Article
Ecology
Anna R. Staudenmaier, Lisa A. Shipley, Andris J. Bibelnieks, Meghan J. Camp, Daniel H. Thornton
Summary: Through a study in the Colville National Forest, it was found that mule deer and white-tailed deer exhibit geographical habitat segregation in areas of sympatry, with mule deer preferring steep slopes and higher elevations, and white-tailed deer favoring shallower slopes and lower elevations. The different habitat selections by the two deer species reduce the potential for current interspecies interactions, but no evidence of ongoing agonistic interactions was found in this study system.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cheryl S. Brehme, Sarah K. Thomsen, Devin Adsit-Morris, Robert N. Fisher
Summary: Understanding species-habitat relationships is crucial for effective management of rare species. This study used long-term monitoring to assess habitat associations of the endangered Pacific pocket mouse. Results found that high forb and perennial herb cover, moderate to high open ground, and low non-native grass cover were predictors of mouse occupancy. The study highlights the impacts of invasive grasses on native species and suggests habitat management strategies.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Brett B. Kelly, Michael J. Siepker, Michael J. Weber
Summary: This study collected fishes and habitat data in 138 streams to assess the effects of introduced brown trout and habitat conditions on the occurrence, detection, abundance, and size structure of sculpin, longnose dace, and southern redbelly dace. The results showed that sculpin detection decreased with increasing stream velocity, while southern redbelly dace detection increased with stream depth. The presence and abundance of native fish were negatively affected by the presence and abundance of brown trout.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Xiaonan Zhao, Yutong Zheng, Wei Wang, Zhao Wang, Qingfeng Zhang, Jincheng Liu, Chutian Zhang
Summary: The study used previously published thresholds of soil organic carbon (SOC) contents to screen sample points and applied maximum entropy modeling (MaxEnt) to predict the potential distribution of forest species in Lvliang Mountain, Shanxi Province, China. The results showed that the MaxEnt model had a high accuracy with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.905. The main environmental factors affecting the woodlands were mean diurnal temperature range, solar radiation, population density, and slope. This study improved sample representativeness and enhanced the biological meaning and accuracy of prediction results, providing a theoretical basis for forest resource protection, management measures, and the reconstruction of low-yield and low-efficiency forests.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua P. Twining, W. Ian Montgomery, David G. Tosh
Summary: Invasive species pose a serious threat to biodiversity globally. Research on native and non-native species interactions found that the presence of European pine martens can reverse the replacement of red squirrels by grey squirrels in the region. However, despite the recovery of pine marten populations, grey squirrels are likely to persist in urban areas unless urgent control measures are implemented.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Zoology
C. Odonjavkhlan, J. S. Alexsander, C. Mishra, G. Samelius, K. Sharma, P. Lkhagvajav, K. R. Suryawanshi
Summary: The study found that in the southern Mongolian nature reserve, the co-occurrence of ibex and argali is mainly influenced by terrain ruggedness, with the two species occurring independently of each other and showing limited association with human disturbance factors.
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kristin M. Brunk, R. J. Gutierrez, M. Zachariah Peery, C. Alina Cansler, Stefan Kahl, Connor M. Wood
Summary: The study found that high-severity fire has a positive impact on the habitat selection of mountain quail, while low-moderate-severity fire has no significant effect. This result suggests that mountain quail may be winners in the face of changing fire regimes in western North America.
Article
Ecology
Nicky Lustenhouwer, Ingrid M. Parker
Summary: This study compared niche shifts in a Mediterranean annual plant during both native range expansion and invasions. The findings suggest that niche shifts in invasive species are not necessarily faster than those in native range expansions, and niche expansion during climate tracking may cause further range expansion beyond expectations based on climate change alone.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
C. M. Kalleshwaraswamy, J. Divya, H. B. Mallikarjuna, Sharanabasappa S. Deshmukh, C. Sunil
Summary: This study aimed to verify the reasons for the displacement of native stem borers using fall armyworm (FAW) and pink stem borer (PSB). The study found that the cannibalistic nature and early habitat occupancy in the whorls by FAW are the key factors involved in reducing the incidence of native stem borer, S. inferens.
Review
Biology
Peter Klein, Charles Michael Smith
Summary: Johnsongrass, one of the most destructive weedy plant species, has expanded beyond its native habitat by outcompeting native flora and cultivated crops. Its continuous growth is fueled by clonal reproduction, self-pollination, accelerated growth, and climate change, posing a threat to crop production and biodiversity globally. The use of herbicides to control Johnsongrass has led to the evolution of herbicide-resistant ecotypes, further exacerbating the impact on agriculture and native vegetation.
Article
Plant Sciences
M. Cecilia Ferrero, Diego E. Gurvich, Paula I. Marcora, Paula A. Tecco
Summary: This study aimed to assess the response of an exotic woody species, Cotoneaster franchetii, to mountain environmental heterogeneity and its potential impact on the dominant native woody species, Polylepis australis. The results indicated that C. franchetii had a high occurrence and cover, with little influence from vegetation and topography. This suggests a high spread potential of C. franchetii in the mountains, posing a risk to P. australis and natural vegetation.
BOLETIN DE LA SOCIEDAD ARGENTINA DE BOTANICA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David G. Ainley, Paul A. Cziko, Nadav Nur, Jay J. Rotella, Joseph T. Eastman, Michelle Larue, Ian Stirling, Peter A. Abrams
Summary: Antarctic toothfish and Weddell seals are important mesopredators in the Antarctic waters, competing for prey and engaging in intraguild predation. A study found that the increase in seal population results in a decrease in toothfish catch, highlighting the complex dynamics of competition and predation between the two species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Paul E. Kanive, Jay J. Rotella, Taylor K. Chapple, Scot D. Anderson, Timothy D. White, Barbara A. Block, Salvador J. Jorgensen
Summary: This study used empirical data to estimate the population trend of white sharks in central California, finding potential increases in reproductive-aged white sharks, which may be attributed to regional density fluctuations, protection efforts, and an increase in pinniped abundance.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jamie L. Brusa, Jay J. Rotella, Robert A. Garrott
Summary: This study found that male Weddell seals are more likely to be found in areas with the highest densities of reproductive-age females as they age, but individual heterogeneity also plays a role in the number of female neighbors. Younger males tend to be in offshore areas for better hunting, while older males settle in nearshore areas with more pup production.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Jamie L. Brusa, Jay J. Rotella, Katharine M. Banner, Patrick R. Hutchins
Summary: Survival rates are an important aspect of life-history strategies in large vertebrate species and exhibit variation among different species, particularly in males. However, challenges in obtaining reliable datasets and dealing with measurement errors have limited comparative studies on interspecific variation in survival rates and other life-history traits.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Joshua M. Miller, Erin O. Campbell, Jay J. Rotella, Kaitlin R. Macdonald, Thomas S. Gelatt, Corey S. Davis
Summary: Pedigrees have a long history in various fields such as classical genetics, agronomics, evolutionary ecology, and captive breeding, with the use of molecular techniques expanding the range of species for which pedigrees can be constructed. This study generated a novel set of genomic SNPs from ddRAD sequencing in two populations of Weddell seals, comparing parentage assignment rates and accuracy between different markers and software. The results showed higher parentage assignment rates using CERVUS compared to Sequoia, highlighting the importance of polarizing datasets for improved assignments.
CONSERVATION GENETICS RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
J. Terrill Paterson, Kelly M. Proffitt, Jay J. Rotella
Summary: The study examines the age-specific pregnancy and survival rates of elk populations and their effects on population dynamics. The results show that pregnancy rates increase with age until reaching a plateau among prime ages, while survival rates plateau among prime-aged animals and decline for the oldest ages. Additional mortality from harvest results in a shift in the age structure towards younger animals with lower pregnancy probabilities. Calf survival rates and pregnancy rates are important factors influencing population growth. The findings provide valuable insights for elk population management.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Remi Fay, Matthieu Authier, Sandra Hamel, Stephanie Jenouvrier, Martijn van de Pol, Emmanuelle Cam, Jean-Michel Gaillard, Nigel G. Yoccoz, Paul Acker, Andrew Allen, Lise M. Aubry, Christophe Bonenfant, Hal Caswell, Christophe F. D. Coste, Benjamin Larue, Christie Le Coeur, Marlene Gamelon, Kaitlin R. Macdonald, Maria Moiron, Alex Nicol-Harper, Fanie Pelletier, Jay J. Rotella, Celine Teplitsky, Laura Touzot, Caitlin P. Wells, Bernt-Erik Saether
Summary: Empirical studies are increasingly focusing on quantifying individual variation in demographic parameters, showing the importance of these patterns for evolutionary and ecological processes. Advanced techniques using multivariate mixed effect models face challenges, particularly when applied to Bernoulli variables. Simulation results suggest that the performance of mixed models varies across different scenarios, highlighting the need for tailored approaches based on species life-history strategies and data availability.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Remi Fay, Sandra Hamel, Martijn van de Pol, Jean-Michel Gaillard, Nigel G. Yoccoz, Paul Acker, Matthieu Authier, Benjamin Larue, Christie Le Coeur, Kaitlin R. Macdonald, Alex Nicol-Harper, Christophe Barbraud, Christophe Bonenfant, Dirk H. Van Vuren, Emmanuelle Cam, Karine Delord, Marlene Gamelon, Maria Moiron, Fanie Pelletier, Jay Rotella, Celine Teplitsky, Marcel E. Visser, Caitlin P. Wells, Nathaniel T. Wheelwright, Stephanie Jenouvrier, Bernt-Erik Saether
Summary: Temporal correlations among demographic parameters are common, with positive correlations more frequent than negative correlations. These correlations vary significantly among species and are not strongly associated with life history pace. Ignoring temporal correlations may lead to underestimation of extinction risks in most species.
Article
Ecology
Chadwick P. Lehman, Michael J. Yarnall, Andrea R. Litt, Christopher T. Rota, Jay J. Rotella
Summary: This study investigated the population growth rate for a Merriam's wild turkey population in the northern Black Hills, South Dakota, USA. The researchers found that the vital rates were inadequate to sustain the population and recommended increasing survival rates of adult and yearling turkeys to achieve stable or growing populations. The study also suggested that female harvest should be prohibited during any open turkey season.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Shane M. Petch, Jay J. Rotella, William A. Link, J. Terrill Paterson, Robert A. Garrott
Summary: Field observations suggest that there is individual variation in the time spent in the water by Weddell seal pups during lactation, which may have important developmental tradeoffs. This study analyzed data from 713 pups born to 419 mothers over 9 years and found that age at first entry into the water was related to birth mass and maternal reproductive experience. Total time in the water was influenced by maternal identity, pup gender, birth mass, maternal age, previous year's reproduction, and age at first entry. Phenotypic traits explain the observed variation in the development of this key life history behavior.
MARINE MAMMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jay J. Rotella
Summary: Variations in vital rates within a population are of great interest due to their impact on individual fitness and population dynamics. The Weddell seal population in Antarctica has been studied for decades, providing valuable long-term data on vital-rate variation. Research has made progress in understanding factors such as survival, reproduction, and demographic senescence, and further research is needed to investigate the specific causes of variation and their effects on offspring and population dynamics.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jesse D. DeVoe, Kelly M. Proffitt, Joshua J. Millspaugh
Summary: This study investigated the movement responses of pronghorn to fences in Montana, USA. The findings showed that pronghorn responses varied with different fence types, with woven wire fences reducing their ability to move across the landscape compared to strand fences. The study suggests that improving landscape permeability for pronghorn should involve removing woven wire fences, replacing them with strand fences, and considering variation in the lowest wire heights in fence design.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Kyle J. Lloyd, W. Chris Oosthuizen, Jay J. Rotella, Marthan N. Bester, P. J. Nico de Bruyn
Summary: Through studying male southern elephant seals, it was found that resource allocation decisions of polygynous males are influenced by density-related factors, which have important effects on survival, breeding success, and recruitment age. Males allocate more resources to reproduction and less to body maintenance when defending and servicing larger harems, and this cost is compounded for males that dominate large harems at a young age. Population density during early life has lasting effects on breeding success and recruitment age, indicating the interaction between density-dependent factors and intrinsic determinants of resource allocation.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
John H. Powell, Steven T. Kalinowski, Mark L. Taper, Jay J. Rotella, Corey S. Davis, Robert A. Garrott
Summary: This study used a two-step modeling procedure to estimate inbreeding depression in a population of Weddell seals. The method incorporated the uncertainty in estimating individual inbreeding coefficients and allowed for better evaluation of the biological importance of inbreeding depression. The results showed no evidence of inbreeding depression in reproductive success, survival, age at maturity, and reproductive interval of female seals in this population.
Article
Ecology
Kaitlin R. R. Macdonald, Jay J. J. Rotella, J. Terrill Paterson
Summary: Identifying and accounting for unobserved individual heterogeneity in vital rates is important for estimating population-level vital rates and identifying life-history strategies. This study investigates how changing the distribution of individual heterogeneity in reproduction affects population dynamics.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2023)