Playing “hide and seek” with the Mediterranean monk seal: a citizen science dataset reveals its distribution from molecular traces (eDNA)

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 14, 2023

Animal conservation relies on assessing the distribution and habitat use of species, but for endangered/elusive animals this can prove difficult. The Monk Seal, Monachus monachus, is one world's most endangered species pinniped, only endemic to Mediterranean Sea. During recent decades, direct observations have been few scattered, making it difficult determine its away from Aegean Sea (core area post-decline relict population). This study environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis detect presence Seal in 135 samples collected 120 locations central/western Sea, spanning about 1500 km longitudinally 1000 latitudinally. A recently described species-specific qPCR assay was used marine-water samples, mostly during 2021 by a Citizen Science (CS) project. Positive detections occurred throughout longitudinal range, including westernmost surveyed (Balearic archipelago). positive indicated six "hotspots", overlapping with historical sites, suggesting that habitat-specific characteristics play fundamental role. We applied single-season occupancy models correct detection probability assess importance site-specific characteristics. distance small islets protected (or access-restricted) areas correlated negatively probability. novel molecular approach, here first time an extensive CS study, proved potential as tool monitoring species.

Язык: Английский

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Integrating opportunistic and structured non-invasive surveys with spatial capture-recapture models to map connectivity of the Pyrenean brown bear population

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 278, С. 109875 - 109875

Опубликована: Янв. 10, 2023

ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français étrangers, laboratoires publics privés.

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Thinking coexistence in human-dominated landscapes with the lens of multi-species assemblages: Farmers, brown bears and other wild species in the Pyrenees

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 302, С. 111006 - 111006

Опубликована: Фев. 1, 2025

Язык: Английский

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What does coexistence mean? Insight from place‐based trajectories of pastoralists and bears encounters in the Pyrenees

People and Nature, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Фев. 13, 2025

Abstract The recovery of large carnivores in Europe raises issues related to sharing landscape with humans. Beyond technical solutions, it is widely recognized that social factors also contribute shaping coexistence. In this context, scholars increasingly stress the need adopt place‐based approaches by analysing how humans and wildlife interact co‐adapt specific landscapes. burgeoning field ‘more‐than‐human’ geography, both non‐humans are considered as co‐constitutive places. According tradition, animals should not simply be seen objects under human control but approached powerful actors multi‐species By tracking brown bear French Pyrenees has shaped different places encounters pastoralists (i.e. farmers shepherds extensive sheep farming mountain pastures during summer), paper discusses what coexistence means when viewed through lens more‐than‐human geography. We use an in‐depth, retrospective multi‐sources approach describe inter‐relationships bears on three since return at end 1990s. Semi structured interviews, participant observation, administrative institutional data about depredation genetics, well pastoral practices form basis integrated narrative analysis. Our study reveals a carnivore produced different, singular, context‐specific ‘patches’. Each these represent distinct dynamically over time bears, rest biotic abiotic environment. Specifically, we demonstrate various factors—the individual behaviour their movement reproduction capacity, number depredations, pastoralists' histories, collective organization, choices they made, pastures' features, available resources surrounding vegetation—cumulatively intertwine complex, place‐specific entanglements. Policy implications . results suggest conceptualized global, top down standardized. Instead patches which ways. Therefore, fostering acknowledging full diversity situations people write own place‐based, histories. Read free Plain Language Summary for article Journal blog.

Язык: Английский

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Unveiling population dynamics and diversity in two European brown bear (Ursus arctos) populations through non-invasive SNP genotyping

Conservation Genetics, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 6, 2025

Abstract Non-invasive genetic analyses enable monitoring and understanding of population dynamics without disturbing wild animals. We present a non-invasive method to identify characterize the brown bear populations Cantabrian Pyrenean (of Slovenian origin). selected an efficient 61-SNP panel genotype more than 2,000 samples from both populations. Results showed successful genotyping 1,639 samples, revealing 400 distinct individuals. Genetic diversity was similar in populations, differentiation between highly significant. The did not show substructuring despite influence breeding male “Pyros”. In contrast, two subpopulations were observed population. Furthermore, indicated sex ratio bias population, potentially influenced by dispersal landscape features. Overall, study demonstrates utility methods for highlighting differences providing insights into their diversity, structure, demographic trends.

Язык: Английский

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Mapping sex- and age-structure reveals lonely males at the front in an expanding brown bear population

Biological Conservation, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 306, С. 111122 - 111122

Опубликована: Апрель 8, 2025

Язык: Английский

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2030 conservation targets for European terrestrial mammals using the favourable conservation status concept

Scientific Data, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 12(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 9, 2025

The European Habitats Directive lists species and habitats of conservation priority for member states the Union, prescribes that they achieve a favourable status. benchmark assessing whether this status is provided by reference values distribution population size. These cannot be used directly as targets, because are incomplete, incomparable identified through different methods, not necessarily achievable in specified time frame. We set targets year 2030 81 terrestrial mammals listed Annexes II IV Directive, and/or threatened at level according to IUCN Red List Threatened Species, based on concept onservation statuts. several including models growth range expansion 2030, reference-based approach. can plan actions mammals, such increasing protected area coverage 30% Europe envisaged Biodiversity Strategy 2030.

Язык: Английский

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Endozoochorous plant dispersal by the Brown Bear ( Ursus arctos ) in the Pyrénées: angiosperms but also ferns and mosses and the importance of disaggregation agents

Botany Letters, Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown, С. 1 - 13

Опубликована: Дек. 25, 2024

Endozoochory by megafauna enables temperate mountain plants to disperse over long distance. As an endozoochorous agent, Brown Bear may play a unique role through its biology and ecology especially because of diverse diet (angiosperms, ferns, mosses). However, few studies have been conducted on the dispersal all angiosperms none ferns or mosses. Also, fact that faecal matrix could represent barrier germination dispersed seeds due various physical chemical constraints, has often neglected. In this study, we investigated endozoochory European effect success. We seedling emergence monitoring experiment in greenhouse for seven months assess seed potential based 86 faeces. Each sample was split into two treatments (raw vs. filtered faeces), test growth. found not only fleshy-fruited plants, but also dry-fruited first time among Ursids, pointed out acts as important with little These results highlight Bears non-fleshy-fruited suggest spectrum plant species potentially is wider than formerly thought. They stress importance faeces disaggregation outcomes, mechanism mediated abiotic biotic agents.

Язык: Английский

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Building spaces of interactions between researchers and managers: Case studies with wildlife monitoring and conservation in France

Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 4(2)

Опубликована: Апрель 1, 2023

Abstract To document and halt biodiversity loss, monitoring, quantifying trends assessing management conservation strategies on wildlife populations communities are crucial steps. With increasing technological innovations, more data collected new quantitative methods constantly developed. These rapid developments come with an need for analytical skills, which hardly accessible to managers. On the other hand, researchers spend time research grant applications administrative tasks, leaves fewer opportunities knowledge transfer. This situation tends increase gap between Here, we illustrate how fill this by presenting two long‐term collaborations a unit—Centre Functional Evolutionary Ecology; CEFE—and national agency—French Biodiversity Agency; OFB. The first example is collaboration providing statistical support parks design implementation of scientific monitoring protocols. It relies recruitment engineer funded OFB physically based at CEFE, who works closely second large carnivores. For than 10 years, it has involved several PhD students post‐doctoral fellows co‐supervised CEFE OFB, recently resulted in permanent researcher half‐time case studies modalities collaborative work public institutions acting different levels co‐construction agendas exchange knowledge. also bring out some challenges. Inter‐knowledge mutual learning remain difficult scales larger that teams concerned. staff working interface needs possess good listening respect all partners' demonstrate flexibility. Knowledge exchanges require time, thus reducing productivity according metrics such as publications or institutional reports. can therefore be assume socially, tenuous because they rely understanding differences governance various partners. Based our experience, success favoured close relationships, projects early stage. Sharing space (i.e. office building) facilitates face‐to‐face interactions during planned sessions casual meetings build up shared culture trust.

Язык: Английский

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Unravelling the effects of individual heterogeneity on connectivity estimates: Insights from Spatial Capture-Recapture modelling

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Год журнала: 2024, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Март 8, 2024

A bstract Spatial Capture-Recapture (SCR) models, parametrized with least cost path distance, provide a unifying framework for explicitly estimating landscape connectivity and population size from individual detection data. However, we frequently encounter individuals larger apparent space use than the rest of population. To avoid biased estimates, it is common practice to remove these outliers analysis. Yet such are likely be very important when aim estimate connectivity. We therefore investigated how unmodelled heterogeneity in affects estimates SCR models. first conducted simulation study. varied proportion whose most constrained by structure. fit four increasing degree modelled assess its effect on parameter estimates. Secondly, applied models Pyrenean brown bear population, examining effects removing or modelling Our study showed that was underestimated no increased level modelled. Moreover, unmodeled led towards group, which detected. In our case study, key unravel patterns use. Female movements were restricted road density (estimated resistance: α 2 = 0.27 [0.01, 0.43]), whereas small group males not affected ( - 0.16 [-0.64, 0.24]). provides valuable insights optimizing application When primary objective accurately size, recommend outlier home range sizes risk underestimating size. Conversely, population-level connectivity, essential. findings underscore importance tailoring model specific research goal, ensuring more precise meaningful ecological inferences.

Язык: Английский

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