Ecological connectivity research in urban areas

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 29(7), P. 868 - 878

Published: May 26, 2015

Summary The successful movement of individuals is fundamental to life. Facilitating these movements by promoting ecological connectivity has become a central theme in ecology and conservation. Urban areas contain more than half the world's human population, their potential support biodiversity connect citizens nature increasingly recognized. Promoting within essential reaching this potential. However, our current understanding urban appears limited. We reviewed published scientific literature assess state‐of‐the‐art research areas, summarized trends study attributes highlighted knowledge gaps. found 174 papers that investigated areas. These addressed either structural (48) or functional (111), some both (15), but contained substantial geographic taxonomic biases. rarely defined aspect they were investigating objective descriptions local context uncommon. Formulated hypotheses priori predictions typically unstated many used suboptimal designs methods. suggest future studies explicitly consider quantify landscape analyses make greater use available rapidly developing tools methods for measuring (e.g. biotelemetry genetics). also highlight need clearly define how terms ‘ ’ have been applied. Knowledge gaps remain, partly because field still its infancy we must better capitalize on technological analytical techniques are available. Well‐designed employed high‐resolution data powerful abilities exemplary, setting standards facilitate data‐driven evidence‐based biodiversity‐friendly infrastructure planning

Language: Английский

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Connecting the dots: mapping habitat connectivity for tigers in central India

Regional Environmental Change, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 16(S1), P. 53 - 67

Published: Oct. 14, 2015

Language: Английский

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Maintaining tiger connectivity and minimizing extinction into the next century: Insights from landscape genetics and spatially-explicit simulations

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 218, P. 181 - 191

Published: Dec. 30, 2017

Language: Английский

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Prioritizing Tiger Conservation through Landscape Genetics and Habitat Linkages

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2014, Volume and Issue: 9(11), P. e111207 - e111207

Published: Nov. 13, 2014

Even with global support for tiger (Panthera tigris) conservation their survival is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and isolation. Currently about 3,000 wild tigers persist in small fragmented populations within seven percent of historic range. Identifying securing linkages that connect source maintaining landscape-level gene flow an important long-term strategy endangered carnivores. However, corridors link regional are often lost to development projects due lack objective evidence on importance. Here, we use individual based genetic analysis combination landscape permeability models identify prioritize movement across the Central Indian Landscape. By using a panel 11 microsatellites identified 169 from 587 scat 17 tissue samples. We detected four clusters India limited among three them. Bayesian likelihood analyses as having recent immigrant ancestry. Spatially explicit occupancy obtained extensive landscape-scale surveys 76,913 km(2) forest was found be only 21,290 km(2). After accounting detection bias, covariates best explained were large, remote, dense patches; large ungulate abundance, low human footprint. used probability parameterize modeling least-cost circuit theory pathway analyses. Pairwise differences (FST) between better modeled linkage costs (r>0.5, p<0.05) compared Euclidean distances, which consonance observed fragmentation. The results our study highlight many may still functional there contemporary migration. Conservation efforts should provide legal status corridors, smart green infrastructure mitigate impacts, restore habitats where connectivity has been lost.

Language: Английский

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Density‐dependent home‐range size revealed by spatially explicit capture–recapture

Ecography, Journal Year: 2015, Volume and Issue: 39(7), P. 676 - 688

Published: July 16, 2015

The size of animal home ranges often varies inversely with population density among populations a species. This fact has implications for monitoring using spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) models, in which both the scale home‐range movements σ and D usually appear as parameters, may vary populations. It will be appropriate to model structural relationship between population‐specific values these rather than assume independence. We suggest re‐parameterizing SECR k p = √ , where relates degree overlap subscript distinguishes observe that is nearly constant spanning range densities. justifies fitting separate are replaced by single parameter density‐dependent derived parameter. Continuous spatial variation also modelled, scaled non‐Euclidean distance detectors locations animals. illustrate methods data from automatic photography tigers Panthera tigris across India, populations, mist‐netting ovenbirds Seiurus aurocapilla Maryland, USA, within over time, live‐trapping brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula New Zealand, modelling one population. Possible applications limitations discussed. A constant, while varies, provides parsimonious null SECR. concise summary empirical useful comparative studies. expect deviations this model, particularly dependence on covariates, biologically interesting.

Language: Английский

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Leopard in a tea-cup: A study of leopard habitat-use and human-leopard interactions in north-eastern India

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 12(5), P. e0177013 - e0177013

Published: May 11, 2017

There is increasing evidence of the importance multi-use landscapes for conservation large carnivores. However, when carnivore ranges overlap with high density humans, there are often serious challenges. This especially true in countries like India where loss peoples' lives and property to wildlife not uncommon. The leopard (Panthera pardus) a felid that widespread India, sharing human densities. In order understand ecology leopards use landscape nature human-leopard interactions, we studied (i) spatial temporal distribution characteristics attacks on people, (ii) variability pattern habitat by leopard, (iii) relationship between attack locations leopards. study site, located northern West Bengal, densely populated mixed-use 630 km2, comprising forests, tea plantations, agriculture fields, settlements. A total 171 humans were reported January 2009 March 2016, most which occurred within tea-gardens. None was fatal. We found significant clustering humans. restricted certain estates mostly May. Analysis showed probability areas more ground vegetation cover while buildings low. people did coincide higher indicates an increased area leopards, itself, does necessarily imply increase people. allowed us this information prioritize focus mitigation activities reduce negative encounters has had long history conflict.

Language: Английский

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Recent Evolutionary History of Tigers Highlights Contrasting Roles of Genetic Drift and Selection

Molecular Biology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 38(6), P. 2366 - 2379

Published: Feb. 3, 2021

Abstract Species conservation can be improved by knowledge of evolutionary and genetic history. Tigers are among the most charismatic endangered species garner significant attention. However, their history genomic variation remain poorly known, especially for Indian tigers. With 70% world’s wild tigers living in India, such is critical. We re-sequenced 65 individual tiger genomes representing extant subspecies with a specific focus on from India. As suggested earlier studies, we found strong differentiation between putative subspecies. Despite high total diversity host longer runs homozygosity, potentially suggesting recent inbreeding or founding events, possibly due to small fragmented protected areas. suggest impacts ongoing connectivity loss persistence closely monitored. Surprisingly, demographic models divergence (within last 20,000 years) population bottlenecks. Amur revealed strongest signals selection related metabolic adaptation cold, whereas Sumatran show evidence weak genes involved body size regulation. recommend detailed investigation local prior initiating rescue.

Language: Английский

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Living on the edge: Opportunities for Amur tiger recovery in China

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 217, P. 269 - 279

Published: Nov. 21, 2017

Language: Английский

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Prevalence and determinants of stereotypic behaviours and physiological stress among tigers and leopards in Indian zoos

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 12(4), P. e0174711 - e0174711

Published: April 17, 2017

India's charismatic wildlife species are facing immense pressure from anthropogenic-induced environmental perturbations. Zoos play a major role in the conservation of threatened species, but their adaptation captivity is posing challenge globally. Stress inadequate could lead to suppression cognitive functioning and increased display stereotypic behaviour. It thus necessary measure biological traits like behaviour, stress physiology, contextual factors driving animals maintained at zoos. In this study, we assessed behaviour physiology employing standard scoring, non-invasive monitoring, drivers sub-population two large felid managed six Indian The prevalence intensity behaviours levels faecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) were ascertained among 41 Royal Bengal tigers Panthera tigris 21 leopards pardus fusca between April 2014 March 2015. Behavioural observations showed that spent more time stereotyping (12%) than (7%) during daylight hours. using FCM revealed (23.6 ± 1.62 ng/g) had marginally lower level (27.2 ±1.36 ng/g). Stereotypic significantly with when effect heath status was controlled tigers, effects tree cover, stone, den keeper attitude leopards. Comparison stereotypes various binary logistic regression decreased enclosure size, enrichments presence pools stones, socially conspecifics, positive attitude, these accounting for 43% variations tigers. Stereotype absent associated cover pool, enclosure, age zoo-born wild-born ones. These explain 81% them. A comparison context-dependent size individuals nil low, severity health issues. 64% levels. leopards, stones keepers resulted significant decrease levels, together 94% variations. Multiple regressions on selected variables based Factor Analysis Mixed Data stereotype sociality problems. Similarly, analyses attitude. Overall, our study suggests reduce level, should be larger enclosures enriched appropriate social conditions adequate veterinary care. Leopards dense den. Positive plays crucial welfare both captivity. Our promising comparable natural wild; example, require habitats, while can manage even smaller isolated patches vegetation cover.

Language: Английский

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Conservation priorities for endangered Indian tigers through a genomic lens

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2017, Volume and Issue: 7(1)

Published: Aug. 22, 2017

Tigers have lost 93% of their historical range worldwide. India plays a vital role in the conservation tigers since nearly 60% all wild are currently found here. However, as protected areas small (<300 km2 on average), with only few individuals each, many them may not be independently viable. It is thus important to identify and conserve genetically connected populations, well maintain connectivity within them. We collected samples from (Panthera tigris tigris) across used genome-wide SNPs infer genetic connectivity. genotyped 10,184 38 17 identified three distinct clusters (corresponding northwest, southern central India). The northwest cluster was isolated low variation high relatedness. geographically large included central, northeastern northern India, had highest variation. Most diversity (62%) shared among clusters, while unique (8.5%) lowest northwestern one (2%). did detect signatures differential selection or local adaptation. highlight that population requires attention ensure persistence these tigers.

Language: Английский

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