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Kojola I, Hallikainen V, Nivala V, Heikkinen S, Tikkunen M, Huhta E, Ruha L, Pusenius J. Wolf attacks on hunting dogs are negatively related to prey abundance in Finland: an analysis at the wolf territory level. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-023-01652-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Abstract
Attacks by wolves (Canis lupus) on dogs (C. familiaris) presumably are motivated both by preying and elimination of potential competitors. Regardless of these alternative motivations in wolves, the risk of attacks might be higher when the density of primary prey is low. We examined how many dogs do territorial wolves in Finland kill in relation to the population density of the most abundant ungulates, moose (Alces alces), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Most attacks by wolves on dogs take place in hunting with dogs. The number of wolf-killed dogs was in highly significant negative relationship to the population density of white-tailed deer and to total ungulate biomass per unit area which is largely determined by the density of white-tailed deer. Our results indicate that abundant wild prey would decrease the risk at which wolves attack dogs. On the other side of the coin prevail two hard facts which wildlife managers had to take a notice. White-tailed deer, although a potential mitigator of wolf–human conflict, is an alien species and a partner in > 6000 traffic collisions annually in Finland. One factor that seemed to increase the risk of wolf attacks on dogs is the low ungulate density in regions where moose is the only remarkable ungulate prey. Higher moose densities could decrease the risk of attacks, but on the other hand, higher densities could increase the risk of serious traffic collisions and browsing damages in forests.
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Cullen JA, Attias N, Desbiez AL, Valle D. Biologging as an important tool to uncover behaviors of cryptic species: an analysis of giant armadillos ( Priodontes maximus). PeerJ 2023; 11:e14726. [PMID: 36691484 PMCID: PMC9864128 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in biologging have increased the understanding of how animals interact with their environment, especially for cryptic species. For example, giant armadillos (Priodontes maximus) are the largest extant species of armadillo but are rarely encountered due to their fossorial and nocturnal behavior. Through the analysis of speed, turning angles, and accelerometer activity counts, we estimated behavioral states, characterized activity budgets, and investigated the state-habitat associations exhibited by individuals monitored with GPS telemetry in the Brazilian Pantanal from 2019 to 2020. This methodology is proposed as a useful framework for the identification of priority habitat. Using the non-parametric Bayesian mixture model for movement (M3), we estimated four latent behavioral states that were named 'vigilance-excavation', 'local search', 'exploratory', and 'transit'. These states appeared to correspond with behavior near burrows or termite mounds, foraging, ranging, and rapid movements, respectively. The first and last hours of activity presented relatively high proportions of the vigilance-excavation state, while most of the activity period was dominated by local search and exploratory states. The vigilance-excavation state occurred more frequently in regions between forest and closed savannas, whereas local search was more likely in high proportions of closed savanna. Exploratory behavior probability increased in areas with high proportions of both forest and closed savanna. Our results establish a baseline for behavioral complexity, activity budgets, and habitat associations in a relatively pristine environment that can be used for future work to investigate anthropogenic impacts on giant armadillo behavior and fitness. The integration of accelerometer and GPS-derived movement data through our mixture model has the potential to become a powerful methodological approach for the conservation of other cryptic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Cullen
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States of America,School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Nina Attias
- Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil,Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
| | - Arnaud L.J. Desbiez
- Instituto de Conservação de Animais Silvestres (ICAS), Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil,Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ), Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil,Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Denis Valle
- School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America
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Eriksen A, Versluijs E, Fuchs B, Zimmermann B, Wabakken P, Ordiz A, Sunde P, Wikenros C, Sand H, Gillich B, Michler F, Nordli K, Carricondo-Sanchez D, Gorini L, Rieger S. A Standardized Method for Experimental Human Approach Trials on Wild Wolves. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.793307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As wolves recolonize areas of Europe ranging from moderate to high anthropogenic impact, fear of wolves is a recurring source of conflict. Shared tools for evaluating wolf responses to humans, and comparing such responses across their range, can be valuable. Experiments in which humans approach wild wolves can increase our understanding of how wolves respond to humans, facilitating human-wolf coexistence. We have developed the first standardized protocol for evaluating wolf responses to approaching humans using high-resolution GPS data, and tested it on wild wolves. We present a field protocol for experimentally approaching GPS-collared wolves, a descriptive comparison of two statistical methods for detecting a measurable flight response, a tutorial for identifying wolf flight initiation and resettling positions, and an evaluation of the method when reducing GPS positioning frequency. The field protocol, a data collection form, and the tutorial with R code for extracting flight parameters are provided. This protocol will facilitate studies of wolf responses to approaching humans, applicable at a local, national, and international level. Data compiled in a standardized way from multiple study areas can be used to quantify the variation in wolf responses to humans within and between populations, and in relation to predictors such as social status, landscape factors, or human population density, and to establish a baseline distribution of wolf response patterns given a number of known predictors. The variation in wolf responses can be used to assess the degree to which results can be generalized to areas where GPS studies are not feasible, e.g., for predicting the range of likely wolf behaviors, assessing the likelihood of wolf-human encounters, and complementing existing tools for evaluating reports of bold wolves. Showing how wolves respond to human encounters should help demystify the behavior of wild wolves toward humans in their shared habitat.
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Reshamwala HS, Bhattacharya A, Khan S, Shrotriya S, Lyngdoh SB, Goyal SP, Kanagaraj R, Habib B. Modeling Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Distribution of Wooly Wolf (Canis lupus chanco). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.815621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Central Asian wolves form a cohort within the wolf-dog clade known as the wooly wolf (Canis lupus chanco). These wolves are poorly studied and their current extent and distribution remain unknown. Apex predators already existing at higher elevations like wooly wolves can be severely affected by climate change because of the absence of suitable refuge. Concomitantly, in the era of Anthropocene, the change in land use land cover (LULC) is rapidly increasing. Even the most adaptable species occurring in human-dominated landscapes may fail to survive under the combined impact of both climate change and human pressure. We collected 3,776 presence locations of the wooly wolf across its range from published literature and compiled 39 predictor variables for species distribution modeling, which included anthropogenic factors, climatic, vegetation, and topographic features. We predicted the change in their distribution under different anthropogenic factors, climate change, and land-use land-cover change scenarios. Wolf showed affinity toward areas with low to moderately warm temperatures and higher precipitations. It showed negative relationships with forests and farmlands. Our future projections showed an expansion of wolf distribution and habitat suitability under the combined effects of future climate and LULC change. Myanmar and Russia had the introduction of high and medium suitability areas for the wooly wolf in future scenarios. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan showed the consistent loss in high suitability areas while Mongolia and Bhutan had the largest gain in high suitability areas. The study holds great significance for the protection and management of this species and also provides opportunities to explore the impact on associated species.
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Gurarie E, Bracis C, Brilliantova A, Kojola I, Suutarinen J, Ovaskainen O, Potluri S, Fagan WF. Spatial Memory Drives Foraging Strategies of Wolves, but in Highly Individual Ways. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.768478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of wild animals to navigate and survive in complex and dynamic environments depends on their ability to store relevant information and place it in a spatial context. Despite the centrality of spatial memory, and given our increasing ability to observe animal movements in the wild, it is perhaps surprising how difficult it is to demonstrate spatial memory empirically. We present a cognitive analysis of movements of several wolves (Canis lupus) in Finland during a summer period of intensive hunting and den-centered pup-rearing. We tracked several wolves in the field by visiting nearly all GPS locations outside the den, allowing us to identify the species, location and timing of nearly all prey killed. We then developed a model that assigns a spatially explicit value based on memory of predation success and territorial marking. The framework allows for estimation of multiple cognitive parameters, including temporal and spatial scales of memory. For most wolves, fitted memory-based models outperformed null models by 20 to 50% at predicting locations where wolves chose to forage. However, there was a high amount of individual variability among wolves in strength and even direction of responses to experiences. Some wolves tended to return to locations with recent predation success—following a strategy of foraging site fidelity—while others appeared to prefer a site switching strategy. These differences are possibly explained by variability in pack sizes, numbers of pups, and features of the territories. Our analysis points toward concrete strategies for incorporating spatial memory in the study of animal movements while providing nuanced insights into the behavioral strategies of individual predators.
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Kojola I, Hallikainen V, Heikkinen S, Forsman JT, Kukko T, Pusenius J, Antti P. Calf/female ratio and population dynamics of wild forest reindeer in relation to wolf and moose abundances in a managed European ecosystem. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259246. [PMID: 34965254 PMCID: PMC8716057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The alternative prey hypothesis describes the mechanism for apparent competition whereby the mortality of the secondary prey species increases (and population size decreases decreases) by the increased predation by the shared predator if the population size of the primary prey decreases. Apparent competition is a process where the abundance of two co-existing prey species are negatively associated because they share a mutual predator, which negatively affects the abundance of both prey Here, we examined whether alternative prey and/or apparent competition hypothesis can explain the population dynamics and reproductive output of the secondary prey, wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) in Finland, in a predator-prey community in which moose (Alces alces) is the primary prey and the wolf (Canis lupus) is the generalist predator. METHODS We examined a 22-year time series (1996-2017) to determine how the population size and the calf/female ratio of wild forest reindeer in Eastern Finland were related to the abundances of wolf and moose. Only moose population size was regulated by hunting. Summer predation of wolves on reindeer focuses on calves. We used least squares regression (GLS) models (for handling autocorrelated error structures and resulting pseudo-R2s) and generalized linear mixed (GLMs) models (for avoidance of negative predictions) to determine the relationships between abundances. We performed linear and general linear models for the calf/female ratio of reindeer. RESULTS AND SYNTHESIS The trends in reindeer population size and moose abundance were almost identical: an increase during the first years and then a decrease until the last years of our study period. Wolf population size in turn did not show long-term trends. Change in reindeer population size between consecutive winters was related positively to the calf/female ratio. The calf/female ratio was negatively related to wolf population size, but the reindeer population size was related to the wolf population only when moose abundance was entered as another independent variable. The wolf population was not related to moose abundance even though it is likely to consist the majority of the prey biomass. Because reindeer and moose populations were positively associated, our results seemed to support the alternative prey hypothesis more than the apparent competition hypothesis. However, these two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and the primary mechanism is difficult to distinguish as the system is heavily managed by moose hunting. The recovery of wild forest reindeer in eastern Finland probably requires ecosystem management involving both habitat restoration and control of species abundances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie, Rovaniemi, Finland
- * E-mail:
| | - Ville Hallikainen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Ounasjoentie, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Samuli Heikkinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paavo Havaksentie, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jukka T. Forsman
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paavo Havaksentie, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tuomas Kukko
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Survontie, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Jyrki Pusenius
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Yliopistonkatu, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Paasivaara Antti
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paavo Havaksentie, Oulu, Finland
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Lewis MA, Fagan WF, Auger-Méthé M, Frair J, Fryxell JM, Gros C, Gurarie E, Healy SD, Merkle JA. Learning and Animal Movement. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.681704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Integrating diverse concepts from animal behavior, movement ecology, and machine learning, we develop an overview of the ecology of learning and animal movement. Learning-based movement is clearly relevant to ecological problems, but the subject is rooted firmly in psychology, including a distinct terminology. We contrast this psychological origin of learning with the task-oriented perspective on learning that has emerged from the field of machine learning. We review conceptual frameworks that characterize the role of learning in movement, discuss emerging trends, and summarize recent developments in the analysis of movement data. We also discuss the relative advantages of different modeling approaches for exploring the learning-movement interface. We explore in depth how individual and social modalities of learning can matter to the ecology of animal movement, and highlight how diverse kinds of field studies, ranging from translocation efforts to manipulative experiments, can provide critical insight into the learning process in animal movement.
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8
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Petroelje TR, Kautz TM, Beyer DE, Belant JL. Interference competition between wolves and coyotes during variable prey abundance. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:1413-1431. [PMID: 33598141 PMCID: PMC7863399 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Interference competition occurs when two species have similar resource requirements and one species is dominant and can suppress or exclude the subordinate species. Wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (C. latrans) are sympatric across much of their range in North America where white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can be an important prey species. We assessed the extent of niche overlap between wolves and coyotes using activity, diet, and space use as evidence for interference competition during three periods related to the availability of white-tailed deer fawns in the Upper Great Lakes region of the USA. We assessed activity overlap (Δ) with data from accelerometers onboard global positioning system (GPS) collars worn by wolves (n = 11) and coyotes (n = 13). We analyzed wolf and coyote scat to estimate dietary breadth (B) and food niche overlap (α). We used resource utilization functions (RUFs) with canid GPS location data, white-tailed deer RUFs, ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) densities, and landscape covariates to compare population-level space use. Wolves and coyotes exhibited considerable overlap in activity (Δ = 0.86-0.92), diet (B = 3.1-4.9; α = 0.76-1.0), and space use of active and inactive RUFs across time periods. Coyotes relied less on deer as prey compared to wolves and consumed greater amounts of smaller prey items. Coyotes exhibited greater population-level variation in space use compared to wolves. Additionally, while active and inactive, coyotes exhibited greater selection of some land covers as compared to wolves. Our findings lend support for interference competition between wolves and coyotes with significant overlap across resource attributes examined. The mechanisms through which wolves and coyotes coexist appear to be driven largely by how coyotes, a generalist species, exploit narrow differences in resource availability and display greater population-level plasticity in resource use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler R Petroelje
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center College of Environmental Science and Forestry State University of New York Syracuse NY USA
| | - Todd M Kautz
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center College of Environmental Science and Forestry State University of New York Syracuse NY USA
| | - Dean E Beyer
- Wildlife Division Michigan Department of Natural Resources Marquette MI USA
| | - Jerrold L Belant
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center College of Environmental Science and Forestry State University of New York Syracuse NY USA
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9
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Ylitalo A, Heikkinen J, Kojola I. Analysis of central place foraging behaviour of wolves using hidden Markov models. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Juha Heikkinen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Helsinki Finland
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke) Rovaniemi Finland
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10
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Hill JE, DeVault TL, Belant JL. A review of ecological factors promoting road use by mammals. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob E. Hill
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY13210USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia PO Drawer E Aiken SC29802USA
| | - Travis L. DeVault
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia PO Drawer E Aiken SC29802USA
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY13210USA
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11
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Barry T, Gurarie E, Cheraghi F, Kojola I, Fagan WF. Does dispersal make the heart grow bolder? Avoidance of anthropogenic habitat elements across wolf life history. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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12
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Bojarska K, Sulich J, Bachmann S, Okarma H, Theuerkauf J, Gula R. Opportunity and peril: how wolves use a dense network of forest roads. Mamm Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-020-00014-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractWe investigated by snow tracking and GPS telemetry how wolves Canis lupus used a dense (4 km/km2) network of forest roads for travel and scent marking. Forty-six percent of wolf trails but only 4.6% of telemetry locations were on forest roads. Wolves used forest roads to travel fast and far across their home ranges but spent relatively little time on roads, especially on those with high traffic levels and during the time of highest human activity. The probability of scent marking was higher on roads than off-road and increased with traffic intensity on roads and close to junctions. Our findings suggest that wolves take advantage of the forest road infrastructure, while minimising human encounters by spatio-temporal avoidance of all roads, even those with negligible traffic. The ongoing expansion and improvements of the forest road network might lead to elevated costs for wolves associated with avoidance of humans and roads.
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13
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Melin M, Matala J, Pusenius J, Packalen T. Calving and post-calving habitat use of female moose in two contrasting landscapes. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Melin
- M. Melin (https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7290-9203) ✉
| | - Juho Matala
- J. Matala, J. Pusenius and T. Packalen, Natural Resources Institute Finland. Yliopistokatu 6b, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jyrki Pusenius
- J. Matala, J. Pusenius and T. Packalen, Natural Resources Institute Finland. Yliopistokatu 6b, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Tuula Packalen
- J. Matala, J. Pusenius and T. Packalen, Natural Resources Institute Finland. Yliopistokatu 6b, FI-80100 Joensuu, Finland
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Roadkill and space use data predict vehicle-strike hotspots and mortality rates in a recovering bobcat (Lynx rufus) population. Sci Rep 2019; 9:15391. [PMID: 31659182 PMCID: PMC6817856 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-50931-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Roadways pose challenges for conserving wide-ranging animal species. As bobcat (Lynx rufus) populations recover in Ohio, an accurate evaluation of population metrics is critical to understanding future population trajectories. In this study, we integrated multiple datasets to examine overall road mortality rates in Ohio. First, we utilized a long-term vehicle-strike dataset (1978–2017) to determine landscape and local predictors of road mortality. We found that bobcats were killed at higher rates on interstates regardless of surrounding landscape composition, but that landscape variables were useful at predicting mortality on lower-traffic roads. To explore road avoidance behaviors, we used GPS telemetry data from 18 individuals to compare road crossings along trajectory paths with random road crossings simulated using Correlated Random Walks. Bobcats exhibited avoidance of certain route types (county, municipal, and US routes). Finally, by integrating traffic volume data, road crossing behavior, and accounting for the proportion of each route type present in the study area, we estimated that a minimum of 6% and up to 18% of the bobcat population in Ohio is lost to vehicle-strikes annually. To fully understand the population level impacts of this mortality, we recommend further monitoring of age structure and sex of roadkill animals. Our results identify potential areas for mitigation of vehicle-strikes and emphasize the importance of accounting for road mortality when making management decisions for Ohio’s recovering bobcat population.
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15
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Mancinelli S, Falco M, Boitani L, Ciucci P. Social, behavioural and temporal components of wolf (
Canis lupus
) responses to anthropogenic landscape features in the central Apennines, Italy. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Mancinelli
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome Italy
| | - M. Falco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome Italy
| | - L. Boitani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome Italy
| | - P. Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome Italy
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16
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Spatial organization in wolves Canis lupus recolonizing north-west Poland: Large territories at low population density. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2018.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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17
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Isolating the roles of movement and reproduction on effective connectivity alters conservation priorities for an endangered bird. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:8591-8596. [PMID: 30082379 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1800183115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Movement is important for ecological and evolutionary theory as well as connectivity conservation, which is increasingly critical for species responding to environmental change. Key ecological and evolutionary outcomes of movement, such as population growth and gene flow, require effective dispersal: movement that is followed by successful reproduction. However, the relative roles of movement and postmovement reproduction for effective dispersal and connectivity remain unclear. Here we isolate the contributions of movement and immigrant reproduction to effective dispersal and connectivity across the entire breeding range of an endangered raptor, the snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus). To do so, we unite mark-resight data on movement and reproduction across 9 years and 27 breeding patches with an integrated model that decomposes effective dispersal into its hierarchical levels of movement, postmovement breeding attempt, and postmovement reproductive success. We found that immigrant reproduction limits effective dispersal more than movement for this endangered species, demonstrating that even highly mobile species may have limited effective connectivity due to reduced immigrant reproduction. We found different environmental limitations for the reproductive component of effective dispersal compared with movement, indicating that different conservation strategies may be needed when promoting effective dispersal rather than movement alone. We also demonstrate that considering immigrant reproduction, rather than movement alone, alters which patches are the most essential for connectivity, thereby changing conservation priorities. These results challenge the assumption that understanding movement alone is sufficient to infer connectivity and highlight that connectivity conservation may require not only fostering movement but also successful reproduction of immigrants.
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Zurell D, von Wehrden H, Rotics S, Kaatz M, Groß H, Schlag L, Schäfer M, Sapir N, Turjeman S, Wikelski M, Nathan R, Jeltsch F. Home Range Size and Resource Use of Breeding and Non-breeding White Storks Along a Land Use Gradient. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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19
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Barocas A, Hefner R, Ucko M, Merkle JA, Geffen E. Behavioral adaptations of a large carnivore to human activity in an extremely arid landscape. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Barocas
- San Diego Zoo's Institute for Conservation Research; Escondido CA USA
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Tubney Abingdon UK
| | - R. Hefner
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority; Southern District; Beer Sheva Israel
| | - M. Ucko
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research Institute; National Center for Mariculture; Eilat Israel
| | - J. A. Merkle
- Department of Zoology and Physiology; University of Wyoming; Laramie WY USA
| | - E. Geffen
- Department of Zoology; Tel Aviv University; Tel Aviv Israel
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Granroth-Wilding H, Primmer C, Lindqvist M, Poutanen J, Thalmann O, Aspi J, Harmoinen J, Kojola I, Laaksonen T. Non-invasive genetic monitoring involving citizen science enables reconstruction of current pack dynamics in a re-establishing wolf population. BMC Ecol 2017; 17:44. [PMID: 29258497 PMCID: PMC5738207 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-017-0154-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Carnivores are re-establishing in many human-populated areas, where their presence is often contentious. Reaching consensus on management decisions is often hampered by a dispute over the size of the local carnivore population. Understanding the reproductive dynamics and individual movements of the carnivores can provide support for management decisions, but individual-level information can be difficult to obtain from elusive, wide-ranging species. Non-invasive genetic sampling can yield such information, but makes subsequent reconstruction of population history challenging due to incomplete population coverage and error-prone data. Here, we combine a collaborative, volunteer-based sampling scheme with Bayesian pedigree reconstruction to describe the pack dynamics of an establishing grey wolf (Canis lupus) population in south-west Finland, where wolf breeding was recorded in 2006 for the first time in over a century. Results Using DNA extracted mainly from faeces collected since 2008, we identified 81 individual wolves and assigned credible full parentages to 70 of these and partial parentages to a further 9, revealing 7 breeding pairs. Individuals used a range of strategies to obtain breeding opportunities, including dispersal to established or new packs, long-distance migration and inheriting breeding roles. Gene flow occurred between all packs but inbreeding events were rare. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that characterizing ongoing pack dynamics can provide detailed, locally-relevant insight into the ecology of contentious species such as the wolf. Involving various stakeholders in data collection makes these results more likely to be accepted as unbiased and hence reliable grounds for management decisions. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-017-0154-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Granroth-Wilding
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland. .,Ecology & Evolution Division, Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Craig Primmer
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Biosciences & Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Meri Lindqvist
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Biosciences & Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jenni Poutanen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Olaf Thalmann
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.,Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Metabolic Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Jouni Aspi
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jenni Harmoinen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Toni Laaksonen
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
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Kabir M, Hameed S, Ali H, Bosso L, Din JU, Bischof R, Redpath S, Nawaz MA. Habitat suitability and movement corridors of grey wolf (Canis lupus) in Northern Pakistan. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0187027. [PMID: 29121089 PMCID: PMC5679527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat suitability models are useful to understand species distribution and to guide management and conservation strategies. The grey wolf (Canis lupus) has been extirpated from most of its historic range in Pakistan primarily due to its impact on livestock and livelihoods. We used non-invasive survey data from camera traps and genetic sampling to develop a habitat suitability model for C. lupus in northern Pakistan and to explore the extent of connectivity among populations. We detected suitable habitat of grey wolf using a maximum entropy approach (Maxent ver. 3.4.0) and identified suitable movement corridors using the Circuitscape 4.0 tool. Our model showed high levels of predictive performances, as seen from the values of area under curve (0.971±0.002) and true skill statistics (0.886±0.021). The main predictors for habitat suitability for C. lupus were distances to road, mean temperature of the wettest quarter and distance to river. The model predicted ca. 23,129 km2 of suitable areas for wolf in Pakistan, with much of suitable habitat in remote and inaccessible areas that appeared to be well connected through vulnerable movement corridors. These movement corridors suggest that potentially the wolf range can expand in Pakistan's Northern Areas. However, managing protected areas with stringent restrictions is challenging in northern Pakistan, in part due to heavy dependence of people on natural resources. The habitat suitability map provided by this study can inform future management strategies by helping authorities to identify key conservation areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Kabir
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shoaib Hameed
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Hussain Ali
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Luciano Bosso
- Wildlife Research Unit, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Universita n. 100, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Jaffar Ud Din
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - Steve Redpath
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Muhammad Ali Nawaz
- Carnivore Conservation Lab, Department of Animal Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
- Snow Leopard Trust, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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Kittle AM, Anderson M, Avgar T, Baker JA, Brown GS, Hagens J, Iwachewski E, Moffatt S, Mosser A, Patterson BR, Reid DEB, Rodgers AR, Shuter J, Street GM, Thompson ID, Vander Vennen LM, Fryxell JM. Landscape‐level wolf space use is correlated with prey abundance, ease of mobility, and the distribution of prey habitat. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Kittle
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Morgan Anderson
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - James A. Baker
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Glen S. Brown
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry 1235 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie Ontario P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Jevon Hagens
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Ed Iwachewski
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Scott Moffatt
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Anna Mosser
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Brent R. Patterson
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Wildlife Research and Development Section Trent University DNA Building, 2140 East Bank Drive Peterborough Ontario K9J 7B8 Canada
| | - Douglas E. B. Reid
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Arthur R. Rodgers
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Jen Shuter
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay Ontario P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Ian D. Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East Sault Ste. Marie Ontario P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Lucas M. Vander Vennen
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph 50 Stone Road E. Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
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Johnson I, Brinkman T, Lake B, Brown C. Winter hunting behavior and habitat selection of wolves in a low-density prey system. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Johnson
- I. Johnson , PO Box 750881, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Todd Brinkman
- T. Brinkman, PO Box 757000, Fairbanks, AK 99775, USA
| | - Bryce Lake
- B. Lake, 101 12th Ave, Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA
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A Spatio-Temporally Explicit Random Encounter Model for Large-Scale Population Surveys. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162447. [PMID: 27611683 PMCID: PMC5017679 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Random encounter models can be used to estimate population abundance from indirect data collected by non-invasive sampling methods, such as track counts or camera-trap data. The classical Formozov–Malyshev–Pereleshin (FMP) estimator converts track counts into an estimate of mean population density, assuming that data on the daily movement distances of the animals are available. We utilize generalized linear models with spatio-temporal error structures to extend the FMP estimator into a flexible Bayesian modelling approach that estimates not only total population size, but also spatio-temporal variation in population density. We also introduce a weighting scheme to estimate density on habitats that are not covered by survey transects, assuming that movement data on a subset of individuals is available. We test the performance of spatio-temporal and temporal approaches by a simulation study mimicking the Finnish winter track count survey. The results illustrate how the spatio-temporal modelling approach is able to borrow information from observations made on neighboring locations and times when estimating population density, and that spatio-temporal and temporal smoothing models can provide improved estimates of total population size compared to the FMP method.
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25
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Cullingham CI, Thiessen CD, Derocher AE, Paquet PC, Miller JM, Hamilton JA, Coltman DW. Population structure and dispersal of wolves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. J Mammal 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyw015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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27
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Popp J, Donovan V. Fine-scale tertiary-road features influence wildlife use: a case study of two major North American predators. ANIM BIOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15707563-00002500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Roads have become a major concern for wildlife managers. Determining if fine-scale features influence wildlife road use is crucial information when developing management strategies to protect species at risk or to assist in preventing negative trophic interactions. We investigated the effects of fine-scale habitat and road-related features on the tertiary-road use of two major predator groups, the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and wolves (Canis lupus, C. lycaon, and hybrids). Scat occurrence, used as a measure of a species’ intensity of use, along with several road-related features and surrounding fine-scale habitat variables, were recorded within tertiary-road segments near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. An information theoretic approach was used to determine which of several different candidate models best predicted tertiary-road use by our major predator groups. Road width and distance to primary roads were found to be the strongest predictors of occurrence on tertiary roads for both predators, with smaller road width and greater distances to primary roads leading to higher levels of occurrence. Habitat cover and cover type, expected to influence foraging opportunities, were not found to be strong predictors of tertiary-road use. Our findings highlight the importance of fine-scale studies for understanding road use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse N. Popp
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
| | - Victoria M. Donovan
- Department of Biology, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada
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Duquette JF, Belant JL, Svoboda NJ, Beyer DE, Lederle PE. Scale Dependence of Female Ungulate Reproductive Success in Relation to Nutritional Condition, Resource Selection and Multi-Predator Avoidance. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0140433. [PMID: 26473968 PMCID: PMC4608707 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 09/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Female ungulate reproductive success is dependent on the survival of their young, and affected by maternal resource selection, predator avoidance, and nutritional condition. However, potential hierarchical effects of these factors on reproductive success are largely unknown, especially in multi-predator landscapes. We expanded on previous research of neonatal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) daily survival within home ranges to assess if resource use, integrated risk of 4 mammalian predators, maternal nutrition, winter severity, hiding cover, or interactions among these variables best explained landscape scale variation in daily or seasonal survival during the post-partum period. We hypothesized that reproductive success would be limited greater by predation risk at coarser spatiotemporal scales, but habitat use at finer scales. An additive model of daily non-ideal resource use and maternal nutrition explained the most (69%) variation in survival; though 65% of this variation was related to maternal nutrition. Strong support of maternal nutrition across spatiotemporal scales did not fully support our hypothesis, but suggested reproductive success was related to dam behaviors directed at increasing nutritional condition. These behaviors were especially important following severe winters, when dams produced smaller fawns with less probability of survival. To increase nutritional condition and decrease wolf (Canis lupus) predation risk, dams appeared to place fawns in isolated deciduous forest patches near roads. However, this resource selection represented non-ideal resources for fawns, which had greater predation risk that led to additive mortalities beyond those related to resources alone. Although the reproductive strategy of dams resulted in greater predation of fawns from alternative predators, it likely improved the life-long reproductive success of dams, as many were late-aged (>10 years old) and could have produced multiple litters of fawns. Our study emphasizes understanding the scale-dependent hierarchy of factors limiting reproductive success is essential to providing reliable knowledge for ungulate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared F. Duquette
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Nathan J. Svoboda
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Dean E. Beyer
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Marquette, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Patrick E. Lederle
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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Gurarie E, Bracis C, Delgado M, Meckley TD, Kojola I, Wagner CM. What is the animal doing? Tools for exploring behavioural structure in animal movements. J Anim Ecol 2015; 85:69-84. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eliezer Gurarie
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD 20742 USA
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA 98195 USA
| | - Chloe Bracis
- Quantitative Ecology and Resource Management University of Washington Seattle WA 98195 USA
| | - Maria Delgado
- Department of Biosciences University of Helsinki 00014Helsinki Finland
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, UO‐CSIC‐PA) Oviedo University – Campus Mieres 33600Mieres Spain
| | - Trevor D. Meckley
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
| | - Ilpo Kojola
- Natural Resources Institute Box 16 FI‐96301Rovaniemi Finland
| | - C. Michael Wagner
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Michigan State University East Lansing MI 48824 USA
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30
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Kaartinen S, Antikainen H, Kojola I. Habitat Model for a Recolonizing Wolf (Canis lupus) Population in Finland. ANN ZOOL FENN 2015. [DOI: 10.5735/086.052.0207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Tarszisz E, Dickman CR, Munn AJ. Physiology in conservation translocations. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2014; 2:cou054. [PMID: 27293675 PMCID: PMC4732500 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Conservation translocations aim to restore species to their indigenous ranges, protect populations from threats and/or reinstate ecosystem functions. They are particularly important for the conservation and management of rare and threatened species. Despite tremendous efforts and advancement in recent years, animal conservation translocations generally have variable success, and the reasons for this are often uncertain. We suggest that when little is known about the physiology and wellbeing of individuals either before or after release, it will be difficult to determine their likelihood of survival, and this could limit advancements in the science of translocations for conservation. In this regard, we argue that physiology offers novel approaches that could substantially improve translocations and associated practices. As a discipline, it is apparent that physiology may be undervalued, perhaps because of the invasive nature of some physiological measurement techniques (e.g. sampling body fluids, surgical implantation). We examined 232 publications that dealt with translocations of terrestrial vertebrates and aquatic mammals and, defining 'success' as high or low, determined how many of these studies explicitly incorporated physiological aspects into their protocols and monitoring. From this review, it is apparent that physiological evaluation before and after animal releases could progress and improve translocation/reintroduction successes. We propose a suite of physiological measures, in addition to animal health indices, for assisting conservation translocations over the short term and also for longer term post-release monitoring. Perhaps most importantly, we argue that the incorporation of physiological assessments of animals at all stages of translocation can have important welfare implications by helping to reduce the total number of animals used. Physiological indicators can also help to refine conservation translocation methods. These approaches fall under a new paradigm that we term 'translocation physiology' and represent an important sub-discipline within conservation physiology generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Tarszisz
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | | | - Adam J. Munn
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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32
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Cristescu B, Stenhouse GB, Boyce MS. Predicting multiple behaviors from GPS radiocollar cluster data. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Hankerson S, Dietz J. Predation rate and future reproductive potential explain home range size in golden lion tamarins. Anim Behav 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2014.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Zimmermann B, Nelson L, Wabakken P, Sand H, Liberg O. Behavioral responses of wolves to roads: scale-dependent ambivalence. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 25:1353-1364. [PMID: 25419085 PMCID: PMC4235582 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Throughout their recent recovery in several industrialized countries, large carnivores have had to cope with a changed landscape dominated by human infrastructure. Population growth depends on the ability of individuals to adapt to these changes by making use of new habitat features and at the same time to avoid increased risks of mortality associated with human infrastructure. We analyzed the summer movements of 19 GPS-collared resident wolves (Canis lupus L.) from 14 territories in Scandinavia in relation to roads. We used resource and step selection functions, including >12000 field-checked GPS-positions and 315 kill sites. Wolves displayed ambivalent responses to roads depending on the spatial scale, road type, time of day, behavioral state, and reproductive status. At the site scale (approximately 0.1 km2), they selected for roads when traveling, nearly doubling their travel speed. Breeding wolves moved the fastest. At the patch scale (10 km2), house density rather than road density was a significant negative predictor of wolf patch selection. At the home range scale (approximately 1000 km2), breeding wolves increased gravel road use with increasing road availability, although at a lower rate than expected. Wolves have adapted to use roads for ease of travel, but at the same time developed a cryptic behavior to avoid human encounters. This behavioral plasticity may have been important in allowing the successful recovery of wolf populations in industrialized countries. However, we emphasize the role of roads as a potential cause of increased human-caused mortality. We studied how wolves in Scandinavia respond to roads built to ease human travel but degrading habitat quality for many wildlife species. Wolves responded with ambivalence: They both selected and avoided roads, all depending on the spatial and temporal scale and their behavioral status. To understand the multi-scale effects of human infrastructure on animal behavior is important with regard to the recent come-back of many wildlife species to now industrialized countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Zimmermann
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Evenstad , N-2480 Koppang , Norway and
| | - Lindsey Nelson
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Evenstad , N-2480 Koppang , Norway and
| | - Petter Wabakken
- Faculty of Applied Ecology and Agricultural Sciences, Hedmark University College, Evenstad , N-2480 Koppang , Norway and
| | - Håkan Sand
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Science , SE-73091 Riddarhyttan , Sweden
| | - Olof Liberg
- Department of Ecology, Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Science , SE-73091 Riddarhyttan , Sweden
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Duquette JF, Belant JL, Svoboda NJ, Beyer DE, Lederle PE. Effects of maternal nutrition, resource use and multi-predator risk on neonatal white-tailed deer survival. PLoS One 2014; 9:e100841. [PMID: 24968318 PMCID: PMC4072703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0100841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Growth of ungulate populations is typically most sensitive to survival of neonates, which in turn is influenced by maternal nutritional condition and trade-offs in resource selection and avoidance of predators. We assessed whether resource use, multi-predator risk, maternal nutritional effects, hiding cover, or interactions among these variables best explained variation in daily survival of free-ranging neonatal white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during their post-partum period (14 May-31 Aug) in Michigan, USA. We used Cox proportional hazards mixed-effects models to assess survival related to covariates of resource use, composite predation risk of 4 mammalian predators, fawn body mass at birth, winter weather, and vegetation growth phenology. Predation, particularly from coyotes (Canis latrans), was the leading cause of mortality; however, an additive model of non-ideal resource use and maternal nutritional effects explained 71% of the variation in survival. This relationship suggested that dams selected areas where fawns had poor resources, while greater predation in these areas led to additive mortalities beyond those related to resource use alone. Also, maternal nutritional effects suggested that severe winters resulted in dams producing smaller fawns, which decreased their likelihood of survival. Fawn resource use appeared to reflect dam avoidance of lowland forests with poor forage and greater use by wolves (C. lupus), their primary predator. While this strategy led to greater fawn mortality, particularly by coyotes, it likely promoted the life-long reproductive success of dams because many reached late-age (>10 years old) and could have produced multiple generations of fawns. Studies often link resource selection and survival of ungulates, but our results suggested that multiple factors can mediate that relationship, including multi-predator risk. We emphasize the importance of identifying interactions among biological and environmental factors when assessing survival of ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared F. Duquette
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Nathan J. Svoboda
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, United States of America
| | - Dean E. Beyer
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Marquette, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Patrick E. Lederle
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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Zeigler SL, Fagan WF. Transient windows for connectivity in a changing world. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2014; 2:1. [PMID: 25520812 PMCID: PMC4267606 DOI: 10.1186/2051-3933-2-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
The primary focus of studies examining metapopulation processes in dynamic or disturbance-dependent landscapes has been related to spatiotemporal changes in the habitat patches themselves. However, like the habitat patches, opportunities for movement between patches can also exist intermittently in dynamic landscapes, creating transient connectivity windows - which we define as a period of time during which matrix conditions increase the probability of one or more individuals moving successfully between habitat patches. Far less is known about the implications of dynamic changes in connectivity per se, and, to our knowledge, there are no connectivity metrics or metapopulation models that explicitly consider intermittent changes to connectivity between habitat patches. Consequently, in this paper, we examined the peer-reviewed, published literature up to November 2013 to better understand the consequences of variability in connectivity and to highlight knowledge gaps on this topic. First, we describe how connectivity per se can vary along a temporal gradient, offering examples of ecological systems that fall along this gradient. Second, we examine how temporal variability in connectivity is important for metapopulation dynamics, particularly given likely alterations to disturbance regimes as a result of global change. We conclude our review by briefly discussing key avenues for future connectivity-related research, all of which hinge on the need to perceive connectivity as a transient feature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara L Zeigler
- />Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060 USA
| | - William F Fagan
- />Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742 USA
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Beauchesne D, Jaeger JAG, St-Laurent MH. Disentangling woodland caribou movements in response to clearcuts and roads across temporal scales. PLoS One 2013; 8:e77514. [PMID: 24223713 PMCID: PMC3818373 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although prey species typically respond to the most limiting factors at coarse spatiotemporal scales while addressing biological requirements at finer scales, such behaviour may become challenging for species inhabiting human altered landscapes. We investigated how woodland caribou, a threatened species inhabiting North-American boreal forests, modified their fine-scale movements when confronted with forest management features (i.e. clearcuts and roads). We used GPS telemetry data collected between 2004 and 2010 on 49 female caribou in a managed area in Québec, Canada. Movements were studied using a use--availability design contrasting observed steps (i.e. line connecting two consecutive locations) with random steps (i.e. proxy of immediate habitat availability). Although caribou mostly avoided disturbances, individuals nonetheless modulated their fine-scale response to disturbances on a daily and annual basis, potentially compromising between risk avoidance in periods of higher vulnerability (i.e. calving, early and late winter) during the day and foraging activities in periods of higher energy requirements (i.e. spring, summer and rut) during dusk/dawn and at night. The local context in which females moved was shown to influence their decision to cross clearcut edges and roads. Indeed, although females typically avoided crossing clearcut edges and roads at low densities, crossing rates were found to rapidly increase in greater disturbance densities. In some instance, however, females were less likely to cross edges and roads as densities increased. Females may then be trapped and forced to use disturbed habitats, known to be associated with higher predation risk. We believe that further increases in anthropogenic disturbances could exacerbate such behavioural responses and ultimately lead to population level consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Beauchesne
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment & Centre for Northern Studies, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Jochen AG. Jaeger
- Department of Geography, Planning and Environment, Concordia University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Centre for Northern Studies & Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada
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Humphries NE, Weimerskirch H, Sims DW. A new approach for objective identification of turns and steps in organism movement data relevant to random walk modelling. Methods Ecol Evol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Henri Weimerskirch
- Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; 79360; Villiers en Bois; France
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Mattisson J, Sand H, Wabakken P, Gervasi V, Liberg O, Linnell JDC, Rauset GR, Pedersen HC. Home range size variation in a recovering wolf population: evaluating the effect of environmental, demographic, and social factors. Oecologia 2013; 173:813-25. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-013-2668-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Laidre KL, Born EW, Gurarie E, Wiig Ø, Dietz R, Stern H. Females roam while males patrol: divergence in breeding season movements of pack-ice polar bears (Ursus maritimus). Proc Biol Sci 2013; 280:20122371. [PMID: 23222446 PMCID: PMC3574305 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2012.2371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific differences in movement behaviour reflect different tactics used by individuals or sexes to favour strategies that maximize fitness. We report movement data collected from n = 23 adult male polar bears with novel ear-attached transmitters in two separate pack ice subpopulations over five breeding seasons. We compared movements with n = 26 concurrently tagged adult females, and analysed velocities, movement tortuosity, range sizes and habitat selection with respect to sex, reproductive status and body mass. There were no differences in 4-day displacements or sea ice habitat selection for sex or population. By contrast, adult females in all years and both populations had significantly more linear movements and significantly larger breeding range sizes than males. We hypothesized that differences were related to encounter rates, and used observed movement metrics to parametrize a simulation model of male-male and male-female encounter. The simulation showed that the more tortuous movement of males leads to significantly longer times to male-male encounter, while having little impact on male-female encounter. By contrast, linear movements of females are consistent with a prioritized search for sparsely distributed prey. These results suggest a possible mechanism for explaining the smaller breeding range sizes of some solitary male carnivores compared to females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin L Laidre
- Polar Science Center, APL, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA.
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