Feral horses at the city gate: ecological insights and rewilding opportunity DOI Creative Commons
Ilaria Greco, Alberto Masoni,

Valeria Avetta

и другие.

Journal of Wildlife Management, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 3, 2025

Abstract The decline of semi‐natural open ecosystems after land abandonment is a conservation issue in many industrialized countries. Large herbivores, such as horses ( Equus ferus ), are excellent candidates for rewilding activities, they can contribute to reducing loss landscapes. However, their presence could affect the spatio‐temporal distribution sympatric species, especially if reintroduction unplanned and uncontrolled. La Calvana, central Italy, protected area with mammalian community that has never been systematically monitored, its grasslands, which high priority, disappearing. hosts population feral originated about 40 years ago from few released domestic individuals, represent unique opportunity restoration abandoned landscape. Yet nothing known or relationships mammals. By deploying camera traps May‐July 2022, we monitored investigate patterns environmental, biotic, anthropogenic factors. We detected 12 wild mammal species estimated were present 40% study area. None environmental variables tested affected occupancy horses, although modeling site‐use intensity revealed this used upper‐ridge grasslands more frequently. This suggests suitable support at higher elevations be an asset preserving by limiting forest shrub encroachment. Horses was not related relative abundance ungulates, suggesting minimal competition resources present. lower temporal overlap sites greater vegetation cover during hottest hours indicated dominance horses. Feral seem unaffected human proximity, occasionally subject poaching. Lastly, 7‐year‐long census 12% annual growth rate may lead exceeding carrying capacity ecosystem future. recommend continued monitoring implementation management programs.

Язык: Английский

Functional landscape connectivity for a select few: Linkages do not consistently predict wildlife movement or occupancy DOI Creative Commons
Autumn R. Iverson, David P. Waetjen, Fraser Shilling

и другие.

Landscape and Urban Planning, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 243, С. 104953 - 104953

Опубликована: Ноя. 24, 2023

Landscape-level connectivity models developed in geographic information systems (GIS) produce hypothetical objects proposed to connect areas of habitat fragmented landscapes, hereafter called "linkages". Assuming they are used by organisms nature, linkages could be an important tool for the maintenance viable wildlife populations and biodiversity conservation. We evaluated five California linkage (four statewide one desert specific) use common mammal, reptile amphibian species two ways using >180,000 detections over 20 years. If more often than surrounding areas, we expect find evidence their occurrence within significantly outside linkages. First, focused on wildlife-vehicle collision (WVC) data as a proxy movement across landscapes tested whether were predictor presence WVCs. Second, occupancy modeling with inferred non-detections assess predictors landscape. found that not consistent WVCs, exception certain large-bodied mammals individual models. Linkage also probability landscape most species. These results show that, lacking validation, alone will support functional general Therefore, caution should exercised when land transportation-based conservation planning. In urban environments, modeled may reflect critical last places move reserved. However, mixed-use where easily, gradient target conservation, including land-use transportation

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

10
The pulsed effects of reintroducing wolves on the carnivore community of Isle Royale DOI Creative Commons
Mauriel Rodriguez Curras, Mark C. Romanski, Jonathan N. Pauli

и другие.

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 22(6)

Опубликована: Май 20, 2024

Large carnivores are being globally reintroduced with the goal of restoring ecological interactions. However, extent that competitive interactions restored within communities is often unclear. In a before–after study Isle Royale National Park (in US state Michigan), we quantified spatial, behavioral, trophic, and demographic effects reintroduction large carnivore (gray wolf; Canis lupus ) on meso‐carnivores (red fox; Vulpes vulpes small (American marten; Martes americana ). The wolf produced phase‐dependent pulse perturbation: wolves constrained distribution foxes, thereby benefiting martens, yet foxes altered their behavior, notably using human‐provided resource subsidies (campsites food) more frequently, which buffered consequences. Once packs coalesced, all observed changes subsided, returned to pre‐wolf values. Our results show some predicted—and desired—consequences reintroductions may not be permanent due transitory dynamics social presence humans, even “pristine wilderness”.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

3
Quantifying intraspecific variation in host resistance and tolerance to a lethal pathogen DOI Creative Commons
Bennett M. Hardy, Erin Muths, W. Chris Funk

и другие.

Journal of Animal Ecology, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Май 21, 2024

Abstract Testing for intraspecific variation host tolerance or resistance in wild populations is important informing conservation decisions about captive breeding, translocation, and disease treatment. Here, we test the importance of multiple boreal toads ( Anaxyrus boreas ) against Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), amphibian fungal pathogen responsible greatest biodiversity loss due to disease. Boreal have severely declined Colorado (CO) Bd, but toad challenged with Bd western Wyoming (WY) appear be less affected. We used a common garden infection experiment expose post‐metamorphic sourced from four (2 CO 2 WY) monitored changes mass, burden survival 8 weeks. multi‐state modelling approach estimate weekly transition probabilities between infected cleared states, reflecting dynamic process that traditional approaches fail capture. found WY are more tolerant higher than those when identical burdens. also appeared resistant probability clearance an average 5 days longer reach peak Our results demonstrate strong differences likely contribute why population declines vary regionally across this species. framework allowed us gain inference on typically hidden processes testing resistance. findings describing entire species as ‘tolerant’ ‘resistant’ (or lack thereof) unwise without variation.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

3
Low water levels interact with reservoir aging to increase the severity of summertime metalimnion dissolved oxygen minima in Lake Powell, desert Southwest USA DOI
Bridget R. Deemer, Caitlin M. Andrews, Robin Reibold

и другие.

Inland Waters, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 46

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0
Feral horses at the city gate: ecological insights and rewilding opportunity DOI Creative Commons
Ilaria Greco, Alberto Masoni,

Valeria Avetta

и другие.

Journal of Wildlife Management, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 3, 2025

Abstract The decline of semi‐natural open ecosystems after land abandonment is a conservation issue in many industrialized countries. Large herbivores, such as horses ( Equus ferus ), are excellent candidates for rewilding activities, they can contribute to reducing loss landscapes. However, their presence could affect the spatio‐temporal distribution sympatric species, especially if reintroduction unplanned and uncontrolled. La Calvana, central Italy, protected area with mammalian community that has never been systematically monitored, its grasslands, which high priority, disappearing. hosts population feral originated about 40 years ago from few released domestic individuals, represent unique opportunity restoration abandoned landscape. Yet nothing known or relationships mammals. By deploying camera traps May‐July 2022, we monitored investigate patterns environmental, biotic, anthropogenic factors. We detected 12 wild mammal species estimated were present 40% study area. None environmental variables tested affected occupancy horses, although modeling site‐use intensity revealed this used upper‐ridge grasslands more frequently. This suggests suitable support at higher elevations be an asset preserving by limiting forest shrub encroachment. Horses was not related relative abundance ungulates, suggesting minimal competition resources present. lower temporal overlap sites greater vegetation cover during hottest hours indicated dominance horses. Feral seem unaffected human proximity, occasionally subject poaching. Lastly, 7‐year‐long census 12% annual growth rate may lead exceeding carrying capacity ecosystem future. recommend continued monitoring implementation management programs.

Язык: Английский

Процитировано

0