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Boscarino-Gaetano R, Vernes K, Nordberg EJ. Creating wildlife habitat using artificial structures: a review of their efficacy and potential use in solar farms. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1848-1867. [PMID: 38735646 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
The biodiversity crisis is exacerbated by a growing human population modifying nearly three-quarters of the Earth's land surface area for anthropogenic uses. Habitat loss and modification represent the largest threat to biodiversity and finding ways to offset species decline has been a significant undertaking for conservation. Landscape planning and conservation strategies can enhance habitat suitability for biodiversity in human-modified landscapes. Artificial habitat structures such as artificial reefs, nest boxes, chainsaw hollows, artificial burrows, and artificial hibernacula have all been successfully implemented to improve species survival in human-modified and fragmented landscapes. As the global shift towards renewable energy sources continues to rise, the development of photovoltaic systems is growing exponentially. Large-scale renewable projects, such as photovoltaic solar farms have large space requirements and thus have the potential to displace local wildlife. We discuss the feasibility of 'conservoltaic systems' - photovoltaic systems that incorporate elements tailored specifically to enhance wildlife habitat suitability and species conservation. Artificial habitat structures can potentially lessen the impacts of industrial development (e.g., photovoltaic solar farms) through strategic landscape planning and an understanding of local biodiversity requirements to facilitate recolonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remo Boscarino-Gaetano
- Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - Karl Vernes
- Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - Eric J Nordberg
- Ecosystem Management, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
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2
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Schulwitz SE, Hill GC, Fry V, McClure CJW. Evaluating citizen science outreach: A case-study with The Peregrine Fund's American Kestrel Partnership. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248948. [PMID: 33784330 PMCID: PMC8009395 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Citizen science programs can be powerful drivers of knowledge and scientific understanding and, in recent decades, they have become increasingly popular. Conducting successful research with the aid of citizen scientists often rests on the efficacy of a program’s outreach strategies. Program evaluation is increasingly recognized as a critical practice for citizen science practitioners to ensure that all efforts, including outreach, contribute to the overall goals of the program. The Peregrine Fund’s American Kestrel Partnership (AKP) is one such citizen science program that relies on outreach to engage participants in effective monitoring of a declining falcon species. Here, we examine whether various communication strategies were associated with desired outreach goals of the AKP. We demonstrate how social media, webcams, discussion boards, and newsletters were associated with perception of learning, agreement with our conservation messaging, and participation in our box monitoring program. Our results thus help us to improve our outreach methodology, suggest areas where other citizen science programs might improve their outreach efforts, and highlight future research priorities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Greg C. Hill
- School of Public Service, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| | - Vanessa Fry
- Idaho Policy Institute, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
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3
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Kamm M, Michael Reed J. Assessing Microhabitat Characteristics as Predictors of Nest-Box Occupancy in a Declining Bird Species, the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius). Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2020. [DOI: 10.1656/045.027.0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Kamm
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 01742
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4
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Bailey RL, Faulkner‐Grant HA, Martin VY, Phillips TB, Bonter DN. Nest usurpation by non‐native birds and the role of people in nest box management. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Buers MA, Doyle FI, Lawson KJ, Hodges KE. Effects of biosolids amendments on American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) nest-site selection and diet. CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2019-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization is a common practice, as it improves plant yields. In many areas, biosolids (remains from treated wastewater) are used instead of chemical fertilizers owing to multi-year nutrient release and positive changes in soils and water retention. Little is known about whether biosolids affect animal consumers. Here, we examine diets and nesting sites of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius Linnaeus, 1758) in British Columbia, Canada. Our major study area was a large cattle ranch that has been grazed for over a century and where biosolids were applied in the previous 1–3 years. Kestrels selected nests in areas with higher Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)) nest density and with a higher proportion of pastures with biosolids applications, but with less forest. Kestrels were observed more often on biosolids-amended pastures than in untreated areas. Kestrels primarily ate voles (genus Microtus Schrank, 1798), but also consumed grasshoppers (Orthoptera) late in the breeding season when grasshoppers were abundant. Kestrel diets were slightly more varied on a nearby control area than on the ranch. Our results suggest that biosolids applications improve prey availability for Kestrels, thus potentially acting as a restoration tool in areas with degraded habitats or where Kestrels have declined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. Buers
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Frank I. Doyle
- Wildlife Dynamics Consulting, 5575 Kleanza Drive, Terrace, BC V8G 0A7, Canada
| | - Kirstie J. Lawson
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Karen E. Hodges
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
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Selonen V, Remm J, Hanski IK, Henttonen H, Huitu O, Jokinen M, Korpimäki E, Mäkelä A, Sulkava R, Wistbacka R. Population fluctuations and spatial synchrony in an arboreal rodent. Oecologia 2019; 191:861-871. [PMID: 31667601 PMCID: PMC6853850 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04537-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Climatic conditions, trophic links between species and dispersal may induce spatial synchrony in population fluctuations. Spatial synchrony increases the extinction risk of populations and, thus, it is important to understand how synchrony-inducing mechanisms affect populations already threatened by habitat loss and climate change. For many species, it is unclear how population fluctuations vary over time and space, and what factors potentially drive this variation. In this study, we focus on factors determining population fluctuations and spatial synchrony in the Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans, using long-term monitoring data from 16 Finnish populations located 2–400 km apart. We found an indication of synchronous population dynamics on a large scale in flying squirrels. However, the synchrony was not found to be clearly related to distance between study sites because the populations seemed to be strongly affected by small-scale local factors. The regularity of population fluctuations varied over time. The fluctuations were linked to changes in winter precipitation, which has previously been linked to the reproductive success of flying squirrels. Food abundance (tree mast) and predator abundance were not related to population fluctuations in this study. We conclude that spatial synchrony was not unequivocally related to distance in flying squirrels, as has been observed in earlier studies for more abundant rodent species. Our study also emphasises the role of climate in population fluctuations and the synchrony of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesa Selonen
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland.
| | - Jaanus Remm
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51014, Tartu, Estonia
| | | | - Heikki Henttonen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 2, 00791, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, P.O. Box 2, 00791, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maarit Jokinen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Erkki Korpimäki
- Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | | | - Risto Sulkava
- University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Savonrannantie 12a, 79940, Vihtari, Finland
| | - Ralf Wistbacka
- Department of Biology, University of Oulu, 90014, Oulu, Finland
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7
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Jiménez-Franco MV, Martínez-Fernández J, Martínez JE, Pagán I, Calvo JF, Esteve MA. Nest sites as a key resource for population persistence: A case study modelling nest occupancy under forestry practices. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205404. [PMID: 30308009 PMCID: PMC6181357 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural nest sites are important breeding resource in terms of population dynamics, especially in forest systems where nest trees limit populations or timber harvesting destroys nests. Nest structures usually have a long life and can be reused by breeding pairs across multiple breeding seasons, so studying their dynamics is of relevance for biodiversity conservation. In this study, we develop a dynamic model to evaluate nest site availability and its influence on the breeding settlement of a forest raptor community composed of booted eagle (Hieraaetus pennatus), common buzzard (Buteo buteo) and northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) in a Mediterranean forest ecosystem in southeast Spain. This model approach is also applied to analyse the influence of forestry practices on the dynamics of occupied nests for a simulated period (2010–2050). The simulated scenarios include unmanaged forest and timber harvesting practices of clearcuttings every ten years considering two factors: the age class of trees for clearcutting (40, 50, 60 and 70 years old) and the type of forest management (with or without nest protection). Our simulated results show that the number of breeding pairs is constant during the period without timber harvest, whereas breeding pairs gradually decrease in the scenario of clearcutting trees aged from 70 to 50-years without nest protection, and populations become extinct with the clearcutting of 40-year old trees. Considering the practice of clearcutting and nest protection, nest occupancy can reach the maximum number of occupied nests for the scenarios of cutting 70 and 60-year old trees, and maintain populations without extinction for the scenarios of cutting 40-year old trees. We conclude that nest sites (whether occupied or not) are key resources for increasing the occupancy of the forest raptor community and that nest protection measures buffer the effects of clearcuttings, thus preventing population extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- María V. Jiménez-Franco
- Área de Ecología, Departamento de Biología Aplicada, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | | | - José E. Martínez
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Bonelli’s Eagle Study and Conservation Group, Murcia, Spain
| | - Iluminada Pagán
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José F. Calvo
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Esteve
- Departamento de Ecología e Hidrología, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Shave ME, Shwiff SA, Elser JL, Lindell CA. Falcons using orchard nest boxes reduce fruit-eating bird abundances and provide economic benefits for a fruit-growing region. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Shave
- Department of Integrative Biology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
| | - Stephanie A. Shwiff
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services; National Wildlife Research Center; Fort Collins Colorado
| | - Julie L. Elser
- USDA APHIS Wildlife Services; National Wildlife Research Center; Fort Collins Colorado
| | - Catherine A. Lindell
- Department of Integrative Biology; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
- Center for Global Change & Earth Observation; Michigan State University; East Lansing Michigan
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9
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Chainsaw-Carved Cavities Better Mimic the Thermal Properties of Natural Tree Hollows than Nest Boxes and Log Hollows. FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9050235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Shave ME, Lindell CA. Occupancy modeling reveals territory-level effects of nest boxes on the presence, colonization, and persistence of a declining raptor in a fruit-growing region. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185701. [PMID: 29045445 PMCID: PMC5646792 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nest boxes for predators in agricultural regions are an easily implemented tool to improve local habitat quality with potential benefits for both conservation and agriculture. The potential for nest boxes to increase raptor populations in agricultural regions is of particular interest given their positions as top predators. This study examined the effects of cherry orchard nest boxes on the local breeding population of a declining species, the American Kestrel (Falco sparverius), in a fruit-growing region of Michigan. During the 2013-2016 study, we added a total of 23 new nest boxes in addition to 24 intact boxes installed previously; kestrels used up to 100% of our new boxes each season. We conducted temporally-replicated surveys along four roadside transects divided into 1.6 km × 500 m sites. We developed a multi-season occupancy model under a Bayesian framework and found that nest boxes had strong positive effects on first-year site occupancy, site colonization, and site persistence probabilities. The estimated number of occupied sites increased between 2013 and 2016, which correlated with the increase in number of sites with boxes. Kestrel detections decreased with survey date but were not affected by time of day or activity at the boxes themselves. These results indicate that nest boxes determined the presence of kestrels at our study sites and support the conclusion that the local kestrel population is likely limited by nest site availability. Furthermore, our results are highly relevant to the farmers on whose properties the boxes were installed, for we can conclude that installing a nest box in an orchard resulted in a high probability of kestrels occupying that orchard or the areas adjacent to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Shave
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Catherine A. Lindell
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Program in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
- Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
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