Survival of Eurasian lynx in the human‐dominated landscape of Europe

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 14, 2025

Abstract Survival and cause‐specific mortality rates are vital for evidence‐based population forecasting conservation, particularly large carnivores, whose populations often vulnerable to human‐caused mortalities. It is therefore important know the relationship between anthropogenic natural causes evaluate whether they additive or compensatory. Further, relation survival environmental covariates could reveal specific landscape characteristics influence demographic performance. We used telemetry data on 681 Eurasian lynx ( Lynx ), a model apex predator with spatial requirements, that were tracked across their European distribution. Through time‐to‐event analyses, we sought determine variables associated differences in survival. Illegal killing was main cause of (33.8%), similar protected hunted (8.6% 7.0% per year, respectively). varied greatly (70–95% year). Across all study sites, higher hunting partially compensated by lower other but not alone. Variation depended sex (female 1.5 times greater than male survival) seasonality (highest risk during season winter), correlated human modification landscapes at both coarse (home range composition) fine (habitat use within home range) scales. Some variation driven unobserved factors, which, given high mortalities, including illegal killing, foremost concern. Due low populations, conclude likely close additive, such maintaining increasing refuge habitat little disturbance critical conservation.

Language: Английский

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The ecology of human-caused mortality for a protected large carnivore

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(13)

Published: March 20, 2023

Mitigating human-caused mortality for large carnivores is a pressing global challenge wildlife conservation. However, almost exclusively studied at local (within-population) scales creating mismatch between our understanding of risk and the spatial extent most relevant to conservation management wide-ranging species. Here, we quantified 590 radio-collared mountain lions statewide across their distribution in California identify drivers investigate whether additive or compensatory. Human-caused mortality, primarily from conflict vehicles, exceeded natural despite being protected hunting. Our data indicate that as population-level survival decreased function increasing did not decrease with increased mortality. Mortality closer rural development areas higher proportions citizens voting support environmental initiatives. Thus, presence human infrastructure variation mindset humans sharing landscapes appear be primary risk. We show can reduce scales, even when they are

Language: Английский

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Relational geographies of urban unsustainability: The entanglement of California’s housing crisis with WUI growth and climate change

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(32)

Published: July 29, 2024

One of California's most pressing social and environmental challenges is the rapid expansion wildlands-urban interface (WUI). Multiple issues associated with WUI growth compared to more dense compact urban form are concern-including greatly increased fire risk, greenhouse gas emissions, fragmentation habitat. However, little understood about factors driving this in first place and, specifically, its relationship urban-regional housing dynamics. This paper connects work science, regional planning, natural sciences highlight potential role crises displacement from core relatively affordable exurbs, this, growth. We analyze California, which leads nation lack housing, scale growth, many hazards, including wildfire. offer three related arguments: first, that crisis, effect migration exurban areas, should be recognized as a significant form-related sustainability challenge; second, understand challenge scholars must expand spatial analytic toolkit both analysis through relational, mixed methods research; third, political programmatic efforts address crisis undergird climate change. Ultimately, we argue expanding access can produce sustainable just mitigates WUI-related impacts reduces vulnerability growing numbers residents living harm's way.

Language: Английский

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Humans drive spatial variation in mortality risk for a threatened wolf population in a Canis hybrid zone

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(4), P. 700 - 712

Published: Jan. 27, 2024

Abstract Large carnivores often exhibit high survival rates in protected areas, whereas intentional and unintentional human‐caused mortality may be greater adjacent areas. These patterns can result source‐sink dynamics limit population expansion beyond We used telemetry data from 438 canids 141 packs collected 2002 to 2020 evaluate risk for wolves, coyotes, admixed a 3‐species hybrid zone large area Ontario, Canada. The is occupied by most of the remaining eastern wolves ( Canis lycaon ), rare, threatened species that hybridizes with sympatric coyotes C. latrans ) Great Lakes grey lupus ). Within Algonquin Provincial Park (APP), annual harvest vehicles was low (0.06, 95% CI [0.03, 0.08]), higher areas (0.31, [0.25, 0.37]). Smaller implemented help protect did not significantly reduce mortality. Eastern survived poorly relative other dispersing residents. Mortality when were closer roads. also increased or reduced strength individual‐level selection avoidance roads their availability, respectively. Our results provide comprehensive evaluation factors influencing spatial variation inform wolf recovery efforts. Additionally, we developed novel modelling approach investigating influence resource on risk, which highlighted responses strongly population‐level patterns. Synthesis applications . Despite being listed as ‘threatened’ under Ontario Endangered Species Act, are still legally trapped shot outside central Ontario. survive APP, primarily results, along apparent inadequacy smaller suggest expanding APP unlikely current management conditions. Protecting complicated it would require ban all canids, including coyotes.

Language: Английский

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Social–ecological predictors of spotted hyena navigation through a shared landscape

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Human–wildlife interactions are increasing in severity due to climate change and proliferating urbanization. Regions where human infrastructure activity rapidly densifying or newly appearing constitute novel environments which wildlife must learn coexist with people, thereby serving as ideal case studies infer future human–wildlife shared landscapes. As a widely reviled behaviorally plastic apex predator, the spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ) is model species for understanding how large carnivores navigate these human‐caused ‘landscapes of fear’ changing world. Using high‐resolution GPS collar data, we applied resource selection functions step assess landscape navigation fine‐scale movement decisions relation social–ecological features developing region comprising two protected areas: Lake Nakuru National Park Soysambu Conservancy, Kenya. We then used camera trap imagery Barrier Behavior Analysis (BaBA) further examine barriers. Our results show that environmental factors, linear infrastructure, human–carnivore conflict hotspots, tolerance were all important predictors landscape‐scale by hyenas, while experience elements less decisions. Hyena characteristics also changed seasonally across land management types. Camera traps documented an exceptionally high number individual hyenas (234) approaching national park fence at 16 sites during study period, BaBA suggested perceive area boundaries' semi‐permeable electric fences risky but may cross them out necessity. findings highlight ability flexibly respond within landscapes fear be expressed differently depending on context, scale, climatic factors. These point need incorporate societal factors into multiscale analyses effectively plan coexistence.

Language: Английский

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Functional habitat characteristics influencing spatial variation in mountain lion predation in a human-dominated landscape

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 302, P. 110975 - 110975

Published: Jan. 13, 2025

Language: Английский

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Triangulating habitat suitability for the locally extirpated California grizzly bear

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 303, P. 110989 - 110989

Published: Feb. 7, 2025

Language: Английский

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International consensus principles for the sustainable harvest of polar bears

Conservation Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 3, 2025

Abstract Multilateral agreements are required for the effective management of large carnivores with ranges that cross geopolitical boundaries. This is particularly important species subject to rapid changes in distribution or demographic status due climate warming. We considered 3 international consensus principles sustainable harvest polar bears ( Ursus maritimus ), a circumpolar threatened by sea‐ice loss and harvested Indigenous Peoples subsistence. First, we defined biologically as one occurs at rate likely maintain subpopulation abundance above maximum net productivity level. Second, determined type scientific assessment needed identify harvest, which includes synthesizing collecting information on habitat conditions, spatial population structure, human‐caused removals conducting field study estimate ecological indices parameters. Third, delineated components regime, include implementing rate, having ability monitor adjust levels, following state‐dependent approach. The supported 5 nations (Canada, Greenland, Norway, Russia, United States) under an treaty. They designed provide consistent guidance while allowing different jurisdictions flexibility tailor strategies their situations. Adapting similar other systems could help mitigate global conservation crisis carnivores.

Language: Английский

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Bridging social and ecological science to create spatially explicit models of human-caused mortality of carnivores

AMBIO, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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Machine learning allows for large-scale habitat prediction of a wide-ranging carnivore across diverse ecoregions

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 39(5)

Published: May 15, 2024

Abstract Context Resource selection functions are powerful tools for predicting habitat of animals. Recently, machine-learning methods such as random forest have gained popularity due to their flexibility and strong predictive performance. Objectives We tested two continental-scale, second-order a wide-ranging large carnivore, the mountain lion ( Puma concolor ), support continent-wide conservation management, including estimating abundance, predict suitability recolonizing or reintroduced Methods compared generalized linear model (GLM) using GPS location data from 476 individuals across 20 study sites in western USA Canada remotely-sensed landscape data. internally validated models examined ability correctly classify used available points by calculating area under receiver operating characteristics (AUC). performed leave-one-out (LOO) out-of-sample tests strength on both models. Results Both suggested that lions select steeper slopes, areas closer water, with higher normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), against variables associated human impact. The (AUC = 0.94) demonstrated can be accurately predicted at continental scales, outperforming traditional GLM 0.68). Our LOO validation provided similar results (x̄ 0.93 x̄ 0.65 GLM). Conclusions found added deeper insights into how individual covariates impacted diverse ecosystems. analyses our unoccupied where local unavailable. thus provides tool discussions relevant management metapopulation abundance.

Language: Английский

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