. Although recent estimates of breeding season survival in the northwest corner of the northern bobwhite range are available, there have been no recent studies on nonbreeding season survival. We used radio‐telemetry to estimate nonbreeding season (October–March) survival of northern bobwhites at two study sites in northeastern Colorado during winter 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Based on our sample of 157 bobwhites, we found that survival was highly variable between years and was negatively affected by colder daily minimum temperatures and deeper snow depths. Seasonal (six‐month) survival during the first year was 0.219 (SE = 0.040) and during the second year was 0.006 (SE = 0.005). We found no evidence that sex, age or study site influenced survival, and very weak support for an effect of body mass. During our study, there were two extreme winter weather events, during which we found unusually high numbers of non‐predation mortality. Overall, northern bobwhite nonbreeding season survival in the northwest corner of their range appears to be generally similar to other regions, except during extreme winter weather events, which resulted in high mortality. We encourage managers to create or maintain vegetation characteristics that will provide shelter from winter weather while also providing abundant food in close proximity.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"73 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135995155","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}
Kristin Bianchini, Scott G. Gilliland, Alicia M. Berlin, Timothy D. Bowman, W. Sean Boyd, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Daniel Esler, Joseph R. Evenson, Paul L. Flint, Christine Lepage, Scott R. McWilliams, Dustin E. Meattey, Jason E. Osenkowski, Matthew C. Perry, Jean‐François Poulin, Eric T. Reed, Christian Roy, Jean‐Pierre L. Savard, Lucas Savoy, Jason L. Schamber, Caleb S. Spiegel, John Takekawa, David H. Ward, Mark L. Mallory
North America's scoter species are poorly monitored relative to other waterfowl. Black Melanitta americana , surf M. perspicillata , and white‐winged M. deglandi scoter abundance and trend estimates are thus uncertain in many parts of these species' ranges. The most extensive source of waterfowl abundance and distribution data in North America is the Waterfowl breeding population and habitat survey (WBPHS). Although the WBPHS effectively monitors most species, both its timing and geographic coverage may preclude accurate scoter monitoring. Therefore, our goal was to better define when and where scoters breed to help interpret survey results and optimize potential supplemental survey efforts for scoters. We integrated satellite telemetry tracking data from scoters marked at multiple molting, staging, breeding, and wintering areas along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to quantify continent‐wide breeding chronology and distribution. We also examined possible drivers of variation in timing of arrival, length of stay, and departure at nesting locations. We documented a northwest to southeast distribution of estimated breeding sites across Alaska and Canada. On average, scoters arrived at nest sites on 1 June. Surf scoters and Pacific black scoters arrived earliest and departed earliest. Pacific‐wintering black and white‐winged scoters began breeding earlier than Atlantic‐wintering birds. Additionally, birds arrived at nesting locations earlier in years with earlier snowmelt, and later snowmelt reduced lengths of stay for males. Breeding chronology also varied by age group, with adults arriving earlier than subadults. Our study is the first to comprehensively describe spatial variation in timing of breeding of both Atlantic and Pacific populations of all three scoter species across North America. Our results increase our understanding of how current surveys enumerate scoters and will inform possible supplemental efforts to improve continental monitoring of scoter populations.
与其他水禽相比，北美的鹬类缺乏监测。因此，在这些物种分布范围的许多地方，黑美兰尼塔(Black Melanitta americana)、冲浪木兰尼塔(surf M. perspicillata)和白翅木兰尼塔(M. deglandi scoter)的丰度和趋势估计都是不确定的。北美水禽丰度和分布数据最广泛的来源是水禽繁殖种群和栖息地调查(WBPHS)。虽然野生生物保护区有效地监测了大多数物种，但其时间和地理覆盖范围可能妨碍准确的监测。因此，我们的目标是更好地定义滑板车的繁殖时间和地点，以帮助解释调查结果并优化滑板车潜在的补充调查工作。我们整合了卫星遥测跟踪数据，这些数据来自大西洋和太平洋沿岸多个换羽、分期、繁殖区和越冬区标记的scoters，以量化整个大陆的繁殖年代史和分布。我们还检查了在筑巢地点到达时间、停留时间和离开的可能驱动因素。我们记录了阿拉斯加和加拿大估计的繁殖地点从西北到东南的分布。平均而言，小羚羊在6月1日到达筑巢地点。冲浪滑板车和太平洋黑人滑板车最早到达，也最早离开。太平洋越冬的黑翅和白翅小翅鹬比大西洋越冬的鸟类更早开始繁殖。此外，鸟类到达筑巢地点的时间早于融雪时间，融雪时间晚缩短了雄性的停留时间。繁殖时间也因年龄组而异，成虫比亚成虫早到达。我们的研究首次全面描述了北美所有三种跨大西洋和太平洋种群在繁殖时间上的空间变化。我们的结果增加了我们对当前调查如何枚举滑板车的理解，并将告知可能的补充努力，以改善滑板车种群的大陆监测。
{"title":"Evaluation of breeding distribution and chronology of North American scoters","authors":"Kristin Bianchini, Scott G. Gilliland, Alicia M. Berlin, Timothy D. Bowman, W. Sean Boyd, Susan E. W. De La Cruz, Daniel Esler, Joseph R. Evenson, Paul L. Flint, Christine Lepage, Scott R. McWilliams, Dustin E. Meattey, Jason E. Osenkowski, Matthew C. Perry, Jean‐François Poulin, Eric T. Reed, Christian Roy, Jean‐Pierre L. Savard, Lucas Savoy, Jason L. Schamber, Caleb S. Spiegel, John Takekawa, David H. Ward, Mark L. Mallory","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01099","url":null,"abstract":"North America's scoter species are poorly monitored relative to other waterfowl. Black Melanitta americana , surf M. perspicillata , and white‐winged M. deglandi scoter abundance and trend estimates are thus uncertain in many parts of these species' ranges. The most extensive source of waterfowl abundance and distribution data in North America is the Waterfowl breeding population and habitat survey (WBPHS). Although the WBPHS effectively monitors most species, both its timing and geographic coverage may preclude accurate scoter monitoring. Therefore, our goal was to better define when and where scoters breed to help interpret survey results and optimize potential supplemental survey efforts for scoters. We integrated satellite telemetry tracking data from scoters marked at multiple molting, staging, breeding, and wintering areas along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to quantify continent‐wide breeding chronology and distribution. We also examined possible drivers of variation in timing of arrival, length of stay, and departure at nesting locations. We documented a northwest to southeast distribution of estimated breeding sites across Alaska and Canada. On average, scoters arrived at nest sites on 1 June. Surf scoters and Pacific black scoters arrived earliest and departed earliest. Pacific‐wintering black and white‐winged scoters began breeding earlier than Atlantic‐wintering birds. Additionally, birds arrived at nesting locations earlier in years with earlier snowmelt, and later snowmelt reduced lengths of stay for males. Breeding chronology also varied by age group, with adults arriving earlier than subadults. Our study is the first to comprehensively describe spatial variation in timing of breeding of both Atlantic and Pacific populations of all three scoter species across North America. Our results increase our understanding of how current surveys enumerate scoters and will inform possible supplemental efforts to improve continental monitoring of scoter populations.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"13 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135766280","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}
Understanding climatic effect on wildlife is essential to prediction and management of climate change's impact on the ecosystem. The climatic effect can interact with other environmental factors. This study was aimed to determine effects of climate and altitude on Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus activity in temperate forests of South Korea. We conducted camera trapping to investigate roe deer's activity level from spring to fall. Logistic regressions were used to determine effects of diel period, temperature, rain, and altitude on the activity level. A negative relationship was noted between temperature and the activity level due to thermoregulatory costs. Roe deer activity exhibited nocturnal and crepuscular patterns during summer and the other seasons, respectively, possibly due to heat stress in summer. In addition, the effect of temperature differed between high‐ and low‐altitude areas. In low‐altitude areas, temperature affected negatively the activity level throughout the study period. Conversely, in high‐altitude areas, temperature affected activity level only in summer and early fall. Lower temperatures in higher altitudes favoured roe deer activity, resulting in roe deer's preference towards higher altitude areas. However, roe deer's movement toward lower altitudes was observed in summer. Reduced heat stress by changing activity pattern allowed them to access lower altitude areas with greater resource availability during summer. This study revealed how roe deer activity varied across seasons and altitudes, considering the interactions among weather, microclimate and resource availability. It provides insight into how montane species adapt to various climatic conditions, and this could have important implications for wildlife management and conservation efforts.
{"title":"Adaptive response of Siberian roe deer <i>Capreolus pygargus</i> to climate and altitude in the temperate forests of South Korea","authors":"Tae‐Kyung Eom, Jae‐Kang Lee, Dong‐Ho Lee, Hyeongyu Ko, Shin‐Jae Rhim","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01138","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding climatic effect on wildlife is essential to prediction and management of climate change's impact on the ecosystem. The climatic effect can interact with other environmental factors. This study was aimed to determine effects of climate and altitude on Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus activity in temperate forests of South Korea. We conducted camera trapping to investigate roe deer's activity level from spring to fall. Logistic regressions were used to determine effects of diel period, temperature, rain, and altitude on the activity level. A negative relationship was noted between temperature and the activity level due to thermoregulatory costs. Roe deer activity exhibited nocturnal and crepuscular patterns during summer and the other seasons, respectively, possibly due to heat stress in summer. In addition, the effect of temperature differed between high‐ and low‐altitude areas. In low‐altitude areas, temperature affected negatively the activity level throughout the study period. Conversely, in high‐altitude areas, temperature affected activity level only in summer and early fall. Lower temperatures in higher altitudes favoured roe deer activity, resulting in roe deer's preference towards higher altitude areas. However, roe deer's movement toward lower altitudes was observed in summer. Reduced heat stress by changing activity pattern allowed them to access lower altitude areas with greater resource availability during summer. This study revealed how roe deer activity varied across seasons and altitudes, considering the interactions among weather, microclimate and resource availability. It provides insight into how montane species adapt to various climatic conditions, and this could have important implications for wildlife management and conservation efforts.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"2015 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136359236","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}
Julie K. Young, Amanda M. Mast, James A. Walton, Torrey Rodgers, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Daniel R. Taylor, Karen E. Mock
Human–carnivore conflicts often involve the depredation of domestic livestock. These depredation events are rarely observed, yet mitigation typically involves identifying the species or individual involved for removal or relocation. We tested a molecular method to identify individuals involved in depredation events using mouth swabs to determine if prey DNA could be detected, and for how long. We fed mule deer Odocoileus hemionus meat to captive coyotes Canis latrans and swabbed their mouths at five predetermined intervals between 2–72 h after consumption of the deer meat. We assessed two different molecular forensic methods to analyze the saliva swabs: qPCR for species identification and microsatellites for individual prey identification. We found that qPCR analysis was highly effective, detecting the deer DNA in the coyote saliva for up to 72 h post‐deer consumption. Our results suggest that if an individual carnivore suspected of livestock depredation is captured within 72 h of a depredation incident, it is possible to confirm their potential involvement with a buccal swab and qPCR analysis. Utilizing this method could aid in more targeted and effective removal of individual problem carnivores as opposed to widespread removal of involved species.
{"title":"Straight from the coyote's mouth: genetic identification of prey through oral swabs of predators","authors":"Julie K. Young, Amanda M. Mast, James A. Walton, Torrey Rodgers, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Daniel R. Taylor, Karen E. Mock","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01155","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01155","url":null,"abstract":"Human–carnivore conflicts often involve the depredation of domestic livestock. These depredation events are rarely observed, yet mitigation typically involves identifying the species or individual involved for removal or relocation. We tested a molecular method to identify individuals involved in depredation events using mouth swabs to determine if prey DNA could be detected, and for how long. We fed mule deer Odocoileus hemionus meat to captive coyotes Canis latrans and swabbed their mouths at five predetermined intervals between 2–72 h after consumption of the deer meat. We assessed two different molecular forensic methods to analyze the saliva swabs: qPCR for species identification and microsatellites for individual prey identification. We found that qPCR analysis was highly effective, detecting the deer DNA in the coyote saliva for up to 72 h post‐deer consumption. Our results suggest that if an individual carnivore suspected of livestock depredation is captured within 72 h of a depredation incident, it is possible to confirm their potential involvement with a buccal swab and qPCR analysis. Utilizing this method could aid in more targeted and effective removal of individual problem carnivores as opposed to widespread removal of involved species.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136359521","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}
Elephant incursions into farms represent an important challenge for local communities and farmers living around protected areas, but also for the long‐term conservation of elephants. Early detection of elephants is a promising technique to reduce elephant presence in farms and human settlements reducing human–elephant interactions. In this study we investigated the potential of infrared barriers to detect African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana . We designed and tested battery‐operated photoelectric beam sensors in 12 locations of southern Tanzania and assessed the elephant detection accuracy through camera trapping for a total of 246 days. We obtained 1803 recordings of wildlife crossing the barriers range (30 different species of mammals and several bird and bat species). Our results show that infrared barriers, when located at 1.75–2.2 m high, detect 100% of adult elephants and ∼ 29% of subadult elephants. Giraffes were the only other wildlife species detected by the barriers. Interestingly, large vehicles were also detected, which might be helpful to prevent motorized poaching. Given the gregarious behaviour of elephant families, and the limited access for vehicles, infrared barriers may represent an interesting and cost‐effective detection system for early warning strategies in elephant‐dominated areas of Africa and Asia or for other large‐sized visitors.
{"title":"Infrared barriers as a detection tool to reduce human–elephant conflicts","authors":"María Montero‐Botey, Ramón Perea","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01124","url":null,"abstract":"Elephant incursions into farms represent an important challenge for local communities and farmers living around protected areas, but also for the long‐term conservation of elephants. Early detection of elephants is a promising technique to reduce elephant presence in farms and human settlements reducing human–elephant interactions. In this study we investigated the potential of infrared barriers to detect African savannah elephants Loxodonta africana . We designed and tested battery‐operated photoelectric beam sensors in 12 locations of southern Tanzania and assessed the elephant detection accuracy through camera trapping for a total of 246 days. We obtained 1803 recordings of wildlife crossing the barriers range (30 different species of mammals and several bird and bat species). Our results show that infrared barriers, when located at 1.75–2.2 m high, detect 100% of adult elephants and ∼ 29% of subadult elephants. Giraffes were the only other wildlife species detected by the barriers. Interestingly, large vehicles were also detected, which might be helpful to prevent motorized poaching. Given the gregarious behaviour of elephant families, and the limited access for vehicles, infrared barriers may represent an interesting and cost‐effective detection system for early warning strategies in elephant‐dominated areas of Africa and Asia or for other large‐sized visitors.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"77 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136359821","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}
Genetic sampling, especially high‐quality RNA from wild avian populations, is challenging in wildlife biology due to rapid RNA degradation. Although carcasses could be a potential RNA source, the optimal postmortem sampling time on the avian carcasses under field conditions remains unclear. Here, we carried out a field experiment on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) and evaluated the relationship between PMI and RNA degradation in three tissue types (muscle, brain, and liver) of the domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus carcasses. In the muscle and brain tissues, we found that the RNA Integrity Number (RIN) of samples collected within 60 h postmortem was more than 7.0, suggesting a high RNA extract quality. The following RNA‐seq experiment demonstrated that gene expression profiles of the samples collected within 36 h postmortem were comparable to those of fresh samples (i.e. 0 h), with a low percentage of differentially expressed genes (< 3.0%) observed between samples at 0 and 36 h postmortem. However, in the liver tissue, RNA samples already degraded at 12 h postmortem, showing low RIN values (< 7.0), different gene expression profiles from fresh samples, and a high percentage of differentially expressed genes (15.6%). Therefore, our study suggests that samples from muscle and brain tissues collected within 36 h postmortem are qualified for RNA‐seq analyses. In contrast, only the fresh RNA samples from liver tissue are qualified. Our study provides a practicable and efficient sampling strategy for the transcriptome study on avian populations under extreme environment such as the QTP.
{"title":"RNA sampling time on postmortem avian carcasses in the wild","authors":"Ziying Shao, Xian Hou, Yangkang Chen, Zhenzhen Lin, Xiangjiang Zhan","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01157","url":null,"abstract":"Genetic sampling, especially high‐quality RNA from wild avian populations, is challenging in wildlife biology due to rapid RNA degradation. Although carcasses could be a potential RNA source, the optimal postmortem sampling time on the avian carcasses under field conditions remains unclear. Here, we carried out a field experiment on the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) and evaluated the relationship between PMI and RNA degradation in three tissue types (muscle, brain, and liver) of the domestic chicken Gallus gallus domesticus carcasses. In the muscle and brain tissues, we found that the RNA Integrity Number (RIN) of samples collected within 60 h postmortem was more than 7.0, suggesting a high RNA extract quality. The following RNA‐seq experiment demonstrated that gene expression profiles of the samples collected within 36 h postmortem were comparable to those of fresh samples (i.e. 0 h), with a low percentage of differentially expressed genes (< 3.0%) observed between samples at 0 and 36 h postmortem. However, in the liver tissue, RNA samples already degraded at 12 h postmortem, showing low RIN values (< 7.0), different gene expression profiles from fresh samples, and a high percentage of differentially expressed genes (15.6%). Therefore, our study suggests that samples from muscle and brain tissues collected within 36 h postmortem are qualified for RNA‐seq analyses. In contrast, only the fresh RNA samples from liver tissue are qualified. Our study provides a practicable and efficient sampling strategy for the transcriptome study on avian populations under extreme environment such as the QTP.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135425373","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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