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Quiles P, Barrientos R. Interspecific interactions disrupted by roads. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1121-1139. [PMID: 38303408 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Roads have pervasive impacts on wildlife, including habitat loss and fragmentation, road mortality, habitat pollution and increased human use of habitats surrounding them. However, the effects of roads on interspecific interactions are less understood. Here we provide a synthesis of the existing literature on how species interactions may be disrupted by roads, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest avenues for future research and conservation management. We conducted a systematic search using the Web of Science database for each species interaction (predation, competition, mutualism, parasitism, commensalism and amensalism). These searches yielded 2144 articles, of which 195 were relevant to our topic. Most of these studies focused on predation (50%) or competition (24%), and less frequently on mutualism (17%) or, parasitism (9%). We found no studies on commensalism or amensalism. Studies were biased towards mammals from high-income countries, with most conducted in the USA (34%) or Canada (18%). Our literature review identified several patterns. First, roads disrupt predator-prey relationships, usually with negative impacts on prey populations. Second, new disturbed habitats created in road corridors often benefit more competitive species, such as invasive species, although some native or endangered species can also thrive there. Third, roads degrade mutualistic interactions like seed dispersal and pollination. Fourth, roads can increase parasitism rates, although the intensity of the alteration is species specific. To reduce the negative impacts of roads on interspecific interactions, we suggest the following management actions: (i) verges should be as wide and heterogenous as possible, as this increases microhabitat diversity, thus enhancing ecosystem services like pollination and seed dispersal; (ii) combining different mowing regimes can increase the complexity of the habitat corridor, enabling it to act as a habitat for more species; (iii) the use of de-icing salts should be gradually reduced and replaced with less harmful products or maintenance practices; (iv) wildlife passes should be implemented in groups to reduce animal concentrations inside them; (v) periodic removal of carcasses from the road to reduce the use of this resource by wildlife; and (vi) implementation of traffic-calming schemes could enhance interspecific interactions like pollination and avoid disruption of predator-prey relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Quiles
- Road Ecology Lab, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais 12, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Barrientos
- Road Ecology Lab, Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais 12, E-28040, Madrid, Spain
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Gaston MV, Barnas AF, Smith RM, Murray S, Fisher JT. Native prey, not landscape change or novel prey, drive cougar ( Puma concolor) distribution at a boreal forest range edge. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11146. [PMID: 38571804 PMCID: PMC10985369 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Many large carnivores, despite widespread habitat alteration, are rebounding in parts of their former ranges after decades of persecution and exploitation. Cougars (Puma concolor) are apex predator with their remaining northern core range constricted to mountain landscapes and areas of western North America; however, cougar populations have recently started rebounding in several locations across North America, including northward in boreal forest landscapes. A camera-trap survey of multiple landscapes across Alberta, Canada, delineated a range edge; within this region, we deployed an array of 47 camera traps in a random stratified design across a landscape spanning a gradient of anthropogenic development relative to the predicted expansion front. We completed multiple hypotheses in an information-theoretic framework to determine if cougar occurrence is best explained by natural land cover features, anthropogenic development features, or competitor and prey activity. We predicted that anthropogenic development features from resource extraction and invading white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianius) explain cougar distribution at this boreal range edge. Counter to our predictions, the relative activity of native prey, predominantly snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus), was the best predictor of cougar occurrence at this range edge. Small-bodied prey items are particularly important for female and sub-adult cougars and may support breeding individuals in the northeast boreal forest. Also, counter to our predictions, there was not a strong relationship detected between cougar occurrence and gray wolf (Canis lupus) activity at this range edge. However, further investigation is recommended as the possibility of cougar expansion into areas of the multi-prey boreal system, where wolves have recently been controlled, could have negative consequences for conservation goals in this region (e.g. the recovery of woodland caribou [Rangifer tarandus caribou]). Our study highlights the need to monitor contemporary distributions to inform conservation management objectives as large carnivores recover across North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millicent V. Gaston
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Andrew F. Barnas
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Rebecca M. Smith
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Sean Murray
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental StudiesUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
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Yemshanov D, Simpson M, Liu N, Petty A, Koch FH, Neilson E, Chand C, Duffy G, Hoyles V, Mallon C. Restoration of linear disturbances from oil-and-gas exploration in boreal landscapes: How can network models help? JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 348:119036. [PMID: 37857223 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
In western Canada, decades of oil-and-gas exploration have fragmented boreal landscapes with a dense network of linear forest disturbances (seismic lines). These seismic lines are implicated in the decline in wildlife populations that are adapted to function in unfragmented forest landscapes. In particular, anthropogenic disturbances have led to a decline of woodland caribou populations due to increasing predator access to core caribou habitat. Restoration of seismic lines aims to reduce the landscape fragmentation and stop the decline of caribou populations. However, planning restoration in complex landscapes can be challenging because it must account for a multitude of diverse aspects. To assist with restoration planning, we present a spatial network optimization approach that selects restoration locations in a fragmented landscape while addressing key environmental and logistical constraints. We applied the model to develop restoration scenarios in the Redrock-Prairie Creek caribou range in northwestern Alberta, Canada, which includes a combination of caribou habitat and active oil-and-gas and timber extraction areas. Our study applies network optimization at two distinct scales to address both the broad-scale restoration policy planning and project-level constraints at the level of individual forest sites. We first delineated a contiguous set of coarse-scale regions where restoration is most cost-effective and used this solution to solve a fine-scale network optimization model that addresses environmental and logistical planning constraints at the level of forest patches. Our two-tiered approach helps address the challenges of fine-scale spatial optimization of restoration activities. An additional coarse-scale optimization step finds a feasible starting solution for the fine-scale restoration problem, which serves to reduce the time to find an optimal solution. The added coarse-scale spatial constraints also make the fine-scale restoration solution align with the coarse-scale landscape features, which helps address the broad-scale restoration policies. The approach is generalizable and applicable to assist restoration planning in other regions fragmented by oil-and-gas activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denys Yemshanov
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada.
| | - Mackenzie Simpson
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Ning Liu
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
| | - Aaron Petty
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Frank H Koch
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Eric Neilson
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Cynthia Chand
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - George Duffy
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Vita Hoyles
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Chris Mallon
- Alberta Environment and Protected Areas, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Dickie M, Sherman GG, Sutherland GD, McNay RS, Cody M. Evaluating the impact of caribou habitat restoration on predator and prey movement. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14004. [PMID: 36098630 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Fragmentation of the boreal forest by linear features, including seismic lines, has destabilized predator-prey dynamics, resulting in the decline of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations. Restoration of human-altered habitat has therefore been identified as a critical management tool for achieving self-sustaining woodland caribou populations. However, only recently has testing of the response of caribou and other wildlife to restoration activities been conducted. Early work has centered around assessing changes in wildlife use of restored seismic lines. We evaluated whether restoration reduces the movement rates of predators and their associated prey, which is expected to decrease predator hunting efficiency and ultimately reduce caribou mortality. We developed a new method for using cameras to measure fine-scale movement by measuring speed as animals traveled between cameras in an array. We used our method to quantify speed of caribou, moose (Alces alces), bears (Ursus americanus), and wolves (Canis lupus) on treated (restored) and untreated seismic lines. Restoration treatments reduced travel speeds along seismic lines of wolves by 1.38 km/h, bears by 0.55 km/h, and caribou by 1.57 km/h, but did not reduce moose travel speeds. Reduced predator and caribou speeds on treated seismic lines are predicted to decrease encounter rates between predators and caribou and thus lower caribou kill rates. However, further work is needed to determine whether reduced movement rates result in reduced encounter rates with prey, and ultimately reduced caribou mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Dickie
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | | | | | - Robert S McNay
- Wildlife Infometrics, Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada
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Dickie M, Serrouya R, Avgar T, McLoughlin P, McNay RS, DeMars C, Boutin S, Ford AT. Resource exploitation efficiency collapses the home range of an apex predator. Ecology 2022; 103:e3642. [DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Dickie
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Kelowna British Columbia Canada
| | - R. Serrouya
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - T. Avgar
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center Utah State University Logan Utah US
| | - P. McLoughlin
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place Saskatoon Saskatchewan Canada
| | - R. S. McNay
- Wildlife Infometrics, 3 – 220 Mackenzie Blvd Mackenzie British Columbia Canada
| | - C. DeMars
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - S. Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta Canada
| | - A. T. Ford
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Kelowna British Columbia Canada
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Yemshanov D, Simpson M, Koch FH, Parisien M, Barber QE, Campioni F, Macdermid F, Choudhury S. Optimal restoration of wildlife habitat in landscapes fragmented by resource extraction: a network flow modeling approach. Restor Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Denys Yemshanov
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre Sault Sainte Marie ON Canada
| | - Mackenzie Simpson
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre Sault Sainte Marie ON Canada
| | - Frank H. Koch
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, Research Triangle Park Chapel Hill NC U.S.A
| | - Marc‐André Parisien
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Quinn E. Barber
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre Edmonton AB Canada
| | - Fabio Campioni
- Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre Sault Sainte Marie ON Canada
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Beirne C, Sun C, Tattersall ER, Burgar JM, Fisher JT, Burton AC. Multispecies modelling reveals potential for habitat restoration to re‐establish boreal vertebrate community dynamics. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Beirne
- Department of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Catherine Sun
- Department of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Erin R. Tattersall
- Department of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Joanna M. Burgar
- Department of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - Jason T. Fisher
- School of Environmental Studies University of Victoria Vancouver British Columbia Canada
| | - A. Cole Burton
- Department of Forest Resources Management University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
- Biodiversity Research Centre University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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Vanlandeghem V, Drapeau P, Prima M, St‐Laurent M, Fortin D. Management‐mediated predation rate in the caribou–moose–wolf system: spatial configuration of logging activities matters. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Département des Sciences Biologique Université du Québec à Montréal Montreal QuebecH3C 3P8Canada
| | | | - Martin‐Hugues St‐Laurent
- Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie Université du Québec à Rimouski Rimouski QuebecG5L 3A1Canada
| | - Daniel Fortin
- Département de Biologie Université Laval Quebec QuebecG1V 0A6Canada
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Sabal MC, Boyce MS, Charpentier CL, Furey NB, Luhring TM, Martin HW, Melnychuk MC, Srygley RB, Wagner CM, Wirsing AJ, Ydenberg RC, Palkovacs EP. Predation landscapes influence migratory prey ecology and evolution. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:737-749. [PMID: 33994219 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Migratory prey experience spatially variable predation across their life cycle. They face unique challenges in navigating this predation landscape, which affects their perception of risk, antipredator responses, and resulting mortality. Variable and unfamiliar predator cues during migration can limit accurate perception of risk and migrants often rely on social information and learning to compensate. The energetic demands of migration constrain antipredator responses, often through context-dependent patterns. While migration can increase mortality, migrants employ diverse strategies to balance risks and rewards, including life history and antipredator responses. Humans interact frequently with migratory prey across space and alter both mortality risk and antipredator responses, which can scale up to affect migratory populations and should be considered in conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C Sabal
- University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
| | - Mark S Boyce
- University of Alberta, Department of Biological Sciences, Edmonton T6G 2E9, Canada
| | | | - Nathan B Furey
- University of New Hampshire, Department of Biological Sciences, Durham, NH 03824, USA
| | - Thomas M Luhring
- Wichita State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Wichita, KS 67260, USA
| | - Hans W Martin
- University of Montana, Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Michael C Melnychuk
- University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Robert B Srygley
- Pest Management Research Unit, Northern Plains Agricultural Research Laboratory, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, Sidney, MT 59270, USA; Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apdo. 0843-03092, Panamá, República de Panamá
| | - C Michael Wagner
- Michigan State University, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Aaron J Wirsing
- University of Washington, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Ronald C Ydenberg
- Simon Fraser University, Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Eric P Palkovacs
- University of California Santa Cruz, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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