Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
John H. Boyle, Susan Strickler, Alex D. Twyford, Angela Ricono, Adrian Powell, Jing Zhang, Hongxing Xu, Ronald Smith, Harmony J. Dalgleish, Georg Jander, Anurag A. Agrawal, Joshua R. Puzey
Summary: This study examines the demographic history of the monarch butterfly and its host plant, the common milkweed. The research shows that both species have experienced population expansion and no evidence of population decline. The decline in monarch butterfly abundance observed in recent years may be due to a mismatch between the overwintering census population and the effective population size.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bernadette M. Mach, William Long, Jaret C. Daniels, Adam G. Dale
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance is causing global biodiversity loss, affecting the monarch butterfly which relies on milkweed. Planting ornamental milkweed in urban landscapes seems beneficial for the conservation of monarch butterflies. However, sap-feeding insect herbivores, such as the oleander aphid, can negatively impact monarch conservation efforts by reducing plant quality and triggering plant defenses.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bernadette M. Mach, William Long, Jaret C. Daniels, Adam G. Dale
Summary: Anthropogenic disturbance is causing global biodiversity loss, including the specialized monarch butterfly. In response, ornamental milkweed plantings are becoming more common in urban landscapes and have been shown to have conservation value for monarch butterflies. However, sap-feeding insect herbivores, such as the oleander aphid, often reach high densities on these plants. Aphid-infested milkweed may hinder monarch conservation efforts by reducing host plant quality and inducing plant defenses.
Article
Ecology
Iman Momeni-Dehaghi, Joseph R. Bennett, Greg W. Mitchell, Trina Rytwinski, Lenore Fahrig
Summary: Understanding the premigration distribution of Monarch butterflies is crucial for their effective conservation efforts, with research revealing that Minnesota, Texas, and Ontario are the states/provinces with the highest abundance of Monarchs in North America.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Leonardo Viliani, Simona Bonelli, Monica Vercelli, David B. Roy, Federico Riva
Summary: The widespread decline in insects poses a threat to ecosystem functioning and services. However, lack of data hinders the assessment of population and biodiversity trends for many insect groups, making effective conservation actions difficult. Therefore, implementing cost-effective and accurate monitoring programs targeting different insect groups across a larger geographical range has become a key priority for conservation efforts.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Julien M. Wright-Ueda, Rodolfo Dirzo, Tyler N. Mcfadden
Summary: Protected areas have mixed effects on long-term bird population trends, with about one-third of species experiencing declines. Long-term fire suppression may be a key driver, reshaping bird communities through changes in forest and chaparral structure and composition. Furthermore, most species show similar population trends inside and outside of protected areas, with only a few species performing better inside these areas. Therefore, it is important to develop relevant management strategies and consider how each species is targeted and managed within protected areas.
Article
Entomology
Alexander N. Mullins, Steven P. Bradbury, Thomas W. Sappington, James S. Adelman
Summary: Monarch butterfly populations have declined, requiring habitat restoration efforts in marginal croplands. Research shows that female monarchs do not exhibit significant oviposition behavior differences towards milkweed plants exposed to the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jonas Knape, Stephen James Coulson, Rene van der Wal, Debora Arlt
Summary: Opportunistic reporting of species observations to online platforms provides valuable information about the distribution and status of organisms in the wild. However, challenges arise when analyzing temporal changes in organisms due to the lack of a clear sampling design and changes in reporting over time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gema Hernan, Alexandra K. Dubel, Jennifer E. Caselle, David J. Kushner, Robert J. Miller, D. C. Reed, Joshua L. Sprague, Andrew Rassweiler
Summary: Monitoring is crucial for measuring the progress and success of environmental policies and management programs. This study demonstrates the importance of assessing the relationship between sampling effort and confidence in biodiversity metrics, and compares the efficiency of different methods for monitoring biodiversity. The findings emphasize the need for optimizing resources and highlight the effectiveness of strategically chosen sampling strategies.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruth Y. Oliver, Carsten Meyer, Ajay Ranipeta, Kevin Winner, Walter Jetz
Summary: Despite rapid growth in data coverage, geographic and taxonomic biases persist in closing knowledge gaps for terrestrial vertebrates. In some taxa and regions, a surge in records did not lead to new knowledge due to a decline in sampling effectiveness. Countries demonstrate stronger coverage for species they have greater stewardship over.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shaun A. Forrest, Katherine Alambo, Larissa Holman, Jesse C. Vermaire
Summary: A community science project in the Ottawa River Watershed collected sediment from 68 locations over approximately 750 km with the help of 42 volunteers. The particle concentrations in the sediment were relatively low, which can be attributed to factors such as the size of the watershed, population base, and seasonal fluctuations. This project demonstrated the advantages of using community science for sampling large freshwater areas.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Nur Khairlida Muhamad Khair, Khai Ern Lee, Mazlin Mokhtar
Summary: Community-based monitoring is recognized as a solution for sustainable environmental management, but it is important to distinguish it from other similar initiatives. Effective community-based monitoring should consider the efficacy, technical aspects, feedback mechanisms, and sustainability of the initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biology
Noor Johnson, Matthew L. Druckenmiller, Finn Danielsen, Peter L. Pulsifer
Summary: Digital platforms in community-based monitoring programs provide convenience for data management, facilitate data use, and support understanding of larger-scale environmental patterns, but also introduce new challenges affecting the sustainability of the programs and communities' data control abilities. Increased data access and technical capacity may lead to a greater demand for ethically developed platforms to aid in decision-making at both local and larger scales.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Caroline Moussy, Ian J. Burfield, P. J. Stephenson, Arabella F. E. Newton, Stuart H. M. Butchart, William J. Sutherland, Richard D. Gregory, Louise McRae, Philip Bubb, Ignacio Roesler, Cynthia Ursino, Yanqing Wu, Ernst F. Retief, Jihad S. Udin, Ruslan Urazaliyev, Lina M. Sanchez-Clavijo, Eric Lartey, Paul F. Donald
Summary: Species monitoring is crucial for conservation practice and policy. Since 2000, there has been a significant increase in new monitoring schemes in lower- and middle-income countries and in megadiverse countries. The total number of monitoring schemes in a country is strongly positively correlated with its per capita GDP, and monitoring schemes in high-income countries have been running for a longer average time.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
M. V. Eitzel, Ryan Meyer, Sarah Morley, Ian Miller, Patrick B. Shafroth, Chelsea Behymer, Christopher Jadallah, David Parks, Anna Kagley, Anne Shaffer, Heidi Ballard
Summary: Community and citizen science (CCS) projects can sustain and expand long-term monitoring of large dam removal projects. Partnering with volunteer management organizations can support and facilitate public engagement in scientific research. Compensating participants helps build reciprocal relationships and supports long-term monitoring. Involving community members in setting research agendas can foster multi-generational research. Building relationships with Indigenous communities enhances the benefits of community engagement in dam removal science.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Emily L. Weiser
Summary: Accurately measuring nest survival rate is challenging due to the relationship between nest age and daily survival rate (DSR), which can lead to biased estimates if not properly accounted for. Future field studies can improve accuracy and precision by focusing on finding nests at younger ages, including age as a covariate in the DSR model, and calculating nest survival rate as the product of age-specific DSR estimates.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
B. J. Mattsson, J. H. Devries, J. A. Dubovsky, D. Semmens, W. E. Thogmartin, J. J. Derbridge, L. Lopez-Hoffman
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jay E. Diffendorfer, Jessica C. Stanton, Julie A. Beston, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Scott R. Loss, Todd E. Katzner, Douglas H. Johnson, Richard A. Erickson, Matt D. Merrill, Margo D. Corum
Summary: The study investigates the potential effects of wind turbine collisions on 14 raptor species, with projections suggesting some species could experience population declines due to turbine collisions in future wind energy scenarios. Certain species may benefit from research to identify tools to prevent or reduce collisions with wind turbines.
Article
Ecology
Anna Skye Bruce, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Chris Trosen, Karen Oberhauser, Claudio Gratton
Summary: This study assessed the impact of surrounding habitat on monarch presence and reproduction in specific habitat patches, finding that optimal sites for monarch habitat restoration are within landscapes with little habitat. High milkweed density and floral richness and abundance should be conservation goals in these landscapes.
Article
Ecology
Kevin J. Aagaard, Eric V. Lonsdorf, Wayne E. Thogmartin
Summary: This study developed a model based on energetics to predict the migration and overwinter occurrence of mallards during the non-breeding period. The model considers metabolism and weather factors such as temperature and snowfall to approximate movements and stopovers. The research found that as weather severity increased, the proportion of available habitat decreased and mortality decreased. The most commonly used locations during the non-breeding period were consistent across years, except for the overwintering area which showed more inter-annual variation. The study also revealed that the distribution of mallards on the landscape changed more dramatically when the daily available habitat varied greatly.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
Zachary H. Ancona, Kenneth J. Bagstad, Lena Le, Darius J. Semmens, Ben C. Sherrouse, Grant Murray, Philip S. Cook, Eva DiDonato
Summary: Managing public lands for societal benefits requires understanding societal valuation, and public participation geographic information systems (PPGIS) are increasingly used in coastal settings. Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES), a PPGIS tool, has limited applications in coastal settings. In this study, we surveyed visitors and residents near Cape Lookout National Seashore to understand their social values. We found that accessibility, user types, recreational activities, and the configuration of the barrier island system influenced social values. The modeling results can inform management and future PPGIS studies in coastal and marine settings.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
John Grider, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Riley F. Bernard, Robin E. Russell
Summary: White-nose syndrome has greatly reduced bat populations, but treatments can mitigate mortality. A model was developed to explore the effects of different treatment scenarios on bat populations. Treatment method, timing, and disturbance are important factors affecting treatment success. Applying treatments before or during the early epidemic stages is more effective.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Charles C. Chester, Aaron M. Lien, Juanita Sundberg, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Columba Gonzalez-Duarte, Brady J. Mattsson, Rodrigo A. Medellin, Darius J. Semmens, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Jonathan J. Derbridge, Laura Lopez-Hoffman
Summary: Biodiversity conservation efforts can lead to inequitable socio-economic outcomes. The spatial subsidies approach, which analyzes relationships between locations connected by migratory species, identifies three axes of inequity: between indigenous and settler colonial societies, between urban and rural populations, and between the Global North and Global South. Recognizing these relationships is crucial for achieving fair conservation outcomes and long-term effectiveness.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jessica N. Hightower, Dolly L. Crawford, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Kyle R. Aldinger, Sara Barker Swarthout, David A. Buehler, John Confer, Christian Friis, Jeffery L. Larkin, James D. Lowe, Martin Piorkowski, Ronald W. Rohrbaugh, Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Curtis Smalling, Petra B. Wood, Rachel Vallender, Amber M. Roth
Summary: Climate change is impacting the distribution and interactions between the Golden-winged Warbler (GWWA) and the Blue-winged Warbler (BWWA), potentially threatening the GWWA's survival due to hybridization. The breeding distributions and potential for hybridization are predicted to change under future climate scenarios, with a decrease in overlapping habitat and a shift in climatically suitable conditions.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Benjamin M. West, Mark L. Wildhaber, Kevin J. Aagaard, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Adrian P. Moore, Michael J. Hooper
Summary: Oil spills can cause mortality and injury to bird populations. The effects of sublethal oiling on birds are not well understood. This study used a model to examine the effects of oiling on migration patterns, energetic gains, and starvation in mallard-like ducks. The results showed that the severity of oiling affects migration delays, energy gains, and the potential for starvation.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Ashton M. M. Wiens, Wayne E. E. Thogmartin
Summary: White-nose syndrome has been devastating bat populations since its first appearance in 2006-2007, and a model using Gaussian process variations has been developed to predict the spread of the disease. The results indicate that the syndrome is likely to spread throughout the United States by 2030, which will help in disease management and assessment of bat species status and trends.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jay E. Diffendorfer, Ryan G. Drum, Greg W. Mitchell, Eduardo Rendon-Salinas, Victor Sanchez-Cordero, Darius J. Semmens, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Ignacio J. March
Summary: This paper discusses the elements and successful practices of interdisciplinary teams in addressing complex conservation issues caused by various social and environmental factors, with a focus on the conservation science of the monarch butterfly in North America.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jennyffer Cruz, Steve Windels, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Shawn M. Crimmins, Benjamin Zuckerberg
Summary: Recovered species are not returning to their original environments or communities, posing challenges for conservation researchers and practitioners. However, assessing species resilience in these novel systems can still be guided by their ecology, including population size, life history traits, and interactions with other species.
AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Emily L. Weiser, Paul L. Flint, Dennis K. Marks, Brad S. Shults, Heather M. Wilson, Sarah J. Thompson, Julian B. Fischer
Summary: Ocular aerial surveys allow efficient coverage of large areas, but uncertainty in population estimates is large due to difficulty in visually identifying and counting animals. Photographic aerial surveys can mitigate these challenges by allowing flight at higher altitudes and incorporating automated photo capture and processing.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Wayne E. Thogmartin, Michelle A. Haefele, Jay E. Diffendorfer, Darius J. Semmens, Jonathan J. Derbridge, Aaron Lien, Ta-Ken Huang, Laura Lopez-Hoffman
Summary: By conducting surveys with respondents from Canada, the United States, and Mexico, it was found that people are willing to invest in conservation in other countries, demonstrating potential support for multinational conservation policies and programmes.