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Merems JL, Brose AL, Price Tack J, Crimmins S, Van Deelen TR. Scale-dependence in elk habitat selection for a reintroduced population in Wisconsin, USA. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70346. [PMID: 39360123 PMCID: PMC11445449 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/09/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Habitat selection is a critical aspect of a species' ecology, requiring complex decision-making that is both hierarchical and scale-dependent, since factors that influence selection may be nested or unequal across scales. Elk (Cervus canadensis) ranged widely across diverse ecoregions in North America prior to European settlement and subsequent eastern extirpation. Most habitat selection studies have occurred within their contemporary western range, even after eastern reintroductions began. As habitat selection can vary by geographic location, available cover, season, and diel period, it is important to understand how a non-migratory, reintroduced population in northern Wisconsin, USA, is limited by the lack of variation in topography, elevation, and vegetation. We tested scale-dependent habitat selection on 79 adult elk from 2017 to 2020 using resource selection functions across temporal (i.e., seasonal) and spatial scales (i.e., landscape and home range). We found that selection varied both spatially and temporally, and elk selected areas with the greatest potential to influence fitness at larger scales, meaning elk selected areas closer to escape cover and further from "risky" features (e.g., annual wolf territory centers, county roads, and highways). We found stronger avoidance of annual wolf territory centers during spring, suggesting elk were selecting safer habitats during calving season. Elk selected habitats with less canopy cover across both spatial scales and all seasons, suggesting that elk selected areas with better access to forage as early seral stage stands have greater forage biomass than closed-canopy forests and direct solar radiation to provide warmth in the cooler seasons. This study provides insight into the complexity of hierarchical decision-making, such as how risky habitat features and land cover type influence habitat selection differently across seasons and spatial scales, influencing the decision-making of elk. Scale-dependent behavior is crucial to understand within specific geographic regions, as these decisions scale up to influence population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Merems
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | - Anna L Brose
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
| | | | - Shawn Crimmins
- US Geological Survey, Alaska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Alaska-Fairbanks Fairbanks Alaska USA
| | - Timothy R Van Deelen
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison Wisconsin USA
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2
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Ruprecht J, Wisdom MJ, Clark DA, Rowland MM, Levi T. Density-dependent changes in elk resource selection over successional time scales following forest disturbance. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2891. [PMID: 37232432 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
There is an increasing need to understand how animals respond to modifications of their habitat following landscape-scale disturbances such as wildfire or timber harvest. Such disturbances can promote increased use by herbivores due to changes in plant community structure that improve forage conditions, but can also cause avoidance if other habitat functions provided by cover are substantially reduced or eliminated. Quantifying the total effects of these disturbances, however, is challenging because they may not fully be apparent unless observed at successional timescales. Further, the effects of disturbances that improve habitat quality may be density dependent, such that the benefits are (1) less valuable to high-density populations because the per-capita benefits are reduced when shared among more users or, alternatively, (2) more valuable to animals living in high densities because resources may be more depleted from the greater intraspecific competition. We used 30 years of telemetry data on elk occurring at two distinct population densities to quantify changes in space use at diel, monthly, and successional timescales following timber harvest. Elk selected logged areas at night only, with selection strongest during midsummer, and peak selection occurring 14 years post harvest, but persisting for 26-33 years. This pattern of increased selection at night following a reduction in overhead canopy cover is consistent with elk exploiting improved nutritional conditions for foraging. The magnitude of selection for logged areas was 73% higher for elk at low population density, consistent with predictions from the ideal free distribution. Yet elk avoided these same areas during daytime for up to 28 years post logging and instead selected untreated forest, suggesting a role for cover to meet other life history requirements. Our results demonstrate that while landscape-scale disturbances can lead to increased selection by large herbivores and suggest that the improvement in foraging conditions can persist over short-term successional timescales, the magnitude of the benefits may not be equal across population densities. Further, the enduring avoidance of logging treatments during the daytime indicates a need for structurally intact forests and suggests that a mosaic of forest patches of varying successional stages and structural completeness is likely to be the most beneficial to large herbivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Ruprecht
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael J Wisdom
- USDA Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service, La Grande, Oregon, USA
| | - Darren A Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, La Grande, Oregon, USA
| | - Mary M Rowland
- USDA Pacific Northwest Research Station, US Forest Service, La Grande, Oregon, USA
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Ranglack DH, Proffitt KM, Canfield JE, Gude JA, Rotella J, Garrott RA. Modeling broad‐scale patterns of elk summer resource selection in Montana using regional and population‐specific models. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dustin H. Ranglack
- Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
| | | | - Jodie E. Canfield
- Custer Gallatin National Forest, USDA Forest Service Bozeman Montana USA
| | | | - Jay Rotella
- Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
| | - Robert A. Garrott
- Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program, Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman Montana USA
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4
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Cook RC, Shipley LA, Cook JG, Camp MJ, Monzingo DS, Robatcek SL, Berry SL, Hull IT, Myers WL, Denryter K, Long RA. Sequential detergent fiber assay results used for nutritional ecology research: Evidence of bias since 2012. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1348] [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)
- Rachel C. Cook
- National Council of Air and Stream Improvement 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Lisa A. Shipley
- 1229 Webster Hall, School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA 99164‐2812 USA
| | - John G. Cook
- National Council of Air and Stream Improvement 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Meghan J. Camp
- Washington State University Vogel Plant Biosciences 136, School of the Environment, Pullman, WA 99164‐2812; Cramer Fish Sciences 1125 12th Ave. NW, Suite B‐1 Issaquah WA 98027 USA
| | - Deborah S. Monzingo
- 1229 Webster Hall, School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA 99164‐2812 USA
| | | | | | - Iver T. Hull
- 1229 Webster Hall, School of the Environment Washington State University Pullman WA 99164‐2812 USA
| | - Woodrow L. Myers
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2315 N Discovery Place Spokane Valley WA 99216 USA
| | - Kristin Denryter
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife 1010 Riverside Parkway West Sacramento CA 95605 USA
| | - Ryan A. Long
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow ID 83844 USA
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Vales DJ, Nielson RM, Middleton MP. Black‐tailed deer seasonal habitat selection: accounting for missing global positioning system fixes. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David J. Vales
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Wildlife Program 39015 172nd Avenue SE Auburn WA 98092 USA
| | - Ryan M. Nielson
- Eagle Environmental, Inc. 30 Fonda Road Santa Fe NM 87508 USA
| | - Michael P. Middleton
- Muckleshoot Indian Tribe Wildlife Program 39015 172nd Avenue SE Auburn WA 98092 USA
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Snobl LA, Proffitt KM, Millspaugh JJ. Wildfire extends the shelf life of elk nutritional resources regardless of fire severity. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A. Snobl
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana Missoula Montana USA
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Connor T, Tripp E, Tripp B, Saxon BJ, Camarena J, Donahue A, Sarna‐Wojcicki D, Macaulay L, Bean T, Hanbury‐Brown A, Brashares J. Karuk ecological fire management practices promote elk habitat in northern California. J Appl Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.14194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Connor
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Emilio Tripp
- Wildlife Division Karuk Department of Natural Resources Orleans CA USA
| | - Bill Tripp
- Karuk Department of Natural Resources University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - B. J. Saxon
- Wildlife Division Karuk Department of Natural Resources Orleans CA USA
| | - Jessica Camarena
- Wildlife Division Karuk Department of Natural Resources Orleans CA USA
| | - Asa Donahue
- Wildlife Division Karuk Department of Natural Resources Orleans CA USA
| | - Daniel Sarna‐Wojcicki
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Luke Macaulay
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Tim Bean
- Department of Biological Sciences California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo CA USA
| | - Adam Hanbury‐Brown
- Energy and Resources Group Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Justin Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
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Hayes FP, Millspaugh JJ, Bergman EJ, Callaway RM, Bishop CJ. Effects of willow nutrition and morphology on calving success of moose. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Forest P. Hayes
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | | | | | - Ragan M. Callaway
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 USA
| | - Chad J. Bishop
- Wildlife Biology Program University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 USA
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Cook JG, Kelly AP, Cook RC, Culling B, Culling D, McLaren A, Larter NC, Watters M. Seasonal patterns in nutritional condition of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the southern Northwest Territories and northeastern British Columbia, Canada. CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2021-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Evaluating nutritional condition provides insights of nutritional influences on wildlife populations. We sampled three measures of condition — body fat, body mass, and loin thickness — of adult female caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) in boreal settings in the Northwest Territories (NT), Canada, in December and March, 2016–2018, and in mountain and boreal settings in British Columbia (BC), Canada, in December and February, 2014–2015. We evaluated the effect of calf-rearing on condition in December, compared influences of summer–autumn versus winter on condition over winter, and developed an annual profile of nutritional condition with estimates from caribou dying in summer. Mean December body fat was 8.4% in females with calves and 11.4% in females without calves, demonstrating the influence of lactation on condition. Over winter, nutritional condition did not decline in northeastern BC and it declined slightly in NT: body fat by 0.55 percentage points, mass by 2.8 kg, and loin thickness did not change. Body fat peaked in December, changed little over winter, but declined to a minimum by early summer, temporally coinciding with elevated rates of adult female mortality. Consistent with those of other ungulate studies worldwide, our findings suggest a need to focus on nutritional limitations operating in late spring through early autumn.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G. Cook
- Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 1401 Gekeler Lane, USA
| | - Allicia P. Kelly
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Box 900, Fort Smith, NT X0E 0P0, Canada
| | - Rachel C. Cook
- Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 1401 Gekeler Lane, USA
| | - Brad Culling
- Diversified Environmental, Box 6263, Fort St. John, BC V1J 4X7, Canada
| | - Diane Culling
- Diversified Environmental, Box 6263, Fort St. John, BC V1J 4X7, Canada
| | - Ashley McLaren
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring Section, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Peterborough, ON K9L 1Z8, Canada
| | - Nicholas C. Larter
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson, NT X0E 0N0, Canada
| | - Megan Watters
- British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Fort St. John, BC V1J 6M7, Canada
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Rowland MM, Nielson RM, Wisdom MJ, Johnson BK, Findholt S, Clark D, Didonato GT, Hafer JM, Naylor BJ. Influence of Landscape Characteristics on Hunter Space Use and Success. J Wildl Manage 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mary M. Rowland
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Ryan M. Nielson
- Eagle Environmental, Inc. 30 Fonda Road Santa Fe NM 87508 USA
| | - Michael J. Wisdom
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Bruce K. Johnson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Scott Findholt
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Darren Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Guy T. Didonato
- Western Ecosystems Technology 415 W. 17th Street, Suite 200 Cheyenne WY 82001 USA
| | - Jennifer M. Hafer
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Bridgett J. Naylor
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
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11
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Cook RC, Crouse JA, Cook JG, Stephenson TR. Evaluating indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus): which are the most valuable and why? CAN J ZOOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2020-0149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Body composition studies are critical for evaluating the accuracy of nutritional condition indices for predicting body components. We evaluated >40 indices of nutritional condition for caribou (Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)) using 29 female caribou captured from three populations in Alaska (USA) that ranged in condition from 2.3% to 11.2% ingesta-free body fat (IFBF) and 6 captive female caribou that ranged in condition from 8.1% to 26.0% IFBF. Estimates of body fat, protein, and gross energy were regressed against each index of nutritional condition. Generally, indices with linear or slightly curvilinear relations to body fat and those based on multiple fat depots were the most accurate in predicting nutritional condition and the most useful over the full range of nutritional condition. A scaledLIVINDEX (a combination of subcutaneous fat thickness and a condition score), CONINDEX (a combination of kidney fat and marrow fat), and a subset of the Kistner score (pericardium and kidneys only) had the strongest relationship with body fat (r2 > 0.86) and were useful over the entire range of nutritional condition. If used properly and with adequate training, indices of nutritional condition can be a critical tool for understanding the severity and seasonality of nutritional limitations in wild caribou populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel C. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 97850, USA
| | - John A. Crouse
- Kenai Moose Research Center, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 43961 Kalifornsky Beach Road, Suite B, Soldotna, AK 99669, USA
| | - John G. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, 1401 Gekeler Lane, La Grande, OR 97850, USA
| | - Thomas R. Stephenson
- Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, 787 North Main Street, Suite 220, Bishop, CA 93514, USA
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12
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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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Stephenson TR, German DW, Cassirer EF, Walsh DP, Blum ME, Cox M, Stewart KM, Monteith KL. Linking population performance to nutritional condition in an alpine ungulate. J Mammal 2020; 101:1244-1256. [PMID: 33335453 PMCID: PMC7733374 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) can live in extremely harsh environments and subsist on submaintenance diets for much of the year. Under these conditions, energy stored as body fat serves as an essential reserve for supplementing dietary intake to meet metabolic demands of survival and reproduction. We developed equations to predict ingesta-free body fat in bighorn sheep using ultrasonography and condition scores in vivo and carcass measurements postmortem. We then used in vivo equations to investigate the relationships between body fat, pregnancy, overwinter survival, and population growth in free-ranging bighorn sheep in California and Nevada. Among 11 subpopulations that included alpine winter residents and migrants, mean ingesta-free body fat of lactating adult females during autumn ranged between 8.8% and 15.0%; mean body fat for nonlactating females ranged from 16.4% to 20.9%. In adult females, ingesta-free body fat > 7.7% during January (early in the second trimester) corresponded with a > 90% probability of pregnancy and ingesta-free body fat > 13.5% during autumn yielded a probability of overwinter survival > 90%. Mean ingesta-free body fat of lactating females in autumn was positively associated with finite rate of population increase (λ) over the subsequent year in bighorn sheep subpopulations that wintered in alpine landscapes. Bighorn sheep with ingesta-free body fat of 26% in autumn and living in alpine environments possess energy reserves sufficient to meet resting metabolism for 83 days on fat reserves alone. We demonstrated that nutritional condition can be a pervasive mechanism underlying demography in bighorn sheep and characterizes the nutritional value of their occupied ranges. Mountain sheep are capital survivors in addition to being capital breeders, and because they inhabit landscapes with extreme seasonal forage scarcity, they also can be fat reserve obligates. Quantifying nutritional condition is essential for understanding the quality of habitats, how it underpins demography, and the proximity of a population to a nutritional threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Stephenson
- Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bishop, CA, USA
| | - David W German
- Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Bishop, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Marcus E Blum
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Mike Cox
- Nevada Department of Wildlife, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Kelley M Stewart
- Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, USA
| | - Kevin L Monteith
- Haub School of the Environment, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA (KLM)
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Wisdom MJ, Nielson RM, Rowland MM, Proffitt KM. Modeling Landscape Use for Ungulates: Forgotten Tenets of Ecology, Management, and Inference. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Alonso-Martínez L, Ibañez-Álvarez M, Brolly M, Burnside NG, Calleja JA, Peláez M, López-Sánchez A, Bartolomé J, Fanlo H, Lavín S, Perea R, Serrano E. Remote mapping of foodscapes using sUAS and a low cost BG-NIR sensor. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137357. [PMID: 32105932 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of landscape condition for large herbivores, also known as foodscapes, is fast gaining interest in conservation and landscape management programs worldwide. Although traditional approaches are now being replaced by satellite imagery, several technical issues still need to be addressed before full standardization of remote sensing methods for these purposes. We present a low-cost method, based on the use of a modified blue/green/near-infrared (BG-NIR) camera housed on a small-Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS), to create foodscapes for a generalist Mediterranean ungulate: the Iberian Ibex (Capra pyrenaica) in Northeast Spain. Faecal cuticle micro-histological analyses were used to assess the dietary preferences of ibexes and then individuals of the most common plant species (n = 19) were georeferenced to use as test samples. Because of the seasonal pattern in vegetation activity, based on the NDVI (Smooth term Month = 21.5, p-value < .01, R2 = 43%, from a GAM), images were recorded in winter and spring to represent contrasting vegetation phenology using two flight heights above ground level (30 and 60 m). Additionally, the range of image pixel sizes was 3.5-30 cm with the smallest pixel size representing the highest resolution. Boosted Trees were used to classify plant taxa based on spectral reflectance and create a foodscape of the study area. The number of target species, the sampling season, the height of flight and the image resolution were analysed to determine the accuracy of mapping the foodscape. The highest classification error (70.66%) was present when classifying all plant species using a 30 cm pixel size from acquisitions at 30 m height. The lowest error (18.7%), however, was present when predicting plants preferred by ibexes, at 3.5 cm pixel size acquired at 60 m height. This methodology can help to successfully monitor food availability and seasonality and to identify individual species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Alonso-Martínez
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Miguel Ibañez-Álvarez
- Grup de Recerca en Remugants, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Matthew Brolly
- School of Environment & Technology, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4JG, UK
| | - Niall G Burnside
- School of Environment & Technology, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4JG, UK
| | - Juan A Calleja
- Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Departamento de Biología (Botánica), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Madrid, Spain; CREAF, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Marta Peláez
- Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aida López-Sánchez
- Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jordi Bartolomé
- Grup de Recerca en Remugants, Departament de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Helena Fanlo
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Ramón Perea
- Departamento de Sistemas y Recursos Naturales, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Spain; Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Universitá di Torino, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy.
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Denryter K, Cook RC, Cook JG, Parker KL, Gillingham MP. State-dependent foraging by caribou with different nutritional requirements. J Mammal 2020; 101:544-557. [PMID: 32454534 PMCID: PMC7236907 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Foraging by animals is hypothesized to be state-dependent, that is, varying with physiological condition of individuals. State often is defined by energy reserves, but state also can reflect differences in nutritional requirements (e.g., for reproduction, lactation, growth, etc.). Testing hypotheses about state-dependent foraging in ungulates is difficult because fine-scale data needed to evaluate these hypotheses generally are lacking. To evaluate whether foraging by caribou (Rangifer tarandus) was state-dependent, we compared bite and intake rates, travel rates, dietary quality, forage selection, daily foraging time, and foraging strategies of caribou with three levels of nutritional requirements (lactating adults, nonlactating adults, subadults 1-2 years old). Only daily foraging times and daily nutrient intakes differed among nutritional classes of caribou. Lactating caribou foraged longer per day than nonlactating caribou-a difference that was greatest at the highest rates of intake, but which persisted even when intake was below requirements. Further, at sites where caribou achieved high rates of intake, caribou in each nutritional class continued foraging even after satisfying daily nutritional requirements, which was consistent with a foraging strategy to maximize energy intake. Foraging time by caribou was partially state-dependent, highlighting the importance of accounting for physiological state in studies of animal behavior. Fine-scale foraging behaviors may influence larger-scale behavioral strategies, with potential implications for conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Denryter
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
- Wildlife Branch—Elk and Pronghorn Antelope Program, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rachel C Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, La Grande, OR, USA
| | - John G Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory, La Grande, OR, USA
| | - Katherine L Parker
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael P Gillingham
- Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada
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Merems JL, Shipley LA, Levi T, Ruprecht J, Clark DA, Wisdom MJ, Jackson NJ, Stewart KM, Long RA. Nutritional-Landscape Models Link Habitat Use to Condition of Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus). Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Eckrich CA, Coe PK, Clark DA, Nielson RM, Lombardi J, Gregory SC, Hedrick MJO, Johnson BK, Jackson DH. Summer Habitat Use of Female Mule Deer in Oregon. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A. Eckrich
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Priscilla K. Coe
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Darren A. Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Ryan M. Nielson
- Eagle Environmental, Inc. 30 Fonda Road Santa Fe NM 87508 USA
| | - John Lombardi
- Western EcoSystems Technology 415 W. 17th Street, Suite 200 Cheyenne WY 82001 USA
| | - Sara C. Gregory
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 61374 Parrell Road Bend OR 97702 USA
| | - Mary JO Hedrick
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 54198 Highway 31 Summer Lake OR 97640 USA
| | - Bruce K. Johnson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - DeWaine H. Jackson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 4192 N Umpqua Highway Roseburg OR 97470 USA
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Stokely TD, Betts MG. Deer‐mediated ecosystem service versus disservice depends on forest management intensity. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D. Stokely
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - Matthew G. Betts
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network Department of Forest Ecosystems & Society Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
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Clark DA, Coe PK, Gregory SC, Hedrick MJ, Johnson BK, Jackson DH. Habitat Use Informs Species Needs and Management: A Reply to Maestas et al. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Darren A. Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Priscilla K. Coe
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Sara C. Gregory
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 61374 Parrell Road Bend OR 97702 USA
| | - Mary Jo Hedrick
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 53447 Highway 31 Summer Lake OR 97640 USA
| | - Bruce K. Johnson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - DeWaine H. Jackson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 4192 N Umpqua Highway Roseburg OR 97470 USA
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21
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Coe PK, Clark DA, Nielson RM, Gregory SC, Cupples JB, Hedrick MJ, Johnson BK, Jackson DH. Multiscale models of habitat use by mule deer in winter. J Wildl Manage 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Priscilla K. Coe
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Darren A. Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Ryan M. Nielson
- Western EcoSystems Technology; 415 W. 17th Street, Suite 200 Cheyenne WY 82001 USA
| | - Sara C. Gregory
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 61374 Parrell Road Bend OR 97702 USA
| | | | - Mary Jo Hedrick
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 53447 Highway 31 Summer Lake OR 97640 USA
| | - Bruce K. Johnson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Dewaine H. Jackson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 4192 N Umpqua Highway Roseburg OR 97470 USA
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