1
|
Crosby AD, Leston L, Bayne EM, Sólymos P, Mahon CL, Toms JD, Docherty TDS, Song SJ. Domains of scale in cumulative effects of energy sector development on boreal birds. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2023; 38:3173-3188. [PMID: 38161780 PMCID: PMC10754738 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-023-01779-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Context Industrial development in Canada's boreal forest creates cumulative environmental effects on biodiversity. Some effects may be scale-dependent, creating uncertainty in understanding and hindering effective management. Objectives We estimated cumulative effects of energy sector development on distributions of sixteen migratory songbird species at multiple spatial scales within the boreal region of Alberta, Canada, and evaluated evidence for scale domains in species responses. Methods We used a hierarchical, multi-scale sampling and modelling framework to compare effects of oil and gas footprint on songbirds at five spatial scales. We used Bayesian Lasso to facilitate direct comparison of parameter estimates across scales, and tested for differences in grouped parameter estimates among species. Results We found consistent scale-dependent patterns across species, showing variable responses to development occurring at the smallest scale, little effect at intermediate scales, and stronger, mainly positive effects at the largest scales. Differences in grouped parameter estimates across scales showed strong evidence for scale domains in the response of songbirds to energy sector development. Conclusions We concluded that variable effects at the smallest scale represented individual habitat selection, while larger scale positive effects reflected expanding distributions of open habitat- and disturbance-associated species in areas of high oil and gas footprint. Our results show that single-scale analyses do not reflect population processes occurring at other scales. Future research on linking patterns at different scales is required to fully understand cumulative effects of land use change on wildlife populations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-023-01779-8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D. Crosby
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Lionel Leston
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Erin M. Bayne
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Péter Sólymos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - C. Lisa Mahon
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Whitehorse, YT Canada
| | - Judith D. Toms
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Young AC, Katzner TE, Shinneman DJ, Johnson TN. Implications of tree expansion in shrubland ecosystems for two generalist avian predators. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0286478. [PMID: 37267264 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Shrublands globally have undergone structural changes due to plant invasions, including the expansion of native trees. Removal of native conifer trees, especially juniper (Juniperus spp.), is occurring across the Great Basin of the western U.S. to support declining sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats and associated wildlife species, such as greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). One justification for conifer removal is that it may improve survival of sagebrush-associated wildlife by reducing the abundance of avian predators. However, the relationship between conifer expansion and predator distributions has not been explicitly evaluated. Further, although structural characteristics of habitat are important for generalist predators, overall prey abundance may also affect habitat use by predators. We examined habitat use of common ravens (Corvus corax) and red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), two generalist predators whose populations are increasing in western North America, to variation in structural characteristics and prey distributions in sagebrush habitat that has experienced conifer expansion. Structural characteristics of habitat were important predictors of habitat use for both ravens and red-tailed hawks, whereas measures of prey abundance were unimportant for both species likely because generalist predators can use a wide variety of food resources. Ravens, but not red-tailed hawks, responded positively to increasing cover of juniper and the probability of habitat use was highest (> 0.95) where juniper cover within 100 m was > 20%. Habitat use by red-tailed hawks, but not ravens, was greater near cliffs but was not associated with juniper cover. Our study suggests that the removal of conifer in similar environments may lower the probability of habitat use for ravens, a common predator with significant impacts on many prey species. Therefore, we suggest conifer removal may improve sage-grouse reproductive success and survival depending on responses to conifer removal from other predators. Our results may be reflective of similar changes in rangeland ecosystems around the world undergoing expansion of conifer and other woody vegetation. Though species identities differ from sagebrush habitats, generalist avian predators in other habitats may have similar relationships with structural resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A C Young
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho, United States of America
| | - T E Katzner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, ID, United States of America
| | - D J Shinneman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Boise, ID, United States of America
| | - T N Johnson
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Boise, Idaho, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Nelson E, Rogers M, Wood SA, Chung J, Keeler B. Data‐driven predictions of summertime visits to lakes across 17
US
states. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Erik Nelson
- Department of Economics Bowdoin College Brunswick Maine USA
| | - Maggie Rogers
- Hubert H Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| | - Spencer A. Wood
- eScience Institute, University of Washington Seattle Washington USA
- Natural Capital Project Stanford University Stanford California USA
| | - Jesse Chung
- Department of Economics Bowdoin College Brunswick Maine USA
| | - Bonnie Keeler
- Hubert H Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota Minneapolis Minnesota USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stevens BS, Roberts SB, Conway CJ, Englestead DK. Effects of large-scale disturbance on animal space use: Functional responses by greater sage-grouse after megafire. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9933. [PMID: 37038512 PMCID: PMC10082181 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Global change has altered the nature of disturbance regimes, and megafire events are increasingly common. Megafires result in immediate changes to habitat available to terrestrial wildlife over broad landscapes, yet we know surprisingly little about how such changes shape space use of sensitive species in habitat that remains. Functional responses provide a framework for understanding and predicting changes in space use following habitat alteration, but no previous studies have assessed functional responses as a consequence of megafire. We studied space use and tested for functional responses in habitat use by breeding greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) before and after landscape-level changes induced by a >40,000 ha, high-intensity megafire that burned sagebrush steppe in eastern Idaho, USA. We also incorporated functional responses into predictive resource selection functions (RSFs) to map breeding habitat before and after the fire. Megafire had strong effects on the distribution of available resources and resulted in context-dependent habitat use that was heterogeneous across different components of habitat. We observed functional responses in the use and selection of a variety of resources (shrubs and herbaceous vegetation) for both nesting and brood rearing. Functional responses in the use of nesting habitat were influenced by the overarching effect of megafire on vegetation, whereas responses during brood rearing appeared to be driven by individual variation in available resources that were conditional on nest locations. Importantly, RSFs built using data collected prior to the burn also had poor transferability for predicting space use in a post-megafire landscape. These results have strong implications for understanding and predicting how animals respond to a rapidly changing environment, given that increased severity, frequency, and extent of wildfire are consequences of global change with the capacity to reshape ecosystems. We therefore demonstrate a conceptual framework to better understand space use and aid habitat conservation for wildlife in a rapidly changing world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S. Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | | | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitUniversity of IdahoMoscowIdahoUSA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Stevens BS, Conway CJ, Knetter JM, Roberts SB, Donnelly P. Multi‐scale effects of land cover, weather, and fire on Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S. Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136 Moscow ID 83844‐1136 USA
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1141 Moscow ID 83844‐1141 USA
| | | | - Shane B. Roberts
- Idaho Department of Fish and Game 600 South Walnut Boise ID 83712 USA
| | - Patrick Donnelly
- Intermountain West Joint Venture U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ‐ Migratory Bird Program Missoula MT 59801 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Stevens BS, Conway CJ, Luke K, Weldon A, Hand CE, Schwarzer A, Smith F, Watson C, Watts BD. Large-scale distribution models for optimal prediction of Eastern black rail habitat within tidal ecosystems. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
|
7
|
Hamer AJ, Barta B, Bohus A, Gál B, Schmera D. Roads reduce amphibian abundance in ponds across a fragmented landscape. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
|
8
|
Hamer AJ, Schmera D, Mahony MJ. Multi-species occupancy modeling provides novel insights into amphibian metacommunity structure and wetland restoration. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2293. [PMID: 33432692 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A fundamental goal of community ecology is to understand species-habitat relationships and how they shape metacommunity structure. Recent advances in occupancy modeling enable habitat relationships to be assessed for both common and rare species within metacommunities using multi-species occupancy models (MSOM). These models account for imperfect species detection and offer considerable advantages over other analytical tools commonly used for community analyses under the elements of metacommunity structure (EMS) framework. Here, we demonstrate that MSOM can be used to infer habitat relationships and test metacommunity theory, using amphibians. Repeated frog surveys were undertaken at 55 wetland sites in southeastern Australia. We detected 11 frog species from three families (Limnodynastidae, Myobatrachidae, and Pelodryadidae). The rarest species was detected at only one site whereas the most common species was detected at 42 sites (naive occupancy rate 0.02-0.76). Two models were assessed representing two competing hypotheses; the best-supported model included the covariates distance to the nearest site (connectivity), wetland area, presence of the non-native eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), proportion cover of emergent vegetation, an interaction term between Gambusia and emergent vegetation cover, and the proportion canopy cover over a site. Hydroperiod played no detectable role in metacommunity structure. We found species-habitat relationships that fit with current metacommunity theory: occupancy increased with wetland area and connectivity. There was a strong negative relationship between occupancy and the presence of predatory Gambusia, and a positive interaction between Gambusia and emergent vegetation. The presence of canopy cover strongly increased occupancy for several tree frog species, highlighting the importance of terrestrial habitat for amphibian community structure. We demonstrated how responses by amphibians to environmental covariates at the species level can be linked to occupancy patterns at the metacommunity scale. Our results have clear management implications: wetland restoration projects for amphibians and likely other taxa should maximize wetland area and connectivity, establish partial canopy cover, and eradicate Gambusia or provide aquatic vegetation to mitigate the impact of this non-native fish. We strongly advocate the use of MSOM to elucidate the habitat drivers behind animal occupancy patterns and to derive unbiased occupancy estimates for monitoring programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Hamer
- Centre for Ecological Research, GINOP Sustainable Ecosystems Group, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, Tihany, H-8237, Hungary
- Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, Tihany, H-8237, Hungary
| | - Dénes Schmera
- Centre for Ecological Research, Balaton Limnological Institute, Klebelsberg K. u. 3, Tihany, H-8237, Hungary
| | - Michael J Mahony
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Helmstetter NA, Conway CJ, Stevens BS, Goldberg AR. Balancing transferability and complexity of species distribution models for rare species conservation. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nolan A. Helmstetter
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| | - Bryan S. Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| | - Amanda R. Goldberg
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gatenbee CD, Minor ES, Slebos RJC, Chung CH, Anderson ARA. Histoecology: Applying Ecological Principles and Approaches to Describe and Predict Tumor Ecosystem Dynamics Across Space and Time. Cancer Control 2020; 27:1073274820946804. [PMID: 32869651 PMCID: PMC7710396 DOI: 10.1177/1073274820946804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells exist within a complex spatially structured ecosystem composed of resources and different cell types. As the selective pressures imposed by this environment determine the fate of cancer cells, an improved understanding of how this ecosystem evolves will better elucidate how tumors grow and respond to therapy. State of the art imaging methods can now provide highly resolved descriptions of the microenvironment, yielding the data required for a thorough study of its role in tumor growth and treatment resistance. The field of landscape ecology has been studying such species-environment relationship for decades, and offers many tools and perspectives that cancer researchers could greatly benefit from. Here, we discuss one such tool, species distribution modeling (SDM), that has the potential to, among other things, identify critical environmental factors that drive tumor evolution and predict response to therapy. SDMs only scratch the surface of how ecological theory and methods can be applied to cancer, and we believe further integration will take cancer research in exciting new and productive directions. Significance: Here we describe how species distribution modeling can be used to quantitatively describe the complex relationship between tumor cells and their microenvironment. Such a description facilitates a deeper understanding of cancers eco-evolutionary dynamics, which in turn sheds light on the factors that drive tumor growth and response to treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chandler D. Gatenbee
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Emily S. Minor
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Environmental
Science and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Robbert J. C. Slebos
- Department of Head and Neck–Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt
Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Christine H. Chung
- Department of Head and Neck–Endocrine Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt
Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Alexander R. A. Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tozer DC, Stewart RLM, Steele O, Gloutney M. Species‐Habitat Relationships and Priority Areas for Marsh‐Breeding Birds in Ontario. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Douglas C. Tozer
- Long Point Waterfowl and Wetlands Research Program Birds Canada, P.O. Box 160 (Courier: 115 Front Road), Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0 Canada
| | | | - Owen Steele
- Ducks Unlimited Canada 740 Huronia Road, Unit 1, Barrie, ON L4N 6C6 Canada
| | - Mark Gloutney
- Ducks Unlimited Canada 35 Sparks Street, Suite 702, Ottawa, ON K1R 7S8 Canada
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Stevens BS, Conway CJ. Mapping habitat suitability at range‐wide scales: Spatially‐explicit distribution models to inform conservation and research for marsh birds. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S. Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of Idaho Moscow Idaho
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of Idaho Moscow Idaho
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Stevens BS, Conway CJ. Identifying important military installations for continental-scale conservation of marsh bird breeding habitat. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 252:109664. [PMID: 31610450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Degradation of wetland ecosystems has negatively impacted many species, perhaps none more so than marsh birds that breed in vegetative emergent wetlands throughout North America. The U.S. Department of Defense manages approximately 29 million acres of land within the continental U.S., and many military installations contain wetland complexes that may be important for wetland birds. Thus, failure to adequately manage habitat for marsh birds could result in species extirpations and additional listings under the Endangered Species Act, and may result in regulatory burdens that reduce military readiness. We conducted spatial analyses to identify important breeding habitat on > 500 military installations for 12 species of marsh birds, with the goal of identifying installations that are, and are not, likely to harbor breeding habitat for each species. We also sought to assess the local value of military installations for species of greatest concern by comparing habitat suitability within installations to that in areas directly adjacent to those sites. We built range-wide, spatially-explicit models of species distribution to project suitability of breeding habitat for marsh birds within and adjacent to military installations. Our results demonstrate that installations with the best marsh bird habitat are geographically aggregated (both among and within species), primarily at sites along the eastern seaboard and within the southern U.S. In addition, only a few sites appear to contain high-quality habitat for most species. Five or fewer sites contained most of the high-quality habitat for 9 of 12 species, whereas most of the high-quality habitat for remaining species was found at ≤ 10 sites. This work fills an information gap regarding the distribution of breeding habitat for marsh birds on military lands across the U.S., and should facilitate both strategic conservation of habitat over broad scales and the integration of marsh birds into management efforts at the site level. Our analyses also identify installations that are not likely to harbor breeding habitat for priority species, and thus should help minimize conflicts between needs of the military and marsh-bird conservation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
| | - Courtney J Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stevens BS, Conway CJ. Predictive multi‐scale occupancy models at range‐wide extents: Effects of habitat and human disturbance on distributions of wetland birds. DIVERS DISTRIB 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan S. Stevens
- Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| | - Courtney J. Conway
- U.S. Geological Survey Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Idaho Moscow ID USA
| |
Collapse
|