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Beard AN, Brown DJ, Hileman ET, Jones MT, Staggs JM, Moen RA, Badje AF, Lituma CM. Influence of temporary emigration on wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta) detectability, with implications for abundance estimation. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0302170. [PMID: 38625927 PMCID: PMC11020976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Reliable population estimates are important for making informed management decisions about wildlife species. Standardized survey protocols have been developed for monitoring population trends of the wood turtle (Glyptemys insculpta), a semi-aquatic freshwater turtle species of conservation concern throughout its distribution in east-central North America. The protocols use repeated active search surveys of defined areas, allowing for estimation of survey-specific detection probability (p) and site-specific abundance. These protocols assume population closure within the survey area during the survey period, which is unlikely to be met as wood turtles are a highly mobile species. Additionally, current protocols use a single-pass design that does not allow for separation of availability (pa) and detectability (pd). If there are systematic influences on pa or pd that are not accounted for in the survey design or data analysis, then resulting abundance estimates could be biased. The objectives of this study were to determine if pa is a random process and if pa and pd are influenced by demographic characteristics. We modified the wood turtle survey protocol used in the upper Midwest to include a double-pass design, allowing us to estimate pa and pd using a robust design capture-recapture model. The modified protocol was implemented at 14 wood turtle monitoring sites in Minnesota and Wisconsin between 2017 and 2022. Our results indicated that pa was non-random and that pd increased with turtle carapace length. Our study suggests that model assumptions for current wood turtle population models may be violated, likely resulting in an overestimation of abundance. We discuss possible protocol and modeling modifications that could result in more accurate wood turtle abundance estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson N. Beard
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Donald J. Brown
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
- Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Amboy, Washington, United States of America
| | - Eric T. Hileman
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Jones
- Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, Westborough, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jena M. Staggs
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Ron A. Moen
- Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Andrew F. Badje
- Bureau of Natural Heritage Conservation, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Lituma
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
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Allen ML, Avrin AC, Farmer MJ, Whipple LS, Alexander EP, Cervantes AM, Bauder JM. Limitations of current knowledge about the ecology of Grey Foxes hamper conservation efforts. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2021. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7102.13.8.19079-19092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Species-specific conservation is important for maintaining the integrity of ecological communities but is dependent on sufficiently understanding multiple aspects of a species’ ecology. Species-specific data are commonly lacking for species in geographic areas with little research and species perceived to have insufficient charisma or economic importance. Despite their widespread distribution across central and North America and status as a furbearing mammal, little is known about the ecology of Grey Foxes Urocyon cinereoargenteus compared to other species of furbearing mammals. To understand what is known about this species, especially factors affecting population dynamics, we performed a systematic review of the scientific literature. We found 234 studies about Grey Foxes, with studies increasing substantially over time but with geographic gaps in the Great Plains and most of Mexico and central America. Most studies we reviewed examined relative abundance or occupancy (n= 35), habitat associations (n= 30), primarily as part of larger mammalian community studies, or spatiotemporal effects of other mammalian carnivores (n= 19), predominately Coyote Canis latrans. Grey Foxes were primarily forest-associated although associations with specific forest communities or anthropogenically disturbed habitats varied among studies. Multiple studies across ecoregions reported this fox as among both the most- and least-abundant mammalian carnivore. The inter-specific effects of Coyote were often, but not exclusively, negative and were likely mediated by landscape composition and human development. Importantly, very few studies examined population-effects of coyotes on Grey Foxes. Studies of population trends, demographics, and space use of Grey Foxes were comparatively rare and small inter- and intra-study sample sizes limited our ability to infer broader patterns. We suggest multiple avenues for future research to better understand the population status of this species throughout their range.
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Howell HJ, Legere RH, Holland DS, Seigel RA. Long-Term Turtle Declines: Protected Is a Verb, Not an Outcome. COPEIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1643/ch-19-177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hunter J. Howell
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Dr., #215 Cox Science Center, Coral Gables, Florida 33146; hjh59@miami. edu. Send reprint requests to this address
| | - Richard H. Legere
- Susquehannock Wildlife Society, 1725 Trappe Church Road, Darlington, Maryland 21034; (RHL) ; and (DSH)
| | - David S. Holland
- Susquehannock Wildlife Society, 1725 Trappe Church Road, Darlington, Maryland 21034; (RHL) ; and (DSH)
| | - Richard A. Seigel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Towson University, 8000 York Road, Towson, Maryland 21252-0001; (RAS)
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Gulette AL, Anderson JT, Brown DJ. Influence of Hoop-Net Trap Diameter on Capture Success and Size Distribution of Comparatively Large and Small Freshwater Turtles. Northeast Nat (Steuben) 2019. [DOI: 10.1656/045.026.0111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alissa L. Gulette
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - James T. Anderson
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
| | - Donald J. Brown
- School of Natural Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506
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An 18-Year Mark–Recapture Study of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) in Michigan. J HERPETOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1670/17-063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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