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Kerric A, Mazerolle MJ, Sorais M, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Impact of landfill characteristics on the atmospheric exposure to halogenated flame retardants in gulls. Chemosphere 2023; 343:140207. [PMID: 37734507 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
Large amounts of consumer products containing halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are disposed of annually in landfills, which may lead to significant releases of these semi-volatile contaminants into the environment. During their foraging activities in landfills, gulls can be exposed to elevated levels of HFRs in air. Ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in the densely populated Montreal area (QC, Canada) are significantly exposed to air levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in or in the vicinity of landfills. However, no information is currently available on the specific characteristics of these landfills that can modulate the atmospheric exposure of ring-billed gulls to HFRs. The objective of this study was to investigate how atmospheric exposure in ring-billed gulls to PBDEs and other HFRs is influenced by selected landfill characteristics (i.e., daily cover materials, waste types and tonnage). Miniature passive air samplers (PASs) combined with GPS dataloggers were deployed for ten days during six years on the back of wild-caught ring-billed gulls breeding in the Montreal area. Atmospheric levels of several PBDEs and other HFRs determined in PASs were found to increase with the presence probability of gulls in the two largest landfills using automotive shredder residues as daily cover material. Weather variables including relative humidity and wind speed had a weak influence on atmospheric levels of HFRs in the bird-borne PASs. Our results suggest that automotive shredder residues represent a significant emission source of HFRs into the air of landfills, thus influencing atmospheric exposure of gulls and other birds foraging in these sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Kerric
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec City, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Kerric A, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Halogenated flame retardant exposure pathways in urban-adapted gulls: Are atmospheric routes underestimated? Sci Total Environ 2023; 860:160526. [PMID: 36471522 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Urban-adapted gulls can be exposed to flame retardants while foraging in landfills where elevated concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and other halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have frequently been measured in air. However, the contribution of atmospheric exposure has largely been overlooked compared to dietary exposure in birds and other wildlife. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the contribution of atmospheric exposure pathways relative to diet for PBDEs and other HFRs in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) nesting in the densely populated Montreal area (QC, Canada). Miniature passive air samplers (PASs) were deployed on the back of wild-caught ring-billed gulls for ten days. Concentrations of PBDEs and other HFRs were determined in PASs carried by ring-billed gulls as well as their lungs, stomach content, liver, preen oil, and onto the surface of their feathers. We evaluated the atmospheric and dietary exposure routes for the most abundant HFRs in samples using a structural equation model implemented in a Bayesian framework. Results indicated that lung concentrations of BDE-28 increased with its levels in air determined using bird-borne PASs. No association was found between BDE-28 concentrations in lungs and liver, whereas BDE-209 concentrations in liver increased with those in lungs. Moreover, BDE-28 and -47 concentrations in liver increased with those on feather surface, while liver BDE-47 concentrations were also positively related with those in stomach content. These findings suggested that, in addition to dietary exposure, atmospheric exposure pathways through inhalation and co-ingestion during feather maintenance (preening) significantly contribute to the accumulation of PBDEs in liver of ring-billed gulls. Atmospheric exposure to HFRs should therefore be considered in future landfill-foraging wildlife species as a potential exposure route compared to the traditional dietary exposure pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Kerric
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Suffice P, Mazerolle MJ, Imbeau L, Cheveau M, Asselin H, Drapeau P. Site occupancy by American martens and fishers in temperate deciduous forests of Québec. J Mammal 2022; 104:159-170. [PMID: 36818684 PMCID: PMC9936503 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interspecific interactions can mediate site occupancy of sympatric species and can be a key factor in habitat use patterns. American martens (Martes americana) and Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are two sympatric mesocarnivores in eastern North American forests. Due to their larger size, fishers have a competitive advantage over martens. We investigated site occupancy of martens and fishers in temperate deciduous forests of Québec, an environment modified by forest management and climate change. We formulated hypotheses on the spatial distribution of the studied species based on the knowledge of local trappers and on the scientific literature regarding forest cover composition, habitat fragmentation, and competitive relationships. We used a network of 49 camera traps monitored over two fall seasons to document site occupancy by both species. We used two-species site occupancy models to assess habitat use and the influence of fishers on martens at spatial grains of different sizes. None of the habitat variables that we considered explained site occupancy by fishers. Availability of dense old coniferous stands explained the spatial distribution of martens both at the home range grain size and at the landscape grain size. We identified the characteristics of habitat hotspots based on the knowledge of trappers, which highlighted the importance of stand composition, height, age, and canopy closure. The characteristics of habitat hotspots for martens in temperate deciduous forests refine the habitat suitability model for American martens that was originally developed for boreal forests of Québec.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Institut de recherche sur les forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Marianne Cheveau
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs du Québec, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Hugo Asselin
- École d’études autochtones, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Casabona I Amat C, Adde A, Mazerolle MJ, Lepage C, Darveau M. Breeding expansion of sandhill cranes in Quebec. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Casabona I Amat
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Antoine Adde
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Christine Lepage
- Canadian Wildlife Service Environment and Climate Change Canada Québec QC G1J 0C3 Canada
| | - Marcel Darveau
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec QC G1V 0A6 Canada
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Adde A, Casabona i Amat C, Mazerolle MJ, Darveau M, Cumming SG, O'Hara RB. Integrated modeling of waterfowl distribution in western Canada using aerial survey and citizen science (eBird) data. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Adde
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec Québec Canada
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Clara Casabona i Amat
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec Québec Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec Québec Canada
| | - Marcel Darveau
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec Québec Canada
| | - Steven G. Cumming
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt Université Laval Québec Québec Canada
- Boreal Avian Modelling Project University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - Robert B. O'Hara
- Department of Mathematical Sciences Norwegian University of Science and Technology Trondheim Norway
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Ethier JP, Fayard A, Soroye P, Choi D, Mazerolle MJ, Trudeau VL. Life history traits and reproductive ecology of North American chorus frogs of the genus Pseudacris (Hylidae). Front Zool 2021; 18:40. [PMID: 34452622 PMCID: PMC8394169 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-021-00425-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibian biodiversity is declining globally, with over 40% of species being considered threatened to become extinct. Crucial to the success of conservation initiatives are a comprehensive understanding of life history and reproductive ecology of target species. Here we provide an overview of the Pseudacris genus, including breeding behaviour, reproduction, development, survival and longevity. We present an updated distribution map of the 18 species found throughout North America. We also summarize the conservation status at the national and subnational (state, provincial, and territorial) levels, in Canada, USA, and Mexico, to evaluate the relationship between life history traits and extinction risk. Results show a high degree of consistency in the life history traits of Pseudacris species considering their relative diversity and wide distribution in North America. However, data are lacking for several species, particularly in the Fat Frog and West Coast clades, causing some uncertainties and discrepancies in the literature. We also found that the most threatened populations of chorus frog were located in the east coast of the USA, potentially as a result of increased levels of anthropogenic disturbance. We suggest that the similarities in life history traits among chorus frog species provides an opportunity for collaboration and united efforts for the conservation of the genus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey P Ethier
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Aurore Fayard
- Centre d'etude de la Foret, Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Peter Soroye
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Daeun Choi
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'etude de la Foret, Département des Sciences du Bois et de la Forêt, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Vance L Trudeau
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
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Feldman MJ, Imbeau L, Marchand P, Mazerolle MJ, Darveau M, Fenton NJ. Trends and gaps in the use of citizen science derived data as input for species distribution models: A quantitative review. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0234587. [PMID: 33705414 PMCID: PMC7951830 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Citizen science (CS) currently refers to the participation of non-scientist volunteers in any discipline of conventional scientific research. Over the last two decades, nature-based CS has flourished due to innovative technology, novel devices, and widespread digital platforms used to collect and classify species occurrence data. For scientists, CS offers a low-cost approach of collecting species occurrence information at large spatial scales that otherwise would be prohibitively expensive. We examined the trends and gaps linked to the use of CS as a source of data for species distribution models (SDMs), in order to propose guidelines and highlight solutions. We conducted a quantitative literature review of 207 peer-reviewed articles to measure how the representation of different taxa, regions, and data types have changed in SDM publications since the 2010s. Our review shows that the number of papers using CS for SDMs has increased at approximately double the rate of the overall number of SDM papers. However, disparities in taxonomic and geographic coverage remain in studies using CS. Western Europe and North America were the regions with the most coverage (73%). Papers on birds (49%) and mammals (19.3%) outnumbered other taxa. Among invertebrates, flying insects including Lepidoptera, Odonata and Hymenoptera received the most attention. Discrepancies between research interest and availability of data were as especially important for amphibians, reptiles and fishes. Compared to studies on animal taxa, papers on plants using CS data remain rare. Although the aims and scope of papers are diverse, species conservation remained the central theme of SDM using CS data. We present examples of the use of CS and highlight recommendations to motivate further research, such as combining multiple data sources and promoting local and traditional knowledge. We hope our findings will strengthen citizen-researchers partnerships to better inform SDMs, especially for less-studied taxa and regions. Researchers stand to benefit from the large quantity of data available from CS sources to improve global predictions of species distributions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano J. Feldman
- Centre d’étude de la forêt, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Centre d’étude de la forêt, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Marchand
- Centre d’étude de la forêt, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Centre d’étude de la forêt, Faculté de foresterie, de géographie et de géomatique, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec City, Canada
| | - Marcel Darveau
- Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Centre d’étude de la forêt, Faculté de foresterie, de géographie et de géomatique, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec City, Canada
- Ducks Unlimited Canada, Québec City, Québec City, Canada
| | - Nicole J. Fenton
- Centre d’étude de la forêt, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts (IRF), Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada
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Sorais M, Spiegel O, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Gulls foraging in landfills: Does atmospheric exposure to halogenated flame retardants result in bioaccumulation? Environ Int 2021; 147:106369. [PMID: 33418198 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Several bird species have adapted to foraging in landfills, although these sites are known to represent significant sources of emissions of toxic semi-volatile chemicals including the halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and emerging compounds). The objective of this study was to investigate the association between atmospheric exposure to PBDEs and selected emerging HFRs and their bioaccumulation in landfill-foraging birds. We determined HFR concentrations in liver of 58 GPS-tagged ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in a colony near Montreal (Canada) as well as their atmospheric exposure determined using a miniature bird-borne passive air sampler. PBDE mixtures were the most abundant HFRs determined in passive air samplers (daily exposure rates of ∑9PentaBDE: 47.4 ± 6.5 pg/day; DecaBDE: 36.0 ± 6.3 pg/day, and ∑3OctaBDE: 3.4 ± 0.5 pg/day) and liver (∑9PentaBDE: 68.1 ± 8.9 ng/g ww; DecaBDE: 52.3 ± 8.1 ng/g ww, and ∑3OctaBDE: 12.8 ± 2.1 ng/g ww), and their concentrations increased with the presence probability of gulls in landfills. We found a spatial relationship between the local sources of atmospheric exposure to PBDEs and the sites associated with greatest PBDE concentrations in liver. Specifically, the atmospheric exposure index was correlated with the bioaccumulation index (Pearson r for ∑9PentaBDE: r = 0.63, p < 0.001; DecaBDE: r = 0.66, p < 0.001, and ∑3OctaBDE: r = 0.42, p < 0.001). However, we found no correlation at the individual level between daily exposure rates of HFRs in passive air samplers and their liver concentrations. This suggests that complex exposure pathways combined with toxicokinetic factors shaped HFR profiles in gull liver, potentially confounding the relationships with atmospheric exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale (GRECA), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Sorais M, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Verreault J. Landfills represent significant atmospheric sources of exposure to halogenated flame retardants for urban-adapted gulls. Environ Int 2020; 135:105387. [PMID: 31841804 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are contaminants that are abundantly emitted from waste management facilities (WMFs) and that became ubiquitous in air of urbanized regions. Urban birds including gulls have adapted to exploiting human food resources (refuse) in WMFs, and have thus experienced population explosions worldwide. However, foraging in WMFs for birds may result in exposure to HFRs that have been shown to be toxic for animals. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of foraging near or in various WMFs on the atmospheric exposure of birds to HFRs, and to localize other sources of HFRs at the regional scale in a highly urbanized environment. We measured the atmospheric exposure to HFRs in one of the most abundant gull species in North America, the ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis), breeding in the densely-populated Montreal area (Canada) using a novel approach combining bird-borne GPS dataloggers and miniature passive air samplers (PASs). We determined concentrations of 11 polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and three emerging HFRs of high environmental concern in PASs carried by gulls. We show that the daily sampling rates (pg/day) of PBDEs in PASs were highest in gulls foraging in or around landfills, but were not influenced by meteorological variables. In contrast, the daily sampling rates of emerging HFRs were lower compared to PBDEs and were not influenced by the presence of gulls in or near WMFs. This study demonstrates that atmospheric exposure to HFRs and perhaps other semi-volatile contaminants is underestimated, yet important for birds foraging in landfills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Sorais
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'étude de la forêt (CEF), Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Quebec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale (GRECA), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Venier LA, Swystun T, Mazerolle MJ, Kreutzweiser DP, Wainio-Keizer KL, McIlwrick KA, Woods ME, Wang X. Modelling vegetation understory cover using LiDAR metrics. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0220096. [PMID: 31774813 PMCID: PMC6881062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Forest understory vegetation is an important characteristic of the forest. Predicting and mapping understory is a critical need for forest management and conservation planning, but it has proved difficult with available methods to date. LiDAR has the potential to generate remotely sensed forest understory structure data, but this potential has yet to be fully validated. Our objective was to examine the capacity of LiDAR point cloud data to predict forest understory cover. We modeled ground-based observations of understory structure in three vertical strata (0.5 m to < 1.5 m, 1.5 m to < 2.5 m, 2.5 m to < 3.5 m) as a function of a variety of LiDAR metrics using both mixed-effects and Random Forest models. We compared four understory LiDAR metrics designed to control for the spatial heterogeneity of sampling density. The four metrics were highly correlated and they all produced high values of variance explained in mixed-effects models. The top-ranked model used a voxel-based understory metric along with vertical stratum (Akaike weight = 1, explained variance = 87%, cross-validation error = 15.6%). We found evidence of occlusion of LiDAR pulses in the lowest stratum but no evidence that the occlusion influenced the predictability of understory structure. The Random Forest model results were consistent with those of the mixed-effects models, in that all four understory LiDAR metrics were identified as important, along with vertical stratum. The Random Forest model explained 74.4% of the variance, but had a lower cross-validation error of 12.9%. We conclude that the best approach to predict understory structure is using the mixed-effects model with the voxel-based understory LiDAR metric along with vertical stratum, because it yielded the highest explained variance with the fewest number of variables. However, results show that other understory LiDAR metrics (fractional cover, normalized cover and leaf area density) would still be effective in mixed-effects and Random Forest modelling approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa A. Venier
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Tom Swystun
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Department of Wood and Forest Sciences, Center for forest research, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - David P. Kreutzweiser
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Kerrie L. Wainio-Keizer
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Ken A. McIlwrick
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Murray E. Woods
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, North Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Xianli Wang
- Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Saul Ste Marie, ON, Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Suffice
- Université du Québec en Abitibi‐Témiscamingue 445 boulevard de l'Université Rouyn‐Noranda Québec J9X 5E4 Canada
| | - Marianne Cheveau
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Gouvernement du QuébecDirection générale de la gestion de la faune et des habitats 880, chemin Sainte‐Foy, 2e étage Québec Québec G1S 4X4 Canada
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Université du Québec en Abitibi‐Témiscamingue 445 boulevard de l'Université Rouyn‐Noranda Québec J9X 5E4 Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêtPavillon Abitibi‐Price 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Université Laval Québec Québec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Hugo Asselin
- Université du Québec en Abitibi‐Témiscamingue 445 boulevard de l'Université Rouyn‐Noranda Québec J9X 5E4 Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Département des sciences biologiques 141, Avenue du Président‐Kennedy Montréal Québec H2X 1Y4 Canada
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Desjardins CF, Mazerolle MJ, Verreault J. Is the urban-adapted ring-billed gull a biovector for flame retardants? Environ Pollut 2019; 244:109-117. [PMID: 30321706 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Birds may act as biovectors of nutrients and contaminants at the regional scale and potentially increase the exposure to such substances in ecosystems frequented by these birds. However, no study has estimated biotransport of contaminants by individual birds through their feces (guano). Elevated concentrations of halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) have been reported in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding near Montreal (QC, Canada)- a known hotspot for HFRs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and selected emerging HFRs (e.g., Dechlorane-related compounds) in guano of individual ring-billed gulls, and to assess the relative accumulation of these HFRs by comparing concentrations in plasma (absorbed) versus guano (excreted). A second objective was to determine the importance of one of the largest ring-billed gull colony (Deslauriers Island) in North America located near Montreal as a vector of HFR biotransport at the regional scale. Elevated concentrations of PBDEs and Dechlorane plus were determined in guano and plasma of ring-billed gulls, although in general no difference was found between males and females. However, plasma to guano concentration ratios were significantly greater in females for the highly hydrophobic BDE-209 and Dechlorane plus compared to males. Overall, for both sexes combined, the total amount of HFRs (sum of the 16 major PBDEs and five emerging HFRs) deposited by this entire colony (64,980 gulls) in the Montreal area through guano during the 28-days incubation period was estimated to 1 g. This study showed that urban-adapted ring-billed gulls from this large colony represent an underestimated biovector of HFRs, which may contribute to augment exposure to these toxic compounds in nearby ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloé F Desjardins
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'étude de la forêt, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada.
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Fauteux D, Gauthier G, Mazerolle MJ, Coallier N, Bêty J, Berteaux D. Evaluation of invasive and non-invasive methods to monitor rodent abundance in the Arctic. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Fauteux
- Canadian Museum of Nature and Centre d’Études Nordiques; P.O. Box 3443 Station D Ottawa Ontario K1P 6P4 Canada
| | - Gilles Gauthier
- Department of Biology and Centre d’Études Nordiques; Université Laval; 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Department of Wood and Forest Science and Centre d’Étude de la Forêt; Université Laval; 2405 rue de la Terrasse Québec Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Nicolas Coallier
- Department of Biology and Centre d’Études Nordiques; Université Laval; 1045 Avenue de la Médecine Québec Quebec G1V 0A6 Canada
| | - Joël Bêty
- Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity and Centre d’Études Nordiques; Université du Québec à Rimouski; 300 Allée des Ursulines Rimouski Quebec G5L 3A1 Canada
| | - Dominique Berteaux
- Canada Research Chair on Northern Biodiversity and Centre d’Études Nordiques; Université du Québec à Rimouski; 300 Allée des Ursulines Rimouski Quebec G5L 3A1 Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J. Mazerolle
- Département de biologieUniversité de Moncton, Moncton, Nouveau-Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada,
| | - Marc-André Villard
- Département de biologieUniversité de Moncton, Moncton, Nouveau-Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada,
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Strukelj M, Brais S, Mazerolle MJ, Paré D, Drapeau P. Decomposition Patterns of Foliar Litter and Deadwood in Managed and Unmanaged Stands: A 13-Year Experiment in Boreal Mixedwoods. Ecosystems 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-017-0135-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Barbé M, Chavel ÉE, Fenton NJ, Imbeau L, Mazerolle MJ, Drapeau P, Bergeron Y. Dispersal of bryophytes and ferns is facilitated by small mammals in the boreal forest. Écoscience 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2016.1235917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Marion Barbé
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut de recherche sur les forêts, 445 Boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Émilie E. Chavel
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut de recherche sur les forêts, 445 Boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Nicole J. Fenton
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut de recherche sur les forêts, 445 Boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut de recherche sur les forêts, 445 Boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- Université Laval, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, 2405 rue de la Terrasse, Québec, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Département des sciences biologiques, 405 rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, Québec H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Yves Bergeron
- Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Institut de recherche sur les forêts, 445 Boulevard de l’Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
- Université du Québec à Montréal, Département des sciences biologiques, 405 rue Sainte-Catherine Est, Montréal, Québec H2L 2C4, Canada
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Bordeleau S, Asselin H, Mazerolle MJ, Imbeau L. "Is it still safe to eat traditional food?" Addressing traditional food safety concerns in aboriginal communities. Sci Total Environ 2016; 565:529-538. [PMID: 27196990 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Food insecurity is a growing concern for indigenous communities worldwide. While the risk of heavy metal contamination associated to wild food consumption has been extensively studied in the Arctic, data are scarce for the Boreal zone. This study addressed the concerns over possible heavy metal exposure through consumption of traditional food in four Anishnaabeg communities living in the Eastern North American boreal forest. Liver and meat samples were obtained from 196 snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) trapped during winter 2012 across the traditional lands of the participating communities and within 56-156km of a copper smelter. Interviews were conducted with 78 household heads to assess traditional food habits, focusing on snowshoe hare consumption. Concentrations in most meat and liver samples were below the detection limit for As, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb. Very few meat samples had detectable Cd and Hg concentrations, but liver samples had mean dry weight concentrations of 3.79mg/kg and 0.15mg/kg respectively. Distance and orientation from the smelter did not explain the variability between samples, but percent deciduous and mixed forest cover had a marginal negative effect on liver Cd, Cu and Zn concentrations. The estimated exposition risk from snowshoe hare consumption was low, although heavy consumers could slightly exceed recommended Hg doses. In accordance with the holistic perspective commonly adopted by indigenous people, the nutritional and sociocultural importance of traditional food must be considered in risk assessment. Traditional food plays a significant role in reducing and preventing serious health issues disproportionately affecting First Nations, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serge Bordeleau
- Chaire de Recherche du Canada en Foresterie Autochtone, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada; Chaire Industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQÀM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada.
| | - Hugo Asselin
- Chaire de Recherche du Canada en Foresterie Autochtone, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada; Chaire Industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQÀM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada.
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Chaire Industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQÀM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada.
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Chaire Industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQÀM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada.
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Sunyer P, Muñoz A, Mazerolle MJ, Bonal R, Espelta JM. Wood mouse population dynamics: Interplay among seed abundance seasonality, shrub cover and wild boar interference. Mamm Biol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc J. Mazerolle
- Centre de recherche en biologie forestière, Pavillon Abitibi-Price, Faculté de Foresterie et de Géomatique, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec G1K 7P4, Canada,
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Gentes ML, Mazerolle MJ, Giroux JF, Patenaude-Monette M, Verreault J. Tracking the sources of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in birds: foraging in waste management facilities results in higher DecaBDE exposure in males. Environ Res 2015; 138:361-371. [PMID: 25769125 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.02.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Differences in feeding ecology are now recognized as major determinants of inter-individual variations in contaminant profiles of free-ranging animals, but exceedingly little attention has been devoted to the role of habitat use. Marked inter-individual variations and high levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (e.g., DecaBDE) have previously been documented in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) breeding in a colony near Montreal (QC, Canada). However, the environmental sources of these compounds, and thus the reasons causing these large inter-individual variations remain unidentified. In the present study, we used GPS-based telemetry (±5 to 10m precision) to track ring-billed gulls from this colony to reconstruct their movements at the landscape level. We related habitat use of individual gulls (n=76) to plasma concentrations (ng/g ww) and relative contributions (percentages) to Σ38PBDEs of major congeners in the internationally restricted PentaBDE and current-use DecaBDE mixtures. Male gulls that visited waste management facilities (WMFs; i.e., landfills, wastewater treatment plants and related facilities; 25% of all GPS-tracked males) exhibited greater DecaBDE (concentrations and percentages) and lower PentaBDE (percentages) relative to those that did not. In contrast, no such relationships were found in females. Moreover, in males, DecaBDE (concentrations and percentages) increased with percentages of time spent in WMFs (i.e., ~5% of total foraging time), while PentaBDE (percentages) decreased. No relationships between percentages of time spent in other habitats (i.e., urban areas, agriculture fields, and St. Lawrence River) were found in either sex. These findings suggest that animals breeding in the vicinity of WMFs as well as mobile species that only use these sites for short stopovers to forage, could be at risk of enhanced DecaBDE exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Line Gentes
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, 445 boulevard de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, Canada J9X 5E9.
| | - Jean-François Giroux
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale, Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
| | - Martin Patenaude-Monette
- Groupe de recherche en écologie comportementale et animale, Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8
| | - Jonathan Verreault
- Centre de recherche en toxicologie de l'environnement (TOXEN), Département des sciences biologiques, Université du Québec à Montréal, P.O. Box 8888, Station Centre-ville, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3P8.
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Priol P, Mazerolle MJ, Imbeau L, Drapeau P, Trudeau C, Ramière J. Using dynamic N-mixture models to test cavity limitation on northern flying squirrel demographic parameters using experimental nest box supplementation. Ecol Evol 2014; 4:2165-77. [PMID: 25360258 PMCID: PMC4201431 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Dynamic N-mixture models have been recently developed to estimate demographic parameters of unmarked individuals while accounting for imperfect detection. We propose an application of the Dail and Madsen (2011: Biometrics, 67, 577-587) dynamic N-mixture model in a manipulative experiment using a before-after control-impact design (BACI). Specifically, we tested the hypothesis of cavity limitation of a cavity specialist species, the northern flying squirrel, using nest box supplementation on half of 56 trapping sites. Our main purpose was to evaluate the impact of an increase in cavity availability on flying squirrel population dynamics in deciduous stands in northwestern Québec with the dynamic N-mixture model. We compared abundance estimates from this recent approach with those from classic capture-mark-recapture models and generalized linear models. We compared apparent survival estimates with those from Cormack-Jolly-Seber (CJS) models. Average recruitment rate was 6 individuals per site after 4 years. Nevertheless, we found no effect of cavity supplementation on apparent survival and recruitment rates of flying squirrels. Contrary to our expectations, initial abundance was not affected by conifer basal area (food availability) and was negatively affected by snag basal area (cavity availability). Northern flying squirrel population dynamics are not influenced by cavity availability at our deciduous sites. Consequently, we suggest that this species should not be considered an indicator of old forest attributes in our study area, especially in view of apparent wide population fluctuations across years. Abundance estimates from N-mixture models were similar to those from capture-mark-recapture models, although the latter had greater precision. Generalized linear mixed models produced lower abundance estimates, but revealed the same relationship between abundance and snag basal area. Apparent survival estimates from N-mixture models were higher and less precise than those from CJS models. However, N-mixture models can be particularly useful to evaluate management effects on animal populations, especially for species that are difficult to detect in situations where individuals cannot be uniquely identified. They also allow investigating the effects of covariates at the site level, when low recapture rates would require restricting classic CMR analyses to a subset of sites with the most captures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Priol
- Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada ; Centre d'Étude de la Forêt, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Marc J Mazerolle
- Centre d'Étude de la Forêt, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Louis Imbeau
- Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada ; Centre d'Étude de la Forêt, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Département des Sciences Biologiques, Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Université du Québec à Montréal P.O Box 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada
| | - Caroline Trudeau
- Ministère des Ressources Naturelles, Direction générale de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue 70 avenue Québec, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 6R1, Canada
| | - Jessica Ramière
- Chaire industrielle CRSNG-UQAT-UQAM en Aménagement Forestier Durable, Institut de Recherche sur les Forêts, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada ; Centre d'Étude de la Forêt, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue 445 boul. de l'Université, Rouyn-Noranda, QC, J9X 5E4, Canada
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Trudeau C, Imbeau L, Drapeau P, Mazerolle MJ. Winter site occupancy patterns of the northern flying squirrel in boreal mixed-wood forests. Mamm Biol 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2012.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Abstract
We investigated whether paved roads adjacent to 16 ponds acted as barriers to movements of juvenile wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), green frogs (Lithobates clamitans), mole salamanders (Ambystoma laterale, A. maculatum), and American toads (Anaxyrus americanus) in eastern New Brunswick, Canada. Using pitfall traps and drift fences, we recorded captures of juveniles dispersing away from their natal ponds into forest habitat (pondside fences) or across the road (roadside fences) over two field seasons. To explain variations in abundance of dispersers among sites, we measured several road-associated variables including traffic intensity and roadside habitat structure, pond quality, and weather variables. We estimated the activity patterns (across 4-day periods) and seasonal abundance of juveniles in transit between ponds and terrestrial habitat using generalized linear mixed models. For all groups, activity across 4-day periods increased with either total precipitation or minimum air temperature. However, road-associated variables were also important for some species. Mole salamander activity was lowest next to roads. Wood frog activity increased with minimum air temperature, but the effect was weakest at roadside fences (minimum air temperature × fence position interaction). Seasonal abundance of most groups varied with habitat structure or pond hydroperiod. Green frog abundance decreased with increasing traffic intensity, but abundance was higher at roadside fences than pondside fences. In contrast, wood frog seasonal abundance tended to be lowest at roadside fences. We conclude that road-associated disturbances are detectable at fine temporal scales and that amphibian responses to such variables can be influenced by weather variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Gravel
- 1Chaire de recherche du Canada en conservation des paysages, Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Nouveau-Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Marc J. Mazerolle
- 2Centre d’étude de la forêt, Département des sciences appliquées, Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Québec J9X 5E4, Canada
| | - Marc-André Villard
- 1Chaire de recherche du Canada en conservation des paysages, Département de biologie, Université de Moncton, Moncton, Nouveau-Brunswick E1A 3E9, Canada
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Trudeau C, Imbeau L, Drapeau P, Mazerolle MJ. Site occupancy and cavity use by the northern flying squirrel in the boreal forest. J Wildl Manage 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Hario M, Mazerolle MJ, Saurola P. Survival of female common eiders Somateria m. mollissima in a declining population of the northern Baltic Sea. Oecologia 2009; 159:747-56. [PMID: 19139920 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-008-1265-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2008] [Accepted: 12/08/2008] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In long-lived species, adult survival is the population parameter having the highest elasticity, and therefore, it can be expected to be least affected by climatic variations. We studied the dynamics and survival of breeding female common eiders Somateria mollissima mollissima in the Baltic Sea from 1960 to 2007. Using nest censuses and capture-recapture methods, we investigated: (1) the annual apparent survival (phi) of breeding females, (2) the survival-mediated population fluctuation, (3) weather effects on survival, and (4) long-term population trends. Based on capture histories of 6,393 females, average phi was 0.882 (95% confidence interval 0.864, 0.899). We found no relationship between population growth rate and survival. Furthermore, the highest ranking models, based on Akaike's information criterion, indicated no effect of the North Atlantic Oscillation index on the phi of eider females. Population size, assessed from nest counts, has been steadily declining since 1985. Despite the long time series (48 years), the overall variation in the phi rates remained comparatively narrow, at maximum ranging only 10% between 2 consecutive years. Results imply that declining female survival is not the driving force behind the population decline, and we hypothesize that the overall poor fledging success and the consequent low recruitment explain the decreasing trend of nest densities since 1985.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martti Hario
- Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, Söderskär Game Research Station, P.O. Box 2, 00791 Helsinki, Finland.
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Abstract
An animal's capacity to recolonize a patch depends on at least two components: its ability to detect the patch and its ability to reach it. However, the disruption of such processes by anthropic disturbances could explain low animal abundance patterns observed by many investigators in certain landscapes. Through field experiments, we compared the orientation and homing success of northern green frogs (Rana clamitans melanota Rafinesque, 1820) and northern leopard frogs (Rana pipiens Schreber, 1782) translocated across disturbed or undisturbed surfaces. We also monitored the path selected by individuals when presented with a choice between a short distance over a disturbed surface and a longer, undisturbed route. Finally, we measured the water loss and behaviour of frogs on substrates resulting from anthropogenic disturbances and a control. When presented with a choice, 72% of the frogs avoided disturbed surfaces. Although able to orient towards the pond of capture when translocated on disturbed surfaces, frogs had a lower probability of homing successfully to the pond than when translocated at a similar distance on an undisturbed surface. Frogs lost the most water on substrates associated with disturbance and in the absence of cover. Our data illustrate that anthropically disturbed areas devoid of cover, such as mined peatlands and agricultural fields, disrupt the ability of frogs to reach habitat patches and are likely explanations to their reduced abundance patterns in such environments.
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Abstract
Bogs, or ombrotrophic peatlands, are well represented in parts of southeastern Canada but are subjected to increasing pressure from the peat industry. We assessed the impact of peat mining on small mammals inhabiting unexploited bog fragments on the periphery of mined bogs. We conducted two separate studies in bogs mined to different levels (0-83%) in southeastern Québec and New Brunswick. The first study used a low sampling effort over 1 month in 26 bogs, while the second used a high sampling effort of 6 months spread across 2 years in 12 bogs. Of the 15 small-mammal species encountered, only 2 were bog specialists. Abundance and species richness of small mammals in bog fragments increased significantly with percentage of area mined and, in some cases, increased with bog area. Both studies suggest that disturbances resulting from peat mining facilitate the invasion of more generalized small-mammal species. Furthermore, small mammals were more abundant near forest or mined edges than at bog centers, and some species responded strongly to vegetation cover. The response of small mammals to peat mining contrasts with the one documented for birds, amphibians, and plants.
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