Article
Ecology
Ceeanna J. J. Zulla, Gavin M. M. Jones, H. Anu Kramer, John J. J. Keane, Kevin N. N. Roberts, Brian P. P. Dotters, Sarah C. C. Sawyer, Sheila A. A. Whitmore, William J. J. Berigan, Kevin G. G. Kelly, R. J. Gutierrez, M. Zachariah Peery
Summary: This study tested the effects of forest stand types on hunting and breeding success of California spotted owls in a mixed-ownership landscape in the Sierra Nevada, California. Results showed that spotted owls made shorter nocturnal movements in homogeneous territories with large areas of medium-aged forest, but delivered prey at a higher rate to nest sites in territories with more forest edge. The study highlights the importance of considering species-specific trade-offs and individual life history activities when studying the effects of landscape heterogeneity.
Article
Forestry
Anu Kramer, Gavin M. Jones, Sheila A. Whitmore, John J. Keane, Fidelis A. Atuo, Brian P. Dotters, Sarah C. Sawyer, Sarah L. Stock, R. J. Gutierrez, M. Zachariah Peery
Summary: Wildland fires play a crucial role in shaping the ecosystems and wildlife species like the California spotted owl. This study focused on how the owls respond to different fire severity levels and patch characteristics in their habitats. The research indicates that owls neither prefer nor avoid areas burned by low to moderate-severity fires, but tend to avoid larger severely-burned patches, suggesting the importance of patch characteristics in owl habitat selection.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Hannu Poysa, Antti Paasivaara
Summary: This study investigated how the distribution of breeding individuals and breeding success of waterbirds in Southeastern Finland changed along gradients in ice-out date and habitat structure. The research found significant differences in distribution and breeding success of different species along environmental gradients. The potentially positive impact of climate change on breeding phenology was outweighed by negative changes in habitat quality.
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
H. Anu Kramer, Gavin M. Jones, Van R. Kane, Bryce Bartl-Geller, Jonathan T. Kane, Sheila A. Whitmore, William J. Berigan, Brian P. Dotters, Kevin N. Roberts, Sarah C. Sawyer, John J. Keane, Malcolm P. North, R. J. Gutierrez, M. Zachariah Peery
Summary: Research on California spotted owls along an elevational gradient in the Sierra Nevada mountains revealed that habitat selection varied with elevation, with lower elevation owls preferring stands with shorter trees and sites closer to hard edges, while higher elevation owls preferred the opposite. These findings suggest that enhancing habitat features specific to each elevational zone could improve foraging habitat quality for spotted owls.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu Xu, Biao Yang, Qiang Dai, Han Pan, Xue Zhong, Jianghong Ran, Xuyu Yang, Xiaodong Gu, Zhisong Yang, Dunwu Qi, Rong Hou, Zejun Zhang
Summary: This study evaluates the management of giant panda populations in China and proposes suggestions for landscape-scale conservation in the national park system.
Article
Ecology
Luca Chiaverini, Ho Yi Wan, Beth Hahn, Amy Cilimburg, Tzeidle N. Wasserman, Samuel A. Cushman
Summary: Sampling bias and autocorrelation can impact habitat selection models. Spatially representative models trained with simulated datasets performed well on standard metrics, but spatially non-representative models outperformed them in true model prediction ability.
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jonathan P. Harris, Loren M. Smith, Scott T. McMurry
Summary: This study proposed a quantitative definition of habitat quality and created a habitat quality index based on spatial projections of habitat selection and survival probabilities. Using statistical models and GIS technology, the researchers calculated habitat selection and survival probabilities to determine the habitat quality index. The study found that at the research site, the habitat quality index was 0.85, indicating that the majority of highly selected habitat had a high probability of contributing to population growth.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Robert J. J. Fletcher Jr, Matthew G. G. Betts, Ellen I. I. Damschen, Trevor J. J. Hefley, Jessica Hightower, Thomas A. H. Smith, Marie-Josee Fortin, Nick M. M. Haddad
Summary: Habitat fragmentation has debated impacts on biodiversity, which can only be understood at the landscape scale, but also affects individual patches within landscapes. A framework that emphasizes the scales of phenomena, sampling, and analysis is needed to advance the science of fragmentation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
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
Cara L. Appel, Damon B. Lesmeister, Adam Duarte, Raymond J. Davis, Matthew J. Weldy, Taal Levi
Summary: Managing forests for biodiversity conservation while maintaining economic output is a major challenge globally. In the Pacific Northwest, USA, forest management is heavily influenced by the status of northern spotted owls, which have been in continued population decline for the past four decades. The monitoring program for northern spotted owls is transitioning from mark-resight surveys to a passive acoustic framework.
Article
Ecology
Julianna M. A. Jenkins, Damon B. Lesmeister, Eric D. Forsman, Katie M. Dugger, Steven H. Ackers, L. Steven Andrews, Scott A. Gremel, Bruce Hollen, Chris E. McCafferty, M. Shane Pruett, Janice A. Reid, Stan G. Sovern, J. David Wiens
Summary: The study found that breeding dispersal rates of northern spotted owls increased as invasive barred owl numbers rose, with monitored owl dispersal rates increasing from around 7% to 25% over the study period. Factors such as historical reproduction levels and prior dispersal events influenced breeding dispersal probabilities in the owl population.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Marilyn E. Wright, M. Zachariah Peery, Jessalyn Ayars, Brian P. Dotters, Kevin N. Roberts, Gavin M. Jones
Summary: Wildfire has played a significant role in shaping the biodiversity of western North American forests, but human activities have altered fire patterns and ecological functions. Fuel reduction treatments can mitigate extreme fire events, but their potential effects on sensitive wildlife species, such as the California spotted owl, have been controversial. A study on the relationship between spotted owls and fuel reduction treatments found that these treatments could improve owl foraging habitat and mitigate the impacts of large wildfires on forest ecosystems.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Business
Ann E. Ferris, Eyal G. Frank
Summary: This study examines the long-term impacts of the listing of the Northern Spotted Owl in 1990 on employment in the timber industry, finding a decline in employment and highlighting the significant employment impacts that land protection policies may have on land-reliant industries.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Victoria A. Ramirez, Sebastiano De Bona, Matthew R. Helmus, Jocelyn E. Behm
Summary: Control of incipient invaders can be more effective by identifying consistent habitat associations for the species early, especially habitat associations at landscape, site, and tree scales. Spotted lanternflies oviposited more frequently in human-impacted habitat with low canopy cover, on trees from the Acer genus, and in the crowns of larger trees. The duration of invasion had opposing effects on oviposition at the site and tree scales, and more work is needed to understand the variation in reproductive output.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Gavin M. Jones, Andrew J. Shirk, Zhiqiang Yang, Raymond J. Davis, Joseph L. Ganey, R. J. Gutierrez, Sean P. Healey, Shaula J. Hedwall, Serra J. Hoagland, Ron Maes, Karl Malcolm, Kevin S. McKelvey, Jamie S. Sanderlin, Michael K. Schwartz, Mark E. Seamans, Ho Yi Wan, Samuel A. Cushman
Summary: Understanding habitat dynamics is crucial for effective conservation. This study developed a dynamic model of Mexican spotted owl habitat using an automated habitat monitoring system. The study explored environmental correlates, spatial non-stationarity in habitat selection, long-term trends, and the impact of wildfires on habitat changes. The results showed that topography and climate had a significant influence on the owl's habitat, with a decline in total habitat area over the past 35 years, and wildfires accounting for a portion of the habitat loss.
Article
Plant Sciences
Felipe Torres-Vanegas, Adam S. Hadley, Urs G. Kormann, F. Andrew Jones, Matthew G. Betts, Helene H. Wagner
Summary: Deforestation can have direct and indirect impacts on plant mating quality. Functional shifts in the pollinator community due to deforestation can reduce genetic diversity in pollen loads and affect the success of plant mating.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Matthew G. Betts, Benjamin T. Phalan, Christopher Wolf, Susan C. Baker, Christian Messier, Klaus J. Puettmann, Rhys Green, Scott H. Harris, David P. Edwards, David B. Lindenmayer, Andrew Balmford
Summary: Forest loss and degradation pose the greatest threats to global biodiversity, and finding a balance between conservation and wood production remains a challenge. Expanding high-yielding tree plantations could provide more forest land for protection, but leads to reduced biodiversity, while adopting extensive ecological management may better simulate natural forest structures with compromised wood yields.
BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Scott H. Harris, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: A study on the impact of tree plantations on native bird biodiversity found that bird abundance changes dynamically during early plantation development, with many species peaking in abundance either very early in development or at canopy closure, then declining by the end of a 30-year period. Broadleaf cover only increased habitat longevity for one bird species (Wilson's warbler), contrary to the hypothesis.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Christopher Wolf, Taal Levi, William J. Ripple, Diego A. Zarrate-Charry, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: Global analysis reveals that only 6.5% of the world's forests are protected, well below the Aichi Target of 17%. Protected areas reduce deforestation rates by 41%, with the lowest rates seen in small reserves with low background deforestation rates.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ornithology
Jonathon J. Valente, S. Kim Nelson, James W. Rivers, Daniel D. Roby, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: By experimentally broadcasting murrelet calls at potential breeding sites, it was found that simulating conspecific presence can attract potential prospectors and lead them to occupy the site in the following year. This suggests that social information influences site selection for murrelet breeding.
Article
Ecology
Michael V. Cove, Roland Kays, Helen Bontrager, Claire Bresnan, Monica Lasky, Taylor Frerichs, Renee Klann, Thomas E. Lee, Seth C. Crockett, Anthony P. Crupi, Katherine C. B. Weiss, Helen Rowe, Tiffany Sprague, Jan Schipper, Chelsey Tellez, Christopher A. Lepczyk, Jean E. Fantle-Lepczyk, Scott Lapoint, Jacque Williamson, M. Caitlin Fisher-Reid, Sean M. King, Alexandra J. Bebko, Petros Chrysafis, Alex J. Jensen, David S. Jachowski, Joshua Sands, Kelly Anne MacCombie, Daniel J. Herrera, Marius van der Merwe, Travis W. Knowles, Robert V. Horan, Michael S. Rentz, LaRoy S. E. Brandt, Christopher Nagy, Brandon T. Barton, Weston C. Thompson, Sean P. Maher, Andrea K. Darracq, George Hess, Arielle W. Parsons, Brenna Wells, Gary W. Roemer, Cristian J. Hernandez, Matthew E. Gompper, Stephen L. Webb, John P. Vanek, Diana J. R. Lafferty, Amelia M. Bergquist, Tru Hubbard, Tavis Forrester, Darren Clark, Connor Cincotta, Jorie Favreau, Aaron N. Facka, Michelle Halbur, Steven Hammerich, Morgan Gray, Christine C. Rega-Brodsky, Caleb Durbin, Elizabeth A. Flaherty, Jarred M. Brooke, Stephanie S. Coster, Richard G. Lathrop, Katarina Russell, Daniel A. Bogan, Rachel Cliche, Hila Shamon, Melissa T. R. Hawkins, Sharyn B. Marks, Robert C. Lonsinger, M. Teague O'Mara, Justin A. Compton, Melinda Fowler, Erika L. Barthelmess, Katherine E. Andy, Jerrold L. Belant, Dean E. Beyer, Todd M. Kautz, Daniel G. Scognamillo, Christopher M. Schalk, Matthew S. Leslie, Sophie L. Nasrallah, Caroline N. Ellison, Chip Ruthven, Sarah Fritts, Jaquelyn Tleimat, Mandy Gay, Christopher A. Whittier, Sean A. Neiswenter, Robert Pelletier, Brett A. DeGregorio, Erin K. Kuprewicz, Miranda L. Davis, Adrienne Dykstra, David S. Mason, Carolina Baruzzi, Marcus A. Lashley, Derek R. Risch, Melissa R. Price, Maximilian L. Allen, Laura S. Whipple, Jinelle H. Sperry, Robert H. Hagen, Alessio Mortelliti, Bryn E. Evans, Colin E. Studds, Alexej P. K. Siren, Jillian Kilborn, Chris Sutherland, Paige Warren, Todd Fuller, Nyeema C. Harris, Neil H. Carter, Edward Trout, Marketa Zimova, Sean T. Giery, Fabiola Iannarilli, Summer D. Higdon, Ronald S. Revord, Christopher P. Hansen, Joshua J. Millspaugh, Adam Zorn, John F. Benson, Nathaniel H. Wehr, Jaylin N. Solberg, Brian D. Gerber, Jessica C. Burr, Jennifer Sevin, Austin M. Green, Cagan H. Sekercioglu, Mary Pendergast, Kelsey A. Barnick, Andrew J. Edelman, Joanne R. Wasdin, Andrea Romero, Brian J. O'Neill, Noel Schmitz, Jesse M. Alston, Kellie M. Kuhn, Damon B. Lesmeister, Mark A. Linnell, Cara L. Appel, Christopher Rota, Jennifer L. Stenglein, Christine Anhalt-Depies, Carrie Nelson, Robert A. Long, Kodi Jo Jaspers, Kathryn R. Remine, Mark J. Jordan, Daniel Davis, Haydee Hernandez-Yanez, Jennifer Y. Zhao, Andwilliam J. McShea
Summary: In response to the accelerating global change, the SNAPSHOT USA project was launched to rapidly inventory wildlife populations across the United States using camera traps. The first annual survey yielded data on 83 mammal species and 17 bird species from 1,509 camera trap sites, providing valuable information for ecological research and conservation planning. Access to the survey data is open to all, with future updates and data paper submissions available through eMammal.si.edu/snapshot-usa.
Article
Zoology
Elizabeth K. Orning, Katie M. Dugger, Darren A. Clark
Summary: This study quantified predation patterns for a recolonizing wolf population, with elk being the primary prey and juvenile elk dominating wolf diets in both summer and winter. Kill rates varied seasonally, being 2.3 times higher in summer than in winter.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joel S. Ruprecht, Charlotte E. Eriksson, Tavis D. Forrester, Darren A. Clark, Michael J. Wisdom, Mary M. Rowland, Bruce K. Johnson, Taal Levi
Summary: Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models and camera-based generalized spatial mark-resight (gSMR) models produced density estimates that were consistent for black bears, cougars, and coyotes, but SCR estimates were 33% higher than gSMR estimates for bobcats. Unmarked models yielded widely varying density estimates compared to SCR, but models with more identifiable individuals produced more consistent results. Hybrid models incorporating all data sources gave the most precise estimates across all species.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Thomas D. Stokely, Urs G. Kormann, Jake Verschuyl, Andrew J. Kroll, David W. Frey, Scott H. Harris, Doug Mainwaring, Doug Maguire, Jeff A. Hatten, James W. Rivers, Stephen Fitzgerald, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: The research shows that increasing management intensity through herbicide use in forests may decrease biodiversity conservation and certain non-timber services, pointing to trade-offs between some services and timber production. However, some services appear to be compatible with timber production, suggesting that a balance may need to be struck for optimal ecosystem service provision across managed forest landscapes.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Mary M. Rowland, Ryan M. Nielson, Michael J. Wisdom, Bruce K. Johnson, Scott Findholt, Darren Clark, Guy T. Didonato, Jennifer M. Hafer, Bridgett J. Naylor
Summary: The study highlights the importance of sport hunting in managing ungulate populations and the influence of landscape features on hunter space use. Successful hunters have smaller core areas compared to unsuccessful hunters, with cover percentage and distance from open roads being consistent covariates affecting space use.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joel Ruprecht, Charlotte E. Eriksson, Tavis D. Forrester, Derek B. Spitz, Darren A. Clark, Michael J. Wisdom, Marcus Bianco, Mary M. Rowland, Joshua B. Smith, Bruce K. Johnson, Taal Levi
Summary: The Mesopredator release theory suggests that dominant predators suppress subordinate carnivores, but the study found that resource provisioning from competitively dominant cougars to coyotes through scavenging played a crucial role in shaping coyote behavior and space use. The interactions among carnivores were found to be multifaceted, with coyotes being both attracted to cougar kill sites but also frequently killed by cougars. The study also revealed that bobcats and black bears had different responses to cougar presence, with bobcats showing no influence and black bears avoiding them.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joshua B. Smith, Derek B. Spitz, Casey L. Brown, Michael J. Wisdom, Mary M. Rowland, Tavis D. Forrester, Bruce K. Johnson, Darren A. Clark
Summary: Prey respond to predation risk with various behavioral tactics, and human hunting poses short-duration, high-intensity predation risk for prey. Understanding the influence of hunting modes, targeted and non-targeted species, and landscape features on prey responses is crucial for effective population management.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joel Ruprecht, Tavis D. Forrester, Nathan J. Jackson, Darren A. Clark, Michael J. Wisdom, Mary M. Rowland, Joshua B. Smith, Kelley M. Stewart, Taal Levi
Summary: The behavioral mechanisms by which predators encounter prey are poorly understood. This study found that newborn ungulates are highly vulnerable to predation during their birth pulse. Different carnivores exhibit different foraging strategies towards seasonal newborn ungulates.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joel Ruprecht, Michael J. Wisdom, Darren A. Clark, Mary M. Rowland, Taal Levi
Summary: Understanding how animals respond to changes in their habitat caused by natural disturbances is increasingly important. These disturbances can affect herbivores' use of the habitat, with changes in plant communities improving forage conditions but potentially reducing other habitat functions. Quantifying the overall effects of these disturbances is challenging and requires long-term observations to fully understand their impact.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mary M. Rowland, Ryan M. Nielson, Michael J. Wisdom, Darren A. Clark, Guy T. DiDonato, Jennifer M. Hafer, Bridgett J. Naylor, Bruce K. Johnson
Summary: The pursuit of ungulates as game animals is a dominant activity in North America and much of the world. Strategic regulation of hunting is key for managing game population, but knowledge is lacking about hunter characteristics or behaviors linked with success. A 6-year observational study in northeastern Oregon was conducted to characterize hunter traits associated with success for different hunt types.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)