1
|
Bleke CA, Gese EM, Villalba JJ, Roberts SB, French SS. Temporal and Spatial Influences on Fawn Summer Survival in Pronghorn Populations: Management Implications from Noninvasive Monitoring. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1468. [PMID: 38791686 PMCID: PMC11117275 DOI: 10.3390/ani14101468] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring vital rates allows managers to estimate trends in growth rates of ungulate populations. However, connecting the influence of nutrition on ungulate demography is challenging. Noninvasive sampling offers a low-cost, low-effort alternative for measuring nutritional indices, allowing for an increased understanding of the mechanistic relationships between environmental factors, nutrition, and specific population vital rates. We examined the temporal influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) fawn recruitment. We collected fresh fecal samples from adult female pronghorn in five subpopulations spanning three sampling periods associated with critical maternal life-history stages (late gestation, early lactation, breeding season) for 2 years to investigate both intra- and interannual influences. Intrinsic factors were fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), nutritional indices (fecal nitrogen (FN) and 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA)), and dietary composition (protein intake of forbs, graminoids, legumes, other, shrubs), while the extrinsic factor was vegetative greenness (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)). We found variations in DAPA, protein intake of forbs, variation in forb protein intake, and protein intake of legumes during late gestation positively influenced fawn recruitment. Fecal nitrogen during early lactation showed the strongest positive influence on the recruitment of any measured parameter. Finally, breeding season NDVI and the variation in DAPA values positively influenced the subsequent year's fawn recruitment. Our longitudinal study enabled us to investigate which parameter was most important to specific periods of fawn development and recruitment. We combined the results across five subpopulations, but interpretation and subsequent management decisions should be made at the subpopulation level such that pronghorn subpopulations with low recruitment can be positively influenced by increasing nitrogen on the landscape available to adult females during the early lactation period. As the use of noninvasive monitoring methods continues to expand, we believe our methodologies and results can be broadly applied to other ungulate monitoring programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cole A. Bleke
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Eric M. Gese
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Utah Field Station, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Juan J. Villalba
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Dupont PPA, Bischof R, Milleret C, Peters W, Edelhoff H, Ebert C, Klamm A, Hohmann U. An evaluation of spatial capture‐recapture models applied to ungulate non‐invasive genetic sampling data. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre P. A. Dupont
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management PB 5003, NO‐1432 Ås Norway
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management PB 5003, NO‐1432 Ås Norway
| | - Cyril Milleret
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management PB 5003, NO‐1432 Ås Norway
| | - Wibke Peters
- Bavarian State Institute for Forestry Hans‐Carl‐von‐Carlowitzplatz 1 D‐85354 Freising Germany
| | - Hendrik Edelhoff
- Bavarian State Institute for Forestry Hans‐Carl‐von‐Carlowitzplatz 1 D‐85354 Freising Germany
| | - Cornelia Ebert
- Seq‐IT GmbH & Co. KG, Department of Wildlife Genetics Pfaffplatz 10 D‐67655 Kaiserslautern Germany
| | - Alisa Klamm
- Hainich National Park Bei der Marktkirche 9 D‐99947 Bad Langensalza Germany
| | - Ulf Hohmann
- Research Institute for Forest Ecology and Forestry Hauptstrasse 16 D‐67705 Trippstadt Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bleke CA, Gese EM, French SS. Variations, validations, degradations, and noninvasive determination of pregnancy using fecal steroid metabolites in free-ranging pronghorn. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 312:113841. [PMID: 34217705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy status is a key parameter used to assess reproductive performance of a species as it represents a starting point for measuring vital rates. Vital rates allow managers to determine trends in populations such as neonate survival and recruitment; two important factors in ungulate population growth rates. Techniques to determine pregnancy have generally involved capture and restraint of the animal to obtain blood samples for determining serum hormone levels. Non-invasive pregnancy assessment, via feces, eliminates any hazards between handler and animal, as well as removes handling-induced physiological biases. Using noninvasive fecal sampling, we conducted hormone validations, investigated pregnancy rates, and determined hormone degradation rates across five subpopulations of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in Idaho. Samples were collected during April-May of 2018 and 2019 from adult pronghorn of known sex and age class. Metabolites of testosterone, cortisol, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone were measured in fecal samples, and concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were examined for pregnancy determination. Average fecal progesterone metabolite (FPM) levels of pregnant females were more than double compared to levels of nonpregnant females. Fecal estrogen metabolite (FEM) levels did not differ during concurrent sampling. The largest difference in FPM levels between pregnant and nonpregnant females began on 28 April. Pregnancy determination sampling showed average FPM levels for all five subpopulations were significantly different than the nonpregnant female validation group. Nonetheless, pregnancy rates for some subpopulations lacked conclusive estimates due to early fecal sampling. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) levels significantly differed between pregnant females and male pronghorn, but did not differ from nonpregnant females. Degradation rates of FPM and FGM differed across days, with values for FPM from Day 1 being significantly different from all subsequent days, and after Day 9 for FGM, demonstrating the requirement of fresh samples to accurately measure hormone concentrations. We concluded that a noninvasive method to diagnosis pregnancy is possible in pronghorn via progesterone metabolites if fresh samples are collected during late gestation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cole A Bleke
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Eric M Gese
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services-National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Susannah S French
- Department of Biology and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Maurer M, Peralta Martínez K, Trevelline BK, Tripoli D, Dearing MD, Derting T, Martinez Mota R, Pasch B, Kohl KD. Diet alters rodent fecal pellet size: implications for paleoecological and demographic studies using fecal dimensions. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Measurements of fecal pellet size can provide important information about wild mammals, such as body size and demographic information. Previous studies have not rigorously tested whether diet can confound these measurements. Furthermore, it is unknown whether diet might alter fecal dimensions directly or through changes in animal physiology. Here, we studied three closely related rodent species that differ in natural feeding strategies. Individuals were fed diets that varied in protein and fiber content for 5 weeks. We then measured body size, fecal widths and lengths, and the radius of the large intestine. Diet composition significantly changed fecal widths in all species. High-fiber content significantly increased fecal widths and would cause overestimations of body size if applied to wild feces. Using path analysis, we found that fiber can increase fecal widths both directly and indirectly through increasing the large intestine radius. Protein affected each species differently, suggesting that protein effects vary by species feeding strategy and existing physiology. Overall, diet and large intestine morphology can alter fecal pellet measurements. Studies using fecal measurements therefore must consider these effects in their conclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maya Maurer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | | | - Brian K Trevelline
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Domenique Tripoli
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - M Denise Dearing
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Terry Derting
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, Murray, KY 42071, USA
| | - Rodolfo Martinez Mota
- Centro de Investigaciones Tropicales, Universidad Veracruzana, 91000 Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Bret Pasch
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Kevin D Kohl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Woodruff SP, Eacker DR, Waits LP. Estimating Coyote Densities with Local, Discrete Bayesian Capture‐Recapture Models. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susannah P. Woodruff
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID 83844‐1136 USA
| | - Daniel R. Eacker
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation 802 Third Street Douglas AK 99824 USA
| | - Lisette P. Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive Moscow ID 83844 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
McElroy EJ, Sustaita D, McBrayer LD. Applied Functional Biology: Linking Ecological Morphology to Conservation and Management. Integr Comp Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/icb/icaa076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis
Many researchers work at the interface of organisms and environment. Too often, the insights that organismal, or functional, biologists can bring to the understanding of natural history, ecology, and conservation of species are overlooked. Likewise, natural resource managers are frequently focused on the management of populations and communities, while ignoring key functional traits that might explain variation in abundance and shifts in species composition at these ecological levels. Our intention for this symposium is two-fold: (1) to bring to light current and future research in functional and ecological morphology applicable to concerns and goals of wildlife management and conservation and (2) to show how such studies can result in measurable benchmarks useful to regulatory agencies. Symposium topics reveal past, present, and future collaborations between functional morphologists/biomechanists and conservation/wildlife biologists. During the SICB 2020 Annual Meeting, symposium participants demonstrated how data gathered to address fundamental questions regarding the causes and consequences of organismal form and function can also help address issues of conservation and wildlife management. Here we review how these, and other, studies of functional morphology, biomechanics, ecological development morphology and performance can inform wildlife conservation and management, principally by identifying candidate functional traits that have clear fitness consequences and population level implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric J McElroy
- Department of Biology, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Diego Sustaita
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University San Marcos, San Marcos, CA 92096, USA
| | - Lance D McBrayer
- Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Spitzer R, Churski M, Felton A, Heurich M, Kuijper DPJ, Landman M, Rodriguez E, Singh NJ, Taberlet P, van Beeck Calkoen STS, Widemo F, Cromsigt JPGM. Doubting dung: eDNA reveals high rates of misidentification in diverse European ungulate communities. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1264-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
8
|
Dupont P, Milleret C, Gimenez O, Bischof R. Population closure and the bias‐precision trade‐off in spatial capture–recapture. Methods Ecol Evol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Dupont
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| | - Cyril Milleret
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| | - Olivier Gimenez
- CEFECNRSUniversity MontpellierUniversity Paul Valéry Montpellier 3EPHEIRD Montpellier France
| | - Richard Bischof
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life Sciences Ås Norway
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Comparing performance of multiple non-invasive genetic capture–recapture methods for abundance estimation: a case study with the Sonoran pronghorn Antilocapra americana sonoriensis. ORYX 2018. [DOI: 10.1017/s003060531800011x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractDemographic monitoring is required in threatened species management, yet effective and efficient monitoring is challenging for species that are difficult to capture or susceptible to capture stress. One possible monitoring approach for such species is non-invasive genetic sampling with capture–recapture methods (genetic capture–recapture). We evaluated the performance of genetic capture–recapture in a challenging model system, monitoring the threatened Sonoran pronghorn Antilocapra americana sonoriensis. In an effort to determine the best (i.e. efficient, accurate, precise, cost-effective) method for abundance estimation, we used simulations to examine the optimal genetic capture–recapture faecal sampling design for this population. We simulated encounter histories for 100–300 individuals, with 0.33–3.33 samples/individual/session, in 1–3 sampling sessions. We explored trade-offs between sample size, number of sessions and multi-session (MARK) versus single-session (capwire) closed capture–recapture abundance estimators, and an accurate and precise estimate. We also compared the cost between the genetic capture–recapture approaches and current aerial monitoring methods. Abundance was biased positively in capwire and negatively in MARK. Bias increased and precision decreased with fewer samples/individual/session. Annual genetic capture–recapture monitoring cost was nearly twice the cost of aerial surveys, although genetic capture–recapture methods provided much higher precision. However at the current estimated abundance (c. 200), the same level of precision achieved with aerial methods can be obtained by collecting 0.75 samples/individual in a single session, for an annual cost saving of > USD 4,000. This approach of comparing estimator performance and cost can easily be applied to other systems and is a useful evaluation for managers to implement prior to designing capture–recapture studies.
Collapse
|
10
|
Cattet M, Stenhouse GB, Boulanger J, Janz DM, Kapronczai L, Swenson JE, Zedrosser A. Can concentrations of steroid hormones in brown bear hair reveal age class? CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 6:coy001. [PMID: 29399362 PMCID: PMC5788069 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coy001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 12/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Although combining genetic and endocrine data from non-invasively collected hair samples has potential to improve the conservation of threatened mammals, few studies have evaluated this opportunity. In this study, we determined if steroid hormone (testosterone, progesterone, estradiol and cortisol) concentration profiles in 169 hair samples collected from free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) could be used to accurately discriminate between immature and adult bears within each sex. Because hair samples were acquired opportunistically, we also needed to establish if interactions between hormones and several non-hormone factors (ordinal day, year, contact method, study area) were associated with age class. For each sex, we first compared a suite of candidate models by Akaike Information Criteria model selection, using different adult-age thresholds (3, 4 and 5 years), to determine the most supported adult age. Because hair hormone levels better reflect the endocrine state at an earlier time, possibly during the previous year, then at the time of sampling, we re-analysed the data, excluding the records for bears at the adult-age threshold, to establish if classification accuracy improved. For both sexes, candidate models were most supported based on a 3-year-old adult-age threshold. Classification accuracy did not improve with the 3-year-old bear data excluded. Male age class was predicted with a high degree of accuracy (88.4%) based on the concomitant concentrations of all four hormones. Female age class was predicted with less accuracy (77.1%) based only on testosterone and cortisol. Accuracy was reduced for females, primarily because we had poor success in correctly classifying immature bears (60%) whereas classification success for adult females was similar to that for males (84.5%). Given the small and unbalanced sample used in this study, our findings should be viewed as preliminary, but they should also provide a basis for more comprehensive future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Cattet
- RGL Recovery Wildlife Health & Veterinary Services, 415 Mount Allison Crescent, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7H 4A6, Canada
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Gordon B Stenhouse
- fRI Research and Alberta Environment and Parks, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, Alberta T7V 1X6, Canada
| | - John Boulanger
- Integrated Ecological Research, 924 Innes Street, Nelson, British Columbia V1L 5T2, Canada
| | - David M Janz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 52 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Luciene Kapronczai
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Nature Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, PO Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway and Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Høgskoleringen 9, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, Telemark University College of Southeast Norway, NO-3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department for Integrative Biology, Institute for Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University for Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna A-1180, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Woodruff SP, Lukacs PM, Christianson D, Waits LP. Estimating Sonoran pronghorn abundance and survival with fecal DNA and capture-recapture methods. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2016; 30:1102-1111. [PMID: 26918820 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2015] [Revised: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Population abundance estimates are important for management but can be challenging to determine in low-density, wide-ranging, and endangered species, such as Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis). The Sonoran pronghorn population has been increasing; however, population estimates are currently derived from a biennial aerial count that does not provide survival or recruitment estimates. We identified individuals through noninvasively collected fecal DNA and used robust-design capture-recapture to estimate abundance and survival for Sonoran pronghorn in the United States from 2013 to 2014. In 2014 we generated separate population estimates for pronghorn gathered near 13 different artificial water holes and for pronghorn not near water holes. The population using artificial water holes had 116 (95% CI 102-131) and 121 individuals (95% CI 112-132) in 2013 and 2014, respectively. For all locations, we estimated there were 144 individuals (95% CI 132-157). Adults had higher annual survival probabilities (0.83, 95% CI 0.69-0.92) than fawns (0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.65). Our use of targeted noninvasive genetic sampling and capture-recapture with Sonoran pronghorn fecal DNA was an effective method for monitoring a large proportion of the population. Our results provided the first survival estimates for this population in over 2 decades and precise estimates of the population using artificial water holes. Our method could be used for targeted sampling of broadly distributed species in other systems, such as in African savanna ecosystems, where many species congregate at watering sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susannah P Woodruff
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, U.S.A..
| | - Paul M Lukacs
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula, MT, 59812, U.S.A
| | - David Christianson
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, 1311 East 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85721, U.S.A
| | - Lisette P Waits
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-1136, U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|