1
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Ke A, Sollmann R, Frishkoff L, Echeverri A, Zook J, Karp DS. Effects of agriculture and nature reserves on avian behavior in northwestern Costa Rica. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14241. [PMID: 38450847 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Behavioral changes are often animals' first responses to environmental change and may act as a bellwether for population viability. Nonetheless, most studies of habitat conversion focus on changes in species occurrences or abundances. We analyzed >14,000 behavioral observations across 55 bird species in communities in northwestern Costa Rica to determine how land use affects reproductive, foraging, and other passive kinds of behaviors not associated with either foraging or reproduction. Specifically, we quantified differences in behaviors between farms, privately owned forests, and protected areas and implemented a novel modeling framework to account for variation in detection among behaviors. This framework entailed estimating abundances of birds performing different behaviors while allowing detection probabilities of individuals to vary by behavior. Birds were 1.2 times more likely to exhibit reproductive behaviors in forest than in agriculture and 1.5 times more likely to exhibit reproductive behaviors in protected areas than in private forests. Species were not always most abundant in the habitats where they were most likely to exhibit foraging or reproductive behaviors. Finally, species of higher conservation concern were less abundant in agriculture than in forest. Together, our results highlight the importance of behavioral analyses for elucidating the conservation value of different land uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Ke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luke Frishkoff
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Alejandra Echeverri
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jim Zook
- Unión de Ornitólogos de Costa Rica, Naranjo de Alajuela, Costa Rica
| | - Daniel S Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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2
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Alzate A, Hagen O. Dispersal-diversity feedbacks and their consequences for macroecological patterns. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20230131. [PMID: 38913062 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Dispersal is a key process in ecology and evolution. While the effects of dispersal on diversity are broadly acknowledged, our understanding of the influence of diversity on dispersal remains limited. This arises from the dynamic, context-dependent, nonlinear and ubiquitous nature of dispersal. Diversity outcomes, such as competition, mutualism, parasitism and trophic interactions can feed back on dispersal, thereby influencing biodiversity patterns at several spatio-temporal scales. Here, we shed light on the dispersal-diversity causal links by discussing how dispersal-diversity ecological and evolutionary feedbacks can impact macroecological patterns. We highlight the importance of dispersal-diversity feedbacks for advancing our understanding of macro-eco-evolutionary patterns and their challenges, such as establishing a unified framework for dispersal terminology and methodologies across various disciplines and scales. This article is part of the theme issue 'Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Alzate
- Aquaculture and Fisheries Group, Wageningen University and Research , Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Naturalis Biodiversity Center , Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Oskar Hagen
- German Centre For Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig , Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Ecological Modelling, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research GmbH - UFZ , Leipzig, Germany
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3
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Yu B, Dai W, Li S, Wu Z, Wang J. A new threshold selection method for species distribution models with presence-only data: Extracting the mutation point of the P/E curve by threshold regression. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11208. [PMID: 38571786 PMCID: PMC10985382 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11208] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Selecting thresholds to convert continuous predictions of species distribution models proves critical for many real-world applications and model assessments. Prevalent threshold selection methods for presence-only data require unproven pseudo-absence data or subjective researchers' decisions. This study proposes a new method, Boyce-Threshold Quantile Regression (BTQR), to determine thresholds objectively without pseudo-absence data. We summarize that the mutation point is a typical shape feature of the predicted-to-expected (P/E) curve after reviewing relevant articles. Analysis based on source-sink theory suggests that this mutation point may represent a transition in habitat types and serve as an appropriate threshold. Threshold regression is introduced to accurately locate the mutation point. To validate the effectiveness of BTQR, we used four virtual species of varying prevalence and a real species with reliable distribution data. Six different species distribution models were employed to generate continuous suitability predictions. BTQR and nine other traditional methods transformed these continuous outputs into binary results. Comparative experiments show that BTQR has advantages in terms of accuracy, applicability, and consistency over the existing methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyang Yu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wenyu Dai
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Siqing Li
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhaoning Wu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jiechen Wang
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science and Technology, Key Laboratory for Land Satellite Remote Sensing Applications of Ministry of Natural Resources, School of Geography and Ocean ScienceNanjing UniversityNanjingChina
- Jiangsu Center for Collaborative Innovation in Geographical Information Resource Development and ApplicationNanjingChina
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4
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Corrochano-Fraile A, Carboni S, Green DM, Taggart JB, Adams TP, Aleynik D, Bekaert M. Estimating blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) connectivity and settlement capacity in mid-latitude fjord regions. Commun Biol 2024; 7:166. [PMID: 38337015 PMCID: PMC10858254 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05498-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The mussel industry faces challenges such as low and inconsistent levels of larvae settlement and poor-quality spat, leading to variable production. However, mussel farming remains a vital sustainable and environmentally responsible method for producing protein, fostering ecological responsibility in the aquaculture sector. We investigate the population connectivity and larval dispersion of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in Scottish waters, as a case study, using a multidisciplinary approach that combined genetic data and particle modelling. This research allows us to develop a thorough understanding of blue mussel population dynamics in mid-latitude fjord regions, to infer gene-flow patterns, and to estimate population divergence. Our findings reveal a primary south-to-north particle transport direction and the presence of five genetic clusters. We discover a significant and continuous genetic material exchange among populations within the study area, with our biophysical model's outcomes aligning with our genetic observations. Additionally, our model reveals a robust connection between the southwest coast and the rest of the west coast. This study will guide the preservation of mussel farming regions, ensuring sustainable populations that contribute to marine ecosystem health and resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Corrochano-Fraile
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Stefano Carboni
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
- Fondazione IMC, Torre Grande, Oristano, Italy
| | - Darren M Green
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - John B Taggart
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Thomas P Adams
- Scottish Sea Farms Limited, Barcaldine Hatchery, Argyll, UK
| | | | - Michaël Bekaert
- Institute of Aquaculture, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
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5
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Tourani M, Sollmann R, Kays R, Ahumada J, Fegraus E, Karp DS. Maximum temperatures determine the habitat affiliations of North American mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304411120. [PMID: 38048469 PMCID: PMC10723132 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304411120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Addressing the ongoing biodiversity crisis requires identifying the winners and losers of global change. Species are often categorized based on how they respond to habitat loss; for example, species restricted to natural environments, those that most often occur in anthropogenic habitats, and generalists that do well in both. However, species might switch habitat affiliations across time and space: an organism may venture into human-modified areas in benign regions but retreat into thermally buffered forested habitats in areas with high temperatures. Here, we apply community occupancy models to a large-scale camera trapping dataset with 29 mammal species distributed over 2,485 sites across the continental United States, to ask three questions. First, are species' responses to forest and anthropogenic habitats consistent across continental scales? Second, do macroclimatic conditions explain spatial variation in species responses to land use? Third, can species traits elucidate which taxa are most likely to show climate-dependent habitat associations? We found that all species exhibited significant spatial variation in how they respond to land-use, tending to avoid anthropogenic areas and increasingly use forests in hotter regions. In the hottest regions, species occupancy was 50% higher in forested compared to open habitats, whereas in the coldest regions, the trend reversed. Larger species with larger ranges, herbivores, and primary predators were more likely to change their habitat affiliations than top predators, which consistently affiliated with high forest cover. Our findings suggest that climatic conditions influence species' space-use and that maintaining forest cover can help protect mammals from warming climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahdieh Tourani
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT59812
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin10315, Germany
| | - Roland Kays
- Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC27607
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC27601
| | - Jorge Ahumada
- Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA22202
- Center for Biodiversity Outcomes, Julia Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ85281
| | - Eric Fegraus
- Moore Center for Science, Conservation International, Arlington, VA22202
| | - Daniel S. Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
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6
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Cumming GS, Bellwood DR. Broad-scale analysis of fish community data suggests critical need to support regional connectivity of coral reefs. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2849. [PMID: 36938654 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Connectivity is vital for the biodiversity and functioning of marine ecosystems. It is known to be important for coral reefs, but the scales at which connectivity effects matter-and, correspondingly, the scales at which management responses are needed-are poorly understood in marine systems. We used 23 years of fish monitoring data collected from ~50 different coral reefs by the Australian Institute of Marine Science, together with a range of geographic data layers (including the Allen Coral Atlas) and additional network analysis, to explore the balance of local and regional influence on fish communities. Variance partitioning indicated that 42% of the variance in fish community composition could be explained by regional effects or their interaction with coarse-grained local influences (habitat). The variance explained by regional influences was divided evenly between measures that capture location on environmental gradients (e.g., proximity to coastal shelf, latitude) and cross-scale centrality measures of reef location within a broader reef network. A total of 11% of variance could be directly or indirectly attributed to management. Our results provide clear evidence that management and restoration of reefs across the globe must consider both local and regional influences on reef-associated organisms and highlight the potential benefits of improving connectivity in human-dominated coastal seascapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme S Cumming
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - David R Bellwood
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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7
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Zhao Q, Devries JH, Clark RG, Weegman MD. Causes and consequences of demography in continent-scale, full-annual-cycle population dynamics under global change. Glob Ecol Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
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8
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Bedoya‐Durán MJ, Jones HH, Malone KM, Branch LC. Continuous forest at higher elevation plays a key role in maintaining bird and mammal diversity across an Andean coffee‐growing landscape. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. J. Bedoya‐Durán
- School of Natural Resources and Environment University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
- Grupo de Investigación en Ecología Animal, Departamento de Biología Universidad del Valle Cali Colombia
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - H. H. Jones
- The Institute for Bird Populations Petaluma CA USA
- Florida Museum of Natural History Gainesville FL USA
| | - K. M. Malone
- School of Natural Resources University of Missouri Columbia MO USA
- Department of Environmental Science & Ecology State University of New York‐Brockport Brockport NY USA
| | - L. C. Branch
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
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9
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Pereira AC, Colli GR. Landscape features affect caiman body condition in the middle Araguaia River floodplain. Anim Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. C. Pereira
- Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
| | - G. R. Colli
- Departamento de Zoologia Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília Brasília Brazil
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10
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Edge effects and vertical stratification of aerial insectivorous bats across the interface of primary-secondary Amazonian rainforest. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0274637. [PMID: 36149843 PMCID: PMC9506665 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274637] [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: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Edge effects, abiotic and biotic changes associated with habitat boundaries, are key drivers of community change in fragmented landscapes. Their influence is heavily modulated by matrix composition. With over half of the world’s tropical forests predicted to become forest edge by the end of the century, it is paramount that conservationists gain a better understanding of how tropical biota is impacted by edge gradients. Bats comprise a large fraction of tropical mammalian fauna and are demonstrably sensitive to habitat modification. Yet, knowledge about how bat assemblages are affected by edge effects remains scarce. Capitalizing on a whole-ecosystem manipulation in the Central Amazon, the aims of this study were to i) assess the consequences of edge effects for twelve aerial insectivorous bat species across the interface of primary and secondary forest, and ii) investigate if the activity levels of these species differed between the understory and canopy and if they were modulated by distance from the edge. Acoustic surveys were conducted along four 2-km transects, each traversing equal parts of primary and ca. 30-year-old secondary forest. Five models were used to assess the changes in the relative activity of forest specialists (three species), flexible forest foragers (three species), and edge foragers (six species). Modelling results revealed limited evidence of edge effects, except for forest specialists in the understory. No significant differences in activity were found between the secondary or primary forest but almost all species exhibited pronounced vertical stratification. Previously defined bat guilds appear to hold here as our study highlights that forest bats are more edge-sensitive than edge foraging bats. The absence of pronounced edge effects and the comparable activity levels between primary and old secondary forests indicates that old secondary forest can help ameliorate the consequences of fragmentation on tropical aerial insectivorous bats.
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11
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Ke A, Sollmann R, Frishkoff LO, Karp DS. A hierarchical N-mixture model to estimate behavioral variation and a case study of Neotropical birds. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2632. [PMID: 35403280 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how and why animals use the environments where they occur is both foundational to behavioral ecology and essential to identify critical habitats for species conservation. However, some behaviors are more difficult to observe than others, which can bias analyses of raw observational data. To our knowledge, no method currently exists to model how animals use different environments while accounting for imperfect behavior-specific detection probability. We developed an extension of a binomial N-mixture model (hereafter the behavior N-mixture model) to estimate the probability of a given behavior occurring in a particular environment while accounting for imperfect detection. We then conducted a simulation to validate the model's ability to estimate the effects of environmental covariates on the probabilities of individuals performing different behaviors. We compared our model to a naïve model that does not account for imperfect detection, as well as a traditional N-mixture model. Finally, we applied the model to a bird observation data set in northwest Costa Rica to quantify how three species behave in forests and farms. Simulations and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the behavior N-mixture model produced unbiased estimates of behaviors and their relationships with predictor variables (e.g., forest cover, habitat type). Importantly, the behavior N-mixture model accurately characterized uncertainty, unlike the naïve model, which often suggested erroneous effects of covariates on behaviors. When applied to field data, the behavior N-mixture model suggested that Hoffmann's woodpecker (Melanerpes hoffmanii) and Inca dove (Columbina inca) behaved differently in forested versus agricultural habitats, while turquoise-browed motmot (Eumomota superciliosa) did not. Thus, the behavior N-mixture model can help identify habitats that are essential to a species' life cycle (e.g., where individuals nest, forage) that nonbehavioral models would miss. Our model can greatly improve the appropriate use of behavioral survey data and conclusions drawn from them. In doing so, it provides a valuable path forward for assessing the conservation value of alternative habitat types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Ke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luke O Frishkoff
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel S Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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12
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Olimpi EM, Daly H, Garcia K, Glynn VM, Gonthier DJ, Kremen C, M'Gonigle LK, Karp DS. Interactive effects of multiscale diversification practices on farmland bird stress. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13902. [PMID: 35212020 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13902] [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: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Farmland diversification practices (i.e., methods used to produce food sustainably by enhancing biodiversity in cropping systems) are sometimes considered beneficial to both agriculture and biodiversity, but most studies of these practices rely on species richness, diversity, or abundance as a proxy for habitat quality. Biodiversity assessments may miss early clues that populations are imperiled when species presence does not imply persistence. Physiological stress indicators may help identify low-quality habitats before population declines occur. We explored how avian stress indicators respond to on-farm management practices and surrounding seminatural area (1-km radius) across 21 California strawberry farms. We examined whether commonly used biodiversity metrics correlate with stress responses in wild birds. We used ∼1000 blood and feather samples and body mass and wing chord measurements, mostly from passerines, to test the effects of diversification practices on four physiological stress indicators: heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H:L), body condition, hematocrit values, and feather growth rates of individual birds. We then tested the relationship between physiological stress indicators and species richness, abundance, occurrence, and diversity derived from 285 bird point count surveys. After accounting for other biological drivers, landscape context mediated the effect of local farm management on H:L and body condition. Local diversification practices were associated with reduced individual stress in intensive agricultural landscapes but increased it in landscapes surrounded by relatively more seminatural area. Feathers grew more slowly in landscapes dominated by strawberry production, suggesting that nutritional condition was lower here than in landscapes with more crop types and seminatural areas. We found scant evidence that species richness, abundance, occurrence, or diversity metrics were correlated with the individual's physiological stress, suggesting that reliance on these metrics may obscure the impacts of management on species persistence. Our findings underscore the importance of considering landscape context when designing local management strategies to promote wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elissa M Olimpi
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Hallie Daly
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Karina Garcia
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Victoria M Glynn
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - David J Gonthier
- Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Claire Kremen
- Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability, Department of Zoology and Biodiversity Research Center, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Leithen K M'Gonigle
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Daniel S Karp
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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13
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Goel N, Keitt TH. The mismatch between range and niche limits due to source-sink dynamics can be greater than species mean dispersal distance. Am Nat 2022; 200:448-455. [DOI: 10.1086/720420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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14
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Seasonal distribution of fish larvae in mangrove-seagrass seascapes of Zanzibar (Tanzania). Sci Rep 2022; 12:4196. [PMID: 35264688 PMCID: PMC8907160 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07931-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish larvae supply in nearshore vegetated habitats, such as seagrass meadows and mangroves, contributes significantly to sustainable fish stocks. Yet, little information is available on distribution patterns of fish larvae in mangrove and seagrass habitats of the western Indian Ocean. The present study investigated the abundance, diversity and assemblage composition of fish larvae in mangrove creeks, inshore seagrass meadows (located adjacent to mangroves) and nearshore seagrass meadows (located in-between mangroves and coral reefs) in two coastal seascapes of Zanzibar (Tanzania) across seasons for 1 year. The highest mean abundances of fish larvae were recorded in mangrove creeks, while nearshore- and inshore seagrass meadows showed similar mean abundance levels. Generally, fish larvae representing 42 families were identified, with the fourteen most abundant families comprising 83% of all specimens. Fish larvae communities were dominated by specimens of the postflexion growth stage in all habitats, except in mangrove creeks in one of the two seascapes (i.e. Chwaka Bay) from April through June when abundances of the preflexion and very small-sized individuals were exceptionally high. Slightly higher fish larvae abundances were observed in mangroves during the southeast monsoon compared to the northeast monsoon, and there were also differences across months within monsoon periods for all three habitats studied. Assemblage composition of larvae did, however, not vary significantly in time or space. Our findings suggest that mangroves and seagrass meadows are highly linked shallow-water habitats with high retention of fish larvae contributing to similarity in assemblage compositions across shallow coastal seascapes. Conservation and management efforts should prioritize connected shallow-water seascapes for protection of fish larvae and to uphold sustainable coastal fisheries.
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15
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Bedoya-Durán MJ, Murillo-García OE, Branch LC. Factors outside privately protected areas determine mammal assemblages in a global biodiversity hotspot in the Andes. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01921] [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] Open
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16
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Balmford A. Concentrating vs. spreading our footprint: how to meet humanity's needs at least cost to nature. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Balmford
- Conservation Science Group Department of Zoology University of Cambridge Cambridge UK
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17
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Hamer KC, Sasu MA, Ofosuhene L, Asare R, Ossom B, Parr CL, Scriven SA, Asante W, Addico R, Hill JK. Proximity to forest mediates trade‐offs between yields and biodiversity of birds in oil palm smallholdings. Biotropica 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael A. Sasu
- School of Biology University of Leeds Leeds UK
- Nature Conservation Research Centre Accra Ghana
| | - Linda Ofosuhene
- School of Biology University of Leeds Leeds UK
- Nature Conservation Research Centre Accra Ghana
| | | | | | - Catherine L. Parr
- Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Sarah A. Scriven
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity Department of Biology University of York York UK
| | - Winston Asante
- Department of Silviculture and Forest Management Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Kumasi Ghana
| | | | - Jane K. Hill
- Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity Department of Biology University of York York UK
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Impacts of wildlife trade on terrestrial biodiversity. Nat Ecol Evol 2021; 5:540-548. [PMID: 33589802 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01399-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The wildlife trade is worth billions of dollars annually and affects most major taxonomic groups. Despite this, a global understanding of the trade's impacts on species populations is lacking. We performed a quantitative meta-analysis of the wildlife trade that synthesized 506 species-level effect sizes from 31 studies, estimating trade-driven declines in mammals (452 effect sizes), birds (36) and reptiles (18). Overall, species declined in abundance by 62% (95% confidence interval (CI), 20 to 82%) where trade occurs. Reductions involving national or international trade were greatest, driving declines of 76% (95% CI, 36 to 91%) and 66% (95% CI, 12 to 87%), respectively. The impacts of trade were pervasive, requiring over 102 hours of travel time from settlements for trade to have no mean effect. Current protective measures fail species, with significant declines even where the harvesting for trade occurs in protected areas. Population declines tracked species threat status, indicating heightened extirpation and extinction risk in traded species. Critically, for such a severe global threat to wildlife, our analysis unearthed a limited number of studies using treatment versus control comparisons, and no studies on amphibians, invertebrates, cacti or orchids. Improved management, tackling both unsustainable demand and trade reporting, must be a conservation priority to prevent rampant trade-induced declines.
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Edwards FA, Massam MR, Cosset CCP, Cannon PG, Haugaasen T, Gilroy JJ, Edwards DP. Sparing land for secondary forest regeneration protects more tropical biodiversity than land sharing in cattle farming landscapes. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1284-1293.e4. [PMID: 33482111 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Effectively managing farming to meet food demand is vital for the future of biodiversity.1,2 Increasing yields on existing farmland can allow the abandonment (sparing) of low-yielding areas that subsequently recover as secondary forest.2-5 A key question is whether such "secondary sparing" conserves biodiversity more effectively than retaining wildlife-friendly habitat within farmland ("land sharing"). Focusing on the Colombian Choco-Andes, a global hotspot of threatened biodiversity,6 and on cattle farming, we examined the outcomes of secondary sparing and land sharing via simulated scenarios that maintained constant landscape-wide production and equal within-pasture yield: (1) for species and functional diversity of dung beetles and birds; (2) for avian phylogenetic diversity; and (3) across different stages of secondary forest regeneration, relative to spared primary forests. Sparing older secondary forests (15-30 years recovery) promotes substantial species, functional, and phylogenetic (birds only) diversity benefits for birds and dung beetles compared to land sharing. Species of conservation concern had higher occupancy estimates under land-sparing compared to land-sharing scenarios. Spared secondary forests accumulated equivalent diversity to primary forests for dung beetles within 15 years and within 15-30 years for birds, highlighting the need for longer term protection to maximize the biodiversity gains of secondary sparing. Promoting the recovery and protection of large expanses of secondary forests under the land-sparing model provides a critical mechanism for protecting tropical biodiversity, with important implications for concurrently assisting in the delivery of global targets to restore 350 million hectares of forested landscapes.7,8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity A Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Mike R Massam
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Cindy C P Cosset
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Patrick G Cannon
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Torbjørn Haugaasen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
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Mestre LAM, Cosset CCP, Nienow SS, Krul R, Rechetelo J, Festti L, Edwards DP. Impacts of selective logging on avian phylogenetic and functional diversity in the Amazon. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. A. M. Mestre
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Setor Litoral Universidade Federal do Paraná Matinhos Paraná Brazil
| | - C. C. P. Cosset
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - S. S. Nienow
- Floresta Nacional do Jamari Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade Rondônia Brazil
| | - R. Krul
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Setor Litoral Universidade Federal do Paraná Matinhos Paraná Brazil
| | - J. Rechetelo
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Setor Litoral Universidade Federal do Paraná Matinhos Paraná Brazil
- Instituto Federal Catarinense Brusque Brazil
| | - L. Festti
- Laboratório de Ornitologia, Setor Litoral Universidade Federal do Paraná Matinhos Paraná Brazil
| | - D. P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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21
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Hughes EC, Edwards DP, Sayer CA, Martin PA, Thomas GH. The effects of tropical secondary forest regeneration on avian phylogenetic diversity. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma C. Hughes
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - David P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | | | | | - Gavin H. Thomas
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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22
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Davies RW, Edwards DP, Edwards FA. Secondary tropical forests recover dung beetle functional diversity and trait composition. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R. W. Davies
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - D. P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
| | - F. A. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK
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23
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Sánchez‐Clavijo LM, Bayly NJ, Quintana‐Ascencio PF. Habitat selection in transformed landscapes and the role of forest remnants and shade coffee in the conservation of resident birds. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:553-564. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lina María Sánchez‐Clavijo
- Department of Biology University of Central Florida Orlando FL USA
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Bogotá Colombia
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Hethcoat MG, King BJ, Castiblanco FF, Ortiz-Sepúlveda CM, Achiardi FCP, Edwards FA, Medina C, Gilroy JJ, Haugaasen T, Edwards DP. The impact of secondary forest regeneration on ground-dwelling ant communities in the Tropical Andes. Oecologia 2019; 191:475-482. [PMID: 31485850 PMCID: PMC6763530 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04497-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Natural regeneration of abandoned farmland provides an important opportunity to contribute to global reforestation targets, including the Bonn Challenge. Of particular importance are the montane tropics, where a long history of farming, frequently on marginal soils, has rendered many ecosystems highly degraded and hotspots of extinction risk. Ants play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, and a key question is how time since abandonment and elevation (and inherent temperature gradients therein) affect patterns of ant recovery within secondary forest systems. Focusing on the Colombian Andes across a 1300 m altitudinal gradient and secondary forest (2-30 years) recovering on abandoned cattle pastures, we find that over time ant community composition and species richness recovered towards that of primary forest. However, these relationships are strongly dependent on elevation with the more open and warmer pasturelands supporting more ants than either primary or secondary forest at a particular elevation. The loss of species richness and change in species composition with elevation is less severe in pasture than forests, suggesting that conditions within pasture and its remaining scattered trees, hedgerows and forest fragments, are more favourable for some species, which are likely in or near thermal debt. Promoting and protecting natural regenerating forests over the long term in the montane tropics will likely offer significant potential for returning ant communities towards primary forest levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Hethcoat
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7RH, UK.,Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Bethany J King
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | | | | | | | - Felicity A Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Claudia Medina
- Instituto de Investigacion de Recursos Biologicos Alexander von Humboldt, Calle 28A#15-09, Bogota, Colombia
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Torbjørn Haugaasen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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25
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Heinrichs JA, Walker LE, Lawler JJ, Schumaker NH, Monroe KC, Bleisch AD. Recent Advances and Current Challenges in Applying Source-Sink Theory to Species Conservation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-019-00039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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26
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Countryside Biogeography: the Controls of Species Distributions in Human-Dominated Landscapes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-019-00037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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27
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Cannon PG, Gilroy JJ, Tobias JA, Anderson A, Haugaasen T, Edwards DP. Land-sparing agriculture sustains higher levels of avian functional diversity than land sharing. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:1576-1590. [PMID: 30793430 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2018] [Revised: 12/05/2018] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The ecological impacts of meeting rising demands for food production can potentially be mitigated by two competing land-use strategies: off-setting natural habitats through intensification of existing farmland (land sparing), or elevating biodiversity within the agricultural matrix via the integration of "wildlife-friendly" habitat features (land sharing). However, a key unanswered question is whether sparing or sharing farming would best conserve functional diversity, which can promote ecosystem stability and resilience to future land-use change. Focusing on bird communities in tropical cloud forests of the Colombian Andes, we test the performance of each strategy in conserving functional diversity. We show that multiple components of avian functional diversity in farmland are positively related to the proximity and extent of natural forest. Using landscape and community simulations, we also show that land-sparing agriculture conserves greater functional diversity and predicts higher abundance of species supplying key ecological functions than land sharing, with sharing becoming progressively inferior with increasing isolation from remnant forest. These results suggest low-intensity agriculture is likely to conserve little functional diversity unless large blocks of adjacent natural habitat are protected, consistent with land sparing. To ensure the retention of functionally diverse ecosystems, we urgently need to implement mechanisms for increasing farmland productivity whilst protecting spared land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick G Cannon
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, UK
| | - Joseph A Tobias
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Alex Anderson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Torbjørn Haugaasen
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management (MINA), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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28
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Cosset CCP, Gilroy JJ, Edwards DP. Impacts of tropical forest disturbance on species vital rates. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:66-75. [PMID: 29972268 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Tropical forests are experiencing enormous threats from deforestation and habitat degradation. Much knowledge of the impacts of these land-use changes on tropical species comes from studies examining patterns of richness and abundance. Demographic vital rates (survival, reproduction, and movement) can also be affected by land-use change in a way that increases species vulnerability to extirpation, but in many cases these impacts may not be manifested in short-term changes in abundance or species richness. We conducted a literature review to assess current knowledge and research effort concerning how land-use change affects species vital rates in tropical forest vertebrates. We found a general paucity of empirical research on demography across taxa and regions, with some biases toward mammals and birds and land-use transitions, including fragmentation and agriculture. There is also considerable between-species variation in demographic responses to land-use change, which could reflect trait-based differences in species sensitivity, complex context dependencies (e.g., between-region variation), or inconsistency in methods used in studies. Efforts to improve understanding of anthropogenic impacts on species demography are underway, but there is a need for increased research effort to fill knowledge gaps in understudied tropical regions and taxa. The lack of information on demographic impacts of anthropogenic disturbance makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions about the magnitude of threats to tropical ecosystems under anthropogenic pressures. Thus, determining conservation priorities and improving conservation effectiveness remains a challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy C P Cosset
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, U.K
| | - James J Gilroy
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR47TJ, U.K
| | - David P Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, S10 2TN, U.K
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29
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Mitchell SL, Edwards DP, Bernard H, Coomes D, Jucker T, Davies ZG, Struebig MJ. Riparian reserves help protect forest bird communities in oil palm dominated landscapes. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon L. Mitchell
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)School of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of Kent Canterbury Kent UK
| | - David P. Edwards
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of Sheffield Sheffield South Yorks UK
| | - Henry Bernard
- Institute for Tropical Biology and ConservationUniversiti Malaysia Sabah Kota Kinabalu Sabah Malaysia
| | - David Coomes
- Forest Ecology and Conservation GroupDepartment of Plant SciencesUniversity of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge UK
| | - Tommaso Jucker
- Forest Ecology and Conservation GroupDepartment of Plant SciencesUniversity of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge UK
| | - Zoe G. Davies
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)School of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of Kent Canterbury Kent UK
| | - Matthew J. Struebig
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)School of Anthropology and ConservationUniversity of Kent Canterbury Kent UK
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30
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Heinrichs JA, Lawler JJ, Schumaker NH, Wilsey CB, Monroe KC, Aldridge CL. A multispecies test of source-sink indicators to prioritize habitat for declining populations. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2018; 32:648-659. [PMID: 29193292 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
For species at risk of decline or extinction in source-sink systems, sources are an obvious target for habitat protection actions. However, the way in which source habitats are identified and prioritized can reduce the effectiveness of conservation actions. Although sources and sinks are conceptually defined using both demographic and movement criteria, simplifications are often required in systems with limited data. To assess the conservation outcomes of alternative source metrics and resulting prioritizations, we simulated population dynamics and extinction risk for 3 endangered species. Using empirically based habitat population models, we linked habitat maps with measured site- or habitat-specific demographic conditions, movement abilities, and behaviors. We calculated source-sink metrics over a range of periods of data collection and prioritized consistently high-output sources for conservation. We then tested whether prioritized patches identified the habitats that most affected persistence by removing them and measuring the population response. Conservation decisions based on different source-sink metrics and durations of data collection affected species persistence. Shorter time series obscured the ability of metrics to identify influential habitats, particularly in temporally variable and slowly declining populations. Data-rich source-sink metrics that included both demography and movement information did not always identify the habitats with the greatest influence on extinction risk. In some declining populations, patch abundance better predicted influential habitats for short-term regional persistence. Because source-sink metrics (i.e., births minus deaths; births and immigrations minus deaths and emigration) describe net population conditions and cancel out gross population counts, they may not adequately identify influential habitats in declining populations. For many nonequilibrium populations, new metrics that maintain the counts of individual births, deaths, and movement may provide additional insight into habitats that most influence persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Heinrichs
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, P.O. Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, U.S.A
| | - Joshua J Lawler
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, P.O. Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A
| | - Nathan H Schumaker
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, U.S.A
| | - Chad B Wilsey
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, P.O. Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A
| | - Kira C Monroe
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, P.O. Box 352100, Seattle, WA 98195, U.S.A
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, U.S.A
| | - Cameron L Aldridge
- Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, U.S.A
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32
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Luskin MS, Lee JS, Edwards DP, Gibson L, Potts MD. Study context shapes recommendations of land-sparing and sharing; a quantitative review. GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gfs.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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33
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Purvis A, Newbold T, De Palma A, Contu S, Hill SL, Sanchez-Ortiz K, Phillips HR, Hudson LN, Lysenko I, Börger L, Scharlemann JP. Modelling and Projecting the Response of Local Terrestrial Biodiversity Worldwide to Land Use and Related Pressures: The PREDICTS Project. ADV ECOL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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34
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Williams DR, Alvarado F, Green RE, Manica A, Phalan B, Balmford A. Land-use strategies to balance livestock production, biodiversity conservation and carbon storage in Yucatán, Mexico. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2017; 23:5260-5272. [PMID: 28614629 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Balancing the production of food, particularly meat, with preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services is a major societal challenge. Research into the contrasting strategies of land sparing and land sharing has suggested that land sparing-combining high-yield agriculture with the protection or restoration of natural habitats on nonfarmed land-will have lower environmental impacts than other strategies. Ecosystems with long histories of habitat disturbance, however, could be resilient to low-yield agriculture and thus fare better under land sharing. Using a wider suite of species (birds, dung beetles and trees) and a wider range of livestock-production systems than previous studies, we investigated the probable impacts of different land-use strategies on biodiversity and aboveground carbon stocks in the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico-a region with a long history of habitat disturbance. By modelling the production of multiple products from interdependent land uses, we found that land sparing would allow larger estimated populations of most species and larger carbon stocks to persist than would land sharing or any intermediate strategy. This result held across all agricultural production targets despite the history of disturbance and despite species richness in low- and medium-yielding agriculture being not much lower than that in natural habitats. This highlights the importance, in evaluating the biodiversity impacts of land use, of measuring population densities of individual species, rather than simple species richness. The benefits of land sparing for both biodiversity and carbon storage suggest that safeguarding natural habitats for biodiversity protection and carbon storage alongside promoting areas of high-yield cattle production would be desirable. However, delivering such landscapes will probably require the explicit linkage of livestock yield increases with habitat protection or restoration, as well as a deeper understanding of the long-term sustainability of yields, and research into how other societal outcomes vary across land-use strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Williams
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fredy Alvarado
- División de Posgrado, Instituto de Ecología, A. C. Xalapa, Mexico
| | - Rhys E Green
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Lodge, Sandy, UK
| | - Andrea Manica
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben Phalan
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Andrew Balmford
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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