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Kovach AI, Cheeseman AE, Cohen JB, Rittenhouse CD, Whipps CM. Separating Proactive Conservation from Species Listing Decisions. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 70:710-729. [PMID: 36100759 PMCID: PMC9470069 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01713-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Proactive Conservation is a paradigm of natural resource management in the United States that encourages voluntary, collaborative efforts to restore species before they need to be protected through government regulations. This paradigm is widely used to conserve at-risk species today, and when used in conjunction with the Policy for Evaluation of Conservation Efforts (PECE), it allows for successful conservation actions to preclude listing of species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Despite the popularity of this paradigm, and recent flagship examples of its use (e.g., greater sage grouse, Centrocercus urophasianus), critical assessments of the outcomes of Proactive Conservation are lacking from the standpoint of species status and recovery metrics. Here, we provide such an evaluation, using the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis), heralded as a success of Proactive Conservation efforts in the northeastern United States, as a case study. We review the history and current status of the species, based on the state of the science, in the context of the Conservation Initiative, and the 2015 PECE decision not to the list the species under the ESA. In addition to the impacts of the PECE decision on the New England cottontail conservation specifically, our review also evaluates the benefits and limits of the Proactive Conservation paradigm more broadly, and we make recommendations for its role in relation to ESA implementation for the future of at-risk species management. We find that the status and assurances for recovery under the PECE policy, presented at the time of the New England cottontail listing decision, were overly optimistic, and the status of the species has worsened in subsequent years. We suggest that use of PECE to avoid listing may occur because of the perception of the ESA as a punitive law and a misconception that it is a failure, although very few listed species have gone extinct. Redefining recovery to decouple it from delisting and instead link it to probability of persistence under recommended conservation measures would remove some of the stigma of listing, and it would strengthen the role of Species Status Assessments in endangered species conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne I Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, USA.
| | - Amanda E Cheeseman
- South Dakota State University, Natural Resource Management, Brookings, SD, USA
| | - Jonathan B Cohen
- Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Chadwick D Rittenhouse
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Christopher M Whipps
- Department of Environmental Biology, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, USA
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2
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Bauer ML, O'Brien KM, Kovach AI. Can at‐risk species serve as effective conservation surrogates? Case study in northeastern
US
shrublands. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa L. Bauer
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
| | - Kathleen M. O'Brien
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge United States Fish and Wildlife Service Wells Maine USA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
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3
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McGreevy TJ, Michaelides S, Djan M, Sullivan M, Beltrán DM, Buffum B, Husband T. Location and Species Matters: Variable Influence of the Environment on the Gene Flow of Imperiled, Native and Invasive Cottontails. Front Genet 2021; 12:708871. [PMID: 34659333 PMCID: PMC8511500 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.708871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The environment plays an important role in the movement of individuals and their associated genes among populations, which facilitates gene flow. Gene flow can help maintain the genetic diversity both within and between populations and counter the negative impact of genetic drift, which can decrease the fitness of individuals. Sympatric species can have different habitat preferences, and thus can exhibit different patterns of genetic variability and population structure. The specialist-generalist variation hypothesis (SGVH) predicts that specialists will have lower genetic diversity, lower effective population sizes (Ne), and less gene flow among populations. In this study, we used spatially explicit, individual-based comparative approaches to test SGVH predictions in two sympatric cottontail species and identify environmental variables that influence their gene flow. New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the only native cottontail in the Northeast US, an early successional habitat specialist, and a species of conservation concern. Eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) is an invasive species in the Northeast US and a habitat generalist. We characterized each species' genomic variation by developing double-digest Restriction-site Associated DNA sequence single nucleotide polymorphism markers, quantified their habitat with Geographic Information System environmental variables, and conducted our analyses at multiple scales. Surprisingly, both species had similar levels of genetic diversity and eastern cottontail's Ne was only higher than New England cottontail in one of three subregions. At a regional level, the population clusters of New England cottontail were more distinct than eastern cottontail, but the subregional levels showed more geographic areas of restricted gene flow for eastern cottontail than New England cottontail. In general, the environmental variables had the predicted effect on each species' gene flow. However, the most important environmental variable varied by subregion and species, which shows that location and species matter. Our results provide partial support for the SGVH and the identification of environmental variables that facilitate or impede gene flow can be used to help inform management decisions to conserve New England cottontail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J McGreevy
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Mihajla Djan
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mary Sullivan
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Diana M Beltrán
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Bill Buffum
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Thomas Husband
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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4
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Fusco NA, Pehek E, Munshi‐South J. Urbanization reduces gene flow but not genetic diversity of stream salamander populations in the New York City metropolitan area. Evol Appl 2021; 14:99-116. [PMID: 33519959 PMCID: PMC7819553 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural landscape heterogeneity and barriers resulting from urbanization can reduce genetic connectivity between populations. The evolutionary, demographic, and ecological effects of reduced connectivity may lead to population isolation and ultimately extinction. Alteration to the terrestrial and aquatic environment caused by urban influence can affect gene flow, specifically for stream salamanders who depend on both landscapes for survival and reproduction. To examine how urbanization affects a relatively common stream salamander species, we compared genetic connectivity of Eurycea bislineata (northern two-lined salamander) populations within and between streams in an urban, suburban, and rural habitat around the New York City (NYC) metropolitan area. We report reduced genetic connectivity between streams within the urban landscape found to correspond with potential barriers to gene flow, that is, areas with more dense urbanization (roadways, industrial buildings, and residential housing). The suburban populations also exhibited areas of reduced connectivity correlated with areas of greater human land use and greater connectivity within a preserve protected from development. Connectivity was relatively high among neighboring rural streams, but a major roadway corresponded with genetic breaks even though the habitat contained more connected green space overall. Despite greater human disturbance across the landscape, urban and suburban salamander populations maintained comparable levels of genetic diversity to their rural counterparts. Yet small effective population size in the urban habitats yielded a high probability of loss of heterozygosity due to genetic drift in the future. In conclusion, urbanization impacted connectivity among stream salamander populations where its continual influence may eventually hinder population persistence for this native species in urban habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ellen Pehek
- Natural Resources GroupNew York City Department of Parks & RecreationNew YorkNYUSA
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5
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Cheeseman AE, Cohen JB, Ryan SJ, Whipps CM. Is conservation based on best available science creating an ecological trap for an imperiled lagomorph? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:912-930. [PMID: 33520175 PMCID: PMC7820145 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat quality regulates fitness and population density, making it a key driver of population size. Hence, increasing habitat quality is often a primary goal of species conservation. Yet, assessments of fitness and density are difficult and costly to obtain. Therefore, species conservation often uses "best available science," extending inferences across taxa, space, or time, and inferring habitat quality from studies of habitat selection. However, there are scenarios where habitat selection is not reflective of habitat quality, and this can lead to maladaptive management strategies. The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is an imperiled shrubland obligate lagomorph whose successful recovery hinges on creation of suitable habitat. Recovery of this species is also negatively impacted by the non-native eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), which can competitively exclude New England cottontails from preferred habitat. Herein, we evaluate habitat quality for adult and juvenile New England and eastern cottontails using survival and density as indicators. Our findings did not support selection following an ideal free distribution by New England cottontails. Instead, selected resources, which are a target of habitat management, were associated with low survival and density and pointed to a complex trade-off between density, survival, habitat, and the presence of eastern cottontails. Further, movement distance was inversely correlated with survival in both species, suggesting that habitat fragmentation limits the ability of cottontails to freely distribute based on habitat quality. While habitat did not directly regulate survival of juvenile cottontails, tick burden had a strong negative impact on juvenile cottontails in poor body condition. Given the complex interactions among New England cottontails, eastern cottontails, and habitat, directly assessing and accounting for factors that limit New England cottontail habitat quality in management plans is vital to their recovery. Our study demonstrates an example of management for possible ecological trap conditions via the application of incomplete knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. Cheeseman
- Department of Environmental and Forest BiologySUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Jonathan B. Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Forest BiologySUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYUSA
| | - Sadie J. Ryan
- Quantitative Disease Ecology and Conservation (QDEC) LabDepartment of GeographyUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- Emerging Pathogens InstituteUniversity of FloridaGainesvilleFLUSA
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Christopher M. Whipps
- Department of Environmental and Forest BiologySUNY College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNYUSA
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Rittenhouse CD, Kovach AI. Assessment of Alternative Sampling Designs for Range‐wide Monitoring of New England Cottontail. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chadwick D. Rittenhouse
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment Wildlife and Fisheries Conservation Center, University of Connecticut 1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4087 Storrs CT 06269‐4087
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire 56 College Road Durham NH 03824
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7
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Whipps CM, Cheeseman AE, Lindsay KA, Cohen JB. Evaluation of Cottontail Pellets Collected in Suboptimal Conditions for DNA Analysis. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Whipps
- SUNY‐ESF, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental and Forest Biology 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY 13210 USA
| | - Amanda E. Cheeseman
- SUNY‐ESF, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental and Forest Biology 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY 13210 USA
| | - K. Alice Lindsay
- SUNY‐ESF, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental and Forest Biology 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse New York 13210 USA
| | - Jonathan B. Cohen
- SUNY‐ESF, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Environmental and Forest Biology 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY 13210 USA
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8
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Bauer ML, Ferry B, Holman H, Kovach AI. Monitoring a New England Cottontail Reintroduction with Noninvasive Genetic Sampling. WILDLIFE SOC B 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1069] [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)
- Melissa L. Bauer
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New Hampshire Durham NH 03824 USA
| | - Brett Ferry
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Heidi Holman
- New Hampshire Fish and Game Concord NH 03301 USA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New Hampshire Durham NH 03824 USA
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9
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Spatial Use and Survival of Sympatric Populations of New England and Eastern Cottontails in Connecticut. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2019. [DOI: 10.3996/082016-jfwm-062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The New England cottontail (NEC) Sylvilagus transitionalis is strongly associated with shrubland and early successional habitat and is the only cottontail native to the U.S. Northeast. The distribution and abundance of young forest habitat and NEC populations have declined. The eastern cottontail (EC) Sylvilagus floridanus was introduced into the U.S. Northeast in the early 1900s and uses similar habitat as NEC, but is expanding in distribution and abundance. Little information exists on spatial use, survival, and competition in sympatric populations of NEC and EC. Understanding differences in population demographics may identify important factors or relationships influencing population trends and aid in developing effective management strategies. Our objectives were to quantify home range and core area sizes, annual survival rates, minimum population densities, and range overlap for sympatric populations of NEC and EC at four sites in Connecticut. We monitored spatial use and survival rates of 107 radio-collared rabbits over a 10-y period. Mean annual home ranges and core areas were 10.9 and 2.5 ha for NEC and 5.6 and 1.6 ha for EC. Overlap in home range and core areas was greater within species than between species (NEC-EC). For both species and sex, home range size expanded from winter to breeding seasons. Survival rates were greater for NEC than for EC at all four sites, with predation as the major cause of mortality for both species. Space-use patterns suggest that the potential for EC to interfere with NEC reproduction is limited and avoidance or resource partitioning between species in the same patch may be occurring.
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10
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Cameron AC, Page RB, Watling JI, Hickerson CAM, Anthony CD. Using a comparative approach to investigate the relationship between landscape and genetic connectivity among woodland salamander populations. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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11
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Hierarchical population structure of a rare lagomorph indicates recent fragmentation has disrupted metapopulation function. CONSERV GENET 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01206-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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12
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Cheeseman AE, Cohen JB, Ryan SJ, Whipps CM. Determinants of home-range size of imperiled New England cottontails (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and introduced eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus). CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2018-0277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In fragmented habitat, population persistence depends in part on patch quality and patch size relative to home-range size. The imperiled New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis (Bangs, 1895)) is an obligate user of shrublands in the northeastern United States, a highly fragmented and declining ecosystem. New England cottontail conservation efforts have targeted habitat creation; however, efforts are hindered by a limited knowledge of seasonal space use and its relationship to habitat quality, which could help inform minimum patch-size requirements and implications of competition with non-native eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus (J.A. Allen, 1890)). To address these uncertainties, we modeled home-range areas for both species as a function of season, patch size, sex, and two indicators of forage and cover availability. Home range was generally inversely correlated with measures of forage and cover resources and the response differed by season and species and did not vary with patch size. Instead, inclusion of matrix habitat within home ranges increased with decreasing patch size, placing individuals within smaller patches at a high risk of mortality. These risks may be mitigated in patches >7 ha and absent in patches >20–25 ha where predicted inclusion of matrix is lower or absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E. Cheeseman
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Jonathan B. Cohen
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
| | - Sadie J. Ryan
- Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Christopher M. Whipps
- Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Presley
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Laura M Cisneros
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Brian T Klingbeil
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Michael R Willig
- Center for Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
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14
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Zecchin B, De Nardi M, Nouvellet P, Vernesi C, Babbucci M, Crestanello B, Bagó Z, Bedeković T, Hostnik P, Milani A, Donnelly CA, Bargelloni L, Lorenzetto M, Citterio C, Obber F, De Benedictis P, Cattoli G. Genetic and spatial characterization of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population in the area stretching between the Eastern and Dinaric Alps and its relationship with rabies and canine distemper dynamics. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0213515. [PMID: 30861028 PMCID: PMC6413928 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Information on the population dynamics of a reservoir species have been increasingly adopted to understand and eventually predict the dispersal patterns of infectious diseases throughout an area. Although potentially relevant, to date there are no studies which have investigated the genetic structure of the red fox population in relation to infectious disease dynamics. Therefore, we genetically and spatially characterised the red fox population in the area stretching between the Eastern and Dinaric Alps, which has been affected by both distemper and rabies at different time intervals. Red foxes collected from north-eastern Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia between 2006–2012, were studied using a set of 21 microsatellite markers. We confirmed a weak genetic differentiation within the fox population using Bayesian clustering analyses, and we were able to differentiate the fox population into geographically segregated groups. Our finding might be due to the presence of geographical barriers that have likely influenced the distribution of the fox population, limiting in turn gene flow and spread of infectious diseases. Focusing on the Italian red fox population, we observed interesting variations in the prevalence of both diseases among distinct fox clusters, with the previously identified Italy 1 and Italy 2 rabies as well as distemper viruses preferentially affecting different sub-groups identified in the study. Knowledge of the regional-scale population structure can improve understanding of the epidemiology and spread of diseases. Our study paves the way for an integrated approach for disease control coupling pathogen, host and environmental data to inform targeted control programs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Zecchin
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Marco De Nardi
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Pierre Nouvellet
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cristiano Vernesi
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Babbucci
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Barbara Crestanello
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach (FEM), San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Zoltán Bagó
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Institute for Veterinary Disease Control, Mödling, Austria
| | | | - Peter Hostnik
- Virology Unit, Veterinary Faculty, Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Adelaide Milani
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Christl Ann Donnelly
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Modelling Methodology, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Statistics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Bargelloni
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Monica Lorenzetto
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Carlo Citterio
- SCT2 Belluno, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Belluno, Italy
| | - Federica Obber
- SCT2 Belluno, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Belluno, Italy
| | - Paola De Benedictis
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cattoli
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe), Legnaro, Italy
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15
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Genetic diversity and population structure of white-lipped peccaries (Tayassu pecari) in the Pantanal, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest from Brazil. Mamm Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2019.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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16
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Sullivan M, McGreevy TJ, Gottfried AE, Tefft BC, Buffum B, Husband TP. Molecular identification of three sympatric lagomorphs in the Northeastern United States. Mitochondrial DNA B Resour 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/23802359.2019.1601508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mary Sullivan
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
- Department of Fisheries Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Thomas J. McGreevy
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Amy E. Gottfried
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Brian C. Tefft
- Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife, West Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Bill Buffum
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
| | - Thomas P. Husband
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA
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Abdel-Kafy ESM, Ahmed SSED, El-Keredy A, Ali NI, Ramadan S, Farid A. Genetic and phenotypic characterization of the native rabbits in Middle Egypt. Vet World 2018; 11:1120-1126. [PMID: 30250372 PMCID: PMC6141286 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.1120-1126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Native rabbits in smallholder system are considered as important genetic resources, and the present study was aimed to study the genetic and phenotypic characterization and detection of the maternal origin of the native rabbit populations located at the Middle of Egypt. Materials and Methods: A survey of native rabbit populations was conducted in three governorates (Fayum [FY], Beni Suef [BN], and El Menia [MN]). The phenotypic characterization of rabbits included the profile body of the head, ears, eyes, neck, and legs and the coat colors. The blood samples were collected for genetic characterization based on mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and the microsatellite markers. Results: The phenotypic characterization of the body parts in the three populations was almost similar. The body weight of the mature rabbits in MN Government was significantly heaviest, and the measurements for the main body parts (body length, chest circumference, and abdominal girth) were the highest compared to the two populations. The results of mitochondrial (cytochrome b) analysis revealed that the rabbits from the three governments belonged to lineage A except one animal was recorded as lineage G from MN’s rabbit population. The results of the microsatellite markers revealed that the genetic diversity between the three populations showed genetic interferences; however, a closer genetic relationship was observed between BN and MN than FY. The majority of the genetic diversity was the individual variability. Conclusion: The mitochondrial lineage A is the major lineage in rabbit populations in the area of the Middle Egypt understudy. The genetic populations’ structure is the interferences among the three populations. A large-scale survey should be done on native rabbit populations for the sustainable management and conservation of the local breeds’ genetic resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Sayed Mahfouz Abdel-Kafy
- Department of Rabbit Breeding Research, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sahar Saad El-Din Ahmed
- Department of Cell Biology, Division research of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Amira El-Keredy
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Neama Ibrahim Ali
- Department of Cell Biology, Division research of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
| | - Sherif Ramadan
- Department of Animal Wealth Development, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Farid
- Department of Rabbit Breeding Research, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
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Berkman LK, Nielsen CK, Roy CL, Heist EJ. A landscape genetic analysis of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus) suggests forest canopy cover enhances gene flow in an agricultural matrix. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Habitat loss and fragmentation pose a continued and immediate threat to wildlife and create a persistent need for ecological information at the landscape scale to guide conservation efforts. Landscape features influence population connectivity for many species and genetic analyses can be employed to determine which of these features are most important. Because population connectivity through dispersal is important to the persistence of swamp rabbits (Sylvilagus aquaticus (Bachman, 1837)) at the northern edge of their range, we used a landscape genetic approach to relate gene flow to landscape features that may impact dispersal success. We tested resistance values for attributes of land cover, watercourse corridors, canopy cover, and roads and used causal modeling and redundancy analysis to relate these representations of landscapes to genetic distance for swamp rabbits in southern Illinois, USA. Models that included canopy cover had the strongest correlations with genetic distance and were supported by our methods whereas other models were not. We concluded that high tree canopy cover enhances gene flow and landscape connectivity for swamp rabbits in southern Illinois. Our study provides important empirical evidence that landscape variables may impact the habitat connectivity of swamp rabbits. Preserving dispersal routes for swamp rabbits should focus on improving canopy cover, in both bottomland and upland, to connect suitable habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leah K. Berkman
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6504, USA
| | - Clayton K. Nielsen
- Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6504, USA
| | - Charlotte L. Roy
- Forest Wildlife Populations and Research Group, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA
| | - Edward J. Heist
- Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6501, USA
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19
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Kristensen TV, Kovach AI. Spatially explicit abundance estimation of a rare habitat specialist: implications for
SECR
study design. Ecosphere 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thea V. Kristensen
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment University of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire 03824 USA
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20
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Balbi M, Ernoult A, Poli P, Madec L, Guiller A, Martin MC, Nabucet J, Beaujouan V, Petit EJ. Functional connectivity in replicated urban landscapes in the land snail (Cornu aspersum). Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1357-1370. [PMID: 29412498 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Urban areas are highly fragmented and thereby exert strong constraints on individual dispersal. Despite this, some species manage to persist in urban areas, such as the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, which is common in cityscapes despite its low mobility. Using landscape genetic approaches, we combined study area replication and multiscale analysis to determine how landscape composition, configuration and connectivity influence snail dispersal across urban areas. At the overall landscape scale, areas with a high percentage of roads decreased genetic differentiation between populations. At the population scale, genetic differentiation was positively linked with building surface, the proportion of borders where wooded patches and roads appeared side by side and the proportion of borders combining wooded patches and other impervious areas. Analyses based on pairwise genetic distances validated the isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-resistance models for this land snail, with an equal fit to least-cost paths and circuit-theory-based models. Each of the 12 landscapes analysed separately yielded specific relations to environmental features, whereas analyses integrating all replicates highlighted general common effects. Our results suggest that urban transport infrastructures facilitate passive snail dispersal. At a local scale, corresponding to active dispersal, unfavourable habitats (wooded and impervious areas) isolate populations. This work upholds the use of replicated landscapes to increase the generalizability of landscape genetics results and shows how multiscale analyses provide insight into scale-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Balbi
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Aude Ernoult
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Pedro Poli
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Luc Madec
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Annie Guiller
- Edysan FRE 3498, CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Vernes, Amiens, France
| | - Marie-Claire Martin
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Jean Nabucet
- UMR LETG, CNRS, Université de Rennes 2, Rennes Cedex, France
| | | | - Eric J Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, INRA, Rennes, France
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21
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King TL, Eackles M, Aunins A, McGreevy TJ, Husband TP, Tur A, Kovach AI. Microsatellite marker development from next-generation sequencing in the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) and cross-amplification in the eastern cottontail (S. floridanus). BMC Res Notes 2017; 10:741. [PMID: 29246260 PMCID: PMC5732487 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-017-3062-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is a species of high conservation priority in the Northeastern United States, and was a candidate for federal listing under the Endangered Species Act until a recent decision determined that conservation actions were sufficient to preclude listing. The aim of this study was to develop a suite of microsatellite loci to guide future research efforts such as the analysis of population genetic structure, genetic variation, dispersal, and genetic mark-recapture population estimation. Results Thirty-five microsatellite markers containing tri- and tetranucleotide sequences were developed from shotgun genomic sequencing of tissue from S. transitionalis, S. obscurus, and S. floridanus. These loci were screened in n = 33 wild S. transitionalis sampled from a population in eastern Massachusetts, USA. Thirty-two of the 35 loci were polymorphic with 2–6 alleles, and observed heterozygosities of 0.06–0.82. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium proportions and there was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium or null alleles. Primers for 33 of the 35 loci amplified DNA extracted from n = 6 eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) samples, of which nine revealed putative species-diagnostic alleles. These loci will provide a useful tool for conservation genetics investigations of S. transitionalis and a potential diagnostic species assay for differentiating sympatric eastern and New England cottontails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy L King
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Michael Eackles
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Aaron Aunins
- Natural Systems Analysts, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Thomas J McGreevy
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Thomas P Husband
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Anthony Tur
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, 300 Westgate Center Drive, Hadley, MA, 01035, USA
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, 56 College Road, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
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22
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Gunton RM, Marsh CJ, Moulherat S, Malchow AK, Bocedi G, Klenke RA, Kunin WE. Multicriterion trade-offs and synergies for spatial conservation planning. J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sylvain Moulherat
- Station d’écologie Expérimentale du CNRS à Moulis; USR 2936; 2 route du CNRS 09200 Moulis France
- TerrOïko; 2 rue Clémence Isaure 31250 Revel France
| | - Anne-Kathleen Malchow
- Department of Conservation Biology; UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Permoserstr. 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
| | - Greta Bocedi
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Zoology Building Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen AB24 2TZ UK
| | - Reinhard A. Klenke
- Department of Conservation Biology; UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research; Permoserstr. 15 04318 Leipzig Germany
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23
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Amaral KE, Palace M, O'Brien KM, Fenderson LE, Kovach AI. Anthropogenic Habitats Facilitate Dispersal of an Early Successional Obligate: Implications for Restoration of an Endangered Ecosystem. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148842. [PMID: 26954014 PMCID: PMC4783018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Landscape modification and habitat fragmentation disrupt the connectivity of natural landscapes, with major consequences for biodiversity. Species that require patchily distributed habitats, such as those that specialize on early successional ecosystems, must disperse through a landscape matrix with unsuitable habitat types. We evaluated landscape effects on dispersal of an early successional obligate, the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis). Using a landscape genetics approach, we identified barriers and facilitators of gene flow and connectivity corridors for a population of cottontails in the northeastern United States. We modeled dispersal in relation to landscape structure and composition and tested hypotheses about the influence of habitat fragmentation on gene flow. Anthropogenic and natural shrubland habitats facilitated gene flow, while the remainder of the matrix, particularly development and forest, impeded gene flow. The relative influence of matrix habitats differed between study areas in relation to a fragmentation gradient. Barrier features had higher explanatory power in the more fragmented site, while facilitating features were important in the less fragmented site. Landscape models that included a simultaneous barrier and facilitating effect of roads had higher explanatory power than models that considered either effect separately, supporting the hypothesis that roads act as both barriers and facilitators at all spatial scales. The inclusion of LiDAR-identified shrubland habitat improved the fit of our facilitator models. Corridor analyses using circuit and least cost path approaches revealed the importance of anthropogenic, linear features for restoring connectivity between the study areas. In fragmented landscapes, human-modified habitats may enhance functional connectivity by providing suitable dispersal conduits for early successional specialists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina E Amaral
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Michael Palace
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America.,Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
| | - Kathleen M O'Brien
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, Wells, Maine, United States of America
| | - Lindsey E Fenderson
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Northeast Fishery Center, Conservation Genetics Lab, Lamar, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Adrienne I Kovach
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, United States of America
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24
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Metapopulation viability of swamp rabbits in southern Illinois: potential impacts of habitat change. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Swamp rabbits ( Sylvilagus aquaticus ) in southern Illinois exist as a metapopulation due to fragmentation of the bottomland hardwood forests in which they live. This fragmentation makes their persistence in Illinois uncertain. We used population viability analysis (PVA) to estimate the probability of persistence of the swamp rabbit metapopulation in Illinois, using a habitat suitability map we created and life history parameters drawn from the literature. We varied the parameters used in our PVA from 50% to 150% of the initial value to compare their effects on extinction risk and to direct future management and research. We tested the effects of potential habitat loss and fragmentation by 1) removing patches individually and in groups from the analysis and by 2) adding 60, 120, and 180 m to the edge of all patches. We also tested the potential effect of dispersal corridors by increasing dispersal between connected patches. Under baseline conditions, the model suggests a 0% chance of quasi-extinction (90% metapopulation decline) of swamp rabbits within 25 (or even 50) years. Changes in fecundity values and the effects of catastrophic flooding had the greatest effect on extinction risk, and changes in no other parameter yielded any appreciable impact. Removing the largest patches from the population increased the 25-year risk of extinction to 4%, whereas any other modifications to the habitat did not change the extinction risk. We suggest that managers focus on sustaining habitat quality, particularly upland habitats adjacent to occupied bottomland hardwood forests to improve the likelihood of swamp rabbit persistence in Illinois.
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25
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Buffum B, McGreevy TJ, Gottfried AE, Sullivan ME, Husband TP. An Analysis of Overstory Tree Canopy Cover in Sites Occupied by Native and Introduced Cottontails in the Northeastern United States with Recommendations for Habitat Management for New England Cottontail. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135067. [PMID: 26267857 PMCID: PMC4534376 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is a high conservation priority in the Northeastern United States and has been listed as a candidate species under the Endangered Species Act. Loss of early successional habitat is the most common explanation for the decline of the species, which is considered to require habitat with dense low vegetation and limited overstory tree canopy. Federal and state wildlife agencies actively encourage landowners to create this habitat type by clearcutting blocks of forest. However, there are recent indications that the species also occupies sites with moderate overstory tree canopy cover. This is important because many landowners have negative views about clearcutting and are more willing to adopt silvicultural approaches that retain some overstory trees. Furthermore, it is possible that clearcuts with no overstory canopy cover may attract the eastern cottontail (S. floridanus), an introduced species with an expanding range. The objective of our study was to provide guidance for future efforts to create habitat that would be more favorable for New England cottontail than eastern cottontail in areas where the two species are sympatric. We analyzed canopy cover at 336 cottontail locations in five states using maximum entropy modelling and other statistical methods. We found that New England cottontail occupied sites with a mean overstory tree canopy cover of 58% (SE±1.36), and was less likely than eastern cottontail to occupy sites with lower overstory canopy cover and more likely to occupy sites with higher overstory canopy cover. Our findings suggest that silvicultural approaches that retain some overstory canopy cover may be appropriate for creating habitat for New England cottontail. We believe that our results will help inform critical management decisions for the conservation of New England cottontail, and that our methodology can be applied to analyses of habitat use of other critical wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Buffum
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Thomas J McGreevy
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Amy E Gottfried
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Mary E Sullivan
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Thomas P Husband
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
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Litvaitis JA, Reed GC, Carroll RP, Litvaitis MK, Tash J, Mahard T, Broman DJA, Callahan C, Ellingwood M. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) as a Model Organism to Investigate the Effects of Roads on Wide-Ranging Carnivores. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2015; 55:1366-1376. [PMID: 25832342 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0468-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We are using bobcats (Lynx rufus) as a model organism to examine how roads affect the abundance, distribution, and genetic structure of a wide-ranging carnivore. First, we compared the distribution of bobcat-vehicle collisions to road density and then estimated collision probabilities for specific landscapes using a moving window with road-specific traffic volume. Next, we obtained incidental observations of bobcats from the public, camera-trap detections, and locations of bobcats equipped with GPS collars to examine habitat selection. These data were used to generate a cost-surface map to investigate potential barrier effects of roads. Finally, we have begun an examination of genetic structure of bobcat populations in relation to major road networks. Distribution of vehicle-killed bobcats was correlated with road density, especially state and interstate highways. Collision models suggested that some regions may function as demographic sinks. Simulated movements in the context of the cost-surface map indicated that some major roads may be barriers. These patterns were supported by the genetic structure of bobcats. The sharpest divisions among genetically distinct demes occurred along natural barriers (mountains and large lakes) and in road-dense regions. In conclusion, our study has demonstrated the utility of using bobcats as a model organism to understand the variety of threats that roads pose to a wide-ranging species. Bobcats may also be useful as one of a group of focal species while developing approaches to maintain existing connectivity or mitigate the negative effects of roads.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Litvaitis
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA,
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Berkman LK, Nielsen CK, Roy CL, Heist EJ. Comparative genetic structure of sympatric leporids in southern Illinois. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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