Article
Ecology
Joshua Blouin, Jacob DeBow, Elias Rosenblatt, James Hines, Cedric Alexander, Katherina Gieder, Nicholas Fortin, James Murdoch, Therese Donovan
Summary: The decline in moose populations due to winter tick infestation is influenced by habitat selection and elevation, with winter ticks being largely immobile during the fall questing and spring drop-off periods. Habitat selection by adult female moose during the fall questing period impacts the survival of their offspring, with successful mothers choosing different habitats from those whose calves perish. These findings provide important insights for management strategies aimed at reversing declining moose populations.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Kathryn L. Purcell, Eric L. McGregor
Summary: White-headed woodpeckers prefer and nest more successfully in higher elevation true fir forests. Congruence exists between habitat preferences and nest survival, particularly at the landscape scale, indicating adaptive selection. However, at the nest site scale, they may exhibit maladaptive habitat selection.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Bryan S. Stevens, Shane B. Roberts, Courtney J. Conway, Devin K. Englestead
Summary: Global change has led to an increase in megafire events, which significantly impact wildlife habitat. This study examined the functional responses and space use of breeding greater sage-grouse before and after a large-scale wildfire in Idaho, USA. The results showed that megafire altered the distribution of available resources and influenced the use of nesting habitat, while individual variation in resources affected brood rearing. Importantly, resource selection models built prior to the fire had poor transferability in predicting post-fire space use. These findings have important implications for understanding how animals respond to changing environments and can aid in habitat conservation efforts.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
B. Lowrey, J. D. DeVoe, K. M. Proffitt, R. A. Garrott
Summary: Successful restoration programs have enabled formerly declining ungulate species in North America to be broadly distributed across their native ranges. Habitat models inform translocation decisions, with resident and migrant populations showing differing selection patterns. Specific predictions of bighorn sheep habitat in western Montana were made for potential translocations, with behavior-specific approaches showing differences in seasonal selection patterns between migrants and residents.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Carolyn E. Dunford, Quinton E. Martins, Gareth K. H. Mann, J. Andrew Spalton, Hadi Al Hikmani, Nathaniel P. Robinson, Ahmed Almalki, Emma Gallacher, Guy A. Balme, Hugh S. Robinson
Summary: This study used data from leopards in South Africa and Oman to identify suitable habitat and potential population capacity for the critically endangered Arabian leopard in Saudi Arabia. By developing a resource selection function model, the study showed that Saudi Arabia could potentially support multiple populations of Arabian leopards. Camera trapping in the southwestern mountains of Saudi Arabia is likely to be the most effective method to detect remaining populations. Further research is needed to assess prey abundance and human activity for conservation efforts.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Elly C. Knight, R. Mark Brigham, Erin M. Bayne
Summary: Understanding the functional significance of the Common Nighthawk's wing-boom display provides valuable insight into its territorial behavior and habitat use.
Article
Ecology
David A. Dimitrie, Michael F. Benard
Summary: Preference-performance theory predicts that females should select breeding sites that maximize offspring performance. This study investigated female oviposition site selection and larval performance in eastern gray treefrogs. It was found that pools without heterospecifics were preferred by females and resulted in faster development and larger growth of treefrog tadpoles. These findings suggest that female selection of breeding sites is an adaptive behavior for offspring in the presence of heterospecific competitors.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brianne E. Brussee, Peter S. Coates, Shawn T. O'Neil, Michael L. Casazza, Shawn P. Espinosa, John D. Boone, Elisabeth M. Ammon, Scott C. Gardner, David J. Delehanty
Summary: Numerous wildlife species in semi-arid shrubland ecosystems in western North America are suffering from habitat loss and fragmentation. Greater sage-grouse, considered an indicator of ecosystem health, have experienced population decline due to habitat degradation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Review
Entomology
Cecile M. Antoine, Jessica R. K. Forrest
Summary: A review of literature on ground-nesting bees' nest-site selection factors reveals significant variation among bee species in their associations with soil and other nesting-habitat attributes. More studies are needed to understand the impact of different factors on bees' choice of nesting location, as well as whether nesting-habitat associations vary geographically, seasonally, or phylogenetically among ground-nesting bee species. Studies using established habitat-selection methods are essential to properly identify nesting-habitat preferences of ground-nesting species and more research on nesting ecology is needed to support this diverse group of bees and the ecosystem services they provide.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Luc Roscelin Dongmo Tedonzong, Maxwell Bienvenu Mfula Ndju'u, Martin Tchamba, Tsi Evaristus Angwafo, Luc Lens, Nikki Tagg, Jacob Willie
Summary: Sleep is vital for great apes, who build sleeping platforms every night. In a community of chimpanzees, each subgroup chooses a sleeping site where individuals construct sleeping platforms, mostly on trees. This study reveals that chimpanzees prefer trees with a diameter of 40-50 cm for sleeping and build platforms at a height of 16 m. The vegetation structure plays a crucial role in the selection of sleeping sites by chimpanzees.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PRIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Xinjie Huang, Shan Tian, Zhengxiao Liu, Jiliang Xu
Summary: Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush is crucial for its conservation. Our study found that the species showed clear preferences for certain types of environments at both the home range and microhabitat scales. This research provides a scientific basis for the future protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Chunbo Li, Chenchen Shen, Guangpeng Feng, Xiaorong Huang, Xincang Li
Summary: The preference for shelters varies among different developmental stages of Chinese Mitten Crabs (Eriocheir sinensis). Juvenile crabs prefer grass, button-sized crabs prefer mud, and parent crabs prefer rocks. Light, size, feeding habit, predation, and molting are critical factors that affect shelter preference. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the habits of E. sinensis and provide a reference for resource restoration, habitat construction, and restoration of E. sinensis.
Article
Entomology
Matthew R. Pintar, Jason R. Bohenek, William J. Resetarits
Summary: Our study reveals the first documented case of geographic variation in oviposition response of a prey species to a predator species. In Missouri, Culex restuans showed reduced oviposition in the presence of Notonecta irrorata, while in Mississippi, C. restuans did not respond to various factors related to N. irrorata.
ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yue Sun, Zongzhi Li, Junda Chen, Romaan Hayat Khattak, Zhensheng Liu, Liwei Teng
Summary: This study conducted a habitat selection analysis of water deer using the data of 11 habitat factors in Baishan Musk Deer National Nature Reserve from 2018 to 2019. The results revealed that water deer preferred grasslands with sufficient sunlight and at middle slopes, dominated by Artemisia carvifolia and A. argyi in the autumn and winter, respectively. The resource selection function model showed that the height of dominant herbage, hiding cover, distance from water, and distance to human settlements significantly influenced the habitat selection of water deer in the cold season. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for the conservation and restoration of water deer and for implementing sustainable development strategies in northeast China.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jana Marco-Tresserras, German M. Lopez-Iborra
Summary: The choice of nesting sites by hedgehogs is influenced by sex, with males using a wider variety of structures and females being more selective for structures that offer higher shelter. The location of the nests is also influenced by the topography and management of urban areas, highlighting the importance of good management of green spaces in urban conservation efforts.
Article
Ecology
Adam E. Mitchell, Jordan Boersma, Anthonio Anthony, Kanehiro Kitayama, Thomas E. Martin
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2020)
Article
Ecology
Juan C. Oteyza, James C. Mouton, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: Parents facing predators must balance their own safety with caring for their offspring. Factors such as adult survival probabilities and species size influence their willingness to take risks and return to care for their young. Ultimately, the level of risk posed by a predator and the likelihood of future reproduction play a role in determining parental behavior across different species.
Review
Ecology
Winsor H. Lowe, Thomas E. Martin, David K. Skelly, H. Arthur Woods
Summary: Most animals have complex life cycles with metamorphosis or other distinct life stage transitions, making individuals vulnerable to environmental stressors. Climate change is increasing thermal and hydrologic variability during metamorphosis, impacting survival and performance. Understanding how metamorphosis affects population responses and trait evolution requires new methods for estimating individual trait changes and integrating metamorphosis into analytical models.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Letter
Ecology
Winsor H. Lowe, Thomas E. Martin, David K. Skelly, H. Arthur Woods
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Adam E. Mitchell, Blair O. Wolf, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: Understanding variation in offspring energy expenditure is crucial for growth and development. Weather and parental care may affect offspring energy expenditure, and species differences also play a role.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The study on the movement behavior of offspring from cavity- and open-cup-nesting bird species shows that cavity-nesting species have offspring with greater mobility but remain more aggregated within the family, while open-cup-nesting species have offspring which are more dispersed despite increasing movement distances with age. This variation in movement behavior of young can have implications for parental care strategies and juvenile survival.
Article
Ornithology
Karolina Fierro-Calderon, Mario Loaiza-Munoz, Manuel A. Sanchez-Martinez, David Ocampo, Santiago David, Harold F. Greeney, Gustavo A. Londono
Summary: Research on avian nesting biology has a long history in North America and Europe, while the tropics have been relatively neglected. There is still a lack of basic nest descriptions and natural history information for many Neotropical species. Standardization of data collection methods is needed for comparative analyses and to fill important gaps in understanding tropical bird breeding biology.
JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
William M. Blake, Katharine R. Stone, William M. Janousek, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: This study on Lewis's Woodpeckers in floodplain and burned forests found higher population densities but lower nest success in floodplain forests, while burned forests had higher nest success. Woodpeckers in floodplain forests preferred nesting in cavities in taller trees, while in burned forests nest tree height was the only distinguishing feature for nest-site selection. Characteristics of nest sites did not predict nest success. Both forest types play an important role in maintaining populations of Lewis's Woodpeckers. Management strategies should focus on retaining tall trees and snags in both forest types, along with promoting recruitment of cottonwoods in floodplain forests.
JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
James C. Mouton, Renee A. Duckworth, Ryan T. Paitz, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: In songbirds, androgens can influence offspring development and begging behaviors to reduce predation risk, but little is known about other steroids' effects. This study found that increased nest predation risk led to decreased yolk progesterone deposition, while yolk androgen deposition did not change significantly.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander Kumar, Marketa Zimova, Thomas E. Martin, L. Scott Mills
Summary: Ecological processes are influenced by abiotic factors, such as temperature and snow. This study found that reduced fall and spring snow duration and warmer summers led to decreased snowshoe hare density, while warmer winters increased hare density.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Daniel Sol, Seweryn Olkowicz, Ferran Sayol, Martin Kocourek, Yicheng Zhang, Lucie Marhounova, Christin Osadnik, Eva Corssmit, Joan Garcia-Porta, Thomas E. Martin, Louis Lefebvre, Pavel Nemec
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between animal intelligence and absolute or relative brain size. The results show that the number of neurons in the pallial telencephalon is positively associated with innovation propensity, a major expression of intelligence. The number of neurons is also greater in larger brains and positively covaries with longer post-hatching development periods. These findings contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary bases of the connections between brain and cognition.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Thomas J. Matthews, Joseph P. Wayman, Pedro Cardoso, Ferran Sayol, Julian P. Hume, Werner Ulrich, Joseph A. Tobias, Filipa C. Soares, Christophe Thebaud, Thomas E. Martin, Kostas A. Triantis
Summary: This study provides a global summary of the status and ecology of extant and extinct island birds, the threats they face, and the implications of species loss for island functional diversity, with a particular focus on morphological trait diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Daniel Munoz, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The Whitehead's Broadbill, an endemic species on Borneo, has a declining population. Our study on its breeding biology in Kinabalu Park revealed a relatively high nest success rate and relatively low nest predation rate. The growth rate of the species is slow, possibly due to their frugivorous diet. However, our study suggests that reproductive success is not limiting the population growth.
EMU-AUSTRAL ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Necmiye Sahin Arslan, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: The study examined a montane tropical bird community and found the necessary conditions for the Skutch Hypothesis, which states that nest predation risk affects parental nest activity. The study also revealed the influence of nest and adult mortality rates on evolved parental strategies.
Article
Ornithology
Elise C. Zarri, Thomas E. Martin
Summary: Advances in understanding geographic patterns of life history variation depend on documentation of life history traits for species in poorly studied regions. This study compared the reproductive biology of two closely related Muscicapids in Borneo and found differences in reproductive strategies and nest defense between the species. The larger size and better nest protection ability of the Bornean Whistling-Thrush may explain its slower growth and development compared to the Bornean subspecies of the White-crowned Forktail.
JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY
(2022)