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Berigan LA, Aulicky CSH, Teige EC, Sullins DS, Fricke KA, Reitz JH, Rossi LG, Schultz KA, Rice MB, Tanner E, Fuhlendorf SD, Haukos DA. Lesser prairie-chicken dispersal after translocation: Implications for restoration and population connectivity. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10871. [PMID: 38304269 PMCID: PMC10828740 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Conservation translocations are frequently inhibited by extensive dispersal after release, which can expose animals to dispersal-related mortality or Allee effects due to a lack of nearby conspecifics. However, translocation-induced dispersals also provide opportunities to study how animals move across a novel landscape, and how their movements are influenced by landscape configuration and anthropogenic features. Translocation among populations is considered a potential conservation strategy for lesser prairie-chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus). We determined the influence of release area on dispersal frequency by translocated lesser prairie-chickens and measured how lesser prairie-chickens move through grassland landscapes through avoidance of anthropogenic features during their dispersal movements. We translocated 411 lesser prairie-chickens from northwest Kansas to southeastern Colorado and southwestern Kansas in 2016-2019. We used satellite GPS transmitters to track 115 lesser prairie-chickens throughout their post-release dispersal movements. We found that almost all lesser prairie-chickens that survived from their spring release date until June undergo post-translocation dispersal, and there was little variation in dispersal frequency by release area (96% of all tracked birds, 100% in Baca County, Colorado, 94% in Morton County, Kansas, n = 55). Dispersal movements (male: 103 ± 73 km, female: 175 ± 108 km, n = 62) led to diffusion across landscapes, with 69% of birds settling >5 km from their release site. During dispersal movements, translocated lesser prairie-chickens usually travel by a single 3.75 ± 4.95 km dispersal flight per day, selecting for steps that end far from roads and in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands. Due to this "stepping stone" method of transit, landscape connectivity is optimized when <5 km separates grassland patches on the landscape. Future persistence of lesser prairie-chicken populations can be aided through conservation of habitat and strategic placement of CRP to maximize habitat connectivity. Dispersal rates suggest that translocation is better suited to objectives for regional, rather than site-specific, population augmentation for this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam A. Berigan
- Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of BiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
| | - Carly S. H. Aulicky
- Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of BiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
- Present address:
Native Prairies Association of TexasSan MarcosTexasUSA
| | - Elisabeth C. Teige
- Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of BiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
| | - Daniel S. Sullins
- Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Division of BiologyKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
- Present address:
Department of Horticulture and Natural ResourcesKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
| | | | | | - Liza G. Rossi
- Colorado Parks and WildlifeSteamboat SpringsColoradoUSA
| | | | - Mindy B. Rice
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Wildlife Refuge SystemFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Evan Tanner
- Department of Rangeland and Wildlife Sciences, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research InstituteTexas A&M UniversityKingsvilleTexasUSA
| | - Samuel D. Fuhlendorf
- Natural Resource Ecology & ManagementOklahoma State UniversityStillwaterOklahomaUSA
| | - David A. Haukos
- U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitKansas State UniversityManhattanKansasUSA
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Smith MM, Erb JD, Pauli JN. Reciprocated competition between two forest carnivores drives dietary specialization. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:1695-1706. [PMID: 37282830 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Competition shapes animal communities, but the strength of the interaction varies spatially depending on the availability and aggregation of resources and competitors. Among carnivores, competition is particularly pronounced with the strongest interactions between similar species with intermediate differences in body size. While ecologists have emphasized interference competition among carnivores based on dominance hierarchies from body size (smaller = subordinate; larger = dominant), the reciprocity of exploitative competition from subordinate species has been overlooked even though efficient exploitation can limit resource availability and influence foraging. Across North America, fishers Pekania pennanti and martens (Martes spp.) are two phylogenetically related forest carnivores that exhibit a high degree of overlap in habitat use and diet and differ in body size by a factor of 2-5×, eliciting particularly strong interspecific competition. In the Great Lakes region, fishers and martens occur both allopatrically and sympatrically; where they co-occur, the numerically dominant species varies spatially. This natural variation in competitors and environmental conditions enables comparisons to understand how interference and exploitative competition alter dietary niche overlap and foraging strategies. We analysed stable isotopes (δ13 C and δ15 N) from 317 martens and 132 fishers, as well as dietary items (n = 629) from 20 different genera, to compare niche size and overlap. We then quantified individual diet specialization and modelled the response to environmental conditions that were hypothesized to influence individual foraging. Martens and fishers exhibited high overlap in both available and core isotopic δ-space, but no overlap of core dietary proportions. When the competitor was absent or rare, both martens and fishers consumed more smaller-bodied prey. Notably, the dominant fisher switched from being a specialist of larger to smaller prey in the absence of the subordinate marten. Environmental context also influenced dietary specialization: increasing land cover diversity and prey abundance reduced specialization in martens whereas vegetation productivity increased specialization for both martens and fishers. Despite an important dominance hierarchy, fishers adjusted their niche in the face of a subordinate, but superior, exploitative competitor. These findings highlight the underappreciated role of the subordinate competitor in shaping the dietary niche of a dominant competitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M Smith
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John D Erb
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jonathan N Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Peltier TR, Shiratsuru S, Zuckerberg B, Romanski M, Potvin L, Edwards A, Gilbert JH, Aldred TR, Dassow A, Pauli JN. Phenotypic variation in the molt characteristics of a seasonal coat color-changing species reveals limited resilience to climate change. Oecologia 2023; 202:69-82. [PMID: 37165146 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05371-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) possesses a broad suite of adaptations to winter, including a seasonal coat color molt. Recently, climate change has been implicated in the range contraction of snowshoe hares along the southern range boundary. With shortening snow season duration, snowshoe hares are experiencing increased camouflage mismatch with their environment reducing survival. Phenological variation of hare molt at regional scales could facilitate local adaptation in the face of climate change, but the level of variation, especially along the southern range boundary, is unknown. Using a network of trail cameras and historical museum specimens, we (1) developed contemporary and historical molt phenology curves in the Upper Great Lakes region, USA, (2) calculated molt rate and variability in and among populations, and (3) quantified the relationship of molt characteristics to environmental conditions for snowshoe hares across North America. We found that snowshoe hares across the region exhibited similar fall and spring molt phenologies, rates and variation. Yet, an insular island population of hares on Isle Royale National Park, MI, completed their molt a week earlier in the fall and initiated molt almost 2 weeks later in the spring as well as exhibited slower rates of molting in the fall season compared to the mainland. Over the last 100 years, snowshoe hares across the region have not shifted in fall molt timing; though contemporary spring molt appears to have advanced by 17 days (~ 4 days per decade) compared to historical molt phenology. Our research indicates that some variation in molt phenology exists for snowshoe hares in the Upper Great Lakes region, but whether this variation is enough to offset the consequences of climate change remains to be seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor R Peltier
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - Shotaro Shiratsuru
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Benjamin Zuckerberg
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
| | - Mark Romanski
- National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Lynette Potvin
- National Park Service, Isle Royale National Park, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA
| | - Andrew Edwards
- Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Bayfield, WI, 54814, USA
| | | | - Tanya R Aldred
- Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Odanah, WI, 54861, USA
| | - Ann Dassow
- United States Forest Service, Medford, WI, 54451, USA
| | - Jonathan N Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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Recent Changes in Genetic Diversity, Structure, and Gene Flow in a Passerine Experiencing a Rapid Population Decline, the Dupont’s Lark (Chersophilus duponti). DIVERSITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/d14121120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Monitoring temporal dynamics in genetic diversity is of great importance for conservation, especially for threatened species that are suffering a rapid population decline and increased fragmentation. Here, we investigate temporal variation in genetic diversity, structure, and gene flow in the Dupont’s lark (Chersophilus duponti) across most of its range. This species shows increasing levels of population fragmentation, substantial population declines, and severe range contraction, so temporal losses of genetic diversity, increasing differentiation, and decreasing gene flow are expected when comparing present day data with previous situations. To address this, we resampled sites (nine regions in two countries) after 12–15 years (five-to-seven generations) and assessed changes in genetic parameters using 11 microsatellite markers. We found no substantial loss in genetic diversity over time at the species level, but we detected considerable variation among regions in the amount of allelic diversity and heterozygosity lost over time. Temporal variation in allele frequencies (common, rare, and private alleles), and changes in genetic differentiation and gene flow over time suggest a major role of connectivity for the stability of the overall metapopulation. Our results agree with the hypothesis that connectivity rescues genetic diversity via immigration and gene flow. However, evidence of recent genetic bottleneck and the substantial changes detected in some regions are clear signs of genetic erosion and may be signalling a rapid decline of the populations. Urgent actions must be carried out to stop and reverse human impacts on this threatened lark and its habitat.
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Martin ME, Delheimer MS, Moriarty KM, Early DA, Hamm KA, Pauli JN, Mcdonald TL, Manley PN. Conservation of rare and cryptic species: Challenges of uncertainty and opportunities for progress. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marie E. Martin
- Oregon State University, Institute for Natural Resources Portland Oregon USA
| | - Matthew S. Delheimer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
| | - Katie M. Moriarty
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. Corvallis Oregon USA
| | | | - Keith A. Hamm
- Green Diamond Resource Company Korbel California USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Patricia N. Manley
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station Placerville California USA
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Smith MM, Erb JD, Pauli JN. Seasonality drives the survival landscape of a recovering forest carnivore in a changing world. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20220833. [PMID: 35892213 PMCID: PMC9326265 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ecological heterogeneity promotes species persistence and diversity. Environmental change has, however, eroded patterns of heterogeneity globally, stifling species recovery. To test the effects of seasonal heterogeneity on a reintroduced carnivore, American martens (Martes americana), we compared metrics of local and season-specific heterogeneity to traditional forest metrics on the survival of 242 individuals across 8 years and predicted a survival landscape for 13 reintroduction sites. We found that heterogeneity-created by forest structure in the growing season and snow in the winter-improved survival and outperformed traditional forest metrics. Spatial variation in heterogeneity created a distinct survival landscape, but seasonal change in heterogeneity generated temporal discordance. All translocation sites possessed high forest heterogeneity but there were greater differences in winter heterogeneity; recovery sites with the poorest snow conditions had the lowest viability. Our work links heterogeneity across seasons to fitness and suggests that management strategies that increase seasonal aspects of heterogeneity may help to recover other sensitive species to continuing environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M. Smith
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John D. Erb
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA
| | - Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Pichler TR, Mallinger EC, Farmer MJ, Morrison MJ, Khadka B, Matzinger PJ, Kirschbaum A, Goodwin KR, Route WT, Van Stappen J, Van Deelen TR, Olson ER. Comparative biogeography of volant and nonvolant mammals in a temperate island archipelago. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor R. Pichler
- Department of Natural Resources Northland College Ashland Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Morgan J. Farmer
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Megan J. Morrison
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Bijit Khadka
- Department of Natural Resources Northland College Ashland Wisconsin USA
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Alan Kirschbaum
- National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Ashland Wisconsin USA
| | - Katy R. Goodwin
- National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Ashland Wisconsin USA
- Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo North Dakota USA
| | - William T. Route
- National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory and Monitoring Network Ashland Wisconsin USA
| | - Julie Van Stappen
- Planning and Resource Management Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Bayfield Wisconsin USA
| | - Timothy R. Van Deelen
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Erik R. Olson
- Department of Natural Resources Northland College Ashland Wisconsin USA
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Pauli JN, Manlick PJ, Tucker JM, Smith GB, Jensen PG, Fisher JT. Competitive overlap between martens
Martes americana
and
Martes caurina
and fishers
Pekania pennanti
: a rangewide perspective and synthesis. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan N. Pauli
- Department of Forest & Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison 1630 Linden Dr Madison WI53706USA
| | - Philip J. Manlick
- Department of Biology University of New Mexico 219 Yale Blvd NE Albuquerque NM87131USA
| | - Jody M. Tucker
- Pacific Southwest Region U.S.D.A. Forest Service 1323 Club Drive Vallejo CA94592USA
| | - G. Bradley Smith
- Department of Forest & Wildlife Ecology University of Wisconsin‐Madison 1630 Linden Dr Madison WI53706USA
- Pacific Southwest Region U.S.D.A. Forest Service 1323 Club Drive Vallejo CA94592USA
| | - Paul G. Jensen
- Division of Fish and Wildlife New York State Department of Environmental Conservation 1115 NYS Route 86 Ray Brook NY USA
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria PO Box 1700, STN CSC Victoria British ColumbiaV8W 2Y2Canada
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