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Rezvani A, Lorestani N, Nematollahi S, Hemami MR, Ahmadi M. Should I stay or move? Quantifying landscape of fear to enhance environmental management of road networks in a highly transformed landscape. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122192. [PMID: 39142105 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
The development and expansion of road networks pose considerable threats to natural habitats and wildlife, fostering a landscape of fear. In addition to direct mortality caused by road collisions, road construction and maintenance often result in habitat fragmentation and loss, impeding animal movement and gene flow between populations. Mountain ungulates are already confined to fragmented habitat patches and roads can cause substantial disturbances to their critical ecological processes, such as dispersal and migration. In this study, we employed two key mountain ungulates, the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) and mouflon (Ovis gmelini), as functional models to examine how road networks impact the quantity and connectivity of natural habitats in southwestern Iran, where extensive road construction has led to significant landscape changes. We used the MaxEnt method to predict species distribution, the circuit theory to evaluate habitat connectivity, and the Spatial Road Disturbance Index (SPROADI) to assess road impacts. During the modeling process, we selected eleven important variables and employed a model parametrization strategy to identify the optimal configuration for the MaxEnt model. For SPROADI index we used three sub-indices, including traffic intensity, vicinity impact, and fragmentation grade. We then integrated the results of these analyses to identify areas with the most significant environmental impacts of roads on the coherency of the natural habitats. The findings indicate that suitable habitats for wild goats are widely distributed across the study area, while suitable habitats for mouflon are primarily concentrated in the northeastern region. Conservation gap analysis revealed that only 8% of wild goat habitats and 7% of mouflon habitats are covered by protected areas (PAs). The SPROADI map highlighted that 23% of the study area is negatively influenced by road networks. Moreover, 30.4% of highest-probability corridors for mouflon, and 25.7% for wild goat, were highly vulnerable to the impacts of roads. Our combined approach enabled us to quantitatively assess species-specific vulnerability to the impacts of heavy road networks. This study emphasizes the urgent need to address the negative effects of road networks on wildlife habitats and connectivity corridors. Our approach effectively identifies sensitive areas, which can help inform mitigation strategies and support more effective conservation planning in significantly transformed landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azita Rezvani
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Niloufar Lorestani
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Shekoufeh Nematollahi
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Mahmoud-Reza Hemami
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Mohsen Ahmadi
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran.
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2
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Ridley FA, Rushton SP, Hickinbotham EJ, Suggitt AJ, McGowan PJK, Mair L. Global mismatches between threat mapping research effort and the potential of threat abatement actions to reduce extinction risk. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14271. [PMID: 38623873 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Threat mapping is a necessary tool for identifying and abating direct threats to species in the ongoing extinction crisis. There are known gaps in the threat mapping literature for particular threats and geographic locations, and it remains unclear if the distribution of research effort is appropriately targeted relative to conservation need. We aimed to determine the drivers of threat mapping research effort and to quantify gaps that, if filled, could inform actions with the highest potential to reduce species' extinction risk. We used a negative binomial generalized linear model to analyze research effort as a function of threat abatement potential (quantified as the potential reduction in species extinction risk from abating threats), species richness, land area, and human pressure. The model showed that threat mapping research effort increased by 1.1 to 1.2 times per standardized unit change in threat abatement potential. However, species richness and land area were stronger predictors of research effort overall. The greatest areas of mismatch between research effort and threat abatement potential, receiving disproportionately low research effort, were related to the threats to species of agriculture, aquaculture, and biological resource use across the tropical regions of the Americas, Asia, and Madagascar. Conversely, the threat of linear infrastructure (e.g., roads and rails) across regions, the threat of biological resource use (e.g., hunting or collection) in sub-Saharan Africa, and overall threats in North America and Europe all received disproportionately high research effort. We discuss the range of methodological and sociopolitical factors that may be behind the overall trends and specific areas of mismatch we found. We urge a stronger emphasis on targeting research effort toward those threats and geographic locations where threat abatement activities could make the greatest contribution to reducing global species extinction risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca A Ridley
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Stephen P Rushton
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Emily J Hickinbotham
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew J Suggitt
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Philip J K McGowan
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Louise Mair
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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3
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Blais BR, Shaw CJ, Brocka CW, Johnson SL, Lauger KK. Anthropogenic, environmental and temporal associations with vertebrate road mortality in a wildland-urban interface of a biodiverse desert ecoregion. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240439. [PMID: 39086836 PMCID: PMC11288681 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Revised: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Road mortality adversely affects wildlife populations. As urbanization and infrastructure densities expand, transportation and wildlife management aim to mitigate wildlife-vehicle conflicts while conserving biodiversity. Roadways in aridland ecosystems can invariably and adversely impact wildlife differently from temperate and other biomes, yet these rapidly urbanizing regions are understudied as are urban-rural gradients. We conducted road-cruise surveys (n = 204; 2018-2023) to assess anthropogenic, environmental, and temporal factors associated with vertebrate roadkill across the wildland-urban interface of Arizona's biodiverse Sonoran Desert ecoregion-already subjected to increased human development and climate change. Of n = 2019 vertebrates observed, 28.5% were roadkill. Increasing urbanization levels were associated with reduced vertebrate abundance on roads and increased road-killed endothermic vertebrates. Traffic volume was strongly associated with reduced vertebrate abundance and increased roadkill; additive effects on roadkill began at approximately 20 vehicles. Daily low temperature and/or relative humidity were also associated with roadkill across vertebrate groups. We provide empirical evidence to understand wildlife-roadkill associations across expanding wildland-urban interfaces to inform effective roadkill mitigation and wildlife conservation management strategies in biodiverse aridland regions. We recommend that managers mitigate or avoid development in rural areas that possess high biodiversity, valuable waterways or migration corridors, and populations of vulnerable species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian R. Blais
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
- Southwest Zoologists’ League, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Corey J. Shaw
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Colin W. Brocka
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Samantha L. Johnson
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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4
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Abrha AM, Gedeon K, Podsiadlowski L, Weldesilasie DM, Töpfer T. Occupancy of the Ethiopian endemic Moorland Francolin in pristine and degraded Afroalpine biome using a camera trap approach. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10551. [PMID: 37915806 PMCID: PMC10617016 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Occupancy modeling is an essential tool for understanding species-habitat associations, thereby helping to plan the conservation of rare and threatened wildlife species. The conservation status and ecology of several avian species, particularly ground-dwelling birds, are poorly known in Ethiopia. We used camera trap-based occupancy modeling to investigate habitat covariate influence on occupancy (Ψ) and detection probability (ρ) estimates of Moorland Francolins Scleroptila psilolaema from spatially replicated surveys across both relatively pristine and disturbed landscapes in the Afroalpine biome of Ethiopia. Model-averaged estimate of ψ ^ across all sites was 0.76 (SD = 0.28) and ρ ^ was 0.77 (SD = 0.13) in the pristine landscape. The ψ ^ of the species in the disturbed landscape was 0.56 (SD = 0.19) and ρ ^ was 0.48 (SD = 0.06). As hypothesized, based on our model-averaged beta coefficient estimates (βmean ± SE), predators significantly negatively influenced the occupancy of Moorland Francolins in pristine habitat. We also found a significant positive association of occupancy with herb species richness. Contrary to our prediction, distance to road significantly negatively influence the occupancy of the species, suggesting that occupancy probability was highest in proximity to roadsides and trails in the pristine habitat. There was no significant influence of habitat covariates on the occupancy of the species in the disturbed habitat. The most important covariates that significantly influence the detectability of the species in pristine habitat included sampling occasion and precipitation. The greater occupancy and detectability of this endemic species in the pristine habitat could be linked with the particular conservation status and management of this biodiversity hotspot in the central highlands of Ethiopia. Our results suggest that strict legal enforcement is required to sustainably preserve Moorland Francolins and the ecological integrity of the entire Afroalpine biome. We recommend using camera traps in order to develop realistic and effective conservation and management strategies for rare, sensitive, cryptic, and ground-dwelling animals in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abadi Mehari Abrha
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change Bonn Germany
- Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Ecology University of Bonn Bonn Germany
- Department of Animal, Rangeland and Wildlife Science Mekelle University Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - Kai Gedeon
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change Bonn Germany
| | | | - Demis Mamo Weldesilasie
- Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management Guassa Community Conservation Area Mehal Meda Ethiopia
| | - Till Töpfer
- Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change Bonn Germany
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Hadad E, Kosicki JZ, Yosef R. Population trends of striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) in Israel for the past five decades. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3982. [PMID: 36894580 PMCID: PMC9998626 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31137-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is considered "Near Threatened" globally and "Vulnerable" in the Middle East. In Israel, the species has experienced extreme population fluctuations owing to poisoning campaigns during the British Mandate (1918-1948) which were also further exacerbated by the Israeli authorities in the mid-twentieth century. We collated data from the archives of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority for the past 47 years to elucidate the temporal and geographic trends of this species. During this period we found a 68% increase in population and the estimated density is at present 2.1 individuals/100km2. This is significantly higher than all previous estimates for Israel. It appears that the major factors contributing to their phenomenal increase in number are the increase in prey availability because of the intensification of human development, preying on Bedouin livestock, the extinction of the leopard (Panthera pardus nimr), and the hunting of wild boars (Sus scorfa) and other agricultural pests in some parts of the country. Reasons should also be sought in increasing people's awareness as well as in advanced technological capabilities that have allowed an improved observation and reporting system. Future studies need to understand the effects of the large concentrations of striped hyenas on the spatial distribution and temporal activity of other sympatric wildlife to ensure the continued persistence of the wildlife guilds in the Israeli nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezra Hadad
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, 3 Am Ve'Olamo Street, 95463, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jakub Z Kosicki
- Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Reuven Yosef
- Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, P. O. Box 272, 8810201, Eilat, Israel
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6
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Mohammadi A, Nayeri D, Alambeigi A, Glikman JA. Evaluation of Motorists Perceptions Toward Collision of an Endangered Large Herbivore in Iran. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
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7
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Animal-vehicle collisions during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 in the Krakow metropolitan region, Poland. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7572. [PMID: 35534651 PMCID: PMC9082987 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11526-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The interrelations between human activity and animal populations are of increasing interest due to the emergence of the novel COVID-19 and the consequent pandemic across the world. Anthropogenic impacts of the pandemic on animals in urban-suburban environments are largely unknown. In this study, the temporal and spatial patterns of urban animal response to the COVID-19 lockdown were assessed using animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) data. We collected AVC data over two 6-month periods in 2019 and 2020 (January to June) from the largest metropolis in southern Poland, which included lockdown months. Furthermore, we used traffic data to understand the impact of lockdown on AVC in the urban area. Our analysis of 1063 AVC incidents revealed that COVID-19 related lockdown decreased AVC rates in suburban areas. However, in the urban area, even though traffic volume had significantly reduced, AVC did not decrease significantly, suggesting that lockdown did not influence the collision rates in the urban area. Our results suggest that there is a need to focus on understanding the effects of changes in traffic volume on both human behaviour and wildlife space use on the resulting impacts on AVC in the urban area.
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8
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Mansouri I, Dakki M, Squalli W, Achiban H, Mounir M, El Ghadraoui L. Wildlife‐vehicle collisions in Moroccan Atlantic Sahara: Impact on resident species and Afro‐Palearctic birds for conservation purposes. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ismail Mansouri
- Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment Faculty of sciences and technology USMBA Fez Morocco
| | - Mohamed Dakki
- Laboratoire de Géo‐biodiversité et Patrimoine Naturel Scientific Institute (Mohammed V Univ.) Rabat Morocco
| | - Wafae Squalli
- Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment Faculty of sciences and technology USMBA Fez Morocco
| | - Hamid Achiban
- Laboratory of Geo‐environmental Analysis Planning‐Sustainable Development Faculty of Sciences Dhar El Mahraz USMBA Fez Morocco
| | - Mohamed Mounir
- Laboratory of Biotechnology and Valorisation of phytogénétics Resources Faculty of Sciences and Technics Sultan Moulay Sliman University Beni mellal Morocco
| | - Lahsen El Ghadraoui
- Laboratory of Functional Ecology and Genie of Environment Faculty of sciences and technology USMBA Fez Morocco
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9
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Fekete R, Bak H, Vincze O, Süveges K, Molnár VA. Road traffic and landscape characteristics predict the occurrence of native halophytes on roadside verges. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1298. [PMID: 35079052 PMCID: PMC8789788 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05084-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Road management practices, such as winter de-icing create ideal habitats and competitive advantage for salt-tolerant species. We aimed to map the occurrences of halophytes along roads in Hungary. Furthermore, we tested factors that might play a role in the roadside occurrences of five chosen native halophytes from rare to common, we encountered during our field surveys. These were Festuca pseudovina, Limonium gmelinii subsp. hungaricum, Podospermum canum, Puccinellia distans and Spergularia media. We found, that at least one halophyte species was documented in 71% of the total sampling points. Germination experiments indicated that substrate salt concentration significantly decreased germination rates in each of the five species, but in case of L. gmelinii subsp. hungaricum, or P. distans germination occurred on extremely high salt concentrations. Traffic intensity, the presence of other halophytes at the sampling point and the presence of a given species in the surrounding landscape had a significant positive effect on the occurrence of four of the five model species. Our results suggest that the studied species are mostly in the early stage of their roadside spread, colonizing roadsides close to their native distribution ranges. The possibility of a future range expansion along roads cannot be excluded.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Fekete
- grid.7122.60000 0001 1088 8582Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - H. Bak
- grid.7122.60000 0001 1088 8582Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - O. Vincze
- grid.481817.3Department of Tisza Research, Institute of Aquatic Ecology, Centre for Ecological Research, 4026 Debrecen, Hungary ,grid.7399.40000 0004 1937 1397Evolutionary Ecology Group, Hungarian Department of Biology and Ecology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - K. Süveges
- grid.7122.60000 0001 1088 8582Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - V. A. Molnár
- grid.7122.60000 0001 1088 8582Department of Botany, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
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Mohammadi A, Fatemizadeh F. Quantifying Landscape Degradation Following Construction of a Highway Using Landscape Metrics in Southern Iran. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.721313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid expansion of roads is among the strongest drivers of the loss and degradation of natural habitats. The goal of the present study is to quantify landscape fragmentation and degradation before and after the construction of the Isfahan-Shiraz highway in southern Iran. To this end, the ecological impacts of the highway on forests, rangelands, and protected areas were evaluated. Impacts of the construction of the highway were studied within a 1,000-m buffer around the road, which was then overlaid on maps of forests, rangelands, and protected areas. Class area, number of patches, largest patch index, edge density, landscape shape index, mean patch size, and patch cohesion index were used to gauge changes in the spatial configuration of the landscape; the ecological impacts of the highway were quantified using effective mesh size (MESH), division index, and splitting index. The results indicated that after the construction of the highway, 6,406.9 ha of forest habitat, 16,647.1 ha of rangeland habitat, and 912 of the Tang-e Bostanak Protected Area will be lost. The effective MESH metric showed that after the construction of the highway, the area of forest, rangeland habitats and protected area will decrease by 20,537, 49,149, and 71,822 ha, respectively. Our findings revealed drastic habitat loss and landscape fragmentation associated with construction of the highway, serving as references for conservation planning and development.
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11
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Sumasgutner P, Buij R, McClure CJW, Shaw P, Dykstra CR, Kumar N, Rutz C. Raptor research during the COVID-19 pandemic provides invaluable opportunities for conservation biology. BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 2021; 260:109149. [PMID: 35722248 PMCID: PMC9188743 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2020] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Research is underway to examine how a wide range of animal species have responded to reduced levels of human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this perspective article, we argue that raptors (i.e., the orders Accipitriformes, Cariamiformes, Cathartiformes, Falconiformes, and Strigiformes) are particularly well-suited for investigating potential 'anthropause' effects: they are sensitive to environmental perturbation, affected by various human activities, and include many locally and globally threatened species. Lockdowns likely alter extrinsic factors that normally limit raptor populations. These environmental changes are in turn expected to influence - mediated by behavioral and physiological responses - the intrinsic (demographic) factors that ultimately determine raptor population levels and distributions. Using this population-limitation framework, we identify a range of research opportunities and conservation challenges that have arisen during the pandemic, related to changes in human disturbance, light and noise pollution, collision risk, road-kill availability, supplementary feeding, and persecution levels. Importantly, raptors attract intense research interest, with many professional and amateur researchers running long-term monitoring programs, often incorporating community-science components, advanced tracking technology and field-methodological approaches that allow flexible timing, enabling continued data collection before, during, and after COVID-19 lockdowns. To facilitate and coordinate global collaboration, we are hereby launching the 'Global Anthropause Raptor Research Network' (GARRN). We invite the international raptor research community to join this inclusive and diverse group, to tackle ambitious analyses across geographic regions, ecosystems, species, and gradients of lockdown perturbation. Under the most tragic of circumstances, the COVID-19 anthropause has afforded an invaluable opportunity to significantly boost global raptor conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sumasgutner
- Department of Behavioral & Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ralph Buij
- The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, ID 83709, USA
- Animal Ecology Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Phil Shaw
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
| | | | - Nishant Kumar
- Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
- Mansfield College, University of Oxford, Mansfield Road, UK
- Wildlife Institute of India, Uttarakhand 248001, India
| | - Christian Rutz
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9TH, UK
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de Figueiredo Ramalho D, Resende D, de Oliveira TF, Santos RAL, de Souza Aguiar LM. Factors influencing bat road casualties in a Neotropical savanna. Perspect Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pecon.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
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13
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Lala F, Chiyo PI, Kanga E, Omondi P, Ngene S, Severud WJ, Morris AW, Bump J. Wildlife roadkill in the Tsavo Ecosystem, Kenya: identifying hotspots, potential drivers, and affected species. Heliyon 2021; 7:e06364. [PMID: 33748462 PMCID: PMC7972970 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Roadkill is one of the highest causes of wildlife mortality and is of global conservation concern. Most roadkill studies have focused on wildlife in developed countries such as the United States of America and temperate biomes, but there are limited data for the impacts of roads on wildlife in the African tropics, where road infrastructure development is projected to grow rapidly in natural environments and conservation areas. The Tsavo Conservation Area is an important biodiversity hotspot in eastern Kenya and is bisected by a major highway and railways that connect the port of Mombasa to the interior. Along this infrastructure corridor, roadkill was recorded for 164 days over an 11-year period (2007–2018). In total, 1,436 roadkill were recorded from 13,008 km driven of a 164.42 km Nairobi-Mombasa road representing 0.11 collisions per kilometer. The majority of roadkill were small to medium sized mammals (<15kg) (53%; n = 756), whereas birds comprised 32% (n = 460), reptiles 10% (n = 143), with the remaining 5% (n = 77) being large mammals (>15kg). Of the 460 birds recorded, 264 were identifiable represented by 62 species. All large mammals comprising 10 species were identified, including the African elephant, Loxodonta africana and the endangered African wild dog, Lycaon pictus. Thirteen species of small mammal were also identified dominated by Kirk's dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii). Reptiles were represented by 11 species which were identified to the species level. Roadkill hotspots were identified using a kernel density method. The spatial distribution of roadkill was associated with adjacent shrub vegetation and proximity to permanent and seasonal rivers, and differences in seasonality and habitats were observed. Roadkill was lowest on road sections that traversed settled areas as opposed to roads adjacent to the protected areas. The results demonstrate that roadkill for two of the taxonomic groups - mammals and birds - appear high with numerous species detected in the Tsavo Conservation Area. These results can be used to focus efforts to reduce wildlife mortality by guiding future mitigation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fredrick Lala
- Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241 00100 Nairobi, Kenya.,University of Minnesota, St. Paul, 55108-6074 MN, USA
| | - Patrick I Chiyo
- Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 24481 00502 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Erustus Kanga
- Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, P. O. Box 41394 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Patrick Omondi
- Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Shadrack Ngene
- Kenya Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 40241 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Joseph Bump
- University of Minnesota, St. Paul, 55108-6074 MN, USA
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14
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Hill JE, DeVault TL, Belant JL. A review of ecological factors promoting road use by mammals. Mamm Rev 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob E. Hill
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY13210USA
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia PO Drawer E Aiken SC29802USA
| | - Travis L. DeVault
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia PO Drawer E Aiken SC29802USA
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Global Wildlife Conservation Center State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry 1 Forestry Drive Syracuse NY13210USA
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15
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Nematollahi S, Fakheran S, Kienast F, Jafari A. Application of InVEST habitat quality module in spatially vulnerability assessment of natural habitats (case study: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, Iran). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2020; 192:487. [PMID: 32621254 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
There has been a growing pressure of human activities, especially road network, on natural habitats of the world, which has led to habitat degradation and loss of ecosystem services. To mitigate the impacts of human activities, appropriate studies quantifying ecosystem services and assessing ecological impacts of road network are essential. The main goal of this study was modeling habitat quality and habitat degradation of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in the southwestern part of Iran, which is among the most important habitats for wild sheep (Ovis orientalis) classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. In this study, we used the habitat quality module of the InVEST software (Integrated Valuation of Environmental Services and Tradeoffs), which was driven from land use/cover data, information on anthropogenic threats, and expert knowledge. We tested the reliability of the habitat quality values by comparing them with the distribution map of wild sheep obtained from the Department of the Environment. Then, to have a more comprehensive assessment of the roads' effects on the natural habitats of this province, considering ecosystem services model, the Spatial Road Disturbance Index (SPROADI) was applied as a landscape index. The results of this study revealed that the east and north eastern parts of the study area which were among the most suitable habitats for wild sheep were highly affected by road network. Overall, findings of our study provided useful information on the spatially explicit distribution of habitat quality and degradation which were a valuable input for conservation planning and enhancing ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shekoufeh Nematollahi
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Sima Fakheran
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, 84156-83111, Iran.
| | - Felix Kienast
- Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903, Birmensdorf, Switzerland
| | - Ali Jafari
- Department of Natural Resources and Earth Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, 88186-34141, Iran
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Al-Razi H, Maria M, Bin Muzaffar S. Mortality of primates due to roads and power lines in two forest patches in Bangladesh. ZOOLOGIA 2019. [DOI: 10.3897/zoologia.36.e33540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Primates
are in imminent risk of extinction due to different types of anthropogenic activities. Mortality due to road accidents and electrocution from power lines are among the major direct anthropogenic threats to the survival of primates. We collected primate mortality data from 2015 to 2017 at Lawachara National Park and Satchari National Park in northeastern Bangladesh. We recorded 27 fatalities in five species of primates caused by road accidents (n = 15) and electrocution (n = 12). Most mortality records were for Trachypithecus phayrei (Blyth, 1847) (n = 8) while the lowest recorded mortality was for Macaca mulatta (Zimmermann, 1780) (n = 3). Ninety percent of primates in Bangladesh are threatened and populations are gradually declining. Our results suggest that roads and power supply lines are major sources of primate mortality that should be managed in these two forests. We strongly suggest avoiding construction of roads and power supply lines inside forests. Furthermore, control of the speed limit of vehicles inside the forests, use of insulated power lines, maintenance of natural canopy bridges and preparation of artificial canopy bridges are strongly recommended.
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