Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eric C. Palm, Erin L. Landguth, Zachary A. Holden, Casey C. Day, Clayton T. Lamb, Paul F. Frame, Andrea T. Morehouse, Garth Mowat, Michael F. Proctor, Michael A. Sawaya, Gordon Stenhouse, Jesse Whittington, Katherine A. Zeller
Summary: Understanding the impact of human infrastructure and landscape attributes on genetic differentiation in animals is crucial for identifying and maintaining dispersal corridors. In this study, we used a multiscale approach to predict landscape-level genetic connectivity for grizzly bears across a large area in Canada's southern Rocky Mountains. Our results indicate that geographic distance and human footprint significantly affect genetic differentiation in grizzly bears, while open canopies also inhibit genetic connectivity at large scales. This study highlights the negative effect of human activities on genetic connectivity and provides important insights for landscape genetics analysis.
Article
Ecology
Lauren H. Henson, Niko Balkenhol, Robert Gustas, Megan Adams, Jennifer Walkus, William G. Housty, Astrid Stronen, Jason Moody, Christina Service, Donald Reece, Bridgett M. VonHoldt, Iain McKechnie, Ben F. Koop, Chris T. Darimont
Summary: Landscape genetic analyses of grizzly bear populations in coastal British Columbia, Canada, revealed the possible effects of complex landscape and human influences on genetic structure. The study found spatial alignment between Indigenous language families and grizzly bear genetic groups, suggesting that people and wildlife populations may have been shaped by the landscape in similar ways. This research provides new genetic evidence to support locally led management of grizzly bears in the future.
ECOLOGY AND SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Craig L. Shafer
Summary: This article examines the loss of genetic diversity in the isolated GYE grizzly bear population and its implications for viability. The review of scientific literature indicates that there has been a historical and recent loss of heterozygosity in the population, with some studies showing a statistically significant depletion rate. The small genome size of the GYE grizzly bear population is identified as a barrier to long-term adaptation. The article also highlights discrepancies between genetic statements in the USFWS's regulations and current scientific understanding. The importance of this case study lies in its revelation of how land management agencies may prioritize certain aspects of science in their regulatory processes.
CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
David R. Roberts, Erin M. Bayne, Danielle Beausoleil, Jacqueline Dennett, Jason T. Fisher, Roderick O. Hazewinkel, Diogo Sayanda, Faye Wyatt, Monique G. Dube
Summary: Research on the environmental conditions in the Canadian oil sands region has increased significantly in the past decade, with a focus on key stressors and specific taxa of interest. Despite some important knowledge gaps, such as understanding impacts at multiple spatial scales and focused monitoring of local resources important to Indigenous communities, monitoring of stressors and responses has been well represented.
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Gillian Chow-Fraser, Nicole Heim, John Paczkowski, John P. Volpe, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: This study investigated how novel anthropogenic disturbances affect competition relationships among different carnivores, and found that coyotes have a synergistic effect on the occurrence of wolverines, which may contribute to range recessions of wolverines in disturbed areas.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Jonathan N. Pauli, Philip J. Manlick, Jody M. Tucker, G. Bradley Smith, Paul G. Jensen, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: Competition plays a vital role in determining species distribution and interactions. Among carnivores, interspecific competition is particularly prominent. The study focuses on the coexistence of fishers and martens, who share similar habitats and prey but differ in body size. It is found that both species are dietary generalists but specialize in different aspects of habitat complexity. Despite high niche overlap, fine-scale habitat and prey partitioning enable their coexistence. However, climate change and habitat alteration pose a threat to their coexistence and may result in local extirpation of vulnerable martens.
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Cheng Chen, Jedediah F. Brodie, Roland Kays, T. Jonathan Davies, Runzhe Liu, Jason T. Fisher, Jorge Ahumada, William McShea, Douglas Sheil, Bernard Agwanda, Mahandry H. Andrianarisoa, Robyn D. Appleton, Robert Bitariho, Santiago Espinosa, Melissa M. Grigione, Kristofer M. Helgen, Andy Hubbard, Cindy M. Hurtado, Patrick A. Jansen, Xuelong Jiang, Alex Jones, Elizabeth L. Kalies, Cisquet Kiebou-Opepa, Xueyou Li, Marcela Guimaraes Moreira Lima, Erik Meyer, Anna B. Miller, Thomas Murphy, Renzo Piana, Rui-Chang Quan, Christopher T. Rota, Francesco Rovero, Fernanda Santos, Stephanie Schuttler, Aisha Uduman, Joanna Klees van Bommel, Hilary Young, A. Cole Burton
Summary: This study analyzed a global dataset and found that protected areas (PAs) have a positive impact on the conservation of mammal communities, with a strong correlation between the proportion of PAs coverage and mammal taxonomic diversity. The study also highlights the need to better understand the functional response of mammal communities to protection.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole P. Boucher, Morgan Anderson, Andrew Ladle, Chris Procter, Shelley Marshall, Gerald Kuzyk, Brian M. Starzomski, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: Anthropogenic landscape change can enhance the efficiency of predator search, leading to a decline in prey population. Logging increases early successional vegetation, providing food for ungulates, but also increases the hunting efficiency of predators and the vulnerability of prey. Wolves select linear features, increasing their movement rates, and new cutblocks are attractive to them. Moose kill-sites are more likely to occur in areas with larger proportions of new and regenerating cutblocks. The selection and movement responses by wolves to logging features, coupled with increased moose mortality associated with cutblocks, indicate that landscape change increases the risk for moose.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
A. Cole Burton, Christopher Beirne, Catherine Sun, Alys Granados, Michael Procko, Cheng Chen, Mitchell Fennell, Alexia Constantinou, Chris Colton, Katie Tjaden-McClement, Jason T. Fisher, Joanna Burgar
Summary: Human disturbance has both direct and indirect effects on animal behavior. Camera traps can be used to investigate the impacts of disturbance on animal behaviors and provide insights into predator-prey interactions and human-mediated predation risk.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Hugh W. Fuller, Sandra Frey, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: This study explored the resource selection of white-tailed deer in the oil sands region of the boreal forest using aerial ungulate survey data. The results showed that deer strongly preferred linear features associated with petroleum exploration and extraction, while forest harvesting and cultivation were less important. Restoring widespread linear features in the oil sands region may be necessary to conserve native ungulates and maintain key predator-prey processes.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehnaz Jahid, Holly N. Steeves, Jason T. Fisher, Simon J. Bonner, Saman Muthukumarana, Laura L. E. Cowen
Summary: Integrating presence-absence data from camera traps with capture-recapture data from hair traps does not improve the precision of density estimates for grizzly bears.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Catherine Sun, Joanna M. Burgar, Jason T. Fisher, Cole Burton
Summary: Population monitoring is crucial for wildlife conservation, but density estimation for wide-ranging, unmarked species in remote habitats is challenging. Recent investigations suggest that unmarked models with camera trap data may be unreliable, requiring cautious application and further model development. In the case of threatened boreal caribou in Canada, density estimates varied over time and differed between regions, highlighting the need for more accurate and precise estimation methods.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Robin Steenweg, Mark Hebblewhite, Cole Burton, Jesse Whittington, Nikki Heim, Jason T. Fisher, Andrew Ladle, Winsor Lowe, Tyler Muhly, John Paczkowski, Marco Musiani
Summary: Despite criticism, the umbrella species concept is still a fundamental tool for biodiversity conservation. Using food web theory, we studied a large-mammal food web and tested the suitability and ecological function of umbrella species. The results showed that grizzly bears, wolves, and cougars served as better umbrella species and played a crucial role in conservation planning.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Persia Khan, Laura Eliuk, Sandra Frey, Christopher Bone, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: Coexistence mechanisms among wildlife species may be affected by human disturbance and invasive species. The expansion of white-tailed deer in North America may alter the diel activity of other species and impact conservation efforts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Jason T. Fisher
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alys Granados, Catherine Sun, Jason T. Fisher, Andrew Ladle, Kimberly Dawe, Christopher Beirne, Mark S. Boyce, Emily Chow, Nicole Heim, Mitchell Fennell, Joanna Klees van Bommel, Robin Naidoo, Michael Procko, Frances E. C. Stewart, A. Cole Burton
Summary: The effects of outdoor recreation on wildlife remain uncertain. This study tested the human shield hypothesis (HSH), which suggests that recreation could affect predators and prey differently, at a larger scale. Data from camera traps and sampling days were used to examine the influence of recreation and landscape disturbance on ungulate prey and carnivore species in western Canada. The findings provided limited support for the HSH and highlighted the complex ecological patterns that emerge at macroecological scales.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Hannah Boczulak, Nicole P. P. Boucher, Andrew Ladle, Mark S. S. Boyce, Jason T. T. Fisher
Summary: Increasing resource extraction and human activity are shaping the spatial distributions of species and their interactions, including predators and prey. A study in Alberta, Canada, used wildlife detection data to evaluate the effects of industrial features and human activity on wolf occurrence. The study found that industrial block features and prey availability interacted to influence the occurrence of wolves, suggesting the need for simultaneous consideration of these factors for effective wolf management in human-altered landscapes.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elicia Bell, Jason T. T. Fisher, Chris Darimont, Henry Hart, Christopher Bone
Summary: In seasonal environments, mustelids in the northern Canadian Rocky Mountains use adaptive behavioral strategies to acquire carrion and mitigate competition. Scavenging is influenced by both competition threats and environmental factors. Snow depth affects scavenging for all species, while wolverines and American martens segregate in space but track each other temporally. Short-tailed weasels scavenge less when martens use sites more frequently. Complex spatial and temporal avoidance strategies facilitate carrion resource partitioning.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)