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Thapa SK, de Jong JF, Hof AR, Subedi N, Liefting Y, Prins HHT. Integration of the landscape of fear concept in grassland management: An experimental study on subtropical monsoon grasslands in Bardia National Park, Nepal. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70098. [PMID: 39100204 PMCID: PMC11294578 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70098] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The 'landscape of fear' concept offers valuable insights into wildlife behaviour, yet its practical integration into habitat management for conservation remains underexplored. In this study, conducted in the subtropical monsoon grasslands of Bardia National Park, Nepal, we aimed to bridge this gap through a multi-year, landscape-scale experimental investigation in Bardia National Park, Nepal. The park has the highest density of tigers (with an estimated density of ~7 individuals per 100 km2) in Nepal, allowing us to understand the effect of habitat management on predation risk and resource availability especially for three cervid species: chital (Axis axis), swamp deer (Rucervus duvaucelii) and hog deer (Axis porcinus). We used plots with varying mowing frequency (0-4 times per year), size (ranging from small: 49 m2 to large: 3600 m2) and artificial fertilisation type (none, phosphorus, nitrogen) to assess the trade-offs between probable predation risk and resources for these cervid species, which constitute primary prey for tigers in Nepal. Our results showed distinct responses of these deer to perceived predation risk within grassland habitats. Notably, these deer exhibited heightened use of larger plots, indicative of a perceived sense of safety, as evidenced by the higher occurrence of pellet groups in the larger plots (mean = 0.1 pellet groups m-2 in 3600 m2 plots vs. 0.07 in 400 m2 and 0.05 in 49 m2 plots). Furthermore, the level of use by the deer was significantly higher in larger plots that received mowing and fertilisation treatments compared to smaller plots subjected to similar treatments. Of particular interest is the observation that chital and swamp deer exhibited greater utilisation of the centre (core) areas within the larger plots (mean = 0.21 pellet groups m-2 at the centre vs. 0.13 at the edge) despite the edge (periphery) also provided attractive resources to these deer. In contrast, hog deer did not display any discernible reaction to the experimental treatments, suggesting potential species-specific variations in response to perceived predation risk arising from management interventions. Our findings emphasise the importance of a sense of security as a primary determinant of habitat selection for medium-sized deer within managed grassland environments. These insights carry practical implications for park managers, providing a nuanced understanding of integrating the 'landscape of fear' into habitat management strategies. This study emphasises that the 'landscape of fear' concept can and should be integrated into habitat management to maintain delicate predator-prey dynamics within ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Kumar Thapa
- National Trust for Nature ConservationLalitpurNepal
- Zoological Society of London, Nepal OfficeKathmanduNepal
| | - Joost F. de Jong
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | - Anouschka R. Hof
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Yorick Liefting
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation GroupWageningen University and ResearchWageningenThe Netherlands
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2
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Tryjanowski P, Golawski A, Jankowiak Ł, Møller AP. Reactions of wintering passerines to male calls of the European cuckoo Cuculus canorus. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14204. [PMID: 38902276 PMCID: PMC11189894 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64270-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The reaction of birds to the nest parasite, the European cuckoo Cuculus canorus, has been the subject of extensive testing in various aspects. However, while the cuckoo is a long-distance migrant, some of its hosts are sedentary species. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether species, primarily hosts, react to the presence of the cuckoo also in the winter season. This behaviour may involve an attempt to drive the parasite away from locations that will subsequently become their breeding sites. During playback experiments conducted in the winter of 2021/2022 in Poland, we demonstrated that numerous bird species react to the male cuckoo calls in winter. These calls may be perceived as a source of danger, particularly by cuckoo hosts, who responded to this call more frequently than non-hosts and the control species (pigeon). Nonetheless, the birds' reactions were not strong, as they did not approach the source of the call. However, our results are constrained by the limited number of cuckoo host species wintering in Poland. To better evaluate the intensity of bird responses to the male cuckoo's call during the non-breeding season, further studies should be conducted in regions where a greater variety of species, especially those most susceptible to parasitism, overwinter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Tryjanowski
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wojska Polskiego 71C, 60-625, Poznan, Poland.
| | - Artur Golawski
- Faculty of Sciences, University of Siedlce, Prusa 14, 08-110, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Łukasz Jankowiak
- Department of Ecology and Anthropology, Institute of Biology, University of Szczecin, Wąska 13, 71-415, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Anders Pape Møller
- Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Université Paris-Sud, CNRS, Université Paris-Saclay, 91405, Orsay Cedex, AgroParisTech, France
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3
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Rohwäder M, Jeltsch F. Foraging personalities modify effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. OIKOS 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Florian Jeltsch
- Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation, Univ. of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), Altensteinstr. 34, 14195 Berlin Germany
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4
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Wijers M, Trethowan P, du Preez B, Loveridge AJ, Markham A, Macdonald DW, Montgomery RA. Something in the wind: the influence of wind speed and direction on African lion movement behavior. Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Olfaction is a key sense, enabling animals to locate forage, select mates, navigate their environment, and avoid predation. Wind is an important abiotic factor that modulates the strength of olfactory information detected by animals. In theory, when airflow is unidirectional, an animal can increase odor detection probability and maximize the amount of olfactory information gained by moving crosswind. Given energetic costs inherent to activity and locomotion, behavioral search strategies that optimize the benefit-cost ratio should be advantageous. We tested whether African lions (Panthera leo) modify their movement directionality and distance according to wind speed and direction during hours of darkness when they are most active. We tracked 29 lions in southern Zimbabwe using GPS collars and deployed a weather station to collect detailed abiotic data. We found that when wind speeds increased lions were more likely to move crosswind. We also found that female lions, which tend to hunt more often than males, traveled farther when wind speeds were stronger. The results of our analysis suggest that lions adjust their movement behavior according to wind speed and direction. We inferred that this was a behavioral decision to maximize the amount of olfactory information gained per unit of energy spent. Our findings not only offer one of the first detailed insights on large carnivore anemotaxis (movement direction relative to wind) but also make an important contribution towards understanding the influence of wind on predator ecology in general which remains understudied to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Wijers
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
| | - Paul Trethowan
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
| | - Byron du Preez
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J Loveridge
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Markham
- Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford , Parks Road, Oxford , United Kingdom
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
| | - Robert A Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre , Abingdon Road, Tubney , United Kingdom
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5
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Gazzard A, Baker PJ. What makes a house a home? Nest box use by West European hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) is influenced by nest box placement, resource provisioning and site-based factors. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13662. [PMID: 35811826 PMCID: PMC9261924 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial refuges provided by householders and/or conservation practitioners potentially represent one mechanism for mitigating declines in the availability of natural nest sites used for resting, breeding and hibernating in urban areas. The effectiveness of such refuges for different species is, however, not always known. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey of UK householders to identify factors associated with the use of ground-level nest boxes for West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a species of conservation concern. Overall, the percentage of boxes used at least once varied with season and type of use: summer day nesting (35.5-81.3%), breeding (7.2-28.2%), winter day nesting (20.1-66.5%) and hibernation (21.7-58.6%). The length of time the box had been deployed, the availability of artificial food and front garden to back garden access significantly increased the likelihood that a nest box had been used for all four nesting types, whereas other factors related to placement within the garden (e.g., in a sheltered location, on hardstanding such as paving, distance from the house) and resource provisioning (bedding) affected only some nesting behaviours. The factors most strongly associated with nest box use were the provisioning of food and bedding. These data suggest, therefore, that householders can adopt simple practices to increase the likelihood of their nest box being used. However, one significant limitation evident within these data is that, for welfare reasons, householders do not routinely monitor whether their box has been used. Consequently, future studies need to adopt strategies which enable householders to monitor their boxes continuously. Ultimately, such studies should compare the survival rates and reproductive success of hedgehogs within artificial refuges versus more natural nest sites, and whether these are affected by, for example, the impact of nest box design and placement on predation risk and internal microclimate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gazzard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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6
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Fine-scale habitat selection of a small mammalian urban adapter: the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00251-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding patterns of habitat selection and factors affecting space use is fundamental in animal conservation. In urban landscapes, such knowledge can be used to advise householders on how best to manage their gardens for wildlife. In this study, we tracked 28 West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a species of conservation concern in the UK, in an area of high-density housing using radio and GPS tags to quantify patterns of habitat use and identify factors associated with the proportion of time spent in individual gardens. Both males and females exhibited a preference for residential gardens, but there were subtle differences between the sexes in relation to house type and front versus back gardens. Hedgehogs spent significantly more time in gardens where artificial food was provided, where a compost heap was present, if foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were infrequent visitors, if it rained overnight and as daylength increased (i.e., shorter nights); garden use was not significantly associated with variables potentially likely to reflect invertebrate prey abundance. These data suggest that the primary positive action that householders can undertake for urban hedgehogs is providing supplementary food. However, householders often feed hedgehogs after they know they are already visiting their garden. Consequently, the presence of artificial food may make it difficult to identify other important influences affecting garden use. Finally, we report that a GPS fix acquisition rate < 60% likely had no major effect on the results of our analyses, but should be a consideration in future studies using this technique on this species and in this habitat.
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Dynamical Analysis of a Predator-Prey Model Incorporating Predator Cannibalism and Refuge. AXIOMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/axioms11030116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We consider a mathematical model to describe the interaction between predator and prey that includes predator cannibalism and refuge. We aim to study the dynamics and its long-term behavior of the proposed model, as well as to discuss the effects of crucial parameters associated with the model. We first show the boundedness and positivity of the solution of the model. Then, we study the existence and stability of all possible equilibrium points. The local stability of the model around each equilibrium point is studied via the linearized system, while the global stability is performed by defining a Lyapunov function. The model has four equilibrium points. It is found that the equilibrium point representing the extinction of both prey and predator populations is always unstable, while the other equilibrium points are conditionally stable. In addition, there is forward bifurcation phenomena that occur under certain condition. To support our analytical findings, we perform some numerical simulations.
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Turner J, Freeman R, Carbone C. Using citizen science to understand and map habitat suitability for a synurbic mammal in an urban landscape: the hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12278] [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)
- Jessica Turner
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
- School of Biological and Chemical Science Queen Mary University of London LondonE1 4NSUK
| | - Robin Freeman
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
| | - Chris Carbone
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
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Gazzard A, Boushall A, Brand E, Baker PJ. An assessment of a conservation strategy to increase garden connectivity for hedgehogs that requires cooperation between immediate neighbours: A barrier too far? PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259537. [PMID: 34739512 PMCID: PMC8570513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Urban areas are associated with high levels of habitat fragmentation. For some terrestrial species with limited climbing abilities, property boundaries can pose a significant problem by limiting access to residential gardens. The West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has declined markedly in the UK but is commonly found in areas of human habitation, including residential gardens. 'Hedgehog Street' is a public engagement campaign aimed at recruiting volunteers ('Hedgehog Champions') to create access points ('hedgehog highways') across garden boundaries to improve habitat connectivity. In this study, we used a series of questionnaire surveys to explore motivations for and obstacles to the creation of highways. Householders were more likely to have created a highway if they were already aware of the Hedgehog Street campaign, if their garden contained a high number of wildlife-friendly features and if they considered watching wildlife to be important. Hedgehog Champions created, on average, 1.69 highways each with 52.0% creating none; this would equate to an estimated >120,000 across all registered Champions. In comparison, 6.1-29.8% of non-Champions stated that they had made a highway. However, most highways had been created in boundaries that could already be traversed via naturally occurring holes: only 11.4% of garden boundaries could be traversed, and 3.2% of gardens accessed, just via a hedgehog highway. In addition, only 5.0% of gardens were considered totally inaccessible to hedgehogs. The most common reasons cited for not having made a highway were that householders' gardens were already accessible to hedgehogs followed by concerns relating to boundary ownership and / or communicating with neighbours. Future studies need to identify strategies for overcoming these obstacles to maximize citizen engagement, particularly with those householders who are not innately "wildlife-friendly", and to quantify the degree to which networks of highways affect patterns of individual movement and, ultimately, populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Gazzard
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Boushall
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Brand
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, Berkshire, United Kingdom
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Bearman-Brown LE, Wilson LE, Evans LC, Baker PJ. Comparing non-invasive surveying techniques for elusive, nocturnal mammals: a case study of the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.20075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Luke C. Evans
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; e-mail: ,
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom; e-mail: ,
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Unexpected Gene-Flow in Urban Environments: The Example of the European Hedgehog. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122315. [PMID: 33297373 PMCID: PMC7762246 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary An urban environment holds many barriers for mammals with limited mobility such as hedgehogs. These barriers appear often unsurmountable (e.g., rivers, highways, fences) and thus hinder contact between hedgehogs, leading to genetic isolation. In our study we tested whether these barriers affect the hedgehog population of urban Berlin, Germany. As Berlin has many of these barriers, we were expecting a strong genetic differentiation among hedgehog populations. However, when we looked at unrelated individuals, we did not see genetic differentiation among populations. The latter was only detected when we included related individuals too, a ‘family clan’ structure that is referred to as gamodemes. We conclude that the high percentage of greenery in Berlin provides sufficient habitat for hedgehogs to maintain connectivity across the city. Abstract We use the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a mammal with limited mobility, as a model species to study whether the structural matrix of the urban environment has an influence on population genetic structure of such species in the city of Berlin (Germany). Using ten established microsatellite loci we genotyped 143 hedgehogs from numerous sites throughout Berlin. Inclusion of all individuals in the cluster analysis yielded three genetic clusters, likely reflecting spatial associations of kin (larger family groups, known as gamodemes). To examine the potential bias in the cluster analysis caused by closely related individuals, we determined all pairwise relationships and excluded close relatives before repeating the cluster analysis. For this data subset (N = 65) both clustering algorithms applied (Structure, Baps) indicated the presence of a single genetic cluster. These results suggest that the high proportion of green patches in the city of Berlin provides numerous steppingstone habitats potentially linking local subpopulations. Alternatively, translocation of individuals across the city by hedgehog rescue facilities may also explain the existence of only a single cluster. We therefore propose that information about management activities such as releases by animal rescue centres should include location data (as exactly as possible) regarding both the collection and the release site, which can then be used in population genetic studies.
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12
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Decline in Distribution and Abundance: Urban Hedgehogs under Pressure. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091606. [PMID: 32916892 PMCID: PMC7552246 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hedgehogs have been found in higher densities in urban compared to rural areas. Recent dramatic declines in rural hedgehog numbers lead us to pose the question: how are hedgehogs faring in urban areas? In this study, we examined how hedgehog numbers have changed in the city of Zurich, Switzerland, in the last 25 years. We compared data collected through citizen science projects conducted in 1992 and 2016–2018, including: observations of hedgehogs, data from footprint tunnels, and capture-mark recapture studies. We found that hedgehog numbers have declined by 41%, from the former average of more than 30 individuals per km2, in the last 25 years. In the same time span, hedgehogs have lost 18% of their former urban distribution. The reasons for this decline are still unknown. Intensification of urban buildup, reduction of green space quality, the use of pesticides, parasites, or diseases, as well as increasing numbers of badgers, which are hedgehog predators, in urban areas are discussed as potential causes. Worryingly, these results suggest that hedgehogs are now under increasing pressure not only in rural but also in urban areas, their former refuges. Abstract Increasing urbanization and densification are two of the largest global threats to biodiversity. However, certain species thrive in urban spaces. Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus have been found in higher densities in green areas of settlements as compared to rural spaces. With recent studies pointing to dramatically declining hedgehog numbers in rural areas, we pose the question: how do hedgehogs fare in urban spaces, and do these spaces act as refuges? In this study, recent (2016–2018) and past (1992) hedgehog abundance and distribution were compared across the city of Zurich, Switzerland using citizen science methods, including: footprint tunnels, capture-mark recapture, and incidental sightings. Our analyses revealed consistent negative trends: Overall hedgehog distribution decreased by 17.6% ± 4.7%, whereas abundance declined by 40.6% (mean abundance 32 vs. 19 hedgehogs/km2, in past and recent time, respectively), with one study plot even showing a 91% decline in this period (78 vs. 7 hedgehogs/km2, respectively). We discuss possible causes of this rapid decline: increased urban densification, reduction of insect biomass, and pesticide use, as well as the role of increasing populations of badgers (a hedgehog predator) and parasites or diseases. Our results suggest that hedgehogs are now under increasing pressure not only in rural but also in urban areas, their former refuges.
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Yarnell RW, Pettett CE. Beneficial Land Management for Hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) in the United Kingdom. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091566. [PMID: 32899181 PMCID: PMC7552150 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hedgehogs are declining in the United Kingdom and are now absent from large areas of agriculture land. This commentary discusses the requirements of hedgehogs and links these to land management options that are currently used to benefit wildlife in agricultural areas. Using our knowledge of hedgehog requirements for population persistence, we suggest which land management practices are likely to be of benefit to hedgehogs in the hope that land owners will adopt some of the suggestions to help maintain and expand existing hedgehog populations across agricultural landscapes of the United Kingdom. Abstract Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are traditionally thought of as being a rural dwelling species, associated with rural and agricultural landscapes across Europe. However, recent studies have highlighted that hedgehogs are more likely to be found in urban than rural habitats in the United Kingdom. Here, we review the status of rural hedgehog populations across the UK and evaluate the potential benefits of agri-environment schemes for hedgehog persistence, while highlighting a lack of empirical evidence that agri-environment options will benefit hedgehog populations. Our synthesis has implications for future conservation strategies for hedgehogs and insectivorous mammals living in agricultural landscapes, and calls for more empirical studies on agri-environment options and their potential benefits to hedgehogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard W. Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Science, Brackenhurst Campus, Nottingham Trent University, Southwell NG25 0QF, UK
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-(0)115-8485333
| | - Carly E. Pettett
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK;
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14
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Barré K, Spoelstra K, Bas Y, Challéat S, Kiri Ing R, Azam C, Zissis G, Lapostolle D, Kerbiriou C, Le Viol I. Artificial light may change flight patterns of bats near bridges along urban waterways. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- K. Barré
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelleStation de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
| | - K. Spoelstra
- Department of Animal EcologyNetherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO‐KNAW) Wageningen The Netherlands
| | - Y. Bas
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive UMR 5175CNRS Montpellier France
| | - S. Challéat
- Géographie de l’Environnement (GÉODE) UMR 5602 CNRSUniversité Toulouse 2 ‐ Jean Jaurès Toulouse Cedex 9 France
| | - R. Kiri Ing
- Institut LangevinUMR 7587 CNRSUniversité Paris Diderot (Paris 7) Paris France
| | - C. Azam
- Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la NatureMusée de l’Homme Paris France
| | - G. Zissis
- Université Toulouse 3LAPLACEUMR‐5213 CNRS‐INPT‐UT3 Toulouse France
| | - D. Lapostolle
- Théoriser et Modéliser pour Aménager (ThéMA) UMR 6049 CNRSUniversité Bourgogne Franche‐Comté Besançon France
| | - C. Kerbiriou
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelleStation de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
| | - I. Le Viol
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Sorbonne Université Paris France
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO) Muséum national d'Histoire naturelleStation de Biologie Marine Concarneau France
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15
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Over-Winter Survival and Nest Site Selection of the West-European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) in Arable Dominated Landscapes. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091449. [PMID: 32825054 PMCID: PMC7552789 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The West-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has declined markedly in the UK. The winter hibernation period may make hedgehogs vulnerable to anthropogenic habitat and climate changes. Therefore, we studied two contrasting populations in England to examine patterns of winter nest use, body mass changes and survival during hibernation. No between-site differences were evident in body mass prior to hibernation nor the number of winter nests used, but significant differences in overwinter mass change and survival were observed. Mass change did not, however, affect survival rates; all deaths occurred prior to or after the hibernation period, mainly from predation or vehicle collisions. Hedgehogs consistently nested in proximity to hedgerows, roads and woodlands, but avoided pasture fields; differences between sites were evident for the selection for or avoidance of arable fields, amenity grassland and buildings. Collectively, these data indicate that hibernation was not a period of significant mortality for individuals that had attained sufficient weight (>600 g) pre-hibernation. Conversely, habitat composition did significantly affect the positioning of winter nests, such that different land management practices (historic and current) might potentially influence hibernation success. The limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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Frank SC, Blaalid R, Mayer M, Zedrosser A, Steyaert SMJG. Fear the reaper: ungulate carcasses may generate an ephemeral landscape of fear for rodents. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2020; 7:191644. [PMID: 32742677 PMCID: PMC7353961 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.191644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Animal carcasses provide an ephemeral pulse of nutrients for scavengers that use them. Carcass sites can increase species interactions and/or ephemeral, localized landscapes of fear for prey within the vicinity. Few studies have applied the landscape of fear to carcasses. Here, we use a mass die-off of reindeer caused by lightning in Norway to test whether rodents avoided larger scavengers (e.g. corvids and fox). We used the presence and abundance of faeces as a proxy for carcass use over the course of 2 years and found that rodents showed the strongest avoidance towards changes in raven abundance (β = -0.469, s.e. = 0.231, p-value = 0.0429), but not fox, presumably due to greater predation risk imposed by large droves of raven. Moreover, the emergence of rodent occurrence within the carcass area corresponded well with the disappearance of raven during the second year of the study. We suggest that carcasses have the potential to shape the landscape of fear for prey, but that the overall effects of carcasses on individual fitness and populations of species ultimately depend on the carcass regime, e.g. carcass size, count, and areal extent, frequency and the scavenger guild. We discuss conservation implications and how carcass provisioning and landscapes of fear could be potentially used to manage populations and ecosystems, but that there is a gap in understanding that must first be bridged.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. C. Frank
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - R. Blaalid
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Thormøhlensgate 55, 5006 Bergen
| | - M. Mayer
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
| | - A. Zedrosser
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - S. M. J. G. Steyaert
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, 3800 Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 7711 Steinkjer, Norway
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Jones SA, Chapman S. The Ethics and Welfare Implications of Keeping Western European Hedgehogs (erinaceus Europaeus) in Captivity. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2019; 23:467-483. [PMID: 31596158 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2019.1672553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Patient outcomes for hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) casualties are not limited to release versus euthanasia; some hedgehogs have conditions that do not preclude their ability to survive in captivity with human intervention. This research explored the welfare implications and ethical issues of keeping disabled hedgehogs in permanent captivity. Currently, there is very little in the literature and the subject is highly emotive and controversial. A questionnaire was used to assess welfare and these data contrasted with the normal behaviors, environment, and diet of free-living hedgehogs. The most convincing argument for keeping wild animals in captivity is species conservation; however, hedgehogs are not currently listed as endangered. Sixty-six datasets were obtained, representing 194 hedgehogs kept in permanent captivity. Results were mixed, i.e., many respondents providing suitable habitat features (for example, grass and soil 83.3% of respondents, shrubs and/or hedges 69.7% of respondents) observing "positive" behaviors such as foraging for natural foods (69.7% of respondents), and observing appropriate behavioral responses to humans; and some areas for concern, i.e., habitat size (22.7% of respondents reported habitats <10m2), presence of badgers (only 48.5% of respondents reported no badgers in the area), evidence of aggressive behavior (22.7% of respondents had observed non-food-related aggression between hedgehogs) and seven hedgehogs having sustained bite wounds whilst in captivity. The authors are cautious about drawing any definitive conclusions from this research, though it would appear that some of the hedgehogs in the survey had welfare comparable to their free-living counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Jones
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey , Guildford, UK
| | - Stella Chapman
- Independent Researcher, Roslyn House, Brierley Banks , Drybrook, UK
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Hof AR, Allen AM, Bright PW. Investigating the Role of the Eurasian Badger ( Meles meles) in the Nationwide Distribution of the Western European Hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) in England. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9100759. [PMID: 31581679 PMCID: PMC6826801 DOI: 10.3390/ani9100759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The hedgehog is a species known to many in society. What is perhaps less known, is that the hedgehog has been declining across large parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom. Effective hedgehog conservation requires a sound understanding of the causes of the decline. A potential cause is the badger, whose population has been recovering in recent years. The badger is an intraguild predator of the hedgehog, meaning that not only do the two species share the same food, like snails and earthworms, but badgers also predate on hedgehogs. Our study investigates how the presence of hedgehogs is related to the presence of badgers, along with other landscape features. Using information from two nationwide citizen science surveys, we first determine where both species can be found and then identify which factors best explain hedgehog presence. We found that the badger was indeed important, and hedgehogs were less likely to be found in areas where badgers were likely to be found. Interestingly, hedgehogs were also likely to be found in arable land, a habitat not directly thought to be favourable for hedgehogs. Badgers may, therefore, be an important consideration when designing hedgehog conservation plans, and further research of these impacts is needed. Abstract Biodiversity is declining globally, which calls for effective conservation measures. It is, therefore, important to investigate the drivers behind species presence at large spatial scales. The Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is one of the species facing declines in parts of its range. Yet, drivers of Western European hedgehog distribution at large spatial scales remain largely unknown. At local scales, the Eurasian badger (Meles meles), an intraguild predator of the Western European hedgehog, can affect both the abundance and the distribution of the latter. However, the Western European hedgehog and the Eurasian badger have shown to be able to co-exist at a landscape scale. We investigated whether the Eurasian badger may play a role in the likelihood of the presence of the Western European hedgehog throughout England by using two nationwide citizen science surveys. Although habitat-related factors explained more variation in the likelihood of Western European hedgehog presence, our results suggest that Eurasian badger presence negatively impacts the likelihood of Western European hedgehog presence. Intraguild predation may, therefore, be influencing the nationwide distribution of hedgehogs in England, and further research is needed about how changes in badger densities and intensifying agricultural practices that remove shelters like hedgerows may influence hedgehog presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouschka R Hof
- Resource Ecology Group, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-907 36 Umeå, Sweden.
- Former: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK.
| | - Andrew M Allen
- Department of Animal Ecology & Physiology, Radboud University, 6500 GL Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Paul W Bright
- Former: School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK.
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Gaynor KM, Brown JS, Middleton AD, Power ME, Brashares JS. Landscapes of Fear: Spatial Patterns of Risk Perception and Response. Trends Ecol Evol 2019; 34:355-368. [PMID: 30745252 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 236] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Animals experience varying levels of predation risk as they navigate heterogeneous landscapes, and behavioral responses to perceived risk can structure ecosystems. The concept of the landscape of fear has recently become central to describing this spatial variation in risk, perception, and response. We present a framework linking the landscape of fear, defined as spatial variation in prey perception of risk, to the underlying physical landscape and predation risk, and to resulting patterns of prey distribution and antipredator behavior. By disambiguating the mechanisms through which prey perceive risk and incorporate fear into decision making, we can better quantify the nonlinear relationship between risk and response and evaluate the relative importance of the landscape of fear across taxa and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. https://twitter.com/@kaitlyngaynor%20
| | - Joel S Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street (MC 066), Chicago, IL 60607, USA; Department of Integrated Mathematical Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Dr., Tampa, FL 33612, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Arthur D Middleton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Mary E Power
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building #3140, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Justin S Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall #3114, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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A comparison of the Ranging behaviour and habitat use of the Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Qatar with hedgehog taxa from temperate environments. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17783. [PMID: 30542104 PMCID: PMC6290762 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36117-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated seasonal changes in the ecology and behaviour of the Ethiopian hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus) in Qatar, particularly in respect to differences in behaviour between hedgehogs living in arid environments and hedgehogs in temperate mesic environments. These comparisons will allow us to explore behavioural adaptations to different environments across hedgehog taxa. We radio-tracked 30 hedgehogs in Qatar over two years, and measured home range size, habitat preference, travel speed, activity and body mass. Whilst we found no difference in body mass between males and females, male home range size was over twice as large as that for females. Unlike hedgehogs in Europe, males maintained large home ranges during the non-breeding season. This behaviour may be sustained by the low cost of maintaining a large home range; males travelled less far per hour during the non-breeding season. Habitat use was non-random; arid areas with human influence, including rubbish dumping sites, was the most selected habitat type compared with its availability. Dense scrub and/or trees was the most selected habitat for nesting. This study gives us greater understanding as to how hedgehog taxa are adapted to their environment and therefore how they may be conserved, for example, the recent increase of “lower” level human activities, including irrigated farms and food waste, in harsh arid environments may have influenced the space use by Ethiopian hedgehogs.
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Reduced occupancy of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in rural England and Wales: The influence of habitat and an asymmetric intra-guild predator. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12156. [PMID: 30190482 PMCID: PMC6127255 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30130-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural landscapes have become increasingly intensively managed resulting in population declines across a broad range of taxa, including insectivores such as the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Hedgehog declines have also been attributed to an increase in the abundance of badgers (Meles meles), an intra-guild predator. The status of hedgehogs across the rural landscape at large spatial scales is, however, unknown. In this study, we used footprint tracking tunnels to conduct the first national survey of rural hedgehog populations in England and Wales. Single and two-species occupancy modelling was used to quantify hedgehog occupancy in relation to habitat and predator covariates. Hedgehog occupancy was low (22% nationally), and significantly negatively related to badger sett density and positively related to the built environment. Hedgehogs were also absent from 71% of sites that had no badger setts, indicating that large areas of the rural landscape are not occupied by hedgehogs. Our results provide the first field based national survey of hedgehogs, providing a robust baseline for future monitoring. Furthermore, the combined effects of increasing badger abundance and intensive agriculture may have provided a perfect storm for hedgehogs in rural Britain, leading to worryingly low levels of occupancy over large spatial scales.
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Williams B, Mann N, Neumann JL, Yarnell RW, Baker PJ. A prickly problem: developing a volunteer-friendly tool for monitoring populations of a terrestrial urban mammal, the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Urban Ecosyst 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-018-0795-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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23
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Parkins K, York A, Di Stefano J. Edge effects in fire-prone landscapes: Ecological importance and implications for fauna. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5937-5948. [PMID: 29938104 PMCID: PMC6010856 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Edges are ecologically important environmental features and have been well researched in agricultural and urban landscapes. However, little work has been conducted in flammable ecosystems where spatially and temporally dynamic fire edges are expected to influence important processes such as recolonization of burnt areas and landscape connectivity. We review the literature on fire, fauna, and edge effects to summarize current knowledge of faunal responses to fire edges and identify knowledge gaps. We then develop a conceptual model to predict faunal responses to fire edges and present an agenda for future research. Faunal abundance at fire edges changes over time, but patterns depend on species traits and resource availability. Responses are also influenced by edge architecture (e.g., size and shape), site and landscape context, and spatial scale. However, data are limited and the influence of fire edges on both local abundance and regional distributions of fauna is largely unknown. In our conceptual model, biophysical properties interact with the fire regime (e.g., patchiness, frequency) to influence edge architecture. Edge architecture and species traits influence edge permeability, which is linked to important processes such as movement, resource selection, and species interactions. Predicting the effect of fire edges on fauna is challenging, but important for biodiversity conservation in flammable landscapes. Our conceptual model combines several drivers of faunal fire responses (biophysical properties, regime attributes, species traits) and will therefore lead to improved predictions. Future research is needed to understand fire as an agent of edge creation; the spatio-temporal flux of fire edges across landscapes; and the effect of fire edges on faunal movement, resource selection, and biotic interactions. To aid the incorporation of new data into our predictive framework, our model has been designed as a Bayesian Network, a statistical tool capable of analyzing complex environmental relationships, dealing with data gaps, and generating testable hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Parkins
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
| | - Alan York
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
| | - Julian Di Stefano
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
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de Miguel FJ, Ruiz-Montero S, San Andrés H, Arregui L. Do European hedgehogs select substrates when they defecate? BEHAVIOUR 2018. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Like most mammals, European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are nocturnal animals, with a notable sense of smell. This fact suggests that faeces could play a communicative role in this species, and therefore hedgehogs could choose the location of their faeces in order to increase their detectability. To verify this assumption, the spatial distribution of faeces of European hedgehog in a suburban forest (Valdelatas, Madrid) was analysed. The study lasted eight months, during which we sampled three transects fortnightly. The data obtained show that faeces were placed on clear substrates which were visually highlighted (territorial mark amplification). Besides, hedgehogs placed the faeces in the lateral regions of the trails, not far from their margins. These results seem to indicate that European hedgehogs select the places where to defecate, apparently seeking a trade-off between detectability and safety for its marking behaviour, and they put on the table the possibility that this species uses their faeces as communicative marks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Ruiz-Montero
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin, 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Héctor San Andrés
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin, 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucía Arregui
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, C/Darwin, 2, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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25
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Pettett CE, Johnson PJ, Moorhouse TP, Macdonald DW. National predictors of hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
distribution and decline in Britain. Mamm Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carly E. Pettett
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney; Oxfordshire; OX13 5QL UK
| | - Paul J. Johnson
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney; Oxfordshire; OX13 5QL UK
| | - Tom P. Moorhouse
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney; Oxfordshire; OX13 5QL UK
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Department of Zoology; University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney; Oxfordshire; OX13 5QL UK
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Pettett CE, Johnson PJ, Moorhouse TP, Hambly C, Speakman JR, Macdonald DW. Daily energy expenditure in the face of predation: hedgehog energetics in rural landscapes. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:460-468. [PMID: 28148819 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.150359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Failure to balance daily energy expenditure (DEE) with energy intake can have an impact on survival and reproduction, and therefore on the persistence of populations. Here we study the DEE of the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), which is declining in the UK. We hypothesise that there is a gradient of suitable habitat for hedgehogs in rural areas, which is a result of fewer food resources, a higher risk from predation by badgers (Meles meles) and colder ambient temperatures, as distance to the nearest building increases. We used the doubly labelled water method to obtain 44 measurements of DEE from hedgehogs on four predominately arable sites, to determine the energetic costs associated with proximity to buildings, on sites with and without badgers. The mean±s.e.m. DEE was 508.9±34.8 kJ day-1 DEE increased the further a hedgehog was from buildings during the study, possibly as they ranged larger distances on arable land, supporting the hypothesis that hedgehogs select villages owing to the lower energy demands in comparison to arable farmland. Hedgehogs had an approximately 30% lower DEE on sites with badgers. We speculate that on badger-occupied sites, hedgehogs may restrict movement and foraging in response to a threat from predation and thus have reduced DEE. Therefore, hedgehogs may also seek refuge in villages where the perceived threat of predation is lower and foraging is unrestricted. In a broader context, we demonstrate that individual differences in DEE can aid in understanding habitat selection in a patchily distributed species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly E Pettett
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Paul J Johnson
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Tom P Moorhouse
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Catherine Hambly
- Energetics Research Group, Zoology Department, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - John R Speakman
- Energetics Research Group, Zoology Department, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, UK
| | - David W Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK
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27
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Pettett CE, Moorhouse TP, Johnson PJ, Macdonald DW. Factors affecting hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) attraction to rural villages in arable landscapes. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1113-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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28
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Kimuyu DM, Veblen KE, Riginos C, Chira RM, Githaiga JM, Young TP. Influence of cattle on browsing and grazing wildlife varies with rainfall and presence of megaherbivores. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:786-798. [PMID: 27935669 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In many savanna ecosystems worldwide, livestock share the landscape and its resources with wildlife. The nature of interactions between livestock and wildlife is a subject of considerable interest and speculation, yet little controlled experimental research has been carried out. Since 1995, we have been manipulating the presence and absence of cattle and large mammalian herbivore wildlife in a Kenyan savanna in order to better understand how different herbivore guilds influence habitat use by specific wildlife species. Using dung counts as a relative assay of herbivore use of the different experimental plots, we found that cattle had a range of effects, mostly negative, on common mesoherbivore species, including both grazers and mixed feeders, but did not have significant effects on megaherbivores. The effect of cattle on most of the mesoherbivore species was contingent on both the presence of megaherbivores and rainfall. In the absence of megaherbivores, wild mesoherbivore dung density was 36% lower in plots that they shared with cattle than in plots they used exclusively, whereas in the presence of megaherbivores, wild mesoherbivore dung density was only 9% lower in plots shared with cattle than plots used exclusively. Cattle appeared to have a positive effect on habitat use by zebra (a grazer) and steinbuck (a browser) during wetter periods of the year but a negative effect during drier periods. Plots to which cattle had access had lower grass and forb cover than plots from which they were excluded, while plots to which megaherbivores had access had more grass cover but less forb cover. Grass cover was positively correlated with zebra and oryx dung density while forb cover was positively correlated with eland dung density. Overall these results suggest that interactions between livestock and wildlife are contingent on rainfall and herbivore assemblage and represent a more richly nuanced set of interactions than the longstanding assertion that cattle simply compete with (grazing) wildlife. Specifically, rainfall and megaherbivores seemed to moderate the negative effects of cattle on some mesoherbivore species. Even if cattle tend to reduce wildlife use of the landscape, managing simultaneously for livestock production (at moderate levels) and biodiversity conservation is possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan M Kimuyu
- Department of Natural Resources, Karatina University, Karatina, Kenya
- Mpala Research Centre, P.O. Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
| | - Kari E Veblen
- Mpala Research Centre, P.O. Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, 84322, USA
| | - Corinna Riginos
- Mpala Research Centre, P.O. Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
| | - Robert M Chira
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - John M Githaiga
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Truman P Young
- Mpala Research Centre, P.O. Box 555, Nanyuki, Kenya
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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29
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Hof AR, Bright PW. Quantifying the long-term decline of the West European hedgehog in England by subsampling citizen-science datasets. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1013-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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30
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Padié S, Morellet N, Hewison AJM, Martin JL, Bonnot N, Cargnelutti B, Chamaillé-Jammes S. Roe deer at risk: teasing apart habitat selection and landscape constraints in risk exposure at multiple scales. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Padié
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive UMR 5175, CNRS - Univ. de Montpellier - Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE; 1919 route de Mende FR-34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Nicolas Morellet
- INRA, UR 035 Comportement et Écologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique; 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge Auzeville, BP CS 52627 FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex France
| | - A. J. Mark Hewison
- INRA, UR 035 Comportement et Écologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique; 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge Auzeville, BP CS 52627 FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex France
| | - Jean-Louis Martin
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive UMR 5175, CNRS - Univ. de Montpellier - Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE; 1919 route de Mende FR-34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
| | - Nadège Bonnot
- INRA, UR 035 Comportement et Écologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique; 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge Auzeville, BP CS 52627 FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex France
| | - Bruno Cargnelutti
- INRA, UR 035 Comportement et Écologie de la Faune Sauvage, Inst. National de la Recherche Agronomique; 24 Chemin de Borde Rouge Auzeville, BP CS 52627 FR-31326 Castanet-Tolosan Cedex France
| | - Simon Chamaillé-Jammes
- Centre d'Écologie Fonctionnelle et Évolutive UMR 5175, CNRS - Univ. de Montpellier - Univ. Paul Valéry Montpellier - EPHE; 1919 route de Mende FR-34293 Montpellier Cedex 5 France
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Poel JLVD, Dekker J, Langevelde FV. Dutch hedgehogsErinaceus europaeusare nowadays mainly found in urban areas, possibly due to the negative Effects of badgersMeles meles. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Yarnell RW, Pacheco M, Williams B, Neumann JL, Rymer DJ, Baker PJ. Using occupancy analysis to validate the use of footprint tunnels as a method for monitoring the hedgehog E
rinaceus europaeus. Mamm Rev 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard W. Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences; Nottingham Trent University; Brackenhurst Southwell Nottinghamshire NG25 0QF UK
| | - Marina Pacheco
- The Mammal Society; 3 The Carronades New Road Southampton SO14 0AA UK
| | - Ben Williams
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Whiteknights Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
| | - Jessica L. Neumann
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Whiteknights Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
| | - David J. Rymer
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Whiteknights Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
| | - Philip J. Baker
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Reading; Whiteknights Reading Berkshire RG6 6AS UK
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Glasby L, Yarnell RW. Evaluation of the performance and accuracy of Global Positioning System bug transmitters deployed on a small mammal. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-013-0770-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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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