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Patterson CR, Lustig A, Seddon PJ, Wilson DJ, van Heezik Y. Eradicating an invasive mammal requires local elimination and reduced reinvasion from an urban source population. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2949. [PMID: 38442922 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2949] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Invasive mammal eradications are increasingly attempted across large, complex landscapes. Sequentially controlled management zones can be at risk of reinvasion from adjacent uncontrolled areas, and managers must weigh the relative benefits of ensuring complete elimination from a zone or minimizing reinvasion risk. This is complicated in urban areas, where habitat heterogeneity and a lack of baseline ecological knowledge increase uncertainty. We applied a spatial agent-based model to predict the reinvasion of a well-studied species, the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), across an urban area onto a peninsula that is the site of an elimination campaign in Aotearoa New Zealand. We represented fine-scale urban habitat heterogeneity in a land cover layer and tested management scenarios that varied four factors: the density of possums remaining following an elimination attempt, the maintenance trap density on the peninsula, and effort expended toward preventing reinvasion by means of a high-density trap buffer at the peninsula isthmus or control of the source population adjacent to the peninsula. We found that achieving complete elimination on the peninsula was crucial to avoid rapid repopulation. The urban isthmus was predicted to act as a landscape barrier and restrict immigration onto the peninsula, but reliance on this barrier alone would fail to prevent repopulation. In combination, complete elimination, buffer zone, and source population control could reduce the probability of possum repopulation to near zero. Our findings support urban landscape barriers as one tool for sequential invasive mammal elimination but reaffirm that novel methods to expose residual individuals to control will be necessary to secure elimination in management zones. Work to characterize the urban ecology of many invasive mammals is still needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Audrey Lustig
- Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Te Pūnaha Matatini: The Centre for Complex Systems and Networks, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Philip J Seddon
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Zhang Z, Hu B, Jiang W, Qiu H. Construction of ecological security pattern based on ecological carrying capacity assessment 1990–2040: A case study of the Southwest Guangxi Karst - Beibu Gulf. Ecol Modell 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2023.110322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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Martinez-Cillero R, Siggery B, Murphy R, Perez-Diaz A, Christie I, Chimbwandira SJ. Functional connectivity modelling and biodiversity Net Gain in England: Recommendations for practitioners. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 328:116857. [PMID: 36525731 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Martinez-Cillero
- Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
| | - Ben Siggery
- Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Surrey Wildlife Trust, School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0JN, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Murphy
- Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
| | - Alvaro Perez-Diaz
- Department of Electronics and Computer Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Ian Christie
- Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, United Kingdom
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Sultaire SM, Millspaugh JJ, Jackson PJ, Montgomery RA. The influence of fine‐scale topography on detection of a mammal assemblage at camera traps in a mountainous landscape. WILDLIFE BIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wlb3.01026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. Sultaire
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Univ. of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | - Joshua J. Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, Univ. of Montana Missoula MT USA
| | | | - Robert A. Montgomery
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Dept of Zoology, The Recanati‐Kaplan Centre, Univ. of Oxford, Tubney House Tubney Oxon UK
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Reyes-Moya I, Sánchez-Montes G, Martínez-Solano Í. Integrating dispersal, breeding and abundance data with graph theory for the characterization and management of functional connectivity in amphibian pondscapes. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2022; 37:3159-3177. [PMID: 36345361 PMCID: PMC9631601 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-022-01520-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Robust assessment of functional connectivity in amphibian population networks is essential to address their global decline. The potential of graph theory to characterize connectivity among amphibian populations has already been confirmed, but the movement data on which modelled graphs rely are often scarce and inaccurate. While probabilistic methods that account for intraspecific variability in dispersal better reflect the biological reality of functional connectivity, they must be informed by systematically recorded individual movement data, which are difficult to obtain for secretive taxa like amphibians. OBJECTIVES Our aim is to assess the applied potential of probabilistic graph theory to characterize overall connectivity across amphibian pondscapes using fine-scale capture-recapture data, and to inform conservation management based on the role of ponds on functional connectivity. METHODS We monitored an amphibian community in a pondscape located in a Spanish "dehesa" for 2 years. Photoidentification was used to build capture histories for individuals of six species, from which dispersal kernels and population sizes were estimated to model probabilistic graphs. RESULTS We obtained kernels of variable robustness for six species. Node importance for connectivity varied between species, but with common patterns such as shared road crossing areas and the presence of coincident interconnected pond clusters. CONCLUSIONS The combination of photoidentification, capture-recapture data and graph theory allowed us to characterize functional connectivity across the pondscape of study accounting for dispersal variability and identify areas where conservation actions could be most efficient. Our results highlight the need to account for interspecific differences in the study and management of amphibian pondscapes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10980-022-01520-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ismael Reyes-Moya
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregorio Sánchez-Montes
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Íñigo Martínez-Solano
- Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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Invasive Urban Mammalian Predators: Distribution and Multi-Scale Habitat Selection. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11101527. [PMID: 36290430 PMCID: PMC9598248 DOI: 10.3390/biology11101527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
A barrier to successful ecological restoration of urban green spaces in many cities is invasive mammalian predators. We determined the fine- and landscape-scale habitat characteristics associated with the presence of five urban predators (black and brown rats, European hedgehogs, house mice, and brushtail possums) in three New Zealand cities, in spring and autumn, in three green space types: forest fragments, amenity parks, and residential gardens. Season contributed to variations in detections for all five taxa. Rodents were detected least in residential gardens; mice were detected more often in amenity parks. Hedgehogs were detected least in forest fragments. Possums were detected most often in forest fragments and least often in residential gardens. Some of this variation was explained by our models. Proximity of amenity parks to forest patches was strongly associated with presence of possums (positively), hedgehogs (positively), and rats (negatively). Conversely, proximity of residential gardens to forest patches was positively associated with rat presence. Rats were associated with shrub and lower canopy cover and mice with herb layer cover. In residential gardens, rat detection was associated with compost heaps. Successful restoration of biodiversity in these cities needs extensive, coordinated predator control programmes that engage urban residents.
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Enari H, Seino H, Uno T, Morimitsu Y, Takiguchi M, Suzuki K, Tsuji Y, Yamabata N, Kiyono M, Akaza H, Izumiyama S, Oi T, Ebihara H, Miki K, Kuramoto M, Enari HS. Optimizing habitat connectivity among macaque populations in modern Japan. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hironori Seino
- Kansai Branch Wildlife Management Office Kobe Hyogo Japan
| | - Takeharu Uno
- Tohoku Monkey and Mammal Management Center Sendai Miyagi Japan
| | - Yoshiki Morimitsu
- Institute of Natural and Environmental Sciences University of Hyogo Tanba Hyogo Japan
| | | | - Katsuya Suzuki
- Non‐Profit Organization Research Institute for SATOMON TambaSasayama Hyogo Japan
| | - Yamato Tsuji
- Ishinomaki Senshu University Ishinomaki Miyagi Japan
| | | | | | - Hisaaki Akaza
- Toyama Outdoor Museum NEI NO SATO Toyama Toyama Japan
| | | | - Toru Oi
- Ishikawa Prefectural University Nonoichi Ishikawa Japan
| | | | - Kiyomasa Miki
- Kansai Branch Wildlife Management Office Kobe Hyogo Japan
| | - Musashi Kuramoto
- Hiroshima Branch Wildlife Management Office Onomichi Hiroshima Japan
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Donati GFA, Bolliger J, Psomas A, Maurer M, Bach PM. Reconciling cities with nature: Identifying local Blue-Green Infrastructure interventions for regional biodiversity enhancement. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115254. [PMID: 35576714 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Increasing urbanization degrades quantity, quality, and the functionality of spatial cohesion of natural areas essential to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning worldwide. The uncontrolled pace of building activity and the erosion of blue (i.e., aquatic) and green (i.e., terrestrial) landscape elements threaten existing habitat ranges and movability of wildlife. Local scale measures, such as nature-inspired engineered Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI) are emerging mitigation solutions. Originally planned to promote sustainable stormwater management, adaptation to climate change and improved human livability in cities, such instruments offer interesting synergies for biodiversity in support of existing ecological infrastructure. BGI are especially appealing for globally declining amphibians, a rich and diverse vertebrate assemblage sensitive to urbanization. We integrated biological and highly resolved urban-rural land-cover data, ensemble models of habitat suitability, and connectivity models based on circuit theory to improve multi-scale and multi-species protection of core habitats and ecological corridors in the Swiss lowlands. Considering a broad spectrum of amphibian biodiversity, we identified distributions of amphibian biodiversity hotspots and four landscape elements essential to amphibian movability at the regional scale, namely i) forest edges, ii) wet-forest habitats, iii) soils with variable moisture and iv) riparian zones. Our work shows that cities can make a substantial contribution (e.g., up to 15% of urban space in the study area) to wider landscape habitat connectivity. We highlight the importance of planning BGI locally in strategic locations across urban and peri-urban areas to promote the permeability and availability of 'stepping stone' habitats in densely populated landscapes, essential to the maintenance of regional habitat connectivity and thereby enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia F A Donati
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Janine Bolliger
- WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Achilleas Psomas
- WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland.
| | - Max Maurer
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
| | - Peter M Bach
- Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science & Technology (Eawag), Überlandstrasse 133, 8600, Dübendorf, Switzerland; Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zürich, 8093, Switzerland.
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Grabow M, Louvrier JLP, Planillo A, Kiefer S, Drenske S, Börner K, Stillfried M, Hagen R, Kimmig S, Straka TM, Kramer-Schadt S. Data-integration of opportunistic species observations into hierarchical modeling frameworks improves spatial predictions for urban red squirrels. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.881247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevailing trend of increasing urbanization and habitat fragmentation makes knowledge of species’ habitat requirements and distribution a crucial factor in conservation and urban planning. Species distribution models (SDMs) offer powerful toolboxes for discriminating the underlying environmental factors driving habitat suitability. Nevertheless, challenges in SDMs emerge if multiple data sets - often sampled with different intention and therefore sampling scheme – can complement each other and increase predictive accuracy. Here, we investigate the potential of using recent data integration techniques to model potential habitat and movement corridors for Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), in an urban area. We constructed hierarchical models integrating data sets of different quality stemming from unstructured on one side and semi-structured wildlife observation campaigns on the other side in a combined likelihood approach and compared the results to modeling techniques based on only one data source - wherein all models were fit with the same selection of environmental variables. Our study highlights the increasing importance of considering multiple data sets for SDMs to enhance their predictive performance. We finally used Circuitscape (version 4.0.5) on the most robust SDM to delineate suitable movement corridors for red squirrels as a basis for planning road mortality mitigation measures. Our results indicate that even though red squirrels are common, urban habitats are rather small and partially lack connectivity along natural connectivity corridors in Berlin. Thus, additional fragmentation could bring the species closer to its limit to persist in urban environments, where our results can act as a template for conservation and management implications.
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Zhang Y, Zhao Z, Fu B, Ma R, Yang Y, Lü Y, Wu X. Identifying ecological security patterns based on the supply, demand and sensitivity of ecosystem service: A case study in the Yellow River Basin, China. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 315:115158. [PMID: 35525045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ecological security is the basis for ecosystems to provide various ecosystem services (ESs) to humans. Identifying ecological security patterns (ESPs) is an effective approach to determine the priority conservation areas and ensure regional ecological security. However, most previous studies on ESPs were based mainly on the supply of ESs, while the demand and sensitivity of ESs were not fully considered. In this study, a comprehensive ESP identification framework was developed by integrating the supply, demand and sensitivity of ESs with the fuzzy multicriteria decision-making and circuit theory. Taking the Yellow River Basin (YRB) as a case study, our results show that the ecological sources (139,633 km2 or 17.3%) of the YRB were located mainly in the transition area between the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau, and in the Qinling Mountains and eastern plains; these areas reliably exhibited high conservation efficiency and low decision-making risk and tradeoff levels. However, the northern and western YRB had few ecological sources due to mismatches among the supply, demand and sensitivity of ESs. Based on circuit theory, ecological corridors (36,905 m and 76,878 km2) effectively connected the western, southern and eastern parts of the YRB. These ecological sources and corridors were both dominated by grassland, forest and cropland. However, ten pinch points, primarily covered by cropland, were also recognized in the eastern YRB and should be considered as priority areas for ecological conservation. Moreover, our results indicate that this comprehensive ESP identification framework could provide useful guidance to decision-makers for maintaining ESs and ecological conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Zhengyuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bojie Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ruiming Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yingying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yihe Lü
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xing Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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Visscher DR, Wood JR. Decadal trends in a population of urban white-tailed jackrabbits at the northern edge of its range. MAMMAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-022-00641-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Fine-scale habitat selection of a small mammalian urban adapter: the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00251-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding patterns of habitat selection and factors affecting space use is fundamental in animal conservation. In urban landscapes, such knowledge can be used to advise householders on how best to manage their gardens for wildlife. In this study, we tracked 28 West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a species of conservation concern in the UK, in an area of high-density housing using radio and GPS tags to quantify patterns of habitat use and identify factors associated with the proportion of time spent in individual gardens. Both males and females exhibited a preference for residential gardens, but there were subtle differences between the sexes in relation to house type and front versus back gardens. Hedgehogs spent significantly more time in gardens where artificial food was provided, where a compost heap was present, if foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were infrequent visitors, if it rained overnight and as daylength increased (i.e., shorter nights); garden use was not significantly associated with variables potentially likely to reflect invertebrate prey abundance. These data suggest that the primary positive action that householders can undertake for urban hedgehogs is providing supplementary food. However, householders often feed hedgehogs after they know they are already visiting their garden. Consequently, the presence of artificial food may make it difficult to identify other important influences affecting garden use. Finally, we report that a GPS fix acquisition rate < 60% likely had no major effect on the results of our analyses, but should be a consideration in future studies using this technique on this species and in this habitat.
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Turner J, Freeman R, Carbone C. Using citizen science to understand and map habitat suitability for a synurbic mammal in an urban landscape: the hedgehog
Erinaceus europaeus. Mamm Rev 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Turner
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
- School of Biological and Chemical Science Queen Mary University of London LondonE1 4NSUK
| | - Robin Freeman
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
| | - Chris Carbone
- Institute of Zoology Zoological Society of London Regent's Park LondonNW1 4RYUK
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Gimmel A, Eulenberger U, Liesegang A. Feeding the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.)-risks of commercial diets for wildlife. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2021; 105 Suppl 1:91-96. [PMID: 34247429 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The supplemental feeding of wildlife is a worldwide phenomenon. The most widespread and socially accepted example is bird feeding. Commercial hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus L.) diets are readily available in Switzerland. To test the hypothesis that commercial hedgehog diets are nutritionally inadequate, the following parameters (as taken from the label) of five commercial diets (three dry and two wet) were compared to the natural diet of E. europaeus: List of feed materials, crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), ether extract (EE) and nitrogen-free extracts (NfE). To test the second hypothesis, that feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets in Switzerland are in accordance with Swiss and European law, the following parameters were assessed: Type of feed, net quantity, moisture content, instructions for proper use, list of the feed materials and claims. In all dry diets, the first ingredient was cereals (38.8%-50%), whereas in both wet diets, it was meat and meat by-products (51% in one product). Only one product had a CP content comparable to that of the natural diet and four products had a higher NfE content. Overall, the wet products were more comparable to the natural diet, especially regarding CP and NfE content. Of the five examined diets, three were labelled as complete feeds and two as compound feeds. The label analysis revealed inaccuracies and possible misleading information on two products. In conclusion, the use of commercial dry hedgehog diets should be discouraged as they do not resemble the natural diet of E. europaeus and are likely nutritionally inadequate. The commercial wet hedgehog diets should only be used supplementary. The feed labels of commercially available hedgehog diets were not always in compliance with Swiss and European law. The public should be educated about feeding E. europaeus and the risks of commercial diets for wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Gimmel
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Vetsuisse faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Annette Liesegang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Vetsuisse faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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15
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Use of Bi-Temporal ALS Point Clouds for Tree Removal Detection on Private Property in Racibórz, Poland. REMOTE SENSING 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/rs13040767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Trees growing on private property have become an essential part of urban green policies. In many places, restrictions are imposed on tree removal on private property. However, monitoring compliance of these regulations appears difficult due to a lack of reference data and public administration capacity. We assessed the impact of the temporary suspension of mandatory permits on tree removal, which was in force in 2017 in Poland, on the change in urban tree cover (UTC) in the case of the municipality of Racibórz. The bi-temporal airborne laser scanning (ALS) point clouds (2011 and 2017) and administrative records on tree removal permits were used for analyzing the changes of UTC in the period of 2011–2017. The results show increased tree removal at a time when the mandatory permit was suspended. Moreover, it appeared that most trees on private properties were removed without obtaining permission when it was obligatory. The method based on LiDAR we proposed allows for monitoring green areas, including private properties.
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Capon M, Lysaniuk B, Godard V, Clauzel C, Simon L. Characterizing the landscape compositions of urban wildlife encounters: the case of the stone marten (Martes foina), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in the Greater Paris area. Urban Ecosyst 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11252-020-01071-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Fullman TJ, Wilson RR, Joly K, Gustine DD, Leonard P, Loya WM. Mapping potential effects of proposed roads on migratory connectivity for a highly mobile herbivore using circuit theory. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2021; 31:e2207. [PMID: 32632940 PMCID: PMC7816249 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Migration is common worldwide as species access spatiotemporally varying resources and avoid predators and parasites. However, long-distance migrations are increasingly imperiled due to development and habitat fragmentation. Improved understanding of migratory behavior has implications for conservation and management of migratory species, allowing identification and protection of seasonal ranges and migration corridors. We present a technique that applies circuit theory to predict future effects of development by analyzing season-specific resistance to movement from anthropogenic and natural environmental features across an entire migratory path. We demonstrate the utility of our approach by examining potential effects of a proposed road system on barren ground caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and subsistence hunters in northern Alaska. Resource selection functions revealed migratory selection by caribou. We tested five scenarios relating habitat selection to landscape resistance using Circuitscape and GPS telemetry data. To examine the effect of potential roads on connectivity of migrating animals and human hunters, we compared current flow values near communities in the presence of proposed roads. Caribou avoided dense vegetation, rugged terrain, major rivers, and existing roads in both spring and fall. A negative linear relationship between resource selection and landscape resistance was strongly supported for fall migration while spring migration featured a negative logarithmic relationship. Overall patterns of caribou connectivity remained similar in the presence of proposed roads, though reduced current flow was predicted for communities near the center of current migration areas. Such data can inform decisions to allow or disallow projects or to select among alternative development proposals and mitigation measures, though consideration of cumulative effects of development is needed. Our approach is flexible and can easily be adapted to other species, locations and development scenarios to expand understanding of movement behavior and to evaluate proposed developments. Such information is vital to inform policy decisions that balance new development, resource user needs, and preservation of ecosystem function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ryan R. Wilson
- The Wilderness SocietyAnchorageAlaska99501USA
- Present address:
Marine Mammals ManagementU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceAnchorageAlaska99503USA
| | - Kyle Joly
- Gates of the Arctic National Park and PreserveArctic Inventory and Monitoring NetworkNational Park ServiceFairbanksAlaska99709USA
| | - David D. Gustine
- Grand Teton National ParkNational Park ServiceMooseWyoming83012USA
| | - Paul Leonard
- Science ApplicationsU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceFairbanksAlaska99701USA
| | - Wendy M. Loya
- Science ApplicationsU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceAnchorageAlaska99503USA
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Balbi M, Croci S, Petit EJ, Butet A, Georges R, Madec L, Caudal J, Ernoult A. Least‐cost path analysis for urban greenways planning: A test with moths and birds across two habitats and two cities. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manon Balbi
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
| | - Solène Croci
- CNRSUniversité Rennes 2UMR 6554 LETG Rennes France
| | - Eric J. Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health Agrocampus OuestINRAE Rennes France
| | - Alain Butet
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
| | | | - Luc Madec
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
| | | | - Aude Ernoult
- UMR CNRS ECOBIO Université de Rennes 1 Rennes France
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Teitelbaum CS, Hepinstall-Cymerman J, Kidd-Weaver A, Hernandez SM, Altizer S, Hall RJ. Urban specialization reduces habitat connectivity by a highly mobile wading bird. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2020; 8:49. [PMID: 33372623 PMCID: PMC7720518 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-020-00233-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile animals transport nutrients and propagules across habitats, and are crucial for the functioning of food webs and for ecosystem services. Human activities such as urbanization can alter animal movement behavior, including site fidelity and resource use. Because many urban areas are adjacent to natural sites, mobile animals might connect natural and urban habitats. More generally, understanding animal movement patterns in urban areas can help predict how urban expansion will affect the roles of highly mobile animals in ecological processes. METHODS Here, we examined movements by a seasonally nomadic wading bird, the American white ibis (Eudocimus albus), in South Florida, USA. White ibis are colonial wading birds that forage on aquatic prey; in recent years, some ibis have shifted their behavior to forage in urban parks, where they are fed by people. We used a spatial network approach to investigate how individual movement patterns influence connectivity between urban and non-urban sites. We built a network of habitat connectivity using GPS tracking data from ibis during their non-breeding season and compared this network to simulated networks that assumed individuals moved indiscriminately with respect to habitat type. RESULTS We found that the observed network was less connected than the simulated networks, that urban-urban and natural-natural connections were strong, and that individuals using urban sites had the least-variable habitat use. Importantly, the few ibis that used both urban and natural habitats contributed the most to connectivity. CONCLUSIONS Habitat specialization in urban-acclimated wildlife could reduce the exchange of propagules and nutrients between urban and natural areas, which has consequences both for beneficial effects of connectivity such as gene flow and for detrimental effects such as the spread of contaminants or pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anjelika Kidd-Weaver
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Present address: College of Agriculture, Forestry and Life Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Sonia M Hernandez
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Richard J Hall
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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20
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Unexpected Gene-Flow in Urban Environments: The Example of the European Hedgehog. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122315. [PMID: 33297373 PMCID: PMC7762246 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary An urban environment holds many barriers for mammals with limited mobility such as hedgehogs. These barriers appear often unsurmountable (e.g., rivers, highways, fences) and thus hinder contact between hedgehogs, leading to genetic isolation. In our study we tested whether these barriers affect the hedgehog population of urban Berlin, Germany. As Berlin has many of these barriers, we were expecting a strong genetic differentiation among hedgehog populations. However, when we looked at unrelated individuals, we did not see genetic differentiation among populations. The latter was only detected when we included related individuals too, a ‘family clan’ structure that is referred to as gamodemes. We conclude that the high percentage of greenery in Berlin provides sufficient habitat for hedgehogs to maintain connectivity across the city. Abstract We use the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), a mammal with limited mobility, as a model species to study whether the structural matrix of the urban environment has an influence on population genetic structure of such species in the city of Berlin (Germany). Using ten established microsatellite loci we genotyped 143 hedgehogs from numerous sites throughout Berlin. Inclusion of all individuals in the cluster analysis yielded three genetic clusters, likely reflecting spatial associations of kin (larger family groups, known as gamodemes). To examine the potential bias in the cluster analysis caused by closely related individuals, we determined all pairwise relationships and excluded close relatives before repeating the cluster analysis. For this data subset (N = 65) both clustering algorithms applied (Structure, Baps) indicated the presence of a single genetic cluster. These results suggest that the high proportion of green patches in the city of Berlin provides numerous steppingstone habitats potentially linking local subpopulations. Alternatively, translocation of individuals across the city by hedgehog rescue facilities may also explain the existence of only a single cluster. We therefore propose that information about management activities such as releases by animal rescue centres should include location data (as exactly as possible) regarding both the collection and the release site, which can then be used in population genetic studies.
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21
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Berger A, Barthel LMF, Rast W, Hofer H, Gras P. Urban Hedgehog Behavioural Responses to Temporary Habitat Disturbance versus Permanent Fragmentation. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10112109. [PMID: 33203020 PMCID: PMC7697271 DOI: 10.3390/ani10112109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities can result in both transient and permanent changes in the environment. We studied spatial and temporal behavioural responses of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) to a transient (open-air music festival) and a permanent (highly fragmented area) disturbance in the city of Berlin, Germany. Activity, foraging and movement patterns were observed in two distinct areas in 2016 and 2017 using a "Before & After" and "Control & Impact" study design. Confronted with a music festival, hedgehogs substantially changed their movement behaviour and nesting patterns and decreased the rhythmic synchronization (DFC) of their activity patterns with the environment. These findings suggest that a music festival is a substantial stressor influencing the trade-off between foraging and risk avoidance. Hedgehogs in a highly fragmented area used larger home ranges and moved faster than in low-fragmented and low-disturbed areas. They also showed behaviours and high DFCs similar to individuals in low-fragmented, low disturbed environment, suggesting that fragmentation posed a moderate challenge which they could accommodate. The acute but transient disturbance of a music festival, therefore, had more substantial and severe behavioural effects than the permanent disturbance through fragmentation. Our results are relevant for the welfare and conservation measure of urban wildlife and highlight the importance of allowing wildlife to avoid urban music festivals by facilitating avoidance behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Berger
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (W.R.)
- Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (H.H.); (P.G.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Leon M. F. Barthel
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (W.R.)
- Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (H.H.); (P.G.)
| | - Wanja Rast
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany; (L.M.F.B.); (W.R.)
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (H.H.); (P.G.)
- Department of Biology, Chemistry, Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustrasse 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Oertzenweg 19b, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pierre Gras
- Berlin Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research (BBIB), 14195 Berlin, Germany; (H.H.); (P.G.)
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred Kowalke Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany
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Honeck E, Sanguet A, Schlaepfer MA, Wyler N, Lehmann A. Methods for identifying green infrastructure. SN APPLIED SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s42452-020-03575-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNature forms interdependent networks in a landscape, which is key to the survival of species and the maintenance of genetic diversity. Nature provides crucial socio-economic benefits to people, but they are typically undervalued in political decisions. This has led to the concept of Green Infrastructure (GI), which defines an interlinked network of (semi-)natural areas with high ecological values for wildlife and people, to be conserved and managed in priority to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services. This relatively new concept has been used in different contexts, but with widely diverging interpretations. There is no apparent consensus in the scientific literature on the methodology to map and implement GI. This paper serves as an informed primer for researchers that are new to GI mapping understand the key principles and terminology for the needs of their own case-study, and as a framework for more advance researchers willing to contribute to the formalization of the concept. Through a literature review of articles on creating GI networks, we summarized and evaluated commonly used methods to identify and map GI. We provided key insights for the assessment of diversity, ecosystem services and landscape connectivity, the three ‘pillars’ on which GI identification is based according to its definition. Based on this literature review, we propose 5 theoretical levels toward a more complex, reliable and integrative approach to identify GI networks. We then discuss the applications and limits of such method and point out future challenges for GI identification and implementation.
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Decline in Distribution and Abundance: Urban Hedgehogs under Pressure. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10091606. [PMID: 32916892 PMCID: PMC7552246 DOI: 10.3390/ani10091606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hedgehogs have been found in higher densities in urban compared to rural areas. Recent dramatic declines in rural hedgehog numbers lead us to pose the question: how are hedgehogs faring in urban areas? In this study, we examined how hedgehog numbers have changed in the city of Zurich, Switzerland, in the last 25 years. We compared data collected through citizen science projects conducted in 1992 and 2016–2018, including: observations of hedgehogs, data from footprint tunnels, and capture-mark recapture studies. We found that hedgehog numbers have declined by 41%, from the former average of more than 30 individuals per km2, in the last 25 years. In the same time span, hedgehogs have lost 18% of their former urban distribution. The reasons for this decline are still unknown. Intensification of urban buildup, reduction of green space quality, the use of pesticides, parasites, or diseases, as well as increasing numbers of badgers, which are hedgehog predators, in urban areas are discussed as potential causes. Worryingly, these results suggest that hedgehogs are now under increasing pressure not only in rural but also in urban areas, their former refuges. Abstract Increasing urbanization and densification are two of the largest global threats to biodiversity. However, certain species thrive in urban spaces. Hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus have been found in higher densities in green areas of settlements as compared to rural spaces. With recent studies pointing to dramatically declining hedgehog numbers in rural areas, we pose the question: how do hedgehogs fare in urban spaces, and do these spaces act as refuges? In this study, recent (2016–2018) and past (1992) hedgehog abundance and distribution were compared across the city of Zurich, Switzerland using citizen science methods, including: footprint tunnels, capture-mark recapture, and incidental sightings. Our analyses revealed consistent negative trends: Overall hedgehog distribution decreased by 17.6% ± 4.7%, whereas abundance declined by 40.6% (mean abundance 32 vs. 19 hedgehogs/km2, in past and recent time, respectively), with one study plot even showing a 91% decline in this period (78 vs. 7 hedgehogs/km2, respectively). We discuss possible causes of this rapid decline: increased urban densification, reduction of insect biomass, and pesticide use, as well as the role of increasing populations of badgers (a hedgehog predator) and parasites or diseases. Our results suggest that hedgehogs are now under increasing pressure not only in rural but also in urban areas, their former refuges.
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Pliscoff P, Simonetti JA, Grez AA, Vergara PM, Barahona-Segovia RM. Defining corridors for movement of multiple species in a forest-plantation landscape. Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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25
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McNicol CM, Bavin D, Bearhop S, Bridges J, Croose E, Gill R, Goodwin CED, Lewis J, MacPherson J, Padfield D, Schofield H, Silk MJ, Tomlinson AJ, McDonald RA. Postrelease movement and habitat selection of translocated pine martens Martes martes. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:5106-5118. [PMID: 32551086 PMCID: PMC7297779 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring postrelease establishment and movement of animals is important in evaluating conservation translocations. We translocated 39 wild pine martens Martes martes (19 females, 20 males) from Scotland to Wales. We released them into forested areas with no conspecifics in 2015, followed by a second release in 2016, alongside the previously released animals. We used radio-tracking to describe postrelease movement and habitat selection. Six martens (15%) were not re-encountered during the tracking period, of which four undertook long-distance dispersal. For the remaining individuals, we characterized two phases of movement, "exploration" followed by "settlement," that differed between releases. In the first release, martens remained in exploration phase for a mean of 14.5 days (SE = 3.9 days) and settled at a mean distance of 8.7 km (SE = 1.8 km) from release sites, whereas martens released in year two, alongside resident conspecifics, traveled away from release sites at a faster rate, settling sooner, at a mean of 6.6 days (SE = 1.8 days), but further, at a mean distance of 14.0 km (SE = 1.7 km) from release sites. Animals released in year one did not exhibit habitat preferences overall but within forests they favored recently felled areas, whereas animals released in year two showed strong selection for forested habitat but did not discriminate between forest types. The presence of conspecifics appeared influential for settlement and site fidelity of translocated martens and was associated with more rapid but more distant dispersal of the later cohort. Releases of animals in close proximity appeared to promote site fidelity and rapid establishment of ranges in the recipient environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Bavin
- Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Vincent Wildlife TrustEastnorLedburyUK
| | - Stuart Bearhop
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | | | | | - Robin Gill
- Forest ResearchAlice Holt LodgeFarnhamUK
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Padfield
- Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | | | - Matthew J. Silk
- Environment and Sustainability InstituteUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
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A Multispecies Assessment to Identify the Functional Connectivity of Amphibians in a Human-Dominated Landscape. ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/ijgi9050287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Preserving functional connectivity is a key goal of conservation management. However, the spatially confined conservation areas may not allow for dispersal and gene flow for the intended long-term persistence of populations in fragmented landscapes. We provide a regional multi-species assessment to quantify functional connectivity for five amphibian species in a human dominated landscape in the Swiss lowlands. A set of resistance maps were derived based on expert opinion and a sensitivity analysis was conducted to compare the effect of each resistance scenario on modelled connectivity. Deriving multi-species corridors is a robust way to identify movement hotspots that provide valuable baseline information to reinforce protective measures and green infrastructure.
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27
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Contribution of Connectivity Assessments to Green Infrastructure (GI). ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/ijgi9040212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
A major goal of green infrastructure (GI) is to provide functional networks of habitats and ecosystems to maintain biodiversity long-term, while at the same time optimizing landscape and ecosystem functions and services to meet human needs. Traditionally, connectivity studies are informed by movement ecology with species-specific attributes of the type and timing of movement (e.g., dispersal, foraging, mating) and movement distances, while spatial environmental data help delineate movement pathways across landscapes. To date, a range of methods and approaches are available that (a) are relevant across any organism and movement type independent of time and space scales, (b) are ready-to-use as standalone freeware or custom GIS implementation, and (c) produce appealing visual outputs that facilitate communication with land managers. However, to enhance the robustness of connectivity assessments and ensure that current trends in connectivity modeling contribute to GI with their full potential, common denominators on which to ground planning and design strategies are required. Likewise, comparable, repeatable connectivity assessments will be needed to put results of these scientific tools into practice for multi-functional GI plans and implementation. In this paper, we discuss use and limitations of state-of-the-art connectivity methods in contributing to GI implementation.
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28
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The ‘GartenApp’: Assessing and Communicating the Ecological Potential of Private Gardens. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su12010095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Private gardens make up large parts of urban green space. In contrast to public green spaces, planning and management is usually uncoordinated and independent of municipal planning and management strategies. Therefore, the potential for private gardens to provide ecosystem services and habitat and to function as corridors for wildlife is not fully utilized. In order to improve public knowledge on gardens, as well as provide individual gardeners with information on what they can contribute to enhance ecosystem services provision, we developed a GIS-based web application for the city of Braunschweig (Germany): the ‘GartenApp’ (garden app). Users of the app have to outline their garden on a web map and provide information on biodiversity related features and management practices. Finally, they are asked about observations of well recognizable species in their gardens. As an output, the gardeners are provided with an estimate of the ecosystem services their garden provides, with an evaluation of the biodiversity friendliness, customized advice on improving ecosystem services provision, and results from connectivity models that show gardeners the role of their garden in the green network of the city. In this paper, we describe the app architecture and show the first results from its application. We finish with a discussion on the potential of GIS-based web applications for urban sustainability, planning and conservation.
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Xu J, Fan F, Liu Y, Dong J, Chen J. Construction of Ecological Security Patterns in Nature Reserves Based on Ecosystem Services and Circuit Theory: A Case Study in Wenchuan, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16173220. [PMID: 31484402 PMCID: PMC6747240 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Facing the demands of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service improvement, the spatial pattern optimization of nature reserves has always been a research topic of interest. However, there remains a lack of methodological guidance in the planning of nature reserves and the surrounding areas. To promote the landscape sustainability of nature reserves, we constructed ecological security patterns (ESPs) with two scenarios as a case study in Wenchuan, China. In detail, the ecological sources were identified by ecosystem service evaluation, and the resistance surface was characterized by the habitat quality. The ecological corridors were determined based on circuit theory and the minimum cumulative resistance model. The ecological sources were mainly aggregated in the protected areas, with an area of more than 1000 ha; the high-resistance values were mainly in the area with dense roads or high elevation. There were 21 corridors in the scenario of only optimizing the nature reserve, while 31 corridors were identified when considering non-nature reserves, and the landscape connectivity was enhanced accordingly. The result supported constructing the ESPs between nature and non-nature reserves in Wenchuan to further protect pandas, and a methodological contribution was made to understand the differences of ESPs between them, thus supporting a methodological formulation of sustainable landscape patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianying Xu
- College of Resource, Environmental and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Feifei Fan
- College of Resource, Environmental and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Yanxu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Jianquan Dong
- Laboratory for Earth Surface Processes, Ministry of Education, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Jixing Chen
- College of Resource, Environmental and Tourism, Capital Normal University, Beijing 100048, China.
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Gardiner R, Hamer R, Leos‐Barajas V, Peñaherrera‐Palma C, Jones ME, Johnson C. State-space modeling reveals habitat perception of a small terrestrial mammal in a fragmented landscape. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:9804-9814. [PMID: 31534695 PMCID: PMC6745662 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss is a major cause of species loss and is expected to increase. Loss of habitat is often associated with fragmentation of remaining habitat. Whether species can persist in fragmented landscapes may depend on their movement behavior, which determines their capability to respond flexibility to changes in habitat structure and spatial distribution of patches.Movement is frequently generalized to describe a total area used, or segmented to highlight resource use, often overlooking finer-scale individual behaviors. We applied hidden Markov models (HMM) to movement data from 26 eastern bettongs (Bettongia gaimardi) in fragmented landscapes. HMMs are able to identify distinct behavior states associated with different movement patterns and discover how these behaviors are associated with habitat features.Three distinct behavior states were identified and interpreted as denning, foraging, and fast-traveling. The probability of occurrence of each state, and of transitions between them, was predicted by variation in tree-canopy cover and understorey vegetation density. Denning was associated with woodland with low canopy cover but high vegetation density, foraging with high canopy cover but low vegetation density, and fast-traveling with low canopy cover and low vegetation density.Bettongs did move outside woodland patches, often fast-traveling through pasture and using smaller stands of trees as stepping stones between neighboring patches. Males were more likely to fast-travel and venture outside woodlands patches, while females concentrated their movement within woodland patches. Synthesis and applications: Our work demonstrates the value of using animal movement to understand how animals respond to variation in habitat structure, including fragmentation. Analysis using HMMs was able to characterize distinct habitat types needed for foraging and denning, and identify landscape features that facilitate movement between patches. Future work should extend the use of individual movement analyses to guide management of fragmented habitat in ways that support persistence of species potentially threatened by habitat loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riana Gardiner
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - Rowena Hamer
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - Vianey Leos‐Barajas
- Department of StatisticsIowa State UniversityAmesIAUSA
- Department of Business Administration and EconomicsBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | | | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
| | - Chris Johnson
- School of Natural SciencesUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTASAustralia
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31
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Atlas JE, Fu J. Isolation by resistance analysis reveals major barrier effect imposed by the Tsinling Mountains on the Chinese wood frog. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. E. Atlas
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph Ontario Canada
| | - J. Fu
- Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph Ontario Canada
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32
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Balbi M, Petit EJ, Croci S, Nabucet J, Georges R, Madec L, Ernoult A. Title: Ecological relevance of least cost path analysis: An easy implementation method for landscape urban planning. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2019; 244:61-68. [PMID: 31108311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.04.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Landscape connectivity promotes dispersal and other types of movement, including foraging activity; consequently, the inclusion of connectivity concept is a priority in conservation and landscape planning in response to fragmentation. Urban planners expect the scientific community to provide them with an easy, but scientifically rigorous, method to identify highly connecting contexts in landscapes. The least-cost paths (LCP) method is one of the simplest resistance-based models that could be a good candidate to spatially identify areas where movement is potentially favored in a given landscape. We tested the efficiency of LCP predictions to detect highly connecting landscape contexts facilitating individual movements compared to those performed in un-connecting landscape contexts. We used a landscape-level behavioral experiment based on a translocation protocol and individual repeated measures. In the city of Rennes (France), 30 male hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were translocated and radio-tracked in both highly connecting and un-connecting contexts, respectively, which were determined by the presence and absence of modelled LCPs. Individual movement patterns were compared between the two predicted contexts. Individuals travelled longer distances, moved faster, and were more active in the highly connecting contexts compared to the un-connecting contexts. Moreover, in highly connecting contexts, hedgehog movement followed LCP orientation, with individuals using more wooded habitats than other land cover class. By using a rigorous experimental design, this study validated the ecological relevance of LCP analysis to identify highly connecting areas, and could be easily implemented by urban landscape planners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Balbi
- Univ Rennes, UR1, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, évolution), UMR 6553, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Eric J Petit
- UMR ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, Agrocampus Ouest, INRA, 35042, Rennes, France.
| | - Solene Croci
- CNRS, Université de Rennes 2, EPHE-PSL, Université d'Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université de Caen Normandie, Université de Nantes, UMR LETG, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
| | - Jean Nabucet
- CNRS, Université de Rennes 2, EPHE-PSL, Université d'Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université de Caen Normandie, Université de Nantes, UMR LETG, Place du Recteur Henri Le Moal, 35043, Rennes Cedex, France.
| | - Romain Georges
- Univ Rennes, UR1, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, évolution), UMR 6553, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Luc Madec
- Univ Rennes, UR1, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, évolution), UMR 6553, F-35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Aude Ernoult
- Univ Rennes, UR1, CNRS, ECOBIO (Ecosystèmes, Biodiversité, évolution), UMR 6553, F-35000, Rennes, France.
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Dickson BG, Albano CM, Anantharaman R, Beier P, Fargione J, Graves TA, Gray ME, Hall KR, Lawler JJ, Leonard PB, Littlefield CE, McClure ML, Novembre J, Schloss CA, Schumaker NH, Shah VB, Theobald DM. Circuit-theory applications to connectivity science and conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2019; 33:239-249. [PMID: 30311266 PMCID: PMC6727660 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Conservation practitioners have long recognized ecological connectivity as a global priority for preserving biodiversity and ecosystem function. In the early years of conservation science, ecologists extended principles of island biogeography to assess connectivity based on source patch proximity and other metrics derived from binary maps of habitat. From 2006 to 2008, the late Brad McRae introduced circuit theory as an alternative approach to model gene flow and the dispersal or movement routes of organisms. He posited concepts and metrics from electrical circuit theory as a robust way to quantify movement across multiple possible paths in a landscape, not just a single least-cost path or corridor. Circuit theory offers many theoretical, conceptual, and practical linkages to conservation science. We reviewed 459 recent studies citing circuit theory or the open-source software Circuitscape. We focused on applications of circuit theory to the science and practice of connectivity conservation, including topics in landscape and population genetics, movement and dispersal paths of organisms, anthropogenic barriers to connectivity, fire behavior, water flow, and ecosystem services. Circuit theory is likely to have an effect on conservation science and practitioners through improved insights into landscape dynamics, animal movement, and habitat-use studies and through the development of new software tools for data analysis and visualization. The influence of circuit theory on conservation comes from the theoretical basis and elegance of the approach and the powerful collaborations and active user community that have emerged. Circuit theory provides a springboard for ecological understanding and will remain an important conservation tool for researchers and practitioners around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett G. Dickson
- Conservation Science Partners Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, Northern Arizona University, Box 5694, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, U.S.A
| | - Christine M. Albano
- Conservation Science Partners Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | | | - Paul Beier
- School of Forestry, Northern Arizona University, Box 15018, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, U.S.A
| | - Joe Fargione
- The Nature Conservancy – North America Region, 1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, U.S.A
| | - Tabitha A. Graves
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 38 Mather Drive, West Glacier, MT, 59936, U.S.A
| | - Miranda E. Gray
- Conservation Science Partners Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - Kimberly R. Hall
- The Nature Conservancy – North America Region, 1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN, 55415, U.S.A
| | - Josh J. Lawler
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195, U.S.A
| | - Paul B. Leonard
- U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Science Applications, 101 12th Avenue, Number 110, Fairbanks, AK, 99701, U.S.A
| | - Caitlin E. Littlefield
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195, U.S.A
| | - Meredith L. McClure
- Conservation Science Partners Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
| | - John Novembre
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th Street, Chicago, IL, 60637, U.S.A
| | - Carrie A. Schloss
- The Nature Conservancy, 201 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94105, U.S.A
| | - Nathan H. Schumaker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 200 Southwest 35th Street, Corvallis, OR, 97330, U.S.A
| | - Viral B. Shah
- Julia Computing, 45 Prospect Street, Cambridge, MA, 02139, U.S.A
| | - David M. Theobald
- Conservation Science Partners Inc., 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA, 96161, U.S.A
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Santini L, González‐Suárez M, Russo D, Gonzalez‐Voyer A, von Hardenberg A, Ancillotto L. One strategy does not fit all: determinants of urban adaptation in mammals. Ecol Lett 2019; 22:365-376. [PMID: 30575254 PMCID: PMC7379640 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Urbanisation exposes wildlife to new challenging conditions and environmental pressures. Some mammalian species have adapted to these novel environments, but it remains unclear which characteristics allow them to persist. To address this question, we identified 190 mammals regularly recorded in urban settlements worldwide, and used phylogenetic path analysis to test hypotheses regarding which behavioural, ecological and life history traits favour adaptation to urban environments for different mammalian groups. Our results show that all urban mammals produce larger litters; whereas other traits such as body size, behavioural plasticity and diet diversity were important for some but not all taxonomic groups. This variation highlights the idiosyncrasies of the urban adaptation process and likely reflects the diversity of ecological niches and roles mammals can play. Our study contributes towards a better understanding of mammal association to humans, which will ultimately allow the design of wildlife-friendly urban environments and contribute to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Santini
- Department of Environmental ScienceInstitute of Water and Wetland ResearchRadboud UniversityNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Manuela González‐Suárez
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologySchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of ReadingWhiteknightsReadingRG6 6ASUK
| | - Danilo Russo
- Wildlife Research UnitDipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIvia Università 100I‐80055Portici, NapoliItaly
| | - Alejandro Gonzalez‐Voyer
- Instituto de EcologíaDepartamento de Ecología EvolutivaUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoCiudad México04510México
| | - Achaz von Hardenberg
- Conservation Biology Research GroupDepartment of Biological SciencesUniversity of ChesterParkgate RoadChesterCH1 4BJUK
| | - Leonardo Ancillotto
- Wildlife Research UnitDipartimento di AgrariaUniversità degli Studi di Napoli Federico IIvia Università 100I‐80055Portici, NapoliItaly
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Barthel LMF, Hofer H, Berger A. An easy, flexible solution to attach devices to hedgehogs ( Erinaceus europaeus) enables long-term high-resolution studies. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:672-679. [PMID: 30680147 PMCID: PMC6342109 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Bio-logging is an essential tool for the investigation of behavior, ecology, and physiology of wildlife. This burgeoning field enables the improvement of population monitoring and conservation efforts, particularly for small, elusive animals where data collection is difficult. Device attachment usually requires species-specific solutions to ensure that data loggers exert minimal influence on the animal's behavior and physiology, and ensure high reliability of data capture. External features or peculiar body shapes often make securing devices difficult for long-term monitoring, as in the case with small spiny mammals. Here, we present a method that enables high-resolution, long-term investigations of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) via GPS and acceleration loggers. We collected data from 17 wild hedgehogs with devices attached between 9 and 42 days. Our results showed that hedgehogs behaved naturally; as individuals curled, moved through dense vegetation, slipped under fences and built regular day nests without any indication of impediment. Our novel method makes it possible to not only attach high-precision devices for substantially longer than previous efforts, but enables detachment and reattachment of devices to the same individual. This makes it possible to quickly respond to unforeseen events and exchange devices, and overcomes the issue of short battery life common to many lightweight loggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon M. F. Barthel
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity ResearchLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
| | - Heribert Hofer
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity ResearchLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
| | - Anne Berger
- Department of Evolutionary EcologyLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
- Berlin‐Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity ResearchLeibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
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Balbi M, Ernoult A, Poli P, Madec L, Guiller A, Martin MC, Nabucet J, Beaujouan V, Petit EJ. Functional connectivity in replicated urban landscapes in the land snail (Cornu aspersum). Mol Ecol 2018; 27:1357-1370. [PMID: 29412498 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Urban areas are highly fragmented and thereby exert strong constraints on individual dispersal. Despite this, some species manage to persist in urban areas, such as the garden snail, Cornu aspersum, which is common in cityscapes despite its low mobility. Using landscape genetic approaches, we combined study area replication and multiscale analysis to determine how landscape composition, configuration and connectivity influence snail dispersal across urban areas. At the overall landscape scale, areas with a high percentage of roads decreased genetic differentiation between populations. At the population scale, genetic differentiation was positively linked with building surface, the proportion of borders where wooded patches and roads appeared side by side and the proportion of borders combining wooded patches and other impervious areas. Analyses based on pairwise genetic distances validated the isolation-by-distance and isolation-by-resistance models for this land snail, with an equal fit to least-cost paths and circuit-theory-based models. Each of the 12 landscapes analysed separately yielded specific relations to environmental features, whereas analyses integrating all replicates highlighted general common effects. Our results suggest that urban transport infrastructures facilitate passive snail dispersal. At a local scale, corresponding to active dispersal, unfavourable habitats (wooded and impervious areas) isolate populations. This work upholds the use of replicated landscapes to increase the generalizability of landscape genetics results and shows how multiscale analyses provide insight into scale-dependent processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manon Balbi
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Aude Ernoult
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Pedro Poli
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Luc Madec
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Annie Guiller
- Edysan FRE 3498, CNRS, Université de Picardie Jules Vernes, Amiens, France
| | - Marie-Claire Martin
- UMR 6553 Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Evolution (Ecobio), CNRS, Université Rennes 1, Rennes, France
| | - Jean Nabucet
- UMR LETG, CNRS, Université de Rennes 2, Rennes Cedex, France
| | | | - Eric J Petit
- ESE, Ecology and Ecosystem Health, INRA, Rennes, France
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Uspensky IV. Blood-sucking ticks (Acarina, Ixodoidea) as an essential component of the urban environment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1134/s0013873817070107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Ecological connectivity in the three-dimensional urban green volume using waveform airborne lidar. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45571. [PMID: 28382936 PMCID: PMC5382541 DOI: 10.1038/srep45571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The movements of organisms and the resultant flows of ecosystem services are strongly shaped by landscape connectivity. Studies of urban ecosystems have relied on two-dimensional (2D) measures of greenspace structure to calculate connectivity. It is now possible to explore three-dimensional (3D) connectivity in urban vegetation using waveform lidar technology that measures the full 3D structure of the canopy. Making use of this technology, here we evaluate urban greenspace 3D connectivity, taking into account the full vertical stratification of the vegetation. Using three towns in southern England, UK, all with varying greenspace structures, we describe and compare the structural and functional connectivity using both traditional 2D greenspace models and waveform lidar-generated vegetation strata (namely, grass, shrubs and trees). Measures of connectivity derived from 3D greenspace are lower than those derived from 2D models, as the latter assumes that all vertical vegetation strata are connected, which is rarely true. Fragmented landscapes that have more complex 3D vegetation showed greater functional connectivity and we found highest 2D to 3D functional connectivity biases for short dispersal capacities of organisms (6 m to 16 m). These findings are particularly pertinent in urban systems where the distribution of greenspace is critical for delivery of ecosystem services.
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Grafius DR, Corstanje R, Siriwardena GM, Plummer KE, Harris JA. A bird's eye view: using circuit theory to study urban landscape connectivity for birds. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2017; 32:1771-1787. [PMID: 32025095 PMCID: PMC6979508 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-017-0548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Connectivity is fundamental to understanding how landscape form influences ecological function. However, uncertainties persist due to the difficulty and expense of gathering empirical data to drive or to validate connectivity models, especially in urban areas, where relationships are multifaceted and the habitat matrix cannot be considered to be binary. OBJECTIVES This research used circuit theory to model urban bird flows (i.e. 'current'), and compared results to observed abundance. The aims were to explore the ability of this approach to predict wildlife flows and to test relationships between modelled connectivity and variation in abundance. METHODS Circuitscape was used to model functional connectivity in Bedford, Luton/Dunstable, and Milton Keynes, UK, for great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus), drawing parameters from published studies of woodland bird flows in urban environments. Model performance was then tested against observed abundance data. RESULTS Modelled current showed a weak yet positive agreement with combined abundance for P. major and C. caeruleus. Weaker correlations were found for other woodland species, suggesting the approach may be expandable if re-parameterised. CONCLUSIONS Trees provide suitable habitat for urban woodland bird species, but their location in large, contiguous patches and corridors along barriers also facilitates connectivity networks throughout the urban matrix. Urban connectivity studies are well-served by the advantages of circuit theory approaches, and benefit from the empirical study of wildlife flows in these landscapes to parameterise this type of modelling more explicitly. Such results can prove informative and beneficial in designing urban green space and new developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren R. Grafius
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL UK
| | - Ron Corstanje
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL UK
| | | | - Kate E. Plummer
- British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2PU UK
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, TR10 9FE UK
| | - Jim A. Harris
- School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL UK
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Head JR, Chang H, Li Q, Hoover CM, Wilke T, Clewing C, Carlton EJ, Liang S, Lu D, Zhong B, Remais JV. Genetic Evidence of Contemporary Dispersal of the Intermediate Snail Host of Schistosoma japonicum: Movement of an NTD Host Is Facilitated by Land Use and Landscape Connectivity. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2016; 10:e0005151. [PMID: 27977674 PMCID: PMC5157946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the dispersal of hosts and vectors-through active or passive movement-is known to facilitate the spread and re-emergence of certain infectious diseases, little is known about the movement ecology of Oncomelania spp., intermediate snail host of the parasite Schistosoma japonicum, and its consequences for the spread of schistosomiasis in East and Southeast Asia. In China, despite intense control programs aimed at preventing schistosomiasis transmission, there is evidence in recent years of re-emergence and persistence of infection in some areas, as well as an increase in the spatial extent of the snail host. A quantitative understanding of the dispersal characteristics of the intermediate host can provide new insights into the spatial dynamics of transmission, and can assist public health officials in limiting the geographic spread of infection. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Oncomelania hupensis robertsoni snails (n = 833) were sampled from 29 sites in Sichuan, China, genotyped, and analyzed using Bayesian assignment to estimate the rate of recent snail migration across sites. Landscape connectivity between each site pair was estimated using the geographic distance distributions derived from nine environmental models: Euclidean, topography, incline, wetness, land use, watershed, stream use, streams and channels, and stream velocity. Among sites, 14.4% to 32.8% of sampled snails were identified as recent migrants, with 20 sites comprising >20% migrants. Migration rates were generally low between sites, but at 8 sites, over 10% of the overall host population originated from one proximal site. Greater landscape connectivity was significantly associated with increased odds of migration, with the minimum path distance (as opposed to median or first quartile) emerging as the strongest predictor across all environmental models. Models accounting for land use explained the largest proportion of the variance in migration rates between sites. A greater number of irrigation channels leading into a site was associated with an increase in the site's propensity to both attract and retain snails. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our findings have important implications for controlling the geographic spread of schistosomiasis in China, through improved understanding of the dispersal capacity of the parasite's intermediate host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R. Head
- Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Howard Chang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Qunna Li
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Hoover
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas Wilke
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Catharina Clewing
- Department of Animal Ecology and Systematics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Elizabeth J. Carlton
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Anschutz, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Song Liang
- Department of Environmental & Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Ding Lu
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Zhong
- Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu, China
| | - Justin V. Remais
- Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
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Norton BA, Evans KL, Warren PH. Urban Biodiversity and Landscape Ecology: Patterns, Processes and Planning. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-016-0018-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Divergent Perspectives on Landscape Connectivity Reveal Consistent Effects from Genes to Communities. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s40823-016-0009-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Abrahms B, Sawyer SC, Jordan NR, McNutt JW, Wilson AM, Brashares JS. Does wildlife resource selection accurately inform corridor conservation? J Appl Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Briana Abrahms
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California‐Berkeley 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94720 USA
| | - Sarah C. Sawyer
- USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region 1323 Club Drive Vallejo CA 94592 USA
| | - Neil R. Jordan
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia Taronga Western Plains Zoo Wildlife Reproduction Centre Obley Road Dubbo NSW 2830 Australia
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | - J. Weldon McNutt
- Botswana Predator Conservation Trust Private Bag 13 Maun Botswana
| | - Alan M. Wilson
- Structure & Motion Lab Royal Veterinary College University of London Hatfield AL97TA UK
| | - Justin S. Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California‐Berkeley 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley CA 94720 USA
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Lin BB, Philpott SM, Jha S. The future of urban agriculture and biodiversity-ecosystem services: Challenges and next steps. Basic Appl Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2015.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 243] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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