Land | Special Issue : Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives

Editorial

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2 pages, 196 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Seeking Sustainable Solutions in a Time of Change

by Juan F. Beltrán, John A. Litvaitis and Pedro Abellán

Land 2022, 11(6), 851; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11060851 - 6 Jun 2022

Viewed by 1314

Abstract

Global change is impacting our lives in many ways [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

Research

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16 pages, 2918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating Road Mortality Hotspots While Accounting for Imperfect Detection: A Case Study with Amphibians and Reptiles

by Noah Hallisey, Scott W. Buchanan, Brian D. Gerber, Liam S. Corcoran and Nancy E. Karraker

Land 2022, 11(5), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050739 - 14 May 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3138

Abstract

Wildlife road mortality tends to aggregate spatially at locations commonly referred to as road mortality hotspots. Predictive models can be used to identify locations appropriate for mitigation measures that reduce road mortality. However, the influence of imperfect detection (e.g., false absences) during road [...] Read more.

Wildlife road mortality tends to aggregate spatially at locations commonly referred to as road mortality hotspots. Predictive models can be used to identify locations appropriate for mitigation measures that reduce road mortality. However, the influence of imperfect detection (e.g., false absences) during road mortality surveys can lead to inaccurate or imprecise spatial patterns of road mortality hotspots and suboptimal implementation of mitigation measures. In this research, we used amphibians and reptiles as a case study to address imperfect detection issues when estimating the probability of road mortality hotspots using occupancy detection modeling. In addition, we determined the survey effort needed to achieve a high probability of detecting large roadkill events. We also assessed whether vehicle travel reductions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions led to reductions in road mortality. We conducted surveys at 48 sites throughout Rhode Island, USA, from 2019–2021. In total, we observed 657 carcasses representing 19 of Rhode Island’s 37 native species. Of the 19 native species, eight species of frogs, four species of salamanders, four species of snakes, and three species of turtles were observed. We documented a reduction in roadkill density and the proportion of dead versus live amphibians and reptiles in pandemic years (2020 and 2021), but we were unable to link reductions in roadkill density to reductions in traffic volume. Our model results indicated that large roadkill events were more likely to occur on roads near wetlands and with low traffic volume and were more likely to be detected as daily precipitation increased. We determined that there was a low probability of detecting large roadkill events, suggesting that imperfect detection influences detection of large roadkill events, and many were likely missed during our surveys. Therefore, we recommend using occupancy modeling to account for the influence of imperfect detection when estimating road mortality hotspots. This approach will more effectively guide the implementation of mitigation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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13 pages, 2643 KiB

Open AccessArticle

AbundanceR: A Novel Method for Estimating Wildlife Abundance Based on Distance Sampling and Species Distribution Models

by Xinhai Li, Ning Li, Baidu Li, Yuehua Sun and Erhu Gao

Land 2022, 11(5), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11050660 - 29 Apr 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3584

Abstract

Appropriate field survey methods and robust modeling approaches play an important role in wildlife protection and habitat management because reliable information on wildlife distribution and abundance is important for conservation planning and actions. However, accurately estimating animal abundance is challenging in most species, [...] Read more.

Appropriate field survey methods and robust modeling approaches play an important role in wildlife protection and habitat management because reliable information on wildlife distribution and abundance is important for conservation planning and actions. However, accurately estimating animal abundance is challenging in most species, as usually only a small proportion of the population can be detected during surveys. Species distribution models can predict the habitat suitability index, which differs from species abundance. We designed a method to adjust the results from species distribution models to achieve better accuracy for abundance estimation. This method comprises four steps: (1) conducting distance sampling, recording species occurrences, and surveying routes; (2) performing species distribution modeling using occurrence records and predicting animal abundance in each quadrat in the study area; (3) comparing the difference between field survey results and predicted abundance in quadrats along survey routes, adjusting model prediction, and summing up to obtain total abundance in the study area; (4) calculating uncertainty from three sources, i.e., distance sampling (using detection rate), species distribution models (using R squared), and differences between the field survey and model prediction [using the standard deviation of the ratio (observation/prediction) at different zones]. We developed an R package called abundanceR to estimate wildlife abundance and provided data for the Tibetan wild ass (Equus kiang) based on field surveys at the Three-River-Source National Park, as well as 29 layers of environmental variables covering the terrestrial areas of the planet. Our method can provide accurate estimation of abundance for animals inhabiting open areas that can be easily observed during distance sampling, and whose spatial heterogeneity of animal density within the study area can be accurately predicted using species distribution models. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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13 pages, 1723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Population Declines on Habitat Segregation and Activity Patterns of Rabbits and Hares in Doñana National Park, Spain

by Juan F. Beltrán, Jaime R. Rau, Ramón C. Soriguer, Maura B. Kufner, Miguel Delibes and Francisco Carro

Land 2022, 11(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11040461 - 24 Mar 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3403

Abstract

Competition, predation, and diseases are key factors shaping animal communities. In recent decades, lagomorphs in Europe have been impacted by virus-borne diseases that have caused substantial declines in their populations and, subsequently, in many of their predators. We examined activity and habitat-use patterns [...] Read more.

Competition, predation, and diseases are key factors shaping animal communities. In recent decades, lagomorphs in Europe have been impacted by virus-borne diseases that have caused substantial declines in their populations and, subsequently, in many of their predators. We examined activity and habitat-use patterns of sympatric European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) and Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis R.) in Doñana National Park, Spain, (DNP) during two periods of disease outbreak. In the first period (1984–1985), fecal pellet counts and roadside counts indicated that lagomorph species were segregated, with rabbits occurring in scrublands and hares in marshlands. Both species also occupied rush and fern belt ecotones. Roadside counts at sunrise, midday, sunset, and midnight revealed that rabbits and hares had the same activity patterns (crepuscular and nocturnal) in the zone of sympatry. During the second period (2005–2016), roadside counts showed that rabbits and hares were mainly nocturnal in scrublands and border marshlands. Hares occupied scrublands; a habitat previously occupied only by rabbits. These results are interpreted in light of the competition theory and predation pressure. The disease-caused decline of rabbits has likely favored hares that moved into scrublands, a vegetation type previously occupied exclusively by rabbits. The decline of rabbits in DNP has also caused the almost disappearance of this area of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), a rabbit specialist, thus enabling generalist predators to increase. Generalist predators have subsequently increased predation pressure on both rabbits and hares, causing them to switch to nocturnal activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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18 pages, 2575 KiB

Open AccessArticle

European Ground Squirrels at the Edge: Current Distribution Status and Anticipated Impact of Climate on Europe’s Southernmost Population

by Dimitra-Lida Rammou, Christos Astaras, Despina Migli, George Boutsis, Antonia Galanaki, Theodoros Kominos and Dionisios Youlatos

Land 2022, 11(2), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020301 - 16 Feb 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4786

Abstract

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is an endangered semifossorial small mammal of grassland/agricultural ecosystems. In the last few decades, the species’ population has declined throughout its range in Europe. The Greek populations represent the southernmost limit of the species’ range [...] Read more.

The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is an endangered semifossorial small mammal of grassland/agricultural ecosystems. In the last few decades, the species’ population has declined throughout its range in Europe. The Greek populations represent the southernmost limit of the species’ range and are notably small, scattered, and located mainly in human-modified areas. The goal of the present research is to understand the environmental and anthropogenic variables associated with its distribution in the Mediterranean habitats, assess possible drivers of observed local extinctions, and propose conservation and land-use management actions in light of near-future climate change scenarios. We used presence records since 2000 across all known populations (107 colonies) and maximum entropy conditional probability models (MaxEnt) to calculate both the habitat suitability (bioclimatic variables) and habitat availability (anthropogenic/land-use variables) within the European ground squirrel’s historical range in northern Greece. We report a projected 39% to 94.3% decrease in habitat suitability by 2040–2060 due to climate change. Based on our findings, we provide guidance by proposing nascent conservation actions to protect the few existing colonies in Greece via improved land management practices and identify in situ climate refugia that could be prioritized as sites for future reintroductions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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17 pages, 22814 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrence and Abundance of an Apex Predator and a Sympatric Mesopredator in Rural Areas of the Coastal Range of Southern Chile

by Fernando García-Solís, Jaime R. Rau and Edwin J. Niklitschek

Land 2022, 11(1), 40; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11010040 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2348

Abstract

The two mammalian carnivores, puma (Puma concolor) and South American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus) were studied, in a remote area located in the humid temperate forest of the coastal range of southern Chile. A total of six locations were [...] Read more.

The two mammalian carnivores, puma (Puma concolor) and South American grey fox (Lycalopex griseus) were studied, in a remote area located in the humid temperate forest of the coastal range of southern Chile. A total of six locations were selected in three landscapes: pre-mountain range, mountain range, and coast. The chosen study locations are relevant because they correspond to threatened areas with different levels of human intervention., so they offer the ideal setting for studying how different species of carnivores respond to both human presence and activities. A dataset was collected for 24 months during 2016–2018 through photo-trapping (13 camera traps placed along 50 photo-trap stations). Wes estimated the apparent occurrence and relative abundance index (RAI) of the fauna registered, by means of generalized linear models to contrast those of an apex predator, such as the puma and a sympatric mesopredator, the South American grey fox, across the three landscapes. The ecological variables assessed were the RAI of the other carnivore considered, exotic carnivores such as dogs and cats, human intervention, farmland effect, prey availability, and habitat quality. The primary hypothesis was that the apparent occurrence and RAI of puma and fox would be positively associated with the RAI of prey and livestock and negatively with human intervention. On the other hand, the secondary hypothesis dealt with the interactions between puma and fox faced with different degrees of human intervention. The results showed that the apparent occurrence of the puma was statistically explained by location only, and it was highest at the mountain range. The apparent occurrence of foxes was explained by both puma apparent occurrence and relative integrated anthropization index (INRA), being highest in the pre-mountain range. Concerning the RAI of pumas, high values were yielded by location and fox RAI. For the RAI of foxes, they were location, puma RAI, and INRA. It can be suggested that eucalyptus plantations from the pre-mountain range could offer an adequate habitat for the puma and the fox, but not the coastal range, as the mountain range could be acting as a biological barrier. Due to the nature of the data, it was not possible to detect any relevant effect between the two carnivores’ considered, between their respective preys, or the very abundant presence of dogs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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18 pages, 2311 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Four Years Continuous Monitoring Reveals Different Effects of Urban Constructed Wetlands on Bats

by Han Li, Radmila Petric, Zinah Alazzawi, Jake Kauzlarich, Rania H. Mahmoud, Rasheed McFadden, Niklas Perslow, Andrea Rodriguez Flores, Hadi Soufi, Kristina Morales, Matina C. Kalcounis-Rueppell, Malcolm D. Schug and Lindsey A. Zarecky

Land 2021, 10(10), 1087; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10101087 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3961

Abstract

Proactive artificial wetland constructions have been implemented to mitigate the loss of wetlands and their ecosystem services. As wetlands are habitats for bats, short-term (one or two years) studies find that constructed wetlands can immediately increase local bat activity and diversity. However, it [...] Read more.

Proactive artificial wetland constructions have been implemented to mitigate the loss of wetlands and their ecosystem services. As wetlands are habitats for bats, short-term (one or two years) studies find that constructed wetlands can immediately increase local bat activity and diversity. However, it is not clear how constructed wetlands affect bats through time while the wetlands are aging. We collected four years of continuous bat acoustic monitoring data at two constructed wetlands in an urban park in Greensboro, NC, USA. We examined bat activity and community composition patterns at these wetlands and compared them with reference sites in the city. With four years of data, we found that the effects of constructed wetlands were both habitat- and species-specific. The wetland in forests significantly increased bat activity, while the wetland in the open grass altered bat community composition. Specifically, in terms of species, we found that over time, constructed wetlands no longer attracted more big brown, silver-haired, or evening bats than control sites while the wetlands aged, highlighting the need to study broadly how each bat species uses natural and artificial wetlands. We emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring and the periodical evaluation of wildlife conservation actions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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16 pages, 4955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amphibian Metacommunity Responses to Agricultural Intensification in a Mediterranean Landscape

by Luis Albero, Íñigo Martínez-Solano, Ana Arias, Miguel Lizana and Eloy Bécares

Land 2021, 10(9), 924; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090924 - 2 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3388

Abstract

Agricultural intensification has been associated with biodiversity declines, habitat fragmentation and loss in a number of organisms. Given the prevalence of this process, there is a need for studies clarifying the effects of changes in agricultural practices on local biological communities; for instance, [...] Read more.

Agricultural intensification has been associated with biodiversity declines, habitat fragmentation and loss in a number of organisms. Given the prevalence of this process, there is a need for studies clarifying the effects of changes in agricultural practices on local biological communities; for instance, the transformation of traditional rainfed agriculture into intensively irrigated agriculture. We focused on pond-breeding amphibians as model organisms to assess the ecological effects of agricultural intensification because they are sensitive to changes in habitat quality at both local and landscape scales. We applied a metacommunity approach to characterize amphibian communities breeding in a network of ponds embedded in a terrestrial habitat matrix that was partly converted from rainfed crops to intensive irrigated agriculture in the 1990s. Specifically, we compared alpha and beta diversity, species occupancy and abundance, and metacommunity structure between irrigated and rainfed areas. We found strong differences in patterns of species occurrence, community structure and pairwise beta diversity between agricultural management groups, with a marked community structure in rainfed ponds associated with local features and the presence of some rare species that were nearly absent in the irrigated area, which was characterized by a random community structure. Natural vegetation cover at the landscape scale, significantly lower on the irrigated area, was an important predictor of species occurrences. Our results suggest that maintaining both local and landscape heterogeneity is key to preserving diverse amphibian communities in Mediterranean agricultural landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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19 pages, 467 KiB

Open AccessArticle

China’s Wildlife Management Policy Framework: Preferences, Coordination and Optimization

by Lu Feng, Qiyi Cai, Yang Bai and Wenjie Liao

Land 2021, 10(9), 909; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090909 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2369

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to global concerns about the delicate relationship between humans and wildlife. However, quantitative research on the elements of a wildlife management policy framework in a certain country is lacking. In this study, we try to close this [...] Read more.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic led to global concerns about the delicate relationship between humans and wildlife. However, quantitative research on the elements of a wildlife management policy framework in a certain country is lacking. In this study, we try to close this research gap by analyzing the formulation preferences of key elements in the wildlife management policy framework, as well as the coordination between them, in China, which is generally regarded as a main wildlife consumption country. Based on the content analysis of China’s wildlife management policy documents, with a three-dimensional analytical framework, we find that: China’s wildlife management policy framework prefers the use of compulsory tools, while voluntary and mixed tools are not fully used; adequate attention is paid to the biodiversity conservation objectives and attention is paid to the objectives of public health protection and wildlife welfare, while the utilization objective is restricted to some extent; government sectors, industry, citizens, and non-governmental organizations are involved in wildlife management policies and the degrees of participation of citizens and non-governmental organizations are relatively low. In conclusion, we draw wider implications for China’s wildlife management policy formulation, arguing for a more coordinated and participatory policy framework. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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15 pages, 2576 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conservation, Restoration, and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity Based on Habitat Quality Monitoring: A Case Study on Jeju Island, South Korea (1989–2019)

by Hyun-Jung Hong, Choong-Ki Kim, Hyun-Woo Lee and Woo-Kyun Lee

Land 2021, 10(8), 774; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10080774 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4935

Abstract

Biodiversity loss is progressing despite biodiversity being essential for human survival, prosperity, and well-being. Conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the habitat, given that its change is the most prominent factor causing the deterioration of biodiversity, represents a highly effective way of securing [...] Read more.

Biodiversity loss is progressing despite biodiversity being essential for human survival, prosperity, and well-being. Conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of the habitat, given that its change is the most prominent factor causing the deterioration of biodiversity, represents a highly effective way of securing biodiversity. Therefore, we assessed and monitored habitat quality as a proxy for biodiversity with habitat quantity in Jeju Island, South Korea. We used an InVEST model with data on the habitat type, suitability, sensitivity, accessibility, and threat factors. Natural habitats throughout Jeju had rapidly decreased in area by 24.9% from 1989 to 2019, and this change contributed to the degradation of habitat quality by 15.8%. We provided significant evidence on the critical degradation of habitat for a long period of over 30 years and highlighted the urgent need for policies and behaviors that enhance biodiversity. We proposed appropriate strategies to prompt people to conserve better, restore effectively, and use biodiversity sustainably. We expect that our findings will provide scientific and evidence-based guidance for policy-making on biodiversity enhancement and will further support achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in addition to compliance with the New Deal for Nature and People. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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17 pages, 4787 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

High Nature Value Farming Systems and Protected Areas: Conservation Opportunities or Land Abandonment? A Study Case in the Madrid Region (Spain)

by María F. Schmitz, Cecilia Arnaiz-Schmitz and Patricio Sarmiento-Mateos

Land 2021, 10(7), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10070721 - 8 Jul 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4253

Abstract

European rural landscapes contain high nature value farmlands that, in addition to being the main economic activity in many rural areas, host habitats and species of great conservation value. The maintenance of these farming systems largely depends on traditional ecological knowledge and the [...] Read more.

European rural landscapes contain high nature value farmlands that, in addition to being the main economic activity in many rural areas, host habitats and species of great conservation value. The maintenance of these farming systems largely depends on traditional ecological knowledge and the rural lifestyles of the local populations. However, they have not been sufficiently appreciated and protected, and as a result, they are currently threatened. In this study, which was performed in the Madrid region (central Spain), we analyse the social-ecological changes of the rural landscape after the establishment of a protected natural area network. The obtained results highlight a significant loss of these high nature value farming systems and a marked increase in the rewilding processes characterised by scrub–forest transition and the development of forest systems. These processes are linked to the disruption of the transmission of traditional ecological knowledge, which may imply negative consequences for both the high biocultural diversity that these systems host and the cultural identity and the socioeconomics of the rural populations that live there. A useful methodological tool is provided for social–ecological land planning and the design of effective management strategies for the conservation of rural cultural landscapes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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14 pages, 1762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Identifying and Mapping Groups of Protected Area Visitors by Environmental Awareness

by Arjan S. Gosal, Janine A. McMahon, Katharine M. Bowgen, Catherine H. Hoppe and Guy Ziv

Land 2021, 10(6), 560; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10060560 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3694

Abstract

Protected areas worldwide receive billions of visitors annually. The positive impact of nature on health and wellbeing, in addition to providing opportunities for cultural activities such as recreation and aesthetic appreciation, is well documented. Management to reduce negative impacts to biodiversity and conservation [...] Read more.

Protected areas worldwide receive billions of visitors annually. The positive impact of nature on health and wellbeing, in addition to providing opportunities for cultural activities such as recreation and aesthetic appreciation, is well documented. Management to reduce negative impacts to biodiversity and conservation aims whilst providing amenities and access to visitors is important. Understanding environmental awareness of visitors and their on-site spatial patterns can assist in making effective management decisions within often constrained resources. However, there is a lack of strategies for site-specific identification and predictive mapping of visitors by environmental awareness. Here, we demonstrate a method to map on-site visitation by latent groups of visitors based on their environmental awareness of on-site issues. On-site surveys and participatory mapping were used to collect data on environmental awareness on bird nesting and spatial visitation patterns in an upland moor in northern England. Latent class analysis (LCA), a structural equation model, was used to discover underlying groups of environmental awareness, with random forest (RF) modelling, a machine learning technique, using a range of on-site predictors (bioclimatic, land cover, elevation, viewshed, and proximity to paths and freshwater) to predict and map visitation across the site by each group. Visitors were segmented into ‘aware’ and ‘ambiguous’ groups and their potential spatial visitation patterns mapped. Our results demonstrate the ability to uncover groups of users by environmental awareness and map their potential visitation across a site using a variety of on-site predictors. Spatial understanding of the movement patterns of differently environmentally aware groups of visitors can assist in efficient targeting of conservation education endeavours (i.e., signage, positioning of staff, monitoring programmes, etc.), therefore maximising their efficacy. Furthermore, we anticipate this method will be of importance to environmental managers and educators when deploying limited resources. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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35 pages, 6926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Roadkill-Data-Based Identification and Ranking of Mammal Habitats

by Andrius Kučas and Linas Balčiauskas

Land 2021, 10(5), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10050477 - 2 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2668

Abstract

Wildlife–vehicle collisions, as well as environmental factors that affect collisions and mitigation measures, are usually modelled and analysed in the vicinity of or within roads, while habitat attractiveness to wildlife along with risk to drivers remain mostly underestimated. The main goal of this [...] Read more.

Wildlife–vehicle collisions, as well as environmental factors that affect collisions and mitigation measures, are usually modelled and analysed in the vicinity of or within roads, while habitat attractiveness to wildlife along with risk to drivers remain mostly underestimated. The main goal of this study was the identification, characterisation, and ranking of mammalian habitats in Lithuania in relation to 2002–2017 roadkill data. We identified habitat patches as areas (varying from 1 to 1488 square kilometres) isolated by neighbouring roads characterised by at least one wildlife–vehicle collision hotspot. We ranked all identified habitats on the basis of land cover, the presence of an ecological corridor, a mammalian pathway, and roadkill hotspot data. A ranking scenario describing both habitat attractiveness to wildlife and the risk to drivers was defined and applied. Ranks for each habitat were calculated using multiple criteria spatial decision support techniques. Multiple regression analyses were used to identify the relationship between habitat ranks, species richness, and land cover classes. Strong relationships were identified and are discussed between the habitat patch ranks in five (out of 28) land cover classes and in eight (out of 28) species (97% of all mammal road kills). We conclude that, along with conventional roadkill hotspot identification, roadkill-based habitat identification and characterisation as well as species richness analysis should be used in road safety infrastructure planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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16 pages, 5823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Road Fencing on Ungulate–Vehicle Collisions and Hotspot Patterns

by Andrius Kučas and Linas Balčiauskas

Land 2021, 10(4), 338; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10040338 - 25 Mar 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2679

Abstract

The number of road traffic accidents decreased in Lithuania from 2002 to 2017, while the ungulate–vehicle collision (UVC) number increased and accounted for approximately 69% of all wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVC) in the country. Understanding the relationship between UVCs, traffic intensity, and implemented mitigation [...] Read more.

The number of road traffic accidents decreased in Lithuania from 2002 to 2017, while the ungulate–vehicle collision (UVC) number increased and accounted for approximately 69% of all wildlife–vehicle collisions (WVC) in the country. Understanding the relationship between UVCs, traffic intensity, and implemented mitigation measures is important for the assessment of UVC mitigation measure efficiency. We assessed the effect of annual average daily traffic (AADT) and wildlife fencing on UVCs using regression analysis of changes in annual UVCs and UVC hotspots on different categories of roads. At the highest rates, annual UVC numbers and UVC hotspots increased on lower category (national and regional) roads, forming a denser network. Lower rates of UVC increase occurred on higher category (main) roads, forming sparser road networks and characterized by the highest AADT. Before 2011, both UVC occurrence and fenced road sections were most common on higher-category roads. However, as of 2011, the majority of UVCs occurred on lower-category roads where AADT and fencing had no impact on UVCs. We conclude that wildlife fencing on roads characterized by higher speed and traffic intensity may decrease UVC numbers and at the same time shifting UVC occurrence towards roads characterized by lower speed and traffic intensity. Wildlife fencing re-allocates wildlife movement pathways toward roads with insufficient or no mitigation measures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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Review

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39 pages, 3031 KiB

Open AccessReview

Understanding Species–Habitat Associations: A Case Study with the World’s Bears

by David Lance Garshelis

Land 2022, 11(2), 180; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11020180 - 23 Jan 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 6206

Abstract

Habitat modeling is one of the most common practices in ecology today, aimed at understanding complex associations between species and an array of environmental, bioclimatic, and anthropogenic factors. This review of studies of seven species of terrestrial bears (Ursidae) occupying four continents examines [...] Read more.

Habitat modeling is one of the most common practices in ecology today, aimed at understanding complex associations between species and an array of environmental, bioclimatic, and anthropogenic factors. This review of studies of seven species of terrestrial bears (Ursidae) occupying four continents examines how habitat models have been employed, and the functionality of their predictions for management and conservation. Bear occurrence data have been obtained at the population level, as presence points (e.g., sign surveys or camera trapping), or as locations of individual radio-collared animals. Radio-collars provide greater insights into how bears interact with their environment and variability within populations; they are more commonly used in North America and Europe than in South America and Asia. Salient problematic issues apparent from this review included: biases in presence data; predictor variables being poor surrogates of actual behavioral drivers; predictor variables applied at a biologically inappropriate scale; and over-use of data repositories that tend to detach investigators from the species. In several cases, multiple models in the same area yielded different predictions; new presence data occurred outside the range of predicted suitable habitat; and future range projections, based on where bears presently exist, underestimated their adaptability. Findings here are likely relevant to other taxa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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16 pages, 5537 KiB

Open AccessReview

Addressing the Early-Successional Habitat Needs of At-Risk Species on Privately Owned Lands in the Eastern United States

by John A. Litvaitis, Jeffery L. Larkin, Darin J. McNeil, Don Keirstead and Bridgett Costanzo

Land 2021, 10(11), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/land10111116 - 21 Oct 2021

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3011

Abstract

Public lands alone are insufficient to address the needs of most at-risk wildlife species in the U.S. As a result, a variety of voluntary incentive programs have emerged to recruit private landowners into conservation efforts that restore and manage the habitats needed by [...] Read more.

Public lands alone are insufficient to address the needs of most at-risk wildlife species in the U.S. As a result, a variety of voluntary incentive programs have emerged to recruit private landowners into conservation efforts that restore and manage the habitats needed by specific species. We review the role of one such effort, Working Lands for Wildlife (WLFW), initiated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Using two at-risk species in the eastern U.S. (where private lands dominate), we show the substantial potential that WLFW has for restoring and maintaining needed habitats. Monitoring how effective these efforts are on populations of the target species has been challenging, and both monitoring and implementation are being modified in response to new information. Identifying landowner motivations is essential for developing long-term relationships and conservation success. As WLFW projects develop, they are moving toward a more holistic ecosystem approach, within which the conservation goals of at-risk species are embedded. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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Other

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22 pages, 6879 KiB

Open AccessProject Report

Habitat Management of the Endemic and Critical Endangered Montseny Brook Newt (Calotriton arnoldi)

by Daniel Guinart, Sònia Solórzano, Fèlix Amat, Jordina Grau, Daniel Fernández-Guiberteau and Albert Montori

Land 2022, 11(3), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030449 - 21 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3788

Abstract

Calotriton arnoldi is an endemic amphibian inhabiting Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve (PNRBM), listed as “critically endangered (CR)” by IUCN. At the end of 2016, the Life Tritó del Montseny (LIFETM) project (LIFE15 NAT/ES/000757) was launched. The aim of the project was [...] Read more.

Calotriton arnoldi is an endemic amphibian inhabiting Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve (PNRBM), listed as “critically endangered (CR)” by IUCN. At the end of 2016, the Life Tritó del Montseny (LIFETM) project (LIFE15 NAT/ES/000757) was launched. The aim of the project was to promote around fifty actions to ensure the conservation of C. arnoldi and its natural habitat, and this entailed five strategic lines: (1) Increasing the scientific and technical knowledge with regard to C. arnoldi’s conservation status and its habitat management. (2) Expanding its geographic distribution. (3) Involving and engaging stakeholders in the conservation of the Montseny brook newt. (4) Eliminating or minimizing threats that exist in the riparian habitat. (5) Establishing proper legal coverage and defining long-term strategic planning. The successes and failures experienced throughout the process provide us with essential information that will enable us to develop an adaptive management of the habitat. In order to eliminate or minimize threats to the newt’s habitat, some of the actions that are currently being carried out are: (a) Land acquisitions and land exchanges with private properties. (b) Land stewardship procedures, with two custody agreements being signed. (c) Reduction of water withdrawal with nine water catchments and distribution being remodeled. (d) Improvement of water treatments and storage by installing ecological wastewater treatment facilities. (e) Ensuring ecological connectivity and riparian forest restoration. Here, we present an evaluation of the actions carried out to improve the habitat of this species, including the necessary considerations for them to be implemented correctly and to be successful in a natural area, which is under public-private management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Protection and Habitat Management: Practice and Perspectives)

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