Article
Ecology
Ionut Paun, Dirk Husmeier, J. Grant C. Hopcraft, Majaliwa M. Masolele, Colin J. Torney
Summary: Understanding the spatial dynamics of animal movement is crucial for maintaining ecological connectivity and conserving key habitats. This study presents a Bayesian framework based on Gaussian processes to analyze spatial characteristics of animal movement, and demonstrates its effectiveness through synthetic data and telemetry data from the Serengeti wildebeest migration.
Article
Ecology
Rhys Munden, Luca Borger, Rory P. Wilson, James Redcliffe, Rowan Brown, Mathieu Garel, Jonathan R. Potts
Summary: Step selection analysis is a fundamental technique for uncovering the drivers of animal movement decisions. By using high-frequency data and a new method called time-varying iSSA, researchers can better understand and analyze animal movement patterns, leading to more behaviorally-meaningful conclusions. This method allows for more accurate insights into animal decision-making processes and can infer covariates dependent on the time between turns, which was not possible with previous techniques.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Rafaela Thaler, Zaida Ortega, Vanda L. Ferreira
Summary: This study examines the influence of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on microhabitat selection in a nocturnal tree snake. The findings suggest that extrinsic factors play a crucial role in microhabitat decision-making, while personality has relatively little impact.
BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Rasmus Mohr Mortensen, Michelle Fyrstelin Fuller, Lars Dalby, Thomas Bjorneboe Berg, Peter Sunde
Summary: The research studied habitat selection of hazel dormouse in intensively managed woodlands in Denmark. The study found that the species strongly selected sites with high abundance-weighted species richness and high vegetation density of woody plants, and had specific habitat requirements related to food and safety. The results provide relatively simple means for accommodating the habitat needs of hazel dormouse in managed forests.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Florian Orgeret, Martin U. Gruebler, Patrick Scherler, Valentijn S. van Bergen, Urs G. Kormann
Summary: In this study, we tracked red kites from fledging to settlement and found that their habitat selection changed during natal dispersal. During the prospecting phase, individuals had a wide distribution in western Europe and were less responsive to the environment. However, during the settlement phase, they selected a narrower range of environmental gradients and avoided certain areas. These findings highlight the importance of considering different environmental constraints before and after settlement in species conservation strategies.
Article
Ecology
Jonathan R. Potts, Luca Borger, Bronson K. Strickland, Garrett M. Street
Summary: The study provides a methodological framework for understanding the movement mechanisms necessary for building predictive models of animal space use. By analyzing individual movement patterns, constructing step selection models, and comparing predicted and empirical patterns, the researchers iteratively improve the model's predictive power. The effectiveness of this method is demonstrated through a case study on a population of feral pigs in Mississippi, USA, which identified missing features in the model.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rebecca Wheatley, Jessie C. Buettel, Barry W. Brook, Christopher N. Johnson, Rory P. Wilson
Summary: Animals adjust their habitat use based on the energy demands of movement and the risk of predation, but recent research suggests they also take into account the risk of accidents in their movement decisions. The study proposes a theoretical framework describing how physical landscape features interact with animal characteristics to affect the risk of accidents, emphasizing the need for future research to test these hypotheses in different real-world systems.
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
Ecology
Joseph M. Northrup, Eric Vander Wal, Maegwin Bon, John Fieberg, Michel P. Laforge, Martin Leclerc, Christina M. Prokopenko, Brian D. Gerber
Summary: Habitat selection is a fundamental animal behavior that affects a wide range of ecological processes. Technological and methodological advances in the past 20 years have led to a surge in studies addressing this process, but there is a lack of guidance on best analytical practices. This paper provides a non-technical overview and synthesis of literature on habitat-selection analyses, aiming to clarify the complex literature while serving as a reference and best practices guide for practitioners.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Katherine Ho, Rebecca Loraamm
Summary: Animal movements are influenced by environmental contexts, which impact their movement trajectories at fine scales. This research introduces a new practical application, the CDBPSTP method, to analyze animal habitat occupancies using location data. By considering environmental context, this method provides valuable information for wildlife management, planning, and conservation. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of CDBPSTP by comparing its results to an earlier method and empirical knowledge of red deer habitat preference.
ISPRS INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GEO-INFORMATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Collin J. Peterson, Nicholas J. DeCesare, Teagan A. Hayes, Chad J. Bishop, Michael S. Mitchell
Summary: This study assessed the availability and selection of forage and predation risk on summer ranges of migratory and resident mule deer populations, showing that the two groups face different choices at various spatial scales. Resident deer were able to compensate for lower forage availability and higher predation risk compared to migrants through stronger selection at finer scales.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Natasha J. Klappstein, Jonathan R. Potts, Theo Michelot, Luca Borger, Nicholas W. Pilfold, Mark A. Lewis, Andrew E. Derocher
Summary: The energy selection function (ESF) is introduced as a novel parameterization of step selection functions (SSFs) to evaluate how animals choose habitat based on energetic considerations. The ESF framework combines the energetic consequences of movement and resource selection, providing a key mechanism for habitat selection analysis.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Cameron Wesley Hodges, Benjamin Michael Marshall, Jacques George Hill, Colin Thomas Strine
Summary: The study revealed frequent encounters between Malayan kraits and humans on a suburban university campus, indicating a constant potential for human-wildlife conflict. Buildings and natural areas were the main attractions for the kraits. Substantial education and awareness training are needed to ensure coexistence on campus.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Brett T. McClintock, Michelle E. Lander
Summary: The identification of important habitats and associated behaviors is crucial for conservation and management decisions. This study presents a statistical method for inferring behavior-specific habitat selection and utilization distributions in continuous time, providing a valuable tool for understanding and managing animal populations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ryan J. Askren, Ethan R. Massey, J. Dale James, Douglas C. Osborne
Summary: This study investigated the arrival timing and foraging behaviors of greater white-fronted geese in wintering areas and highlighted the potential underestimation of energetic demands and competitive nature of early migratory geese by current bioenergetics models. The findings contribute to the refinement of bioenergetics models and future waterfowl habitat planning efforts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Joseph M. Northrup, Eric Vander Wal, Maegwin Bon, John Fieberg, Michel P. Laforge, Martin Leclerc, Christina M. Prokopenko, Brian D. Gerber
Summary: Habitat selection is a fundamental animal behavior that affects a wide range of ecological processes. Technological and methodological advances in the past 20 years have led to a surge in studies addressing this process, but there is a lack of guidance on best analytical practices. This paper provides a non-technical overview and synthesis of literature on habitat-selection analyses, aiming to clarify the complex literature while serving as a reference and best practices guide for practitioners.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Robby R. Marrotte, Brent R. Patterson, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: This study examined the drivers of moose population growth and found that negative density-dependent population growth and predation were the main factors limiting population growth. Harvest activities were also found to contribute to population declines. The study highlights the complex relationships between natural and human-caused mortality in driving ungulate population dynamics.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Eric J. Howe, Derek Potter, Kaela B. Beauclerc, Katelyn E. Jackson, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: This study proposes a method to quickly and accurately estimate animal abundance across different landscapes, while avoiding biases caused by pooling spatially heterogeneous data.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Matthew G. Betts, Zhiqiang Yang, Adam S. Hadley, Adam C. Smith, Josee S. Rousseau, Joseph M. Northrup, Joseph J. Nocera, Noel Gorelick, Brian D. Gerber
Summary: A study in eastern Canada finds that forest-management strategies that lead to simplified forest structure and composition have resulted in loss of breeding habitat and associated population losses for many bird species.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Noah E. Wightman, Eric Howe, Abbygail Satura, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: Effective wildlife management requires understanding the factors affecting population vital rates. In this study, the researchers investigated the factors influencing age at primiparity in American black bears in Ontario, Canada. They found that food availability, climate, and harvest density were significant drivers of age at primiparity. The study also revealed that the age at primiparity in this population was older compared to southern populations, and harvest could limit recruitment substantially.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robby R. Marrotte, Eric J. Howe, Kaela B. Beauclerc, Derek Potter, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: Landscape structure affects animal movement and ignoring heterogeneity may cause severe negative bias. Modelling landscape structure using non-Euclidean least-cost paths can improve inference, especially in highly structured landscapes. Finite mixture models may lead to unreliable abundance estimates.
Article
Ecology
Joseph M. Northrup, Eric Howe, Jeremy Inglis, Erica Newton, Martyn E. Obbard, Bruce Pond, Derek Potter
Summary: Human-wildlife conflict can lead to declines in wildlife populations and endanger human safety and livelihoods. This study focused on the conflict between humans and American black bears in Ontario, Canada, examining the effectiveness of implementing a spring hunting season to reduce conflict. The results showed that while harvest increased with the new season, there was no reduction in interactions or incidents, and these were actually higher in areas with the new season. It was also found that human-bear interactions, incidents, and harvest were strongly influenced by the availability of natural foods. Thus, programs promoting coexistence and managing unnatural food sources are the most effective in reducing conflicts.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biology
Maegwin Bonar, Spencer J. Anderson, Charles R. Anderson Jr, George Wittemyer, Joseph M. Northrup, Aaron B. A. Shafer
Summary: Animal migrations are a widespread and threatened ecological process globally. Analyzing migratory traits based on genetic mechanisms is crucial for understanding species' adaptive potential in novel environments and environmental changes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jonathon J. Valente, James W. Rivers, Zhiqiang Yang, S. Kim Nelson, Joseph M. Northrup, Daniel D. Roby, Carolyn B. Meyer, Matthew G. Betts
Summary: This study focuses on how habitat fragmentation affects the endangered marbled murrelet's breeding distribution. The results show that habitat fragmentation negatively impacts murrelet occupancy, particularly at the species' nesting range edge. The study also found a decrease in murrelet habitat and an increase in fragmented edge habitat in the Pacific Northwest.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Evan Kopsala, Christopher Kyle, Eric Howe, Derek Potter, Kaela Beauclerc, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: Characterizing patterns and drivers of dispersal is crucial for understanding animal ecology and informing conservation strategies. In this study, microsatellite data from 3941 black bears in 73 sampling areas were used to characterize dispersal through gene flow. Spatial models were fitted to investigate potential drivers of dispersal patterns. The results suggested positive density-dependent dispersal with a male bias, and a relationship between dispersal and food productivity gradients. These findings provide valuable insights into the drivers of dispersal in a wide-ranging mammal.
Article
Ecology
Anni Yang, Mark Q. Wilber, Kezia R. Manlove, Ryan S. Miller, Raoul Boughton, James Beasley, Joseph Northrup, Kurt C. VerCauteren, George Wittemyer, Kim Pepin
Summary: Quantifying spatiotemporally explicit interactions within animal populations using continuous-time movement models (CTMMs) fit to GPS tracking data allows for understanding social structure and its relationship with ecological processes. The method can overcome challenges in estimating interactions from discrete and coarse temporal resolution data, and can be used to infer dynamic social networks, transmission potential in disease systems, consumer-resource interactions, and more. The new CTMM-Interaction method recovers a majority of true interactions and provides a framework for future predictive models linking observed spatiotemporal interaction patterns to environmental drivers.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brynn A. Mclellan, Eric Howe, Robby R. Marrotte, Joseph M. Northrup
Summary: Reliable estimates of population density are crucial for wildlife management and conservation. Spatially explicit capture-recapture models and information-theoretic model selection criteria are commonly used for density estimation. This study tested the performance of these models and criteria in the presence of realistic levels of density and detectability variation. Simulations of American black bear populations were used to assess the reliability of model selection criteria and the accuracy of density estimates. The study found that unmodeled heterogeneity in density and detectability can lead to biased estimates, but including a good approximating model can yield accurate results.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Danielle Bilyeu Johnston, Charles R. R. Anderson Jr
Summary: Land managers in western North America often use mechanical methods such as chaining, roller-chopping, and mastication to reverse succession and reduce fire risk. These methods differ in cost and impact on vegetation and animal responses.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tim C. C. Swearingen, Robert W. W. Klaver, Charles R. R. Anderson Jr, Christopher N. N. Jacques
Summary: The probability of obtaining images of target species may differ based on camera models and alignment of cameras. The alignment of cameras within paired stations can affect species detection due to exposure issues. Our study found that the alignment of cameras did not significantly impact the number of usable mammal photos, but reliability varied between different camera models. Further testing is recommended before large-scale deployment to optimize reliability and performance.
WILDLIFE SOCIETY BULLETIN
(2023)
