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Gallo T, Fidino M, Gerber B, Ahlers AA, Angstmann JL, Amaya M, Concilio AL, Drake D, Gay D, Lehrer EW, Murray MH, Ryan TJ, St Clair CC, Salsbury CM, Sander HA, Stankowich T, Williamson J, Belaire JA, Simon K, Magle SB. Mammals adjust diel activity across gradients of urbanization. eLife 2022; 11:74756. [PMID: 35357308 PMCID: PMC8986314 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Time is a fundamental component of ecological processes. How animal behavior changes over time has been explored through well-known ecological theories like niche partitioning and predator-prey dynamics. Yet, changes in animal behavior within the shorter 24-hour light-dark cycle have largely gone unstudied. Understanding if an animal can adjust their temporal activity to mitigate or adapt to environmental change has become a recent topic of discussion and is important for effective wildlife management and conservation. While spatial habitat is a fundamental consideration in wildlife management and conservation, temporal habitat is often ignored. We formulated a temporal resource selection model to quantify the diel behavior of eight mammal species across ten U.S. cities. We found high variability in diel activity patterns within and among species and species-specific correlations between diel activity and human population density, impervious land cover, available greenspace, vegetation cover, and mean daily temperature. We also found that some species may modulate temporal behaviors to manage both natural and anthropogenic risks. Our results highlight the complexity with which temporal activity patterns interact with local environmental characteristics, and suggest that urban mammals may use time along the 24-hour cycle to reduce risk, adapt, and therefore persist, and in some cases thrive, in human-dominated ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Travis Gallo
- College of Science, George Mason University, Fairfax, United States
| | - Mason Fidino
- Urban Wildlife Institute, Conservation and Science Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, United States
| | - Brian Gerber
- Department of Natural Resource Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States
| | - Adam A Ahlers
- Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources, Kansas State University, Manhattan, United States
| | - Julia L Angstmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Max Amaya
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, United States
| | - Amy L Concilio
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, St. Edward's University, Austin, United States
| | - David Drake
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, United States
| | - Danielle Gay
- Austin Parks and Recreation, City of Austin, Austin, United States
| | - Elizabeth W Lehrer
- Urban Wildlife Institute, Conservation and Science Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, United States
| | - Maureen H Murray
- Urban Wildlife Institute, Conservation and Science Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, United States
| | - Travis J Ryan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, United States
| | | | - Carmen M Salsbury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Butler University, Indianapolis, United States
| | - Heather A Sander
- Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States
| | - Theodore Stankowich
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, United States
| | - Jaque Williamson
- Department of Education and Conservation, Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington, United States
| | | | - Kelly Simon
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, United States
| | - Seth B Magle
- Urban Wildlife Institute, Conservation and Science Department, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, United States
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2
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McGreevy TJ, Michaelides S, Djan M, Sullivan M, Beltrán DM, Buffum B, Husband T. Location and Species Matters: Variable Influence of the Environment on the Gene Flow of Imperiled, Native and Invasive Cottontails. Front Genet 2021; 12:708871. [PMID: 34659333 PMCID: PMC8511500 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.708871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The environment plays an important role in the movement of individuals and their associated genes among populations, which facilitates gene flow. Gene flow can help maintain the genetic diversity both within and between populations and counter the negative impact of genetic drift, which can decrease the fitness of individuals. Sympatric species can have different habitat preferences, and thus can exhibit different patterns of genetic variability and population structure. The specialist-generalist variation hypothesis (SGVH) predicts that specialists will have lower genetic diversity, lower effective population sizes (Ne), and less gene flow among populations. In this study, we used spatially explicit, individual-based comparative approaches to test SGVH predictions in two sympatric cottontail species and identify environmental variables that influence their gene flow. New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the only native cottontail in the Northeast US, an early successional habitat specialist, and a species of conservation concern. Eastern cottontail (S. floridanus) is an invasive species in the Northeast US and a habitat generalist. We characterized each species' genomic variation by developing double-digest Restriction-site Associated DNA sequence single nucleotide polymorphism markers, quantified their habitat with Geographic Information System environmental variables, and conducted our analyses at multiple scales. Surprisingly, both species had similar levels of genetic diversity and eastern cottontail's Ne was only higher than New England cottontail in one of three subregions. At a regional level, the population clusters of New England cottontail were more distinct than eastern cottontail, but the subregional levels showed more geographic areas of restricted gene flow for eastern cottontail than New England cottontail. In general, the environmental variables had the predicted effect on each species' gene flow. However, the most important environmental variable varied by subregion and species, which shows that location and species matter. Our results provide partial support for the SGVH and the identification of environmental variables that facilitate or impede gene flow can be used to help inform management decisions to conserve New England cottontail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J McGreevy
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Mihajla Djan
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mary Sullivan
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Cold Water Marine Aquaculture Center, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Diana M Beltrán
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Bill Buffum
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Thomas Husband
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
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Lima SL, Gámez S, Arringdale N, Harris NC. Vigilance Response of a Key Prey Species to Anthropogenic and Natural Threats in Detroit. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.570734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid urbanization coupled with increased human activity induces pressures that affect predator-prey relations through a suite of behavioral mechanisms, including alteration of avoidance and coexistence dynamics. Synergisms of natural and anthropogenic threats existing within urban environments exacerbate the necessity for species to differentially modify behavior to each risk. Here, we explore the behavioral response of a key prey species, cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), to pressures from humans, domestic dogs, and a natural predator, coyotes (Canis latrans) in a human-dominated landscape. We conducted the first camera survey in urban parks throughout Detroit, Michigan in 2017–2020 to assess vigilance response corresponding to a heterogeneous landscape created from variation in the occupancy of threats. We predicted a scaled response where cottontail rabbits would be most vigilant in areas with high coyote activity, moderately vigilant in areas with high domestic dog activity, and the least vigilant in areas of high human activity. From 8,165 independent cottontail rabbit detections in Detroit across 11,616 trap nights, one-third were classified as vigilant. We found vigilance behavior increased with coyote occupancy and in locations with significantly high domestic dog activity, but found no significant impact of human occupancy or their spatial hotspots. We also found little spatial overlap between rabbits and threats, suggesting rabbits invest more in spatial avoidance; thus, less effort is required for vigilance. Our results elucidate strategies of a prey species coping with various risks to advance our understanding of the adaptability of wildlife in urban environments. In order to promote coexistence between people and wildlife in urban greenspaces, we must understand and anticipate the ecological implications of human-induced behavioral modifications.
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Manenti R, Mori E, Di Canio V, Mercurio S, Picone M, Caffi M, Brambilla M, Ficetola GF, Rubolini D. The good, the bad and the ugly of COVID-19 lockdown effects on wildlife conservation: Insights from the first European locked down country. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2020; 249:108728. [PMID: 32863391 PMCID: PMC7441970 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic zoonosis has determined extensive lockdowns worldwide that provide an unprecedented opportunity to understand how large-scale shifts of human activities can impact wildlife. We addressed the impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on wildlife in Italy, the first European country that performed a countrywide lockdown, and identified potentially beneficial and negative consequences for wildlife conservation and management. We combined a qualitative analysis of social media information with field data from multiple taxa, data from citizen science projects, and questionnaires addressed to managers of protected areas. Both social media information and field data suggest that a reduction of human disturbance allowed wildlife to exploit new habitats and increase daily activity. The field data confirmed some positive effects on wildlife conservation, such as an increase in species richness in temporarily less-disturbed habitats, a higher breeding success of an aerial insectivorous bird, and reduction of road-killing of both amphibians and reptiles. Despite some positive effects, our data also highlighted several negative impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on wildlife. The lower human disturbance linked to lockdown was in fact beneficial for invasive alien species. Results from questionnaires addressed to managers of protected areas highlighted that the COVID-19 lockdown interrupted actions for the control of invasive alien species, and hampered conservation activities targeting threatened taxa. Furthermore, the reduction of enforcement could cause a surge of illegal killing of wildlife. The COVID-19 crisis, besides having deep socio-economic impacts, might profoundly affect wildlife conservation, with potentially long-lasting effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raoul Manenti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Emiliano Mori
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Viola Di Canio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Silvia Mercurio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Marco Picone
- Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Informatica e Statistica, Università Ca' Foscari di Venezia, Via Torino 55, I-30172 Venezia, Italy
| | - Mario Caffi
- Osservatorio Ornitologico Pianura Bresciana 'Padernello', via Cavour 1, I-25022 Borgo San Giacomo, BS, Italy
| | - Mattia Brambilla
- Fondazione Lombardia per l'Ambiente, Settore biodiversità e aree protette, Largo 10 luglio 1976 1, I-20822 Seveso, MB, Italy
- Museo delle Scienze, Sezione di Zoologia dei Vertebrati, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza 3, I-38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Gentile Francesco Ficetola
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milano, Italy
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, LECA, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Rue de la Piscine 2233, F-38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 26, I-20133 Milano, Italy
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PROGNOSTIC INDICATORS FOR SURVIVAL OF ORPHANED NEONATAL AND JUVENILE EASTERN COTTONTAIL RABBITS ( SYLVILAGUS FLORIDANUS): 1,256 CASES (2012-17). J Wildl Dis 2020; 56:523-529. [PMID: 31895643 DOI: 10.7589/2019-06-146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Orphaned eastern cottontail rabbits (ECRs; Sylvilagus floridanus) often present to wildlife clinics within their geographic range and require considerable dedication of time and resources. The objective of this analytical cross-sectional study was to assess initial examination findings to be used as prognostic indicators for orphaned neonatal and juvenile ECRs. The medical records of the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic were searched for ECRs presenting between 2012 and 2018. This criterion identified 1,256 ECRs that were then classified as survivors (survived and released) or as nonsurvivors (euthanized or natural death) within 72 h of admission. Presenting weight, body system abnormalities, hydration status, intervention prior to presentation, and singleton versus group presentation were categorically recorded for each individual ECR. The data were modeled using a series of logistic regression models fitted using the general linear model. Individuals were significantly more likely to be nonsurvivors if they presented as singletons (P<0.0001), presented with moderate/severe (P<0.001) or mild integumentary signs (P=0.0261), presented with multi-organ disease (P<0.001), presented with neurologic signs (P<0.0003), or had treatment provided prior to presentation (P=0.031). Factors that did not predict survival status in ECRs included body weight (P=0.210), presence of respiratory signs (P=0.674), and presence of dehydration (P=0.356). These findings may be used at wildlife medical clinics to make triage criteria for euthanasia as well as dedicate limited funds and labor to cases with the best prognosis for survival.
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Dunagan SP, Karels TJ, Moriarty JG, Brown JL, Riley SPD. Bobcat and rabbit habitat use in an urban landscape. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sean P Dunagan
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, USA
| | - Tim J Karels
- Department of Biology, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA, USA
| | - Joanne G Moriarty
- Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area, National Park Service, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Justin L Brown
- Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area, National Park Service, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Seth P D Riley
- Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area, National Park Service, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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Scherer RD, Hansen EC, Joseph M, Wack RF. Estimating relationships between size and fecundity in the threatened giant garter snake in seminatural and agricultural wetlands. POPUL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/1438-390x.1015] [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]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eric C. Hansen
- Consulting Environmental Biologist Sacramento California
| | - Max Joseph
- Earth Lab University of Colorado Boulder Colorado
| | - Raymund F. Wack
- Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis California
- Sacramento Zoo Sacramento California
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8
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Gallo T, Fidino M, Lehrer EW, Magle S. Urbanization alters predator‐avoidance behaviours. J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:793-803. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Travis Gallo
- Department of Conservation and ScienceUrban Wildlife InstituteLincoln Park Zoo Chicago Illinois
| | - Mason Fidino
- Department of Conservation and ScienceUrban Wildlife InstituteLincoln Park Zoo Chicago Illinois
| | - Elizabeth W. Lehrer
- Department of Conservation and ScienceUrban Wildlife InstituteLincoln Park Zoo Chicago Illinois
| | - Seth Magle
- Department of Conservation and ScienceUrban Wildlife InstituteLincoln Park Zoo Chicago Illinois
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Farr CM, Pejchar L, Reed SE. Subdivision design and stewardship affect bird and mammal use of conservation developments. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:1236-1252. [PMID: 28171704 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Revised: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Developing effective tools for conservation on private lands is increasingly important for global biodiversity conservation; private lands are located in more productive and biologically diverse areas, and they face accelerated rates of land conversion. One strategy is conservation development (CD) subdivisions, which cluster houses in a small portion of a property and preserve the remaining land as protected open space. Despite widespread use, the characteristics that make CD more or less effective at achieving biodiversity conservation are not well understood. We investigated CD's ability to successfully protect animal populations by examining bird and mammal occurrences in 14 CD subdivisions and four undeveloped areas (range: 14-432 ha) in northern Colorado, USA. Using point count and camera trap data in an occupancy modeling framework, we evaluated the relative importance of nine subdivision design factors (e.g., housing density, proportion of CD protected) and 14 stewardship factors (e.g., presence of livestock, percent native vegetation cover) in influencing the overall community composition and the probability of use by 16 birds and six mammals. We found that habitat use by 75% of birds and 83% of mammals was associated with design characteristics that maximized the natural or undisturbed land area both within and near the development (e.g., proportion of CD protected, total area of protected open space, proportion of natural land cover in the surrounding landscape). These factors were also associated with an increasing dominance of human-sensitive bird species, larger-bodied mammals, and mammals with larger home ranges. Habitat use by birds was also influenced by local land use composition and quality, and use by several bird and mammal species decreased with increased localized disturbances. We found few differences in habitat use between sampling sites in undeveloped areas and in CD subdivisions. These similarities indicate that, if CDs are large enough or located within a matrix of undeveloped land, they can provide habitat that supports similar use patterns as protected areas without housing development. By incorporating characteristics that promote the persistence of sensitive birds and mammals on private lands, CDs have potential to preserve native biodiversity in areas threatened by expanding residential development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cooper M Farr
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - Liba Pejchar
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - Sarah E Reed
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
- Wildlife Conservation Society North America Program, Bozeman, Montana, 59715, USA
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Foraging and habitat use of eastern cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) in an urban landscape. Urban Ecosyst 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-015-0463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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