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The article focuses on a study conducted on endangered growth and survival of pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus fishes in Missouri and Mississippi river basins of the U.S. Topics discussed include changing temperature in the rivers negatively effecting species, climate change deteriorating freshwater habitats, death threats due to temperature alterations and by the power plant thermal sewages in the rivers and; need to control the harming effects of habitat and climate alterations.

The persistence of species taxa within fragmented habitats is dependent on the source–sink metapopulation processes, and forest patch size and isolation are key factors. Unveiling species–patch area and/or species–patch isolation relationships may help provide crucial information for species and landscape management. In this study, relationship between forest patch size and isolation with abundance and occupancy probability of forest-dependent birds was investigated. This study was based within a coastal landscape that faces deleterious human activities such as clearing for agriculture. The study aimed to answer the question of whether the size and extent of isolation of forest patches influence abundance and/or occupancy probability of forest-specialist and generalist birds. Two bird species, namely Tiny GreenbulPhyllastrephus debilissubsp.rabaiand Yellow-bellied GreenbulChlorocichla flaviventris, were used as models. Birds were surveyed using distance sampling methods, and spatial metrics were measured from satellite imagery. Focal forest size and distance between forest patches were the most influential metrics whereby abundance and occupancy probabilities increased with increasing patch size, but were negatively influenced by increasing gaps between patches. These findings provide evidence of the existence of patch size/ isolation–occupancy relationships characterised by higher occupancy rate of large patches and distance-dependent dispersal, which decreased with increasing gaps between patches. Controlling deleterious human activities that reduce forest size should be a priority for the long-term conservation of forest-dependent birds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To fill the gap between microhabitat and landscape scale habitat models for freshwater fish, it is becoming increasingly common practice to adopt a continuous view of riverscapes, thus allowing a better understanding of the processes in place at the river management level (segments of 1–100 km). The aim of this study was to test the effects of the spatial structure of habitat on fish distribution at this scale. Inferred habitat relationships were generated using spatial metrics adapted from landscape ecology. These were calculated for two species of multi-habitat cyprinid fish in a 25-km long segment of the Seine River. A spatially continuous survey was then designed to acquire fish sampling data relating to the riverscape. Explanatory models were devised to quantify the extent to which environmental and spatial variables could describe fish distribution patterns. Spatially continuous sampling of feeding habitats at dawn and dusk provided greater understanding of the spatial distribution of common barbel (Barbus barbus, L.) and nase (Chondrostoma nasus, L.). Fish observations were aggregated longitudinally in neighboring feeding habitat patches, with the highest abundance found in patches with the best local conditions. The species were present for large feeding patches, as well as for a higher proximity index for those patches. This result emphasized the importance of the supplementation of feeding habitats. By quantifying spatial habitat relationships using spatial metrics, it was possible to identify the best suited configuration of functional habitats to the needs of shoals. At present, most conservation work focuses on restoring local habitats. There is also growing interest in large-scale fish management, which has been encouraged by the advent of metapopulation theory. This study highlights the need for greater work at a third, intermediate scale that is no less significant: restoring daily and seasonal movements between functional habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warming during the 20th century has changed the arctic landscape, including aspects of the hydrology, vegetation, permafrost, and glaciers, but effects on wildlife have been difficult to detect. The primary aim of this study is to examine the physical and biological processes contributing to the expanded riparian habitat and range of snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus) in northern Alaska. We explore linkages between components of the riparian ecosystem in Arctic Alaska since the 1960s, including seasonality of stream flow, air temperature, floodplain shrub habitat, and snowshoe hare distributions. Our analyses show that the peak discharge during spring snowmelt has occurred on average 3.4 days per decade earlier over the last 30 years and has contributed to a longer growing season in floodplain ecosystems. We use empirical correlations between cumulative summer warmth and riparian shrub height to reconstruct annual changes in shrub height from the 1960s to the present. The effects of longer and warmer growing seasons are estimated to have stimulated a 78% increase in the height of riparian shrubs. Earlier spring discharge and the estimated increase in riparian shrub height are consistent with observed riparian shrub expansion in the region. Our browsing measurements show that snowshoe hares require a mean riparian shrub height of at least 1.24-1.36 m, a threshold which our hindcasting indicates was met between 1964 and 1989. This generally coincides with observational evidence we present suggesting that snowshoe hares became established in 1977 or 1978. Warming and expanded shrub habitat is the most plausible reason for recent snowshoe hare establishment in Arctic Alaska. The establishment of snowshoe hares and other shrub herbivores in the Arctic in response to increasing shrub habitat is a contrasting terrestrial counterpart to the decline in marine mammals reliant on decreasing sea ice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cybium: International Journal of Ichthyology is the property of Societe Francaise d'Ichtyologie (SFI) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Habitat fragmentation and degradation and invasion of nonnative species have restricted the distribution of native trout. Many trout populations are limited to headwater streams where negative effects of predicted climate change, including reduced stream flow and increased risk of catastrophic fires, may further jeopardize their persistence. Headwater streams in steep terrain are especially susceptible to disturbance associated with postfire debris flows, which have led to local extirpation of trout populations in some systems. We conducted a reach-scale spatial analysis of debris-flow risk among 11 high-elevation watersheds of the Colorado Rocky Mountains occupied by isolated populations of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus). Stream reaches at high risk of disturbance by postfire debris flow were identified with the aid of a qualitative model based on 4 primary initiating and transport factors (hillslope gradient, flow accumulation pathways, channel gradient, and valley confinement). This model was coupled with a spatially continuous survey of trout distributions in these stream networks to assess the predicted extent of trout population disturbances related to debris flows. In the study systems, debris-flow potential was highest in the lower and middle reaches of most watersheds. Colorado River Cutthroat Trout occurred in areas of high postfire debris-flow risk, but they were never restricted to those areas. Postfire debris flows could extirpate trout from local reaches in these watersheds, but trout populations occupy refugia that should allow recolonization of interconnected, downstream reaches. Specific results of our study may not be universally applicable, but our risk assessment approach can be applied to assess postfire debris-flow risk for stream reaches in other watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Conservation Biology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An understanding of the factors associated with the distribution of fishes is fundamental to stream ecology, and can be used to assess and prioritize conservation areas. Mountain sucker Catostomus platyrhynchus is generally stable across its range in Western North America, but recent studies have documented declines at finer spatial scales near the periphery of its range, including the Black Hills of South Dakota. Despite its wide-ranging distribution, little information exists on mountain sucker autecology or community dynamics. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hierarchical influence of physical and biological variables on the distribution and abundance of mountain sucker in streams of the Black Hills, South Dakota, USA. We evaluated the support for candidate models that incorporated multiple spatial scales and potential biotic interactions to model mountain sucker presence and abundance using an information theoretic approach. Mountain sucker presence was best explained by a combination of reach-scale habitat and fish assemblage variables, including a negative influence of trout abundance. Mountain sucker abundance increased with periphyton coverage, a food resource. These models increase understanding of mountain sucker ecology, can be used to assess and prioritize areas of conservation interest for this native fish in the Black Hills, and can identify management actions that will provide the most effective conservation strategies for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Resource managers are often presented with dilemmas that require immediate action to avoid species extinction, but that also ensure species long-term persistence. These objectives may conflict with one another, resulting in new threats as initial threats are ameliorated. Such threat evolution is a common pattern in the long history of efforts to conserve endemic trout (Salmonidae) populations in western North America. Early conservation strategies were often successful in reducing initial threats of hybridization with non-native trout, but were also responsible for producing new threats such as inbreeding, genetic drift, and, more generally, reductions in heterozygosity. In such situations, the objective of reducing or minimizing the threat of extinction remains the same, but the causes of decline change in direct response to the implemented strategy. This aspect of species recovery is not often recognized in initial efforts to protect a species from extinction. Here, we present the case of the threatened Little Kern golden trout ( O. mykiss whitei), as an example of threat evolution. Its conservation management history is well documented, as are feedbacks between direct conservation actions and emerging present-day threats. Management of this and similarly imperiled species must take into account evolving threats, if long-term persistence is to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Demand for quantitative conservation targets has yielded a search for generalities in habitat thresholds, particular amounts of habitat at which extinction probabilities change strongly. These thresholds are thought to vary across regions, but investigation of this variability has been limited. We tested whether thresholds (of forest separating extinction from persistence) increased as either average forest cover in landscapes decreased or the degree of fragmentation increased. Location Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Vermont. Methods We used segmented logistic regressions to estimate thresholds in the relationship between extinction probability and forest cover for 25 forest-breeding birds, comparing estimated thresholds across states. We also selected landscapes from our entire study area in which landscape-level forest cover and degree of fragmentation varied independently and compared thresholds. Results We found that thresholds in extinction probability varied widely among species (7-90% forest cover) and within species across states [e.g. 12-90% for white-throated sparrow ( Zonotrichia albicollis)]. Additional analyses showed no indications that thresholds correlated with the degree of fragmentation or forest cover across the landscape; we found considerable variability in thresholds across landscapes, species and even landscapes in which (average) fragmentation and forest cover were similar. Main conclusions Extinction threshold estimates varied tremendously across species and landscapes. Thus, habitat thresholds are difficult to generalize as they depend on many factors beyond landscape fragmentation and habitat availability (e.g. landscape characteristics such as matrix quality). Our findings highlight the need to avoid oversimplification and generalization of habitat thresholds, especially as they might prove counterproductive to conservation efforts. Instead, we propose that we evaluate thresholds for individual species - preferably using species-centred habitat definitions in threshold modelling - to derive generalities for ecological and conservation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined potentially contrasting conservation benefits of land sparing (land-use specialization) and land sharing (multiple-use forestry) strategies in forested landscapes by investigating relationships between bird functional group densities and basal areas of coniferous trees (an index of plantation intensity) in Sakhalin fir ( Abies sachalinensis) and Sakhalin spruce ( Picea glehnii) plantations. Densities of most bird functional groups increased with decreasing plantation intensity in both plantation types. In many cases, linear models were best for descriptors of bird density-plantation intensity relationships, but statistical support of linear and nonlinear (quadratic) models was similar. This outcome indicates that ecological benefits of land sparing and land sharing are potentially comparable in the plantations we studied. In real landscapes, land-use decision making depends on a variety of factors other than biodiversity conservation (e.g., social and biophysical factors). Furthermore, niche theory also predicts that population densities could linearly respond to environmental gradients. When density-intensity relationships are linear, as in this study, land-sparing and land-sharing strategies provide similar benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation, and contrasting land-use strategies could be flexibly chosen to enhance the accommodation of biodiversity conservation to resource production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research on the ecology of top predators - upper trophic level consumers that are relatively free from predation once they reach adult size - has provided regular contributions to general ecology and is a rapidly expanding and increasingly experimental, multidisciplinary and technological endeavour. Yet, an exponentially expanding literature coupled with rapid disintegration into specialized, disconnected subfields for study (e.g. vertebrate predators versus invertebrate predators, community ecology versus biological control etc.) increasingly means that we are losing a coherent, integrated understating of the role and importance of these species in ecosystems. This process of canalization is likely to hinder sharing of scientific discovery and continued progress, especially as there is a growing need to understand the generality of the top-down forcing, as demonstrated for some members of this group. Here, we propose ways to facilitate synthesis by promoting changes in mentality and awareness among specialists through increased debate and collaboration, conceptual reviews and a series of exemplary case studies. The strategy will rely on the collective contribution by all scientists in the field and will strive to consolidate and formalise top-order predation as a holistic, cohesive, cross-taxonomical field of research studying the ecology, evolution and behaviour of apex predators and their capability to exert top-down forcing on lower trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A citizen science project was developed to encourage homeowners and others to build and monitor artificial nesting habitats for solitary bees and wasps. Social media applications were used to recruit participants and provide forums for social discussion and participation. Between April 2012 and July 2014, 268 individuals and 19 groups registered for the Native Buzz project at www.ufnativebuzz.com for a total combined membership of 655 participants. Participants were located in 30 counties in Florida as well as 38 other states and 10 additional countries. Participants had designed, built and monitored 68 artificial nest sites by July 2014. During the two-year study period, the sites collectively contained over 10,657 potential nests constructed from a variety of materials and established within a variety of ecosystems. Comments solicited from participants were used to identify future needs, motivating factors and challenges associated with implementing an ''insect-oriented'' citizen science project. Results of this study indicate that technology-based citizen science projects of this type can effectively recruit non-scientist citizens to create artificial nesting habitats for solitary bees and wasps and provide a useful platform for helping entomological researchers collect solitary bee and wasp nesting data from a large geographic range via data provided by volunteer citizen scientists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat fragmentation in aquatic systems has led to widespread isolation of stream fishes. Metapopulation theory predicts that persistence is directly related to local patch size and its characteristics, but because these relationships tend to be taxon-specific, empirical data are important. We assembled 246 observations of occurrence of westslope cutthroat trout ( WCT), a taxon of concern in the western U.S. and Canada, in stream networks isolated for up to 100 years (median 40 years) above human-made barriers, mostly culverts, at road crossings within U.S. National Forests. We used logistic regression to analyse how WCT occurrence varied with patch size, isolation time and stream-level covariates. Occurrence was positively related to stream length and habitat quality within the isolated stream network and negatively related to elevation and channel gradient. Unexpectedly, the probability of occurrence was not related to how long a habitat patch had been isolated. At the median elevation (1354 m) and channel gradient (14%), and where habitat quality was poor, WCT were likely to occur (probability >0.5) if an isolated stream network was at least 1.7 km. If habitat quality was high, about 0.2 km of habitat produced the same probability. Although there are important limitations, this analysis provides the first empirical estimate for how patch size and patch-level characteristics influence persistence of WCT in isolated stream networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Habitat loss continues to cause loss of biodiversity. To quantify the effects of land-use change on the diversity and composition of ecological communities - in terms of functional groups - we make modelled estimates of the impact of past and future (to 2050) land-use change on the overall diversity and dietary guild structure of tropical forest bird communities. Location Tropical and subtropical forests (40° S to 40° N). Methods Using a likelihood-based model, we project the impact of land-use intensity on the diversity and functional structure of tropical forest bird communities, including an estimation of uncertainty. To explore the extent to which predicted impacts are determined by the inherent sensitivity of communities because of the traits possessed by the species present, we quantify communities in terms of trait composition and explore relationships between trait composition and diversity/guild loss. Results We estimate that habitat loss has led to an average decrease of 4% in total abundance, but with marked differences across different guilds, leading to substantial changes in community composition: an 11.4% loss of frugivores, 7.8% loss of nectarivores and 7.3% loss of insectivores, and a 4.0% gain of other herbivores. Projected land-use change is predicted to result in average future losses of 1% of total abundance, 1% of each of frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores, but no average change in the abundance of other herbivores. Past and future changes have varied substantially across the biome, owing to variation in land-use change and in the initial trait composition of communities. Main conclusions We predict that marked changes in community structure have occurred in the past and will occur in the future, with disproportionate losses of frugivores, nectarivores and insectivores compared with other species; these species are known to provide important ecosystem services. In the past, South America has been particularly strongly affected, while Southeast Asia will experience the strongest impacts in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the interplay between habitat use and contemporary anadromous Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., distributions we explored the habitat associations of three species, pink ( O. gorbuscha), chum ( O. keta) and Chinook salmon ( O. tshawytscha) in streams of the Wood River system of Bristol Bay, Alaska, where sockeye salmon ( O. nerka) are numerically dominant. We developed models to investigate the occurrence of nondominant salmon in relation to habitat characteristics and sockeye salmon density, using four decades of salmon presence and abundance data. The frequency of occurrence and abundance of nondominant species increased with watershed drainage area and stream depth and decreased with sockeye salmon density. The range of occurrence varied from nonexistent to perennial for the other species in sockeye-dominated streams. Increasing watershed area resulted in larger stream habitat area and deeper habitats, allowing for the sympatric occurrence and persistence of all salmon species. The relationships between habitat and the presence of these Pacific salmon help define their requirements but also remind us that the patterns of presence and absence, within the overall ranges of salmon species, have yet to be fully understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical models predict strong influences of habitat loss and fragmentation on species distributions and demography, but empirical studies have shown relatively inconsistent support across species and systems. We argue that species' responses to landscape-scale habitat loss and fragmentation are likely to appear less idiosyncratic if it is recognized that species perceive the same landscapes in different ways. We present a new quantitative approach that uses species distribution models (SDMs) to measure landscapes (e.g. patch size, isolation, matrix amount) from the perspective of individual species. First, we briefly summarize the few efforts to date demonstrating that once differences in habitat distributions are controlled, consistencies in species' responses to landscape structure emerge. Second, we present a detailed example providing step-by-step methods for application of a species-centered approach using freely available land-cover data and recent statistical modeling approaches. Third, we discuss pitfalls in current applications of the approach and recommend avenues for future developments. We conclude that the species-centered approach offers considerable promise as a means to test whether sensitivity to habitat loss and fragmentation is mediated by phylogenetic, ecological, and life-history traits. Cross-species generalities in responses to habitat loss and fragmentation will be challenging to uncover unless landscape mosaics are defined using models that reflect differing species-specific distributions, functional connectivity, and domains of scale. The emergence of such generalities would not only enhance scientific understanding of biotic processes driving fragmentation effects, but would allow managers to estimate species sensitivities in new regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myxobolus cerebralis caused severe declines in rainbow trout populations across Colorado following its introduction in the 1980s. One promising approach for the recovery of Colorado’s rainbow trout populations has been the production of rainbow trout that are genetically resistant to the parasite. We introduced one of these resistant crosses, known as the GR×CRR (cross between the German Rainbow [GR] and Colorado River Rainbow [CRR] trout strains), to the upper Colorado River. The abundance, survival, and growth of the stocked GR×CRR population was examined to determine if GR×CRRs had contributed offspring to the age-0 population, and determine whether these offspring displayed increased resistance and survival characteristics compared to their wild CRR counterparts. Apparent survival of the introduced GR×CRR over the entire study period was estimated to be 0.007 (±0.001). Despite low survival of the GR×CRRs, age-0 progeny of the GR×CRR were encountered in years 2008 through 2011. Genetic assignments revealed a shift in the genetic composition of the rainbow trout fry population over time, with CRR fish comprising the entirety of the fry population in 2007, and GR-cross fish comprising nearly 80% of the fry population in 2011. A decrease in average infection severity (myxospores fish−1) was observed concurrent with the shift in the genetic composition of the rainbow trout fry population, decreasing from an average of 47,708 (±8,950) myxospores fish−1 in 2009 to 2,672 (±4,379) myxospores fish−1 in 2011. Results from this experiment suggest that the GR×CRR can survive and reproduce in rivers with a high prevalence of M. cerebralis. In addition, reduced myxospore burdens in age-0 fish indicated that stocking this cross may ultimately lead to an overall reduction in infection prevalence and severity in the salmonid populations of the upper Colorado River. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research addressing the effects of habitat fragmentation on species, assemblages or ecosystems has been fraught with difficulties, from its conceptual foundation to statistical analyses and interpretation. Yet, it is critical to address such challenges as ecosystems are rapidly being altered across the world., Many studies have concluded that effects of habitat loss exceed those of fragmentation per se, that is, the degree to which a given amount of habitat is broken apart. There is also evidence from different biomes and taxa that habitat configuration, that is, the spatial arrangement of habitat at a given time, may influence several landscape processes such as functional connectivity, edge and matrix effects, and thus population viability., Instead of focusing attention on the relative influence of either habitat loss or fragmentation, we must identify portions of the gradient in habitat amount where configuration effects are most likely to be observed. Here, we suggest that all species are, to a certain degree, sensitive to landscape change and that, assuming a homogeneous matrix, habitat configuration will have a higher influence on species at intermediate values of habitat amount, where configuration has potentially the greatest variability., On the basis of empirical studies and simulations, we expect that species that are relatively tolerant to fragmentation of their habitat will exhibit a wider band where amount and configuration interact compared to species less tolerant to fragmentation., Synthesis and applications. Reducing habitat loss should be a top priority for conservation planners. However, researchers should also investigate the indirect impacts of habitat loss on biodiversity through fragmentation effects. This research aims to identify windows of opportunity where habitat configuration can mitigate to some extent the effects of habitat loss, particularly through the maintenance of functional connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the hypotheses that species with greater mobility and/or higher reproductive rates are less sensitive to habitat loss than species with lower mobility and/or reproductive rates by conducting a meta-analysis of wetland vertebrate responses to wetland habitat loss. We combined data from 90 studies conducted worldwide that quantified the relationship between wetland amount in a landscape and population abundance of at least one wetland species to determine if mobility (indexed as home range size and body length) and annual reproductive rate influence species responses to wetland loss. When analyzed across all taxa, animals with higher reproductive rates were less sensitive to wetland loss. Surprisingly, we did not find an effect of mobility on response to wetland loss. Overall, wetland mammals and birds were more sensitive to wetland loss than were reptiles and amphibians. Our results suggest that dispersal between habitat patches is less important than species’ reproductive rates for population persistence in fragmented landscapes. This implies that immigration and colonization rate is most strongly related to reproduction, which determines the total number of potential colonists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity offsets provide a mechanism for maintaining or enhancing environmental values in situations where development is sought, despite negative environmental impacts. They seek to ensure that unavoidable deleterious environmental impacts of development are balanced by environmental gains. When onsite impacts warrant the use of offsets there is often little attention paid to make sure that the location of offset sites provides the greatest conservation benefit, ensuring they are consistent with landscape level conservation goals. In most offset frameworks it is difficult for developers to proactively know the offset requirements they will need to implement. Here we propose a framework to address these needs. We propose a series of rules for selecting offset sites that meet the conservation needs of potentially impacted biological targets. We then discuss an accounting approach that seeks to support offset ratio determinations based on a structured and transparent approach. To demonstrate the approach, we present a framework developed in partnership with the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to reform existing mitigation regulatory processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our goal was to identify habitat, fish species, and fish assemblages associated with the occurrence of Topeka ShinersNotropis topekain stream and off-channel habitat (OCH) of west-central Iowa. Fish assemblages and habitat characteristics were estimated in 67 stream and 27 OCH sites during 2010–2011. Topeka Shiners were sampled in 52% of OCH sites, but in only 9% of stream sites, which supports the hypothesis that OCH is an important component of their life history. Fish assemblages containing Topeka Shiners were different from those that did not contain Topeka Shiners in OCH sites, but this was not evident in stream sites. Results from logistic regression models suggested that Topeka Shiner presence was associated with increased submerged vegetation and abundance of Fathead MinnowPimephales promelas. Contrary to the findings of other studies, the abundance of large piscivorous fishes was not associated with the occurrence of Topeka Shiners. Our results provide new information about the biology and life history of the Topeka Shiner that will guide habitat restoration and other recovery efforts. Received July 17, 2012; accepted August 20, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitigation policy and regulatory frameworks are consistent in their strong support for the mitigation hierarchy of: (1) avoiding impacts, (2) minimizing impacts, and then (3) offsetting/compensating for residual impacts. While mitigation frameworks require developers to avoid, minimize and restore biodiversity on-site before considering an offset for residual impacts, there is a lack of quantitative guidance for this decision-making process. What are the criteria for requiring impacts be avoided altogether? Here we examine how conservation planning can guide the application of the mitigation hierarchy to address this issue. In support of the Colombian government's aim to improve siting and mitigation practices for planned development, we examined five pilot projects in landscapes expected to experience significant increases in mining, petroleum and/or infrastructure development. By blending landscape-level conservation planning with application of the mitigation hierarchy, we can proactively identify where proposed development and conservation priorities would be in conflict and where impacts should be avoided. The approach we outline here has been adopted by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to guide licensing decisions, avoid piecemeal licensing, and promote mitigation decisions that maintain landscape condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intentional release of wild-caught individuals has been widely used to establish new populations of the commercially valuable but threatened reef gastropodTrochus niloticusin oceanic islands. Is this also a viable strategy to enhance depleted populations of this species and other marine invertebrates? We monitored growth and survival of 765 translocated individuals and 486 in their original habitat for 5–9 months. Individuals translocated to a severely overexploited reef (mainland Palawan) grew 2–3 times faster than those at Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Phillipines. Despite variations in growth between the three sites, survival probabilities were consistently high, ranging between 0.77 and 0.92. So translocation is feasible, and sites at which a species has previously been found are likely to be suitable for their growth and survival. If site management can control over-fishing, this approach is likely to be a valuable tool for enhancing field populations of a large invertebrates likeTrochusthat have a short lived planktonic larva. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Conserving a species depends on an understanding of its habitat requirements. Primatologists often characterize the habitat requirements of primates using macroscale population-based approaches relying on correlations between habitat attributes and population abundances between sites with varying levels of disturbance. This approach only works for species spread between several populations. The populations of some primates do not fulfill these criteria, forcing researchers to rely on individual-based (microscale) rather than population-based approaches for habitat characterization. We examined the reliability of using micro-scale habitat characterizations by studying the microhabitat preferences of a group of wild western hoolock gibbons ( Hoolock hoolock) in order to compare our results to the habitat preferences of western hoolock gibbons identified during a macroscale study of populations across Bangladesh. We used stepwise discriminant analysis to differentiate between the areas of low, medium, and high usage based on microhabitat characteristics (tree species availability, altitude, canopy connection, distance from forest edge, and levels of human disturbance). The gibbons used interior forest habitat with low food tree availability most frequently for sleeping and socializing, and used edge habitat containing high food tree availability for medium periods for feeding. These results indicate that the gibbons prefer interior forest but are frequently forced to visit the forest edge to feed. Therefore, the optimal habitat would be interior forest away from human disturbance with high sleeping-tree and feeding-tree availability. These habitat preferences are consistent with the habitat attributes of Bangladesh's largest remaining western hoolock gibbon populations, which live in areas containing low agricultural encroachment and high food-tree availability. Microhabitat use studies can be used to characterize the habitat requirements of a species, but should include multiple scales of analysis wherever possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation is an increasingly popular conservation management activity worldwide, but the success of translocation is often not measured or reported. A population of the endangered Macquarie perch was imperilled by the damming in 1977 of the Queanbeyan River, near Canberra in south-eastern Australia. In November 1980, 66 adult Macquarie perch (309-389-mm total length) individuals were collected from the newlyformed reservoir, and translocated approximately 4 km upstream into the Queanbeyan River past a waterfall (which prevented access to spawning habitat). Five years of post-translocation monitoring at the release sites resulted in the capture of only a single individual in late 1981. Consequently, monitoring ceased because the translocation was assumed to have failed. However, subsequent angler reports and a preliminary survey in 1991 confirmed that some translocated fish had survived, and a small recruiting population had established. More intensive follow-up surveys and subsequent monitoring from 1996 to 2006 demonstrated an established population with consistent recruitment until 2001. However, after 2001, there was no evidence of recruitment and the population is now undetectable, with the prolonged 'millennium drought' (1997-2010) being the most plausible cause. The present study demonstrates the potentially ephemeral nature of assessments of success and failure, and the importance of targeted long-term monitoring programs. A 32-year monitoring program has delivered a variable assessment of the success or failure of a translocation of 66 adults of the endangered Macquarie perch in south-eastern Australia. Following 5 years of non-detection, a self-sustaining population had established within 10 years, but then were again undetectable after ~25 years. Prolonged drought is thought the most likely reason for the ultimate decline, highlighting the importance of variable climate on future conservation efforts and the need for long-term monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Rio Grande Cutthroat TroutOncorhynchus clarkii virginalisis the southernmost subspecies of Cutthroat Trout, and as with the other subspecies, stream temperature regulates growth, reproductive success, distribution, and survival. An understanding of the upper thermal tolerance of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout is important for developing water temperature standards and for assessing suitable habitat for reintroduction and management. Hatch success of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout eggs was determined under static temperatures. The thermal requirements of fry and juveniles were also assessed under static and fluctuating temperature regimes using the acclimated chronic exposure method. Egg hatch success was 46–70% from 6°C to 16°C but declined significantly at 18°C and 20°C. Maximum growth of fry that were fed to satiation occurred at 15.3°C. The 30-d ultimate upper incipient lethal temperature (UUILT) was 22.6°C for fry and 21.7°C for juveniles. Survival during fluctuating temperature experiments was dependent upon the daily maximum temperature and the daily fluctuation. The upper thermal limits for Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout were lower than those of Rainbow TroutO. mykissbut similar to those of other Cutthroat Trout subspecies. The low UUILT of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout relative to some salmonids may increase the risk of deleterious effects brought about by a changing climate, habitat alteration, and sympatric nonnative salmonids, which are known to outcompete Cutthroat Trout at temperatures above the species’ optimal range. Daily mean water temperatures near the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout's optimal growth temperature of 15°C would be suitable for reintroduction of this subspecies. Depending on the daily temperature fluctuation, daily maximum temperatures within reintroduction streams and current habitat should remain at or below 25°C to ensure long-term persistence of a Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout population. This information will aid in establishing water quality standards to protect habitat where the subspecies currently occurs. Received March 12, 2013; accepted May 28, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many amphibian populations are declining, and increased understanding of the drivers of amphibian presence and abundance will help in their conservation. In 2005 and 2006 we estimated relative abundance of larvae of two common amphibian taxa, Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) and ranid tadpoles (Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens and Wood Frog Lithobates sylvaticus), in 75 shallow lakes in prairie and parkland areas in Minnesota. We used a two-step procedure in which we first modeled presence-absence with data from all lakes and then modeled abundance only in lakes where the amphibian taxa were present. For the two amphibian taxa, a generalized linear mixed effects model was used to examine the effects of dynamic factors like fish abundance and static (timeframe of study) variables like fish community type, depth, and adjacent land cover. Fish variables had the greatest influence but differed for the presence and abundance models. Salamander and tadpole presence was inversely correlated to the abundance of benthivorous fish, while salamander abundance was best explained by total fish abundance and tadpole abundance by fish community type. We did not detect influences of land cover types on the amphibian taxa we surveyed. Our findings are important because they complement previous studies documenting that negative correlations with fish extend beyond piscivores to include both planktivores and benthivores. Hydrological changes in our study landscape (e.g., installation of drainage networks, wetland consolidation) associated with agriculture and other land uses have likely increased the distribution and abundance of fish populations, thus dampening amphibian breeding success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocations are frequently used to increase the abundance and range of endangered fishes. One factor likely to affect the outcome of translocations is fish movement. We introduced embryos from five Westslope Cutthroat TroutOncorhynchus clarkii lewisipopulations (both hatchery and wild) at five different locations within a fishless watershed. We then examined the movement of age-1 and age-2 fish and looked for differences in movement distance among source populations and among introduction sites; we also examined the interactions among age, population, and introduction site. At age 1, most individuals (90.9%) remained within 1,000 m their introduction sites. By age 2, the majority of individuals (58.3%) still remained within 1,000 m of their introduction site, but considerably more individuals had moved downstream, some more than 6,000 m from their introduction site. We observed a significant interaction between age and source population (F4, 1077 = 15.45,P< 0.0001) as well as between age and introduction site (F41, 1077= 11.39,P< 0.0008), so we presented results in the context of these interactions. Within age-groups, we observed differences in movement behavior among source populations and among donor populations of Westslope Cutthroat Trout. We discuss these findings in light of previous research on juvenile salmonid movement. Received April 20, 2012; accepted June 3, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Impending changes in climate will interact with other stressors to threaten aquatic ecosystems and their biota. Native Colorado River cutthroat trout ( CRCT; Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus) are now relegated to 309 isolated high-elevation (>1700 m) headwater stream fragments in the Upper Colorado River Basin, owing to past nonnative trout invasions and habitat loss. Predicted changes in climate (i.e., temperature and precipitation) and resulting changes in stochastic physical disturbances (i.e., wildfire, debris flow, and channel drying and freezing) could further threaten the remaining CRCT populations. We developed an empirical model to predict stream temperatures at the fragment scale from downscaled climate projections along with geomorphic and landscape variables. We coupled these spatially explicit predictions of stream temperature with a Bayesian Network ( BN) model that integrates stochastic risks from fragmentation to project persistence of CRCT populations across the upper Colorado River basin to 2040 and 2080. Overall, none of the populations are at risk from acute mortality resulting from high temperatures during the warmest summer period. In contrast, only 37% of populations have a ≥90% chance of persistence for 70 years (similar to the typical benchmark for conservation), primarily owing to fragmentation. Populations in short stream fragments <7 km long, and those at the lowest elevations, are at the highest risk of extirpation. Therefore, interactions of stochastic disturbances with fragmentation are projected to be greater threats than warming for CRCT populations. The reason for this paradox is that past nonnative trout invasions and habitat loss have restricted most CRCT populations to high-elevation stream fragments that are buffered from the potential consequences of warming, but at risk of extirpation from stochastic events. The greatest conservation need is for management to increase fragment lengths to forestall these risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on the behavior of individual organisms may have direct consequences on population viability in altered forest ecosystems. The American marten ( Martes americana) is a forest specialist considered as one of the most sensitive species to human-induced disturbances. As some studies have shown that martens cannot tolerate >30-40% clear-cuts within their home range, we investigated marten space use (home range size and overlap) and habitat selection in landscapes fragmented by 2 different patterns of timber harvesting in the black spruce boreal forest: dispersed-cut landscapes (10-80 ha cut-blocks) and clustered-cut landscapes (50-200 ha cut-blocks). We installed radio-collars on female martens and determined 20 winter home ranges (100% minimum convex polygons and 60-90% kernels) in dispersed-cut ( n = 8) and clustered-cut ( n = 12) landscapes. Home range size was not related to the proportion of clear-cuts (i.e., habitat loss), but rather to the proportion of mixedwood stands 70-120 years old. However, female body condition was correlated to habitat condition inside their home ranges (i.e., amount of residual forest and recent clear-cuts). At the home range scale, we determined that mixedwood forests were also among the most used forest stands and the least used were recent clear-cuts and forested bogs, using resource selection functions. At the landscape scale, home ranges included more mixedwood forests than random polygons and marten high activity zones were composed of more residual forest and less human-induced disturbances (clear-cuts, edges, and roads). These results suggest that mixedwood forests, which occupy approximately 10% of the study area, play a critical role for martens in this conifer-dominated boreal landscape. We recommend permanent retention or special management considerations for these isolated stands, as harvesting mixedwood often leads to forest composition conversion that would reduce the availability of this highly used habitat. © The Wildlife Society, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Assessing ecological sustainability involves monitoring of indicators and comparison of their states with performance targets that are deemed sustainable. First, a normative model was developed centered on evidence-based knowledge about (a) forest composition, structure, and function at multiple scales, and (b) performance targets derived by quantifying the habitat amount in naturally dynamic forests, and as required for presence of populations of specialized focal species. Second, we compared the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification standards' ecological indicators from 1998 and 2010 in Sweden to the normative model using a Specific, Measurable, Accurate, Realistic, and Timebound (SMART) indicator approach. Indicator variables and targets for riparian and aquatic ecosystems were clearly under-represented compared to terrestrial ones. FSC's ecological indicators expanded over time from composition and structure towards function, and from finer to coarser spatial scales. However, SMART indicators were few. Moreover, they poorly reflected quantitative evidence-based knowledge, a consequence of the fact that forest certification mirrors the outcome of a complex social negotiation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying persistence and extinction thresholds in species-habitat relationships is a major focal point of ecological research and conservation. However, one major concern regarding the incorporation of threshold analyses in conservation is the lack of knowledge on the generality and transferability of results across species and regions. We present a multi-region, multi-species approach of modeling threshold responses, which we use to investigate whether threshold effects are similar across species and regions. Methodology/Principal Findings: We modeled local persistence and extinction dynamics of 25 forest-associated breeding birds based on detection/non-detection data, which were derived from repeated breeding bird atlases for the state of Vermont. We did not find threshold responses to be particularly well-supported, with 9 species supporting extinction thresholds and 5 supporting persistence thresholds. This contrasts with a previous study based on breeding bird atlas data from adjacent New York State, which showed that most species support persistence and extinction threshold models (15 and 22 of 25 study species respectively). In addition, species that supported a threshold model in both states had associated average threshold estimates of 61.41% (SE = 6.11, persistence) and 66.45% (SE = 9.15, extinction) in New York, compared to 51.08% (SE = 10.60, persistence) and 73.67% (SE = 5.70, extinction) in Vermont. Across species, thresholds were found at 19.45–87.96% forest cover for persistence and 50.82–91.02% for extinction dynamics. Conclusions/Significance: Through an approach that allows for broad-scale comparisons of threshold responses, we show that species vary in their threshold responses with regard to habitat amount, and that differences between even nearby regions can be pronounced. We present both ecological and methodological factors that may contribute to the different model results, but propose that regardless of the reasons behind these differences, our results merit a warning that threshold values cannot simply be transferred across regions or interpreted as clear-cut targets for ecosystem management and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the research program on the Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii to determine its population demographics, and the impact of weather events and the distribution of regional-scale meadow and vegetative structure on its nesting success. The study found that the length of the breeding season of the Willow Flycatcher was reduced by the occurrence of late-spring storms and low temperatures at the start of breeding season, affecting its ability to renest. It showed nest survival to be better predicted by nest age, and an increase in nest survival in large meadows with over-nest vegetation concealment. The authors suggest that the differences in the length of breeding season and the quality of habitat in meadows have contributed to decreasing its reproductive success.

ABSTRACT Fisheries resource conservation is a national priority in the USA because of the high economic and social value of fish to society. Landscape spatial planning to identify focal areas for conservation of fishes is an important step to targeted site-level interventions to protect or restore fish habitats, because it can provide a strategic approach to guide conservation efforts. Computerized spatial planning algorithms that identify networks of sites that meet user-specified targets for species representation indicate locations with favourable conditions for fish protection., Here a commonly used systematic planning software, Marxan, was employed with previously published fish range and human disturbance predictions to define a network of conservation focal areas for rivers in Michigan. This network focused on large-bodied species, small-bodied species, species of greatest conservation need (SGCN), and all species together., Depending on the scenario, the networks identified comprised between 14 and 20% of Michigan stream length in over 1700 focal areas ranging from 6 to 8 km in average length. Mean focal area sizes were much larger for the Upper Peninsula than the Lower Peninsula. Approximately 35% of the focal areas defined flowed through already protected lands, but less than 5% had upstream catchments that were secure within protected areas. There was a 45% overlap in the focal areas selected for the large- and small-bodied fish and SGCN., The rivers defined may serve as appropriate core areas for fish conservation. Resultant maps show locations with a high natural potential to conserve all of Michigan's native fish species, and can serve as a reference point for regionalization of comprehensive state-wide planning efforts for fish conservation. It is recommended that this study is followed up with additional planning steps to define complementary conservation zones for protecting the functionality of ecosystems to support fishes, and to forward methods for incorporating spatial metapopulation dynamics into the planning process., Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fisheries is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Communities in fragmented landscapes are often assumed to be structured by species extinction due to habitat loss, which has led to extensive use of the species-area relationship (SAR) in fragmentation studies. However, the use of the SAR presupposes that habitat loss leads species to extinction but does not allow for extinction to be offset by colonization of disturbed-habitat specialists. Moreover, the use of SAR assumes that species richness is a good proxy of community changes in fragmented landscapes. Here, we assessed how communities dwelling in fragmented landscapes are influenced by habitat loss at multiple scales; then we estimated the ability of models ruled by SAR and by species turnover in successfully predicting changes in community composition, and asked whether species richness is indeed an informative community metric. To address these issues, we used a data set consisting of 140 bird species sampled in 65 patches, from six landscapes with different proportions of forest cover in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. We compared empirical patterns against simulations of over 8 million communities structured by different magnitudes of the power-law SAR and with species-specific rules to assign species to sites. Empirical results showed that, while bird community composition was strongly influenced by habitat loss at the patch and landscape scale, species richness remained largely unaffected. Modeling results revealed that the compositional changes observed in the Atlantic Forest bird metacommunity were only matched by models with either unrealistic magnitudes of the SAR or by models ruled by species turnover, akin to what would be observed along natural gradients. We show that, in the presence of such compositional turnover, species richness is poorly correlated with species extinction, and z values of the SAR strongly underestimate the effects of habitat loss. We suggest that the observed compositional changes are driven by each species reaching its individual extinction threshold: either a threshold of forest cover for species that disappear with habitat loss, or of matrix cover for species that benefit from habitat loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The course of settlement, development, and economies within nations has long been deeply affected by the availability of water. In a New Zealand context, Maori (the indigenous people) cannot divorce themselves from the challenges associated with setting environmental flows and allocating water. In the last two decades, Maori have become more vocal in seeking greater recognition of their cultural beliefs, values, and practices. Maori, however, face the challenge of conveying to decision makers how environmental flows affect their cultural interests. This paper introduces a cultural flow preference study, which is a tool that has been developed for Maori to assess their opportunities to engage in a range of cultural experiences in a catchment under differing stream flows. The process was applied in the Kakaunui River and enabled Maori to identify their flow preferences, together with the dependencies of a number of cultural values and uses on specific flows at a particular time of year. The results suggested that the current flow regime, which only prescribes a minimum flow, is unsatisfactory. A number of flow-related issues that can only be investigated as part of a collaborative investigation involving biophysical scientists and Maori were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many species are threatened with extinction and efforts are underway worldwide to restore imperilled species to their native ranges. Restoration requires knowledge of species' historical diversity and distribution. For some species, many populations were extirpated or individuals moved beyond their native range before native diversity and distribution were documented, resulting in a lack of accurate information for establishing restoration goals. Moreover, traditional taxonomic assessments often failed to accurately capture phylogenetic diversity. We illustrate a general approach for estimating regional native diversity and distribution for cutthroat trout in the Southern Rocky Mountains. We assembled a large archive of historical records documenting human-mediated change in the distribution of cutthroat trout ( Oncorhynchus clarkii) and combined these data with phylogenetic analysis of 19th century samples from museums collected prior to trout stocking activities and contemporary DNA samples. Our study of the trout in the Southern Rocky Mountains uncovered six divergent lineages, two of which went extinct, probably in the early 20th century. A third lineage, previously declared extinct, was discovered surviving in a single stream outside of its native range. Comparison of the historical and modern distributions with stocking records revealed that the current distribution of trout largely reflects intensive stocking early in the late 19th and early 20th century from two phylogenetically and geographically distinct sources. Our documentation of recent extinctions, undescribed lineages, errors in taxonomy and dramatic range changes induced by human movement of fish underscores the importance of the historical record when developing and implementing conservation plans for threatened and endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial extent at which landscape structure best predicts population response, called the scale of effect, varies across species. An ability to predict the scale of effect of a landscape using species traits would make landscape study design more efficient and would enable landscape managers to plan at the appropriate scale. We used an individual based simulation model to predict how species traits influence the scale of effect. Specifically, we tested the effects of dispersal distance, reproductive rate, and informed movement behavior on the radius at which percent habitat cover best predicts population abundance in a focal area. Scale of effect for species with random movement behavior was compared to scale of effect for species with three (cumulative) levels of information use during dispersal: habitat based settlement, conspecific density based settlement, and gap-avoidance during movement. Consistent with a common belief among researchers, dispersal distance had a strong, positive influence on scale of effect. A general guideline for empiricists is to expect the radius of a landscape to be 4-9 times the median dispersal distance or 0.3-0.5 times the maximum dispersal distance of a species. Informed dispersal led to greater increases in population size than did increased reproductive rate. Similarly, informed dispersal led to more strongly decreased scales of effect than did reproductive rate. Most notably, gap-avoidance resulted in scales that were 0.2-0.5 times those of non-avoidant species. This is the first study to generate testable hypotheses concerning the mechanisms underlying the scale at which populations respond to the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how landscape characteristics affect biodiversity patterns and ecological processes at local and landscape scales is critical for mitigating effects of global environmental change. In this review, we use knowledge gained from human-modified landscapes to suggest eight hypotheses, which we hope will encourage more systematic research on the role of landscape composition and configuration in determining the structure of ecological communities, ecosystem functioning and services. We organize the eight hypotheses under four overarching themes. Section A: 'landscape moderation of biodiversity patterns' includes (1) the landscape species pool hypothesis-the size of the landscape-wide species pool moderates local (alpha) biodiversity, and (2) the dominance of beta diversity hypothesis-landscape-moderated dissimilarity of local communities determines landscape-wide biodiversity and overrides negative local effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. Section B: 'landscape moderation of population dynamics' includes (3) the cross-habitat spillover hypothesis-landscape-moderated spillover of energy, resources and organisms across habitats, including between managed and natural ecosystems, influences landscape-wide community structure and associated processes and (4) the landscape-moderated concentration and dilution hypothesis-spatial and temporal changes in landscape composition can cause transient concentration or dilution of populations with functional consequences. Section C: 'landscape moderation of functional trait selection' includes (5) the landscape-moderated functional trait selection hypothesis-landscape moderation of species trait selection shapes the functional role and trajectory of community assembly, and (6) the landscape-moderated insurance hypothesis-landscape complexity provides spatial and temporal insurance, i.e. high resilience and stability of ecological processes in changing environments. Section D: 'landscape constraints on conservation management' includes (7) the intermediate landscape-complexity hypothesis-landscape-moderated effectiveness of local conservation management is highest in structurally simple, rather than in cleared (i.e. extremely simplified) or in complex landscapes, and (8) the landscape-moderated biodiversity versus ecosystem service management hypothesis-landscape-moderated biodiversity conservation to optimize functional diversity and related ecosystem services will not protect endangered species. Shifting our research focus from local to landscape-moderated effects on biodiversity will be critical to developing solutions for future biodiversity and ecosystem service management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence of anthropogenically influenced climate change has motivated natural resource managers to incorporate adaptive measures to minimize risks to sensitive and threatened species. Detecting trends in climate variables (i.e., air temperature and hydrology) can serve as a valuable management tool for protecting vulnerable species by increasing our understanding of localized conditions and trends. The Rio Grande cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis has suffered a severe decline in its historical distribution, with the majority of current populations persisting in isolated headwater streams. To evaluate recent climate change within the subspecies’ historical range, we examined trends in average air temperatures, biologically important hydrological variables (timing of snowmelt and seasonal flows), and the April 1 snow water equivalent over the last 45 years (1963–2007). While rates of change in all three metrics were variable across sites, rangewide patterns were evident. Across the subspecies’ historical range, average annual air temperatures increased (0.29°C per decade) and the timing of snowmelt shifted 10.6 d earlier in the year (2.3 d/decade). Flows increased during biologically important periods, including winter (January 1–March 31; 6.6% increase per decade), prespawning (April 1–May 14; 6.9% increase per decade), and spawning (May 15–June 15; 4.2% increase per decade) and decreased in summer (June 16–September 15; 1.9% decrease per decade). Evidence of decreasing April 1 snow water equivalent (5.3% per decade) was also observed. While the impacts of these changes at the population level are equivocal, it is likely that negative effects would influence the subspecies by altering its distribution, decreasing available habitat, and altering the timing of important life history components. Continued monitoring and proactive management will be required to increase the resiliency of remaining populations to ensure long-term persistence and protection in a changing climate. Received June 20, 2011; accepted March 12, 2012 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]