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Sells SN, Costello CM. Predicting future grizzly bear habitat use in the Bitterroot Ecosystem under recolonization and reintroduction scenarios. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0308043. [PMID: 39231120 PMCID: PMC11373846 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0308043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Many conservation actions must be implemented with limited data. This is especially true when planning recovery efforts for extirpated populations, such as grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) within the Bitterroot Ecosystem (BE), where strategies for reestablishing a resident population are being evaluated. Here, we applied individual-based movement models developed for a nearby grizzly bear population to predict habitat use in and near the BE, under scenarios of natural recolonization, reintroduction, and a combination. All simulations predicted that habitat use by grizzly bears would be higher in the northern half of the study area. Under the natural recolonization scenario, use was concentrated in Montana, but became more uniform across the northern BE in Idaho over time. Use was more concentrated in east-central Idaho under the reintroduction scenario. Assuming that natural recolonization continues even if bears are reintroduced, use remained widespread across the northern half of the BE and surrounding areas. Predicted habitat maps for the natural recolonization scenario aligned well with outlier and GPS collar data available for grizzly bears in the study area, with Spearman rank correlations of ≥0.93 and mean class values of ≥9.1 (where class 10 was the highest relative predicted use; each class 1-10 represented 10% of the landscape). In total, 52.4% of outlier locations and 79% of GPS collar locations were in class 10 in our predicted habitat maps for natural recolonization. Simulated grizzly bears selected habitats over a much larger landscape than the BE itself under all scenarios, including multiple-use and private lands, similar to existing populations that have expanded beyond recovery zones. This highlights the importance of recognizing and planning for the role of private lands in recovery efforts, including understanding resources needed to prevent and respond to human-grizzly bear conflict and maintain public acceptance of grizzly bears over a large landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Sells
- U.S. Geological Survey, Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, Wildlife Biology Program, Ecology and Evolution Program, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, United States of America
| | - Cecily M Costello
- Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Kalispell, Montana, United States of America
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2
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Braczkowski A, Ochse L, Atukwatse B, Cornille O, O'Bryan C, Lindsey P, Kotze R, Gibson L, Biggs D. Long-distance swimming by African lions in Uganda. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11597. [PMID: 38988348 PMCID: PMC11236087 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11597] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Earth's most imperiled and iconic wildlife are facing tough decisions under increasing human pressure and limited resources. Swimming across rivers and water bodies filled with high densities of predators may be one such example. In African lions Panthera leo, previous water crossings (recorded in the peer-reviewed and gray literature, on film, and found using Google Search, and YouTube) have recorded distances ranging from <10 to 100 m, with some resulting in mortality by Nile Crocodiles Crocodylis niloticus. However, we observed a coalition of male lions swimming >1 km across Uganda's Kazinga channel located in the Queen Elizabeth National Park six times, and recorded this behavior on film on February 1st 2024. We speculate that three factors could be driving these lions to take long-distance swims with a high density of crocodiles and hippos Hippopotamus amphibius, namely (1) the lack of lionesses in this ecosystem, (2) intraspecific fights over territory with other male coalitions, and (3) the only other land connection giving lions access to the peninsula is a small road bridge with a strong human presence.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Braczkowski
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, School of Environment and ScienceGriffith UniversityNathanQueenslandAustralia
- Department of Conservation ManagementNelson Mandela UniversityGeorgeWestern CapeSouth Africa
- Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Kyambura Lion ProjectKampalaUganda
- School of Environmental Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - L. Ochse
- Rolling Label, Le Petit Provence EstateFranschhoekSouth Africa
| | - B. Atukwatse
- Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Kyambura Lion ProjectKampalaUganda
| | - O. Cornille
- Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust, Kyambura Lion ProjectKampalaUganda
| | - C. O'Bryan
- System Earth ScienceMaastricht UniversityVenloThe Netherlands
| | - P. Lindsey
- Wildlife Conservation NetworkSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - R. Kotze
- Wildlife Conservation Research UnitUniversity of OxfordOxfordshireUK
| | - L. Gibson
- School of Environmental Science and EngineeringSouthern University of Science and TechnologyShenzhenChina
| | - D. Biggs
- School of Earth and SustainabilityNorthern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffArizonaUSA
- Centre for Complex Systems in Transition, School of Public LeadershipStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
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van Noordwijk MA, LaBarge LR, Kunz JA, Marzec AM, Spillmann B, Ackermann C, Rianti P, Vogel ER, Atmoko SSU, Kruetzen M, van Schaik CP. Reproductive success of Bornean orangutan males: scattered in time but clustered in space. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2023; 77:134. [PMID: 38076722 PMCID: PMC10700224 DOI: 10.1007/s00265-023-03407-6] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Abstract The social and mating systems of orangutans, one of our closest relatives, remain poorly understood. Orangutans (Pongo spp.) are highly sexually dimorphic and females are philopatric and maintain individual, but overlapping home ranges, whereas males disperse, are non-territorial and wide-ranging, and show bimaturism, with many years between reaching sexual maturity and attaining full secondary sexual characteristics (including cheek pads (flanges) and emitting long calls). We report on 21 assigned paternities, among 35 flanged and 15 unflanged, genotyped male Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii), studied from 2003 to 2018 in Tuanan (Central Kalimantan, Indonesia). All 10 infants born since mid-2003 with an already identified sire were sired by flanged males. All adult males ranged well beyond the study area (c. 1000 ha), and their dominance relations fluctuated even within short periods. However, 5 of the 10 identified sires had multiple offspring within the monitored area. Several sired over a period of c. 10 years, which overlapped with siring periods of other males. The long-calling behavior of sires indicated they were not consistently dominant over other males in the area around the time of known conceptions. Instead, when they were seen in the area, the known sires spent most of their time within the home ranges of the females whose offspring they sired. Overall, successful sires were older and more often resident than others. Significance statement It is difficult to assess reproductive success for individuals of long-lived species, especially for dispersing males, who cannot be monitored throughout their lives. Due to extremely long interbirth intervals, orangutans have highly male-skewed operational sex ratios and thus intensive male-male competition for every conception. Paternity analyses matched 21 immature Bornean orangutans with their most likely sire (only 10 of 50 genotyped males) in a natural population. Half of these identified sires had multiple offspring in the study area spread over periods of at least 10 years, despite frequently ranging outside this area. Dominance was a poor predictor of success, but, consistent with female mating tactics to reduce the risk of infanticide, known "sires" tended to have relatively high local presence, which seems to contribute to the males' siring success. The results highlight the importance of large protected areas to enable a natural pattern of dispersal and ranging. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00265-023-03407-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria A. van Noordwijk
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Comparative Socio-Ecology Group, May Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Laura R. LaBarge
- Comparative Socio-Ecology Group, May Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Julia A. Kunz
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute des Sciences de l’Evolution Montpellier, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anna M. Marzec
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brigitte Spillmann
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Ackermann
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Puji Rianti
- Division of Animal Biosystematics and Ecology, Department of Biology, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
- Primate Research Center, IPB University, Bogor, Indonesia
| | - Erin R. Vogel
- Department of Anthropology, Center for Human Evolution Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA
| | | | - Michael Kruetzen
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Carel P. van Schaik
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Comparative Socio-Ecology Group, May Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Konstanz, Germany
- Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution (ISLE), University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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Palm EC, Landguth EL, Holden ZA, Day CC, Lamb CT, Frame PF, Morehouse AT, Mowat G, Proctor MF, Sawaya MA, Stenhouse G, Whittington J, Zeller KA. Corridor-based approach with spatial cross-validation reveals scale-dependent effects of geographic distance, human footprint and canopy cover on grizzly bear genetic connectivity. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5211-5227. [PMID: 37602946 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17098] [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: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how human infrastructure and other landscape attributes affect genetic differentiation in animals is an important step for identifying and maintaining dispersal corridors for these species. We built upon recent advances in the field of landscape genetics by using an individual-based and multiscale approach to predict landscape-level genetic connectivity for grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) across ~100,000 km2 in Canada's southern Rocky Mountains. We used a genetic dataset with 1156 unique individuals genotyped at nine microsatellite loci to identify landscape characteristics that influence grizzly bear gene flow at multiple spatial scales and map predicted genetic connectivity through a matrix of rugged terrain, large protected areas, highways and a growing human footprint. Our corridor-based modelling approach used a machine learning algorithm that objectively parameterized landscape resistance, incorporated spatial cross validation and variable selection and explicitly accounted for isolation by distance. This approach avoided overfitting, discarded variables that did not improve model performance across withheld test datasets and spatial predictive capacity compared to random cross-validation. We found that across all spatial scales, geographic distance explained more variation in genetic differentiation in grizzly bears than landscape variables. Human footprint inhibited connectivity across all spatial scales, while open canopies inhibited connectivity at the broadest spatial scale. Our results highlight the negative effect of human footprint on genetic connectivity, provide strong evidence for using spatial cross-validation in landscape genetics analyses and show that multiscale analyses provide additional information on how landscape variables affect genetic differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Palm
- Computational Ecology Lab, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, US Forest Service, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Erin L Landguth
- Computational Ecology Lab, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Center for Population Health Research, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | | | - Casey C Day
- Computational Ecology Lab, School of Public and Community Health Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana, USA
| | - Clayton T Lamb
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Paul F Frame
- Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Branch, Government of Alberta, Whitecourt, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Garth Mowat
- Wildlife & Habitat Branch, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations & Rural Development, Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Geographic Sciences, UBC Okanagan, Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Jesse Whittington
- Parks Canada, Banff National Park Resource Conservation, Banff, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katherine A Zeller
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, US Forest Service, Missoula, Montana, USA
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Turner JW, Prokopenko CM, Kingdon KA, Dupont DLJ, Zabihi-Seissan S, Vander Wal E. Death comes for us all: relating movement-integrated habitat selection and social behavior to human-associated and disease-related mortality among gray wolves. Oecologia 2023; 202:685-697. [PMID: 37515598 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05426-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Avoiding death affects biological processes, including behavior. Habitat selection, movement, and sociality are highly flexible behaviors that influence the mortality risks and subsequent fitness of individuals. In the Anthropocene, animals are experiencing increased risks from direct human causes and increased spread of infectious diseases. Using integrated step selection analysis, we tested how the habitat selection, movement, and social behaviors of gray wolves vary in the two months prior to death due to humans (being shot or trapped) or canine distemper virus (CDV). We further tested how those behaviors vary as a prelude to death. We studied populations of wolves that occurred under two different management schemes: a national park managed for conservation and a provincially managed multi-use area. Behaviors that changed prior to death were strongly related to how an animal eventually died. Wolves killed by humans moved slower than wolves that survived and selected to be nearer roads closer in time to their death. Wolves that died due to CDV moved progressively slower as they neared death and reduced their avoidance of wet habitats. All animals, regardless of dying or living, maintained selection to be near packmates across time, which seemingly contributed to disease dynamics in the packs infected with CDV. There were no noticeable differences in behavior between the two management areas. Overall, habitat selection, movement, and sociality interact to put individuals and groups at greater risks, influencing their cause-specific mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie W Turner
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.
| | - Christina M Prokopenko
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Katrien A Kingdon
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Daniel L J Dupont
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
- Département des sciences expérimentales, Université de Saint-Boniface, 200 ave de la Cathédrale, Winnipeg, MB, R2H 0H7, Canada
| | - Sana Zabihi-Seissan
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, 45 Arctic Ave., St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
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6
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Wildlife supplementary feeding facilitates spread of alien plants in forested mountainous areas: a case study from the Western Carpathians. Biologia (Bratisl) 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s11756-023-01339-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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7
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Connolly E, Nelson H. Jaguars in the borderlands: Multinatural conservation for coexistence in the Anthropocene. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2023.851254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Conservation in the human-dominated Anthropocene involves negotiations among diverse stakeholders. However, these stakeholder inclusion schemes are often superficial, leading to unsuccessful interventions. Here we apply the theory of multinaturalism as an operational starting point for stakeholder engagement efforts, to deepen local involvement and work towards coexistence. Multinaturalism posits that natures are multiple and can be known in many ways, and that many natures can coexist in the same geographical space. Using the northern jaguar population in the US-Mexico borderlands as a case study, we investigate, through semi-structured interviews, the natural realities (‘natures’) of various stakeholders involved in borderland jaguar conservation. We define a nature as an individual’s or group’s perceptions, knowledge, values, attitudes, and actions towards jaguars. We construct each stakeholder group’s natural reality of this jaguar population through applied thematic analysis, and we identify which aspects of stakeholders’ natures are similar and different, particularly across the international border. For example, we found that many conservationists and activists value the jaguar as an apex predator because its presence signifies ecosystem health and balance, while some ranchers hold existence value for the jaguar’s power and beauty, but resent its role as a predator, due to potential for conflict with livestock. This information provides a greater understanding of differences in realities that may cause conflicts over wildlife-related decisions, and can be used by local conservation actors to facilitate collaboration in a complex transboundary region. This interdisciplinary study highlights the importance of investigating the human dimensions of conservation completely, while treating all forms of knowledge about nature seriously and equally. Due to the unique nature of human-wildlife interactions, each conservation situation requires bespoke consideration, and particularly in diverse landscapes, a multinatural approach offers a novel path towards sustainable human-wildlife coexistence.
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8
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Díaz‐Fernández M, Naves J, Revilla E. Conservation implications of range dynamics in endangered populations: An example with brown bears. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Díaz‐Fernández
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
| | - Javier Naves
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
| | - Eloy Revilla
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
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9
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McFadden IR, Sendek A, Brosse M, Bach PM, Baity‐Jesi M, Bolliger J, Bollmann K, Brockerhoff EG, Donati G, Gebert F, Ghosh S, Ho H, Khaliq I, Lever JJ, Logar I, Moor H, Odermatt D, Pellissier L, de Queiroz LJ, Rixen C, Schuwirth N, Shipley JR, Twining CW, Vitasse Y, Vorburger C, Wong MKL, Zimmermann NE, Seehausen O, Gossner MM, Matthews B, Graham CH, Altermatt F, Narwani A. Linking human impacts to community processes in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:203-218. [PMID: 36560926 PMCID: PMC10107666 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Human impacts such as habitat loss, climate change and biological invasions are radically altering biodiversity, with greater effects projected into the future. Evidence suggests human impacts may differ substantially between terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, but the reasons for these differences are poorly understood. We propose an integrative approach to explain these differences by linking impacts to four fundamental processes that structure communities: dispersal, speciation, species-level selection and ecological drift. Our goal is to provide process-based insights into why human impacts, and responses to impacts, may differ across ecosystem types using a mechanistic, eco-evolutionary comparative framework. To enable these insights, we review and synthesise (i) how the four processes influence diversity and dynamics in terrestrial versus freshwater communities, specifically whether the relative importance of each process differs among ecosystems, and (ii) the pathways by which human impacts can produce divergent responses across ecosystems, due to differences in the strength of processes among ecosystems we identify. Finally, we highlight research gaps and next steps, and discuss how this approach can provide new insights for conservation. By focusing on the processes that shape diversity in communities, we aim to mechanistically link human impacts to ongoing and future changes in ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R. McFadden
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial EcosystemsETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
- Present address:
Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem DynamicsUniversity of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Agnieszka Sendek
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Morgane Brosse
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Peter M. Bach
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Marco Baity‐Jesi
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Janine Bolliger
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Kurt Bollmann
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Eckehard G. Brockerhoff
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of CanterburyChristchurchNew Zealand
| | - Giulia Donati
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Friederike Gebert
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Shyamolina Ghosh
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Hsi‐Cheng Ho
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Imran Khaliq
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - J. Jelle Lever
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Ivana Logar
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Helen Moor
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Daniel Odermatt
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - Loïc Pellissier
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial EcosystemsETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Luiz Jardim de Queiroz
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)KastanienbaumSwitzerland
- Institute of Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Christian Rixen
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)DavosSwitzerland
| | - Nele Schuwirth
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
| | - J. Ryan Shipley
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)KastanienbaumSwitzerland
| | - Cornelia W. Twining
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)KastanienbaumSwitzerland
| | - Yann Vitasse
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Christoph Vorburger
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Department of Environmental Systems ScienceETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Mark K. L. Wong
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- School of Biological SciencesThe University of Western AustraliaCrawleyWAAustralia
| | - Niklaus E. Zimmermann
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Ole Seehausen
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)KastanienbaumSwitzerland
- Institute of Ecology & EvolutionUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Martin M. Gossner
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
- Institute of Terrestrial EcosystemsETH ZürichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Blake Matthews
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)KastanienbaumSwitzerland
| | - Catherine H. Graham
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL)BirmensdorfSwitzerland
| | - Florian Altermatt
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Anita Narwani
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)DübendorfSwitzerland
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10
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Blaise A, Kiewra D, Chrząścik K, Selva N, Popiołek M, Sergiel A. Anti‐parasitic function of tree‐rubbing behaviour in brown bears suggested by an
in vitro
test on a generalist ectoparasite. J Zool (1987) 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.13045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Blaise
- Faculty of Life Sciences University of Strasbourg Strasbourg France
| | - D. Kiewra
- Department of Microbial Ecology and Acaroentomology, Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Wroclaw Wroclaw Poland
| | - K. Chrząścik
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Krakow Poland
| | - N. Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Krakow Poland
| | - M. Popiołek
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Biological Sciences University of Wroclaw Wroclaw Poland
| | - A. Sergiel
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Krakow Poland
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11
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Thorsen NH, Hansen JE, Støen OG, Kindberg J, Zedrosser A, Frank SC. Movement and habitat selection of a large carnivore in response to human infrastructure differs by life stage. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:52. [PMID: 36447280 PMCID: PMC9706841 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00349-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The movement extent of mammals is influenced by human-modified areas, which can affect population demographics. Understanding how human infrastructure influences movement at different life stages is important for wildlife management. This is true especially for large carnivores, due to their substantial space requirements and potential for conflict with humans. METHODS We investigated human impact on movement and habitat selection by GPS-collared male brown bears (Ursus arctos) in two life stages (residents and dispersers) in central Sweden. We identified dispersers visually based on their GPS locations and used hidden Markov models to delineate dispersal events. We used integrated step selection analysis (iSSA) to infer movement and habitat selection at a local scale (availability defined by hourly relocations), and resource selection functions (RSFs) to infer habitat selection at a landscape scale (availability defined by the study area extent). RESULTS Movement of residents on a local scale was facilitated by small forestry roads as they moved faster and selected areas closer to forestry roads, and they avoided areas closer to larger public roads and buildings on both scales. Dispersers were more ambivalent in their response to human infrastructure. Dispersers increased their speed closer to small forestry roads and larger public roads, did not exhibit selection for or against any road class, and avoided areas closer to buildings only at local scale. Dispersers did not select for any features on the landscape, which is likely explained by the novelty of the landscape or their naivety towards it. CONCLUSION Our results show that movement in male brown bears is life stage-dependent and indicate that connectivity maps derived from movement data of dispersing animals may provide more numerous and more realistic pathways than those derived from resident animal data alone. This suggests that data from dispersing animals provide more realistic models for reconnecting populations and maintaining connectivity than if data were derived from resident animals alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- N H Thorsen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway.
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway.
| | - J E Hansen
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Telemark, Norway
| | - O-G Støen
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås, Norway
| | - J Kindberg
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - A Zedrosser
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Telemark, Norway.
- Department of Integrative Biology, Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria.
| | - S C Frank
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Telemark, Norway
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12
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Jain V, Bugnyar T, Cunningham SJ, Gallego-Abenza M, Loretto MC, Sumasgutner P. The spatial and temporal exploitation of anthropogenic food sources by common ravens (Corvus corax) in the Alps. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:35. [PMID: 36008849 PMCID: PMC9414151 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthropogenic food sources (AFSs) are widespread in human-transformed landscapes and the current scale at which they occur drives ecological change at the individual, population, and community levels. AFSs are exploited extensively by common ravens, Corvus corax. Understanding how raven populations use AFSs can provide insight into their ecological responses to AFSs. METHODS We equipped 81 ravens in the Austrian Alps with GPS-transmitters over a period of 2.75 years. Using these tracking data, we investigated how cohort differences (i.e., age, sex, and origin) and seasonal changes influence raven movement patterns (i.e., occurrence distribution and maximum daily displacement) and AFS-use (i.e., number of AFSs visited and probability of being present at any AFS) at 45 extensively exploited sites. RESULTS We found that proxies for experience and dominance, inferred by age (i.e., juvenile versus adult) and origin (i.e., wild-caught versus captive-bred-released) cohorts, influenced movement patterns and the number of AFSs visited. However, all individuals were equally likely to be present at AFSs, highlighting the importance of AFSs for non-breeders in the study population. Seasonal changes in environmental conditions that affect energetic demands, the availability of natural and anthropogenic food, and foraging competition, influenced individuals' occurrence distributions and AFS-use. We found that under harsher conditions in autumn and winter, individuals ranged wider and depended on AFSs to a larger degree. However, contrary to expectation, they were less likely to be present at AFSs in these seasons compared to spring and summer, suggesting a trade-off between time spent moving and exploiting resources. We attribute the small ranging movements exhibited by non-breeders in spring and summer to the presence of highly territorial and socially dominant breeders. As breeders mostly stay and forage within their territories during these seasons, competition at AFSs decrease, thereby increasing the likelihood of individuals being present at any AFS. CONCLUSIONS We emphasize that movement and AFS-use differ according to cohort differences and the seasonality of the environment. Our results highlight that predictable AFSs affect foraging strategies among non-breeding ravens. The extent of AFS-exploitation among non-breeding ravens in our study emphasize the potential of AFSs in shaping raven movement and resource-use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varalika Jain
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, Private Bax X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa.
- Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria.
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerasi Platz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susan J Cunningham
- FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence, Private Bax X3, Rondebosch, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa
| | - Mario Gallego-Abenza
- Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerasi Platz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management Group, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354, Freising, Germany
- Berchtesgaden National Park, Doktorberg 6, 83471, Berchtesgaden, Germany
| | - Petra Sumasgutner
- Core Facility for Behaviour and Cognition, Konrad Lorenz Research Centre, University of Vienna, Fischerau 13, 4645, Grünau im Almtal, Austria
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Djerasi Platz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
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13
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Tsalazidou-Founta TM, Stasi EA, Samara M, Mertzanis Y, Papathanassiou M, Bagos PG, Psaroudas S, Spyrou V, Lazarou Y, Tragos A, Tsaknakis Y, Grigoriadou E, Korakis A, Satra M, Billinis C. Genetic Analysis and Status of Brown Bear Sub-Populations in Three National Parks of Greece Functioning as Strongholds for the Species’ Conservation. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13081388. [PMID: 36011299 PMCID: PMC9407276 DOI: 10.3390/genes13081388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to optimize the appropriate conservation actions for the brown bear (Ursus arctos L.) population in Greece, we estimated the census (Nc) and effective (Ne) population size as well as the genetic status of brown bear sub-populations in three National Parks (NP): Prespa (MBPNP), Pindos (PINDNP), and Rhodopi (RMNP). The Prespa and Pindos sub-populations are located in western Greece and the Rhodopi population is located in eastern Greece. We extracted DNA from 472 hair samples and amplified through PCR 10 microsatellite loci. In total, 257 of 472 samples (54.5%) were genotyped for 6–10 microsatellite loci. Genetic analysis revealed that the Ne was 35, 118, and 61 individuals in MBPNP, PINDNP, and RMNP, respectively, while high levels of inbreeding were found in Prespa and Rhodopi but not in Pindos. Moreover, analysis of genetic structure showed that the Pindos population is genetically distinct, whereas Prespa and Rhodopi show mutual overlaps. Finally, we found a notable gene flow from Prespa to Rhodopi (10.19%) and from Rhodopi to Prespa (14.96%). Therefore, targeted actions for the conservation of the bears that live in the abovementioned areas must be undertaken, in order to ensure the species’ viability and to preserve the corridors that allow connectivity between the bear sub-populations in Greece.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evangelia A. Stasi
- Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, 35100 Lamia, Greece
| | - Maria Samara
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41100 Larissa, Greece
| | - Yorgos Mertzanis
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Maria Papathanassiou
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Thessaly, 41100 Larissa, Greece
| | - Pantelis G. Bagos
- Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, 35100 Lamia, Greece
| | - Spyros Psaroudas
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Spyrou
- Faculty of Animal Science, University of Thessaly, 41222 Larissa, Greece
| | - Yorgos Lazarou
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Athanasios Tragos
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Yannis Tsaknakis
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society, 54621 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Elpida Grigoriadou
- The Rodopi Mountain-Range National Park (RMNP), Mesochori Paranestiou, 66035 Paranesti, Greece
| | - Athanasios Korakis
- Northern Pindos National Park Management Agency Aspraggeloi PC 44007, Municipality of Zagori, 45221 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Maria Satra
- Faculty of Public and One Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
| | - Charalambos Billinis
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
- Faculty of Public and One Health, University of Thessaly, 43100 Karditsa, Greece
- Correspondence:
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Fehér P, Frank K, Gombkötő P, Rigg R, Bedő P, Újváry D, Stéger V, Szemethy L. The origin and population genetics of wolves in the north Hungarian mountains. Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00287-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe grey wolf (Canis lupus) is one of the most challenging species to conserve in our modern and crowded world. Due to various factors, most European wolf populations are currently growing. In Hungary, numbers have increased since the 2000s. Although spontaneous recolonisation from Slovakia is considered to be the most likely mechanism by the majority of experts, some stakeholders claim that hand-reared individuals have been released. To determine the origin of wolves in northern Hungary, we analysed samples of free-ranging wolves collected in Slovakia and Hungary as well as samples from wolves in private enclosures in the region. We also included reference samples from domestic dogs. All samples were genotyped at 14 canine autosomal tetranucleotide microsatellite loci (STR) and analysed using multivariate, Bayesian methods. Hungarian wolf samples were also analysed using kinship methods. In the free-ranging wolf samples, all loci were polymorphic with 3–12 alleles. The overall observed (Ho) and unbiased expected (uHE) heterozygosities were 0.60–0.66 and 0.69–0.71, respectively. Parental and sibling relationships were also found among Hungarian individuals: three generations of a pack in the Bükk Mountains were identified. Samples from free-ranging wolves clustered separately from those of captive wolves and dogs. However, genetic similarities were found between Slovakian and Hungarian wolf samples. Our analyses indicate a Slovakian origin of the sampled Hungarian wolves, and we found no evidence that individuals originating in captivity have played any role in the recolonisation process. Kinship relationships and moderate genetic diversity suggest that there is ongoing gene flow across the Slovakian–Hungarian border.
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15
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Bar-Ziv E, Picardi S, Kaplan A, Avgar T, Berger-Tal O. Sex Differences Dictate the Movement Patterns of Striped Hyenas, Hyaena hyaena, in a Human-Dominated Landscape. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.897132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-carnivore populations have experienced significant declines in the past centuries in extended parts of the world. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and depletion of natural resources are some of the main causes of this decline. Consequently, behavioral flexibility, enabling the exploitation of anthropogenic food resources in highly disturbed human-dominated landscapes, is becoming critical for the survival of large carnivores. These behavioral changes increase the potential for human-large carnivore conflict and can further intensify carnivore persecution. Here, we examine how land cover types (representing a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance) alter the behavior of striped hyenas (Hyaena hyaena) in a human-dominated landscape in Israel, and whether differences in life history between males and females affect their reaction to such disturbances and consequently their level of exposure to humans. We used a Hidden Markov Model on GPS-tracking data for seven striped hyenas to segment individual-night trajectories into behavioral states (resting, searching, and traveling). We then used multinomial logistic regression to model hyenas’ behavioral state as a function of the interaction between land cover and sex. Females traveled less than males both in terms of average distance traveled per hour, per night, and nightly net displacement. Most steps were classified as “searching” for females and as “traveling” for males. Female hyenas spent a higher proportion of time in human-dominated areas and a lower proportion in natural areas compared to males, and they were also more likely to be found close to settlements than males. Females changed their time allocation between natural and human-dominated areas, spending more time resting than traveling in natural areas but not in human-dominated ones; males spent more time searching than resting in human-dominated areas but were equally likely to rest or search in natural ones. The differences in life history between male and female hyenas may reflect different motivations for space use as a means to optimize fitness, which affects their exposure to humans and therefore their potential involvement in human-hyenas conflict. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to behavioral change in response to human disturbance is important for adaptive management and promoting human large-carnivores co-existence in general.
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16
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Zvidzai M, Zengeya FM, Masocha M, Ndaimani H, Murwira A. Application of GPS occurrence data to understand African white-backed vultures Gyps africanus spatial home range overlaps. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e8778. [PMID: 35386881 PMCID: PMC8976281 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding key overlap zones and habitats which are intensively shared by species in space and time is crucial as it provides vital information to inform spatial conservation with maximum benefits. The advent of high-resolution GPS technologies associated with new analytical algorithms is revolutionizing studies underpinning species spatial and social interaction patterns within ecosystems. Here, using a robust home range estimation algorithm, the autocorrelated kernel density estimator (AKDE) equipped with an equally powerful home range overlap metric, the Bhattacharyya's coefficient (BC), we provide one of the first attempts to estimate and delineate spatial home range overlap zones for critically endangered African white-backed vultures to inform conservation planning. Six vultures were captured in Hwange National Park using a modified cannon net system after which they were tagged and tracked with high-resolution GPS backpacks. Overall, results suggested weaker average home range overlaps based on both the pooled data (0.38 ± 0.26), wet non-breeding seasonal data (0.32 ± 0.23), and dry breeding season data (0.34 ± 0.28). Vultures 4, 5, and 6 consistently revealed higher home range overlaps across all the scales with values ranging between 0.60 and 0.99. Individual vultures showed consistence in space use patterns as suggested by high between-season home range overlaps, an indication that they may be largely resident within the Hwange ecosystem. Importantly, we also demonstrate that home range overlapping geographic zones are all concentrated within the protected area of Hwange National Park. Our study provides some of the first results on African vulture home range overlaps and segregation patterns in the savanna ecosystem based on unbiased telemetry data and rigorous analytical algorithms. Such knowledge may provide vital insights for prioritizing conservation efforts of key geographic overlap zones to derive maximum conservation benefits especially when targeting wide-ranging and critically endangered African white-backed vultures. To this end, spatial overlap zones estimated here, although based on a small sample size, could provide a strong foundation upon which other downstream social and ecological questions can be explored further to expand our understanding on shared space use mechanisms among African vulture species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Zvidzai
- Department of Geography and Environmental ScienceUniversity of ZimbabweHarareZimbabwe
| | | | - Mhosisi Masocha
- Department of Geography and Environmental ScienceUniversity of ZimbabweHarareZimbabwe
| | - Henry Ndaimani
- Department of Geography and Environmental ScienceUniversity of ZimbabweHarareZimbabwe
| | - Amon Murwira
- Department of Geography and Environmental ScienceUniversity of ZimbabweHarareZimbabwe
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17
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Bartel SL, Orrock JL. The important role of animal social status in vertebrate seed dispersal. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:1094-1109. [PMID: 35235713 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Seed dispersal directly affects plant establishment, gene flow and fitness. Understanding patterns in seed dispersal is, therefore, fundamental to understanding plant ecology and evolution, as well as addressing challenges of extinction and global change. Our ability to understand dispersal is limited because seeds may be dispersed by multiple agents, and the effectiveness of these agents can be highly variable both among and within species. We provide a novel framework that links seed dispersal to animal social status, a key component of behaviour. Because social status affects individual resource access and movement, it provides a critical link to two factors that determine seed dispersal: the quantity of seeds dispersed and the spatial patterns of dispersal. Social status may have unappreciated effects on post-dispersal seed survival and recruitment when social status affects individual habitat use. Hence, environmental changes, such as selective harvesting and urbanisation, that affect animal social structure may have unappreciated consequences for seed dispersal. This framework highlights these exciting new hypotheses linking environmental change, social structure and seed dispersal. By outlining experimental approaches to test these hypotheses, we hope to facilitate studies across a wide diversity of plant-animal networks, which may uncover emerging hotspots or significant declines in seed dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savannah L Bartel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - John L Orrock
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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18
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Silva I, Fleming CH, Noonan MJ, Alston J, Folta C, Fagan WF, Calabrese JM. Autocorrelation‐informed home range estimation: A review and practical guide. Methods Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.13786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Silva
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) Görlitz Germany
- Helmholtz‐Zentrum Dresden‐Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden Germany
| | - Christen H. Fleming
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD USA
- Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Front Royal VA USA
| | - Michael J. Noonan
- Department of Biology University of British Columbia Okanagan Kelowna BC Canada
| | - Jesse Alston
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) Görlitz Germany
- Helmholtz‐Zentrum Dresden‐Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden Germany
| | - Cody Folta
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD USA
| | - William F. Fagan
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD USA
| | - Justin M. Calabrese
- Center for Advanced Systems Understanding (CASUS) Görlitz Germany
- Helmholtz‐Zentrum Dresden‐Rossendorf (HZDR) Dresden Germany
- Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park MD USA
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ Leipzig Germany
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19
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Szewczyk M, Łepek K, Nowak S, Witek M, Bajcarczyk A, Kurek K, Stachyra P, Mysłajek RW, Szewczyk B. Evaluation of the Presence of ASFV in Wolf Feces Collected from Areas in Poland with ASFV Persistence. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102062. [PMID: 34696492 PMCID: PMC8541390 DOI: 10.3390/v13102062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
African swine fever (ASF), caused by a DNA virus (ASFV) belonging to genus Asfivirus of the Asfarviridae family, is one of the most threatening diseases of suids. During last few years, it has spread among populations of wild boars and pigs in countries of Eastern and Central Europe, causing huge economical losses. While local ASF occurrence is positively correlated with wild boar density, ecology of this species (social structure, movement behavior) constrains long-range disease transmission. Thus, it has been speculated that carnivores known for high daily movement and long-range dispersal ability, such as the wolf (Canis lupus), may be indirect ASFV vectors. To test this, we analyzed 62 wolf fecal samples for the presence of ASFV DNA, collected mostly in parts of Poland declared as ASF zones. This dataset included 20 samples confirmed to contain wild boar remains, 13 of which were collected near places where GPS-collared wolves fed on dead wild boars. All analyzed fecal samples were ASFV-negative. On the other hand, eight out of nine wild boar carcasses that were fed on by telemetrically studied wolves were positive. Thus, our results suggest that when wolves consume meat of ASFV-positive wild boars, the virus does not survive the passage through intestinal tract. Additionally, wolves may limit ASFV transmission by removing infectious carrion. We speculate that in areas where telemetric studies on large carnivores are performed, data from GPS collars could be used to enhance efficiency of carcass search, which is one of the main preventive measures to constrain ASF spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maciej Szewczyk
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.S.); (M.W.)
| | - Krzysztof Łepek
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland; (K.Ł.); (A.B.)
| | - Sabina Nowak
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland;
| | - Małgorzata Witek
- Department of Vertebrate Ecology and Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland; (M.S.); (M.W.)
| | - Anna Bajcarczyk
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland; (K.Ł.); (A.B.)
| | - Korneliusz Kurek
- Masurian Centre for Biodiversity, Research and Education, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Urwitałt 1, 11-730 Mikołajki, Poland;
| | | | - Robert W. Mysłajek
- Department of Ecology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa, Poland;
- Correspondence: (R.W.M.); (B.S.)
| | - Bogusław Szewczyk
- Department of Recombinant Vaccines, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland; (K.Ł.); (A.B.)
- Correspondence: (R.W.M.); (B.S.)
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Bautista C, Revilla E, Berezowska-Cnota T, Fernández N, Naves J, Selva N. Spatial ecology of conflicts: unravelling patterns of wildlife damage at multiple scales. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211394. [PMID: 34465240 PMCID: PMC8437235 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Human encroachment into natural habitats is typically followed by conflicts derived from wildlife damage to agriculture and livestock. Spatial risk modelling is a useful tool to gain the understanding of wildlife damage and mitigate conflicts. Although resource selection is a hierarchical process operating at multiple scales, risk models usually fail to address more than one scale, which can result in the misidentification of the underlying processes. Here, we addressed the multi-scale nature of wildlife damage occurrence by considering ecological and management correlates interacting from household to landscape scales. We studied brown bear (Ursus arctos) damage to apiaries in the North-eastern Carpathians as our model system. Using generalized additive models, we found that brown bear tendency to avoid humans and the habitat preferences of bears and beekeepers determine the risk of bear damage at multiple scales. Damage risk at fine scales increased when the broad landscape context also favoured damage. Furthermore, integrated-scale risk maps resulted in more accurate predictions than single-scale models. Our results suggest that principles of resource selection by animals can be used to understand the occurrence of damage and help mitigate conflicts in a proactive and preventive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Bautista
- Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOP PAN), Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Eloy Revilla
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD-CSIC), Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Teresa Berezowska-Cnota
- Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOP PAN), Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
| | - Néstor Fernández
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Javier Naves
- Estación Biológica de Doñana CSIC (EBD-CSIC), Americo Vespucio 26, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IOP PAN), Adama Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Kraków, Poland
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Pylidis C, Anijalg P, Saarma U, Dawson DA, Karaiskou N, Butlin R, Mertzanis Y, Giannakopoulos A, Iliopoulos Y, Krupa A, Burke TA. Multisource noninvasive genetics of brown bears ( Ursus arctos) in Greece reveals a highly structured population and a new matrilineal contact zone in southern Europe. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6427-6443. [PMID: 34141229 PMCID: PMC8207399 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In human-dominated landscapes, connectivity is crucial for maintaining demographically stable mammalian populations. Here, we provide a comprehensive noninvasive genetic study for the brown bear population in the Hellenic Peninsula. We analyze its population structuring and connectivity, estimate its population size throughout its distribution, and describe its phylogeography in detail for the first time. Our results, based on 150 multilocus genotypes and on 244-bp sequences of the mtDNA control region, show the population is comprised by three highly differentiated genetic clusters, consistent with geographical populations of Pindos, Peristeri, and Rhodope. By detecting two male bears with Rhodopean ancestry in the western demes, we provide strong evidence for the ongoing genetic connectivity of the geographically fragmented eastern and western distributions, which suggests connectivity of the larger East Balkan and Pindos-Dinara populations. Total effective population size (N e) was estimated to be 199 individuals, and total combined population size (N C) was 499, with each cluster showing a relatively high level of genetic variability, suggesting that migration has been sufficient to counteract genetic erosion. The mtNDA results were congruent with the microsatellite data, and the three genetic clusters were matched predominantly with an equal number of mtDNA haplotypes that belong to the brown bear Western mitochondrial lineage (Clade 1), with two haplotypes being globally new and endemic. The detection of a fourth haplotype that belongs to the Eastern lineage (Clade 3a1) in three bears from the western distribution places the southernmost secondary contact zone between the Eastern and Western lineages in Greece and generates new hypotheses about postglacial maxima migration routes. This work indicates that the genetic composition and diversity of Europe's low-latitude fringe population are the outcome of ancient and historical events and highlight its importance for the connectivity and long-term persistence of the species in the Balkans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charilaos Pylidis
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilityDepartment of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldUK
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation SocietyThessalonikiGreece
| | - Peeter Anijalg
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Urmas Saarma
- Department of ZoologyInstitute of Ecology and Earth SciencesUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
| | - Deborah A. Dawson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilityDepartment of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldUK
| | - Nikoleta Karaiskou
- Department of Genetics, Developmental and Molecular BiologySchool of BiologyAristotle University of ThessalonikiThessalonikiGreece
| | - Roger Butlin
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Yorgos Mertzanis
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation SocietyThessalonikiGreece
| | | | | | - Andrew Krupa
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Terence A. Burke
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis FacilityDepartment of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldUK
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Frank SC, Pelletier F, Kopatz A, Bourret A, Garant D, Swenson JE, Eiken HG, Hagen SB, Zedrosser A. Harvest is associated with the disruption of social and fine-scale genetic structure among matrilines of a solitary large carnivore. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1023-1035. [PMID: 33897818 PMCID: PMC8061280 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Harvest can disrupt wildlife populations by removing adults with naturally high survival. This can reshape sociospatial structure, genetic composition, fitness, and potentially affect evolution. Genetic tools can detect changes in local, fine-scale genetic structure (FGS) and assess the interplay between harvest-caused social and FGS in populations. We used data on 1614 brown bears, Ursus arctos, genotyped with 16 microsatellites, to investigate whether harvest intensity (mean low: 0.13 from 1990 to 2005, mean high: 0.28 from 2006 to 2011) caused changes in FGS among matrilines (8 matrilines; 109 females ≥4 years of age), sex-specific survival and putative dispersal distances, female spatial genetic autocorrelation, matriline persistence, and male mating patterns. Increased harvest decreased FGS of matrilines. Female dispersal distances decreased, and male reproductive success was redistributed more evenly. Adult males had lower survival during high harvest, suggesting that higher male turnover caused this redistribution and helped explain decreased structure among matrilines, despite shorter female dispersal distances. Adult female survival and survival probability of both mother and daughter were lower during high harvest, indicating that matriline persistence was also lower. Our findings indicate a crucial role of regulated harvest in shaping populations, decreasing differences among "groups," even for solitary-living species, and potentially altering the evolutionary trajectory of wild populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane C. Frank
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental HealthUniversity of South‐Eastern NorwayTelemarkNorway
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de BiologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | | | - Audrey Bourret
- Département de BiologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | - Dany Garant
- Département de BiologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | - Jon E. Swenson
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource ManagementNorwegian University of Life SciencesÅsNorway
| | | | | | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental HealthUniversity of South‐Eastern NorwayTelemarkNorway
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game ManagementUniversity of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesViennaAustria
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Bombieri G, Penteriani V, Delgado MDM, Groff C, Pedrotti L, Jerina K. Towards understanding bold behaviour of large carnivores: the case of brown bears in human‐modified landscapes. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G. Bombieri
- MUSE ‐ Museo delle Scienze Sezione Zoologia dei Vertebrati Trento Italy
| | - V Penteriani
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, CSIC‐UO‐PA) Oviedo University ‐ Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
| | - M. del Mar Delgado
- Research Unit of Biodiversity (UMIB, CSIC‐UO‐PA) Oviedo University ‐ Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
| | - C. Groff
- Forest and Wildlife Service Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Italy
| | - L. Pedrotti
- Forest and Wildlife Service Provincia Autonoma di Trento Trento Italy
| | - K. Jerina
- University of Ljubljana Biotechnical Faculty Ljubljana Slovenia
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Cimatti M, Ranc N, Benítez‐López A, Maiorano L, Boitani L, Cagnacci F, Čengić M, Ciucci P, Huijbregts MAJ, Krofel M, López‐Bao JV, Selva N, Andren H, Bautista C, Ćirović D, Hemmingmoore H, Reinhardt I, Marenče M, Mertzanis Y, Pedrotti L, Trbojević I, Zetterberg A, Zwijacz‐Kozica T, Santini L. Large carnivore expansion in Europe is associated with human population density and land cover changes. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Cimatti
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Faculty of Science Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” “La Sapienza” University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Nathan Ranc
- Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Department Harvard University Cambridge MA USA
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology Research and Innovation Centre Fondazione Edmund Mach Trento Italy
| | - Ana Benítez‐López
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Faculty of Science Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Integrative Ecology Group Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Sevilla Spain
| | - Luigi Maiorano
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” “La Sapienza” University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Luigi Boitani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” “La Sapienza” University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Francesca Cagnacci
- Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology Research and Innovation Centre Fondazione Edmund Mach Trento Italy
| | - Mirza Čengić
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Faculty of Science Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Paolo Ciucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” “La Sapienza” University of Rome Rome Italy
| | - Mark A. J. Huijbregts
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Faculty of Science Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
| | - Miha Krofel
- Department for Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana Ljubljana Slovenia
| | | | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - Henrik Andren
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Carlos Bautista
- Institute of Nature Conservation Polish Academy of Sciences Kraków Poland
| | - Duško Ćirović
- Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade Belgrade Serbia
| | - Heather Hemmingmoore
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Ilka Reinhardt
- LUPUS – German Institute for Wolf Monitoring and Research Spreewitz Germany
| | | | - Yorgos Mertzanis
- Callisto – Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society Thessaloniki Greece
| | - Luca Pedrotti
- Forest and Wildlife Service Provincia di Trento Italy
| | - Igor Trbojević
- Faculty of Sciences University of Banja Luka Banja Luka Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Faculty of Ecology Independent University of Banja Luka Banja Luka Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | | | | | - Luca Santini
- Department of Environmental Science Institute for Wetland and Water Research Faculty of Science Radboud University Nijmegen The Netherlands
- Institute of Research on Terrestrial Ecosystems National Research Council Montelibretti Italy
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25
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The role of the brown bear Ursus arctos as a legitimate megafaunal seed disperser. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1282. [PMID: 33446727 PMCID: PMC7809135 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-80440-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Megafaunal frugivores can consume large amounts of fruits whose seeds may be dispersed over long distances, thus, affecting plant regeneration processes and ecosystem functioning. We investigated the role of brown bears (Ursus arctos) as legitimate megafaunal seed dispersers. We assessed the quantity component of seed dispersal by brown bears across its entire distribution based on information about both the relative frequency of occurrence and species composition of fleshy fruits in the diet of brown bears extracted from the literature. We assessed the quality component of seed dispersal based on germination experiments for 11 fleshy-fruited plant species common in temperate and boreal regions and frequently eaten by brown bears. Across its distribution, fleshy fruits, on average, represented 24% of the bear food items and 26% of the total volume consumed. Brown bears consumed seeds from at least 101 fleshy-fruited plant species belonging to 24 families and 42 genera, of which Rubus (Rosaceae) and Vaccinium (Ericaceae) were most commonly eaten. Brown bears inhabiting Mediterranean forests relied the most on fleshy fruits and consumed the largest number of species per study area. Seeds ingested by bears germinated at higher percentages than those from whole fruits, and at similar percentages than manually depulped seeds. We conclude that brown bears are legitimate seed dispersers as they consume large quantities of seeds that remain viable after gut passage. The decline of these megafaunal frugivores may compromise seed dispersal services and plant regeneration processes.
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26
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A dispersing bear in Białowieża Forest raises important ecological and conservation management questions for the central European lowlands. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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27
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Noonan MJ, Fleming CH, Tucker MA, Kays R, Harrison A, Crofoot MC, Abrahms B, Alberts SC, Ali AH, Altmann J, Antunes PC, Attias N, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Bidner LR, Blaum N, Boone RB, Caillaud D, de Paula RC, de la Torre JA, Dekker J, DePerno CS, Farhadinia M, Fennessy J, Fichtel C, Fischer C, Ford A, Goheen JR, Havmøller RW, Hirsch BT, Hurtado C, Isbell LA, Janssen R, Jeltsch F, Kaczensky P, Kaneko Y, Kappeler P, Katna A, Kauffman M, Koch F, Kulkarni A, LaPoint S, Leimgruber P, Macdonald DW, Markham AC, McMahon L, Mertes K, Moorman CE, Morato RG, Moßbrucker AM, Mourão G, O'Connor D, Oliveira‐Santos LGR, Pastorini J, Patterson BD, Rachlow J, Ranglack DH, Reid N, Scantlebury DM, Scott DM, Selva N, Sergiel A, Songer M, Songsasen N, Stabach JA, Stacy‐Dawes J, Swingen MB, Thompson JJ, Ullmann W, Vanak AT, Thaker M, Wilson JW, Yamazaki K, Yarnell RW, Zieba F, Zwijacz‐Kozica T, Fagan WF, Mueller T, Calabrese JM. Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:1017-1028. [PMID: 32362060 PMCID: PMC7496598 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Accurately quantifying species' area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home-range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross-validation to quantify bias in empirical home-range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation-induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home-range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Noonan
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Christen H. Fleming
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Marlee A. Tucker
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungSenckenberganlage 25Frankfurt (Main)60325Germany
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
- Department of Environmental ScienceInstitute for Wetland and Water ResearchRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NijmegenGLNL‐6500The Netherlands
| | - Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesBiodiversity LabRaleighNC27601U.S.A.
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Autumn‐Lynn Harrison
- Migratory Bird CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonD.C.20013U.S.A.
| | - Margaret C. Crofoot
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboa Ancon0843‐03092Republic of Panama
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Environmental Research DivisionNOAA Southwest Fisheries Science CenterMontereyCA93940U.S.A.
| | - Susan C. Alberts
- Departments of Biology and Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708U.S.A.
| | | | - Jeanne Altmann
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionPrinceton University106A Guyot HallPrincetonNJ08544U.S.A.
| | - Pamela Castro Antunes
- Department of EcologyFederal University of Mato Grosso do SulCampo GrandeMS79070–900Brazil
| | - Nina Attias
- Programa de Pós‐Graduaçao em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do SulCidade UniversitáriaAv. Costa e SilvaCampo GrandeMato Grosso do Sul79070‐900Brazil
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Camp Fire Program in Wildlife Conservation, State University of New YorkCollege of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNY13210U.S.A.
| | - Dean E. Beyer
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources1990 U.S. 41 SouthMarquetteMI49855U.S.A.
| | - Laura R. Bidner
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Mpala Research CentreNanyuki555–104000Kenya
| | - Niels Blaum
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Randall B. Boone
- Natural Resource Ecology LaboratoryColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523U.S.A.
- Department of Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523U.S.A.
| | - Damien Caillaud
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
| | - Rogerio Cunha de Paula
- National Research Center for Carnivores ConservationChico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of BiodiversityEstrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600AtibaiaSP12952‐011Brazil
| | - J. Antonio de la Torre
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico and CONACyTCiudad UniversitariaMexicoD.F.04318Mexico
| | - Jasja Dekker
- Jasja Dekker DierecologieEnkhuizenstraat 26ArnhemWZ6843The Netherlands
| | - Christopher S. DePerno
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Mohammad Farhadinia
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordTubney House, OxfordshireOxfordOX13 5QLU.K.
- Future4Leopards FoundationTehranIran
| | | | - Claudia Fichtel
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Christina Fischer
- Restoration Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem ManagementTechnische Universität MünchenEmil‐Ramann‐Straße 6Freising85354Germany
| | - Adam Ford
- The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, Unit 2: BiologyThe University of British ColumbiaOkanagan Campus, SCI 109, 1177 Research RoadKelownaBCV1V 1V7Canada
| | - Jacob R. Goheen
- Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWY82071U.S.A.
| | | | - Ben T. Hirsch
- Zoology and Ecology, College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLD4811Australia
| | - Cindy Hurtado
- Museo de Historia NaturalUniversidad Nacional Mayor de San MarcosLima15072Peru
- Department of Forest Resources ManagementThe University of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
| | - Lynne A. Isbell
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Mpala Research CentreNanyuki555–104000Kenya
| | - René Janssen
- Bionet NatuuronderzoekValderstraat 39Stein6171ELThe Netherlands
| | - Florian Jeltsch
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Petra Kaczensky
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research — NINASluppenTrondheimNO‐7485Norway
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary MedicineSavoyenstraße 1ViennaA‐1160Austria
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyTokyo183–8509Japan
| | - Peter Kappeler
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Anjan Katna
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
- Manipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnataka576104India
| | - Matthew Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWY82071U.S.A.
| | - Flavia Koch
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Abhijeet Kulkarni
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
| | - Scott LaPoint
- Max Planck Institute for OrnithologyVogelwarte RadolfzellAm Obstberg 1RadolfzellD‐78315Germany
- Black Rock Forest65 Reservoir RoadCornwallNY12518U.S.A.
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordTubney House, OxfordshireOxfordOX13 5QLU.K.
| | | | - Laura McMahon
- Office of Applied ScienceDepartment of Natural ResourcesRhinelanderWI54501U.S.A.
| | - Katherine Mertes
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Christopher E. Moorman
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Ronaldo G. Morato
- National Research Center for Carnivores ConservationChico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of BiodiversityEstrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600AtibaiaSP12952‐011Brazil
- Institute for the Conservation of Neotropical Carnivores – Pró‐CarnívorosAtibaiaSao Paulo12945‐010Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme Mourão
- Embrapa PantanalRua 21 de setembro 1880Corumb´aMS79320–900Brazil
| | - David O'Connor
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
- San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research15600 San Pasqual Valley RoadEscondidoCA92027U.S.A.
- National Geographic Partners1145 17th Street NWWashingtonD.C.20036U.S.A.
| | | | - Jennifer Pastorini
- Centre for Conservation and Research26/7 C2 Road, KodigahawewaJulpallamaTissamaharama82600Sri Lanka
- Anthropologisches InstitutUniversität ZürichWinterthurerstrasse 190Zurich8057Switzerland
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Integrative Research CenterField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoIL60605U.S.A.
| | - Janet Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of Idaho875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136MoscowID83844‐1136U.S.A.
| | - Dustin H. Ranglack
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyKearneyNE68849U.S.A.
| | - Neil Reid
- Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT9 5DLU.K.
| | - David M. Scantlebury
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University Belfast19 Chlorine GardensBelfastNorthern IrelandBT9 5DLU.K.
| | - Dawn M. Scott
- School of Life SciencesKeele UniversityKeeleStaffordshireST5 5BGU.K.
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesMickiewicza 33Krakow31–120Poland
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesMickiewicza 33Krakow31–120Poland
| | - Melissa Songer
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Nucharin Songsasen
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Jared A. Stabach
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Jenna Stacy‐Dawes
- San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research15600 San Pasqual Valley RoadEscondidoCA92027U.S.A.
| | - Morgan B. Swingen
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
- 1854 Treaty Authority4428 Haines RoadDuluthMN55811U.S.A.
| | - Jeffrey J. Thompson
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay – CONACYTParque Ecológico Asunción VerdeAsuncion1101Paraguay
- Instituto SaiteCoronel Felix Cabrera 166Asuncion1101Paraguay
| | - Wiebke Ullmann
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Abi Tamim Vanak
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
- Wellcome Trust/DBT India AllianceHyderabad500034India
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalWestvilleDurban4041South Africa
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangalore560012India
| | - John W. Wilson
- Department of Zoology & EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoria0002South Africa
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Ibaraki Nature MuseumZoological Laboratory700 OsakiBando‐cityIbaraki306–0622Japan
- Forest Ecology LaboratoryDepartment of Forest ScienceTokyo University of Agriculture1‐1‐1 SakuragaokaSetagaya‐KuTokyo156–8502Japan
| | - Richard W. Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental SciencesNottingham Trent UniversityBrackenhurst CampusSouthwellNG25 0QFU.K.
| | - Filip Zieba
- Tatra National ParkKúznice 1Zakopane34–500Poland
| | | | - William F. Fagan
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungSenckenberganlage 25Frankfurt (Main)60325Germany
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
| | - Justin M. Calabrese
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
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28
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Abstract
AbstractMammals usually adjust behavioral patterns when exposed to disturbances. Elusiveness and low-risk time selection may reduce their stress in periods of highest risk. In Europe, brown bears (Ursus arctos) coexist with humans in densely populated and modified landscapes and, consequently, are exposed to human-caused disturbances during the daytime hours. Furthermore, intraspecific interactions might also influence their behavioral responses, especially during the mating season. Activity patterns of several large carnivores have been thoroughly studied; however, research is scarce for relocated populations. Here, we report the activity patterns in the reintroduced brown bear population in the Pyrenees. We expected the bears to reduce their activity depending on the type and level of disturbances. We analyzed individual behavior of both sexes (males, solitary females, and females with offspring) and age groups (adults and subadults) using camera-trap surveys under different types of intraspecific and anthropogenic disturbances. In general, bears were more active during the night (2200–0600 h) and avoided peaks of human activity (1000–1800 h). Furthermore, with the increasing nocturnal disturbance of adult males during the mating season, females with offspring and subadults were more active during daylight. This suggests that vulnerable individuals showed high tolerance for human presence. These results contribute to improve our knowledge of how a threatened and relocated bear population behaves in a human-modified landscape of southern Europe. Further research on this population will be crucial to establish optimal management interventions during translocations, and the prevention of human-bear encounters and conflicts.
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29
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Kojola I, Hallikainen V, Heikkinen S, Nivala V. Has the sex-specific structure of Finland's brown bear population changed during 21 years? WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.2981/wlb.00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ville Hallikainen
- V. Hallikainen, S. Heikkinen and V. Nivala, Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Box 16, FI-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Samuli Heikkinen
- V. Hallikainen, S. Heikkinen and V. Nivala, Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Box 16, FI-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Vesa Nivala
- V. Hallikainen, S. Heikkinen and V. Nivala, Natural Resources Institute (Luke), Box 16, FI-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland
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30
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Balkenhol N, Schwartz MK, Inman RM, Copeland JP, Squires JS, Anderson NJ, Waits LP. Landscape genetics of wolverines ( Gulo gulo): scale-dependent effects of bioclimatic, topographic, and anthropogenic variables. J Mammal 2020; 101:790-803. [PMID: 32665742 PMCID: PMC7333878 DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change can have particularly severe consequences for high-elevation species that are well-adapted to long-lasting snow conditions within their habitats. One such species is the wolverine, Gulo gulo, with several studies showing a strong, year-round association of the species with the area defined by persistent spring snow cover. This bioclimatic niche also predicts successful dispersal paths for wolverines in the contiguous United States, where the species shows low levels of genetic exchange and low effective population size. Here, we assess the influence of additional climatic, vegetative, topographic, and anthropogenic, variables on wolverine genetic structure in this region using a multivariate, multiscale, landscape genetic approach. This approach allows us to detect landscape-genetic relationships both due to typical, small-scale genetic exchange within habitat, as well as exceptional, long-distance dispersal among habitats. Results suggest that a combination of snow depth, terrain ruggedness, and housing density, best predict gene flow in wolverines, and that the relative importance of variables is scale-dependent. Environmental variables (i.e., isolation-by-resistance, IBR) were responsible for 79% of the explained variation at small scales (i.e., up to ~230 km), and 65% at broad scales (i.e., beyond ~420 km). In contrast, a null model based on only space (i.e., isolation-by-distance, IBD) accounted only for 17% and 11% of the variation at small and broad scales, respectively. Snow depth was the most important variable for predicting genetic structures overall, and at small scales, where it contributed 43% to the variance explained. At broad spatial scales, housing density and terrain ruggedness were most important with contributions to explained variation of 55% and 25%, respectively. While the small-scale analysis most likely captures gene flow within typical wolverine habitat complexes, the broad-scale analysis reflects long-distance dispersal across areas not typically inhabited by wolverines. These findings help to refine our understanding of the processes shaping wolverine genetic structure, which is important for maintaining and improving functional connectivity among remaining wolverine populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niko Balkenhol
- Wildlife Sciences, University of Goettingen, Buesgenweg, Goettingen, Germany.,Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, Univesity of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Michael K Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, E. Beckwith, Missoula, MT, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey P Copeland
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, E. Beckwith, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - John S Squires
- USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, E. Beckwith, Missoula, MT, USA
| | | | - Lisette P Waits
- Department of Fish & Wildlife Sciences, Univesity of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
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31
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Cozzi G, Behr DM, Webster HS, Claase M, Bryce CM, Modise B, Mcnutt JW, Ozgul A. African Wild Dog Dispersal and Implications for Management. J Wildl Manage 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Cozzi
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesZurich University Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Dominik M. Behr
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesZurich University Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
| | - Hugh S. Webster
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | - Megan Claase
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | - Caleb M. Bryce
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | | | - John W. Mcnutt
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | - Arpat Ozgul
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesZurich University Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH‐8057 Zürich Switzerland
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