Circuitscape in Julia: Empowering Dynamic Approaches to Connectivity Assessment

Land, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 10(3), P. 301 - 301

Published: March 15, 2021

The conservation field is experiencing a rapid increase in the amount, variety, and quality of spatial data that can help us understand species movement landscape connectivity patterns. As interest grows more dynamic representations potential, modelers are often limited by capacity their analytic tools to handle these datasets. Technology developments software high-performance computing rapidly emerging many fields, but uptake within may lag, as our or choice language constrain ability keep pace. We recently updated Circuitscape, widely used analysis tool developed Brad McRae Viral Shah, implementing it Julia, language. In this initial re-code (Circuitscape 5.0) later updates, we improved computational efficiency parallelism, achieving major speed improvements, enabling assessments across larger extents with higher resolution data. Here, reflect on benefits strengthening collaborations computer scientists, extract examples from collection 572 Circuitscape applications illustrate how through decade repeated investment software, have been many, varied, increasingly dynamic. Beyond empowering continued innovations connectivity, expect faster run times will play an important role facilitating co-production stakeholders, increasing likelihood science be incorporated land use decisions.

Language: Английский

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Forest expansion in mountain protected areas: Trends and consequences for the landscape

Landscape and Urban Planning, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 216, P. 104240 - 104240

Published: Sept. 21, 2021

Mountain regions in Western Europe have gone through a massive rural–urban migration and the collapse of their traditional socioeconomic system. As result, forest has occupied many old pastures croplands. In protected areas – such as National Parks changes landscape can affect biodiversity other services, including values that motivated declaration. Any policy decision these requires quantifying extent impact land-cover consequences on structure functioning. this study we analyze patterns change cover during six decades three mountain Spain. Our aim is to quantify those patterns, effects landscape, discuss potential for main natural services. We assessed reclassification aerial ortophotographs taken 1956–57 (past images) 2016–17 (recent images). The show relatively low total area (+5–10%), much larger increase dense (+20–30%), with an important effect land-use legacies, similar homogenization. There were fewer but patches 2016 than 1956, most gain occurred core (+20%), while transition edges, bridges or loops decreased between 30 55%. Given configuration should be explicitly considered when designing sustainable management abandoned landscapes areas.

Language: Английский

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Landscape characteristics influence regional dispersal in a high‐elevation specialist migratory bird, the water pipit Anthus spinoletta

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(8), P. 1875 - 1892

Published: Jan. 18, 2023

Abstract Species living in high mountain areas are currently threatened by climate change and human land use changes. High‐elevation birds frequently inhabit island‐like suitable patches around peaks, such conditions the capability to exchange individuals among is crucial maintain gene flow. However, we lack information regarding dispersal ability of most these species possible influence landscape features on dispersal. In this study, used population genomics resistance modelling investigate a high‐elevation specialist migratory bird, water pipit Anthus spinoletta . We aimed assess levels flow within wide area European Alps, effects environmental characteristics flow, testing isolation distance (IBD) hypothesis against (IBR) hypothesis. found clear support for IBR, indicating that pipits preferentially disperse across breeding habitat (i.e., grassland). IBR was stronger part study with less extended habitat. Landscape slightly better described suitability models than connectivity models. Despite observed high, probably also because still relatively continuous range. The forecasted reduction range may lead Other show similar patterns, but possibly their more reduced patchy habitats.

Language: Английский

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Restricted dispersal and inbreeding in a high‐elevation bird across the ‘sky islands’ of the European Alps

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 51(5), P. 853 - 868

Published: Dec. 29, 2023

Abstract Aim High‐elevation specialist species are threatened by climate change and habitat loss, their distributions becoming increasingly reduced fragmented. In such a context, dispersal ability is crucial to maintain gene flow among patches of suitable habitat. However, information about often lacking for these species, especially those taxa that usually considered as good dispersers birds. We adopted landscape genomics approach investigate in climate‐sensitive high‐elevation bird. Our aims were assess the levels within wide mountain area, effects geographic distance characteristics on dispersal, testing isolation (IBD) hypothesis against resistance (IBR) hypothesis. Location European Alps. Taxon Montifringilla nivalis. Methods sampled individuals from several breeding areas obtained single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data ddRAD sequencing. then calculated site‐ individual level genetic distances inbreeding coefficients. To test IBD versus IBR, we related both different measures using maximum likelihood population models. Results Gene was partly restricted, found support IBD, indicating limits snowfinch dispersal. Spatial patterns suggested philopatry strongly contributed determine observed IBD. High coefficients indicated frequent mating relatives. Main Conclusions Restricted ‘sky island’ systems can also occur highly mobile because potential cover very large be counteracted high likely costs. will hinder future more restricted fragmented range, increasing risks local extinctions.

Language: Английский

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Genetic footprints of a rapid and large-scale range expansion: the case of cyclic common vole in Spain

Heredity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 130(6), P. 381 - 393

Published: March 25, 2023

Language: Английский

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Surrounding landscape, habitat and hybridization dynamics drive population structure and genetic diversity in the Saltmarsh Sparrow

Ornithological Applications, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 125(4)

Published: July 5, 2023

Abstract Determining factors that shape a species’ population genetic structure is beneficial for identifying effective conservation practices. We assessed and diversity Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammospiza caudacuta), an imperiled tidal marsh specialist, using 13 microsatellite markers 964 individuals sampled from 24 marshes across the breeding range. show populations are structured regionally by isolation-by-distance, with gene flow occurring among within ~110 to 135 km of one another. Isolation-by-resistance isolation-by-environment also variation; several habitat landscape features associated divergence populations. Human development in surrounding isolates marshes, reducing diversity, increasing divergence, while marshland patch quality (proportion high sea-level-rise trend) have opposite effect. The distance Atlantic Ocean influences variation, farther inland being more divergent than coastal marshes. In northern hybridization Nelson’s (A. nelsoni) strongly population; this has concomitant effect differentiation levels introgression. From perspective, we found majority clusters low sizes, suggesting lack resiliency. To conserve representative breadth ecological ensure redundancy populations, it will be important protect types latitudinal gradient species range, including multiple inland, coastal, urban which shown exhibit signals differentiation. It require maintaining connectivity at regional level, promoting scale (~130 km), ensuring “stepping stone”

Language: Английский

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Time-Series Sequences for Evolutionary Inferences

Integrative and Comparative Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 62(6), P. 1771 - 1783

Published: Sept. 14, 2022

Journal Article Time-Series Sequences for Evolutionary Inferences Get access Anthony A Snead, Snead Department of Biological Sciences, University Alabama, 300 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, USA E-mail: [email protected] https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-8729 Search other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Fernando Alda Biology, Geology and Environmental Science, Tennessee at Chattanooga, 615 McCallie Ave, TN 37403, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6858-9566 Integrative Comparative Volume 62, Issue 6, December 2022, Pages 1771–1783, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icac146 Published: 14 September 2022 history Received: 27 June Revision received: 28 July Accepted: 29 Corrected typeset: 04 October

Language: Английский

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Song complexity is associated with habitat quality in an upland passerine

Ibis, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 166(2), P. 682 - 693

Published: July 18, 2023

Understanding the influence of intrinsic (genetic and morphological) extrinsic (geographical, environmental social) factors on performance spatial differentiation sexual signals, such as bird song, can help identify behavioural indicators individual quality, habitat degradation social environment. We used Iberian Bluethroat Luscinia svecica azuricollis , a migratory that breeds in fragmented landscapes dominated by shrublands, case study to: (1) assess how set acoustic song are driven factors; (2) contrast deterministic (adaptations to context morphological constraints) vs. stochastic (differentiation geographical isolation) explanations for patterns. explored (spectral, temporal complexity) relation parameters related genetic structure, body size, type, quality (assessed through spatially explicit modelling approach) (population abundance songbird community composition). Then, we contribution genetic, dissimilarity diversification across space. Our results highlight an association spectral variables with structure significant connection between complexity duration quality. found no relationship features variables, or distances. There was, however, correlation dissimilarity. recommend consideration indicator

Language: Английский

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Functional connectivity and population persistence in woodland birds: insights for management from a multi-species conservation genetics study

Emu - Austral Ornithology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 121(1-2), P. 147 - 159

Published: April 3, 2021

Conservation management of wildlife benefits from understanding the genetic factors underlying individual fitness and population evolution. Habitat loss fragmentation reduce diversity functional connectivity, limiting persistence adaptation to changing environments. Here we review synthesise results Birds in Fragmented Landscapes program central Victoria, Australia. Building on research patterns occurrence woodland-dependent bird species, conducted conservation studies ~3,500 individuals 10 woodland species sampled twelve 100 km2 ‘landscapes’ with different levels habitat loss, assess multiple conservation-relevant processes response alteration. This employed connectivity modelling landscape-, acoustic- analyses understand mobility birds, their genes songs at scales, relating these elements landscape structure for each sex species. At regional scale, most displayed unexpectedly high connectivity. local-scales, there were strong signals disrupted (e.g. mating system) reduced several more-mobile all less-mobile ‘decliner’ underlines that does not necessarily signal genetically demographically healthy populations. In some declines greater one but more philopatric sex. We derive recommendations five concept areas: maintain existing restore degraded habitat, reconnect landscape, use species- sex-specific information where possible, work across conserve evolutionary (by appropriate).

Language: Английский

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Morphological differentiation in a migratory bird across geographic gradients in mountains of southern Europe

Journal of Biogeography, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 48(11), P. 2828 - 2838

Published: Sept. 8, 2021

Abstract Aim In temperate mountain ranges, sharp spatial variations in habitat heterogeneity and climate provide a perfect study setup to assess genetic phenotypic differentiation bird populations. this paper, we analysed morphological divergence patterns across geographical environmental gradients, correlation with isolation, the breeding grounds of long‐distance migratory passerine. Location Northwestern Iberian mountains. Taxon The bluethroat, Luscina svecica azuricollis . Methods We collected sample 625 bluethroats their whole range measure body weight tarsus length, as well wing length pointedness. Morphological (latitude elevation) (climate vegetation) gradients was assessed using generalized linear mixed models. Additionally, role distance isolation drivers evaluated Mantel tests. Results Bird morphology varied significantly latitude elevation, but not or vegetation. case latitude, differences size were contrary Bergmann's rule statements. All biometric morphometric variables diverged among localities. A similar trend found for clusters, except shape. Body both correlated geographic distance, while only former differentiation. greatest detected southernmost range, that holds most geographically isolated group. Main conclusion Evidence suggests strong observed bluethroat results from combination unambiguous deterministic forces, such ecological selection mechanisms, other factors, can be either deterministic, stochastic both, all acting at different scales.

Language: Английский

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