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Schoombie S, Wilson RP, Ropert-Coudert Y, Dilley BJ, Ryan PG. The efficiency of detecting seabird behaviour from movement patterns: the effect of sampling frequency on inferring movement metrics in Procellariiformes. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:59. [PMID: 39223688 PMCID: PMC11370088 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent technological advances have resulted in low-cost GPS loggers that are small enough to be used on a range of seabirds, producing accurate location estimates (± 5 m) at sampling intervals as low as 1 s. However, tradeoffs between battery life and sampling frequency result in studies using GPS loggers on flying seabirds yielding locational data at a wide range of sampling intervals. Metrics derived from these data are known to be scale-sensitive, but quantification of these errors is rarely available. Very frequent sampling, coupled with limited movement, can result in measurement error, overestimating movement, but a much more pervasive problem results from sampling at long intervals, which grossly underestimates path lengths. METHODS We use fine-scale (1 Hz) GPS data from a range of albatrosses and petrels to study the effect of sampling interval on metrics derived from the data. The GPS paths were sub-sampled at increasing intervals to show the effect on path length (i.e. ground speed), turning angles, total distance travelled, as well as inferred behavioural states. RESULTS We show that distances (and per implication ground speeds) are overestimated (4% on average, but up to 20%) at the shortest sampling intervals (1-5 s) and underestimated at longer intervals. The latter bias is greater for more sinuous flights (underestimated by on average 40% when sampling > 1-min intervals) as opposed to straight flight (11%). Although sample sizes were modest, the effect of the bias seemingly varied with species, where species with more sinuous flight modes had larger bias. Sampling intervals also played a large role when inferring behavioural states from path length and turning angles. CONCLUSIONS Location estimates from low-cost GPS loggers are appropriate to study the large-scale movements of seabirds when using coarse sampling intervals, but actual flight distances are underestimated. When inferring behavioural states from path lengths and turning angles, moderate sampling intervals (10-30 min) may provide more stable models, but the accuracy of the inferred behavioural states will depend on the time period associated with specific behaviours. Sampling rates have to be considered when comparing behaviours derived using varying sampling intervals and the use of bias-informed analyses are encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Schoombie
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa.
- Department of Statistical Sciences, Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC), University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
| | - Rory P Wilson
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, SA1 8PP, UK
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, Station d'Écologie de Chizé-La Rochelle Université, CNRS UMR7372, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Ben J Dilley
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
| | - Peter G Ryan
- DST-NRF Centre of Excellence, FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
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Fagan WF, Krishnan A, Liao Q, Fleming CH, Liao D, Lamb C, Patterson B, Wheeldon T, Martinez-Garcia R, Menezes JFS, Noonan MJ, Gurarie E, Calabrese JM. Intraspecific encounters can lead to reduced range overlap. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:58. [PMID: 39215311 PMCID: PMC11365178 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00501-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Direct encounters, in which two or more individuals are physically close to one another, are a topic of increasing interest as more and better movement data become available. Recent progress, including the development of statistical tools for estimating robust measures of changes in animals' space use over time, facilitates opportunities to link direct encounters between individuals with the long-term consequences of those encounters. Working with movement data for coyotes (Canis latrans) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis), we investigate whether close intraspecific encounters were associated with spatial shifts in the animals' range distributions, as might be expected if one or both of the individuals involved in an encounter were seeking to reduce or avoid conflict over space. We analyze the movement data of a pair of coyotes in detail, identifying how a change in home range overlap resulting from altered movement behavior was apparently a consequence of a close intraspecific encounter. With grizzly bear movement data, we approach the problem as population-level hypothesis tests of the spatial consequences of encounters. We find support for the hypotheses that (1) close intraspecific encounters between bears are, under certain circumstances, associated with subsequent changes in overlap between range distributions and (2) encounters defined at finer spatial scales are followed by greater changes in space use. Our results suggest that animals can undertake long-term, large-scale spatial changes in response to close intraspecific encounters that have the potential for conflict. Overall, we find that analyses of movement data in a pairwise context can (1) identify distances at which individuals' proximity to one another may alter behavior and (2) facilitate testing of population-level hypotheses concerning the potential for direct encounters to alter individuals' space use.
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Affiliation(s)
- William F Fagan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Ananke Krishnan
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Qianru Liao
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Christen H Fleming
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rosendorf (HZDR), Görlitz, Germany
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Daisy Liao
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Clayton Lamb
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Brent Patterson
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Tyler Wheeldon
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Ricardo Martinez-Garcia
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rosendorf (HZDR), Görlitz, Germany
- ICTP - South American Institute for Fundamental Research and Instituto de Física Teórica, Universidade Estadual Paulista - UNESP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jorge F S Menezes
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rosendorf (HZDR), Görlitz, Germany
- Feline Research Group, Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, Tefé, AM, Brazil
| | - Michael J Noonan
- Department of Biology, The University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC, Canada
| | - Eliezer Gurarie
- Department of Environmental Biology, SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Justin M Calabrese
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rosendorf (HZDR), Görlitz, Germany
- Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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van Osta JM, Dreis B, Grogan LF, Castley JG. Local resource availability drives habitat use by a threatened avian granivore in savanna woodlands. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306842. [PMID: 39110670 PMCID: PMC11305587 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Conserving threatened species relies on an understanding of their habitat requirements. This is especially relevant for granivorous birds, whose habitat use and movement patterns are intricately linked to the spatial and temporal availability of resources such as food and water. In this study, we investigated the habitat use, home range and daily activity patterns of the Endangered Southern Black-throated Finch (SBTF; Poephila cincta cincta) within a 75,000 ha savanna woodland study area in northeastern Australia. This semi-arid region is one of the key remaining strongholds for the species and is characterised by substantially different habitat and climatic conditions than areas where previous research on this species has been undertaken. We radio tracked 142 SBTF using both manual tracking and an array of 27 automated radio towers, which revealed a strong preference for eucalypt-dominated grassy woodland communities. The preference for these habitats also increased with decreasing distance to permanent water. While SBTF occupied large home ranges, individual SBTF were largely sedentary during the radio tracking period (21.8, range = 0.83-120 days), with few landscape-scale movements of more than 4.5 km. Daily foraging activity of SBTF exhibited bimodal peaks in the early morning and late afternoon, while other activities were greatest from the late morning to the early afternoon. Compared to other estrildid finches, our research suggests that SBTF track resources at a local scale across a large home range. We postulate that in times of resource scarcity SBTF may use dietary diversification, instead of landscape or regional-scale nomadic movements, to meet their resource needs. The species' movement patterns underscore the importance of local scale habitat management to facilitate resource availability throughout the year. Furthermore, our research helps target monitoring designs for granivorous birds that focus on the species' diurnal activity patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M. van Osta
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
- E2M Pty Ltd, Milton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brad Dreis
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
- E2M Pty Ltd, Milton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Laura F. Grogan
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
| | - J. Guy Castley
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
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Jakubas D, Wojczulanis-Jakubas K, Iliszko LM. Sex differences in foraging ecology of a zooplanktivorous little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period: insights from remote sensing and animal-tracking. Front Zool 2024; 21:12. [PMID: 38632631 PMCID: PMC11022494 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00534-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Energy and time allocation in seabirds differ between consecutive stages of breeding given various requirements of particular phases of the reproductive period. Theses allocations may also be sex-specific considering differential energetic or nutritional requirements of males and females and/or sexual segregation in foraging niches and/or areas. In this study we investigated the foraging ecology of an Arctic, zooplanktivorous seabird, the little auk Alle alle during the pre-laying period using remote sensing of the environment and GPS-TDR loggers deployed on birds. We compared foraging trips range and habitats of birds with other stages of the breeding period and between sexes. RESULTS We found that little auks during the pre-laying period foraged exclusively in cold sea surface temperature zones (with temperatures < 5 ºC) but in various sea depth zones. They dived to similar depths ranging from -4.0 to -10.9 m, exploring various thermal microhabitats (with mean temperatures values ranging from 2.2 °C in Shelf sea depth zone to 5.9 °C in Deep sea depth zone). The majority of foraging trips and dives characteristics were similar to subsequent phases of breeding. However, home ranges during the pre-laying trips were wider compared to the incubation period. As expected, females exhibited wider foraging niches compared to males (wider range of sea surface temperature and sea depth in foraging locations), which could be explained by sex specific energetic and/or nutritional requirements (females producing an egg). We also delineated local foraging areas important for little auks during their whole breeding season. Protection of these areas is crucial for sustaining the local marine biodiversity. CONCLUSIONS We found that little auks females during the pre-laying period explored wider foraging niches compared to males. These differences may be attributed to sex-specific nutritional or/and energetical constraints at this stage of breeding. The results of this study also emphasize the importance of shelf Arctic-type water masses as the foraging areas for little auks during successive stages of breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariusz Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Katarzyna Wojczulanis-Jakubas
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Lech Marek Iliszko
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
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5
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Gilbertson MLJ, Hart SN, VanderWaal K, Onorato D, Cunningham M, VandeWoude S, Craft ME. Seasonal changes in network connectivity and consequences for pathogen transmission in a solitary carnivore. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17802. [PMID: 37853051 PMCID: PMC10584909 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44815-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Seasonal variation in habitat use and animal behavior can alter host contact patterns with potential consequences for pathogen transmission dynamics. The endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) has experienced significant pathogen-induced mortality and continues to be at risk of future epidemics. Prior research has found increased panther movement in Florida's dry versus wet seasons, which may affect panther population connectivity and seasonally increase potential pathogen transmission. Our objective was to determine if Florida panthers are more spatially connected in dry seasons relative to wet seasons, and test if identified connectivity differences resulted in divergent predicted epidemic dynamics. We leveraged extensive panther telemetry data to construct seasonal panther home range overlap networks over an 11 year period. We tested for differences in network connectivity, and used observed network characteristics to simulate transmission of a broad range of pathogens through dry and wet season networks. We found that panthers were more spatially connected in dry seasons than wet seasons. Further, these differences resulted in a trend toward larger and longer pathogen outbreaks when epidemics were initiated in the dry season. Our results demonstrate that seasonal variation in behavioral patterns-even among largely solitary species-can have substantial impacts on epidemic dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie L J Gilbertson
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA.
- Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
| | - S Niamh Hart
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Kimberly VanderWaal
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
| | - Dave Onorato
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Naples, FL, 34114, USA
| | - Mark Cunningham
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, 32601, USA
| | - Sue VandeWoude
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA
| | - Meggan E Craft
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, 55108, USA
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6
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Jacoby DMP, Piper AT. What acoustic telemetry can and cannot tell us about fish biology. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37837176 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic telemetry (AT) has become ubiquitous in aquatic monitoring and fish biology, conservation, and management. Since the early use of active ultrasonic tracking that required researchers to follow at a distance their species of interest, the field has diversified considerably, with exciting advances in both hydrophone and transmitter technology. Once a highly specialized methodology, however, AT is fast becoming a generalist tool for those wishing to study or conserve fishes, leading to diversifying application by non-specialists. With this transition in mind, we evaluate exactly what AT has become useful for, discussing how the technological and analytical advances around AT can address important questions within fish biology. In doing so, we highlight the key ecological and applied research areas where AT continues to reveal crucial new insights and, in particular, when combined with complimentary research approaches. We provide a comprehensive breakdown of the state of the art for applications of AT, discussing the ongoing challenges, where its strengths lie, and how future developments may revolutionize fisheries management, behavioral ecology and species protection. Through selected papers we illustrate specific applications across the broad spectrum of fish biology. By bringing together the recent and future developments in this field under categories designed to broadly capture many aspects of fish biology, we hope to offer a useful guide for the non-specialist practitioner as they attempt to navigate the dizzying array of considerations and ongoing developments within this diverse toolkit.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M P Jacoby
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Adam T Piper
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
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7
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Dhakal T, Jang GS, Kim M, Kim JH, Park J, Lim SJ, Park YC, Lee DH. Habitat utilization distribution of sika deer ( Cervus nippon). Heliyon 2023; 9:e20793. [PMID: 37867813 PMCID: PMC10585228 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat-specific and movement-related behavioral studies are essential for the development of sustainable biodiversity management practices. Although the number of studies on sika deer is increasing, habitat utilization distribution (UD)-related studies remain limited. In this study, we investigated the habitat UD behavior of sika deer (Cervus nippon) using a literature survey and an experimental study on Suncheon Bonghwasan Mountain, South Korea. We reviewed home range-related literature on sika deer published between 1982 and 2019 in order to assess their estimation methods, study region, and research background. We observed that the number of studies on sika deer has increased. The minimum convex polygon (MCP) has been utilized the most to estimate habitat UD, followed by the kernel density (KD), the Brownian bridge model, and a combination of these methods. The average home ranges (95 % utilization distribution) of sika deer from the literature survey were 236.99 ha and 1183.96 ha using the minimum convex polygon and kernel density approaches, respectively. The five female deer in our experimental study on Suncheon Bonghwasan Mountain had a mean home range of 66.831 ± 15.241 ha using the MCP approach and 78.324 ± 20.82 ha using the KD approach. The UD behavior of sika deer explored in this research is expected to benefit future scholars and policymakers when formulating deer management and wildlife conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thakur Dhakal
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Gab-Sue Jang
- Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
| | - Minhan Kim
- National Institute of Ecology (NIE), Seocheon 33657, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hyung Kim
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - JoongYeol Park
- Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Jin Lim
- Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Yung-Chul Park
- Division of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hun Lee
- National Institute of Ecology (NIE), Seocheon 33657, Republic of Korea
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8
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Vishnu CS, Marshall BM, Ramesh C, Thirumurugan V, Talukdar G, Das A. Home range ecology of Indian rock pythons (Python molurus) in Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves, Tamil Nadu, Southern India. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9749. [PMID: 37328577 PMCID: PMC10275859 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36974-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Indian rock pythons (Python molurus) are classified as a near-threatened snake species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN); they are native to the Indian subcontinent and have experienced population declines caused primarily by poaching and habitat loss. We hand-captured the 14 rock pythons from villages, agricultural lands, and core forests to examine the species' home ranges. We later released/translocated them in different kilometer ranges at the Tiger Reserves. From December 2018 to December 2020, we obtained 401 radio-telemetry locations, with an average tracking duration of (444 ± 212 days), and a mean of 29 ± SD 16 data points per individual. We quantified home ranges and measured morphometric and ecological factors (sex, body size, and location) associated with intraspecific differences in home range size. We analyzed the home ranges of rock pythons using Auto correlated Kernel Density Estimates (AKDE). AKDEs can account for the auto-correlated nature of animal movement data and mitigate against biases stemming from inconsistent tracking time lags. Home range size varied from 1.4 ha to 8.1 km2 and averaged 4.2 km2. Differences in home range sizes could not be connected to body mass. Initial indications suggest that rock python home ranges are larger than other pythons.
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Affiliation(s)
- C S Vishnu
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | | | - Chinnasamy Ramesh
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India.
| | | | - Gautam Talukdar
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
| | - Abhijit Das
- Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248002, India
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9
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Maestresalas B, Piquet JC, López-Darias M. Spatial ecology to strengthen invasive snake management on islands. Sci Rep 2023; 13:6731. [PMID: 37185934 PMCID: PMC10130030 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32483-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge on the spatial ecology of invasive predators positively contributes to optimizing their management, especially when involving cryptic and secretive species, such as snakes. However, this information is lacking for most invasive snakes, particularly on islands, where they are known to cause severe ecological and socio-economic impacts. This research is focused on assessing the spatial ecology of the California kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) on Gran Canaria to strengthen management actions. We monitored 15 radio-tagged individuals once per day on 9-11 days per month from July 2020 to June 2021 to calculate the species' home range and describe annual activity patterns in the invaded range. To account for the species' diel activity during the emergence period, we additionally monitored snakes from January to May 2021 during three consecutive days per month in four different time intervals each day. We detected movement (consecutive detections at least 6 m apart) in 31.68% of the 1146 detections during the whole monitoring period. Movements most frequently detected were shorter than 100 m (82.24%), and among them the range 0-20 m was the most recurrent (27.03%). The mean distance of movement was 62.57 ± 62.62 m in 1-2 days. Average home range was 4.27 ± 5.35 ha-calculated with the Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimator (AKDE) at 95%-and did not significantly vary with SVL nor sex. We detected an extremely low value of motion variance (0.76 ± 2.62 σ2m) compared to other studies, with a general inactivity period from November to February, January being the less active month of the year. Diel activity was higher during central and evening hours than during early morning and night. Our results should be useful to improve control programs for this invasive snake (e.g., trap placement and visual survey guidance) on Gran Canaria. Our research highlights the importance of gathering spatial information on invasive snakes to enhance control actions, which can contribute to the management of secretive invasive snakes worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borja Maestresalas
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Julien C Piquet
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Marta López-Darias
- Island Ecology and Evolution Research Group, Instituto de Productos Naturales y Agrobiología (IPNA-CSIC), 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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10
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Kraft S, Gandra M, Lennox RJ, Mourier J, Winkler AC, Abecasis D. Residency and space use estimation methods based on passive acoustic telemetry data. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2023; 11:12. [PMID: 36859381 PMCID: PMC9976422 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00364-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Acoustic telemetry has helped overcome many of the challenges faced when studying the movement ecology of aquatic species, allowing to obtain unprecedented amounts of data. This has made it into one of the most widely used methods nowadays. Many ways to analyse acoustic telemetry data have been made available and deciding on how to analyse the data requires considering the type of research objectives, relevant properties of the data (e.g., resolution, study design, equipment), habits of the study species, researcher experience, among others. To ease this decision process, here we showcase (1) some of the methods used to estimate pseudo-positions and positions from raw acoustic telemetry data, (2) methods to estimate residency and (3) methods to estimate two-dimensional home and occurrence range using geometric or hull-based methods and density-distribution methods, a network-based approach, and three-dimensional methods. We provide examples of some of these were tested using a sample of real data. With this we intend to provide the necessary background for the selection of the method(s) that better fit specific research objectives when using acoustic telemetry.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Kraft
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.
| | - M Gandra
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
| | - R J Lennox
- Laboratory for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries at NORCE Norwegian Research Center, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim, Norway
| | - J Mourier
- MARBEC, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, Ifremer, IRD, Sète, France
| | - A C Winkler
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
- Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - D Abecasis
- Center of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Universidade do Algarve, Faro, Portugal
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11
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Morant J, Arrondo E, Sánchez‐Zapata JA, Donázar JA, Cortés‐Avizanda A, De La Riva M, Blanco G, Martínez F, Oltra J, Carrete M, Margalida A, Oliva‐Vidal P, Martínez JM, Serrano D, Pérez‐García JM. Large-scale movement patterns in a social vulture are influenced by seasonality, sex, and breeding region. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9817. [PMID: 36789342 PMCID: PMC9909000 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying space use and segregation, as well as the extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting them, is crucial to increase our knowledge of species-specific movement ecology and to design effective management and conservation measures. This is particularly relevant in the case of species that are highly mobile and dependent on sparse and unpredictable trophic resources, such as vultures. Here, we used the GPS-tagged data of 127 adult Griffon Vultures Gyps fulvus captured at five different breeding regions in Spain to describe the movement patterns (home-range size and fidelity, and monthly cumulative distance). We also examined how individual sex, season, and breeding region determined the cumulative distance traveled and the size and overlap between consecutive monthly home-ranges. Overall, Griffon Vultures exhibited very large annual home-range sizes of 5027 ± 2123 km2, mean monthly cumulative distances of 1776 ± 1497 km, and showed a monthly home-range fidelity of 67.8 ± 25.5%. However, individuals from northern breeding regions showed smaller home-ranges and traveled shorter monthly distances than those from southern ones. In all cases, home-ranges were larger in spring and summer than in winter and autumn, which could be related to difference in flying conditions and food requirements associated with reproduction. Moreover, females showed larger home-ranges and less monthly fidelity than males, indicating that the latter tended to use the similar areas throughout the year. Overall, our results indicate that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors modulate the home-range of the Griffon Vulture and that spatial segregation depends on sex and season at the individual level, without relevant differences between breeding regions in individual site fidelity. These results have important implications for conservation, such as identifying key threat factors necessary to improve management actions and policy decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Morant
- Department of Applied BiologyMiguel Hernández University of ElcheElcheSpain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO‐UMH)Miguel Hernández University of ElcheOrihuelaSpain
| | - Eneko Arrondo
- Department of Applied BiologyMiguel Hernández University of ElcheElcheSpain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO‐UMH)Miguel Hernández University of ElcheOrihuelaSpain
| | - José Antonio Sánchez‐Zapata
- Department of Applied BiologyMiguel Hernández University of ElcheElcheSpain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO‐UMH)Miguel Hernández University of ElcheOrihuelaSpain
| | - José Antonio Donázar
- Departament of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of BiologyUniversity of SevilleSevilleSpain
| | - Manuel De La Riva
- Departament of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Guillermo Blanco
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyMuseo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC)MadridSpain
| | - Félix Martínez
- Escuela Internacional de DoctoradoUniversidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC)MadridSpain
| | - Juan Oltra
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural SystemsUniversidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
| | - Martina Carrete
- Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural SystemsUniversidad Pablo de OlavideSevillaSpain
| | - Antoni Margalida
- Pyrenean Institute of Ecology (CSIC)JacaSpain
- Institute for Game and Wildlife ResearchIREC (CSIC‐UCLM)Ciudad RealSpain
| | - Pilar Oliva‐Vidal
- Institute for Game and Wildlife ResearchIREC (CSIC‐UCLM)Ciudad RealSpain
- Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and EngineeringUniversity of LleidaLleidaSpain
| | - José Maria Martínez
- Departamento Medio Ambiente, Gobierno de AragónSubdirección General de Desarrollo Rural y SostenibilidadHuescaSpain
| | - David Serrano
- Departament of Conservation BiologyEstación Biológica de Doñana (CSIC)SevillaSpain
| | - Juan Manuel Pérez‐García
- Department of Applied BiologyMiguel Hernández University of ElcheElcheSpain
- Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO‐UMH)Miguel Hernández University of ElcheOrihuelaSpain
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Gilbertson MLJ, Ketz AC, Hunsaker M, Jarosinski D, Ellarson W, Walsh DP, Storm DJ, Turner WC. Agricultural land use shapes dispersal in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:43. [PMID: 36289549 PMCID: PMC9608933 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00342-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dispersal is a fundamental process to animal population dynamics and gene flow. In white-tailed deer (WTD; Odocoileus virginianus), dispersal also presents an increasingly relevant risk for the spread of infectious diseases. Across their wide range, WTD dispersal is believed to be driven by a suite of landscape and host behavioral factors, but these can vary by region, season, and sex. Our objectives were to (1) identify dispersal events in Wisconsin WTD and determine drivers of dispersal rates and distances, and (2) determine how landscape features (e.g., rivers, roads) structure deer dispersal paths. METHODS We developed an algorithmic approach to detect dispersal events from GPS collar data for 590 juvenile, yearling, and adult WTD. We used statistical models to identify host and landscape drivers of dispersal rates and distances, including the role of agricultural land use, the traversability of the landscape, and potential interactions between deer. We then performed a step selection analysis to determine how landscape features such as agricultural land use, elevation, rivers, and roads affected deer dispersal paths. RESULTS Dispersal predominantly occurred in juvenile males, of which 64.2% dispersed, with dispersal events uncommon in other sex and age classes. Juvenile male dispersal probability was positively associated with the proportion of the natal range that was classified as agricultural land use, but only during the spring. Dispersal distances were typically short (median 5.77 km, range: 1.3-68.3 km), especially in the fall. Further, dispersal distances were positively associated with agricultural land use in potential dispersal paths but negatively associated with the number of proximate deer in the natal range. Lastly, we found that, during dispersal, juvenile males typically avoided agricultural land use but selected for areas near rivers and streams. CONCLUSION Land use-particularly agricultural-was a key driver of dispersal rates, distances, and paths in Wisconsin WTD. In addition, our results support the importance of deer social environments in shaping dispersal behavior. Our findings reinforce knowledge of dispersal ecology in WTD and how landscape factors-including major rivers, roads, and land-use patterns-structure host gene flow and potential pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie L J Gilbertson
- Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr, 53706, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Alison C Ketz
- Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr, 53706, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Matthew Hunsaker
- Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr, 53706, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Dana Jarosinski
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1500 N Johns St, 53533, Dodgeville, WI, USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green St, 30602, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Wesley Ellarson
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1500 N Johns St, 53533, Dodgeville, WI, USA
| | - Daniel P Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive NS 205, 59812, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Daniel J Storm
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, 1300 West Clairemont Ave, 54701, Eau Claire, WI, USA
| | - Wendy C Turner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1630 Linden Dr, 53706, Madison, WI, USA
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13
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He P, Klarevas‐Irby JA, Papageorgiou D, Christensen C, Strauss ED, Farine DR. A guide to sampling design for
GPS
‐based studies of animal societies. Methods Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peng He
- Department of Collective Behaviour Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Constance Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz Constance Germany
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - James A. Klarevas‐Irby
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz Constance Germany
- Department of Biology University of Konstanz Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Department of Migration Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Radolfzell Germany
- Mpala Research Centre Nanyuki Kenya
| | - Danai Papageorgiou
- Department of Collective Behaviour Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Christensen
- Department of Collective Behaviour Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Mpala Research Centre Nanyuki Kenya
| | - Eli D. Strauss
- Department of Collective Behaviour Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Constance Germany
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Collective Behaviour Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior Constance Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Science University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australia
- Department of Ornithology National Museums of Kenya Nairobi Kenya
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14
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Henk M, Hilson C, Bean WT, Barton DC, Gunther MS. Noninvasive genetic sampling with a spatial capture‐recapture analysis to estimate abundance of Roosevelt elk. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Makenzie Henk
- Department of Wildlife California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street Arcata CA 95521 USA
| | - Carrington Hilson
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 619 2nd Street Eureka CA 95501 USA
| | - William T. Bean
- Department of Wildlife California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street Arcata CA 95521 USA
| | - Daniel C. Barton
- Department of Wildlife California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street Arcata CA 95521 USA
| | - Micaela Szykman Gunther
- Department of Wildlife California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, 1 Harpst Street Arcata CA 95521 USA
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15
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Johansson Ö, Kachel S, Weckworth B. Guidelines for Telemetry Studies on Snow Leopards. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12131663. [PMID: 35804562 PMCID: PMC9264895 DOI: 10.3390/ani12131663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal-borne tracking devices have generated a wealth of new knowledge, allowing us to better understand, manage and conserve species. Fitting such tracking devices requires that animals are captured and often chemically immobilized. Such procedures cause stress and involve the risk of injuries and loss of life even in healthy individuals. For telemetry studies to be justifiable, it is vital that capture operations are planned and executed in an efficient and ethical way. Project objectives must be clearly articulated to address well-defined knowledge gaps, and studies designed to maximize the probability of achieving those goals. We provide guidelines for how to plan, design, and implement telemetry studies with a special emphasis on snow leopards that are typically captured using foot snares. We also describe the necessary steps to ensure that captures are conducted safely, and with minimal stress to animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Örjan Johansson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73993 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
- Snow Leopard Trust, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98103, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Shannon Kachel
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; (S.K.); (B.W.)
| | - Byron Weckworth
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA; (S.K.); (B.W.)
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16
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Renet J, Dokhelar T, Thirion F, Tatin L, Pernollet CA, Bourgault L. Spatial pattern and shelter distribution of the ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) in two distinct Mediterranean habitats. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-bja10095] [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
Abstract
The knowledge of a species’ spatial ecology is essential for its conservation as it helps to implement targeted protection measures to suitable habitats. In 2011 and 2013, two French populations of ocellated lizards Timon lepidus were monitored through very high frequency (VHF) radio telemetry in two distinct Mediterranean habitats: a 77 ha scrubland (n = 8) and a 1590 ha semi-arid steppe (n = 11) corresponding to a heterogeneous and homogeneous habitat respectively. The variability in spatial estimates for the seasonal habitat use of the ocellated lizard was compared within the two sites using the Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation (AKDE). Recursive movement patterns and spatial repartition of shelters were further assessed to study the habitat influence on the species’ space use. No significant differences between sexes or sites were identified in the computed AKDE ranges. This inter-site approach demonstrated higher shelter revisits in core-areas than in the rest of estimated home ranges for both sites. A higher shelter density was observed in the core areas of the lizards than in the rest of their home-ranges for the Mediterranean scrubland but not for the semi-arid steppe. Such findings might attest to the species’ adaptive capabilities within two distinct Mediterranean ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Renet
- Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Pôle Biodiversité régionale, 04200 Sisteron, France
| | - Théo Dokhelar
- Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Pôle Biodiversité régionale, 04200 Sisteron, France
| | - Félix Thirion
- Conservatoire d’espaces naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Pôle Biodiversité régionale, 04200 Sisteron, France
| | - Laurent Tatin
- Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Ecologie, Avignon Université, 8400 Avignon, France
| | - Claire Agnès Pernollet
- Réserve naturelle nationale des Coussouls de Crau, Maison de la Crau, 13310 Saint-Martin-de-Crau, France
| | - Laure Bourgault
- Colinéo, Conservatoire des Restanques Verger et Jardin Méditerranéen, 13013 Marseille, France
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