Reed April McKay, S. E. Johns, R. Bischof, Fiona Matthews, Jeroen van der Kooij, N. Yoh, K. Eldegard
Forest management rarely considers protecting bats in Fennoscandian regions although all species rely on forest habitat at some point in their annual cycle. This issue is especially evident as wind parks have increasingly been developed inside Fennoscandian forests, against the advice of international bat conservation guidelines. In this study, we aimed to describe and explain bat community dynamics at a Norwegian wind park located in a boreal forest, especially to understand potential avoidance or attraction effects. The bat community was sampled acoustically and described using foraging guilds (short, medium, and long‐range echolocators; SRE, MRE, LRE) as well as behavior (commuting, feeding and social calls). Sampling was undertaken at two locations per turbine: 1) the turbine pad and 2) a paired natural habitat at ground level, as well as from a meteorological tower. We used a recently developed method for camera trapping nocturnal flying insects synchronously with bat acoustic activity. Our results reveal trends in feeding and general bat activity across foraging guilds in relation to insect availability, habitat type, wind, temperature, and seasonality. We show how seasonal patterns in behavior across guilds were affected by habitat type, temperature, and wind. We found that SRE commuting and especially feeding activity was highest in natural habitats, whereas LRE overall activity at habitats more season dependent. We found that nocturnal insect availability was positively correlated with total bat feeding activity throughout the night. Our results provide evidence for both direct and indirect risks to bat communities by wind parks: SRE bat habitat is lost to wind energy infrastructure and LRE bat may have an increased risk of fatality. Our findings provide important insights on seasonal and spatial variability in bat activity, which can inform standardizing monitoring of bats acoustically in boreal forests, at wind parks, and in combination with non‐invasive insect monitoring.
{"title":"Wind energy development can lead to guild‐specific habitat loss in boreal forest bats","authors":"Reed April McKay, S. E. Johns, R. Bischof, Fiona Matthews, Jeroen van der Kooij, N. Yoh, K. Eldegard","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01168","url":null,"abstract":"Forest management rarely considers protecting bats in Fennoscandian regions although all species rely on forest habitat at some point in their annual cycle. This issue is especially evident as wind parks have increasingly been developed inside Fennoscandian forests, against the advice of international bat conservation guidelines. In this study, we aimed to describe and explain bat community dynamics at a Norwegian wind park located in a boreal forest, especially to understand potential avoidance or attraction effects. The bat community was sampled acoustically and described using foraging guilds (short, medium, and long‐range echolocators; SRE, MRE, LRE) as well as behavior (commuting, feeding and social calls). Sampling was undertaken at two locations per turbine: 1) the turbine pad and 2) a paired natural habitat at ground level, as well as from a meteorological tower. We used a recently developed method for camera trapping nocturnal flying insects synchronously with bat acoustic activity. Our results reveal trends in feeding and general bat activity across foraging guilds in relation to insect availability, habitat type, wind, temperature, and seasonality. We show how seasonal patterns in behavior across guilds were affected by habitat type, temperature, and wind. We found that SRE commuting and especially feeding activity was highest in natural habitats, whereas LRE overall activity at habitats more season dependent. We found that nocturnal insect availability was positively correlated with total bat feeding activity throughout the night. Our results provide evidence for both direct and indirect risks to bat communities by wind parks: SRE bat habitat is lost to wind energy infrastructure and LRE bat may have an increased risk of fatality. Our findings provide important insights on seasonal and spatial variability in bat activity, which can inform standardizing monitoring of bats acoustically in boreal forests, at wind parks, and in combination with non‐invasive insect monitoring.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139385731","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}
Biodiversity loss due to intensive timber production is a ubiquitous conservation issue across temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. Retention forestry, the retention of deadwood and old‐growth features within production forest, is one management strategy that has been implemented in various countries around the world to conserve a wide range of taxa within managed forests. The success and ecological implications of retention forestry are currently subject to intensive investigation and while some taxa like birds and insects have already been studied frequently, larger mammals have received less attention. Pine martens are one of the few larger mammals in central Europe preferring older forest and potentially profiting directly from deadwood retention as a consequence of implemented retention forestry. The goal of our study was to assess the response of European marten species to deadwood retention in montane mixed forests. Using marten detection rates from camera traps on 135 research plots we assessed the response of martens to deadwood at three different spatial scales using generalized linear mixed models. We found no effect of lying deadwood on marten detections at the plot scale (1 ha) or in a 10 m radius around the camera traps. However, we found a significant increase of marten detections if logs (> 10 cm in diameter) were directly in front and in view of the camera trap. Our results show that deadwood retention as a measure of retention forestry does affect microhabitat use of martens, but not stand selection during the growing season. Logs directly in view of the camera trap increase marten detection rates as martens choose to move and forage along fallen trees when they are available. When using camera trapping to collect data on martens, trap positioning in front of logs can heavily bias trapping results when unaccounted for.Keywords: beech marten, camera trapping, deadwood, logs, pine marten, retention forestry
{"title":"Lying deadwood retention affects microhabitat use of martens (Martes spp.) in European mountain forests","authors":"Sebastian Schwegmann, Ilse Storch","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01184","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01184","url":null,"abstract":"Biodiversity loss due to intensive timber production is a ubiquitous conservation issue across temperate and boreal forest ecosystems. Retention forestry, the retention of deadwood and old‐growth features within production forest, is one management strategy that has been implemented in various countries around the world to conserve a wide range of taxa within managed forests. The success and ecological implications of retention forestry are currently subject to intensive investigation and while some taxa like birds and insects have already been studied frequently, larger mammals have received less attention. Pine martens are one of the few larger mammals in central Europe preferring older forest and potentially profiting directly from deadwood retention as a consequence of implemented retention forestry. The goal of our study was to assess the response of European marten species to deadwood retention in montane mixed forests. Using marten detection rates from camera traps on 135 research plots we assessed the response of martens to deadwood at three different spatial scales using generalized linear mixed models. We found no effect of lying deadwood on marten detections at the plot scale (1 ha) or in a 10 m radius around the camera traps. However, we found a significant increase of marten detections if logs (> 10 cm in diameter) were directly in front and in view of the camera trap. Our results show that deadwood retention as a measure of retention forestry does affect microhabitat use of martens, but not stand selection during the growing season. Logs directly in view of the camera trap increase marten detection rates as martens choose to move and forage along fallen trees when they are available. When using camera trapping to collect data on martens, trap positioning in front of logs can heavily bias trapping results when unaccounted for.Keywords: beech marten, camera trapping, deadwood, logs, pine marten, retention forestry","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139157017","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. Delia Basanta, Julián A. Velasco, C. González‐Salazar
Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a major driver of amphibian decline worldwide. The global presence of Bd is driven by a synergy of factors, such as climate, species life history, and amphibian host susceptibility. Here, using a Bayesian data‐mining approach, we modeled the epidemiological landscape of Bd to evaluate how infection varies across several spatial, ecological, and phylogenetic scales. We compiled global information on Bd occurrence, climate, species ranges, and phylogenetic diversity to infer the potential distribution and prevalence of Bd. By calculating the degree of co‐distribution between Bd and our set of environmental and biological variables (e.g. climate and species), we identified the factors that could potentially be related to Bd presence and prevalence using a geographic correlation metric, epsilon (ε). We fitted five ecological models based on 1) amphibian species identity, 2) phylogenetic species variability values for a given species assemblage, 3) temperature, 4) precipitation and 5) all variables together. Our results extend the findings of previous studies by identifying the epidemiological landscape features of Bd. This ecological modeling framework allowed us to generate explicit spatial predictions for Bd prevalence at global scale and a ranked list of species with high/low probability of Bd presence. Our geographic model identified areas with high potential for Bd prevalence (potential Bd‐risk areas) and areas with low potential Bd prevalence as potential refuges (free Bd). At the amphibian assemblage level, we found non‐relationship with amphibian phylogenetic signals, but a significantly negative correlation between observed species richness and Bd prevalence indicated a potential dilution effect at the landscape scale. Our model may identify species and areas potentially susceptible and at risk for Bd presence, which could be used to prioritize regions for amphibian conservation efforts and to assess species and assemblage at risks.
{"title":"Epidemiological landscape of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and its impact on amphibian diversity at global scale","authors":"M. Delia Basanta, Julián A. Velasco, C. González‐Salazar","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01166","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01166","url":null,"abstract":"Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is a major driver of amphibian decline worldwide. The global presence of Bd is driven by a synergy of factors, such as climate, species life history, and amphibian host susceptibility. Here, using a Bayesian data‐mining approach, we modeled the epidemiological landscape of Bd to evaluate how infection varies across several spatial, ecological, and phylogenetic scales. We compiled global information on Bd occurrence, climate, species ranges, and phylogenetic diversity to infer the potential distribution and prevalence of Bd. By calculating the degree of co‐distribution between Bd and our set of environmental and biological variables (e.g. climate and species), we identified the factors that could potentially be related to Bd presence and prevalence using a geographic correlation metric, epsilon (ε). We fitted five ecological models based on 1) amphibian species identity, 2) phylogenetic species variability values for a given species assemblage, 3) temperature, 4) precipitation and 5) all variables together. Our results extend the findings of previous studies by identifying the epidemiological landscape features of Bd. This ecological modeling framework allowed us to generate explicit spatial predictions for Bd prevalence at global scale and a ranked list of species with high/low probability of Bd presence. Our geographic model identified areas with high potential for Bd prevalence (potential Bd‐risk areas) and areas with low potential Bd prevalence as potential refuges (free Bd). At the amphibian assemblage level, we found non‐relationship with amphibian phylogenetic signals, but a significantly negative correlation between observed species richness and Bd prevalence indicated a potential dilution effect at the landscape scale. Our model may identify species and areas potentially susceptible and at risk for Bd presence, which could be used to prioritize regions for amphibian conservation efforts and to assess species and assemblage at risks.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138951312","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}
Devin Edmonds, L. Adamovicz, M. Allender, A. Colton, Randy Nÿboer, M. Dreslik
Turtles and tortoises are among the most threatened vertebrate groups. Their life history is characterized by delayed sexual maturity and a long lifespan, making populations susceptible to decline following perturbations. Despite the urgent conservation need, we are missing estimates of basic demographic traits for many species and populations. The ornate box turtle Terrapene ornata is a species lacking crucial demographic data. Many populations are isolated in fragmented habitats, especially in the eastern portion of their range. We carried out long‐term capture–mark–recapture surveys on two isolated populations in northern Illinois to estimate population vital rates and project population persistence with deterministic stage‐based matrix models. Using 34 years of data, we estimated adult female survival = 0.974 (95% CI: 0.946–0.988) and juvenile survival = 0.867 (95% CI: 0.688–0.951) at our most intensively surveyed site. At a second site using eight years of data, we estimated adult female survival = 0.897 (95% CI: 0.783–0.954) and juvenile survival = 0.844 (95% CI: 0.551–0.960). Despite seemingly high annual survival rates, populations declined under population projections using mean vital rates. Population growth was most sensitive to adult survival, with increasing sensitivity under more pessimistic scenarios. Our results highlight the importance of long‐term demographic studies for threatened species and demonstrate protecting adult female ornate box turtles is critical for ensuring populations persist at the northern edge of their distribution.
{"title":"Evaluating population persistence of ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata) at the northeast edge of their distribution","authors":"Devin Edmonds, L. Adamovicz, M. Allender, A. Colton, Randy Nÿboer, M. Dreslik","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01183","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01183","url":null,"abstract":"Turtles and tortoises are among the most threatened vertebrate groups. Their life history is characterized by delayed sexual maturity and a long lifespan, making populations susceptible to decline following perturbations. Despite the urgent conservation need, we are missing estimates of basic demographic traits for many species and populations. The ornate box turtle Terrapene ornata is a species lacking crucial demographic data. Many populations are isolated in fragmented habitats, especially in the eastern portion of their range. We carried out long‐term capture–mark–recapture surveys on two isolated populations in northern Illinois to estimate population vital rates and project population persistence with deterministic stage‐based matrix models. Using 34 years of data, we estimated adult female survival = 0.974 (95% CI: 0.946–0.988) and juvenile survival = 0.867 (95% CI: 0.688–0.951) at our most intensively surveyed site. At a second site using eight years of data, we estimated adult female survival = 0.897 (95% CI: 0.783–0.954) and juvenile survival = 0.844 (95% CI: 0.551–0.960). Despite seemingly high annual survival rates, populations declined under population projections using mean vital rates. Population growth was most sensitive to adult survival, with increasing sensitivity under more pessimistic scenarios. Our results highlight the importance of long‐term demographic studies for threatened species and demonstrate protecting adult female ornate box turtles is critical for ensuring populations persist at the northern edge of their distribution.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138947993","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}
Supplemental feed for free‐ranging deer is often advocated by managers to compensate for winter survival. However, providing extra food has great costs so it is important to know how essential supplemental feed is for deer populations. In our study, supplemental feed is supplied year round for free‐ranging Père David's deer Elaphurus davidianus since early 2019 to help them survive food shortages in the Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve. To understand use of supplemental feed, we quantified the biomass contributions of C3 plants, C4 plants and supplemental feed consumed by free‐ranging deer by assessing their faecal carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values in May, July, October and December. The diet–faeces trophic shift of deer was assessed using semi‐captive animals. Faeces in both areas were collected and faecal δ13C values revealed more variable diets of free‐ranging deer than semi‐captive deer in different months. MixSIAR model showed that C4 plants contributed greatly to deer diet biomass (75.1, 82, 64.3, 79.4%, respectively in May, July, October and December) compared with C3 plants and supplemental feed. We suggest that managers should consider the efficiency of long‐term supplemental feed and consider the selection of C3 and C4 plants during restoration.
{"title":"Diet analysis of Père David's deer (Elaphurus davidianus) based on stable isotope analysis","authors":"Jingjing Zha, Yongbo Wu, Yuting An","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01136","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01136","url":null,"abstract":"Supplemental feed for free‐ranging deer is often advocated by managers to compensate for winter survival. However, providing extra food has great costs so it is important to know how essential supplemental feed is for deer populations. In our study, supplemental feed is supplied year round for free‐ranging Père David's deer Elaphurus davidianus since early 2019 to help them survive food shortages in the Jiangsu Dafeng Milu National Nature Reserve. To understand use of supplemental feed, we quantified the biomass contributions of C3 plants, C4 plants and supplemental feed consumed by free‐ranging deer by assessing their faecal carbon and nitrogen stable isotope values in May, July, October and December. The diet–faeces trophic shift of deer was assessed using semi‐captive animals. Faeces in both areas were collected and faecal δ13C values revealed more variable diets of free‐ranging deer than semi‐captive deer in different months. MixSIAR model showed that C4 plants contributed greatly to deer diet biomass (75.1, 82, 64.3, 79.4%, respectively in May, July, October and December) compared with C3 plants and supplemental feed. We suggest that managers should consider the efficiency of long‐term supplemental feed and consider the selection of C3 and C4 plants during restoration.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138977212","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}
Isla Botting, F. Ascensão, Laetitia M. Navarro, Maria Paniw, Zulima Tablado, Jacinto Román, E. Revilla, M. D’Amico
Linear infrastructure represent a barrier to movement for many species, reducing the connectivity of the landscapes in which they reside. Of all linear infrastructure, roads and fences are two of the most ubiquitous, and are understood to reduce landscape connectivity for wildlife. However, what is often neglected consideration is a holistic approach of modelling the effects of multiple types of linear infrastructure simultaneously. Few studies have examined this, typically assessing the impacts of a singular kind of infrastructure on landscape connectivity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to address the relative importance of considering multiple kinds of linear infrastructure in landscape connectivity modelling. We utilised presence data of red deer Cervus elaphus and wild boar Sus scrofa in Doñana Biosphere Reserve (Spain) to generate a sequential approach of scenarios of landscape connectivity; firstly only with environmental variables, secondly with roads as the sole infrastructure, thirdly with the addition of fences, and finally with the further addition of fences and wildlife road‐crossing structures. We found that the connectivity of the landscape was greatly affected by the addition of fences and wildlife road‐crossing structures in both species, with fences in particular causing considerable alterations to estimated movement pathways. Our finding impresses a need to consider multiple different types of linear infrastructure when modelling landscape connectivity to enable a more realistic view of wildlife movement and inform mitigation and conservation measures more accurately.
{"title":"The road to success and the fences to be crossed: considering multiple infrastructure in landscape connectivity modelling","authors":"Isla Botting, F. Ascensão, Laetitia M. Navarro, Maria Paniw, Zulima Tablado, Jacinto Román, E. Revilla, M. D’Amico","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01187","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01187","url":null,"abstract":"Linear infrastructure represent a barrier to movement for many species, reducing the connectivity of the landscapes in which they reside. Of all linear infrastructure, roads and fences are two of the most ubiquitous, and are understood to reduce landscape connectivity for wildlife. However, what is often neglected consideration is a holistic approach of modelling the effects of multiple types of linear infrastructure simultaneously. Few studies have examined this, typically assessing the impacts of a singular kind of infrastructure on landscape connectivity. Therefore, the aim of this study is to address the relative importance of considering multiple kinds of linear infrastructure in landscape connectivity modelling. We utilised presence data of red deer Cervus elaphus and wild boar Sus scrofa in Doñana Biosphere Reserve (Spain) to generate a sequential approach of scenarios of landscape connectivity; firstly only with environmental variables, secondly with roads as the sole infrastructure, thirdly with the addition of fences, and finally with the further addition of fences and wildlife road‐crossing structures. We found that the connectivity of the landscape was greatly affected by the addition of fences and wildlife road‐crossing structures in both species, with fences in particular causing considerable alterations to estimated movement pathways. Our finding impresses a need to consider multiple different types of linear infrastructure when modelling landscape connectivity to enable a more realistic view of wildlife movement and inform mitigation and conservation measures more accurately.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138587804","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}
G. Ausilio, H. Sand, C. Wikenros, M. Aronsson, Cyril Milleret, Kristoffer Nordli, Petter Wabakken, A. Eriksen, Jens Persson, Erling Maartmann, K. Mathisen, Barbara Zimmermann
Survival of juvenile ungulates represents an important demographic parameter that influences population dynamics within ecosystems. In many ecological systems, the mortality of juvenile ungulates is influenced by various factors, including predation by large carnivores, human hunting activities and weather. While wolves Canis lupus are known to prey on moose Alces alces throughout all seasons, brown bears Ursus arctos primarily engage in predation during early summer, while human harvest primarily occurs in autumn and early winter. Hence, understanding the impacts of predation, harvest, and weather on the survival of juvenile moose is crucial for adaptive population management and the determination of sustainable harvest rates. To investigate the summer and autumn–winter survival of moose calves in relation to carnivore occurrence (wolf presence and bear density), summer habitat productivity, winter severity, human harvest, and migratory behaviour (migratory versus resident), we analysed data collected from 39 GPS‐collared female moose in south‐central Scandinavia. Our findings revealed significant interannual variation in summer survival rates, with areas with relatively higher bear densities exhibiting calf mortality rates twice as high as those in regions with low bear density. During the autumn–winter period, calf survival was lowest in the presence of wolves and deep snow, and it exhibited a negative correlation with the proportion of clearcuts and young forests within the mother's home range. Additionally, calf survival was negatively correlated with the risk of human hunting, and calves of stationary females displayed ten times higher survival rates compared to migratory individuals. Our study provides valuable insights into the survival of moose calves coexisting with two large carnivores and humans. Improving our understanding of the mechanisms causing calf survival to fluctuate has become increasingly important as many local moose populations in Scandinavia are declining and exposed to expanding predator populations, intense hunting pressure, and other threats associated with climate change.
{"title":"Effects of large carnivores, hunter harvest, and weather on the mortality of moose calves in a partially migratory population","authors":"G. Ausilio, H. Sand, C. Wikenros, M. Aronsson, Cyril Milleret, Kristoffer Nordli, Petter Wabakken, A. Eriksen, Jens Persson, Erling Maartmann, K. Mathisen, Barbara Zimmermann","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01179","url":null,"abstract":"Survival of juvenile ungulates represents an important demographic parameter that influences population dynamics within ecosystems. In many ecological systems, the mortality of juvenile ungulates is influenced by various factors, including predation by large carnivores, human hunting activities and weather. While wolves Canis lupus are known to prey on moose Alces alces throughout all seasons, brown bears Ursus arctos primarily engage in predation during early summer, while human harvest primarily occurs in autumn and early winter. Hence, understanding the impacts of predation, harvest, and weather on the survival of juvenile moose is crucial for adaptive population management and the determination of sustainable harvest rates. To investigate the summer and autumn–winter survival of moose calves in relation to carnivore occurrence (wolf presence and bear density), summer habitat productivity, winter severity, human harvest, and migratory behaviour (migratory versus resident), we analysed data collected from 39 GPS‐collared female moose in south‐central Scandinavia. Our findings revealed significant interannual variation in summer survival rates, with areas with relatively higher bear densities exhibiting calf mortality rates twice as high as those in regions with low bear density. During the autumn–winter period, calf survival was lowest in the presence of wolves and deep snow, and it exhibited a negative correlation with the proportion of clearcuts and young forests within the mother's home range. Additionally, calf survival was negatively correlated with the risk of human hunting, and calves of stationary females displayed ten times higher survival rates compared to migratory individuals. Our study provides valuable insights into the survival of moose calves coexisting with two large carnivores and humans. Improving our understanding of the mechanisms causing calf survival to fluctuate has become increasingly important as many local moose populations in Scandinavia are declining and exposed to expanding predator populations, intense hunting pressure, and other threats associated with climate change.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2023-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139268151","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}
Habitat selection analyses conducted at an individual level may reveal patterns in selection not apparent when individuals are pooled in population‐level approaches. Using GPS transmitters that gather high‐resolution location data, we explored fine‐scale habitat selection and space use within home ranges of female greater sage‐grouse Centrocercus urophasianus that raised young (brood‐rearing sage‐grouse) in an oil and gas development area. To evaluate fine‐scale habitat selection of brood‐rearing sage‐grouse we used a two‐stage approach. First, we developed models for each individual (i.e. individual‐level modeling) and evaluated individual‐level responses to modified habitats and infrastructure. Second, we averaged individual‐level estimates using a bootstrap approach to make population‐level inference. The average home range size during brood‐rearing in our study, from nest hatch to six weeks, was 0.85 ± 0.21 km 2 . Individual and population‐level results indicated that brood‐rearing females consistently selected for natural vegetation and avoided disturbed surfaces at a fine spatial scale. Our study area included substantial areas of recent (≤ 10 years) habitat reclamation which females also avoided. Visible power lines consistently led to avoidance behavior. In addition to consistent patterns of habitat selection, our individual models demonstrated variability and contrasting behaviors in how brood‐rearing females responded to specific infrastructure features and anthropogenic water bodies. At the population‐level anthropogenic water bodies were avoided but at the individual‐level the intensity of avoidance was variable among individuals. Individual variability was often explained by the age of the brood‐rearing female (first year or adult). First year females were more likely than adults to use habitats close to infrastructure and consistently established home ranges in areas with more surface disturbance and infrastructure when compared to adults. Our results provide new insights into fine‐scale habitat‐selection strategies used by female sage‐grouse with broods in an area where oil and gas infrastructure is widespread and cannot be avoided.
{"title":"Using individual‐based habitat selection analyses to understand the nuances of habitat use in an anthropogenic landscape: a case study using greater sage‐grouse trying to raise young in an oil and gas field","authors":"Christopher P. Kirol, Bradley C. Fedy","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01111","url":null,"abstract":"Habitat selection analyses conducted at an individual level may reveal patterns in selection not apparent when individuals are pooled in population‐level approaches. Using GPS transmitters that gather high‐resolution location data, we explored fine‐scale habitat selection and space use within home ranges of female greater sage‐grouse Centrocercus urophasianus that raised young (brood‐rearing sage‐grouse) in an oil and gas development area. To evaluate fine‐scale habitat selection of brood‐rearing sage‐grouse we used a two‐stage approach. First, we developed models for each individual (i.e. individual‐level modeling) and evaluated individual‐level responses to modified habitats and infrastructure. Second, we averaged individual‐level estimates using a bootstrap approach to make population‐level inference. The average home range size during brood‐rearing in our study, from nest hatch to six weeks, was 0.85 ± 0.21 km 2 . Individual and population‐level results indicated that brood‐rearing females consistently selected for natural vegetation and avoided disturbed surfaces at a fine spatial scale. Our study area included substantial areas of recent (≤ 10 years) habitat reclamation which females also avoided. Visible power lines consistently led to avoidance behavior. In addition to consistent patterns of habitat selection, our individual models demonstrated variability and contrasting behaviors in how brood‐rearing females responded to specific infrastructure features and anthropogenic water bodies. At the population‐level anthropogenic water bodies were avoided but at the individual‐level the intensity of avoidance was variable among individuals. Individual variability was often explained by the age of the brood‐rearing female (first year or adult). First year females were more likely than adults to use habitats close to infrastructure and consistently established home ranges in areas with more surface disturbance and infrastructure when compared to adults. Our results provide new insights into fine‐scale habitat‐selection strategies used by female sage‐grouse with broods in an area where oil and gas infrastructure is widespread and cannot be avoided.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135240941","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}
Edvárd Mizsei, Mátyás Budai, Bálint Wenner, Gergő Rák, Dávid Radovics, Barnabás Bancsik, Gergő Kovács, Ádám Tisza, János Simics, Márton Szabolcs, Csaba Vadász, Attila Móré
The Hungarian meadow viper is an endangered grassland‐dwelling species, which faces high predation pressure, partially due to avian species that forage in its habitat. Predation pressure by avian predators is caused not only by abundant game species (e.g. hooded crow, Corvus cornix ) but also by protected and threatened species (e.g. short‐toed eagle, Cricaetus gallicus ; common buzzard, Buteo buteo ; roller, Coracias garrulus ) in the project area (Felső‐kiskunsági turjánvidék, Hungary). Mark–recapture data of a reintroduced viper population showed a very low, 42% yearly average apparent survival rate. To establish a strong sub‐population we applied anti‐predator netting (APN) by building a 200 × 200 × 3 m (4 ha) totally closed exclusion site with a mesh net, lateral sides boosted with a 1 m high steel field fence to exclude mammals as well as birds. To test the effect of APN we monitored viper occupancy at 50 × 50 m sampling plots in a before–after/control–intervention (BACI) design, where we randomly placed quadrats 0.25 ha (50 × 50 m) to be surveyed, n = 26 at control habitats and n = 4 below the APN enclosure. We collected data across four years (2020–2023), in each year during the spring by 10 surveys replicates in each plot resulting in 1200 surveys to record viper detection/non‐detection data. We applied a multi‐season occupancy model to estimate site occupancy changes to test the effects of the BACI design. Occupancy probabilities were increasing during the four consecutive survey years in both the control and the intervention sites, however except for the initial occupancy, the occupancy probability became significantly higher at APN sites, and the APN intervention had a significant positive effect on viper occupancy, while the distance to APN showed negative effect. Predator exclusion is an effective method to minimise predation pressure and potentially has a deterministic positive demographic outcome, however, due to the high logistical and maintenance costs, this measure can be applied at only a few sites.
{"title":"Before‐after‐control‐impact field experiment shows anti‐predator netting enhances occupancy of the threatened Hungarian meadow viper (<i>Vipera ursinii rakosiensis</i>)","authors":"Edvárd Mizsei, Mátyás Budai, Bálint Wenner, Gergő Rák, Dávid Radovics, Barnabás Bancsik, Gergő Kovács, Ádám Tisza, János Simics, Márton Szabolcs, Csaba Vadász, Attila Móré","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01147","url":null,"abstract":"The Hungarian meadow viper is an endangered grassland‐dwelling species, which faces high predation pressure, partially due to avian species that forage in its habitat. Predation pressure by avian predators is caused not only by abundant game species (e.g. hooded crow, Corvus cornix ) but also by protected and threatened species (e.g. short‐toed eagle, Cricaetus gallicus ; common buzzard, Buteo buteo ; roller, Coracias garrulus ) in the project area (Felső‐kiskunsági turjánvidék, Hungary). Mark–recapture data of a reintroduced viper population showed a very low, 42% yearly average apparent survival rate. To establish a strong sub‐population we applied anti‐predator netting (APN) by building a 200 × 200 × 3 m (4 ha) totally closed exclusion site with a mesh net, lateral sides boosted with a 1 m high steel field fence to exclude mammals as well as birds. To test the effect of APN we monitored viper occupancy at 50 × 50 m sampling plots in a before–after/control–intervention (BACI) design, where we randomly placed quadrats 0.25 ha (50 × 50 m) to be surveyed, n = 26 at control habitats and n = 4 below the APN enclosure. We collected data across four years (2020–2023), in each year during the spring by 10 surveys replicates in each plot resulting in 1200 surveys to record viper detection/non‐detection data. We applied a multi‐season occupancy model to estimate site occupancy changes to test the effects of the BACI design. Occupancy probabilities were increasing during the four consecutive survey years in both the control and the intervention sites, however except for the initial occupancy, the occupancy probability became significantly higher at APN sites, and the APN intervention had a significant positive effect on viper occupancy, while the distance to APN showed negative effect. Predator exclusion is an effective method to minimise predation pressure and potentially has a deterministic positive demographic outcome, however, due to the high logistical and maintenance costs, this measure can be applied at only a few sites.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135684690","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}
Aglissi Janvier, Sogbohossou Etotépé Aïkpémi, Bauer Hans
The civil war in Côte d'Ivoire led to a hike in human disturbances and the extirpation of African lion Panthera leo from the Comoé National Park (CNP). After the war, many efforts have been made to restore this ecosystem and management is considering the reintroduction of lions. In a participatory management with people at the center of conservation, there is a need to discuss with communities the initiatives affecting their livelihoods. We assessed the acceptance of lion reintroduction by the local communities; through semi‐structured questionnaires to 307 volunteer participants in surrounding 23 villages. Most respondents had knowledge of lions from CNP (93%, n = 286). A generalized linear model (GLM) revealed that sex, profession, perceived benefits and risks, and an appreciation of the current management system are the main significant determinants for the acceptance of lion reintroduction in CNP. A large majority (73%, n = 223) were in favor of the lion reintroduction with significant variance among socio‐professional categories. The majority of respondents (81%, n = 250) acknowledged having coexisted with lions, with previous lion conflicts reported by 20% (n = 61), and a willingness to coexist in future by 74% (n = 227). More than 84% (n = 260) believed that there would be benefits associated with lion reintroduction to CNP and 53% (n = 162) believed that the potential benefits would be greater than the possible risks associated with lions. Most respondents (88%; n = 270) confirmed the possibility of taking precautions to prevent future lion attacks. While only 42% (n = 129) of respondents felt that current management was participatory, most of them felt that it was acceptable (83%; n = 254). Our data shows a large degree of lion support, positive perceptions and willingness to coexist with lion in future. These results form part of a fundamental step in the direction for ethical reintroduction, as described by the IUCN reintroduction specialist group. We recommend the improvement of the involvement of indigenous communities in potential reintroduction of lions, especially the pastoralists, and the sharing of any associated benefits.
{"title":"Community perspectives on the prospect of lion (<i>Panthera leo</i>) reintroduction to Comoé National Park, Côte d'Ivoire (West Africa)","authors":"Aglissi Janvier, Sogbohossou Etotépé Aïkpémi, Bauer Hans","doi":"10.1002/wlb3.01116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/wlb3.01116","url":null,"abstract":"The civil war in Côte d'Ivoire led to a hike in human disturbances and the extirpation of African lion Panthera leo from the Comoé National Park (CNP). After the war, many efforts have been made to restore this ecosystem and management is considering the reintroduction of lions. In a participatory management with people at the center of conservation, there is a need to discuss with communities the initiatives affecting their livelihoods. We assessed the acceptance of lion reintroduction by the local communities; through semi‐structured questionnaires to 307 volunteer participants in surrounding 23 villages. Most respondents had knowledge of lions from CNP (93%, n = 286). A generalized linear model (GLM) revealed that sex, profession, perceived benefits and risks, and an appreciation of the current management system are the main significant determinants for the acceptance of lion reintroduction in CNP. A large majority (73%, n = 223) were in favor of the lion reintroduction with significant variance among socio‐professional categories. The majority of respondents (81%, n = 250) acknowledged having coexisted with lions, with previous lion conflicts reported by 20% (n = 61), and a willingness to coexist in future by 74% (n = 227). More than 84% (n = 260) believed that there would be benefits associated with lion reintroduction to CNP and 53% (n = 162) believed that the potential benefits would be greater than the possible risks associated with lions. Most respondents (88%; n = 270) confirmed the possibility of taking precautions to prevent future lion attacks. While only 42% (n = 129) of respondents felt that current management was participatory, most of them felt that it was acceptable (83%; n = 254). Our data shows a large degree of lion support, positive perceptions and willingness to coexist with lion in future. These results form part of a fundamental step in the direction for ethical reintroduction, as described by the IUCN reintroduction specialist group. We recommend the improvement of the involvement of indigenous communities in potential reintroduction of lions, especially the pastoralists, and the sharing of any associated benefits.","PeriodicalId":54405,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Biology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135681976","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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