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Gaynor KM, Abrahms B, Manlove KR, Oestreich WK, Smith JA. Anthropogenic impacts at the interface of animal spatial and social behaviour. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220527. [PMID: 39230457 PMCID: PMC11449167 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Human disturbance is contributing to widespread, global changes in the distributions and densities of wild animals. These anthropogenic impacts on wildlife arise from multiple bottom-up and top-down pathways, including habitat loss, resource provisioning, climate change, pollution, infrastructure development, hunting and our direct presence. Animal behaviour is an important mechanism linking these disturbances to population outcomes, although these behavioural pathways are often complex and can remain obscured when different aspects of behaviour are studied in isolation from one another. The spatial-social interface provides a lens for understanding how an animal's spatial and social environments interact to determine its spatial and social phenotype (i.e. measurable characteristics of an individual), and how these phenotypes interact and feed back to reshape environments. Here, we review studies of animal behaviour at the spatial-social interface to understand and predict how human disturbance affects animal movement, distribution and intraspecific interactions, with consequences for the conservation of populations and ecosystems. By understanding the spatial-social mechanisms linking human disturbance to conservation outcomes, we can better design management interventions to mitigate undesired consequences of disturbance.This article is part of the theme issue 'The spatial-social interface: a theoretical and empirical integration'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Center for Ecosystem Sentinels, Department of Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kezia R Manlove
- Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | | | - Justine A Smith
- Department of Wildlife Fish, and Conservation Biology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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2
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Wang Y, Liu M, Xia F, Li S. Human activities reshape the spatial overlap between North Chinese leopard and its wild ungulate prey. Front Zool 2024; 21:24. [PMID: 39327595 PMCID: PMC11426093 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapidly expanding human activities have profoundly changed the habitat use of both large carnivores and their prey, but whether and how human activities affect the interactions between them has received relatively less attention. In this study, we conducted a systematically designed camera-trapping survey on an endangered large carnivore (North Chinese leopard Panthera pardus japonensis) and its wild ungulate prey (Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa) in the Taihang Mountains of central North China. Using conditional two-species occupancy model based on data derived from the extensive sampling effort (15,654 camera-days at 102 camera sites), we examined the relationship of spatial use between leopards and each prey species under the effects of human presence, free-ranging cattle, roads and settlements. RESULTS Humans and cattle had contrasting effects on the relationship of spatial use between leopard and roe deer, with higher and lower spatial segregation between them at human and cattle-frequented sites, respectively. Roads might create a shelter for wild boar from leopard predation, with less spatial segregation between them at sites close to the roads. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that human activities are reshaping the spatial overlap between large carnivores and their prey, and have non-equivalent effects among different types of human activity. Such effects may further alter the strength of interspecific interactions between predator and prey, with far-reaching influences on the community and ecosystem that require more research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yidan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Mingzhang Liu
- National Natural History Museum of China, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Fan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Sheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
- Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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3
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Marin C, Werno J, LE Campion G, Couderchet L. Navigating discreetly: Spatial ecology of urban wild boar in Bordeaux City's landscape of fear, France. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 954:176436. [PMID: 39312969 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
An exemplary urban adapter, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) has successfully colonized urban ecological niches worldwide. Improvement of strategies for optimal management of urban wild boar need to gather more empirical evidence of their spatial ecology. This study is based on GPS tracking and capture-mark-recapture (CMR) of 10 and 59 wild boar, respectively, captured in Bordeaux Metropolis (France). It shows that wild boar have become urban dwellers, with intra-urban home ranges varying from 1.3 to 64.6 km2 (MCP 100 %) and from 0.5 to 9.6 km2 (KDE 95 %), depending on urban conditions. CMR results confirm the low propensity to move away from urban areas (with a mean distance of 2 km between capture and recapture sites), despite a relatively low one-year survival rate since capture (47.5 %), primarily attributable to removal efforts. Wild boar strongly depended on urban woods, mostly during daytime resting, and highly frequented urban meadows during night foraging. Their use of urban agricultural areas was minimal, but they were mostly monitored following corn and grape harvests. Wild boar mitigated the risk associated with close proximity to humans by: a nocturnal activity (72.2 % of active locations registered from sunset to sunrise), which could also be partially attributed to their sensitivity to heat; a strong use of covered habitats, especially during daytime resting and when close to buildings and roads; and a low mobility during night-time foraging (1974 m average daily distance travelled). Moreover, we demonstrate high inter- and intra-individual variability in the spatio-temporal behaviour of urban wild boar. Finally, we discuss the gap between these results and the narratives surrounding the spatial ecology of urban wild boar. Our results not only confirm the species' ability to adapt to urban environments, but also highlight their behavioural flexibility, underscoring the relevance of significant changes in representations and management activities to mitigate human-urban wild boar conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carole Marin
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Laboratoire Passages CNRS 5319, 12 Esplanade des Antilles, 33600 Pessac, France.
| | - Jérôme Werno
- Ministère de la Transition écologique et solidaire, Gironde Hunting Federation - Capet, 33290 Ludon-Médoc, France
| | - Grégoire LE Campion
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) - Laboratoire Passages CNRS 5319, 12 Esplanade des Antilles, 33600 Pessac, France.
| | - Laurent Couderchet
- Michel de Montaigne University Bordeaux 3, Geography Department, Laboratoire Passages CNRS 5319, 12 Esplanade des Antilles, 33600 Pessac, France.
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4
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Chen F, Jiang F, Ma J, Alghamdi MA, Zhu Y, Yong JWH. Intersecting planetary health: Exploring the impacts of environmental stressors on wildlife and human health. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 283:116848. [PMID: 39116691 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
This comprehensive review articulates critical insights into the nexus of environmental stressors and their health impacts across diverse species, underscoring significant findings that reveal profound effects on both wildlife and human health systems. Central to our examination is the role of pollutants, climate variables, and pathogens in contributing to complex disease dynamics and physiological disruptions, with particular emphasis on immune and endocrine functions. This research brings to light emerging evidence on the severe implications of environmental pressures on a variety of taxa, including predatory mammals, raptorial birds, seabirds, fish, and humans, which are pivotal as indicators of broader ecosystem health and stability. We delve into the nuanced interplay between environmental degradation and zoonotic diseases, highlighting novel intersections that pose significant risks to biodiversity and human populations. The review critically evaluates current methodologies and advances in understanding the morphological, histopathological, and biochemical responses of these organisms to environmental stressors. We discuss the implications of our findings for conservation strategies, advocating for a more integrated approach that incorporates the dynamics of zoonoses and pollution control. This synthesis not only contributes to the academic discourse but also aims to influence policy by aligning with the Global Goals for Sustainable Development. It underscores the urgent need for sustainable interactions between humans and their environments, which are critical for preserving biodiversity and ensuring global health security. By presenting a detailed analysis of the interdependencies between environmental stressors and biological health, this review highlights significant gaps in current research and provides a foundation for future studies aimed at mitigating these pressing issues. Our study is significant as it proposes integrative and actionable strategies to address the challenges at the intersection of environmental change and public health, marking a crucial step forward in planetary health science.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Chen
- School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Feifei Jiang
- School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Jing Ma
- School of Public Administration, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Mohammed A Alghamdi
- Department of Laboratory & Blood Bank, Security Forces Hospital, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Yanfeng Zhu
- School of Environment and Spatial Informatics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221000, China.
| | - Jean Wan Hong Yong
- Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp 23456, Sweden.
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5
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Gutiérrez-Granados G, Torres-Beltrán UC, Castellanos-Moguel J, Rodríguez-Moreno Á, Sánchez-Cordero V. Fungal and bat diversities along a landscape gradient in central Mexico. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0310235. [PMID: 39250470 PMCID: PMC11383230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310235] [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: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Species interactions between bats and fungi are poorly known. We documented the association between fungal and bat diversities along a landscape gradient. Ten, eight, and seven bat species were captured in conserved, semi-conserved, and urban sites, respectively. Eptesicus fuscus, Myotis ciliolabrum and Corynorhinus townsendii were the most abundant in conserved and semi-conserved sites. E. fuscus, Myotis velifer, and Lasiurus cinereus were abundant in urban sites. C. townsendii was the least abundant bat. A total of 15 cultivated fungi genera included the fungal diversity in bats, of which nine fungi genera were shared along the landscape gradient. Penicillium and Aspergillus were the most abundant genera, and Aureobasidium, Bispora, Stachybotrys, and Verticillium were only documented in the conserved sites. We observed a higher fungal diversity associated with bat species along this landscape gradient. The individual site-based accumulation curves of fungal diversity showed significant decreasing values along the conserved, semi-conserved, and urban sites, respectively. In conserved and urban sites, M. californicus and M. velifer showed the highest fungal diversity, respectively. E. fuscus was associated to the fungi genera Scopulariopsis, Alternaria, Penicillium and Beauveria; L. cinereus to Cladosporium and Aspergillus, and M. velifer to Alternaria sp1, Bispora and Trichoderma. Conserved sites showed both high bat and fungal diversities [species richness and abundance] compared to semi-conserved and urban sites. More studies associating bat and fungal diversities in other ecosystems are needed to corroborate this pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Gutiérrez-Granados
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, UMIEZ, UNAM, Batalla 5 de mayo s/n esquina Fuerte de Loreto, Col. Ejército de Oriente, CDMX, Iztapalapa, México
| | - Uriel C Torres-Beltrán
- Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza, UMIEZ, UNAM, Batalla 5 de mayo s/n esquina Fuerte de Loreto, Col. Ejército de Oriente, CDMX, Iztapalapa, México
| | - Judith Castellanos-Moguel
- Departamento El Hombre y Su Ambiente, Laboratorio de Micología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, CDMX, Mexico City, México
| | - Ángel Rodríguez-Moreno
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Pabellón Nacional de la Biodiversidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico City, México
| | - Víctor Sánchez-Cordero
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Pabellón Nacional de la Biodiversidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico City, México
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6
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Mukherjee I, Bhat A. The impact of predators and vegetation on shoaling in wild zebrafish. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240760. [PMID: 39323559 PMCID: PMC11421927 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
In their natural habitats, animals experience multiple ecological factors and regulate their social responses accordingly. To unravel the impact of two ecological factors on the immediate behavioural response of groups, we conducted experiments on wild zebrafish shoals in arenas with vegetation, predator cues, and both factors simultaneously or neither (control treatments). Analysis of 297 trials revealed that while shoals formed significantly larger subgroups in the presence of predator cues, their subgroup size was comparable to control treatments when they faced predator cues and vegetation. Shoals were highly polarized in open arenas, in the absence of either ecological factors and in the presence of predator cues (with/without vegetation). The presence of vegetation alone, however, significantly reduced shoal polarization. Furthermore, food intake was significantly reduced when predator cues and/or vegetation were present. Tracking individuals revealed that (i) individuals within shoals receiving predator cues had a significantly higher probability to continue being in a group compared with control treatments and (ii) individuals occupying the front positions deviated less from their median position within a shoal as compared with other individuals regardless of predator cues. The adaptability of animals depends on behavioural responses to changing environments, making this study significant in the context of environmental changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
| | - Anuradha Bhat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal 741246, India
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7
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Picardi S, Frederick P, Basille M. Fitness consequences of anthropogenic subsidies for a partially migratory wading bird. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241530. [PMID: 39317314 PMCID: PMC11421930 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human activities are forcing wildlife to confront selective pressures different from those under which they evolved. In seasonal environments, migration evolved as an adaptation to fluctuating resource availability. Anthropogenic subsidies modify resource dynamics by providing a steady food source that is not subject to seasonality. Globally, many migratory populations are becoming increasingly resident in response to food supplementation. While these population-level shifts are assumed to arise from changing fitness consequences of individual behaviour in response to resource dynamics, these mechanisms are often difficult to quantify and disentangle. Here, we quantified fitness consequences of responses to anthropogenic subsidies in partially migratory wood storks (Mycteria americana) in the heavily urbanized southeastern United States. First, we tested whether individual migratory behaviour is linked to different responses to anthropogenic subsidies. Second, we quantified fitness consequences of these behavioural responses. We found that, in our system, migration and residency are alternative behavioural tactics associated with different responses to food supplementation. In turn, the use of anthropogenic resources alters a fitness component by enhancing nest survival. These results provide a mechanistic examination of how animals may respond to human-modified resource dynamics and how fitness consequences of individual tactics may translate into behavioural shifts at the population level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Picardi
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA
| | - Peter Frederick
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Mathieu Basille
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL, USA
- PatriNat (OFB, MNHN), Pérols34470, France
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8
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Bransford TD, Harris SA, Forys EA. Seasonal Variation in Mammalian Mesopredator Spatiotemporal Overlap on a Barrier Island Complex. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2431. [PMID: 39199963 PMCID: PMC11350757 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to lack of apex predators in human-dominated landscapes, mesopredator relationships are complex and spatiotemporal niche partitioning strategies can vary, especially when seasonal shifts in resource availability occur. Our objective was to understand spatiotemporal niche overlap across seasons among mesopredators inhabiting a barrier island complex. We placed 19 unbaited cameras throughout Fort De Soto County Park, Florida, USA between February 2021 and July 2023. Of six mesopredator species detected, three species had >75 detections during both the wet and dry seasons (coyote, Canis latrans; Virginia opossum, Didelphis virginiana; and raccoon, Procyon lotor). Using general linear mixed models, we determined that during the wet season coyote-raccoon and raccoon-opossum detections were positively associated with each other (p < 0.05). During the dry season, raccoon-opossum detections were positively associated, and opossums were more likely to be detected around mangroves. After calculating coefficients of overlap, we found all three species varied their temporal activity between seasons. During the dry season exclusively, all three mesopredators occupied different temporal niches. The park's isolated but developed nature has potentially led to a destabilized mesopredator community. Understanding seasonal mesopredator dynamics of Fort De Soto is particularly important because this park supports a high number of nesting shorebirds and sea turtles, which are known food sources for mesopredators.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Spencer A. Harris
- Animal Studies Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
- Economics Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
- Environmental Studies Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Forys
- Environmental Studies Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
- Biology Discipline, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, USA
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9
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Michelangeli M, Martin JM, Robson S, Cerveny D, Walsh R, Richmond EK, Grace MR, Brand JA, Bertram MG, Ho SSY, Brodin T, Wong BBM. Pharmaceutical Pollution Alters the Structure of Freshwater Communities and Hinders Their Recovery from a Fish Predator. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:13904-13917. [PMID: 39049184 PMCID: PMC11308527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c02807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Freshwater ecosystems are under threat from rising pharmaceutical pollution. While such pollutants are known to elicit biological effects on organisms, we have limited knowledge on how these effects might cascade through food-webs, disrupt ecological processes, and shape freshwater communities. In this study, we used a mesocosm experiment to explore how the community impacts of a top-order predator, the eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), are mediated by exposure to environmentally relevant low (measured concentration: ∼10 ng/L) and high concentrations (∼110 ng/L) of the pervasive pharmaceutical pollutant fluoxetine. We found no evidence that exposure to fluoxetine altered the consumptive effects of mosquitofish on zooplankton. However, once mosquitofish were removed from the mesocosms, zooplankton abundance recovered to a greater extent in control mesocosms compared to both low and high fluoxetine-exposed mesocosms. By the end of the experiment, this resulted in fundamental differences in community structure between the control and fluoxetine-treated mesocosms. Specifically, the control mesocosms were characterized by higher zooplankton abundances and lower algal biomass, whereas mesocosms exposed to either low or high concentrations of fluoxetine had lower zooplankton abundances and higher algal biomass. Our results suggest that fluoxetine, even at very low concentrations, can alter aquatic communities and hinder their recovery from disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Michelangeli
- School
of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan 4111, Australia
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Jake M. Martin
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
- Department
of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Stephanie Robson
- Water
Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash
University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Daniel Cerveny
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- University
of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection
of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center
of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Zatisi 728/II, Vodnany 389 25, Czech Republic
| | - Robert Walsh
- Australian
Waterlife, 55 Vaughan
Chase, Wyndham Vale, Victoria 3024, Australia
| | - Erinn K. Richmond
- Environmental
Protection Authority Victoria, EPA Science, Macleod, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Michael R. Grace
- Water
Studies Centre, School of Chemistry, Monash
University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Jack A. Brand
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, U.K.
| | - Michael G. Bertram
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
- Department
of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm 114 18, Sweden
| | - Susie S. Y. Ho
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department
of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå 901 83, Sweden
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School
of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne 3800, Australia
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10
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Gaynor KM, Green JR. Wildlife ecology: The scary sounds of recreation. Curr Biol 2024; 34:R736-R738. [PMID: 39106832 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
When recreating outdoors in remote landscapes, people are encouraged to "leave no trace". However, the mere presence of humans on a trail can elicit changes in animal behavior, potentially compromising the effectiveness of protected areas for wildlife conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - Jennifer R Green
- Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
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11
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Luo T, Li L, Wang Q, Liu W, Guo J, Yan Y, Chris N, Zhou Y, Zhao J. The changes in zoological publication rates and focal subdisciplines between 1960 and 2022. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 39075983 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Since ancient times, zoology, as the branch of biology dealing with animals, has been a cornerstone of natural science and has developed substantially over the last century. We conducted a bibliometric analysis using structural topic modeling (STM) to determine changes in the representation of principal zoological subdisciplines in the literature between 1960 and 2022. We collated a corpus of 217 414 articles from 88 top-ranked zoology journals and identified three main fields: (i) ecology, (ii) evolution, and (iii) applied research. Within these, we identified 10 major subdisciplines. The number of studies published per year grew from 118 in 1960 to 6635 in 2022. Macroscale-related subdisciplines increased while classical and traditional subdisciplines decreased. Mammals (34.4%) and insects (18.1%) were the dominant taxa covered, followed by birds (15.2%) and fish (8.0%). Research on mammals, insects, and fish involved a broad range of subdisciplines, whereas studies of birds focused on ecological subdisciplines. Most publications were from the United States, followed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, China, and Japan, with two developing countries, China and South Africa among the top 15 countries. There were different subdiscipline biases between countries, and the gross domestic product of each country correlated positively with its publication output (R2 = 0.681). We discuss our findings in the context of advances in technological innovations and computing power, as well as the emergence of ecology as a formal sister discipline, driven by changing environmental pressures and societal values. We caution that valuable publications from traditional zoological fields must not be completely supplanted by more contemporary topics and increasingly sophisticated analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianbao Luo
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Liyu Li
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Wentong Liu
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Jinyu Guo
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Yimei Yan
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Newman Chris
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Youbing Zhou
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Center of Ecological Conservation and Management in Three Gorges Area, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
| | - Jin Zhao
- College of Biological & Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
- Hubei International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Center of Ecological Conservation and Management in Three Gorges Area, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, China
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12
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Marion S, Curveira Santos G, Herdman E, Hubbs A, Kearney SP, Burton AC. Mammal responses to human recreation depend on landscape context. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300870. [PMID: 39024232 PMCID: PMC11257333 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Rapid growth in outdoor recreation may have important and varied effects on terrestrial mammal communities. Few studies have investigated factors influencing variation in observed responses of multiple mammal species to recreation. We used data from 155 camera traps, in western Alberta (Canada), and a hierarchical Bayesian community modelling framework to document 15 mammal species responses to recreation, test for differential responses between predators and prey, and evaluate the influence of local context. Factors characterizing context were trail designation (i.e., use by motorized vs non-motorized), management type, forest cover, landscape disturbance, and season. We used three measures to characterize variation in recreation pressure: distance to trail, trail density, and an index of recreation intensity derived from the platform Strava. We found limited evidence for strong or consistent effects of recreation on mammal space use. However, mammal space use was better explained by an interaction between recreation and the influencing factors than by either on their own. The strongest interaction was between trail density and management type; mammals were more likely to avoid sites near a higher density of trails in areas with more restrictive management. We found that responses to recreation varied with the trail designation, although there were not clear or consistent differences between responses to trails designated for motorized vs. non-motorized use. Overall, we found that responses were species- and context-dependent. Limiting the density of trails may be important for reducing negative impacts to mammals within conservation areas. We show that using multiple measures of recreation yields more insight into the varied effects of human disturbances on wildlife. We recommend investigating how different characteristics of recreation (noise, speed, and visibility) influence animal behaviors. Multispecies monitoring and modelling across multiple landscapes that vary in recreation pressure can lead to an adaptive management approach to ensuring outdoor recreation coexistence with wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Solène Marion
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- JNCC, Inverdee House, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Gonçalo Curveira Santos
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- CIBIO—Research Center in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, InBIO Associated Laboratory, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Anne Hubbs
- Resource Stewardship, Environment and Protected Areas, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sean Patrick Kearney
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - A. Cole Burton
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Biodiversity Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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13
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Li X, Bleisch WV, Hu W, Li Q, Wang H, Chen Z, Bai R, Jiang XL. Human disturbance increases spatiotemporal associations among mountain forest terrestrial mammal species. eLife 2024; 12:RP92457. [PMID: 38949865 PMCID: PMC11216745 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial and temporal associations between sympatric species underpin biotic interactions, structure ecological assemblages, and sustain ecosystem functioning and stability. However, the resilience of interspecific spatiotemporal associations to human activity remains poorly understood, particularly in mountain forests where anthropogenic impacts are often pervasive. Here, we applied context-dependent Joint Species Distribution Models to a systematic camera-trap survey dataset from a global biodiversity hotspot in eastern Himalayas to understand how prominent human activities in mountain forests influence species associations within terrestrial mammal communities. We obtained 10,388 independent detections of 17 focal species (12 carnivores and five ungulates) from 322 stations over 43,163 camera days of effort. We identified a higher incidence of positive associations in habitats with higher levels of human modification (87%) and human presence (83%) compared to those located in habitats with lower human modification (64%) and human presence (65%) levels. We also detected a significant reduction of pairwise encounter time at increasing levels of human disturbance, corresponding to more frequent encounters between pairs of species. Our findings indicate that human activities can push mammals together into more frequent encounters and associations, which likely influences the coexistence and persistence of wildlife, with potential far-ranging ecological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueyou Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - William V Bleisch
- China Exploration and Research Society, 2707-08 SouthMark, Wong Chuk HangHong KongChina
| | - Wenqiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Quan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Hongjiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Zhongzheng Chen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of the Conservation and Exploitation of Biological Resources, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal UniversityWuhuChina
| | - Ru Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
| | - Xue-Long Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecological Conservation of Gaoligong Mountain, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of SciencesKunmingChina
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14
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Williams TJ, Reed AJ, Peck LS, Godbold JA, Solan M. Ocean warming and acidification adjust inter- and intra-specific variability in the functional trait expression of polar invertebrates. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14985. [PMID: 38951669 PMCID: PMC11217501 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65808-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is known to affect the distribution and composition of species, but concomitant alterations to functionally important aspects of behaviour and species-environment relations are poorly constrained. Here, we examine the ecosystem ramifications of changes in sediment-dwelling invertebrate bioturbation behaviour-a key process mediating nutrient cycling-associated with near-future environmental conditions (+ 1.5 °C, 550 ppm [pCO2]) for species from polar regions experiencing rapid rates of climate change. We find that responses to warming and acidification vary between species and lead to a reduction in intra-specific variability in behavioural trait expression that adjusts the magnitude and direction of nutrient concentrations. Our analyses also indicate that species behaviour is not predetermined, but can be dependent on local variations in environmental history that set population capacities for phenotypic plasticity. We provide evidence that certain, but subtle, aspects of inter- and intra-specific variation in behavioural trait expression, rather than the presence or proportional representation of species per se, is an important and under-appreciated determinant of benthic biogeochemical responses to climate change. Such changes in species behaviour may act as an early warning for impending ecological transitions associated with progressive climate forcing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Williams
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Adam J Reed
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Lloyd S Peck
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, UK
| | - Jasmin A Godbold
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Martin Solan
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Waterfront Campus, European Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
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15
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Golawski A, Charalambidou I, Golawska S. Impact of tourism on the vigilance behavior of the Cyprus rock agama (Laudakia cypriaca). Integr Zool 2024; 19:577-583. [PMID: 37515506 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Escape behavior is a common antipredator strategy among wild animals. Here, we investigated the effect of four factors on the vigilance behavior of the endemic Cyprus rock agama (Laudakia cypriaca). Flight initiation distance (FID, the minimum distance to which an observer can approach a lizard before it flees) was measured in relation to the type of location (tourist vs. nontourist area), the observer's starting distance, air temperature, and substrate temperature. We collected data for 39 agamas in tourist areas and 34 of these lizards in nontourist areas. As a whole, the mean starting distance was 10.5 m and the FID was 3.6 m. The average substrate temperature was 34.0°C and the average air temperature 29.6°C. Only the type of area affected the agamas' escape decisions with FID being 1.8 m shorter in tourist areas than in nontourist areas (2.7 m vs. 4.5 m). This is probably due to the habituation of lizards to the presence of humans in the former areas. This study shows that tourism strongly affects the behavior of lizards, which may have consequences for the functioning of the population. Tourists can increase the safety of lizards by creating a human shield to deter predators. Once the tourist season is over, lizards may become more vulnerable to predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artur Golawski
- Faculty of Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
| | - Iris Charalambidou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Sylwia Golawska
- Faculty of Sciences, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Siedlce, Poland
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16
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Sheppard CE, Boström-Einarsson L, Williams GJ, Exton DA, Keith SA. Variation in farming damselfish behaviour creates a competitive landscape of risk on coral reefs. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240035. [PMID: 38807544 PMCID: PMC11285810 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Interspecific interactions are fundamental drivers of animal space use. Yet while non-consumptive effects of predation risk on prey space use are well-known, the risk of aggressive interactions on space use of competitors is largely unknown. We apply the landscape of risk framework to competition-driven space use for the first time, with the hypothesis that less aggressive competitors may alter their behaviour to avoid areas of high competitor density. Specifically, we test how aggressive risk from territorial algal-farming damselfishes can shape the spatial distribution of herbivore fish competitors. We found that only the most aggressive damselfish had fewer competitors in their surrounding area, demonstrating that individual-level behavioural variation can shape spatial distributions. In contradiction to the landscape of risk framework, abundances of farming damselfish and other fishes were positively associated. Our results suggest that reef fishes do not simply avoid areas of high damselfish abundance, but that spatial variation in aggressive behaviour, rather than of individuals, created a competitive landscape of risk. We emphasize the importance of individual-level behaviour in identifying patterns of space use and propose expanding the landscape of risk framework to non-predatory interactions to explore cascading behavioural responses to aggressive risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dan A. Exton
- Operation Wallacea, Wallace House, Old Bolingbroke, Spilsby PE23 4EX, UK
| | - Sally A. Keith
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK
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17
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Salvatori M, Greco I, Petroni L, Massolo A, Dorigatti E, Miscioscia M, Natucci L, Oberosler V, Partel P, Pedrini P, Volcan G, Rovero F. Body mass mediates spatio-temporal responses of mammals to human frequentation across Italian protected areas. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20232874. [PMID: 38565152 PMCID: PMC10987237 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2874] [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: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Protected area (PA) networks are a pivotal tool to fight biodiversity loss, yet they often need to balance the mission of nature conservation with the socio-economic need of giving opportunity for outdoor recreation. Recreation in natural areas is important for human health in an urbanized society, but can prompt behavioural modifications in wild animals. Rarely, however, have these responses being studied across multiple PAs and using standardized methods. We deployed a systematic camera trapping protocol at over 200 sites to sample medium and large mammals in four PAs within the European Natura 2000 network to assess their spatio-temporal responses to human frequentation, proximity to towns, amount of open habitat and topographical variables. By applying multi-species and single-species models for the number of diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal detections and a multi-species model for nocturnality index, we estimated both species-specific- and meta-community-level effects, finding that increased nocturnality appeared the main strategy that the mammal meta-community used to cope with human disturbance. However, responses in the diurnal, crepuscular and nocturnal site use were mediated by species' body mass, with larger species exhibiting avoidance of humans and smaller species more opportunistic behaviours. Our results show the effectiveness of standardized sampling and provide insights for planning the expansion of PA networks as foreseen by the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Salvatori
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- MUSE—Museo delle Scienze, Corso del lavoro e della scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Ilaria Greco
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Luca Petroni
- Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Massolo
- Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
- UMR CNRS 6249 Chrono-environnement, Université Franche-Comté, Campus La Bouloie–Route de Gray, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Enrico Dorigatti
- Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di San Martino, località Castelpietra, 2, 38054 Primiero San Martino di Castrozza (TN), Italy
| | - Martina Miscioscia
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
| | - Luca Natucci
- Ethology Unit, Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via Volta 6, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Oberosler
- MUSE—Museo delle Scienze, Corso del lavoro e della scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Piergiovanni Partel
- Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di San Martino, località Castelpietra, 2, 38054 Primiero San Martino di Castrozza (TN), Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrini
- MUSE—Museo delle Scienze, Corso del lavoro e della scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - Gilberto Volcan
- Parco Naturale Paneveggio Pale di San Martino, località Castelpietra, 2, 38054 Primiero San Martino di Castrozza (TN), Italy
| | - Francesco Rovero
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, via Madonna del Piano 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
- MUSE—Museo delle Scienze, Corso del lavoro e della scienza 3, 38122 Trento, Italy
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18
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Tomita KM, Hiura T. Brown bear digging decreases tree growth: Implication for ecological role of top predators in anthropogenic landscapes. Ecology 2024; 105:e4266. [PMID: 38425026 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Large carnivores have recently increased in number and recolonized in human-dominated landscapes; however, their ecological roles in these landscapes have not been well studied. In the Shiretoko World Heritage (SWH) site, brown bears have recolonized a previously abandoned mosaic landscape of natural forests and conifer plantations after land abandonment. We previously reported that the bears had recently begun to dig for cicada nymphs in association with the creation of larch plantations. As a result, this digging activity decreased soil nutrients. To deepen the understanding of the novel ecological role of brown bears within human-modified landscapes, we examined the impacts of brown bear digging on the growth of larch trees. We found that brown bear digging decreased fine root biomass of larch, soil water, and nitrogen availability. Brown bear digging negatively affected needle nitrogen content, but not carbon isotope ratios, a water stress index of trees. Tree ring data suggest that digging negatively affected the radial growth of larches. The results imply that digging decreases tree growth due to limited soil nitrogen uptake. Our findings indicate that the ecological roles of large carnivores may differ between natural and anthropogenic landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanji M Tomita
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science Kochi University, Nankoku, Japan
| | - Tsutom Hiura
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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19
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Uchida K, Blumstein DT, Soga M. Managing wildlife tolerance to humans for ecosystem goods and services. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:248-257. [PMID: 37949796 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Many animals can vary their behaviors to better utilize anthropogenic environments. Wildlife living in highly disturbed environments often show an increased tolerance towards humans. While animal behavior can play a vital role in producing and delivering ecosystem services, we know less about how variation in wildlife tolerance to humans can influence ecosystem services. Increased tolerance to humans changes a variety of animal behaviors, and these behavioral modifications, such as changes to foraging, habitat selection, and movement, can alter the supply and flow of both ecosystem services and disservices. We highlight the need to understand the links between increased tolerance to humans and ecosystem services to develop an effective tool to enhance services while minimizing the risk of creating disservices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Uchida
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan.
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
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20
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Yang S, Liu J, Sadam A, Nahid MI, Khan RU, Liang W. Face masks in action: Birds show reduced fear responses to people wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in three Asian countries. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24970. [PMID: 38317987 PMCID: PMC10840011 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The 2019 zoonotic pandemic (COVID-19), has led to a massive global lockdown that provides a good opportunity to study how wildlife responds to changes in human activity. Wearing a mask after the COVID-19 outbreak was widely used to prevent the spread of the causative pathogen. It has been shown that tree sparrows (Passer montanus) at two sites in south China exhibit reduced fear responses to people with face masks after a period of heavy exposure to them, whereas European studies showed the opposite, with no changes in the behaviour of the birds towards mask wearers in either rural or urban areas. To further study this, from October 2021 to January 2022, we conducted a flight initiation distance (FID) survey in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Xi'an, China for a variety of field bird species by comparing the FID for researchers wearing masks to that for researchers not wearing masks to assess whether wearing masks in public places caused birds to adjust their flight response. Results from the three Asian countries showed that after a period of sustained contact with people wearing masks, in both rural and urban areas, birds were significantly more adapted to them and had a shorter FID to people wearing masks. We suggest that the rapid habituation of birds to people wearing masks with a reduced fear response could have some fitness advantage, allowing them to adapt rapidly to the new environmental conditions induced by COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Jianping Liu
- College of Biological Sciences and Engineering, North Minzu University, Yinchuan, 750021, China
| | - Asif Sadam
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Mominul Islam Nahid
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Rahmat Ullah Khan
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province, College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University, Haikou, 571158, China
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21
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Mangold M, Schwietering A, Zink J, Steinbauer MJ, Heurich M. The digitalization of outdoor recreation: Global perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for protected area management. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 352:120108. [PMID: 38244406 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The increasing popularity of digital media among protected area visitors poses challenges to protected area management. It alters the way visitors move and behave in the area, potentially increasing disturbance of nature, and it might also affect their expectation prior to the visit and their reflection on it. Simultaneously, digital media allow protected area managers to develop and implement new methods of digital visitor management (DVM). This may help to avoid conflicts and ensure compliance with rules and regulations and may have much further reaching positive consequences. Based on an online survey across 131 parks in 46 countries covering all continents, this study examined for the first time how protected areas view DVM. The results showed that the majority of park managers see digitalization as an opportunity, with 91% agreeing that it enables them to reach larger numbers of visitors and to provide real-time information. The advantage of integrating digital media into visitor monitoring was recognized. However, some park managers perceived digitalization as problematic, with 42% agreeing that it increases visitor load in sensitive areas and 40% agreeing that it leads to more off-trail activity. A clear majority of the respondents (61-91%) saw the proposed methods of DVM as effective or very effective. Accordingly, 70% of them envisioned using DVM in the future. Our findings suggest that the effects of digitalization in outdoor recreation are largely similar across the globe, with no significant influence of economic status or region. They offer insights into the potential of DVM for protected area management, but also its main obstacles. Adoption will be facilitated by increasing staff and funding for DVM. Additionally, knowledge exchange between protected areas can ease the successful implementation of new digital tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Mangold
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany.
| | - Arne Schwietering
- Bayreuth Center of Sport Science (BaySpo) and Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Julia Zink
- Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Manuel J Steinbauer
- Bayreuth Center of Sport Science (BaySpo) and Bayreuth Center of Ecology and Environmental Research (BayCEER), University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Marco Heurich
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Biology, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany; Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany; Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Koppang, NO-34, Norway
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22
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Naves-Alegre L, Sebastián-González E, Sánchez-Zapata JA. Behavioral interactions are modulated by facilitation along a heterotrophic succession. Ecology 2024; 105:e4236. [PMID: 38185477 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.4236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Competition and facilitation drive ecological succession but are often hard to quantify. In this sense, behavioral data may be a key tool to analyze interaction networks, providing insights into temporal trends in facilitation and competition processes within animal heterotrophic succession. Here, we perform the first in-depth analysis of the factors driving temporal dynamics of carcass consumption by analyzing behavioral patterns (i.e., interactions) and community dynamics metrics (i.e., species richness, abundance, turnover, and diversity) in a Neotropical scavenger guild. For this purpose, we monitored goat carcasses using automatic cameras. From 573 reviewed videos, we registered 1784 intraspecific and 624 interspecific interactions, using intraspecific and interspecific aggressions (n = 2048) as a behavioral proxy of competition intensity. Our results show that resource availability shapes behavioral interactions between vultures, with a specific effect of the different species on behavioral and competition dynamics, showing the existence of a hierarchy between species. Furthermore, behavioral processes linked to carcass opening tended to be facilitative, related to moments of higher tolerance (i.e., lower aggressiveness), thus reducing competition intensity and also affecting community structure and dynamics. This novel framework demonstrates complex ephemeral successional processes characterized by a fluctuation in facilitation and competition intensity during the consumption of an unpredictable resource linked to key ecosystem processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Naves-Alegre
- Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
| | | | - José Antonio Sánchez-Zapata
- Department of Applied Biology, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Miguel Hernández University of Elche, Elche, Spain
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23
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Thoré ESJ, Aulsebrook AE, Brand JA, Almeida RA, Brodin T, Bertram MG. Time is of the essence: The importance of considering biological rhythms in an increasingly polluted world. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002478. [PMID: 38289905 PMCID: PMC10826942 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological rhythms have a crucial role in shaping the biology and ecology of organisms. Light pollution is known to disrupt these rhythms, and evidence is emerging that chemical pollutants can cause similar disruption. Conversely, biological rhythms can influence the effects and toxicity of chemicals. Thus, by drawing insights from the extensive study of biological rhythms in biomedical and light pollution research, we can greatly improve our understanding of chemical pollution. This Essay advocates for the integration of biological rhythmicity into chemical pollution research to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how chemical pollutants affect wildlife and ecosystems. Despite historical barriers, recent experimental and technological advancements now facilitate the integration of biological rhythms into ecotoxicology, offering unprecedented, high-resolution data across spatiotemporal scales. Recognizing the importance of biological rhythms will be essential for understanding, predicting, and mitigating the complex ecological repercussions of chemical pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S. J. Thoré
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- TRANSfarm—Science, Engineering, & Technology Group, KU Leuven, Lovenjoel, Belgium
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anne E. Aulsebrook
- Department of Ornithology, Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, Seewiesen, Germany
| | - Jack A. Brand
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rafaela A. Almeida
- Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tomas Brodin
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Michael G. Bertram
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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24
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Lucon-Xiccato T, Savaşçı BB, Merola C, Benedetti E, Caioni G, Aliko V, Bertolucci C, Perugini M. Environmentally relevant concentrations of triclocarban affect behaviour, learning, and brain gene expression in fish. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166717. [PMID: 37657536 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Many chemicals spilled in aquatic ecosystems can interfere with cognitive abilities and brain functions that control fitness-related behaviour. Hence, their harmful potential may be substantially underestimated. Triclocarban (TCC), one of the most common aquatic contaminants, is known to disrupt hormonal activity, but the consequences of this action on behaviour and its underlying cognitive mechanisms are unclear. We tried to fill this knowledge gap by analysing behaviour, cognitive abilities, and brain gene expression in zebrafish larvae exposed to TCC sublethal concentrations. TCC exposure substantially decreased exploratory behaviour and response to stimulation, while it increased sociability. Additionally, TCC reduced the cognitive performance of zebrafish in a habituation learning task. In the brain of TCC-exposed zebrafish, we found upregulation of c-fos, a gene involved in neural activity, and downregulation of bdnf, a gene that influences behavioural and cognitive traits such as activity, learning, and memory. Overall, our experiments highlight consistent effects of non-lethal TCC concentrations on behaviour, cognitive abilities, and brain functioning in a teleost fish, suggesting critical fitness consequences of these compounds in aquatic ecosystems as well as the potential to affect human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Beste Başak Savaşçı
- Unit of Evolutionary Biology/Systematic Zoology, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany; Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Carmine Merola
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Giulia Caioni
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Valbona Aliko
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
| | - Cristiano Bertolucci
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monia Perugini
- Department of Bioscience and Agro-Food and Environmental Technology, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
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25
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Beck KB, Farine DR, Firth JA, Sheldon BC. Variation in local population size predicts social network structure in wild songbirds. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:2348-2362. [PMID: 37837224 PMCID: PMC10952437 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
The structure of animal societies is a key determinant of many ecological and evolutionary processes. Yet, we know relatively little about the factors and mechanisms that underpin detailed social structure. Among other factors, social structure can be influenced by habitat configuration. By shaping animal movement decisions, heterogeneity in habitat features, such as vegetation and the availability of resources, can influence the spatiotemporal distribution of individuals and subsequently key socioecological properties such as the local population size and density. Differences in local population size and density can impact opportunities for social associations and may thus drive substantial variation in local social structure. Here, we investigated spatiotemporal variation in population size at 65 distinct locations in a small songbird, the great tit (Parus major) and its effect on social network structure. We first explored the within-location consistency of population size from weekly samples and whether the observed variation in local population size was predicted by the underlying habitat configuration. Next, we created social networks from the birds' foraging associations at each location for each week and examined if local population size affected social structure. We show that population size is highly repeatable within locations across weeks and years and that some of the observed variation in local population size was predicted by the underlying habitat, with locations closer to the forest edge having on average larger population sizes. Furthermore, we show that local population size affected social structure inferred by four global network metrics. Using simple simulations, we then reveal that much of the observed social structure is shaped by social processes. Across different population sizes, the birds' social structure was largely explained by their preference to forage in flocks. In addition, over and above effects of social foraging, social preferences between birds (i.e. social relationships) shaped certain network features such as the extent of realized social connections. Our findings thus suggest that individual social decisions substantially contribute to shaping certain social network features over and above effects of population size alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina B. Beck
- Department of Biology, Edward Grey InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of BiologyAustralian National UniversityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
- Department of Collective BehaviourMax Planck Institute of Animal BehaviourKonstanzGermany
| | - Josh A. Firth
- Department of Biology, Edward Grey InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Ben C. Sheldon
- Department of Biology, Edward Grey InstituteUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
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26
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Pirotta E, Fernandez Ajó A, Bierlich KC, Bird CN, Buck CL, Haver SM, Haxel JH, Hildebrand L, Hunt KE, Lemos LS, New L, Torres LG. Assessing variation in faecal glucocorticoid concentrations in gray whales exposed to anthropogenic stressors. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 11:coad082. [PMID: 38026800 PMCID: PMC10660368 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coad082] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how individual animals respond to stressors behaviourally and physiologically is a critical step towards quantifying long-term population consequences and informing management efforts. Glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite accumulation in various matrices provides an integrated measure of adrenal activation in baleen whales and could thus be used to investigate physiological changes following exposure to stressors. In this study, we measured GC concentrations in faecal samples of Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG) gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) collected over seven consecutive years to assess the association between GC content and metrics of exposure to sound levels and vessel traffic at different temporal scales, while controlling for contextual variables such as sex, reproductive status, age, body condition, year, time of year and location. We develop a Bayesian Generalized Additive Modelling approach that accommodates the many complexities of these data, including non-linear variation in hormone concentrations, missing covariate values, repeated samples, sampling variability and some hormone concentrations below the limit of detection. Estimated relationships showed large variability, but emerging patterns indicate a strong context-dependency of physiological variation, depending on sex, body condition and proximity to a port. Our results highlight the need to control for baseline hormone variation related to context, which otherwise can obscure the functional relationship between faecal GCs and stressor exposure. Therefore, extensive data collection to determine sources of baseline variation in well-studied populations, such as PCFG gray whales, could shed light on cetacean stress physiology and be used to extend applicability to less-well-studied taxa. GC analyses may offer greatest utility when employed as part of a suite of markers that, in aggregate, provide a multivariate measure of physiological status, better informing estimates of individuals' health and ultimately the consequences of anthropogenic stressors on populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9LZ, UK
| | - Alejandro Fernandez Ajó
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - KC Bierlich
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Clara N Bird
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Samara M Haver
- Cooperative Institute for Marine Ecosystem and Resources Studies, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 Nash Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Joseph H Haxel
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Coastal Sciences Division, 1529 W. Sequim Bay Rd., Sequim, WA 98362, USA
| | - Lisa Hildebrand
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | - Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation & Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Leila S Lemos
- Institute of Environment, Florida International University, 3000 NE 151st St, North Miami, FL 33181, USA
| | - Leslie New
- Department of Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ursinus College, 601 E Main St, Collegeville, PA 19426, USA
| | - Leigh G Torres
- Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna Lab, Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2030 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, USA
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27
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Pereñíguez JM, Alós J, Aspillaga E, Rojo I, Calò A, Hackradt C, Hernández-Andreu R, Mourre B, García-Charton JA. Intense scuba diving does not alter activity patterns of predatory reef fish: Evidence from a protected tourism hotspot. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118491. [PMID: 37390579 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The rise of nature-based tourism has provided a new avenue for disturbing animal behaviour, especially in protected areas. One of the most important tourism sectors in aquatic environments is scuba diving, an activity considered sustainable given its non-extractive nature and capability of bringing relevant socio-economic benefits to local communities. However, knowledge about its impact on the activity patterns of aquatic animals is still scarce. Here, we used biotelemetry techniques to assess the importance of scuba diving in modulating the activity patterns of the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus, Lowe, 1834), a marine predatory fish of high interest for fishing and tourism. We implemented Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) on high-resolution acceleration data using a temporal and spatial control while controlling for a set of environmental variables (i.e. photoperiod, time-of-day, moon phase, temperature, wave height, and intensity and direction of marine currents) within a multiple-use marine protected area, and diving tourism hot-spot, of the western Mediterranean Sea. Our results underlined the more decisive influence of environmental-related stressors on the activity patterns of the dusky grouper compared to the impact of scuba diving. A high heterogeneity existed in the response against most of the stressors, including the presence of scuba divers. Overall, the activity of dusky grouper was higher at night than at day, showing a positive relationship with wave height, water temperature, and current intensity and a negative one with the moon phase. Remarkably, our findings, based on novel biotelemetry tools, differed substantially from the common wisdom accepted for this species. In conclusion, there is no clear evidence of scuba divers influence on the general activity patterns of the dusky grouper. Beyond their relevance from an ecological perspective, these results provide useful insights for the sustainable management of coastal resources, suggesting that scuba diving, when properly carried out, can represent an important sector to foster for the blue growth of coastal communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Pereñíguez
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - J Alós
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - E Aspillaga
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA (CSIC-UIB), C/ Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles, Illes Balears, Spain
| | - I Rojo
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Calò
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DiSTeM), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 20-22, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - C Hackradt
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - R Hernández-Andreu
- Ecology and Marine Conservation Laboratory (LECoMAR). Universidade Federal Do Sul da Bahia, Campus Sosígenes Costa, Porto Seguro-Eunápolis, 45810-000, Porto Seguro, Brazil
| | - B Mourre
- SOCIB, Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Palma, Mallorca, Spain
| | - J A García-Charton
- Department of Ecology and Hidrology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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28
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Sulaksono N, Pudyatmoko S, Sumardi S, Wardhana W, Budiman A. The Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbances on the Spatiotemporal Patterns of Medium-Large Mammals in Tropical Volcanic Landscapes. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3217. [PMID: 37893941 PMCID: PMC10603758 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the consequences of human interactions with mammals is a critical factor in supporting and conserving species in landscapes dominated by humans, which are increasingly threatened. This study aimed to identify the spatial and temporal interactions between humans and mammals. A non-parametric statistical approach with kernel density was used to detect human-mammal temporal interactions. The species interaction factor (SIF) was applied to calculate the spatial overlap based on the two-species occupancy detection model. The activity patterns of medium mammals were nocturnal, diurnal, and cathemeral. The human-medium mammal pairs with SIF values that were <1 and statistically significant included the human-long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) pair, the human-leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) pair, and the human-barking deer (Muntiacus muntjac) pair. Based on their SIF values and the high overlap in their activity times, the human-macaque pairings had a high risk of conflict. Barking deer and leopard cats displayed a coexistence with humans via time-sharing activities. Due to temporal niche variations with human activities, the existence of nocturnal mammals was relatively uninterrupted. This study showed that most mammals are able to adapt spatially and temporally to various human activities. Nonetheless, efforts to mitigate human-wildlife conflict must be maintained, particularly in the case of severely endangered species, such as the Sunda pangolin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurpana Sulaksono
- Gunung Merbabu National Park, The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Boyolali 57316, Indonesia
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman 55281, Indonesia; (S.S.); (W.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Satyawan Pudyatmoko
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman 55281, Indonesia; (S.S.); (W.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Sumardi Sumardi
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman 55281, Indonesia; (S.S.); (W.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Wahyu Wardhana
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman 55281, Indonesia; (S.S.); (W.W.); (A.B.)
| | - Arief Budiman
- Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Sleman 55281, Indonesia; (S.S.); (W.W.); (A.B.)
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29
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Poulin MP, Cherry SG, Merkle JA. Dynamic balancing of risks and rewards in a large herbivore: Further extending predator-prey concepts to road ecology. J Anim Ecol 2023; 92:1954-1965. [PMID: 37462330 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13985] [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: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Animal behaviour is shaped by the ability to identify risks and profitably balance the levels of risks encountered with the payoffs experienced. Anthropogenic disturbances like roads generate novel risks and opportunities that wildlife must accurately perceive and respond to. Basic concepts in predator-prey ecology are often used to understand responses of animals to roads (e.g. increased vigilance, selection for cover in their vicinity). However, prey often display complex behaviours such as modulating space use given varying risks and rewards, and it is unclear if such dynamic balancing is used by animals in the context of road crossings. We tested whether animals dynamically balance risks and rewards relative to roads using extensive field-based and GPS collar data from elk in Yoho National Park (British Columbia, Canada), where a major highway completely bisects their range during most of the year. We analysed elk behaviour by combining hidden Markov movement models with a step-selection function framework. Rewards were indexed by a dynamic map of available forage biomass, and risks were indexed by road crossings and traffic volumes. We found that elk generally selected intermediate and high forage biomass, and avoided crossing the road. Most of the time, elk modulated their behaviour given varying risks and rewards. When crossing the highway compared with not crossing, elk selected for greater forage biomass and this selection was stronger as the number of highway crossings increased. However, with traffic volume, elk only balanced foraging rewards when they crossed a single time during a travel sequence. Using a road ecology system, we empirically tested an important component of predator-prey ecology-the ability to dynamically modulate behaviour in response to varying levels of risks and rewards. Such a test articulates how decision-making processes that consider the spatiotemporal variation in risks and rewards allow animals to successfully and profitably navigate busy roads. Applying well-developed concepts in predator-prey theory helps understand how animals respond to anthropogenic disturbances and anticipate the adaptive capacity for individuals and populations to adjust to rapidly changing environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Pier Poulin
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
| | - Seth G Cherry
- Parks Canada Agency, Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jerod A Merkle
- Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, USA
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30
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Shukla I, Gaynor KM, Worm B, Darimont CT. The diversity of animals identified as keystone species. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10561. [PMID: 37818247 PMCID: PMC10560868 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the keystone species concept was conceived of over 50 years ago, contemporary efforts to synthesize related literature have been limited. Our objective was to create a list of keystone animal species identified in the literature and to examine the variation in the traits of species and the ecosystem influences they elicit. We documented 230 species considered keystones. A clustering analysis classified them into five archetypes based on combinations of their taxonomic class, body size, trophic level, and role (consumers, modifiers, or prey). Although conservation and public perception of keystones primarily focuses on large vertebrate consumers, our analysis reveals that researchers have defined a wide diversity of keystone species, with large variation in associated ecosystem processes. Future research may confront ambiguity in the definition of keystone status, as well as clarify the type, abundance, and quality of data required to assign the term. Identifying keystones with increased rigor would not only enrich the literature but also inform intervention to safeguard threatened keystones and their associated influences on ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishana Shukla
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
- Departments of Botany and ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Boris Worm
- Department of BiologyDalhousie UniversityHalifaxNova ScotiaCanada
| | - Chris T. Darimont
- Department of GeographyUniversity of VictoriaVictoriaBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Raincoast Conservation FoundationDenny IslandBritish ColumbiaCanada
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31
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Candolin U, Rahman T. Behavioural responses of fishes to anthropogenic disturbances: Adaptive value and ecological consequences. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 103:773-783. [PMID: 36647916 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems are changing at an accelerating rate because of human activities. The changes alter the abundance and distribution of fishes, with potential consequences for ecosystem structure and function. Behavioural responses often underlie these changes in population dynamics, such as altered habitat choice or foraging activity. Here, we present a framework for understanding how and why behaviour is affected by human activities and how the behavioural responses in turn influence higher ecological levels. We further review the literature to assess the present state of the field and identify gaps in our knowledge. We begin with discussing the factors that determine how an individual responds to a change in the environment and whether the response is adaptive or not. In particular, we explain the importance of the evolutionary history of the species. We then search the literature to assess our current knowledge of the impact of human disturbances on the behaviour of fishes and the consequences for ecosystems. The search reveals that much attention has been directed to the impact of human activities on the behaviour of fishes, but that worryingly little is known about the consequences of these responses for populations, communities and ecosystems. Yet, behavioural responses can have profound ecological consequences given that behaviour underly many, if not most, species interactions. Thus, more attention should be paid to the mechanisms and pathways through which behavioural responses influence higher ecological levels. Such information is needed if we are to determine the ultimate effects of human activities on biodiversity and the function and stability of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Candolin
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tawfiqur Rahman
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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32
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Johnson-Bice SM, Gable TD, Homkes AT, Windels SK, Bump JK, Bruggink JG. Logging, linear features, and human infrastructure shape the spatial dynamics of wolf predation on an ungulate neonate. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2911. [PMID: 37602927 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Humans are increasingly recognized as important players in predator-prey dynamics by modifying landscapes. This trend has been well-documented for large mammal communities in North American boreal forests: logging creates early seral forests that benefit ungulates such as white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), while the combination of infrastructure development and resource extraction practices generate linear features that allow predators such as wolves (Canis lupus) to travel and forage more efficiently throughout the landscape. Disturbances from recreational activities and residential development are other major sources of human activity in boreal ecosystems that may further alter wolf-ungulate dynamics. Here, we evaluate the influence that several major types of anthropogenic landscape modifications (timber harvest, linear features, and residential infrastructure) have on where and how wolves hunt ungulate neonates in a southern boreal forest ecosystem in Minnesota, USA. We demonstrate that each major anthropogenic disturbance significantly influences wolf predation of white-tailed deer fawns (n = 427 kill sites). In contrast with the "human shield hypothesis" that posits prey use human-modified areas as refuge, wolves killed fawns closer to residential buildings than expected based on spatial availability. Fawns were also killed within recently-logged areas more than expected. Concealment cover was higher at kill sites than random sites, suggesting wolves use senses other than vision, probably olfaction, to detect hidden fawns. Wolves showed strong selection for hunting along linear features, and kill sites were also closer to linear features than expected. We hypothesize that linear features facilitated wolf predation on fawns by allowing wolves to travel efficiently among high-quality prey patches (recently logged areas, near buildings), and also increase encounter rates with olfactory cues that allow them to detect hidden fawns. These findings provide novel insight into the strategies predators use to hunt ungulate neonates and the many ways human activity alters wolf-ungulate neonate predator-prey dynamics, which have remained elusive due to the challenges of locating sites where predators kill small prey. Our research has important management and conservation implications for wolf-ungulate systems subjected to anthropogenic pressures, particularly as the range of overlap between wolves and deer expands and appears to be altering food web dynamics in boreal ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Johnson-Bice
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Thomas D Gable
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Austin T Homkes
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, USA
| | - Steve K Windels
- Voyageurs National Park, International Falls, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph K Bump
- Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - John G Bruggink
- Department of Biology, Northern Michigan University, Marquette, Michigan, USA
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33
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Ellis-Soto D, Oliver RY, Brum-Bastos V, Demšar U, Jesmer B, Long JA, Cagnacci F, Ossi F, Queiroz N, Hindell M, Kays R, Loretto MC, Mueller T, Patchett R, Sims DW, Tucker MA, Ropert-Coudert Y, Rutz C, Jetz W. A vision for incorporating human mobility in the study of human-wildlife interactions. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1362-1372. [PMID: 37550509 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02125-6] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
As human activities increasingly shape land- and seascapes, understanding human-wildlife interactions is imperative for preserving biodiversity. Habitats are impacted not only by static modifications, such as roads, buildings and other infrastructure, but also by the dynamic movement of people and their vehicles occurring over shorter time scales. Although there is increasing realization that both components of human activity substantially affect wildlife, capturing more dynamic processes in ecological studies has proved challenging. Here we propose a conceptual framework for developing a 'dynamic human footprint' that explicitly incorporates human mobility, providing a key link between anthropogenic stressors and ecological impacts across spatiotemporal scales. Specifically, the dynamic human footprint integrates a range of metrics to fully acknowledge the time-varying nature of human activities and to enable scale-appropriate assessments of their impacts on wildlife behaviour, demography and distributions. We review existing terrestrial and marine human-mobility data products and provide a roadmap for how these could be integrated and extended to enable more comprehensive analyses of human impacts on biodiversity in the Anthropocene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Ellis-Soto
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Ruth Y Oliver
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
| | - Vanessa Brum-Bastos
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
- Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformatics, Wroclaw University of Environmental Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
- School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Urška Demšar
- School of Geography and Sustainable Development, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Brett Jesmer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Jed A Long
- Department of Geography & Environment, Centre for Animals on the Move, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Francesca Cagnacci
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center S.C.A.R.L., Palermo, Italy
| | - Federico Ossi
- Animal Ecology Unit, Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, San Michele all'Adige, Italy
| | - Nuno Queiroz
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado/BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, Universidade do Porto, Vairão, Portugal
- Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, UK
| | - Mark Hindell
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
- Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Dept Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Matthias-Claudio Loretto
- Ecosystem Dynamics and Forest Management Group, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Berchtesgaden National Park, Berchtesgaden, Germany
- Department of Migration, Max-Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (SBiK-F), Frankfurt (Main), Germany
- Department of Biological Sciences, Goethe University, Frankfurt (Main), Germany
| | - Robert Patchett
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - David W Sims
- Marine Biological Association, Plymouth, UK
- Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre Southampton, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Centre for Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Marlee A Tucker
- Department of Environmental Science, Radboud Institute for Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yan Ropert-Coudert
- Centre d'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, La Rochelle Université - CNRS, Villiers en Bois, France
| | - Christian Rutz
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Walter Jetz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Center for Biodiversity and Global Change, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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Kaidarova A, Geraldi NR, Wilson RP, Kosel J, Meekan MG, Eguíluz VM, Hussain MM, Shamim A, Liao H, Srivastava M, Saha SS, Strano MS, Zhang X, Ooi BS, Holton M, Hopkins LW, Jin X, Gong X, Quintana F, Tovasarov A, Tasmagambetova A, Duarte CM. Wearable sensors for monitoring marine environments and their inhabitants. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1208-1220. [PMID: 37365259 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01827-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Human societies depend on marine ecosystems, but their degradation continues. Toward mitigating this decline, new and more effective ways to precisely measure the status and condition of marine environments are needed alongside existing rebuilding strategies. Here, we provide an overview of how sensors and wearable technology developed for humans could be adapted to improve marine monitoring. We describe barriers that have slowed the transition of this technology from land to sea, update on the developments in sensors to advance ocean observation and advocate for more widespread use of wearables on marine organisms in the wild and in aquaculture. We propose that large-scale use of wearables could facilitate the concept of an 'internet of marine life' that might contribute to a more robust and effective observation system for the oceans and commercial aquaculture operations. These observations may aid in rationalizing strategies toward conservation and restoration of marine communities and habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altynay Kaidarova
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
- Central Asian Institute of Ecological Research, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
| | - Nathan R Geraldi
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- NatureMetrics, Guildford, UK
| | - Rory P Wilson
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Jürgen Kosel
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Sensors Systems Division, Silicon Austria Labs, High Tech Campus, Villach, Austria
| | - Mark G Meekan
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Víctor M Eguíluz
- Instituto de Física Interdisciplinary Sistemas Complejos IFISC (CSIC-UIB), Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - Atif Shamim
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanguang Liao
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mani Srivastava
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Swapnil Sayan Saha
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Strano
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xiangliang Zhang
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Boon S Ooi
- Computer, Electrical and Mathematical Sciences and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark Holton
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Lloyd W Hopkins
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Xiaojia Jin
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Xun Gong
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Flavio Quintana
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
| | | | | | - Carlos M Duarte
- Red Sea Research Center and Computational Biosciences Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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35
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Hin V, de Roos AM, Benoit-Bird KJ, Claridge DE, DiMarzio N, Durban JW, Falcone EA, Jacobson EK, Jones-Todd CM, Pirotta E, Schorr GS, Thomas L, Watwood S, Harwood J. Using individual-based bioenergetic models to predict the aggregate effects of disturbance on populations: A case study with beaked whales and Navy sonar. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290819. [PMID: 37651444 PMCID: PMC10470956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities can lead to changes in animal behavior. Predicting population consequences of these behavioral changes requires integrating short-term individual responses into models that forecast population dynamics across multiple generations. This is especially challenging for long-lived animals, because of the different time scales involved. Beaked whales are a group of deep-diving odontocete whales that respond behaviorally when exposed to military mid-frequency active sonar (MFAS), but the effect of these nonlethal responses on beaked whale populations is unknown. Population consequences of aggregate exposure to MFAS was assessed for two beaked whale populations that are regularly present on U.S. Navy training ranges where MFAS is frequently used. Our approach integrates a wide range of data sources, including telemetry data, information on spatial variation in habitat quality, passive acoustic data on the temporal pattern of sonar use and its relationship to beaked whale foraging activity, into an individual-based model with a dynamic bioenergetic module that governs individual life history. The predicted effect of disturbance from MFAS on population abundance ranged between population extinction to a slight increase in population abundance. These effects were driven by the interaction between the temporal pattern of MFAS use, baseline movement patterns, the spatial distribution of prey, the nature of beaked whale behavioral response to MFAS and the top-down impact of whale foraging on prey abundance. Based on these findings, we provide recommendations for monitoring of marine mammal populations and highlight key uncertainties to help guide future directions for assessing population impacts of nonlethal disturbance for these and other long-lived animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Hin
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Wageningen Marine Research, IJmuiden, The Netherlands
| | - André M. de Roos
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America
| | - Kelly J. Benoit-Bird
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California, United States of America
| | | | - Nancy DiMarzio
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | | | - Erin A. Falcone
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, Seabeck, Washington, United States of America
| | - Eiren K. Jacobson
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | | | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Gregory S. Schorr
- Marine Ecology and Telemetry Research, Seabeck, Washington, United States of America
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie Watwood
- Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Newport, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - John Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, United Kingdom
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36
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Abdu S, Eisenring M, Zúñiga D, Alarcón-Nieto G, Schmid H, Aplin LM, Brandl HB, Farine DR. The presence of air sac nematodes in passerines and near-passerines in southern Germany. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2023; 21:174-178. [PMID: 37252653 PMCID: PMC10220465 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Major climatic changes in conjunction with animal movement may be associated with the spread of parasites and their vectors into new populations, with potentially important consequences for population persistence. Parasites can evolve to adapt to unsuitable ecological conditions and take up refuge within new host species, with consequences for the population growth of the new host species. One parasite species that has likely been increasing its geographic range, and potentially infecting new hosts, is the recently described air sac nematode Serratospiculoides amaculata, in great tits (Parus major) in Slovakia. In this study, we screened wild birds for potential air sac nematode infection in a woodland area of southern Germany. We identified four additional host species: Eurasian nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, greenfinch and robin. As infection by this group of nematodes can be highly pathogenic, we recommend further investigation into its potential risk to these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salamatu Abdu
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Melina Eisenring
- ETH Zurich, Department of Biology, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 27, HIT F41, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel Zúñiga
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Gustavo Alarcón-Nieto
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Heidi Schmid
- Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Lucy M. Aplin
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Universität Konstanz, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Hanja B. Brandl
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Universität Konstanz, Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour, Universitätsstraße 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Damien R. Farine
- Department of Collective Behaviour, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Am Obstberg 1, 78315, Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
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37
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Fradin G, Chamaillé‐Jammes S. Hogs sleep like logs: Wild boars reduce the risk of anthropic disturbance by adjusting where they rest. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10336. [PMID: 37492460 PMCID: PMC10363780 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Many animals living in anthropized landscapes try to avoid encountering people by being active at night. By doing so, however, they risk being disturbed while at rest during the day. To mitigate this risk, diurnally resting species may be highly selective about where they rest. Here, we used GPS and activity sensors to study how wild boars (Sus scrofa) might adjust their resting site selection and revisitation patterns to the risk of disturbance by people. We evaluated the probability of daytime relocation to assess the efficacy of wild boars' resting strategy in reducing the risk of human encounter while at rest. We attempted to identify the cause of some relocations using audio recordings. Generally, we found that wild boars did not specifically avoid resting near villages or roads, that is, where the risk of encountering people is higher, if they could find sites with suitable vegetation cover. The risk of disturbance by people was low, even near villages. Resting sites located close to villages were visited more repeatedly than those located further away, suggesting that focusing on a few familiar and quiet resting sites was a successful strategy for resting undisturbed in an anthropized landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustave Fradin
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRDMontpellierFrance
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38
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Shelton DS, Dinges ZM, Khemka A, Sykes DJ, Suriyampola PS, Shelton DEP, Boyd P, Kelly JR, Bower M, Amro H, Glaholt SP, Latta MB, Perkins HL, Shaw JR, Martins EP. A pair of cadmium-exposed zebrafish affect social behavior of the un-exposed majority. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 100:104119. [PMID: 37028532 PMCID: PMC10423439 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
To account for global contamination events, we must identify direct and indirect pollutant effects. Although pollutants can have direct effects on individuals, it is unknown how a few contaminated individuals affect groups, a widespread social organization. We show environmentally relevant levels of cadmium (Cd) can have indirect social effects revealed in the social context of a larger group. Cd-contaminated individuals had poor vision and more aggressive responses, but no other behavioral effects. The presence of experienced Cd-exposed pairs in the groups had an indirect effect on the un-exposed individual's social interactions leading to the shoal becoming bolder and moving closer to a novel object than control groups. Because a few directly affected individuals could indirectly affect social behavior of the un-exposed majority, we believe that such acute but potentially important heavy metal toxicity could inform reliable predictions about the consequences of their use in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delia S Shelton
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, 1301 Memorial Dr., Coral Gables, FL 33134, USA.
| | - Zoe M Dinges
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Anuj Khemka
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, 1001 E. 3rd St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Delawrence J Sykes
- Department of Biology, Berry College, 2277 Martha Berry Hwy NW, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA
| | - Piyumika S Suriyampola
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 East Tyler Hall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Ploypenmas Boyd
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon State University, 128 Kidder Hall, Corvallis 97331, OR, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Kelly
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Austin Peay Building, Knoxville, TX 37996, USA
| | - Myra Bower
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Austin Peay Building, Knoxville, TX 37996, USA
| | - Halima Amro
- Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Austin Peay Building, Knoxville, TX 37996, USA
| | - Stephen P Glaholt
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 1315 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Mitchell B Latta
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 1315 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Hannah L Perkins
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 1315 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Joseph R Shaw
- School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University, 1315 E 10th St, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - Emília P Martins
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, 427 East Tyler Hall, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
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39
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Darimont CT, Shukla I. When the enemy of an enemy is no friend. Science 2023; 380:691-692. [PMID: 37200414 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh9166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Some wildlife species mistakenly seek human-inhabited areas to avoid predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris T Darimont
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, Canada
| | - Ishana Shukla
- Department of Geography, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Raincoast Conservation Foundation, Sidney, BC, Canada
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40
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Sinclair JS, Briland R, Fraker ME, Hood JM, Frank KT, Faust MD, Knight C, Ludsin SA. Anthropogenic change decouples a freshwater predator's density feedback. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7613. [PMID: 37165038 PMCID: PMC10172374 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34408-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Intraspecific interactions within predator populations can affect predator-prey dynamics and community structure, highlighting the need to better understand how these interactions respond to anthropogenic change. To this end, we used a half-century (1969-2018) of abundance and size-at-age data from Lake Erie's walleye (Sander vitreus) population to determine how anthropogenic alterations have influenced intraspecific interactions. Before the 1980s, the length-at-age of younger walleye (ages 1 and 2) negatively correlated with older (age 3 +) walleye abundance, signaling a 'density feedback' in which intraspecific competition limited growth. However, after the early 1980s this signal of intraspecific competition disappeared. This decoupling of the density feedback was related to multiple anthropogenic changes, including a larger walleye population resulting from better fisheries management, planned nutrient reductions to improve water quality and transparency, warmer water temperatures, and the proliferation of a non-native fish with novel traits (white perch, Morone americana). We argue that these changes may have reduced competitive interactions by reducing the spatial overlap between older and younger walleye and by introducing novel prey. Our findings illustrate the potential for anthropogenic change to diminish density dependent intraspecific interactions within top predator populations, which has important ramifications for predicting predator dynamics and managing natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Sinclair
- Department of River Ecology and Conservation, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Clamecystraße 12, 63571, Gelnhausen, Hesse, Germany.
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1314 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA.
| | - R Briland
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1314 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA
- Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, 50 W. Town St. Suite 700, Columbus, OH, 43215, USA
| | - M E Fraker
- Cooperative Institute for Great Lakes Research and Michigan Sea Grant, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, 4840 S. State, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108, USA
| | - J M Hood
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1314 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA
- Translational Data Analytics Institute, The Ohio State University, 1760 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - K T Frank
- Ocean and Ecosystem Sciences Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, NS, B2Y 4A2, Canada
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - M D Faust
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Sandusky Fisheries Research Station, 305 East Shoreline Drive, Sandusky, OH, 44870, USA
| | - C Knight
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, Fairport Fisheries Research Unit, 1190 High Street, Fairport Harbor, OH, 44077, USA
| | - S A Ludsin
- Aquatic Ecology Laboratory, The Ohio State University, 1314 Kinnear Rd, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA
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Gilbert NA, McGinn KA, Nunes LA, Shipley AA, Bernath-Plaisted J, Clare JDJ, Murphy PW, Keyser SR, Thompson KL, Maresh Nelson SB, Cohen JM, Widick IV, Bartel SL, Orrock JL, Zuckerberg B. Daily activity timing in the Anthropocene. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:324-336. [PMID: 36402653 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Animals are facing novel 'timescapes' in which the stimuli entraining their daily activity patterns no longer match historical conditions due to anthropogenic disturbance. However, the ecological effects (e.g., altered physiology, species interactions) of novel activity timing are virtually unknown. We reviewed 1328 studies and found relatively few focusing on anthropogenic effects on activity timing. We suggest three hypotheses to stimulate future research: (i) activity-timing mismatches determine ecological effects, (ii) duration and timing of timescape modification influence effects, and (iii) consequences of altered activity timing vary biogeographically due to broad-scale variation in factors compressing timescapes. The continued growth of sampling technologies promises to facilitate the study of the consequences of altered activity timing, with emerging applications for biodiversity conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A Gilbert
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kate A McGinn
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Laura A Nunes
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Amy A Shipley
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Jacy Bernath-Plaisted
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John D J Clare
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Penelope W Murphy
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Spencer R Keyser
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Kimberly L Thompson
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), 04103 Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
| | - Scott B Maresh Nelson
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Jeremy M Cohen
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Ivy V Widick
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Savannah L Bartel
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - John L Orrock
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Benjamin Zuckerberg
- Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
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42
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Social consequences of rapid environmental change. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:337-345. [PMID: 36473809 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
While direct influences of the environment on population growth and resilience are well studied, indirect routes linking environmental changes to population consequences are less explored. We suggest that social behavior is key for understanding how anthropogenic environmental changes affect the resilience of animal populations. Social structures of animal groups are evolved and emergent phenotypes that often have demographic consequences for group members. Importantly, environmental drivers may directly influence the consequences of social structure or indirectly influence them through modifications to social interactions, group composition, or group size. We have developed a framework to study these demographic consequences. Estimating the strength of direct and indirect pathways will give us tools to understand, and potentially manage, the effect of human-induced rapid environmental changes.
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Candolin U, Fletcher RJ, Stephens AEA. Animal behaviour in a changing world. Trends Ecol Evol 2023; 38:313-315. [PMID: 36921577 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrika Candolin
- Organismal & Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Robert J Fletcher
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Pirotta E, Schick RS, Hamilton PK, Harris CM, Hewitt J, Knowlton AR, Kraus SD, Meyer‐Gutbrod E, Moore MJ, Pettis HM, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Tyack PL, Thomas L. Estimating the effects of stressors on the health, survival and reproduction of a critically endangered, long‐lived species. OIKOS 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.09801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Robert S. Schick
- Marine Geospatial Ecology Lab, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Philip K. Hamilton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Catriona M. Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Joshua Hewitt
- Dept of Statistical Science, Duke Univ. Durham NC USA
| | - Amy R. Knowlton
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Scott D. Kraus
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Erin Meyer‐Gutbrod
- School of Earth, Ocean and Environment, Univ. of South Carolina Columbia SC USA
| | | | - Heather M. Pettis
- Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium Boston MA USA
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | | | - Peter L. Tyack
- School of Biology, Scottish Oceans Inst., Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, Univ. of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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Acoustic Monitoring of Black-Tufted Marmosets in a Tropical Forest Disturbed by Mining Noise. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13030352. [PMID: 36766242 PMCID: PMC9913379 DOI: 10.3390/ani13030352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
All habitats have noise, but anthropogenic sounds often differ from natural sounds in terms of frequency, duration and intensity, and therefore may disrupt animal vocal communication. This study aimed to investigate whether vocalizations emitted by black-tufted marmosets (Callithrix penicillata) were affected by the noise produced by mining activity. Through passive acoustic monitoring, we compared the noise levels and acoustic parameters of the contact calls of marmosets living in two study areas (with two sampling points within each area)-one near and one far from an opencast mine in Brazil. The near area had higher anthropogenic background noise levels and the marmosets showed greater calling activity compared to the far area. Calls in the near area had significantly lower minimum, maximum and peak frequencies and higher average power density and bandwidth than those in the far area. Our results indicate that the mining noise affected marmoset vocal communication and may be causing the animals to adjust their acoustic communication patterns to increase the efficiency of signal propagation. Given that vocalizations are an important part of social interactions in this species, concerns arise about the potential negative impact of mining noise on marmosets exposed to this human activity.
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Li X, Yuan S, Li L, Zhang H, Jin Y, Liu L, Zhang R, Bu F, Sun S, Fu H, Wu X. Influence of grazing on the activity pattern and temporal niche of two dominant rodent species in Alxa desert. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1105729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Grazing by large herbivores can potentially affect interspecific interactions between small herbivores by reducing the ecological fitness of animals. Desert rodents are important components in desert ecosystems and indicators of environmental change. Grazing reduces food resources, but rodents can decrease interspecific niche overlap by adaptive behavior. However, the key factors driving rodent behavioral activities and coexistence in the Alxa desert remains unstudied. We monitored population density and behavioral activities of Midday gerbil (Meriones meridianus) and northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) in a grazing exclusion experiment in Alxa desert, Inner Mongolia, China, in 2017. We assessed the relationship between environmental factors (such as plant height, density, coverage, rainfall and temperature) and the behavioral activities of two coexisting rodent species. The results showed that: (1) In summer, grazing significantly reduced the activity time of gerbil and jerboa compared to that in grazing exclusion areas (gerbil: F = 5.98, p < 0.05, η2 = 0.22; jerboa: F = 8.57, p < 0.01, η2 = 0.28). Grazing reduced the temporal niche overlap with an obvious shifting of activity peaks between two species. (2) Grazing exclusion enhanced the temporal niche overlap between the two rodent species due to greater food availability which relieved inter-specific competition in each season. (3) Grazing strengthened the sensitivity of rodents to environmental changes in all seasons. These results indicated that grazing affected competition between the rodent species by altering vegetation conditions, which in turn affected the temporal niche and activity patterns of rodents.
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Aikawa E, Saito MU. Effects of intensive agricultural landscapes on farmland use by medium and large mammals in Japan. ECOSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/11956860.2022.2151554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eiki Aikawa
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, 1-23 Wakaba-machi, 9978555 Tsuruoka Japan
| | - Masayuki U. Saito
- Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, 1-23 Wakaba-machi, 9978555 Tsuruoka Japan
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Booth CG, Brannan N, Dunlop R, Friedlander A, Isojunno S, Miller P, Quick N, Southall B, Pirotta E. A sampling, exposure and receptor framework for identifying factors that modulate behavioural responses to disturbance in cetaceans. J Anim Ecol 2022; 91:1948-1960. [PMID: 35895847 PMCID: PMC9804311 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The assessment of behavioural disturbance in cetacean species (e.g. resulting from exposure to anthropogenic sources such as military sonar, seismic surveys, or pile driving) is important for effective conservation and management. Disturbance effects can be informed by Behavioural Response Studies (BRSs), involving either controlled exposure experiments (CEEs) where noise exposure conditions are presented deliberately to meet experimental objectives or in opportunistic contexts where ongoing activities are monitored in a strategic manner. In either context, animal-borne sensors or in situ observations can provide information on individual exposure and disturbance responses. The past 15 years of research have greatly expanded our understanding of behavioural responses to noise, including hundreds of experiments in nearly a dozen cetacean species. Many papers note limited sample sizes, required knowledge of baseline behaviour prior to exposure and the importance of contextual factors modulating behavioural responses, all of which in combination can lead to sampling biases, even for well-designed research programs. It is critical to understand these biases to robustly identify responses. This ensures outcomes of BRSs help inform predictions of how anthropogenic disturbance impacts individuals and populations. Our approach leverages concepts from the animal behaviour literature focused on helping to avoid sampling bias by considering what shapes an animal's response. These factors include social, experience, genetic and natural changes in responsiveness. We developed and applied a modified version of this framework to synthesise current knowledge on cetacean response in the context of effects observed across marine and terrestrial taxa. This new 'Sampling, Exposure, Receptor' framework (SERF) identifies 43 modulating factors, highlights potential biases, and assesses how these vary across selected focal species. In contrast to studies that identified variation in 'Exposure' factors as a key concern, our analysis indicated that factors relating to 'Sampling' (e.g. deploying tags on less evasive individuals, which biases selection of subjects), and 'Receptor' (e.g. health status or coping style) have the greatest potential for weakening the desired broad representativeness of BRSs. Our assessment also highlights how potential biases could be addressed with existing datasets or future developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cormac G. Booth
- SMRU Consulting, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Naomi Brannan
- Southeast Asia Marine Mammal ResearchHong KongHong Kong
| | - Rebecca Dunlop
- Cetacean Ecology and Acoustics LaboratoryMoreton Bay Research Station and School of Biological SciencesUniversity of QueenslandBrisbaneAustralia
| | - Ari Friedlander
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.AptosCaliforniaUSA,University of California, Institute of Marine ScienceSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Saana Isojunno
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Patrick Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Nicola Quick
- School of Biological and Marine SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK,Nicholas School of the EnvironmentDuke UniversityBeaufortNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Brandon Southall
- Southall Environmental Associates, Inc.AptosCaliforniaUSA,University of California, Institute of Marine ScienceSanta CruzCaliforniaUSA
| | - Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental ModellingUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
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Spatial and temporal variations in interspecific interaction: impact of a recreational landscape. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-022-01584-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnthropogenic activities, such as outdoor recreation, have the potential to change complex interactions between wildlife and livestock, with further consequences for the management of both animals, the environment, and disease transmission. We present the interaction amongst wildlife, livestock, and outdoor recreationists as a three-way interaction. Little is known about how recreational activities alter the interaction between herbivores in areas extensively used for recreational purposes. We investigate how hiking activity affects spatio-temporal co-occurrence between domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). We used camera traps to capture the spatio-temporal distribution of red deer and sheep and used the distance from the hiking path as a proxy of hiking activity. We used generalized linear models to investigate the spatial distribution of sheep and deer. We analysed the activity patterns of sheep and deer and then calculated their coefficients of temporal overlap for each camera trap location. We compared these coefficients in relation to the distance from the hiking path. Finally, we used a generalized linear mixed-model to investigate which factors influence the spatio-temporal succession between deer and sheep. We do not find that sheep and red deer spatially avoid each other. The coefficient of temporal overlap varied with distance from the hiking trail, with stronger temporal co-occurrence at greater distances from the hiking trail. Red deer were more likely to be detected further from the path during the day, which increased the temporal overlap with sheep in these areas. This suggests that hiking pressure influences spatio-temporal interactions between sheep and deer, leading to greater temporal overlap in areas further from the hiking path due to red deer spatial avoidance of hikers. This impact of recreationists on the wildlife and livestock interaction can have consequences for the animals’ welfare, the vegetation they graze, their management, and disease transmission.
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Pirotta E, Thomas L, Costa DP, Hall AJ, Harris CM, Harwood J, Kraus SD, Miller PJO, Moore MJ, Photopoulou T, Rolland RM, Schwacke L, Simmons SE, Southall BL, Tyack PL. Understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors: A new perspective on a longstanding challenge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153322. [PMID: 35074373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife populations and their habitats are exposed to an expanding diversity and intensity of stressors caused by human activities, within the broader context of natural processes and increasing pressure from climate change. Estimating how these multiple stressors affect individuals, populations, and ecosystems is thus of growing importance. However, their combined effects often cannot be predicted reliably from the individual effects of each stressor, and we lack the mechanistic understanding and analytical tools to predict their joint outcomes. We review the science of multiple stressors and present a conceptual framework that captures and reconciles the variety of existing approaches for assessing combined effects. Specifically, we show that all approaches lie along a spectrum, reflecting increasing assumptions about the mechanisms that regulate the action of single stressors and their combined effects. An emphasis on mechanisms improves analytical precision and predictive power but could introduce bias if the underlying assumptions are incorrect. A purely empirical approach has less risk of bias but requires adequate data on the effects of the full range of anticipated combinations of stressor types and magnitudes. We illustrate how this spectrum can be formalised into specific analytical methods, using an example of North Atlantic right whales feeding on limited prey resources while simultaneously being affected by entanglement in fishing gear. In practice, case-specific management needs and data availability will guide the exploration of the stressor combinations of interest and the selection of a suitable trade-off between precision and bias. We argue that the primary goal for adaptive management should be to identify the most practical and effective ways to remove or reduce specific combinations of stressors, bringing the risk of adverse impacts on populations and ecosystems below acceptable thresholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Pirotta
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
| | - Len Thomas
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA.
| | - Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Catriona M Harris
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - John Harwood
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Scott D Kraus
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Patrick J O Miller
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Michael J Moore
- Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.
| | - Theoni Photopoulou
- Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
| | - Rosalind M Rolland
- Anderson-Cabot Center for Ocean Life, New England Aquarium, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Lori Schwacke
- National Marine Mammal Foundation, Johns Island, SC, USA.
| | | | - Brandon L Southall
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA, USA; Southall Environmental Associates, Inc., Aptos, CA, USA.
| | - Peter L Tyack
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK.
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