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Walker PD, Rodgers AR, Shuter J, Fryxell JM, Merrill EH. Woodland caribou calving fidelity: Spatial location, habitat, or both? Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11480. [PMID: 38826167 PMCID: PMC11139972 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11480] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Individuals that isolate themselves to give birth can use more than one strategy in choosing birth sites to maximize reproductive success. Previous research has focused on the consistency in the use of the same birth-site across years (i.e., spatial fidelity), but individuals alternatively may use similar habitat conditions across years (i.e., habitat fidelity). Using GPS telemetry, we determined whether woodland caribou expressed spatial or habitat fidelity during calving, and evaluated intrinsic and extrinsic factors associated with expressing either type of fidelity. We identified 56 individuals with ≥2 putative birth events, via a movement-based model, across northern Ontario between 2010 and 2014. Individuals were classified as expressing (1) spatial fidelity by comparing sequential calving locations to a random spatial distribution of available calving locations, (2) habitat fidelity using a logistic use model compared to a null (intercept only) model, (3) no fidelity (neither criterion met), or (4) both spatial and habitat fidelity (both criteria met). Across all individuals, 37% expressed no fidelity (36 of 98), 15% expressed only spatial fidelity (15 of 99), 35% expressed only habitat fidelity (34 of 98), and 14% expressed both spatial and habitat fidelity (14 of 98). Older individuals were more likely to express spatial fidelity, whereas lower availability of upland and lowland conifer forests without linear features increased the probability an individual expressed habitat fidelity. Our results indicate that managing for caribou calving needs to consider protecting both specific, known birthing sites, but also broad-scale areas of preferred habitat for calving. Understanding the mechanisms that influence caribou expressing calving fidelity, and associated fitness costs, is crucial for the conservation of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- P. D. Walker
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - A. R. Rodgers
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem ResearchOntario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryThunder BayOntarioCanada
| | - J. Shuter
- Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem ResearchOntario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryThunder BayOntarioCanada
| | - J. M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of GuelphGuelphOntarioCanada
| | - E. H. Merrill
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
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2
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Bleke CA, Gese EM, Villalba JJ, Roberts SB, French SS. Temporal and Spatial Influences on Fawn Summer Survival in Pronghorn Populations: Management Implications from Noninvasive Monitoring. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1468. [PMID: 38791686 PMCID: PMC11117275 DOI: 10.3390/ani14101468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring vital rates allows managers to estimate trends in growth rates of ungulate populations. However, connecting the influence of nutrition on ungulate demography is challenging. Noninvasive sampling offers a low-cost, low-effort alternative for measuring nutritional indices, allowing for an increased understanding of the mechanistic relationships between environmental factors, nutrition, and specific population vital rates. We examined the temporal influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) fawn recruitment. We collected fresh fecal samples from adult female pronghorn in five subpopulations spanning three sampling periods associated with critical maternal life-history stages (late gestation, early lactation, breeding season) for 2 years to investigate both intra- and interannual influences. Intrinsic factors were fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), nutritional indices (fecal nitrogen (FN) and 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA)), and dietary composition (protein intake of forbs, graminoids, legumes, other, shrubs), while the extrinsic factor was vegetative greenness (normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)). We found variations in DAPA, protein intake of forbs, variation in forb protein intake, and protein intake of legumes during late gestation positively influenced fawn recruitment. Fecal nitrogen during early lactation showed the strongest positive influence on the recruitment of any measured parameter. Finally, breeding season NDVI and the variation in DAPA values positively influenced the subsequent year's fawn recruitment. Our longitudinal study enabled us to investigate which parameter was most important to specific periods of fawn development and recruitment. We combined the results across five subpopulations, but interpretation and subsequent management decisions should be made at the subpopulation level such that pronghorn subpopulations with low recruitment can be positively influenced by increasing nitrogen on the landscape available to adult females during the early lactation period. As the use of noninvasive monitoring methods continues to expand, we believe our methodologies and results can be broadly applied to other ungulate monitoring programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole A. Bleke
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Eric M. Gese
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Utah Field Station, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
| | - Juan J. Villalba
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA;
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3
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Hughes TA, Larsen RT, Hersey KR, van de Kerk M, McMillan BR. Evaluating movement-based methods for estimating the frequency and timing of parturition in mule deer. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:6. [PMID: 38243279 PMCID: PMC10799437 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00450-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Information on reproduction of harvested species such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is vital for conservation and management. Furthermore, parturition in ungulates may be detected using patterns of movement logged by GPS transmitters. Several movement-based methods have been developed to detect parturition in ungulates including the Peterson method, behavioral change point analysis (BCPA), rolling minimum convex polygons (rMCP), individual-based method (IBM), and population-based method (PBM). Our objectives were to (1) test the accuracy and the precision of each previously described method and (2) develop an improved method optimized for mule deer that incorporated aspects of the other methods. METHODS We determined parturition timing and status for female mule deer fitted with GPS collars and implanted with vaginal implant transmitters (VITs). We used movement patterns before and after parturition to set movement thresholds for each movement-based method. Following model training, we used location and birth date data from an external dataset to test the effectiveness of each movement-based method. Additionally, we developed a novel method for detecting parturition called the analysis of parturition indicators (API). We used two regression analyses to determine the accuracy and precision of estimates generated by each method. RESULTS The six methods we employed varied in accuracy, with the API, rMCP, and BCPA being most accurate. Precision also varied among methods, with the API, rMCP, and PBM generating the most precise estimates of parturition dates. The API and the rMCP performed similarly and better overall than any of the other existing methods. CONCLUSIONS We found that movement-based methods could be used to accurately and precisely detect parturition in mule deer. Further, we determined that the API and rMCP methods had the greatest overall success at detecting parturition in mule deer. The relative success of the API and rMCP may be attributed to the fact that both methods use home range size to detect parturition and are validated using known parturition dates of collared deer. We present the API as an efficient method of estimating birth status and timing of parturition of mule deer fitted with GPS transmitters, as well as affirm the effectiveness of a previously developed method, rMCP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabitha A Hughes
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, 4105 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT, 84602, USA.
| | - Randy T Larsen
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, 4105 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Kent R Hersey
- Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, 1594 W North Temple, Suite 2110, Salt Lake City, UT, 84116, USA
| | - Madelon van de Kerk
- School of Environment and Sustainability, Western Colorado University, Kelley Hall 144, Gunnison, CO, 81231, USA
| | - Brock R McMillan
- Department of Plant and Wildlife Sciences, Brigham Young University, 4105 Life Sciences Building, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
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Eacker DR, Jakes AF, Jones PF. Spatiotemporal risk factors predict landscape‐scale survivorship for a northern ungulate. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew F. Jakes
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Missoula Montana USA
- National Wildlife Federation Missoula Montana USA
| | - Paul F. Jones
- Alberta Conservation Association Lethbridge Alberta Canada
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Pallin L, Bierlich KC, Durban J, Fearnbach H, Savenko O, Baker CS, Bell E, Double MC, de la Mare W, Goldbogen J, Johnston D, Kellar N, Nichols R, Nowacek D, Read AJ, Steel D, Friedlaender A. Demography of an ice-obligate mysticete in a region of rapid environmental change. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:220724. [PMID: 36397972 PMCID: PMC9626259 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.220724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Antarctic minke whales (Balaenoptera bonaerensis, AMW) are an abundant, ice-dependent species susceptible to rapid climatic changes occurring in parts of the Antarctic. Here, we used remote biopsy samples and estimates of length derived from unoccupied aircraft system (UAS) to characterize for the first time the sex ratio, maturity, and pregnancy rates of AMWs around the Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP). DNA profiling of 82 biopsy samples (2013-2020) identified 29 individual males and 40 individual females. Blubber progesterone levels indicated 59% of all sampled females were pregnant, irrespective of maturity. When corrected for sexual maturity, the median pregnancy rate was 92.3%, indicating that most mature females become pregnant each year. We measured 68 individuals by UAS (mean = 8.04 m) and estimated that 66.5% of females were mature. This study provides the first data on the demography of AMWs along the WAP and represents the first use of non-lethal approaches to studying this species. Furthermore, these results provide baselines against which future changes in population status can be assessed in this rapidly changing marine ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. Pallin
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - K. C. Bierlich
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - J. Durban
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - H. Fearnbach
- SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research, Des Moines, WA 98198, USA
| | - O. Savenko
- National Antarctic Scientific Center of Ukraine, 16 Taras Shevchenko Blvd, 01601, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Ukrainian Scientific Center of Ecology of the Sea, 89 Frantsuzsky Blvd, 65009, Odesa, Ukraine
| | - C. S. Baker
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - E. Bell
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - M. C. Double
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - W. de la Mare
- Australian Antarctic Division, 203 Channel Highway, Kingston, Tas 7050, Australia
| | - J. Goldbogen
- Hopkins Marine Station, Department of Biology, Stanford University, 120 Ocean View Blvd, Pacific Grove, CA 93950, USA
| | - D. Johnston
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - N. Kellar
- Marine Mammal and Turtle Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 8901 La Jolla Shores Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - R. Nichols
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - D. Nowacek
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - A. J. Read
- Division of Marine Science and Conservation, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Marine Laboratory, 135 Duke Marine Lab Road, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA
| | - D. Steel
- Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, & Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Hatfield Marine Science Center, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA
| | - A. Friedlaender
- Institute for Marine Science, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California Santa Cruz, Ocean Health Building, 115 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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Trump T, Knopff K, Morehouse A, Boyce MS. Sustainable elk harvests in Alberta with increasing predator populations. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269407. [PMID: 36288266 PMCID: PMC9604012 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269407] [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: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Large predators often are believed to cause declines in hunter harvests of ungulates due to direct competition for prey with hunters. In Alberta, predators of elk (Cervus elaphus), including grizzly bear (Ursus arctos), cougar (Puma concolor), and wolf (Canis lupus), have increased in recent years. We used trend analysis replicated by Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) to examine regional trends in elk harvest and hunter success. Over a 26-yr period, average harvest of elk increased by 5.46% per year for unrestricted bull and by 6.64% per year for limited-quota seasons. Also, over the same time frame, average hunter success increased by 0.2% per year for unrestricted bull and by 0.3% per year for limited-quota seasons, but no trend was detected in hunter effort (P>0.05). Our results show that increasing large-predator populations do not necessarily reduce hunter harvest of elk, and we only found evidence for this in Alberta's mountain WMUs where predation on elk calves has reduced recruitment. Furthermore, data indicate that Alberta's elk harvest management has been sustainable, i.e., hunting has continued while populations of elk have increased throughout most of the province. Wildlife agencies can justify commitments to long-term population monitoring because data allow adaptive management and can inform stakeholders on the status of populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Trump
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Kyle Knopff
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Golder Associates, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andrea Morehouse
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Winisk Research and Consulting, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Canada
| | - Mark S. Boyce
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- * E-mail:
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7
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The abundance and persistence of Caprinae populations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13807. [PMID: 35970998 PMCID: PMC9378773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17963-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Stable or growing populations may go extinct when their sizes cannot withstand large swings in temporal variation and stochastic forces. Hence, the minimum abundance threshold defining when populations can persist without human intervention forms a key conservation parameter. We identify this threshold for many populations of Caprinae, typically threatened species lacking demographic data. Doing so helps triage conservation and management actions for threatened or harvested populations. Methodologically, we used population projection matrices and simulations, with starting abundance, recruitment, and adult female survival predicting future abundance, growth rate (λ), and population trend. We incorporated mean demographic rates representative of Caprinae populations and corresponding variances from desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni), as a proxy for Caprinae sharing similar life histories. We found a population’s minimum abundance resulting in ≤ 0.01 chance of quasi-extinction (QE; population ≤ 5 adult females) in 10 years and ≤ 0.10 QE in 30 years as 50 adult females, or 70 were translocation (removals) pursued. Discovering the threshold required 3 demographic parameters. We show, however, that monitoring populations’ relationships to this threshold requires only abundance and recruitment data. This applied approach avoids the logistical and cost hurdles in measuring female survival, making assays of population persistence more practical.
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8
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Martin AE, Neave E, Kirby P, Drever CR, Johnson CA. Multi-objective optimization can balance trade-offs among boreal caribou, biodiversity, and climate change objectives when conservation hotspots do not overlap. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11895. [PMID: 35831324 PMCID: PMC9279314 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15274-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The biodiversity and climate change crises have led countries-including Canada-to commit to protect more land and inland waters and to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations. Canada is also obligated to recover populations of at-risk species, including boreal caribou. Canada has the opportunity to expand its protected areas network to protect hotspots of high value for biodiversity and climate mitigation. However, co-occurrence of hotspots is rare. Here we ask: is it possible to expand the network to simultaneously protect areas important for boreal caribou, other species at risk, climate refugia, and carbon stores? We used linear programming to prioritize areas for protection based on these conservation objectives, and assessed how prioritization for multiple, competing objectives affected the outcome for each individual objective. Our multi-objective approach produced reasonably strong representation of value across objectives. Although trade-offs were required, the multi-objective outcome was almost always better than when we ignored one objective to maximize value for another, highlighting the risk of assuming that a plan based on one objective will also result in strong outcomes for others. Multi-objective optimization approaches could be used to plan for protected areas networks that address biodiversity and climate change objectives, even when hotspots do not co-occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda E Martin
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
- Department of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - Erin Neave
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Patrick Kirby
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | | | - Cheryl A Johnson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Science and Technology, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Department of Applied Geomatics, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, J1K 2R1, Canada
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9
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Mueller M, Johnson CJ, McNay RS. Influence of maternity penning on the success and timing of parturition by mountain caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). CAN J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Invasive conservation actions that require the capture and handling of individual animals are common, but the implications for both survival and reproduction are often not studied. Across North America, most populations of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou Gmelin, 1788) are Threatened or Endangered. Maternity penning, where pregnant females are held in an enclosure until the calf is less vulnerable to predation, is one conservation action that is designed to increase population growth. Few studies have reported the influence of maternity penning on the occurrence or timing of parturition and the implications for reproduction. We quantified parturition success and dates of penned and free-ranging caribou within the Klinse-Za population of caribou found across east-central British Columbia, Canada. Parturition dates were identified using daily observations for penned caribou (n=41) and estimated dates for free-ranging caribou (n=27) generated using statistical modelling of GPS collar data. We related parturition outcomes to a range of ecological and environmental variables. We found that the occurrence and date of parturition did not differ between penned and free-ranging caribou. For all monitored animals there was an earlier calving date during years of higher snowfall and warmer winter weather. Our results suggested that maternity penning, a potentially invasive conservation action, did not increase or decrease the probability or date of parturition for this study population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariah Mueller
- University of Northern British Columbia, 6727, Prince George, Canada
| | - Chris J. Johnson
- University of Northern British Columbia, 6727, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, Prince George, Canada
| | - R. Scott McNay
- Wildlife Infometrics, Inc., Research, Mackenzie, British Columbia, Canada
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10
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Paterson JT, Proffitt KM, Rotella JJ. Incorporating vital rates and harvest into stochastic population models to forecast elk population dynamics. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kelly M. Proffitt
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Bozeman 59718 MT USA
| | - Jay J. Rotella
- Montana State University 310 Lewis Hall Bozeman MT 59718 USA
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11
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Kellner KF, Hurst JE, Kramer DW, Belant JL. Effects of Antler Point Restrictions on Deer Harvest in New York. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth F. Kellner
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse NY 3210 USA
| | - Jeremy E. Hurst
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Albany NY 12233 USA
| | - David W. Kramer
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Albany NY 12233 USA
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry Syracuse NY 3210 USA
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12
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DeMars CA, Gilbert S, Serrouya R, Kelly AP, Larter NC, Hervieux D, Boutin S. Demographic responses of a threatened, low-density ungulate to annual variation in meteorological and phenological conditions. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258136. [PMID: 34624030 PMCID: PMC8500449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
As global climate change progresses, wildlife management will benefit from knowledge of demographic responses to climatic variation, particularly for species already endangered by other stressors. In Canada, climate change is expected to increasingly impact populations of threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and much focus has been placed on how a warming climate has potentially facilitated the northward expansion of apparent competitors and novel predators. Climate change, however, may also exert more direct effects on caribou populations that are not mediated by predation. These effects include meteorological changes that influence resource availability and energy expenditure. Research on other ungulates suggests that climatic variation may have minimal impact on low-density populations such as woodland caribou because per-capita resources may remain sufficient even in “bad” years. We evaluated this prediction using demographic data from 21 populations in western Canada that were monitored for various intervals between 1994 and 2015. We specifically assessed whether juvenile recruitment and adult female survival were correlated with annual variation in meteorological metrics and plant phenology. Against expectations, we found that both vital rates appeared to be influenced by annual climatic variation. Juvenile recruitment was primarily correlated with variation in phenological conditions in the year prior to birth. Adult female survival was more strongly correlated with meteorological conditions and declined during colder, more variable winters. These responses may be influenced by the life history of woodland caribou, which reside in low-productivity refugia where small climatic changes may result in changes to resources that are sufficient to elicit strong demographic effects. Across all models, explained variation in vital rates was low, suggesting that other factors had greater influence on caribou demography. Nonetheless, given the declining trajectories of many woodland caribou populations, our results highlight the increased relevance of recovery actions when adverse climatic conditions are likely to negatively affect caribou demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A. DeMars
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Sophie Gilbert
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, United States of America
| | - Robert Serrouya
- Caribou Monitoring Unit, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories, Fort Smith, NT, Canada
| | - Nicholas C. Larter
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (retired), Government of Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson, NT, Canada
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Grande Prairie, AB, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Bleke CA, Gese EM, French SS. Variations, validations, degradations, and noninvasive determination of pregnancy using fecal steroid metabolites in free-ranging pronghorn. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 312:113841. [PMID: 34217705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy status is a key parameter used to assess reproductive performance of a species as it represents a starting point for measuring vital rates. Vital rates allow managers to determine trends in populations such as neonate survival and recruitment; two important factors in ungulate population growth rates. Techniques to determine pregnancy have generally involved capture and restraint of the animal to obtain blood samples for determining serum hormone levels. Non-invasive pregnancy assessment, via feces, eliminates any hazards between handler and animal, as well as removes handling-induced physiological biases. Using noninvasive fecal sampling, we conducted hormone validations, investigated pregnancy rates, and determined hormone degradation rates across five subpopulations of pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in Idaho. Samples were collected during April-May of 2018 and 2019 from adult pronghorn of known sex and age class. Metabolites of testosterone, cortisol, 17β-estradiol, and progesterone were measured in fecal samples, and concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were examined for pregnancy determination. Average fecal progesterone metabolite (FPM) levels of pregnant females were more than double compared to levels of nonpregnant females. Fecal estrogen metabolite (FEM) levels did not differ during concurrent sampling. The largest difference in FPM levels between pregnant and nonpregnant females began on 28 April. Pregnancy determination sampling showed average FPM levels for all five subpopulations were significantly different than the nonpregnant female validation group. Nonetheless, pregnancy rates for some subpopulations lacked conclusive estimates due to early fecal sampling. Fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) levels significantly differed between pregnant females and male pronghorn, but did not differ from nonpregnant females. Degradation rates of FPM and FGM differed across days, with values for FPM from Day 1 being significantly different from all subsequent days, and after Day 9 for FGM, demonstrating the requirement of fresh samples to accurately measure hormone concentrations. We concluded that a noninvasive method to diagnosis pregnancy is possible in pronghorn via progesterone metabolites if fresh samples are collected during late gestation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cole A Bleke
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Eric M Gese
- U.S. Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services-National Wildlife Research Center, Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
| | - Susannah S French
- Department of Biology and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA.
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Hayat Khattak R, Liu Z, Teng L, James Roberts N. Determining Optimal Stock Density of Punjab Urial (<i>Ovis vignei punjabiensis</i>) in Captivity for Breeding, Population Growth and Reintroduction Potential. Pak J Biol Sci 2021; 23:1227-1230. [PMID: 32981254 DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2020.1227.1230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis) is an endangered wild sheep of Pakistan, raised in captivity with the aim of re-introduction. To date, no information is available about population trends of this species in captivity. The current study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the population trend to better guide captive breeding for improved productivity and conservation value. MATERIALS AND METHODS Annual population data recorded and maintained by the Wildlife Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, were used. The data were compiled and analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2010 for determining growth rates and package Growthcurver in R-version 3.5.1 was used to produce a graphical representation of the population trend. RESULTS The overall average annual population growth rate was rN = 0.22. Results revealed a fast initial growth rate with an average value of rN = 0.4 per year. Birth rates of bN = 0.45 for the first nine years were considerably higher than the death rates dN = 0.22 and the population increased with exponential growth. In the subsequent year, very high mortalities rates (dN = 1.2), likely attributed to the clumping of the population, resulted in the collapse of the population, leaving it in a state of unstable equilibrium. CONCLUSION Results support the evaluation of management data to reveal carrying capacity in captive populations, to guide and inform appropriate release of surplus animals into natural habitats.
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Nielsen SS, Alvarez J, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin‐Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Schmidt C, Herskin M, Michel V, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Stahl K, Velarde A, Winckler C, Blome S, Boklund A, Bøtner A, Dhollander S, Rapagnà C, Van der Stede Y, Miranda Chueca MA. Research priorities to fill knowledge gaps in wild boar management measures that could improve the control of African swine fever in wild boar populations. EFSA J 2021; 19:e06716. [PMID: 34354769 PMCID: PMC8319816 DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2021.6716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA to provide study designs for the investigation of four research domains (RDs) according to major gaps in knowledge identified by EFSA in a report published in 2019: (RD 1) African swine fever (ASF) epidemiology in wild boar; (RD 2) ASF transmission by vectors; (RD 3) African swine fever virus (ASFV) survival in the environment, and (RD 4) the patterns of seasonality of ASF in wild boar and domestic pigs in the EU. In this Scientific Opinion, the second RD on ASF epidemiology in wild boar is addressed. Twenty-nine research objectives were proposed by the working group and broader ASF expert networks and 23 of these research objectives met a prespecified inclusion criterion. Fourteen of these 23 research objectives met the predefined threshold for selection and so were prioritised based on the following set of criteria: (1) the impact on ASF management; (2) the feasibility or practicality to carry out the study; (3) the potential implementation of study results in practice; (4) a possible short time-frame study (< 1 year); (5) the novelty of the study; and (6) if it was a priority for risk managers. Finally, after further elimination of three of the proposed research objectives due to overlapping scope of studies published during the development of this opinion, 11 research priorities were elaborated into short research proposals, considering the potential impact on ASF management and the period of one year for the research activities.
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Moeller AK, Nowak JJ, Neufeld L, Bradley M, Manseau M, Wilson P, McFarlane S, Lukacs PM, Hebblewhite M. Integrating counts, telemetry, and non‐invasive DNA data to improve demographic monitoring of an endangered species. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anna K. Moeller
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | | | | | - Mark Bradley
- Parks Canada, Jasper National Park Jasper Alberta Canada
| | - Micheline Manseau
- Landscape Science and Technology Division Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
- Biology Department Trent University Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Paul Wilson
- Biology Department Trent University Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Samantha McFarlane
- Landscape Science and Technology Division Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa Ontario Canada
- Biology Department Trent University Peterborough Ontario Canada
| | - Paul M. Lukacs
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
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Heard DC, Zimmerman KL. Fall supplemental feeding increases population growth rate of an endangered caribou herd. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10708. [PMID: 33854825 PMCID: PMC7953878 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Most woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations are declining primarily because of unsustainable predation resulting from habitat-mediated apparent competition. Wolf (Canis lupus) reduction is an effective recovery option because it addresses the direct effect of predation. We considered the possibility that the indirect effects of predation might also affect caribou population dynamics by adversely affecting summer foraging behaviour. If spring and/or summer nutrition was inadequate, then supplemental feeding in fall might compensate for that limitation and contribute to population growth. Improved nutrition and therefore body condition going into winter could increase adult survival and lead to improved reproductive success the next spring. To test that hypothesis, we fed high-quality food pellets to free-ranging caribou in the Kennedy Siding caribou herd each fall for six years, starting in 2014, to see if population growth rate increased. Beginning in winter 2015–16, the Province of British Columbia began a concurrent annual program to promote caribou population increase by attempting to remove most wolves within the Kennedy Siding and the adjacent caribou herds’ ranges. To evaluate the impact of feeding, we compared lambdas before and after feeding began, and to the population trend in the adjacent Quintette herd over the subsequent four years. Supplemental feeding appeared to have an incremental effect on population growth. Population growth of the Kennedy Siding herd was higher in the year after feeding began (λ = 1.06) compared to previous years (λ = 0.91) and to the untreated Quintette herd (λ = 0.95). Average annual growth rate of the Kennedy Siding herd over the subsequent four years, where both feeding and wolf reduction occurred concurrently, was higher than in the Quintette herd where the only management action in those years was wolf reduction (λ = 1.16 vs. λ = 1.08). The higher growth rate of the Kennedy Siding herd was due to higher female survival (96.2%/yr vs. 88.9%/yr). Many caribou were in relatively poor condition in the fall. Consumption of supplemental food probably improved their nutritional status which ultimately led to population growth. Further feeding experiments on other caribou herds using an adaptive management approach would verify the effect of feeding as a population recovery tool. Our results support the recommendation that multiple management actions should be implemented to improve recovery prospects for caribou.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas C Heard
- Tithonus Wildlife Research, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kathryn L Zimmerman
- Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Province of British Columbia, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
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Serrouya R, Dickie M, Lamb C, van Oort H, Kelly AP, DeMars C, McLoughlin PD, Larter NC, Hervieux D, Ford AT, Boutin S. Trophic consequences of terrestrial eutrophication for a threatened ungulate. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202811. [PMID: 33468013 PMCID: PMC7893279 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in primary productivity have the potential to substantially alter food webs, with positive outcomes for some species and negative outcomes for others. Understanding the environmental context and species traits that give rise to these divergent outcomes is a major challenge to the generality of both theoretical and applied ecology. In aquatic systems, nutrient-mediated eutrophication has led to major declines in species diversity, motivating us to seek terrestrial analogues using a large-mammal system across 598 000 km2 of the Canadian boreal forest. These forests are undergoing some of the most rapid rates of land-use change on Earth and are home to declining caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) populations. Using satellite-derived estimates of primary productivity, coupled with estimates of moose (Alces alces) and wolf (Canis lupus) abundance, we used path analyses to discriminate among hypotheses explaining how habitat alteration can affect caribou population growth. Hypotheses included food limitation, resource dominance by moose over caribou, and apparent competition with predators shared between moose and caribou. Results support apparent competition and yield estimates of wolf densities (1.8 individuals 1000 km-2) above which caribou populations decline. Our multi-trophic analysis provides insight into the cascading effects of habitat alteration from forest cutting that destabilize terrestrial predator-prey dynamics. Finally, the path analysis highlights why conservation actions directed at the proximate cause of caribou decline have been more successful in the near term than those directed further along the trophic chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Serrouya
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Melanie Dickie
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Clayton Lamb
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Harry van Oort
- Environment, BC Hydro, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada V0E 2S0
| | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada X0E 0P0
| | - Craig DeMars
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Philip D. McLoughlin
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - Nicholas C. Larter
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson, Northwest Territories, Canada X0E 0N0
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Box 23 Provincial Building, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada T8V 6J4
| | - Adam T. Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada V1V 1V7
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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Clark TJ, Hebblewhite M. Predator control may not increase ungulate populations in the future: A formal meta‐analysis. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. J. Clark
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA
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20
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Walker PD, Rodgers AR, Shuter JL, Thompson ID, Fryxell JM, Cook JG, Cook RC, Merrill EH. Comparison of Woodland Caribou Calving Areas Determined by Movement Patterns Across Northern Ontario. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip D. Walker
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Arthur R. Rodgers
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay ON P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Jennifer L. Shuter
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 103‐421 James Street South Thunder Bay ON P7E 2V6 Canada
| | - Ian D. Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service (Retired) 1219 Queen Street E, Sault Ste. Marie ON P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - John G. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Forestry and Range Science Laboratory 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Rachel C. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement Forestry and Range Science Laboratory 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Eveyln H. Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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21
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Johnson CA, Sutherland GD, Neave E, Leblond M, Kirby P, Superbie C, McLoughlin PD. Science to inform policy: Linking population dynamics to habitat for a threatened species in Canada. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl A. Johnson
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | | | - Erin Neave
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Patrick Kirby
- Science and Technology Branch Environment and Climate Change Canada Ottawa ON Canada
| | - Clara Superbie
- Department of Biology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK Canada
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Hema EM, Ouattara Y, Tou MAI, Amori G, Karama M, Luiselli L. Line-transect data may not produce reliable estimates of interannual sex-ratio and age structure variation in West African savannah ungulates. TROPICAL ZOOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.4081/tz.2020.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Adult sex ratios and age structures are important wildlife population parameters, but they have been poorly investigated in ungulate species in West African savannahs. We used line transects to investigate these parameters in 11 ungulates from a protected area in south-western Burkina Faso during the period 2010-2018. We created an empirical model of “detectability” for each species based on its main ecological characteristics (habitat and group size) and body size, and then compared the observed interannual inconsistency in sex ratios and age structures with the a priori detectability score. Six out of 11 species showed low interannual inconsistency in sex ratio and age structure. In 82% of the study species, however, the predicted detectability score matched the observed score, with two exceptions being Tragelaphus scriptus and Sincerus caffer.
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23
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Fryxell JM, Avgar T, Liu B, Baker JA, Rodgers AR, Shuter J, Thompson ID, Reid DEB, Kittle AM, Mosser A, Newmaster SG, Nudds TD, Street GM, Brown GS, Patterson B. Anthropogenic Disturbance and Population Viability of Woodland Caribou in Ontario. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John M. Fryxell
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Boyan Liu
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - James A. Baker
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryWildlife Research and Monitoring Section 300 Water Street, Peterborough Ontario K9J 8M5 Canada
| | - Arthur R. Rodgers
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryCentre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 435 James Street Thunder‐Bay Ontario P7E 2VE Canada
| | - Jennifer Shuter
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryCentre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 435 James Street Thunder‐Bay Ontario P7E 2VE Canada
| | - Ian D. Thompson
- Canadian Forest Service 1219 Queen Street East, Sault Ste. Marie Ontario P6A 2E5 Canada
| | - Douglas E. B. Reid
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryCentre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research 435 James Street Thunder‐Bay Ontario P7E 2VE Canada
| | - Andrew M. Kittle
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Anna Mosser
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Steven G. Newmaster
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Tom D. Nudds
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Garrett M. Street
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of Guelph 50 Stone Road E., Guelph Ontario N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Glen S. Brown
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryWildlife Research and Monitoring Section 300 Water Street, Peterborough Ontario K9J 8M5 Canada
| | - Brent Patterson
- Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestryWildlife Research and Monitoring Section 300 Water Street, Peterborough Ontario K9J 8M5 Canada
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Severud WJ, DelGiudice GD, Bump JK. Comparing survey and multiple recruitment-mortality models to assess growth rates and population projections. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:12613-12622. [PMID: 31788201 PMCID: PMC6875566 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Estimation of population trends and demographic parameters is important to our understanding of fundamental ecology and species management, yet these data are often difficult to obtain without the use of data from population surveys or marking animals. The northeastern Minnesota moose (Alces alces Linnaeus, 1758) population declined 58% during 2006-2017, yet aerial surveys indicated stability during 2012-2017. In response to the decline, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) initiated studies of adult and calf survival to better understand cause-specific mortality, calf recruitment, and factors influencing the population trajectory. We estimated population growth rate (λ) using adult survival and calf recruitment data from demographic studies and the recruitment-mortality (R-M) Equation and compared these estimates to those calculated using data from aerial surveys. We then projected population dynamics 50 years using each resulting λ and used a stochastic model to project population dynamics 30 years using data from the MNDNR's studies. Calculations of λ derived from 2012 to 2017 survey data, and the R-M Equation indicated growth (1.02 ± 0.16 [SE] and 1.01 ± 0.04, respectively). However, the stochastic model indicated a decline in the population over 30 years (λ = 0.91 ± 0.004; 2014-2044). The R-M Equation has utility for estimating λ, and the supporting information from demographic collaring studies also helps to better address management questions. Furthermore, estimates of λ calculated using collaring data were more certain and reflective of current conditions. Long-term monitoring using collars would better inform population performance predictions and demographic responses to environmental variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Severud
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
| | - Glenn D. DelGiudice
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
- Forest Wildlife Populations and Research GroupMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesForest LakeMNUSA
| | - Joseph K. Bump
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMNUSA
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25
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Slowing down wolves to protect boreal caribou populations: a spatial simulation model of linear feature restoration. Ecosphere 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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Adams LG, Farnell R, Oakley MP, Jung TS, Larocque LL, Lortie GM, Mclelland J, Reid ME, Roffler GH, Russell DE. Evaluation of Maternal Penning to Improve Calf Survival in the Chisana Caribou Herd. WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wmon.1044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Layne G. Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Drive Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Richard Farnell
- Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch P. O. Box 2703 Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
| | - Michelle P. Oakley
- Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch P. O. Box 5429 Haines Junction YT Y0B 1L0 Canada
| | - Thomas S. Jung
- Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch P. O. Box 2703 Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
| | - Lorne L. Larocque
- Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch P. O. Box 5429 Haines Junction YT Y0B 1L0 Canada
| | | | - Jamie Mclelland
- Yukon Department of Environment Fish and Wildlife Branch P. O. Box 2703 Whitehorse YT Y1A 2C6 Canada
| | - Mason E. Reid
- U.S. National Park Service Wrangell‐St. Elias National Park and Preserve, P. O. Box 439, Copper Center, AK 99573 USA
| | - Gretchen H. Roffler
- U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Science Center 4210 University Drive Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Don E. Russell
- Canadian Wildlife Service 91782 Alaska Highway Whitehorse YT Y1A 5B7 Canada
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Eacker DR, Hebblewhite M, Steenweg R, Russell M, Flasko A, Hervieux D. Web-based application for threatened woodland caribou population modeling. WILDLIFE SOC B 2019; 43:167-177. [PMID: 31007303 PMCID: PMC6472330 DOI: 10.1002/wsb.950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are threatened in Canada, with population and distribution declines evident in most regions of the country. Causes of declines are linked to landscape change from forest fires and human development, notably forestry oil and gas activities, which result in caribou habitat loss and affect ecosystem food webs. The Federal Species at Risk Act requires effective protection and restoration of caribou habitat, with actions to increase caribou survival. These requirements call for effective monitoring of caribou population trends to gauge success. Many woodland caribou populations are nearly impossible to count using traditional aerial survey methods, but demographic‐based monitoring approaches can be used to estimate population trends based on population modeling of vital rates from marked animals. Monitoring programs have used a well‐known simple population model (the Recruitment‐Mortality [R/M] equation) to estimate demographic rates for woodland caribou, but have faced challenges in managing large data streams and providing transparency in the demographic estimation process. We present a stand‐alone statistical software application using open‐source software to permit efficient, transparent, and replicable demographic estimation for woodland caribou populations. We developed an easy‐to‐use, interactive web‐based application for the R/M population model that uses a Bayesian estimation approach and provides the user flexibility in choice of prior distributions and other output features. We illustrate the web‐application to the A la Pêche Southern Mountain (Central Group) woodland caribou population in west‐central Alberta, Canada, during 1998–2017. Our estimates of population demographics are consistent with previous research on this population and highlight the utility of the application in assessing caribou population responses to species recovery actions. We provide example data, computer code, the web‐based application package, and a user manual to guide installation and use. We also review underlying assumptions and challenges of population monitoring in this case study. We expect our software will contribute to efficient monitoring of woodland caribou and help in the assessment of recovery actions for this species. © 2019 The Authors. Wildlife Society Bulletin Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. We developed a stand‐alone Web‐Application to support population trend estimation for endangered and threatened woodland caribou populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Eacker
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Robin Steenweg
- Alberta Environment and Parks - Operations Division 1601 Provincial Building, 10320-99 Street Grande Prairie AB T8V 6J4 Canada
| | - Mike Russell
- Alberta Environment and Parks - Operations Division 1601 Provincial Building, 10320-99 Street Grande Prairie AB T8V 6J4 Canada
| | - Amy Flasko
- Alberta Environment and Parks - Policy Division 1601 Provincial Building, 10320-99 Street Grande Prairie AB T8V 6J4 Canada
| | - Dave Hervieux
- Alberta Environment and Parks - Operations Division 1601 Provincial Building, 10320-99 Street Grande Prairie AB T8V 6J4 Canada
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Abstract
Adaptive management is a powerful means of learning about complex ecosystems, but is rarely used for recovering endangered species. Here, we demonstrate how it can benefit woodland caribou, which became the first large mammal extirpated from the contiguous United States in recent history. The continental scale of forest alteration and extended time needed for forest recovery means that relying only on habitat protection and restoration will likely fail. Therefore, population management is also needed as an emergency measure to avoid further extirpation. Reductions of predators and overabundant prey, translocations, and creating safe havens have been applied in a design covering >90,000 km2 Combinations of treatments that increased multiple vital rates produced the highest population growth. Moreover, the degree of ecosystem alteration did not influence this pattern. By coordinating recovery involving scientists, governments, and First Nations, treatments were applied across vast scales to benefit this iconic species.
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Bélanger É, Leblond M, Côté SD. Habitat selection and population trends of the Torngat Mountains caribou herd. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Édouard Bélanger
- Caribou Ungava, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon1045 av. de la MédecineQuebecQCG1V 0A6Canada
| | - Mathieu Leblond
- Caribou Ungava, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon1045 av. de la MédecineQuebecQCG1V 0A6Canada
| | - Steeve D. Côté
- Caribou Ungava, Université Laval, Département de biologie, Pavillon Alexandre‐Vachon1045 av. de la MédecineQuebecQCG1V 0A6Canada
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Manlik O. The Importance of Reproduction for the Conservation of Slow-Growing Animal Populations. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1200:13-39. [PMID: 31471793 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-23633-5_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Both survival and reproduction are important fitness components, and thus critical to the viability of wildlife populations. Preventing one death (survival) or contributing one newborn (reproduction), has arguably the same effect on population dynamics-in each instance the population grows or is maintained by one additional member. However, for the conservation of slow-growing animal populations, the importance of reproduction is sometimes overlooked when evaluating wildlife management options. This has to do with the use of demographic sensitivity analyses, which quantify the relative contribution of vital rates to population growth. For slow-growing populations, the results of such analyses typically show that growth rates are more sensitive to changes in survival than to equal proportional changes in reproduction. Consequently, for slow-growing taxa, survival has been labelled a better fitness surrogate than reproduction. However, such a generalization, derived from conventional sensitivity analyses, is based on flawed approaches, such as omitting appropriate scaling of vital rates, and sometimes misinterpretations. In this chapter, I make the case that for the conservation of slow-growing species the role of reproduction is considerably greater than conventional sensitivity analyses would suggest. This is illustrated by case studies on wildlife populations that underscore the importance of reproduction for the conservation of slow-growing birds, ungulates, carnivores, and cetaceans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Manlik
- Biology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. .,Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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McFarlane S, Manseau M, Flasko A, Horn RL, Arnason N, Neufeld L, Bradley M, Wilson P. Genetic influences on male and female variance in reproductive success and implications for the recovery of severely endangered mountain caribou. Glob Ecol Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Population Dynamics Model to Inform Harvest Management of a Small Elk Herd in Central New Mexico. JOURNAL OF FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.3996/012018-jfwm-008] [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
Crop depredation by wildlife is a frequent concern for natural resource managers and mitigation of this issue is often an important task for wildlife agencies. Elk Cervus elaphus and other ungulate species have depredated corn Zea mays at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico, USA, interfering with the ability of the Refuge to provide sufficient supplemental nutrition to overwintering sandhill cranes Antigone canadensis and geese (Anatidae). We estimated annual adult survival and calf recruitment rates of elk from 2011 to 2013 at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Natural adult survival (excludes human-related mortalities) was high (mean = 98.3%; 95% CI = 95.0–100.0%). Calf recruitment was lower than in some populations, and ranged from 13.0 to 36.7 calves : 100 cows at time of recruitment (March and April) with a mean of 21.9 (SD =12.9). Using this information, we constructed a harvest management model to determine annual harvest quotas required to stabilize the growth of the elk herd on the Refuge. The female segment of the herd is growing at an annual rate of 9.0% (95% CI = −1.1–24.1%). To stabilize the growth rate of the female elk population, 8.0% (95% CI = −1.1–19.4%) of the cows would need to be harvested annually. We estimated an adult elk abundance of 40.0 (SE = 4.57; 95% CI = 33.8–52.6) in 2012 and 61.1 (SE = 7.21; 95% CI = 49.9–78.8) in 2013. Our harvest management model provides Refuge staff, who ultimately intend to improve corn yield, with valuable information needed to stabilize the elk herd. Further, our approach outlines a simple, easily implemented modeling technique that can be used for the management of other ungulate herds.
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DeMars CA, Boutin S. Nowhere to hide: Effects of linear features on predator-prey dynamics in a large mammal system. J Anim Ecol 2017; 87:274-284. [PMID: 28940254 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Rapid landscape alteration associated with human activity is currently challenging the evolved dynamical stability of many predator-prey systems by forcing species to behaviourally respond to novel environmental stimuli. In many forested systems, linear features (LFs) such as roads, pipelines and resource exploration lines (i.e. seismic lines) are a ubiquitous form of landscape alteration that have been implicated in altering predator-prey dynamics. One hypothesized effect is that LFs facilitate predator movement into and within prey refugia, thereby increasing predator-prey spatial overlap. We evaluated this hypothesis in a large mammal system, focusing on the interactions between boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) and their two main predators, wolves (Canis lupus) and black bears (Ursus americanus), during the calving season of caribou. In this system, LFs extend into and occur within peatlands (i.e. bogs and nutrient-poor fens), a habitat type highly used by caribou due to its refugia effects. Using resource selection analyses, we found that LFs increased predator selection of peatlands. Female caribou appeared to respond by avoiding LFs and areas with high LF density. However, in our study area, most caribou cannot completely avoid exposure to LFs and variation in female response had demographic effects. In particular, increasing proportional use of LFs by females negatively impacted survival of their neonate calves. Collectively, these results demonstrate how LFs can reduce the efficacy of prey refugia. Mitigating such effects will require limiting or restoring LFs within prey refugia, although the effectiveness of mitigation efforts will depend upon spatial scale, which in turn will be influenced by the life-history traits of predator and prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A DeMars
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Serrouya R, McLellan BN, van Oort H, Mowat G, Boutin S. Experimental moose reduction lowers wolf density and stops decline of endangered caribou. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3736. [PMID: 28875080 PMCID: PMC5580390 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The expansion of moose into southern British Columbia caused the decline and extirpation of woodland caribou due to their shared predators, a process commonly referred to as apparent competition. Using an adaptive management experiment, we tested the hypothesis that reducing moose to historic levels would reduce apparent competition and therefor recover caribou populations. Nested within this broad hypothesis were three specific hypotheses: (1) sport hunting could be used to substantially reduce moose numbers to an ecological target; (2) wolves in this ecosystem were primarily limited by moose abundance; and (3) caribou were limited by wolf predation. These hypotheses were evaluated with a before-after control-impact (BACI) design that included response metrics such as population trends and vital rates of caribou, moose, and wolves. Three caribou subpopulations were subject to the moose reduction treatment and two were in a reference area where moose were not reduced. When the moose harvest was increased, the moose population declined substantially in the treatment area (by 70%) but not the reference area, suggesting that the policy had the desired effect and was not caused by a broader climatic process. Wolf numbers subsequently declined in the treatment area, with wolf dispersal rates 2.5× greater, meaning that dispersal was the likely mechanism behind the wolf numerical response, though reduced recruitment and starvation was also documented in the treatment area. Caribou adult survival increased from 0.78 to 0.88 in the treatment area, but declined in the reference. Caribou recruitment was unaffected by the treatment. The largest caribou subpopulation stabilized in the treatment area, but declined in the reference area. The observed population stability is comparable to other studies that used intensive wolf control, but is insufficient to achieve recovery, suggesting that multiple limiting factors and corresponding management tools must be addressed simultaneously to achieve population growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Serrouya
- Columbia Mountains Caribou Research Project, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada.,Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Bruce N McLellan
- Columbia Mountains Caribou Research Project, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada.,Research Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, D'Arcy, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Harry van Oort
- Columbia Mountains Caribou Research Project, Revelstoke, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Garth Mowat
- Natural Resource Science Section, Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Eacker DR, Lukacs PM, Proffitt KM, Hebblewhite M. Assessing the importance of demographic parameters for population dynamics using Bayesian integrated population modeling. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:1280-1293. [PMID: 28188660 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To successfully respond to changing habitat, climate or harvest, managers need to identify the most effective strategies to reverse population trends of declining species and/or manage harvest of game species. A classic approach in conservation biology for the last two decades has been the use of matrix population models to determine the most important vital rates affecting population growth rate (λ), that is, sensitivity. Ecologists quickly realized the critical role of environmental variability in vital rates affecting λ by developing approaches such as life-stage simulation analysis (LSA) that account for both sensitivity and variability of a vital rate. These LSA methods used matrix-population modeling and Monte Carlo simulation methods, but faced challenges in integrating data from different sources, disentangling process and sampling variation, and in their flexibility. Here, we developed a Bayesian integrated population model (IPM) for two populations of a large herbivore, elk (Cervus canadensis) in Montana, USA. We then extended the IPM to evaluate sensitivity in a Bayesian framework. We integrated known-fate survival data from radio-marked adults and juveniles, fecundity data, and population counts in a hierarchical population model that explicitly accounted for process and sampling variance. Next, we tested the prevailing paradigm in large herbivore population ecology that juvenile survival of neonates <90 d old drives λ using our Bayesian LSA approach. In contrast to the prevailing paradigm in large herbivore ecology, we found that adult female survival explained more of the variation in λ than elk calf survival, and that summer and winter elk calf survival periods were nearly equivalent in importance for λ. Our Bayesian IPM improved precision of our vital rate estimates and highlighted discrepancies between count and vital rate data that could refine population monitoring, demonstrating that combining sensitivity analysis with population modeling in a Bayesian framework can provide multiple advantages. Our Bayesian LSA framework will provide a useful approach to addressing conservation challenges across a variety of species and data types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Eacker
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Paul M Lukacs
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
| | - Kelly M Proffitt
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 1400 South 19th Street, Bozeman, Montana, 59718, USA
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, 59812, USA
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Peterson ME, Anderson CR, Northrup JM, Doherty PF. Reproductive success of mule deer in a natural gas development area. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mark E. Peterson
- M. E. Peterson , J. M. Northrup and P. F. Doherty, Jr, Dept of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Present address for MEP: South Dakota Dept of Game, Fish and Parks, 4130 Adventure Trail, Rapid City, SD 57702, USA
| | - Charles R. Anderson
- C. R. Anderson, Jr., Mammals Research Section, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Joseph M. Northrup
- M. E. Peterson , J. M. Northrup and P. F. Doherty, Jr, Dept of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Present address for JMN: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Paul F. Doherty
- M. E. Peterson , J. M. Northrup and P. F. Doherty, Jr, Dept of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Nobert B, Milligan S, Stenhouse G, Finnegan L. Seeking sanctuary: the neonatal calving period among central mountain woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou). CAN J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2015-0262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) populations have declined throughout their range. With the goal of better understanding habitat selection and fidelity during the neonatal calving period (0–4 weeks), we applied a noninvasive method that estimates calving events and subsequent survival based on changes in movement rates among GPS-collared female caribou. We examined a long-term GPS-collar data set (1998–2014) collected from 81 adult female caribou in two central mountain herds in Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. Although we were unable to validate our results with aerial surveys and pregnancy tests, our estimates of parturition rates, survival rates, calving dates, and habitat selection were consistent with previous studies. We identified 83 calving sites. Female caribou selected calving sites and postparturition habitat on high-elevation ridgetops with gradual slopes and avoided anthropogenic linear features. Female caribou displayed low fidelity to interannual calving ranges with a mean distance of 8.7 km between calving ranges. Fidelity was lower in areas with high seismic-line density. Conservation of high-elevation habitat with limited anthropogenic disturbance is likely to provide the greatest benefit to central mountain caribou during the neonatal calving period, and represents a potential management strategy for population recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- B.R. Nobert
- Caribou Program, fRI Research, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V3, Canada
| | - S. Milligan
- Caribou and Grizzly Bear Programs, fRI Research, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V3, Canada
| | - G.B. Stenhouse
- Grizzly Bear Program, fRI Research, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V3, Canada
| | - L. Finnegan
- Caribou Program, fRI Research, 1176 Switzer Drive, Hinton, AB T7V 1V3, Canada
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38
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Serrouya R, Gilbert S, McNay RS, Mclellan BN, Heard DC, Seip DR, Boutin S. Comparing population growth rates between census and recruitment-mortality models. J Wildl Manage 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Serrouya
- Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute, Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
| | - Sophie Gilbert
- University of Idaho, Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences; Moscow ID 83843 USA
| | - R. Scott McNay
- Wildlife Infometrics; PO Box 308 Mackenzie BC V0J 2C0 Canada
| | - Bruce N. Mclellan
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations; P.O. Box 1732 D'Arcy BC V0N 1L0 Canada
| | - Douglas C. Heard
- Tithonus Wildlife Research; 8500 Christina Rd. Prince George BC V2K 5J4 Canada
| | - Dale R. Seip
- British Columbia Ministry of Environment; 1011 Fourth Ave. Prince George BC V2L 3H9 Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- University of Alberta; Department of Biological Sciences; University of Alberta; Edmonton AB T6G 2E9 Canada
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Woodruff SP, Johnson TR, Waits LP. Examining the use of fecal pellet morphometry to differentiate age classes in Sonoran pronghorn. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2016. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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DeCesare NJ, Hebblewhite M, Lukacs PM, Hervieux D. Evaluating sources of censoring and truncation in telemetry-based survival data. J Wildl Manage 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program; Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | - Paul M. Lukacs
- Wildlife Biology Program; Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | - David Hervieux
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife); Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development; Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 6J4 Canada
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Serrouya R, McLellan BN, Boutin S. Testing predator-prey theory using broad-scale manipulations and independent validation. J Anim Ecol 2015; 84:1600-9. [PMID: 26101058 PMCID: PMC4744978 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A robust test of ecological theory is to gauge the predictive accuracy of general relationships parameterized from multiple systems but applied to a new area. To address this goal, we used an ecosystem-level experiment to test predator-prey theory by manipulating prey abundance to determine whether predation was density dependent, density independent, compensatory or depensatory (inversely density dependent) on prey populations. Understanding the nature of predation is of primary importance in community ecology because it establishes whether predation has little effect on prey abundance (compensatory), whether it promotes coexistence (density dependent) and reduces the equilibrium of prey (density independent) or whether it can be destabilizing (depensatory). We used theoretical predictions consisting of functional and numerical equations parameterized independently from meta-analyses on wolves (Canis lupus) and moose (Alces alces), but applied to our specific wolf-moose system. Predictions were tested by experimentally reducing moose abundance across 6500 km(2) as a novel way of evaluating the nature of predation. Depensatory predation of wolves on moose was the best explanation of the population dynamic - a mechanism that has been hypothesized to occur but has rarely been evaluated. Adding locally obtained kill rates and numerical estimates to the independent data provided no benefit to model predictions, suggesting that the theory was robust to local variation. These findings have critical implications for any organism that is preyed upon but that also has, or will be, subject to increased human exploitation or perturbations from environmental change. If depensatory predation is not accounted for in harvest models, predicted yields will be excessive and lead to further population decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Serrouya
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Bruce N McLellan
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Box 9158, RPO #3, Revelstoke, BC, V0E 3K0, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
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Hervieux D, Hebblewhite M, DeCesare N, Russell M, Smith K, Robertson S, Boutin S. Reply to the comment by Harron on “Widespread declines in woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou) continue in Alberta”. CAN J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Estimation of demographic trends from vital rates provides a powerful means to estimate population trends in cryptic or difficult to study species such as woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)). Using such methods, Hervieux et al. (2013; Can. J. Zool. 91(12): 872–882) recently showed 11 of 14 woodland caribou populations in Alberta were declining at ∼8%/year following up to 18 years of monitoring. Harron (2015; Can. J. Zool. 93(2): 149–150) critiques our original study, claiming that negative biases in our demographic monitoring exaggerate our conclusions of widespread caribou declines. Here, we systematically review each of Harron’s claims of bias, rejecting each of his claims upon careful review of the mechanisms by which his purported claims would manifest in our population trend estimation. Therefore, we conclude that Harron’s scientific critique was superficial and misleading. Delays in conservation actions raised by Harron’s critique risk diminishing opportunities to conserve and recover this federally and provincially protected species.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Hervieux
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - M. Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - N.J. DeCesare
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - M. Russell
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - K. Smith
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - S. Robertson
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - S. Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Hervieux D, Hebblewhite M, Stepnisky D, Bacon M, Boutin S. Managing wolves (Canis lupus) to recover threatened woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Alberta. CAN J ZOOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2014-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Across Canada, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) populations are declining because of human-induced changes to food webs that are resulting in apparent competition-induced increases in predator-caused caribou mortality. We tested the hypothesis that wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) population reduction could reverse declines in a woodland caribou population following a BACI (before-after-control-impact) design conducted over a 12-year period in west-central Alberta, Canada. We monitored annual survival for 172 adult female caribou and calf recruitment from 2000 through 2012 and conducted a provincial government delivered wolf population reduction program annually during the winters of 2005–2006 to 2012 (inclusive) in an area centered on the Little Smoky range. Wolf removal translated to a 4.6% increase in mean population growth rate of the Little Smoky population mostly through improvements in calf recruitment. In contrast, the Red Rock Prairie Creek control population exhibited a 4.7% decline. Although the wolf population reduction program appeared to stabilize the Little Smoky population, it did not lead to population increase, however, with λ remaining approximately equal to 1. Therefore, we recommend, if required, predation management be combined with effective habitat conservation and long-term planning to effect the recovery of species, such as woodland caribou, which are declining as a result of habitat-mediated apparent competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave Hervieux
- Resource Management - Operations Division, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Dave Stepnisky
- Resource Management - Operations Division, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - Michelle Bacon
- Resource Management - Operations Division, Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - Stan Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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Duquette JF, Belant JL, Svoboda NJ, Beyer DE, Albright CA. Comparison of occupancy modeling and radiotelemetry to estimate ungulate population dynamics. POPUL ECOL 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10144-014-0432-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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45
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Olson KA, Larsen EA, Mueller T, Leimgruber P, Fuller TK, Schaller GB, Fagan WF. Survival probabilities of adult Mongolian gazelles. J Wildl Manage 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kirk A. Olson
- Department of Environmental Conservation; University of Massachusetts; Amherst MA 01003 USA
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; 1500 Remount Road Front Royal VA 22630 USA
| | - Elise A. Larsen
- Department of Biology; University of Maryland; College Park MD 20742 USA
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Department of Biology; University of Maryland; College Park MD 20742 USA
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F); Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung, and Goethe Universität Frankfurt; Senckenberganlage, 25 60325 Frankfurt (Main) Germany
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute; National Zoological Park; 1500 Remount Road Front Royal VA 22630 USA
| | - Todd K. Fuller
- Department of Environmental Conservation; University of Massachusetts; Amherst MA 01003 USA
| | | | - William F. Fagan
- Department of Biology; University of Maryland; College Park MD 20742 USA
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Hervieux D, Hebblewhite M, DeCesare N, Russell M, Smith K, Robertson S, Boutin S. Widespread declines in woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) continue in Alberta. CAN J ZOOL 2013. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2013-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nowhere across Canada is the continued persistence of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou (Gmelin, 1788)) more uncertain than in Alberta due to widespread industrial development. A recent Government of Canada critical habitat review determined that habitat conditions within all Alberta boreal ecotype caribou ranges are unlikely or very unlikely to allow for self-sustaining caribou populations. This habitat-based assessment was based only indirectly on empirical population trends. Here, we estimated empirical population trend and growth rate (λ) for 13 of Alberta’s 16 remaining woodland caribou populations (plus one adjacent population from Saskatchewan) from 1994 to 2012 using demographic monitoring of adult female survival and calf recruitment. We captured and radio-collared a total of 1337 adult female caribou in 14 populations and estimated the mean annual adult female survival across all populations as 0.851. We conducted 158 late-winter calf recruitment surveys across the 14 populations classifying 20 872 caribou and estimated mean recruitment of 0.154 calves/cow (i.e., 0.077 female calves/cow). We then combined annual estimates of adult female survival and female calf recruitment within each population in a simple age-structured population model to estimate population trend. Annual population growth rate across caribou populations averaged 0.918, and was significantly declining, λ < 1.0, for 10 of the 14 caribou populations. Our results confirm that woodland caribou are declining rapidly (with a realized decline of approximately 50% every 8 years) across Alberta, and support conclusions from previous habitat-based assessments that the population viability of caribou is currently compromised, supporting development and implementation of recovery actions to reverse trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Hervieux
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - M. Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - N.J. DeCesare
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - M. Russell
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - K. Smith
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - S. Robertson
- Operations Division (Fisheries and Wildlife), Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Grande Prairie, AB T8V 6J4, Canada
| | - S. Boutin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
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DeCesare NJ, Hebblewhite M, Bradley M, Hervieux D, Neufeld L, Musiani M. Linking habitat selection and predation risk to spatial variation in survival. J Anim Ecol 2013; 83:343-52. [PMID: 24099266 PMCID: PMC4285818 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/02/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
1. A central assumption underlying the study of habitat selection is that selected habitats confer enhanced fitness. Unfortunately, this assumption is rarely tested, and in some systems, gradients of predation risk may more accurately characterize spatial variation in vital rates than gradients described by habitat selection studies. 2. Here, we separately measured spatial patterns of both resource selection and predation risk and tested their relationships with a key demographic trait, adult female survival, for a threatened ungulate, woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou Gmelin). We also evaluated whether exposure to gradients in both predation risk and resource selection value was manifested temporally through instantaneous or seasonal effects on survival outcomes. 3. We used Cox proportional hazards spatial survival modelling to assess the relative support for 5 selection- and risk-based definitions of habitat quality, as quantified by woodland caribou adult female survival. These hypotheses included scenarios in which selection ideally mirrored survival, risk entirely drove survival, non-ideal selection correlated with survival but with additive risk effects, an ecological trap with maladaptive selection and a non-spatial effect of annual variation in weather. 4. Indeed, we found positive relationships between the predicted values of a resource selection function (RSF) and survival, yet subsequently incorporating an additional negative effect of predation risk greatly improved models further. This revealed a positive, but non-ideal relationship between selection and survival. Gradients in these covariates were also shown to affect individual survival probability at multiple temporal scales. Exposure to increased predation risk had a relatively instantaneous effect on survival outcomes, whereas variation in habitat suitability predicted by an RSF had both instantaneous and longer-term seasonal effects on survival. 5. Predation risk was an additive source of hazard beyond that detected through selection alone, and woodland caribou selection thus was shown to be non-ideal. Furthermore, by combining spatial adult female survival models with herd-specific estimates of recruitment in matrix population models, we estimated a spatially explicit landscape of population growth predictions for this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J DeCesare
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Science, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Mark Bradley
- Parks Canada, Jasper National Park, Box 10, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
| | - David Hervieux
- Sustainable Resource Development, Government of Alberta, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lalenia Neufeld
- Parks Canada, Jasper National Park, Box 10, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
| | - Marco Musiani
- Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Demars CA, Auger-Méthé M, Schlägel UE, Boutin S. Inferring parturition and neonate survival from movement patterns of female ungulates: a case study using woodland caribou. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:4149-60. [PMID: 24324866 PMCID: PMC3853560 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 08/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyses of animal movement data have primarily focused on understanding patterns of space use and the behavioural processes driving them. Here, we analyzed animal movement data to infer components of individual fitness, specifically parturition and neonate survival. We predicted that parturition and neonate loss events could be identified by sudden and marked changes in female movement patterns. Using GPS radio-telemetry data from female woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), we developed and tested two novel movement-based methods for inferring parturition and neonate survival. The first method estimated movement thresholds indicative of parturition and neonate loss from population-level data then applied these thresholds in a moving-window analysis on individual time-series data. The second method used an individual-based approach that discriminated among three a priori models representing the movement patterns of non-parturient females, females with surviving offspring, and females losing offspring. The models assumed that step lengths (the distance between successive GPS locations) were exponentially distributed and that abrupt changes in the scale parameter of the exponential distribution were indicative of parturition and offspring loss. Both methods predicted parturition with near certainty (>97% accuracy) and produced appropriate predictions of parturition dates. Prediction of neonate survival was affected by data quality for both methods; however, when using high quality data (i.e., with few missing GPS locations), the individual-based method performed better, predicting neonate survival status with an accuracy rate of 87%. Understanding ungulate population dynamics often requires estimates of parturition and neonate survival rates. With GPS radio-collars increasingly being used in research and management of ungulates, our movement-based methods represent a viable approach for estimating rates of both parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig A Demars
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
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Schmidt JH, Rattenbury KL. Reducing effort while improving inference: Estimating Dall's sheep abundance and composition in small areas. J Wildl Manage 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua H. Schmidt
- U.S. National Park Service; Central Alaska Network; 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks AK 99709 USA
| | - Kumi L. Rattenbury
- U.S. National Park Service; Arctic Network; 4175 Geist Road Fairbanks AK 99709 USA
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