Outstanding challenges and future directions for biodiversity monitoring using citizen science data

Methods in Ecology and Evolution, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 14(1), С. 103 - 116

Опубликована: Фев. 20, 2022

Abstract There is increasing availability and use of unstructured semi‐structured citizen science data in biodiversity research conservation. This expansion a rich source ‘big data’ has sparked numerous directions, driving the development analytical approaches that account for complex observation processes these datasets. We review outstanding challenges analysis monitoring. For many challenges, potential impact on ecological inference unknown. Further can document explore ways to address it. In addition outlining describing may be useful considering design future projects or additions existing projects. outline monitoring using four partially overlapping categories: arise as result (a) observer behaviour; (b) structures; (c) statistical models; (d) communication. Potential solutions are combinations of: collecting additional metadata; analytically combining different datasets; developing refining models. While there been important progress develop methods tackle most remain substantial gains subsequent conservation actions we believe will possible by further areas. The degree challenge opportunity each presents varies substantially across datasets, taxa questions. some cases, route forward clear, while other cases more scope exploration creativity.

Язык: Английский

---

Frequent, heterogenous fire supports a forest owl assemblage

Ecological Applications, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 35(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2025

Abstract Fire shapes biodiversity in many forested ecosystems, but historical management practices and anthropogenic climate change have led to larger, more severe fires that threaten animal species where such disturbances do not occur naturally. As predators, owls can play important ecological roles biological communities, how changing fire regimes affect individual assemblages is largely unknown. Here, we examined the impact of severity, history, configuration over past 35 years on an assemblage six forest owl Sierra Nevada, California, using ecosystem‐scale passive acoustic monitoring. While negative impacts this appeared be ephemeral (1–4 duration), spotted avoided sites burned at high‐severity for up two decades after a fire. Low‐ moderate‐severity benefited small cavity‐nesting great horned owls. Most study adapted within region's natural range variation, characterized by higher proportions low‐ relatively less some may resilient wildfire than others, novel “megafires” are frequent, contiguously limit distribution reducing prevalence eliminating habitat closed‐canopy multiple decades. Management strategies restore with patches promote mosaic conditions will likely facilitate conservation predators.

Язык: Английский

---

Habitat quality, not habitat amount, drives mammalian habitat use in the Brazilian Pantanal

Landscape Ecology, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 36(9), С. 2519 - 2533

Опубликована: Июнь 12, 2021

Язык: Английский

---

Variability in weather and site properties affect fuel and fire behavior following fuel treatments in semiarid sagebrush-steppe

Journal of Environmental Management, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 353, С. 120154 - 120154

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2024

Язык: Английский

---

Range-wide declines of northern spotted owl populations in the Pacific Northwest: A meta-analysis

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 259, С. 109168 - 109168

Опубликована: Май 23, 2021

The northern spotted owl (Strix occidentalis caurina) inhabits older coniferous forests in the Pacific Northwest and has been at center of forest management issues this region. immediate threats to federally listed species include habitat loss competition with barred owls varia), which invaded from eastern North America. We conducted a prospective meta-analysis assess population trends factors affecting those using 26 years survey capture-recapture data 11 study areas across owls' geographic range analyze demographic traits, rates change, occupancy parameters for territories. found that populations experienced significant declines 6–9% annually on 6 2–5% 5 other areas. Annual translated ≤35% remaining 7 since 1995. Barred presence territories was primary factor negatively apparent survival, recruitment, ultimately, change. Analysis detections an framework corroborated analyses increasing territorial extinction decreasing colonization owls. While landscape components reduced effect these decline, they did not reverse negative trend. Our indicated potentially face extirpation if effects are ameliorated while maintaining their range.

Язык: Английский

---

Mesocarnivore landscape use along a gradient of urban, rural, and forest cover

PeerJ, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 9, С. e11083 - e11083

Опубликована: Апрель 6, 2021

Mesocarnivores fill a vital role in ecosystems through effects on community health and structure. Anthropogenic-altered landscapes can benefit some species adversely affect others. For carnivores, prey availability increases with urbanization, but landscape use be complicated by interactions among carnivores as well differing human tolerance of species. We used camera traps to survey along gradient urban, rural, forest cover quantify how carnivore varies guild members determine if was exploiter, adapter, or avoider. Our study conducted around Corvallis, Oregon from April 2018 February 2019 (11,914 trap nights) using 47 locations urban rural. focal were bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), opossum (Didelphis virginiana), raccoon (Procyon lotor), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis). Raccoon exploiters low positive association rural developed areas likely due human-derived resources refugia larger predators. Coyote adapters high natural habitats while the urbanization ranged weak indiscernible. Bobcat appeared avoiders negative relationship higher cover. diel temporal activity analysis found mostly nocturnal within guild, more diurnal larger-bodied predators compared smaller Although these coexist human-dominated throughout much North America, not equal across results, especially for skunk, are counter research other regions, suggesting that mesopredator urbanized vary depending environmental conditions area management actions most effective when decisions based locally derived data.

Язык: Английский

---

Invader removal triggers competitive release in a threatened avian predator

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Год журнала: 2021, Номер 118(31)

Опубликована: Июль 19, 2021

Changes in the distribution and abundance of invasive species can have far-reaching ecological consequences. Programs to control invaders are common but gauging effectiveness such programs using carefully controlled, large-scale field experiments is rare, especially at higher trophic levels. Experimental manipulations coupled with long-term demographic monitoring reveal mechanistic underpinnings interspecific competition among apex predators suggest mitigation options for species. We used a before-after control-impact removal experiment investigate effects an competitor, barred owl (Strix varia), on population dynamics iconic old-forest native species, northern spotted occidentalis caurina). Removal owls had strong, positive effect survival sympatric weaker dispersal recruitment. After removals, estimated mean annual rate change stabilized areas removals (0.2% decline per year), continued sharply without (12.1% year). The results demonstrated that most substantial changes over past two decades were associated invasion, expansion, subsequent owls. Our study provides experimental evidence consequences competitive release, where threatened avian predator was freed from restrictions imposed its competitively dominant

Язык: Английский

---

Divergent climate impacts on C₃ versus C₄ grasses imply widespread 21st century shifts in grassland functional composition

Diversity and Distributions, Год журнала: 2022, Номер 29(3), С. 379 - 394

Опубликована: Дек. 26, 2022

Abstract Aim Grasslands cover a third of Earth's landmass and provide critical ecosystem services. Anticipating how perennial C 3 (cool‐season) 4 (warm‐season) grasses respond to climate change will be key predicting future composition functioning grasslands. Here, we evaluate environmental drivers distributions assess grass shift in response change. Location Western United States. Methods We developed integrated species distribution models identify soil relative abundance grasses. then created projections abundances under evaluated when where projected shifts were robust across models. Results Historically, occupied areas with lower temperature more variable precipitation regimes, while higher temperature, greater variability warm‐season precipitation. also narrower texture niches. In change, declined 74% areas, increased 66% areas. expanded mid‐ higher‐latitude increasing decreasing seasonality contrast, regions, but lower‐latitude, dryer regions. surprisingly scenarios, suggesting high confidence the direction these changes. Main Conclusions Findings imply have highly divergent responses that may result grassland functional compositional Increasing temperatures favour some grasses, habitat expansion constrained by conditions western USA. actionable insights for anticipating impacts on grass‐dominated co‐dominated ecosystems improving large‐scale conservation restoration efforts.

Язык: Английский

---

Livelihood vulnerability and human-wildlife interactions across protected areas

Ecology and Society, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 29(1)

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Protected Areas (PAs) are important wildlife refuges and act as climate change buffers, but they may impact human livelihoods, particularly engendering a high risk of negative human-wildlife interactions (HWI). Understanding synergies trade-offs among the drivers overall vulnerability within PAs is needed to ensure good outcomes for conservation well-being. We examined how variability, HWI, socio-demographics affect livelihood across three in Mozambique, Southeast Africa. used structured questionnaires obtain information on social-ecological context-specific variables. applied principal component analysis understand between dimensions linear models test effect vulnerability. show that households mostly vulnerable due exposure variability their low capacity employ strategies or have strong social network. Furthermore, we HWI increases with distance strict protection areas rivers, which implies proximity rivers still promotes better conditions than elsewhere. On other hand, also found lower access infrastructure assets enhances vulnerability, reflects trade-off potentially limits benefits socially inclusive conservation. Our results impacts PAs, community should not be viewed isolation, instead, improvement reflect interconnectedness. Although appears shaped by these general effects it consider local PA context when addressing mitigating around them.

Язык: Английский

---

Using passive acoustic monitoring to estimate northern spotted owl landscape use and pair occupancy

Ecosphere, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 14(2)

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2023

Abstract Managing forests for biodiversity conservation while maintaining economic output is a major challenge globally and requires accurate timely monitoring of imperiled species. In the Pacific Northwest, USA, forest management heavily influenced by status northern spotted owls ( Strix occidentalis caurina ), which have been in continued population decline past four decades. The program transitioning from mark–resight surveys to passive acoustic framework, requiring development alternative analysis approaches. To maintain relevance management, these analyses must accurately track underlying changes, identify responses disturbance, estimate occupancy owl pairs. We randomly selected surveyed 5‐km 2 hexagons 6 weeks using Olympic Peninsula Washington Oregon Coast Range during 2018 breeding season. used convolutional neural network calls, followed logistic regression determine sex vocalizing assign pair status. implemented multistate models probabilities detection, species‐level landscape use, owls. also quantified detections barred varia congeneric competitor important driver declines. overall rate hexagon use was estimated at 0.21 (SD 0.04) after adjusting imperfect 0.07 0.02). probability detecting (i.e., both female male) weekly occasion relatively low (0.03, SD 0.01), indicating that true between 1.3 4.1 times greater than proportion with observed detections. Barred were ubiquitous, naïve 0.97. intensity calling had weak, negative effect on being paired when present but little measurable their detectability. This work establishes framework may be effective illustrates pairs very detection probability, which—combined increasingly numbers pairs—is an consideration management.

Язык: Английский

---