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Zhang S, Zhao J, Yao M. Urban landscape-level biodiversity assessments of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates by environmental DNA metabarcoding. J Environ Manage 2023; 340:117971. [PMID: 37119629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Globally, expansive urbanization profoundly alters natural habitats and the associated biota. Monitoring biodiversity in cities can provide essential information for conservation management, but the complexity of urban landscapes poses serious challenges to conventional observational and capture-based surveys. Here we assessed pan-vertebrate biodiversity, including both aquatic and terrestrial taxa, using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampled from 109 water sites across Beijing, China. Using eDNA metabarcoding with a single primer set (Tele02), we detected 126 vertebrate species, including 73 fish, 39 birds, 11 mammals, and 3 reptiles belonging to 91 genera, 46 families, and 22 orders. The probability of detection from eDNA varied substantially among species and was related to their lifestyle, as shown by the greater detectability of fish compared to that of terrestrial and arboreal (birds and mammals) groups, as well as the greater detectability of water birds compared to that of forest birds (Wilcoxon rank-sum test p = 0.007). Furthermore, the eDNA detection probabilities across all vertebrates (Wilcoxon rank-sum test p = 0.009), as well as for birds (p < 0.001), were higher at lentic sites in comparison with lotic sites. Also, the detected biodiversity was positively correlated with lentic waterbody size for fish (Spearman p = 0.012), but not for other groups. Our results demonstrate the capacity of eDNA metabarcoding to efficiently surveil diverse vertebrate communities across an extensive spatial scale in heterogenous urban landscapes. With further methodological development and optimization, the eDNA approach has great potential for non-invasive, efficient, economic, and timely assessments of biodiversity responses to urbanization, thus guiding city ecosystem conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jindong Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Meng Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China; Institute of Ecology, College of Urban and Environmental Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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Salvatori M, Oberosler V, Rinaldi M, Franceschini A, Truschi S, Pedrini P, Rovero F. Crowded mountains: Long-term effects of human outdoor recreation on a community of wild mammals monitored with systematic camera trapping. Ambio 2023; 52:1085-1097. [PMID: 36626062 PMCID: PMC10160289 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-022-01825-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Outdoor recreation in natural areas has become an increasingly popular activity globally, yet the long-term effects on wildlife are poorly known. Reconciling human access to nature and wildlife conservation requires sound evaluations of how outdoor activities affect biodiversity in space and time. We aimed to contribute to this topic by asking whether tourism in the world-renown Dolomites, Italy, affected wild mammals in the long term, and if it elicited spatial or temporal avoidance. We detected mammals by systematic camera trapping over seven consecutive summers at 60, consistently sampled, sites, and estimated trends in occurrence at community and species levels through a dynamic community occupancy model, combined with site use intensity and an index of nocturnality. Overall, 70% of the 520 000 images obtained depicted humans, whose presence intensified over the 7-year period. Nonetheless, both community and most species-level occurrences increased. However, human activities caused a strong temporal avoidance in the whole community, especially in most disturbed sites, while spatial avoidance was observed only for bigger-sized species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Salvatori
- Department of Biology, University of Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy.
| | - Valentina Oberosler
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
| | - Margherita Rinaldi
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
- Ente di Gestione per i Parchi e la Biodiversità Emilia Occidentale, Piazza Ferrari, 5, 43013, Langhirano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Franceschini
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 St. and 85 Ave, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2R3, Canada
- Wildlife Initiative Italia, Via Rovigo, 12, Pederobba, Italy
| | - Stefania Truschi
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Forestry Science, University of Firenze, Piazzale delle Cascine, 18, 50144, Florence, Italy
| | - Paolo Pedrini
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
| | - Francesco Rovero
- Department of Biology, University of Firenze, Via Madonna del Piano, 6, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
- MUSE - Science Museum of Trento, Corso del Lavoro e della Scienza, 3, 38122, Trento, Italy
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Schuster CJ, Kent ML, Peterson JT, Sanders JL. MULTI-STATE OCCUPANCY MODEL ESTIMATES PROBABILITY OF DETECTION OF AN AQUATIC PARASITE USING ENVIRONMENTAL DNA: PSEUDOLOMA NEUROPHILIA IN ZEBRAFISH AQUARIA. J Parasitol 2022; 108:527-538. [PMID: 36326809 PMCID: PMC9811945 DOI: 10.1645/22-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Detecting the presence of important parasites within a host and its environment is critical to understanding the dynamics that influence a pathogen's ability to persist, while accurate detection is also essential for the implementation of effective control strategies. Pseudoloma neurophilia is the most common pathogen reported in zebrafish (Danio rerio) research facilities. The only assays currently available for P. neurophilia are through lethal sampling, often requiring euthanasia of the entire population for accurate estimates of prevalence in small populations. We present a non-lethal screening method to detect P. neurophilia in tank water based on the detection of environmental DNA (eDNA) from this microsporidium, using a previously developed qPCR assay that was adapted to the digital PCR (dPCR) platform to complement current surveillance protocols. Using the generated dPCR data, a multi-state occupancy model was also implemented to predict the probability of detecting the microsporidium in tank water under different flow regimes and pathogen prevalence. The occupancy model revealed that samples collected in static conditions were more informative than samples collected from flow-through conditions, with a probability of detection at 80% and 47%, respectively. There was also a positive correlation between the frequency of detection in water and prevalence in fish based on qPCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corbin J Schuster
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
- Zebrafish International Resource Center, University of Oregon, 1100 Johnson Lane, Eugene, Oregon 97403
| | - Michael L Kent
- Department of Microbiology, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 700 SW 30th St., Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - James T Peterson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences, Oregon State University, 2820 SW Campus Way, Corvallis, Oregon 97331
| | - Justin L Sanders
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, 700 SW 30th St., Corvallis, Oregon 97331
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Puri M, Srivathsa A, Karanth KK, Patel I, Kumar NS. Links in a sink: Interplay between habitat structure, ecological constraints and interactions with humans can influence connectivity conservation for tigers in forest corridors. Sci Total Environ 2022; 809:151106. [PMID: 34688735 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Global land-use changes and rapid infrastructure development necessitate identification and conservation of wildlife corridors. Connectivity through corridors is shaped by species' structural, ecological and behavioral constraints. In multi-use landscapes, species' interactions with humans could additionally influence connectivity. Using the tiger Panthera tigris as a case study, we make simultaneous assessments of potential connectivity, habitat use and examine their links with the species' negative interactions with humans in central India. We assessed potential connectivity across 10, 000 sq. km of the Kanha-Pench forest corridor using graph-theoretic methods. Combining indirect sign surveys and occupancy models, we examined habitat use, and evaluated its congruence with potential connectivity. Next, we estimated spatial probabilities of livestock depredation through application of multi-state occupancy models to interview-based survey data from local residents. Habitat use by tigers was negatively associated with forest fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbance. Livestock depredation was positively associated with size of settlements and areas most frequented by tigers, and negatively with anthropogenic disturbance within forests. We found high congruence between connectivity and habitat use (r = 0.80); but the strong correlation did not hold in areas with very high levels of livestock depredation levels. Our results indicate that when areas of high use by tigers are constrained by limited connectivity, there are higher chances of human-tiger conflict, and these areas may be ecological traps for the species. Interactions with humans can be crucial in mediating connectivity for large carnivores in shared habitats. Our findings present an opportunity to consolidate areas where carnivore conservation and local livelihood needs can be balanced. Our framework also provides a foundation for spatial prioritization that incorporates a plurality of dimensions, with utility for connectivity conservation of other wide-ranging carnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahi Puri
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India.
| | - Arjun Srivathsa
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Wildlife Conservation Society, India Program, Bengaluru, India; School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Krithi K Karanth
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Imran Patel
- Centre for Wildlife Studies, Bengaluru, India
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Baumgardt JA, Morrison ML, Brennan LA, Thornley M, Campbell TA. Variation in herpetofauna detection probabilities: implications for study design. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:658. [PMID: 34533627 PMCID: PMC8448696 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09424-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Population monitoring is fundamental for informing management decisions aimed at reducing the rapid rate of global biodiversity decline. Herpetofauna are experiencing declines worldwide and include species that are challenging to monitor. Raw counts and associated metrics such as richness indices are common for monitoring populations of herpetofauna; however, these methods are susceptible to bias as they fail to account for varying detection probabilities. Our goal was to develop a program for efficiently monitoring herpetofauna in southern Texas. Our objectives were to (1) estimate detection probabilities in an occupancy modeling framework using trap arrays for a diverse group of herpetofauna and (2) to evaluate the relative effectiveness of funnel traps, pitfall traps, and cover boards. We collected data with 36 arrays at 2 study sites in 2015 and 2016, for 2105 array-days resulting in 4839 detections of 51 species. We modeled occupancy for 21 species and found support for the hypothesis that detection probability varied over our sampling duration for 10 species and with rainfall for 10 species. For herpetofauna in our study, we found 14 and 12 species were most efficiently captured with funnel traps and pitfall traps, respectively, and no species were most efficiently captured with cover boards. Our results show that using methods that do not account for variations in detection probability are highly subject to bias unless the likelihood of false absences is minimized with exceptionally long capture durations. For monitoring herpetofauna in southern Texas, we recommend using arrays with funnel and pitfall traps and an analytical method such as occupancy modeling that accounts for variation in detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Baumgardt
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, 578 John Kimbrough Boulevard, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 218, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA.
| | - Michael L Morrison
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 2258 TAMU77843, USA
| | - Leonard A Brennan
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Kingsville, MSC 218, 700 University Boulevard, Kingsville, TX, 78363, USA
| | - Madeleine Thornley
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Tyler A Campbell
- East Foundation, 200 Concord Plaza Drive, Suite 410, San Antonio, TX, 78216, USA
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Sanderlin JS, Golding JD, Wilcox T, Mason DH, McKelvey KS, Pearson DE, Schwartz MK. Occupancy modeling and resampling overcomes low test sensitivity to produce accurate SARS-CoV-2 prevalence estimates. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:577. [PMID: 33757468 PMCID: PMC7986646 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-10609-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We evaluated whether occupancy modeling, an approach developed for detecting rare wildlife species, could overcome inherent accuracy limitations associated with rapid disease tests to generate fast, accurate, and affordable SARS-CoV-2 prevalence estimates. Occupancy modeling uses repeated sampling to estimate probability of false negative results, like those linked to rapid tests, for generating unbiased prevalence estimates. Methods We developed a simulation study to estimate SARS-CoV-2 prevalence using rapid, low-sensitivity, low-cost tests and slower, high-sensitivity, higher cost tests across a range of disease prevalence and sampling strategies. Results Occupancy modeling overcame the low sensitivity of rapid tests to generate prevalence estimates comparable to more accurate, slower tests. Moreover, minimal repeated sampling was required to offset low test sensitivity at low disease prevalence (0.1%), when rapid testing is most critical for informing disease management. Conclusions Occupancy modeling enables the use of rapid tests to provide accurate, affordable, real-time estimates of the prevalence of emerging infectious diseases like SARS-CoV-2. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-10609-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie S Sanderlin
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 2500 S. Pine Knoll Dr., Flagstaff, AZ, USA.
| | - Jessie D Golding
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Taylor Wilcox
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Daniel H Mason
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Kevin S McKelvey
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Dean E Pearson
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA.,Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Michael K Schwartz
- USDA Forest Service, National Genomics Center for Wildlife and Fish Conservation, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, MT, USA
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Rodriguez MD, Doherty PF, Piaggio AJ, Huyvaert KP. Sex and nest type influence avian blood parasite prevalence in a high-elevation bird community. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:145. [PMID: 33685479 PMCID: PMC7938522 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04612-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The prevalence of avian haemosporidian parasites and the factors influencing infection in the Colorado Rocky Mountains are largely unknown. With climate change expected to promote the expansion of vector and avian blood parasite distributions, baseline knowledge and continued monitoring of the prevalence and diversity of these parasites is needed. Methods Using an occupancy modeling framework, we conducted a survey of haemosporidian parasite species infecting an avian community in the Colorado Rocky Mountains in order to estimate the prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and to investigate species-level and individual-level characteristics that may influence infection. Results We estimated the prevalence and diversity of avian Haemosporidia across 24 bird species, detecting 39 parasite haplotypes. We found that open-cup nesters have higher Haemoproteus prevalence than cavity or ground nesters. Additionally, we found that male Ruby-crowned Kinglets, White-crowned Sparrows, and Wilson’s Warblers have higher Haemoproteus prevalence compared to other host species. Plasmodium prevalence was relatively low (5%), consistent with the idea that competent vectors may be rare at high altitudes. Conclusions Our study presents baseline knowledge of haemosporidian parasite presence, prevalence, and diversity among avian species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and adds to our knowledge of host–parasite relationships of blood parasites and their avian hosts.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina D Rodriguez
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
| | - Paul F Doherty
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Antoinette J Piaggio
- National Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Kathryn P Huyvaert
- Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
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Randklev CR, Miller T, Hart M, Morton J, Johnson NA, Skow K, Inoue K, Tsakiris ET, Oetker S, Smith R, Robertson C, Lopez R. A semi-arid river in distress: Contributing factors and recovery solutions for three imperiled freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae) endemic to the Rio Grande basin in North America. Sci Total Environ 2018; 631-632:733-744. [PMID: 29544177 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Freshwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions are in extreme demand, which creates conflicts between needs of humans and aquatic ecosystems. The Rio Grande basin in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico exemplifies this issue, as much of its aquatic biodiversity is in peril as a result of human activities. Unionid mussels have been disproportionately impacted, though the specific factors responsible for their decline remain largely unknown. This is problematic because the Rio Grande basin harbors one federally endangered unionid mussel (Popenaias popeii, Texas Hornshell) plus two other mussel species (Potamilus metnecktayi, Salina Mucket; and Truncilla cognata, Mexican Fawnsfoot), which are also being considered for listing under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. To date, surveys for these species have not corrected for variability in detection so current range estimates may be inaccurate. Using single occupancy-modeling to estimate detection and occupancy at 115 sites along ~800 river kilometers of the Rio Grande in Texas, we found that detection probabilities were relatively high, indicating that our survey design was efficient. In contrast, the estimated occupancy was low, indicating that our focal species were likely rare within the Rio Grande drainage. In general, the predicted occupancy of our focal species was low throughout their respective ranges, indicating possible range declines. A comparison of currently occupied ranges to presumptive ranges underscores this point. The best-approximating models indicated that occupancy was influenced by habitat, water quantity and quality, and proximity to large-scale human activities, such as dams and major urban centers. We also discuss a series of conservation options that may not only improve the long-term prognosis of our focal species but also other aquatic taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Randklev
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States.
| | - Tom Miller
- Environmental Science Center, Laredo Community College, Laredo, TX, United States
| | - Michael Hart
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Jennifer Morton
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Nathan A Johnson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kevin Skow
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Kentaro Inoue
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Eric T Tsakiris
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Susan Oetker
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southwest Region, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Ryan Smith
- The Nature Conservancy of Texas, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Clint Robertson
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, River Studies Program, San Marcos, TX, United States
| | - Roel Lopez
- Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute and AgriLife Research Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, United States
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Thompson ME, Halstead BJ, Donnelly MA. Thermal quality influences habitat use of two anole species. J Therm Biol 2018; 75:54-61. [PMID: 30017052 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2018.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Revised: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Regeneration of secondary forests on previously deforested or degraded land is one of the most dominant forms of land-use change in the tropics. However, the response of animal communities to forest regeneration is poorly understood. To evaluate support for thermal quality as a mechanism driving reptile species distributions during secondary forest succession, we measured operative temperatures and occupancy in three successional forest stages (pasture, secondary forest, and old growth forest) for two anole species common in the landscape (Norops humilis and Norops limifrons). We then measured thermal preference in laboratory experiments and used operative temperature and temperature preference measurements to determine how thermal quality of habitat changes over the course of secondary forest succession, and if occupancy varies as a function of thermal quality. We found that thermal quality was lowest in pasture habitat because of a large frequency of temperatures above the thermal preference range. However, in low thermal quality pasture sites, riparian habitats and remnant trees provided a thermal refuge for both lizard species. Our results support thermal quality as a mechanism for reptile species distributions in altered landscapes and highlight the importance of the maintenance of riparian corridors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle E Thompson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - Brian J Halstead
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
| | - Maureen A Donnelly
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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Ramey AM, Fleskes JP, Schmutz JA, Yabsley MJ. Evaluation of blood and muscle tissues for molecular detection and characterization of hematozoa infections in northern pintails (Anas acuta) wintering in California. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2013; 2:102-9. [PMID: 24533322 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2012] [Revised: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 02/13/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Information on the molecular detection of hematozoa from different tissue types and multiple years would be useful to inform sample collection efforts and interpret results of meta-analyses or investigations spanning multiple seasons. In this study, we tested blood and muscle tissue collected from northern pintails (Anas acuta) during autumn and winter of different years to evaluate prevalence and genetic diversity of Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium infections in this abundant waterfowl species of the Central Valley of California. We first compared results for paired blood and wing muscle samples to assess the utility of different tissue types for molecular investigations of haemosporidian parasites. Second, we explored inter-annual variability of hematozoa infection in Central Valley northern pintails and investigated possible effects of age, sex, and sub-region of sample collection on estimated parasite detection probability and prevalence. We found limited evidence for differences between tissue types in detection probability and prevalence of Leucocytozoon, Haemoproteus, and Plasmodium parasites, which supports the utility of both sample types for obtaining information on hematozoan infections. However, we detected 11 haemosporidian mtDNA cyt b haplotypes in blood samples vs. six in wing muscle tissue collected during the same sample year suggesting an advantage to using blood samples for investigations of genetic diversity. Estimated prevalence of Leucocytozoon parasites was greater during 2006-2007 as compared to 2011-2012 and four unique haemosporidian mtDNA cyt b haplotypes were detected in the former sample year but not in the latter. Seven of 15 mtDNA cyt b haplotypes detected in northern pintails had 100% identity with previously reported hematozoa lineages detected in waterfowl (Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon) or other avian taxa (Plasmodium) providing support for lack of host specificity for some parasite lineages.
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