Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Clara Superbie, Kathrine M. Stewart, Charlotte E. Regan, Jill F. Johnstone, Philip D. McLoughlin
Summary: Understanding the relative importance of threats to species across their range is crucial for large-scale conservation planning. A study on the Canada-wide boreal caribou reveals that current policy draws heavily from data obtained in the southern area, but further research is needed to understand the situation in the northern region.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Collin J. Peterson, Michael S. Mitchell, Nicholas J. DeCesare, Chad J. Bishop, Sarah S. Sells
Summary: The study found that predictions of habitat selection by wolves were highly generalizable across different study areas, while predictions of mountain lion distribution were less generalizable. Features that facilitate the hunting mode of a predator may be more generalizable predictors of their habitat selection than features associated with local prey densities.
Article
Forestry
Fabien St-Pierre, Pierre Drapeau, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: This study investigated the natural regrowth of logging roads in Canada's eastern boreal forest. The results showed that the number of growing degree-days and the proportion of coniferous stands in the surroundings were the main factors influencing vegetation regrowth. Soil compaction was found to be the most important variable impeding vegetation establishment on logging roads, while a higher proportion of wetlands surrounding the road segment contributed to poor regrowth.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rebecca Lacerte, Mathieu Leblond, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: The study assessed the short-term establishment of vegetation following four different treatments applied on forest roads in eastern Canada. The combination of closing the road to traffic, decompacting the soil, and planting black spruce trees was found to be the most effective treatment for establishing regeneration that would lead to suitable caribou habitat. The results suggest that decommissioning forest roads could benefit caribou populations, especially when done at a sufficiently broad scale and accompanied by other habitat restoration and protection practices.
RESTORATION ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Philip D. Walker, Arthur R. Rodgers, Jennifer L. Shuter, Ian D. Thompson, John M. Fryxell, John G. Cook, Rachel C. Cook, Eveyln H. Merrill
Summary: This study examined calving and neonatal mortality of boreal woodland caribou in Ontario using a movement-based approach, revealing that caribou prefer lowlands and closed-canopied forests for calving and early calf development. There is also a risk of neonatal mortality associated with increased use of lowlands and greater postpartum movement rates.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Laura Finnegan, Mark Hebblewhite, Karine E. Pigeon
Summary: Linear features are widespread in the boreal forest of Canada and have negative impacts on various wildlife species. Understanding how different characteristics of linear features affect wildlife is crucial for effective landscape restoration. Current restoration efforts focus on recovering the woodland caribou, but this may inadvertently affect other boreal species like moose. Evaluating moose response to different linear features can help guide targeted restoration efforts.
Article
Ecology
Tracy L. McKay, Karine E. Pigeon, Terrence A. Larsen, Laura A. Finnegan
Summary: The study found that in central mountain caribou ranges, caribou outside of protected areas faced higher predation risk when closer to pipelines, seismic lines, and streams, while within protected areas, predation risk increased closer to alpine habitat. Factors predicting predation risk varied among spatio-temporal scales and linear feature types.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Siobhan Darlington, Andrew Ladle, A. Cole Burton, John P. Volpe, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: Land modified for human use can have both negative and positive effects on wildlife, affecting their habitat selection and range expansion. A study on boreal white-tailed deer in the oil sands of western Canada found that industrial features and linear features play important roles in deer distribution. Linear features such as roads and trails are attractive to deer as they provide high density food sources, despite the potential increased risk of encountering predators. This finding highlights the importance of considering the complex interactions between human activities, landscape features, and wildlife behavior.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Forestry
David Singer, Hermann Hondong, Markus Dietz
Summary: Old-growth forests are valuable habitats for bat and woodpecker species, yet these habitat features are often reduced in managed forests. Bechstein's Bat, a species of high European conservation priority, shows a preference for woodpecker cavities for roosting. The study found that both woodpeckers and Bechstein's Bat prefer managed forests with old, deciduous stands with high tree densities and deadwood structures.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Rory Clifford Pittman, Baoxin Hu
Summary: This study investigated a pixel-based tree species classification method with fine (2 m) spatial resolution for a forested region in northern Ontario, Canada. The topographic features had a significant impact on prediction and classification. The best model achieved an overall site level accuracy of 0.79 and a Cohen's kappa score of 0.69. Entropy maps were used to characterize the uncertainty of prediction, and a modified entropy map was used to highlight regions of prediction uncertainty.
GISCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jordan A. McNamara, James A. Schaefer, Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Shane P. Mahoney
Summary: The study found that landscape features can influence the distribution of caribou and hunting harvests. Across different decades, the distribution and harvests of caribou and hunters showed varying relationships.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kati M. Suominen, Eero J. Vesterinen, Ilkka Kivisto, Maria Reiman, Tarmo Virtanen, Melissa B. Meierhofer, Ville Vasko, Tarja Sironen, Thomas M. Lilley
Summary: Bats and their reproductive roost sites are protected by legislation in Europe. This study used citizen science and molecular methods to determine the key environmental features around roost sites for bat species inhabiting human settlements in Northern Finland. Results showed that the built environment, open areas, and water within a 200 m radius were important for roost site selection for the northern bat, while Brandt's myotis preferred undisturbed landscapes within a 5 km radius. The surrounding habitat of a roost plays a vital role for bat species and should be protected and considered in land-use planning.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Tost, Tobias Ludwig, Egbert Strauss, Klaus Jung, Ursula Siebert
Summary: This study investigated the habitat selection of black grouse in the lowlands of Central Europe. It found that black grouse preferred undisturbed and heterogeneous habitats, far from dense forests, with wide sand heaths, natural grasslands, and intermixed bogs, diverse vegetation and food sources, and low density of (loose) shrub formations and solitary trees. Wetlands were extremely important in a landscape dominated by dry heaths and grasslands.
Article
Ecology
Paul F. Jones, Andrew F. Jakes, Scott E. Vegter, Mike S. Verhage
Summary: This study assessed the effects of fences and roads on the movement and distribution of pronghorn and found that these linear features indirectly affect the resource use and behavior of the pronghorn. The results suggest that modifying the configuration of fences and roads can facilitate the movement and distribution of pronghorn.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanbo Yang, Chenhui Wei, Lu Xiao, Zhaoliang Zhong, Qi Li, Huimei Wang, Wenjie Wang
Summary: Urbanization has a strong impact on the phylogenetic diversity of woody plants, which is related to the intensity of urbanization and landscape features. Artificial surface area, forest shape index, and patch density of forest have threshold effects on phylogenetic diversity. Economic factors such as gross domestic product play a significant role in the variations of phylogenetic diversity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Erica J. Newton, Kenneth F. Abraham, James A. Schaefer, Bruce A. Pond, Glen S. Brown, John E. Thompson
Article
Zoology
Martyn E. Obbard, Erica J. Newton, Derek Potter, Andrew Orton, Brent R. Patterson, Brad D. Steinberg
Article
Zoology
Erica J. Newton, Thomas B. Herman
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
(2009)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erica J. Newton, Bruce A. Pond, Glen S. Brown, Kenneth F. Abraham, James A. Schaefer
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erica J. Newton, Bruce A. Pond, Rowland R. Tinline, Kevin Middel, Denise Belanger, Erin E. Rees
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Erin L. Koen, Erica J. Newton
Summary: Research shows that media events significantly increase the number of public reports on invasive wild animals. However, relying solely on reporting frequency may not accurately reflect real changes in animal numbers. Reports from community members remain a cost-effective detection method.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Lisa A. Pollock, Erica J. Newton, Erin L. Koen
Summary: The study found that wild pigs play a significant role in the transmission of diseases like African Swine Fever, especially in areas where the disease is present. Network models predicted that central Ontario has a relatively high risk of virus exposure, with high domestic pig farm density. Eastern Ontario is crucial for controlling virus flow across the province.
PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Erin L. Koen, Erica J. Newton, Edward Hance Ellington
Summary: Invasive wild pigs are considered highly damaging species globally, with recent sightings reported in Ontario, Canada. Research suggests that the wild pigs observed in Ontario are likely recent escapes from captivity, with the potential for established groups that have not yet been detected. Reports have also indicated instances of translocation and illegal release of wild pigs in the past.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
M. E. Obbard, M. R. L. Cattet, E. J. Howe, K. R. Middel, E. J. Newton, G. B. Kolenosky, K. F. Abraham, C. J. Greenwood