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Various aspects of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) continue to be integrated in the wildlife conservation and management discourse; however, there may be challenges in cross‐cultural understanding of the complex social‐ecological systems that make up the fabric of TEK. In a 2‐phased approach, we implemented research to better understand an Indigenous perspective of human–wildlife relationship. In phase 1, we conducted 16 semi‐structured interviews with Yurok and Yurok‐affiliated people about the relationship of Yurok people with wildlife and Yurok community hunting values. In phase 2, we conducted a secondary analysis of a subset of 10 interviews from phase 1. Permissions were obtained from the Yurok Tribe, under the project's previously established Institutional Review Board process, to access archived interview data for subsequent research relevant to the original research goals. We identified the following themes: Yurok conceptualizations of wildlife, cultural understanding of animals as people, animal harvesting protocols, cultural guidelines that maintain wildlife populations, and consequences for not following cultural guidelines as related to hunting. We explored how the terms wildlife and wildlife management are difficult to interpret within the context of Yurok TEK, as wildlife, in the same meaning as Western wildlife management, does not exist in the Yurok cultural paradigm. A fundamental, multifaceted aspect of the Yurok–wildlife relationship through a TEK context is the concept of animals as people, which we discuss in relation to Yurok spirituality. As Indigenous Knowledge continues to be recognized in scientific discourse, there may be opportunities to reconceptualize, Indigenize, and shift approaches to research, wildlife and wildlife habitat management, and conservation. Results of our study may support Yurok Tribe wildlife managers, Western‐trained biologists, and others in their considerations of Indigenous Knowledge in wildlife management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Habitat loss and degradation pose significant threats to global fish and wildlife populations, prompting substantial investments in habitat creation and restoration efforts. Not all habitats provide equal benefits, leading to challenges in prioritizing restoration actions. For example, juvenile anadromous salmonids require high quality rearing aquatic habitats to achieve the physiological requirements needed to successfully migrate to the ocean. However, there are profound disagreements among anadromous salmon restoration managers whether it is best to focus efforts on restoring in-channel habitats that are available for the entire rearing period or floodplain habitats that, while facilitating greater growth and survival than in-channel habitats, are only available for a few weeks at a time and are typically only activated every two-to-three years. Methods: We used an existing fall-run Chinook salmon decision-support model to evaluate under what conditions floodplain restoration would provide greater benefits than in-channel habitat restoration. The simulations included a wide range of floodplain inundation frequencies and durations and floodplain benefits in the form of increased survival and growth relative to in-channel habitats. Results: The simulations results indicated that in-channel habitat restoration was always the best habitat restoration action when there was no existing in-channel habitat despite simulating a wide range of flood frequency, duration, and growth and survival benefits. Floodplain restoration was generally best when there was sufficient in-channel habitat available to successfully rear most of the juveniles produced by the returning adult salmon. Discussion: We hypothesize that in-channel and floodplain habitats have different roles in salmon population maintenance with in-channel habitats regulating the overall population size and floodplains acting as recurrent resource pulses. Our study provides a quantitative framework to evaluate the benefit of these two habitat types and provides generalizable rulesets that can be used by managers when implementing habitat restoration strategies for species that inhabit both in-channel and floodplain habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As wildlife is increasingly affected by environmental change, identifying how vital rates vary with ecological factors is essential to predict the consequences of environmental perturbations on wild population dynamics. We explored the effects of habitat constraints on the demographic and life history patterns of two Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus) populations living in two contrasted habitats in Algeria. Using 11 years of field data, we estimated age‐specific survival rates of females and of infants of both sexes, as well as female reproduction rates. We investigated how these vital rates were influenced by both intra‐ and inter‐habitat environmental variations. We parameterized age‐structured female‐only transition matrices and conducted a prospective analysis to estimate the contribution of each vital rate to the populations' asymptotic growth rates (λ). A retrospective analysis (LTRE, Life Table Response Experiment) was also conducted to determine how each vital rate contributed to the observed differences in λ between populations. The macaques exhibited common patterns of survival and reproduction (low rates at young ages, and then high and stable until a decrease at old ages), with first evidence of both actuarial and reproductive senescence. Both populations were growing. In both populations, adult and immature survival had the highest elasticities, and remained stable in changing environmental conditions. By contrast, infant survival and female reproduction had low elasticities, and varied more with environmental variations. As Barbary macaque habitats are increasingly degrading, we provide robust estimates of their vital rates with conservation implications, in particular to predict population responses to anthropogenic perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expansion of human activities across natural environments is now well known. This includes agricultural activities that effectively render many former natural environments sterile habitats for animals. Very often, what remains of the natural habitat are hedgerows that serve as habitat or pathways for movement between habitats for many species, including reptiles. In this study, we describe population changes in the western green lizard, Lacerta bilineata, in a hedgerow system in western France. The results are derived from a univariate diversity analysis of photographic data to identify individual lizards over a 4-year study period. Lizards were sighted from March April to October early November but there was a midsummer gap in sightings during July–August. The annual presence of individual lizards was low, both between and within years, but based on the diversity analysis, the overall stability of the population was high. Female numbers varied and were highest in 2020, but juveniles were highest in 2023; the numbers of males present each year were approximately the same. Individual lizards that were present before the midsummer gap were mostly absent after the midsummer gap and were replaced by new individuals. Incidences of autotomy were low in males and juveniles and were not recorded in females. In general, the results suggest that the lizards move through hedgerow systems but remain in a specific section for reproduction from March to July. Through this study, we also highlight the importance of univariate diversity formulas to obtain robust results in investigations of the demographic aspects of animal populations that are easy to monitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Wildlife crossings are often constructed to enhance genetic connectivity among populations divided by roads (including highways). However, few studies have demonstrated the efficacy of viaducts in counteracting the barrier effects imposed by roads. We measured genetic diversity and divergence in four small mammal species commonly found in rainforests in Malaysia—Tupaia glis, Maxomys rajah, M. whiteheadi, and Niviventer cremoriventer—across three treatment types: (1) viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway but connected by a vegetated viaduct; (2) non-viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway and not connected by a viaduct; and (3) control sites, at which there was no road or highway fragmenting the forest. We found that viaducts facilitated movement in small ground-dwelling species such as M. whiteheadi and also when existing highways were relatively wide. However, despite the potential for viaducts to facilitate movement and therefore increase genetic connectivity in M. whiteheadi, the genetic distance in populations at viaduct sites was still greater than at control and/or non-viaduct sites for the other three species. Our findings highlight the importance of maintaining intact forests rather than relying solely on the construction of viaducts to connect fragmented populations. Wildlife crossings are implemented in many countries to facilitate the dispersal of animals among habitats fragmented by roads. However, the efficacy of different types of habitat corridors remains poorly understood. We used a comprehensive sampling regime in two lowland dipterocarp forest areas in peninsular Malaysia to sample pairs of small mammal individuals in three treatment types: (1) viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway but connected by a vegetated viaduct; (2) non-viaduct sites, at which sampling locations were separated by a highway and not connected by a viaduct; and (3) control sites, at which there was no highway fragmenting the forest. For four small mammal species, the common tree shrew Tupaia glis, Rajah's spiny rat Maxomys rajah, Whitehead's spiny rat Maxomys whiteheadi and dark-tailed tree rat Niviventer cremoriventer, we used genome-wide markers to assess genetic diversity, gene flow and genetic structure. The differences in genetic distance across sampling settings among the four species indicate that they respond differently to the presence of highways and viaducts. Viaducts connecting forests separated by highways appear to maintain higher population connectivity than forest fragments without viaducts, at least in M. whiteheadi, but apparently not in the other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: With the remarkable progress in wildlife conservation in China in recent years, the problem of human–wildlife conflict has notably increased. To appropriately resolve human–wildlife conflict and safeguard environmental justice, efficient wildlife damage compensation is crucial. This review attempts to compile information on the current state of wildlife damage compensation in China, describing the characteristics of wildlife damage and highlighting the necessity for compensation, regulation, and the management of wildlife damage compensation. We further compiled a list of nuisance species, and we exemplify detailed management practices in four case studies. Finally, we carefully evaluated the difficulties and challenges faced by China's wildlife damage compensation schemes and provided recommendations for the future. The conservation management of natural ecosystems in China has significantly improved in recent decades, resulting in the effective protection of wildlife and the restoration of habitats. With the rapid growth in wildlife populations and corresponding range expansions, incidents of human–wildlife conflict have notably increased across China. However, only a few studies have paid adequate attention to wildlife damage management and compensation. In our review, we focus on the foremost mitigation measure to combat human–wildlife conflict, i.e., compensation for damage caused by wildlife. We conducted a questionnaire survey and an in-depth review of the literature across 19 Chinese provinces and autonomous regions, resulting in a total of 78 relevant sources. We first introduce the concept of wildlife damage compensation in China, followed by a review of Chinese legislation and policies regarding wildlife damage compensation. We compiled a comprehensive list of nuisance species, and we showcase four case studies in which we exemplarily describe the current situation of wildlife damage compensation. We reflect on difficulties and challenges such as delayed damage assessments or compensation quotas that do not correspond to current market prices. Since local legislation is often insufficient or completely absent, we make suggestions on how to improve existing policies and compensation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The spatial extent at which landscape variables most strongly influences wildlife populations (i.e., scale of effect) is of key importance to ecology and conservation. Many factors can influence scales of effect, but these relationships are poorly understood. In particular, the way scales of effect vary with different landscape metrics has not been extensively tested. Objectives: Our study tested whether metrics of landscape configuration have wider or narrower scales of effect than habitat composition. We also examined how species traits and landscape context influence the magnitude of differences in scales of effect between metrics. Methods: We calculated scales of effect for four metrics of habitat configuration and one metric of composition directly from species presence/absence data in online repositories including 102 species of forest mammals from 33 studies across the globe. We then compared the magnitudes and variability of scales of effect using Hedge's g. Results: Two metrics of configuration (flux and patch density) had significantly wider scales of effect than habitat composition, while the differences between the other two metrics of configuration and composition were not statistically significant. The magnitude of the difference between metrics varied among samples, but none of the factors tested explained this variability. Conclusions: For forest mammals, the scale of effect of a configuration metric can be expected to be 15–20% wider than a composition metric. However, this pattern may not hold for metrics of configuration that do not quantify attributes of the landscape that mediate species dispersal or that are correlated with the metric of composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shifts in habitat selection may serve as behavioral indicators of changing habitat quality and can provide an insight into the effects of chronic disturbance on wildlife populations before rates of occurrence and other metrics related to population viability are affected. Long‐term studies can provide unique opportunities to understand animals' behavioral responses to the cumulative effects of habitat disturbance that may be missed by short‐term studies or space‐for‐time substitution. Using the American marten (Martes americana) as a focal species, we evaluated the effects of progressive habitat disturbance on an animal population by identifying changes in habitat availability and selection over time. Marten are strongly associated with mature forest conditions and are thus sensitive to forest harvesting, which is a chronic and prevalent form of disturbance across the species' range. We developed resource selection functions that characterized both temporally consistent patterns and functional responses in the relative selection of habitats by marten at the patch scale. We used a combination of marten location data collected during three periods over 30 years of extensive forest change in northern Maine and a habitat classification scheme informed by species' behavior and designed to capture habitat changes over time. Marten increased their selection of tall (>12 m mean tree height) mature forest, including uncut forest and regenerated clearcuts, in response to decreased availability. Marten also increased avoidance of early‐successional forest (<9 m mean tree height) in response to increased availability. These functional responses in habitat selection appear to enable marten to maintain access to required resources in mature forest and limit exposure to risky or resource‐poor habitat within home ranges. However, a declining trend in the occurrence of resident adult females may indicate a limit to the functional response strategies for individuals unable to incur the energetic or prey‐related costs that may be associated with strong functional responses. Our results suggest that, despite adaptive habitat selection strategies, there are minimum thresholds of mature forest availability below which resident adults, particularly females, will struggle to persist. We recommend forest management strategies targeted at minimizing the strength of functional responses displayed by marten within occupied landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Algerian hedgehog, which is an endemic Mediterranean species, is a nocturnal and terrestrial insectivorous mammal. Atelerix algirus' populations are widespread in various habitats comprising human agglomeration, such as rural, suburban or natural ecosystems. However, the impact of the habitat's characteristics on its diet remains unknown in Algeria. To contribute to a better understanding of this question, we have analysed 158 faeces samples of the Algerian hedgehog in three different areas: urban, suburban and natural area. The findings show that the Algerian hedgehog is an opportunistic species. It feeds on several classes of Arthropoda, but the harvester ant Messor barbarus dominates largely its menu with AR = 74.81% in the diverse habitats. Furthermore, the HAC and FCA analyses confirm the positive impact of the level of urbanisation and the anthropogenic activity on the Algerian hedgehog prey richness in the north of Algeria (79 prey species and 5574 individuals ingested in the urban area, compared to 64 prey species and 3188 individuals ingested in the natural zone). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife monitoring in tropical rainforests poses additional challenges due to species often being elusive, cryptic, faintly colored, and preferring concealable, or difficult to access habitats. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) prove promising for wildlife surveys in different ecosystems in tropical forests and can be crucial in conserving inaccessible biodiverse areas and their associated species. Traditional surveys that involve infiltrating animal habitats could adversely affect the habits and behavior of elusive and cryptic species in response to human presence. Moreover, collecting data through traditional surveys to simultaneously estimate the abundance and demographic rates of communities of species is often prohibitively time-intensive and expensive. This study assesses the scope of drones to non-invasively access the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape (BTL) in Riau-Jambi, Indonesia, and detect individual elephants of interest. A rotary-wing quadcopter with a vision-based sensor was tested to estimate the elephant population size and age structure. We developed hierarchical modeling and deep learning CNN to estimate elephant abundance and age structure. Drones successfully observed 96 distinct individuals at 8 locations out of 11 sampling areas. We obtained an estimate of the elephant population of 151 individuals (95% CI [124, 179]) within the study area and predicted more adult animals than subadults and juvenile individuals in the population. Our calculations may serve as a vital spark for innovation for future UAV survey designs in large areas with complex topographies while reducing operational effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N‐mixture models were born in 2004 of the necessity to model animal population size from point counts with imperfect detection of individuals, where capture‐recapture methods are infeasible. Initially developed for applications where population size was assumed constant, N‐mixture models were extended in 2011 to include population dynamics, allowing application to populations whose size fluctuates during the study. A further extension in 2014 accommodates populations with multiple "states" such as age class or sex. More recent extensions model spatial movement of animals among habitat patches or the spatial spread of infectious disease in a human population. The core idea underlying this class of models is a hierarchical structure, where the observation model is defined conditional on the model for true abundance. This hierarchy allows researchers to incorporate information about observation and abundance processes, while permitting distinct inferences about elements affecting detection and those affecting abundance. Another benefit of the hierarchical approach is the ability to accommodate many existing sampling protocols such as removal sampling and distance sampling. One drawback to N‐mixture models is that since they estimate both abundance and detection from replicated but unmarked counts, model parameters may not be clearly identifiable. A second drawback is that when observed counts are large, calculating the N‐mixture likelihood is computationally infeasible. This difficulty motivated an approximate likelihood based on the normal approximation to the binomial. The normal approximation provides a diagnostic of parameter estimability based on the closed‐form expression of the Fisher information matrix for a multivariate normal likelihood. This article is categorized under:Data: Types and Structure > Image and Spatial DataStatistical Learning and Exploratory Methods of the Data Sciences > Modeling Methods [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss various human‐wildlife conflicts (HWC) inherent within communities bordering a mid‐sized, semi‐porous wildlife conservancy in Kenya. HWC are a growing issue as human population expands into wildlife habitat to put people and wildlife in more frequent contact and compete for scarce resources. In 2018, we surveyed the crop‐raiding and livestock depredation experiences of 918 households from 10 separate villages and asked about the experiences of the villagers with HWC over the past 3 years. These communities are protected from wildlife with two different fence designs, a standard 12‐strand electrical fence, and an upgraded predator‐proof fence design. We found that between 70% and 91% of respondents had experienced some form of HWC including 39.5% who reported threats to their person from wildlife encroachments despite electrical perimeter fencing. HWC happened more often at night and during the dry seasons. The most common encroachments were from elephants, hyenas, leopards, and baboons. Community respondents rated that the upgraded predator‐proof fences performed better than the standard 12‐strand fences. However, even the predator‐proof design had issues with keeping monkeys from entering the communities and crop raiding. We discuss potential mitigation measures, including an improved predator‐proof fencing design that incorporates butterfly stingers that may offer better protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global-scale ecological changes and intensifying habitat destruction and have caused alarming declines in wildlife populations, resulting in a great need for concerted efforts towards their conservation. Despite this, animals are frequently overlooked in restoration and management initiatives and therefore populations often do not reassemble following disturbance without re-establishing habitat that meets their abiotic and biotic requirements. However, restoration ecologists broadly lack insight into the physiological mechanisms that can govern the responses of fauna to environmental change and management. Therefore, we conducted a literature search for studies reporting a mechanistic understanding of faunal habitat suitability and selection in restored landscapes to deliver an updated perspective on the integration of animal ecophysiology and restoration ecology. Of the 75,442 studies that we identified discussing ecological restoration in the last 50 years, only 8,627 (11.4%) did so in the context of fauna from which 912 studies (1.2%) examined habitat selection, 35 studies (0.05%) integrated physiology and only 15 studies (0.02%) explored thermal biology, despite temperature being one of the most pervasive drivers of physiological functioning. To combat this, we developed a conceptual framework that can guide restoration ecophysiology and promote innovative, multidisciplinary research through an established adaptive management structure. While physiological tools and approaches are currently underutilised in restoration practice, integrating them into ecological restoration, and environmental management more broadly, will offer exciting new opportunities to describe, explain and predict the responses of fauna to environmental change occurring, and that yet to come. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, USA, includes the Alexander Archipelago and narrow North American mainland, comprising one of the largest remaining, largely pristine, coastal temperate rainforest in the world. Management of the Tongass has become increasingly challenging because of expectations of a conservation framework designed to maintain viable populations of native wildlife species while decades of extensive clearcut logging of old‐growth forests has continued. We used the findings of multiple published studies conducted on the Tongass from 1998 to 2017 to examine 4 assumptions of its wildlife conservation strategy (WCS): forest planning assessments of wildlife viability were realistic, forest management and conservation policies are implemented at appropriate ecological scales, old‐growth reserves are effective habitat conservation areas and ensure functional connectivity, and forest‐wide standards and guidelines ensure sufficient habitat for sensitive species in managed landscapes. Several ecological field studies, population and spatial analyses and modeling, and statistical analyses revealed that wildlife viability assessments to evaluate forest plan alternatives underestimated the risk of extinction by only examining individual vulnerable species rather than considering joint probabilities across multiple species; the ecological scale of management and conservation policies do not adequately consider area‐sensitive vulnerabilities of island communities as evidenced by the increasing risk of extirpation of island endemics whose populations have become isolated and reduced; old‐growth reserves are unlikely to maintain viable populations of endemic small mammals in isolation or as functionally connected metapopulations; and a spatially explicit analysis of individual home ranges demonstrated that forest‐wide standards and guidelines provide about half the breeding habitat needed by a federally listed endemic raptor, the Queen Charlotte goshawk (Accipiter gentilis laingi), of which only half of that is secure. Thus, assertions that the WCS is properly functioning as designed are dubious because a comprehensive monitoring plan has not been implemented and vital underlying assumptions are not supported by available science. We recommend 3 forest management and conservation policy adjustments: limit size and location old‐growth forest harvests, restore forests through intermediate stand management of second growth, and conduct a formal review of WCS elements and assumptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and landcover change can have synergistic impacts on wildlife populations, but the pervasiveness of these threats and factors that buffer them remain unclear despite important implications for conservation. I evaluated the additive and interactive effects of spatiotemporal variation in temperature, precipitation, and landcover change on annual territory occupancy, colonization, and extinction of a threatened top‐predator, the ferruginous pygmy‐owl (Glaucidium brasilianum), across a vast binational region of the Sonoran Desert over 16 years. I also assessed how local habitat quality and regional population size mediate impacts of these stressors. Despite significant bivariate associations between occupancy and temperature, precipitation, and landcover change, evidence for interactions was much greater than for additive effects. Occupancy of territories imbedded in increasingly disturbed landscapes declined at greater rates with warming winter temperatures, but the temperature had little effect in intact landscapes suggesting they buffer impacts of climate warming. Occupancy increased markedly with precipitation due likely to major positive impacts on prey, but again, interactive effects were stronger given territories of higher quality amplified benefits of precipitation. Impacts of landcover change and habitat quality on extinction depended markedly on regional population sizes. When populations were small and few potential colonists were present, high‐quality habitat and low landcover change failed to reduce extinction. When populations were large, however, high‐quality habitat and more intact landscapes, which best foster dispersal, reduced extinction. Hence, complex interacting processes linked to the effects of precipitation and habitat quality on carrying capacity, landcover change on habitat connectivity and vulnerability to rising temperatures, and local population sizes simultaneously drove dynamics. Efforts to identify and protect high‐quality habitat and limit landcover change can enhance conservation but will be most efficient in intact landscapes. Efforts to enhance local habitat quality and quantity, and directly augment populations should consider broader landscape contexts linked to habitat connectivity and potential source populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, drones have become an affordable technology offering highly mobile aerial platforms that can carry a range of sensory equipment into hitherto uncharted areas. Drones have thus become a widely applicable tool for surveying animal populations and habitats to assist conservation efforts or to study the behavioural ecology of species by monitoring individual and group behaviour.Here, we review current applications for drone surveys and the potential of recently developed computer algorithms for automatic species detection and individual tracking in drone footage. We further review which factors are reportedly associated with animal disturbance during drone presentations and how drones may be used to study anti‐predator behaviour.Drone surveys of species and their environments allow scientists to create digital terrain models of habitats, estimate species abundance, monitor individual behaviour and study the composition, spatial organization and movement of groups. As drones can influence the behaviour of many bird and mammal species directly, they also provide an experimental tool to study animal responses to novel situations, including the drone itself.We conclude that the combined use of drones and automated detection software can assist population estimates and opens new possibilities to study individual and collective behaviour. With regard to drone‐related disturbance and their potential use as predator models, we recommend to interpret results against the background of population‐specific predation pressure and sources of anthropogenic disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiently and effectively identifying and assessing potential wildlife habitat and important ecological resources is essential as rapid anthropogenic land use change alters and detrimentally affects terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Accuracy assessment of remotely sensed data supports ecological planning and management decisions, and is especially important when using freely available, coarse‐resolution spatial datasets, such as the National Land Cover Dataset (NLCD). A popular dataset designed for application at larger regional to national spatial scales, the NLCD has been used in finer scale studies outside of its intended use, often without the imperative support of field‐based accuracy assessment. We ground‐truthed stratified random sampling points to assess the accuracy of the 2016 NLCD at a fine spatial scale relevant to stream‐based ecological research. Our results demonstrated an overall accuracy of <65%, less than the United States Geological Survey recommended accuracy of ≥85%. Results indicated that the NLCD may not be effective as a tool for stream‐level studies and could provide erroneous results for fine‐scale habitat assessment and planning when used as the only reference dataset. When conducting ecological research, it is important to consider the appropriate scale, resolution, and limitations of available datasets to achieve the most accurate results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation treatments have been widely implemented in efforts to enhance conditions for wildlife populations. Yet the effectiveness of such efforts often lack rigorous evaluations to determine whether these practices are effective for targeted species. This is particularly important when manipulating wildlife habitats in ecosystems that are faced with multiple stressors. The sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) ecosystem has been altered extensively over the last century leading to declines of many associated species. Wyoming big sagebrush (A. tridentata wyomingensis) is the most widely distributed subspecies, providing important habitats for sagebrush‐obligate and associated wildlife. Sagebrush often has been treated with chemicals, mechanical treatments, and prescribed burning to increase herbaceous forage species released from competition with sagebrush overstory. Despite many studies documenting negative effects of sagebrush control on greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat, treatments are still proposed as a means of improving habitat for sage‐grouse and other sagebrush‐dependent species. Furthermore, most studies have focused on vegetation response and none have rigorously evaluated the direct influence of these treatments on sage‐grouse. We initiated a 9‐year (2011–2019) experimental study in central Wyoming, USA, to better understand how greater sage‐grouse respond to sagebrush reduction treatments in Wyoming big sagebrush communities. We evaluated the influence of 2 common sagebrush treatments on greater sage‐grouse demography and resource selection. We implemented mowing and tebuthiuron application in winter and spring 2014 and evaluated the pre‐ (2011–2013) and post‐treatment (2014–2019) responses of sage‐grouse relative to these management actions. We evaluated responses to treatments using demographic and behavioral data collected from 620 radio‐marked female greater sage‐grouse. Our specific objectives were to evaluate how treatments influenced 1) sage‐grouse reproductive success and female survival; 2) sage‐grouse nesting, brood‐rearing, and female resource selection; 3) vegetation responses; and 4) forbs and invertebrates. Our results generally suggested neutral demographic responses and slight avoidance by greater sage‐grouse in response to Wyoming big sagebrush treated by mowing and tebuthiuron. Neither mowing nor tebuthiuron treatments influenced nest survival, brood survival, or female survival. Selection for nest and brood‐rearing sites did not differ before and after treatments. Females selected habitats near treatments before and after they were implemented; however, the strength of selection was lower after treatments compared with pre‐treatment periods, which may be explained by a lack of response in vegetation and invertebrates following treatments. Perennial grass cover and height varied temporally yet did not vary systematically between treatment and control plots. Forb cover and species richness varied annually but not in relation to either treatment type. Perennial grass cover and height, forb cover, and forb species richness did not increase within mowed or tebuthiuron‐treated areas that received 2 or 6 years of grazing rest compared with areas that received no grazing rest. Finally, forb and invertebrate dry mass did not differ between treated plots and control plots at mowing or tebuthiuron sites in any years following treatments. Results from our study add to a large body of evidence that sage‐grouse using Wyoming big sagebrush vegetation communities do not respond positively to sagebrush manipulation treatments. Management practices that focus on the maintenance of large, undisturbed tracts of sagebrush will best facilitate the persistence of sage‐grouse populations and other species reliant on the sagebrush steppe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive agricultural landscapes pose a challenge to wildlife managers, policymakers, and landowners hoping to increase the diversity of desired wildlife species, such as grassland birds, which require urgent conservation action. In intensive agricultural landscapes, like those of the Midwestern United States, most land area is privately owned and operated and managed primarily for production. Thus, conducting ecological research in intensive agricultural landscapes requires collaborative approaches aimed at farm owners and operators. Recent advances in acoustic data collection and high‐resolution habitat mapping, including low‐cost acoustic recorders and satellite remote sensing, may be well positioned to address this challenge by enabling expanded assessments and monitoring of wildlife populations and habitats across regions. This study examined fine‐grained habitat characteristics and their relationship with avian biodiversity in intensive agricultural landscapes at 44 agricultural sites across the state of Iowa. Passive acoustic monitoring and manual identification of bird species allowed for measurement of vocalizing bird richness. High‐resolution mapping of noncrop vegetation provided detailed information on small noncrop vegetation habitat complexes within row‐crop agriculture. Measures of image texture provided characterizations of compositional heterogeneity within noncrop vegetation. General linear Poisson modeling demonstrated robust associations between noncrop vegetation and vocalizing bird richness, yet variation in grassland bird richness was not well predicted by noncrop vegetation. Noncrop vegetation texture demonstrated potential as a predictor of vocalizing bird richness, though not better than or when combined with noncrop vegetated area, indicating it may not be an independent measure of habitat quality. Passive acoustic monitoring resulted in useful data at 44 out of 60 originally selected sites, with some lost to failed recorders and/or collaboration issues. Challenges remain in detecting habitat characteristics that promote grassland birds in row crop landscapes. Working toward probabilistic research design across privately owned working landscapes and incorporating more detailed management practice information would improve the transferability of this approach to farmland management and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat conversion to agriculture and overexploitation of wildlife are the two largest drivers of biodiversity loss globally. Biodiversity loss is especially prevalent in areas undergoing rapid economic development at the expense of natural land cover as is the case across much of South America. Despite expected declines in wildlife populations associated with ongoing large-scale land conversions, for many species we lack sufficient data on key threats and drivers of abundance in order to inform appropriate management and conservation. Collecting data to estimate critical state variables such as abundance can be expensive, logistically challenging, and even implausible on spatial scales relevant to species management, especially for carnivores which are elusive and difficult to monitor. Here, we use detection-non-detection data collected using a structured camera trap survey repeated over two years in the Ecuadorian Andes to produce insights into the habitat associations and potential threats faced by the tayra, a medium-sized carnivore that despite being perceived to be relatively common in South America, remains largely understudied. We use hierarchical modelling to estimate an index of abundance for the tayra while accounting for imperfect detection. We demonstrate the tayra to be a lowland habitat generalist, with conversion of land to agriculture potentially benefitting this species in the short term, with increasing proportion of core agricultural land being associated with higher indices of abundance. However, we highlight that this state could potentially serve as an ecological trap in the long term. We provide evidence for negative impacts of human population density on tayra abundance. We hypothesize this relationship could be underpinned by conflict and subsequent persecution by humans, which is likely to be exacerbated in agricultural landscapes. These findings suggest that like many carnivores, the tayra may be able to adapt and even thrive in human modified landscapes given societal acceptance, thus, conservation strategies for the tayra that focus on fostering co-existence between humans and this medium-sized carnivore may contribute to its future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are routinely translocated both legally and illegally to mitigate conflicts with humans, which has contributed to the spread of rabies virus across eastern North America. The movement behavior of translocated raccoons has important ramifications for disease transmission yet remains understudied and poorly quantified. To examine the spatial ecology of raccoons following experimental translocation, we performed reciprocal 16 km-distance translocations of 30 raccoons between habitats of high and low raccoon density (bottomland hardwood and upland pine, respectively) across the Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken, South Carolina, USA (2018–2019). Translocation influenced patterns of raccoon space use, with translocated animals exhibiting a 13-fold increase in 95% utilization distributions (UDs) post- compared to pre-translocation (mean 95% UD 35.8 ± 36.1 km2 vs 1.96 ± 1.17 km2). Raccoons originating from upland pine habitats consistently had greater space use and larger nightly movement distances post-translocation compared to raccoons moved from bottomland hardwood habitats, whereas these differences were generally not observed prior to translocation. Estimated home ranges of male raccoons were twice the area as estimated for female raccoons, on average, and this pattern was not affected by translocation. After a transient period lasting on average 36.5 days (SD = 30.0, range = 3.25–92.8), raccoons often resumed pre-experiment movement behavior, with 95% UD sizes not different from those prior to translocation (mean = 2.27 ± 1.63km2). Most animals established new home ranges after translocation, whereas three raccoons moved > 16 km from their release point back to the original capture location. Four animals crossed a 100-m wide river within the SRS post-translocation, but this behavior was not documented among collared raccoons prior to translocation. Large increases in space use combined with the crossing of geographic barriers such as rivers may lead to elevated contact rates with conspecifics, which can heighten disease transmission risks following translocation. These results provide additional insights regarding the potential impacts of raccoon translocation towards population level risks of rabies outbreaks and underscore the need to discourage mesocarnivore translocations to prevent further spread of wildlife rabies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of animal space use is fundamental to effective conservation and management of wildlife populations and habitats in a rapidly changing world, yet many species remain poorly described. Such is the case for the spatial ecology of the Vicuña–a medium-sized wild camelid that plays a critical role, both as a consumer and as prey, in the high Andean food web. We studied patterns of space use of 24 adult female vicuñas from April 2014 to February 2017 at the southern edge of its range. Vicuñas showed strong fidelity to their home range locations across the study period and shared large portions of their home ranges with vicuñas from other family groups. Vicuña home ranges in our study were considerably larger than previous estimates across the range of the species. Variation in environmental and terrain factors and the associated risk of predation affected vicuña diel migration distance but not home range size or overlap. Our study offers new ecological insights into vicuña space use that can inform conservation and management efforts of vicuñas and other social ungulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate and land use changes are increasingly recognized as major threats to global biodiversity, with significant impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems worldwide. The study of how climate and land use changes impact wildlife is of paramount importance for advancing our understanding of ecological processes in the face of global environmental change, informing conservation planning and management, and identifying the mechanisms and thresholds that underlie species' responses to shifting climatic conditions. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) is a prominent umbrella species in a biodiversity hotspot in Southwestern China, and its conservation is vital for safeguarding sympatric species. However, the extent to which this species' habitat may respond to global climate and land use changes is poorly understood, underscoring the need for further investigation. Our goal was to anticipate the potential impacts of upcoming climate and land use changes on the distribution and dispersal patterns of the Asiatic black bear in the Sichuan‐Chongqing Region. We used MaxEnt modeling to evaluate habitat vulnerability using three General Circulation Models (GCMs) and three scenarios of climate and land use changes. Subsequently, we used Circuit Theory to identify prospective dispersal paths. Our results revealed that the current area of suitable habitat for the Asiatic black bear was 225,609.59 km2 (comprising 39.69% of the total study area), but was expected to decrease by −53.1%, −49.48%, and −28.55% under RCP2.6, RCP4.5, and RCP8.5 projection scenarios, respectively. Across all three GCMs, the distribution areas and dispersal paths of the Asiatic black bear were projected to shift to higher altitudes and constrict by the 2070s. Furthermore, the results indicated that the density of dispersal paths would decrease, while the resistance to dispersal would increase across the study area. In order to protect the Asiatic black bear, it is essential to prioritize the protection of climate refugia and dispersal paths. Our findings provide a sound scientific foundation for the allocation of such protected areas in the Sichuan‐Chongqing Region that are both effective and adaptive in the face of ongoing global climate and land use changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Animal behavior management is an important function of marine ranches, including the personality and the territoriality of animals, with relevant studies having important applications in marine ranch construction. To explore the relationship between the personality and territoriality of swimming crabs, we quantified their boldness and exploration using a behavior observation system. The behavior of crabs with different personalities was measured in a series of environments. The results showed that there was no boldness-exploratory behavioral syndrome in swimming crabs. Territorial behavior was positively correlated with boldness but not with exploration. The difference in boldness determines the behavior response of crabs in a dangerous environment, while exploration difference affects the behavior in habitat selection. Boldness and exploratory behavior explain the difference in the space utilization ability of swimming crabs with different personalities. The boldness and exploration of animals are closely related to their territoriality, with relevant studies having important applications in wildlife conservation. The present study establishes a behavior observation system measuring the boldness and exploration of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) to clarify the relationship between boldness, exploration, and territoriality, as well as to provide a behavioral basis for the construction of marine ranching. The behavioral tests of crabs in a safe environment (predator absence), a dangerous environment (predator presence), and habitat selection (complex and simple habitat) are analyzed. A territorial behavior score is calculated as an evaluation index of territoriality. The correlation between the swimming crabs' boldness, exploration, and territoriality is analyzed. The results show that there is no boldness-exploratory behavioral syndrome. In predator absence or presence environments, boldness is dominant in territorial behavior and positively correlates with territoriality. Exploration plays a vital role in habitat selection tests but has no significant correlation with territoriality. The experimental results preliminarily show that boldness and exploration jointly develop the difference in the space utilization ability of crabs with different personalities, improving the adaptability of swimming crabs in different conditions. The results of this study supplement the behavior rules of the dominant species of typical fishery resources in marine ranches, providing a basis for achieving animal behavior management function in marine ranches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) aim to assess the predicted effects of future projects on the environment, human health, and the economic potential of a region. They are an instrumental tool for sustainable development and to reduce the impact of large-scale industrial projects on biodiversity. The accurate assessment of the effects of projects on wildlife populations has a variety of ecological, cultural, and economic implications. However, assessments are commonly done using indirect indicators such as the predicted impact of changes in the quantity and quality of wildlife habitat and (or) predicted changes in nonspecific wildlife population metrics (e.g., relative abundance). In recent decades, the interpretation of wildlife health has moved from the classical dichotomous state of "disease presence/absence" to a broader concept that integrates the interaction of biological, social, and environmental health determinants. We sought to determine how wildlife health metrics are used in EIA processes and propose a framework to characterize, quantify, and monitor wildlife health in future EIAs. First, we performed a targeted review of EIA documents from three jurisdictions in Canada to characterize the relevance and use of "wildlife health" in these documents. Then, we reviewed case studies and research examples to understand wildlife health in different contexts associated with conservation biology to propose a framework to incorporate wildlife health into baseline monitoring and mitigation processes in EIAs. Our targeted review illustrates that while wildlife health and related terminology is often invoked in the main and specific objectives of EIAs, it is rarely tracked and quantified in EIAs and related processes. We identified approaches that can be used to effectively incorporate wildlife health in EIAs, including context-specific wildlife health metrics, participatory epidemiology, community-based sampling, and local ecological knowledge. We illustrate case studies where wildlife health can facilitate the inclusion of communities, Indigenous governments, and local ecological knowledge into the evaluation process of projects and developments and into comanagement practices of wildlife. Our work highlights the critical need to move towards incorporating wildlife health into EIA processes to provide a more direct and holistic perspective on the potential environmental impacts and improve the opportunities for early implementation of mitigation measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the effects of barriers to dispersal such as population declines, habitat fragmentation, and geographic distance have been well-documented in terrestrial wildlife, factors impeding the dispersal of highly vagile taxa such as seabirds are less well understood. The roseate tern (Sterna dougallii) is a globally distributed seabird species, but populations tend to be both fragmented and small, and the species is declining across most of its range. We evaluated structuring of roseate tern populations in the Northwestern Atlantic, the Caribbean, and the Azores using both microsatellite markers and single-nucleotide polymorphisms generated through targeted sequencing of Ultra-conserved Elements. For both marker types, we found significant genetic differentiation among all 3 populations and evidence for moderate contemporary unidirectional gene flow from the Caribbean to the Azores, but not between other populations. Within the Caribbean population, we found high rates of unidirectional migration from the Virgin Islands to Florida, potentially indicative of movement from source population to sink or an artifact of dispersal among other unsampled populations in the Caribbean region. These observations have significance for species persistence in the Atlantic, as our results indicate that loss of genetic diversity within populations is unlikely to be buffered by inflow of new alleles from other breeding populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Environmental change impacts natural ecosystems and wildlife populations. In Australia, native forests have been heavily cleared and the local emergence of Hendra virus (HeV) has been linked to land-use change, winter habitat loss, and changing bat behavior. Objectives: We quantified changes in landscape factors for black flying foxes (Pteropus alecto), a reservoir host of HeV, in sub-tropical Queensland, Australia from 2000–2020. We hypothesized that native winter habitat loss and native remnant forest loss were greatest in areas with the most human population growth. Methods: We measured the spatiotemporal change in human population size and native 'remnant' woody vegetation extent. We assessed changes in the observed P. alecto population and native winter habitats in bioregions where P. alecto are observed roosting in winter. We assessed changes in the amount of remnant vegetation across bioregions and within 50 km foraging buffers around roosts. Results: Human populations in these bioregions grew by 1.18 M people, mostly within 50 km foraging areas around roosts. Remnant forest extent decreased overall, but regrowth was observed when policy restricted vegetation clearing. Winter habitats were continuously lost across all spatial scales. Observed roost counts of P. alecto declined. Conclusion: Native remnant forest loss and winter habitat loss were not directly linked to spatial human population growth. Rather, most remnant vegetation was cleared for indirect human use. We observed forest loss and regrowth in response to state land clearing policies. Expanded flying fox population surveys will help better understand how land-use change has impacted P. alecto distribution and Hendra virus spillover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Habitat connectivity can stabilise animal populations by facilitating immigration and genetic exchange, but it increases the risk of infectious diseases being spread by hosts. Chytridiomycosis caused by Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal) threatens European salamander diversity. The extent to which the connectivity of populations of fire salamanders (Salamandra salamandra) contributes to the spread of Bsal remains unclear. Objectives: We analysed the impact of habitat connectivity of fire salamanders on the spread of Bsal. Moreover, we show how local salamander abundance is associated with habitat connectivity over a five-year period. Methods: We developed fire salamander habitat suitability models (HSMs) for the Eifel area (Germany), currently considered the core of the range of Bsal in Europe. Habitat models were used to calculate pairwise resistance between salamander occurrences to test whether Bsal presence and salamander abundance were associated with habitat connectivity. Results: Fire salamanders are widely distributed in the Eifel. Solid bedrock and topographic positioning were important predictors of stream suitability as breeding habitats, while deciduous forests and grassland cover determined overall fire salamander habitat suitability along with breeding habitat suitability. Bsal-positive salamander occurrences were better-connected than Bsal-negative or untested occurrences. Nevertheless, fire salamander larvae were more abundant in well-connected sites. Conclusion: The connection of salamander populations by suitable habitat seems to support local salamander abundance while facilitating the spread of Bsal. In situ conservation measures counteracting host species connectivity to interrupt Bsal transmission pathways must be implemented with caution, as they may weaken the demographic advantages of connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axis deer Axis axis have been widely introduced to new geographic ranges, and in the United States, free-ranging axis deer have become well established in the Edwards Plateau ecoregion as well as other portions of Texas. However, no estimates of axis deer population density nor size have been conducted since 1994. It is hypothesized that axis deer on the Edwards Plateau are potentially competing with native white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus for food, space, and habitat resources, and causing damage to important riparian habitats. Our goal was to estimate regional densities of axis deer and white-tailed deer, and provide insight about the potential impacts axis deer may have on native wildlife and their habitats. Estimated using distance sampling techniques in 2018 and 2019, average axis deer density was 19.7 (95% CI: 14.1–25.6) axis deer/km2 compared with 23.0 (95% CI: 18.2–27.5) white-tailed deer/km2, and axis deer densities ranged from 16.9 to 171.0/km2 among eight different land cover types in Kimble County, Texas, with a county-wide estimate of 61,078 (95% CI: 30,407–100,369) axis deer. Axis deer densities were greatest in riparian land cover types, and they selected for two riparian land cover types and upland grasslands. Axis deer population estimates clearly indicate their population size has increased substantially since introduction to Texas in the 1930s. Population management of axis deer is warranted to limit impacts to native wildlife from potential habitat usurpation, or damage to riparian vegetation communities, soil, and water quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera traps have become popular labor‐efficient and non‐invasive tools to study animal populations. The use of camera trap methods has largely focused on large animals and/or animals with identifiable features, with less attention being paid to small mammals, including rodents. Here we investigate the suitability of camera‐trap‐based abundance indices to monitor population dynamics in two species of voles with key functions in boreal and Arctic ecosystems, known for their high‐amplitude population cycles. The targeted species—gray‐sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) and tundra vole (Microtus oeconomus)—differ with respect to habitat use and spatial‐social organization, which allow us to assess whether such species traits influence the accuracy of the abundance indices. For both species, multiple live‐trapping grids yielding capture‐mark‐recapture (CMR) abundance estimates were matched with single tunnel‐based camera traps (CT) continuously recording passing animals. The sampling encompassed 3 years with contrasting abundances and phases of the population cycles. We used linear regressions to calibrate CT indices, based on species‐specific photo counts over different time windows, as a function of CMR‐abundance estimates. We then performed inverse regression to predict CMR abundances from CT indices and assess prediction accuracy. We found that CT indices (for windows maximizing goodness‐of‐fit of the calibration models) predicted adequately the CMR‐based estimates for the gray‐sided vole, but performed poorly for the tundra vole. However, spatially aggregating CT indices over nearby camera traps enabled reliable abundance indices also for the tundra vole. Such species differences imply that the design of camera trap studies of rodent population dynamics should be adapted to the species in focus, and adequate spatial replication must be considered. Overall, tunnel‐based camera traps yield much more temporally resolved abundance metrics than alternative methods, with a large potential for revealing new aspects of the multi‐annual population cycles of voles and other small mammal species they interact with. Camera traps provide a non‐invasive and labor‐efficient method for year round monitoring of wildlife. Here we validate abundance indices from tunnel‐based camera traps for two common cyclic species of small rodents. This work paves the way for camera traps to be included in year round monitoring programs of small rodents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitative interactions between shrub and animal species influence the structure and composition of communities. The benefits associated with woody shrub species can critically influence local animal populations, in particular. Here, we tested the relative importance of the density of shrub species on the local abundance of animal populations using a meta‐analysis. Full‐text review for shrub density, animal abundance or density and sampling effort, resulted in a total of 113 independent observations that reported both shrub density and animal abundance. A meta‐regression of shrub density on animal density with feeding functional group of the animal species as a moderator was used to test the predictive capacity of this simple vegetation measure on animal populations. Shrub density positively predicted animal abundance in these studies – particularly in deserts and grasslands. Shrub and woody plant density can thus be used as a potential rapid proxy for habitat in predicting local animal abundances. This method can support restoration and conservation of resident animal species in impacted ecosystems structured by woody shrubs globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Successful conservation requires a detailed understanding of critical habitats required to support different plant and animal populations. This is particularly important for rewilding programs where locally extinct species are often introduced into novel or reintroduced into areas that have been dramatically altered since they were extirpated. Objectives: Here, we explored changes in the volume of foraging pits of three engineers under different vegetation patch types and different landforms in an arid woodland in Australia based on field experiment. Methods: In this study, we examined the foraging habitat of three ecosystem engineers in the arid eastern Australia: a reintroduced mammal, the greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), the Small-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) and a varanid, Gould's sand goanna (Varanus gouldii). The soil disturbing activities of these three animals has been shown to lead to marked and persistent changes in a range of critical ecosystem functions and services. We tracked the density, size and habitat location of 4102 foraging pits over 3 years, as the measure of habitat favourability and the time taken for these foraging pits to infill (pit longevity). Results: We found that foraging was non-random, and animals tended to forage more within shrub patches when accounting for the relative cover of shrubs. There were also some differences among different habitat patch types, with generally larger echidna foraging pits beneath shrubs and trees than in the open interspaces. Pit longevity also varied among animal and patch types, with no differences for bilby or goanna pits across all patches, but greater longevity of echidna foraging pits beneath shrubs. Larger pits tended to persist for longer, and those beneath trees were closer together. Conclusion: Our work shows that foraging, and therefore the ecological effects of these animals vary with the target engineer and the biophysical features of the rewilded habitat. Land restoration programs that aim to restore degraded habitat and ecosystem functions must be cognisant of the idiosyncratic effects of different reintroduced engineers, and the makeup of different patch elements within the target restoration area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining what factors influence the distribution and abundance of wildlife populations is crucial for implementing effective conservation and management actions. Yet, for species with dynamic seasonal, sex‐, and age‐specific spatial ecology, like the diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin; DBT), doing so can be challenging. Moreover, environmental factors that influence the distribution and abundance of DBT in their northernmost range have not been quantitatively characterized. We investigated proximity to nesting habitat as one potential driver of spatiotemporal variation in abundance in a three‐step analytical approach. First, we used a scale selection resource selection function (RSF) approach based on landcover data from the National Landcover Database (NLCD) to identify the scale at which DBT are selecting for (or avoiding) landcover types to nest. Next, we used RSF to predict areas of suitable nesting habitat and created an index of nest suitability (NSI). Finally, analyzing visual count data using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM), we investigate spatiotemporal drivers of relative abundance, with a specific focus on whether similar factors affect offshore abundance and onshore nest site selection. We found the scale of selection for developed and saltmarsh land use classes to be 550 and 600 m and open water land use classes to be 100. Selection was positive for nesting areas proximal to saltmarsh habitat and negative for developed and open water. Expected relative abundance was best explained by the interaction between NSI and day of season, where expected relative abundance was greater within high NSI areas during the nesting season (2.20 individuals, CI: 1.19–3.93) compared to areas of low NSI (1.84 individuals, CI: 1.10–3.10). Our results provide evidence that inferred spatial patterns of suitable nesting habitats explain spatiotemporal patterns of terrapin movement and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Host associated gut microbiota are important in understanding the coevolution of host-microbe, and how they may help wildlife populations to adapt to rapid environmental changes. Mammalian gut microbiota composition and diversity may be affected by a variety of factors including geographic variation, seasonal variation in diet, habitat disturbance, environmental conditions, age, and sex. However, there have been few studies that examined how ecological and environmental factors influence gut microbiota composition in animals' natural environments. In this study, we explore how host habitat, geographical location and environmental factors affect the fecal microbiota of Cynomys ludovicianus at a small spatial scale. We collected fecal samples from five geographically distinct locations in the Texas Panhandle classified as urban and rural areas and analyzed them using high throughput 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Results: The results showed that microbiota of these fecal samples was largely dominated by the phylum Bacteroidetes. Fecal microbiome diversity and composition differed significantly across sampling sites and habitats. Prairie dogs inhabiting urban areas showed reduced fecal diversity due to more homogenous environment and, likely, anthropogenic disturbance. Urban prairie dog colonies displayed greater phylogenetic variation among replicates than those in rural habitats. Differentially abundant analysis revealed that bacterial species pathogenic to humans and animals were highly abundant in urban areas which indicates that host health and fitness might be negatively affected. Random forest models identified Alistipes shahii as the important species driving the changes in fecal microbiome composition. Despite the effects of habitat and geographic location of host, we found a strong correlation with environmental factors and that- average maximum temperature was the best predictor of prairie dog fecal microbial diversity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that reduction in alpha diversity in conjunction with greater dispersion in beta diversity could be indicative of declining host health in urban areas; this information may, in turn, help determine future conservation efforts. Moreover, several bacterial species pathogenic to humans and other animals were enriched in prairie dog colonies near urban areas, which may in turn adversely affect host phenotype and fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical, field-based, and experimental research all suggest that animal populations remain relatively stable under increasing habitat alteration until a critical threshold is reached, after which small changes to habitats result in large negative responses. However, there are few empirical examples demonstrating this in marine fishes, making identification of such thresholds difficult. Here, we synthesized long-term (25 + year) fisheries and habitat datasets across four estuaries in Florida (USA) to examine the combined effects of a once in ninety-year cold spell and habitat alterations on populations of an estuarine dependent fish, common snook (Centropomus undecimalis). In Florida, common snook support an important recreational fishery where harvest is well-managed. Common snook populations in three estuaries with less severe habitat alterations recovered to pre-disturbance levels within 4 years of the cold spell. However, in the estuary with the most extensive habitat alteration—including 34% loss of mangrove habitats, near complete loss or fragmentation of saltmarsh habitats, a 65,000 acre seagrass die-off, and eutrophication—the common snook population had yet to recover 8 years after the cold spell. Using a life-stage explicit approach, habitat alterations affecting early life history processes (i.e., juvenile survival and larval settlement) may be responsible for decreased resilience. This study highlights the need for fisheries management to consider habitat loss and disturbance, along with harvest in stock assessment and management processes. Adopting policies to protect and restore habitats will improve fish population resiliency to disturbance, thereby mitigating non-linear and costly declines to fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Maintaining landscape connectivity for wildlife has become a conservation priority in response to increasing land development and road networks. Roads affect many wildlife populations worldwide, with the distribution and density of roads having negative impacts on gene flow and landscape connectivity. Objectives: We aimed to identify areas along roadways that promote movement in a fragmented landscape. Our objective was to gain a deeper understanding of drivers of connectivity in a patchwork landscape of human uses. Methods: We applied a spatial absorbing Markov chain (SAMC) framework to test hypotheses about landscape connectivity for a federally endangered carnivore, the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). We modeled landscape connectivity for ocelots based on spatio-temporal trends in habitat use, which we derived using telemetry dataset collected 1982–2017. We compared three increasingly restrictive resistance surfaces to predict trends in landscape connectivity. Results: Ocelot avoidance of high-traffic roads (> 5000 cars/day) largely influenced patterns of predicted connectivity. We simulated connectivity between habitat patches and identified highly connected areas of conservation concern due to proximity to high-traffic roads. Connectivity was greatly influenced by ocelot habitat use rather than resistance scenarios. Further, we found no evidence of connectivity between populations of ocelots, indicating isolation within a fragmented landscape. Conclusion: Our spatially-explicit results describing landscape connectivity with respect to roads provides critical information needed for strategic placement of wildlife crossing structures. Wildlife crossing structures for resident ocelots should be placed in areas of relatively high conductance near roads with well-connected habitat on both sides of the road. We describe an approach that leverages long-term habitat use data for examining connectivity and improving landscape permeability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pest animal populations, such as rodents, often irrupt in response to pulsed resources. However, few studies have considered how understanding the propagation of irruptions across landscapes could lead to more efficient pest suppression. Resource pulses might create temporary source–sink dynamics in heterogeneous environments, whereby reservoirs of animals living in high‐quality habitat increase and spill over into more marginal habitat. Low‐density populations in marginal habitat could also increase through in situ breeding by residents in response to increased food availability. Understanding the relative importance of these two nonmutually exclusive processes is important as pest outbreaks could potentially be more efficiently controlled by targeting source populations early in an outbreak. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate the importance of density‐dependent emigration from lower elevation habitats versus in situ breeding by resident animals to the population growth of invasive ship rats (Rattus rattus) in marginal, high elevation habitats during a pulsed resource event (beech seed mast). We found that emigration from lower elevations was important for facilitating rapid population growth at high elevations, enabling rats to reach peak densities of 10.6 rats ha−1. Without immigration, rats were predicted to reach peak densities of only 1.8 rats ha−1 at high elevation, given their densities in that habitat when we started monitoring (0.6 rats ha−1). This result suggests that rat control that targets low and mid‐elevations only may be sufficient to suppress irruptions in high‐elevation habitat if control effectively prevents immigration. Our study suggests spillover from higher quality habitats may enable outbreaks to rapidly propagate over landscapes. However, for r‐selected taxa such as rodents, even very low densities of animals living in marginal habitats can increase significantly when resource pulses occur, albeit at lower densities than for populations in higher quality habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective wildlife conservation requires decomposing the drivers of population dynamics for species affected by anthropogenic habitat alterations. Ungulates are often the focus of management actions to restore habitat and maintain connectivity as they are sensitive to landscape disturbances. We used Bayesian proportional hazards models to assess anthropogenic risk factors that could potentially predict landscape‐scale survivorship for pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) in the Northern Sagebrush Steppe ecosystem, where extensive habitat alterations occurred from the conversion of native sagebrush grasslands to agricultural lands. Using 170 adult female pronghorn monitored from 2003 to 2011, we tested the importance of linear features (road and fence densities) and forage productivity (maximum decadal normalized difference vegetation index [NDVI]) for spatiotemporal pronghorn mortality risk, while accounting for a seasonally varying proxy of snow depth. We found moderate support for the effects of linear features on mortality risk as coefficient estimates translated to predicted declines in survivorship of 27.1% over the observed range of road densities (0–1.4 km/km2) and 11.8% over the range of fence densities (0–6.1 km/km2) encountered by pronghorn. Our results also suggested that agricultural areas could act as ecological traps for pronghorn, based on mortality risk increasing by a factor of 14.3% with every 0.1 increase in maximum decadal NDVI in summer (range = 0.38–0.73). Like our previous findings, we found considerable support for the effects of average depth (in centimeters) of snow water equivalent (SWE; SWE depth = snow depth × snow density/water density) within pronghorn seasonal ranges, with mortality risk increasing by 45.7% with every 1 cm increase in SWE depth (range = 0–5.37 cm). We then developed the first broadscale, spatially explicit map of predicted annual pronghorn survivorship based on anthropogenic features and environmental gradients to identify areas for conservation and habitat restoration efforts. These efforts to highlight anthropogenic risk factors on the landscape will hopefully support conservation and habitat restoration for pronghorn populations at the northern periphery of their range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As wildlife habitats are being destroyed and growth environments are changing, the survival of animals and plants is under threat. Epilobium hirsutum L., a species that inhabits wetlands, has held legally protected status since 2012. However, no specific measures are currently in place to protect its habitat, leading to a decline in remaining populations as a result of land use change and human activities. Results: The growth environment (including location, climate, land use, soil, and vegetation) of the five habitat sites (Samcheok, Taebaek1, Taebaek2, Cheongsong, Ulleung) of E. hirsutum L. was investigated and analyzed. These habitats were predominantly situated in flat areas with gentle south-facing slopes, at an average altitude of 452.7 m (8-726 m) above sea level in Gangwon-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do. The average annual temperature ranged 11.5°C (9.2°C-12.9°C), whereas the average annual precipitation ranged 1,304.5 mm (1,062.7-1,590.7 mm). The surrounding land use status was mainly characterized by mountainous areas, and human interference, such as agricultural land and roads, was commonly found in proximity to these natural habitats. Soil physicochemical analysis revealed that the soil was predominantly sandy loam with a slightly high sand content. The average pH measured 7.64, indicating an alkaline environment, and electrical conductivity (EC) averaged 0.33 dS/m. Organic matter (OM) content averaged 66.44 g/kg, available phosphoric acid (P2O5) content averaged 115.73 mg/kg, and cation exchange capacity (CEC) averaged 23.43 cmolc/kg. The exchangeable cations ranged 0.09-0.43 cmol+/kg for potassium (K), 10.23-16.21 cmol+/kg for calcium (Ca), 0.67-4.94 cmol+/kg for magnesium (Mg), and 0.05-0.74 cmol+/kg for sodium (Na). The vegetation type was categorized as E. hirsutum community with high numbers of E. hirsutum L., Persicaria thunbergii (Siebold & Zucc.) H. Gross, Phragmites japonica Steud., Humulus japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.), and Bidens frondosa L. An ecological flora analysis, including the proportion of lianas, naturalized plants, and annual herbaceous plants, revealed that the native habitat of E. hirsutum L. was ecologically unstable. Conclusions: Analysis of the habitat of E. hirsutum L., a class II endangered wildlife species, provided essential data for local conservation and restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Human-wildlife conflict has increased over the decades and is now considered one of the most severe challenges to the survival of threatened species and the livelihood of communities worldwide. In Sri Lanka, population growth, fragmentation of land, and conversion of natural wildlife habitats into settlement and agricultural areas are the leading causes of human-wildlife conflict. This study seeks to characterise the conflict pattern in the Mullaitivu District by identifying land use/cover changes and assessing the vulnerability of land use/cover. Primary data were collected through a field survey using a structured questionnaire and direct observation methods, and secondary data on land use/cover changes were obtained from remote sensing images. These data were analysed statistically and on the Geographic Information System (GIS) platform. The study reveals land use/cover vulnerability status over the twenty-six years. Dense forests are on the decline, and wild animals migrate into human settlements and agricultural sites, resulting in different types of human-wildlife conflict such as crop damage, livestock depredation, and loss of life and/or injuries to both people and wildlife in the Mullaitivu district. People employ various wildlife mitigation strategies. However, they cannot safeguard their crops or livestock from these animals. By implementing appropriate management measures to avoid wildlife infiltration into human settlements, the human-wildlife conflict in the Mullaitivu district can be minimised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While linear infrastructures, such as roads and power lines, are vital to human development, they may also have negative impacts on wildlife populations up to several kilometres into the surrounding environment (infrastructure‐effect zones, IEZs). However, species‐specific IEZs are not available for the vast majority of species, hampering global assessments of infrastructure impacts on wildlife. Here, we synthesized 253 studies worldwide to quantify the magnitude and spatial extent of infrastructure impacts on the abundance of 792 vertebrate species. We also identified the extent to which species traits, infrastructure type and habitat modulate IEZs for vertebrate species. Our results reveal contrasting responses across taxa based on the local context and species traits. Carnivorous mammals were generally more abundant in the proximity of infrastructure. In turn, medium‐ to large‐sized non‐carnivorous mammals (>1 kg) were less abundant near infrastructure across habitats, while their smaller counterparts were more abundant close to infrastructure in open habitats. Bird abundance was reduced near infrastructure with larger IEZs for non‐carnivorous than for carnivorous species. Furthermore, birds experienced larger IEZs in closed (carnivores: ≈130 m, non‐carnivores: >1 km) compared to open habitats (carnivores: ≈70 m, non‐carnivores: ≈470 m). Reptiles were more abundant near infrastructure in closed habitats but not in open habitats where abundances were reduced within an IEZ of ≈90 m. Finally, IEZs were relatively small in amphibians (<30 m). These results indicate that infrastructure impact assessments should differentiate IEZs across species and local contexts in order to capture the variety of responses to infrastructure. Our trait‐based synthetic approach can be applied in large‐scale assessments of the impacts of current and future infrastructure developments across multiple species, including those for which infrastructure responses are not known from empirical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To make informed decisions, modern society, like modern business, must operate with adequate information about many complex interrelated aspects of its activities. Land use is only one of such aspects. Agricultural lands are of particular importance today. Land data are needed to analyse environmental processes, as well as end unsystematic, uncontrolled use of agricultural land, environmental degradation, destruction of important wetlands, loss of fish diversity and destruction of wildlife habitats. To solve these problems, it is advisable to conduct regular analysis and evaluation of land resources, justification and analysis of factors influencing the agricultural land market in the country. The tasks were solved using multidimensional statistical methods, in particular, factor analysis, which helped to get rid of subjectivity in the choice of factors influencing the market under study. Based on the model of influence of factors on the national market of agricultural land in Ukraine, six main factors were identified, the most influential of which were the components of agricultural development (first factor) and, to a lesser extent, the component of vegetable production and yield (fourth factor). The interrelationships and the degree of influence of the selected factors on the main indicators of the agricultural land market, namely, on the area of purchase and sale plots, the price of purchase and sale plots, and the number of transactions were also analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife populations are increasingly affected by natural and anthropogenic changes that negatively alter biotic and abiotic processes at multiple spatiotemporal scales and therefore require increased wildlife management and conservation efforts. However, wildlife management boundaries frequently lack biological context and mechanisms to assess demographic data across the multiple spatiotemporal scales influencing populations. To address these limitations, we developed a novel approach to define biologically relevant subpopulations of hierarchically nested population levels that could facilitate managing and conserving wildlife populations and habitats. Our approach relied on the Spatial "K"luster Analysis by Tree Edge Removal clustering algorithm, which we applied in an agglomerative manner (bottom‐to‐top). We modified the clustering algorithm using a workflow and population structure tiers from least‐cost paths, which captured biological inferences of habitat conditions (functional connectivity), dispersal capabilities (potential connectivity), genetic information, and functional processes affecting movements. The approach uniquely included context of habitat resources (biotic and abiotic) summarized at multiple spatial scales surrounding locations with breeding site fidelity and constraint‐based rules (number of sites grouped and population structure tiers). We applied our approach to greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species of conservation concern, across their range within the western United States. This case study produced 13 hierarchically nested population levels (akin to cluster levels, each representing a collection of subpopulations of an increasing number of breeding sites). These closely approximated population closure at finer ecological scales (smaller subpopulation extents with fewer breeding sites; cluster levels ≥2), where >92% of individual sage‐grouse's time occurred within their home cluster. With available population monitoring data, our approaches can support the investigation of factors affecting population dynamics at multiple scales and assist managers with making informed, targeted, and cost‐effective decisions within an adaptive management framework. Importantly, our approach provides the flexibility of including species‐relevant context, thereby supporting other wildlife characterized by site fidelity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing human population in Africa is putting increasing pressure on habitats and wildlife outside of protected areas. The wildlife conservancy model in Namibia empowers rural communities to decide on the use of wildlife. Namibia started to implement the conservancy model in the 1990s and provides relevant experience from which other countries can learn. We reviewed the conservancy model in northwest Namibia to identify lessons for other countries. Our core work included case studies on six conservancies. We confirmed success factors for conservancies include: investment and revenues, strong governance and support from NGOs, as has been identified in previous studies. We conclude that a comprehensive wildlife monitoring programme is also a critical success factor. The wildlife monitoring method in conservancies in Namibia has been consistent since 2001, and the results show that populations have recovered and stabilised, although there are ongoing risks to wildlife and habitats in this fragile landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programs that incentivize private landowners to create habitats that offset losses due to conversion and climate change are increasingly being used to bolster sensitive wildlife populations. In the Central Valley of California, shorebird habitat incentive programs pay landowners to create additional habitat during the non‐breeding season by flooding their fields. However, it remains unclear how successful these programs have been in supporting baseline shorebird population needs or meeting established population goals, particularly in the face of changing environmental conditions. To address these questions, we used bioenergetics modeling to estimate shorebird food energy needs over four consecutive years that had the highest annual mean air temperatures ever recorded in California, and included years of extreme drought, as well as the second wettest winter on record. Our objectives were to (1) characterize annual variability in the timing and magnitude of shorebird food energy shortfalls, (2) estimate the contributions that incentive programs made to meeting these needs, and (3) develop recommendations for implementation of future habitat programs to advance shorebird conservation in the region. Overall, we found a high level of consistency in the timing and magnitude of habitat shortfalls, especially in fall, despite large differences in annual rainfall, a result that was unexpected, but that emphasizes how highly managed the hydrological system is in the Central Valley. We also found that the magnitude of both fall and spring energy shortfalls increased, relative to recent (2007–2014) estimates, perhaps due to aberrantly warm conditions. Incentive programs implemented to provide supplemental habitat were somewhat effective in reducing shortfalls for the assumed baseline population, but there were consistent unmet habitat needs when there were not enough shallow open water foraging areas available. Strategies to offset these remaining food energy deficits include scaling up habitat investments, adjusting the timing of habitat programs to better match the migration patterns of the birds, and adapting programs to new geographies. To the extent that there is variability in annual habitat need we recommend implementing a dynamic conservation approach. This involves scaling the amount of additional habitat created to match the shifting needs of the birds to maximize return on investment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding of behavioral ecology of primates in grazed lands is vital to their conservation and monitoring strategies. Here we investigated how livestock grazing within the Simien Mountains National Park affects the activity time budgeting and ranging behavior of the geladas, a monkey endemic to Ethiopian highlands. This study was carried out from February 2019 to July 2019 by stratifying the study area as grazed and nongrazed sites. Activity time pattern data were collected using 5 minutes instantaneous scan sampling within 15 minutes intervals from 7:00 to 18:00 for 10 days per month in the grazed and nongrazed sites. The ranging data were also collected by tracking the study group and recording GPS points every 15 minutes sample. The effects of livestock grazing on activity time budgets were statistically analyzed by multiple analyses of variance (MANOVA). Daily range length and home range size were estimated by employing the Open Jump toolbox (MOVEAN), and statistically tested by Mann–Whitney U test. From 3427 behavioral scans on the various activities, feeding was the most frequent (43.04%) behavioral activity followed by moving, accounting for 38.06% of the time. The study revealed that grazing has a statistically significant effect on moving and social activity time budgets. The geladas dwelling in the grazed areas of the park spent more time in moving than in the nongrazed areas. The effect of grazing on social behavior is the reverse of moving. Similarly, geladas traveled longer daily range length and cover a wider home range size in the grazed areas. Therefore, these findings of the study imply that livestock grazing is adversely affecting the behavior of gelada monkeys in the park. To minimize such effects on gelada monkeys and harmonize grazing with wildlife habitat conservation, the grazing pressure reduction strategy must be closely monitored and supported by animal feed cultivation technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wild boar Sus scrofa is one of the most widely distributed large mammal species in the world, existing on all continents except Antarctica. In the late 20th Century, its geographical range expanded naturally and through intentional releases. Despite the environmental, social, and economic importance of the wild boar, its current distribution in northern Eurasia remains uncertain, and the factors that limit and promote expansion in northern ecosystems are unknown.We aimed to summarise the history of wild boar range expansion and current distribution in the countries of northern Eurasia. We also assess the relative importance of climate (both harshness and warming), habitat (both current diversity and possible change), predators, releases, supplementary feeding, and hunting in limiting or promoting the distribution and range expansion of the species. We review hunting management and other regulations that may affect further northward expansion.Information on wild boar expansion and distribution was collated from available scientific publications, official statistics, volunteer reports, and expert knowledge. The effects of natural factors (climate harshness, habitat variation, predators) and anthropogenic factors (climate warming, habitat change, releases, supplementary feeding, hunting) on wild boar distribution were assessed using estimates (scores) provided by experts from the target regions.The wild boar in Europe is distributed up to 64°N. In Asia, the northern distributional limit is up to 61°N. The species' northern distributional limit is further north in the west than in the east of the geographic range.Experts regarded climate harshness, habitat, and hunting as the most important factors limiting wild boar distribution. Important factors that promote the expansion of the wild boar's range include climate warming and supplementary feeding.Our analysis of the official approaches to wild boar management suggests that the northern Eurasian countries do not have a united approach to the challenge of wild boar expansion. Collaboration between managers, policymakers, and researchers is needed for monitoring the wild boar distribution and range expansion throughout northern Eurasia. This data collection is especially important now, as parts of Europe and Asia are facing the challenge of African swine fever as well as other human–wildlife conflicts related to increasing wild boar populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human developments have detrimental effects on wildlife populations globally with carnivores being particularly sensitive. The bobcat (Lynx rufus) is often considered an adaptable mesocarnivore that occurs throughout varied landcover types within its wide distribution and may be less susceptible to the negative effects of development. Our objectives were to investigate the landscape occupancy dynamics of bobcats in a highly developed and densely populated region of the northeastern United States to evaluate the sensitivity of bobcat occurrence to natural and anthropogenic landscape features. We established a large‐scale camera trapping survey throughout Rhode Island, USA, sampling from 2018 to 2020. Using dynamic occupancy models, we found initial site occupancy was positively influenced by the amount of forested wetland habitat, while increasing road density and shrub cover negatively influenced the probability of site colonization. Surprisingly, we found no hypothesized variables to influence site‐level extirpation probability, or any seasonal effects on dynamic parameters. Lastly, we found that forest cover and road density negatively influenced the probability of detection. The probability of occupancy was high, >0.8, throughout much of the study area (49%), but we also found relatively high site transients, with the probability a site would change occurrence status from season to season at ≈0.27 in the majority of the study area (70%). Our results show that although bobcats can persist in human‐dominated landscapes, they require contiguous natural areas to do so. Future expansion of road infrastructure may reduce habitat connectivity and increase road mortalities, thus jeopardizing the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]