Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabio Weiss, Frank Uwe Michler, Benjamin Gillich, Joerg Tillmann, Simone Ciuti, Marco Heurich, Siegfried Rieger
Summary: This study investigates the influence of herded sheep and goats on red deer spatial behavior. The findings show that red deer use grazed areas less during conservation grazing, and this effect persists up to 21 days after conservation grazing ends. Habitat selection of red deer is also affected up to 3000 meters away from the conservation grazing sites, with no signs of habituation or adaption.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
J. A. Moon, S. E. Lehnen, K. L. Metzger, M. A. Squires, M. G. Brasher, B. C. Wilson, W. C. Conway, D. A. Haukos, B. E. Davis, F. C. Rohwer, E. M. Wehland, B. M. Ballard
Summary: Coastal wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico are vital ecosystems that have been declining in size and quality since the 1930s. Research on mottled ducks predicts negative impacts on their habitat from future sea-level rise and human development, with the highest habitat loss rate expected in the Chenier Plain of Louisiana, USA. Identifying vulnerable areas and targeting conservation efforts could help ensure the future persistence of mottled ducks in the landscape.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
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
Biodiversity Conservation
Bing Zhang, Xiangyun Ding, Shuheng Li, Linhai Li, Zhanqiang Wen, Yonghui Li, Jun Chen, Daode Yang
Summary: Understanding habitat demand is crucial for conserving wildlife in their natural habitat. Snake habitat research often overlooks the rationality of selecting spatial scales and lacks quantitative research at the macro scale. In this study, we examined the habitat selection of the Mangshan pit viper at different spatial scales and found specific preferences for certain habitat characteristics.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
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
Ecology
Joshua Blouin, Jacob DeBow, Elias Rosenblatt, James Hines, Cedric Alexander, Katherina Gieder, Nicholas Fortin, James Murdoch, Therese Donovan
Summary: The decline in moose populations due to winter tick infestation is influenced by habitat selection and elevation, with winter ticks being largely immobile during the fall questing and spring drop-off periods. Habitat selection by adult female moose during the fall questing period impacts the survival of their offspring, with successful mothers choosing different habitats from those whose calves perish. These findings provide important insights for management strategies aimed at reversing declining moose populations.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Monica D. Parisi, Patrick R. Huber, Steven E. Greco
Summary: Habitat connectivity is crucial for designing reserve networks to conserve species at risk. However, acquiring land to achieve connectivity for multiple species can be challenging due to limited data and complex models. In this study, four land acquisition strategies were compared in terms of their efficiency in meeting conservation targets, structural connectivity, and connectivity for focal species. The combination of 'Priority 1' and 'Corridor' parcels was found to be the most efficient solution.
Article
Oceanography
Micheli Duarte de Paula Costa, Rafael A. Magris, Jose Henrique Muelbert, Joao Paes Vieira, Jorge Pablo Castello, Margareth S. Copertino, Hugh P. Possingham
Summary: Fish conservation in estuaries is complex due to diverse social values, multiple ecological processes and ontogenetic shift. This study developed a prioritisation approach to create conservation zones in an estuarine system, integrating pelagic and benthic habitats for different life history stages. The results showed that spatial priorities for conservation zones were robust and an integrated plan required less area than a traditional plan.
OCEAN & COASTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Kevin B. Knight, Patrick J. Comer, Brian R. Pickard, Doria R. Gordon, Theodore Toombs
Summary: The study aims to assess biodiversity conservation goals in the United States and integrates habitat quality and quantity through the development of the National Habitat Condition Index (HCI). It was found that functional habitat is independent of protection status, as working lands also provide significant value.
Article
Environmental Studies
Ana Tarrafa Silva, Ana Pereira Roders, Teresa Cunha Ferreira, Ivan Nevzgodin
Summary: The growing complexity of managing the sustainable development of cities stresses the need for interdisciplinary approaches, with a stronger articulation between different fields. The integration between heritage conservation and spatial planning has already been addressed in recent literature, ranging from a traditional sectorial perspective towards more cooperative and coordinated initiatives, occasionally resulting in integrated policies.
Article
Ecology
Garrett M. Street, Jonathan R. Potts, Luca Borger, James C. Beasley, Stephen Demarais, John M. Fryxell, Philip D. McLoughlin, Kevin L. Monteith, Christina M. Prokopenko, Miltinho C. Ribeiro, Arthur R. Rodgers, Bronson K. Strickland, Floris M. van Beest, David A. Bernasconi, Larissa T. Beumer, Guha Dharmarajan, Samantha P. Dwinnell, David A. Keiter, Alexine Keuroghlian, Levi J. Newediuk, Julia Emi F. Oshima, Olin Rhodes, Peter E. Schlichting, Niels M. Schmidt, Eric Vander Wal
Summary: Sample size sufficiency is crucial for estimating resource selection functions (RSFs) from GPS-based animal telemetry, with thresholds such as M >= 30 captured animals and maximum relocations per animal N recommended. This study provides a comprehensive solution by deriving mathematical expressions for necessary M and N based on biologically meaningful quantities, showing the decline in required sample sizes with increasing selection strength and landscape complexity. Analytical solutions demonstrate that the most relevant effects on utilization distribution can often be estimated with fewer than M=30 animals, regardless of availability definition, and should be a mandatory component for all future RSF studies.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Simon Tarabon, Claire Godet, Tolga Coskun, Celine Clauzel
Summary: This study provides a methodological framework combining modeling tools and field expertise to improve habitat connectivity for wildlife. By using connectivity metrics from graph theory and considering local context and technical feasibility, existing road structures were prioritized for improvement and optimal locations for new wildlife crossings were identified. The study has been proven to be a useful tool in assisting decision-making for land-use planners aiming to improve wildlife crossings on major transportation infrastructures.
LANDSCAPE AND URBAN PLANNING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mirjam Barrueto, Anne Forshner, Jesse Whittington, Anthony P. Clevenger, Marco Musiani
Summary: Protected areas are crucial for species conservation, but human-caused mortality and recreational activities can have negative impacts on wildlife populations. A study conducted in southwestern Canada revealed that wolverine density within protected areas was three times higher than outside, but it declined over a ten-year period. Wolverine density and detection probability were positively associated with snow cover and negatively influenced by human recreational activity and development. The annual harvest rate exceeded the maximum sustainable rate. The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring population trends and addressing key conservation concerns to prevent unnoticed declines.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
L. Bosco, S. A. Cushman, H. Y. Wan, K. A. Zeller, R. Arlettaz, A. Jacot
Summary: Habitat loss and fragmentation have significant impacts on biodiversity, particularly on habitat selection in birds like the woodlark. Studying the interactive effects of habitat amount and fragmentation at various spatial scales is crucial for understanding these impacts and can provide valuable management recommendations for farmers.
ANIMAL CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brianne E. Brussee, Peter S. Coates, Shawn T. O'Neil, Michael L. Casazza, Shawn P. Espinosa, John D. Boone, Elisabeth M. Ammon, Scott C. Gardner, David J. Delehanty
Summary: Numerous wildlife species in semi-arid shrubland ecosystems in western North America are suffering from habitat loss and fragmentation. Greater sage-grouse, considered an indicator of ecosystem health, have experienced population decline due to habitat degradation.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)