Article
Ecology
Sarah J. Kupferberg, Hana Moidu, Andrea J. Adams, Alessandro Catenazzi, Marcia Grefsrud, Steven Bobzien, Robert Leidy, Stephanie M. Carlson
Summary: The study shows that in central California, increasing drought leads non-native bullfrogs to enter streams, while native foothill yellow-legged frogs experience higher infection rates and loads. Despite fluctuations in population size due to worsening seasonal droughts, the foothill yellow-legged frogs still exhibit some resistance to non-indigenous species and chytridiomycosis.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Denise D. Colombano, Stephanie M. Carlson, James A. Hobbs, Albert Ruhi
Summary: This study investigates the effects of climatic variability on fish recruitment stability in estuaries. The research finds that species abundances vary over space and time and respond to environmental conditions. It also highlights the importance of life history diversity, species diversity, and spatial insurance in maintaining ecosystem stability.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Brian A. Gill, Anthony Sanabria, Miranda Gonzales, Stephanie M. Carlson, Michael T. Bogan
Summary: Intermittent streams, which make up over half the global river network, are globally distributed and expected to become more common. This study explored how flow intermittency and orientation to perennial refuges affect aquatic biodiversity in two intermittent river basins of different aridity levels. The researchers found distinct communities of invertebrates and vertebrates based on basin, flow class, and season, with higher beta diversity observed in the more arid basin for invertebrates. The findings suggest that intermittent streams harbor unique biodiversity but are also vulnerable to the loss of aquatic biodiversity due to increasing stream drying.
Article
Fisheries
Amaia Lamarins, Floren Hugon, Cyril Piou, Julien Papaix, Etienne Prevost, Stephanie M. Carlson, Mathieu Buoro
Summary: In salmonid populations, the dispersal rate has significant effects on population stability and genetic diversity, with an optimal rate of around 20%. Dispersal also influences phenotypic changes and genetic diversity at the local population scale.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2022)
News Item
Fisheries
Emily K. Chen, Jacquelyn R. Galvez, Stephanie M. Carlson
Article
Ecology
Gabriel J. Rossi, Mary E. Power, Stephanie M. Carlson, Theodore E. Grantham
Summary: The growth of organisms is influenced by habitat conditions, food availability, and seasonal interactions. This study examined the growth, habitat, and resource phenologies of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss in two Mediterranean coastal streams. The results showed that growth potential peaked earlier in the intermittent stream compared to the perennial stream, but declined earlier as well. Both streams experienced a decline in foraging profitability by late summer.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kasey C. C. Pregler, Mariska Obedzinski, Elizabeth A. A. Gilbert-Horvath, Benjamin White, Stephanie M. M. Carlson, John Carlos Garza
Summary: Genetic rescue, through translocation of unrelated individuals, has emerged as an important tool to prevent extinction and improve the fitness of declining populations. However, concerns about the risk of outbreeding depression have hindered its widespread use in conservation management. This study evaluates the success of a genetic rescue intervention in endangered Coho Salmon and demonstrates the positive impact of outcrossing on the fitness of the population, without observing any evidence of outbreeding depression.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brian Kastl, Mariska Obedzinski, Stephanie M. Carlson, William T. Boucher, Theodore E. Grantham
Summary: Understanding the impact of drought caused by climate change on migration windows is crucial for biodiversity conservation. A study on endangered coho salmon in California found that drought reduces the migration window and may lead to decreased fitness and population stability.
Article
Biology
Maria Mar Sanchez-Montoya, Thibault Datry, Albert Ruhi, Stephanie M. Carlson, Roland Corti, Klement Tockner
Summary: This article expands the research focus of river ecology, discussing the impact of river drying on the movement of aquatic and terrestrial animals. It introduces a conceptual model challenging the current bias towards perennial waterways, encompassing animal movement across hydrologic phases and habitats. The authors argue that a comprehensive and inclusive view of animal movement in dry channels will enhance ecological understanding of river networks and conservation efforts.
Article
Ecology
Hana Moidu, Pablo Rodriguez-Lozano, Robert A. Leidy, Michael T. Bogan, Theodore E. Grantham, Stephanie M. Carlson
Summary: Intermittent streams in arid regions make up more than 50% of the global river network and have high variability in aquatic habitat, supporting diverse native species. Climate change is predicted to increase precipitation variation and drought severity, requiring a better understanding of species' responses to habitat variability in intermittent streams. This study investigated the distribution and abundance of aquatic vertebrates in a Mediterranean-climate intermittent stream in California over 7 years, and found that persistent pools supported diverse native species even during extreme dry conditions.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nina Pak, Denise D. Colombano, Thomas Greiner, James A. Hobbs, Stephanie M. Carlson, Albert Ruhi
Summary: This study examined how historical hydroclimatic variability in the San Francisco Estuary has influenced the population dynamics of Pacific herring. The results showed that temperature had a significant impact on the distribution of herring populations, while salinity did not. The study also found regional variation in the population responses to the environment, and demonstrated that portfolio effects arising from population asynchrony have helped to stabilize herring recruitment across the estuary.
Article
Ecology
D. N. Dralle, G. Rossi, P. Georgakakos, W. J. Hahm, D. M. Rempe, M. Blanchard, M. E. Power, W. E. Dietrich, S. M. Carlson
Summary: Water in rivers is delivered through the critical zone, which extends from the top of the vegetation canopy to the bottom of groundwater. The subsurface water storage capacity of the critical zone affects flow, temperature, and energetic regimes that are important for salmonids. Differences in geology and subsurface CZ structure lead to different hydrographs, temperature, and riparian regimes, impacting various aspects of salmonid life history. Understanding the link between salmonids and geology can help identify landscape features that influence their distributions at watershed scales.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amaia Lamarins, Etienne Prevost, Stephanie M. Carlson, Mathieu Buoro
Summary: Investigating the eco-evolutionary responses of populations to environmental changes requires considering the spatial context. This study used a simulation model to examine a network of Atlantic salmon populations, introducing genetic perturbations to increase diversity among populations. The results showed that dispersal between populations enhanced local population adaptation and recovery, supporting the adaptation network theory. The study also emphasized the context-dependency of evolutionary and demographic trajectories, influenced by the spatial configuration of populations.
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Francine H. Mejia, Valerie Ouellet, Martin A. Briggs, Stephanie M. Carlson, Roser Casas-Mulet, Mollie Chapman, Mathias J. Collins, Stephen J. Dugdale, Joseph L. Ebersole, Danielle M. Frechette, Aimee H. Fullerton, Carole-Anne Gillis, Zachary C. Johnson, Christa Kelleher, Barret L. Kurylyk, Rebecca Lave, Benjamin H. Letcher, Knut M. Myrvold, Tracie-Lynn Nadeau, Helen Neville, Herve Piegay, Kathryn A. Smith, Diego Tonolla, Christian E. Torgersen
Summary: Human activities and climate change have negative impacts on coldwater organisms in freshwater ecosystems by warming rivers and streams, increasing warm temperature events, and reducing thermal heterogeneity. It is crucial to adopt cohesive management approaches to protect cold-water refuges, considering physical, biological, and social factors. Current policies for protecting thermally sensitive species include designating cold-water habitats, restricting fishing during warm periods, and implementing temperature standards or guidelines. However, these policies lack coordination and Indigenous peoples' input. We propose managing cold-water refuges as distinct operational landscape units, integrating science and management to prioritize actions and implement adaptive practices.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Chris T. Darimont, Rob Cooke, Mathieu L. Bourbonnais, Heather M. Bryan, Stephanie M. Carlson, James A. Estes, Mauro Galetti, Taal Levi, Jessica L. MacLean, Iain McKechnie, Paul C. Paquet, Boris Worm
Summary: Although humans have been predators for a long time, conservation ecologists have rarely considered the divergent predatory behavior of modern industrialized humans. Through analyzing data from the IUCN, it is found that humans prey on a significantly larger number of vertebrate species compared to non-human predators, with almost 15,000 species being exploited for various purposes. Exploitation for purposes other than food consumption, such as the pet trade, medicine, and other uses, now poses a threat to almost 40% of the exploited species, which can have profound consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem function.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)