Do habitat characteristics determine mortality risk for bats at wind farms? Modelling susceptible species activity patterns and anticipating possible mortality events

Niche differentiation reduces competition between species and modifies predation risk such that species coexistence is promoted. Temporal partitioning is a type of niche differentiation that has only relatively recently been specifically investigated. In this chapter, data from 515 camera trap stations from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo is used to describe the presence, habitat associations and activity patterns of Bornean carnivores and to investigate temporal partitioning between species. Primary and old logged forest were the most species rich sites and small forest fragments and oil palm plantations supported the fewest species. Species’ activity patterns within families were more similar than those between families. Only the masked palm civet and sun bear showed variation in activity among habitats. Considering the species as rough trophic groups rather than families revealed that each group contained both diurnal and nocturnal species, which presumably helps to promote coexistence between the musteloids and other species in each group.

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Activity patterns of jaguar and puma and their main prey in the Greater Madidi-Tambopata Landscape (Bolivia, Peru)

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2020-0058 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Guido Marcos Ayala ◽

María Estela Viscarra ◽

Pedro Sarmento ◽

Nuno Negrões ◽

Carlos Fonseca ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activity Pattern ◽

Puma Concolor ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Camera Traps ◽

Main Prey ◽

Temporal Segregation ◽

Overlapping Coefficient ◽

Species Activity ◽

Study Sites ◽

Overlap Coefficient

AbstractActivity pattern studies can help explain the coexistence of competing species. Between 2001 and 2017 we evaluated the activity pattern overlap of jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), and their main prey, using camera traps at 17 Amazonian sites in the Greater Madidi-Tambopata Landscape. We used the Kernel density estimation to generate species activity patterns and the overlap between both cats. We then calculated the overlap coefficient (Δ) by carrying out 10,000 bootstraps (95%). Both cats were active 24 h a day. The puma has higher nocturnal activity (57%), whilst jaguar activity is split almost equally between night (53%) and day (47%). We did not find temporal segregation between jaguars and pumas, which showed similar activity patterns with a high overlapping coefficient (Δ4 = 0.84; 0.78–0.91). Also, we did not find significant differences between Male and Female activity patterns for both species (X2 = 0.50, gl = 1, P = 0.47). Moreover, both cats had significant overlap with the activity patterns of their main prey. Temporal segregation was not detected in any of our study sites within the Greater Madidi-Tambopata Landscape, suggesting that in this region, these predators employ other mechanisms to avoid competition.

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Spatiotemporal occurrence of Mishmi takin Budorcas taxicolor in Dulongjiang Region, southwestern China

Mammalia ◽

10.1515/mammalia-2019-0114 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 84 (6) ◽

pp. 513-519

Author(s):

Xueyou Li ◽

Cheng Huang ◽

Xuelong Jiang

Keyword(s):

Habitat Management ◽

Species Distribution Model ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Distribution Model ◽

Mountain Areas ◽

Circular Distribution ◽

Presence Data ◽

Budorcas Taxicolor

AbstractHere, we assessed the spatiotemporal distribution of the poorly studied Mishmi takin Budorcas taxicolor to gain a preliminary understanding of the spatiotemporal ecology of the species. We used presence data from line transects and camera-trap surveys combined with a presence-only species distribution model to identify the key factors relevant to takin distribution. Distance to residential site was the main contributing factor to the model predicting habitat suitability for takin. Mishmi takin appeared to prefer habitats far away from residential locations. Our predicted suitable habitats for takin were highly fragmented and were constrained in narrow ranges of remote mountain areas. A circular distribution curve fitted to camera events indicated that grouped takin were more active during the day and less active at night compared to solitary takin. Differences in activity patterns between takin in groups and solitaries might relate to sexual segregation and calve attendance. Our information on the distribution and habitat characteristics of the species will assist habitat management and our prediction map could guide future field surveys for locating a long-term monitoring program.

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Good timing: evaluating anuran activity and detectability patterns in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr19019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (7) ◽

pp. 566 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro ◽

Atilla Colombo Ferreguetti ◽

Helena Godoy Bergallo ◽

Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Environmental Variables ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Important Variable ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Probability Of Detection ◽

Activity Period ◽

Occupancy Models ◽

Species Activity

Abstract ContextAnimal activity patterns throughout the day constitute an important dimension of their ecological niche, and may have ecological and evolutionary implications; for an organism to be active during the day or night period, a series of conditions requiring different anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations must be met. AimsTo study the anuran community in an area of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, to evaluate the species activity period as well as the diurnal and nocturnal detection probabilities of anurans, and to relate these activities to environmental variables such as air temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. MethodsThe anurans were sampled along 21 plot transects in the diurnal period and during a nocturnal period, with temperature and relative humidity measured in each plot. Species were considered predominantly diurnal or nocturnal if 35% or more individuals were recorded during one of these periods. Anuran detectability was estimated using single-season occupancy models, relating to environmental variables. Key resultsOf the individuals recorded, 12% were recorded during diurnal sampling and 88% were recorded during nocturnal sampling, with Ololygon agilis being the only species considered diurnal. The probability of detection was affected by only two variables (period and humidity). ConclusionsThe anuran community in the study area was essentially nocturnal, with only one species that could be considered diurnal. Additionally, detectability was higher at night, with humidity being the most important variable affecting species detection. ImplicationsSurveys can be planned under climatic conditions that positively influence the probabilities of detection to improve the effectiveness of monitoring species and/or anurans community.

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Habitat associations and activity patterns of herpetofauna in the Central Platte River Valley, Nebraska, with notes on morphometric characteristics

10.32873/unl.dc.tnas.41.8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jenna Malzahn ◽

Andrew Caven ◽

Sean Warren ◽

Bethany Ostrom ◽

Dennis Ferraro

Keyword(s):

Linear Models ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Abundant Species ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

River Valley ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Vegetative Cover ◽

Platte River ◽

Standing Water ◽

Platte River Valley

The Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) is a unique and biologically important ecoregion, and several studies have conducted localized herpetofauna species inventories. However, there has been significantly less effort to quantify the habitat associations or activity patterns of these species. Habitat associations and activity patterns vary regionally and provide important information for ecosystem management. We deployed a total of 38 traps of 5 different types (pitfall, funnel, hoop, box, and coverboard) across 11 sites (7 terrestrial, 4 aquatic) for an 8-week period in June and July 2019. Our exploratory analyses used generalized linear models with a quasibinomial distribution to examine associations between herpetofauna abundance (captures per trap night) and habitat characteristics controlling for trap type. Habitat characteristics assessed included distance to nearest woodland, distance to nearest standing water, vegetation species richness, soil texture, and vegetative cover in addition to others. We also evaluated activity patterns weekly across the study period. The two most abundant species demonstrated divergent distributional patterns, Northern Prairie Skinks were only absent from two of the driest terrestrial sites, while the Six-lined Racerunners were locally abundant at just three sites with significant bare ground and sandy soils. We documented a Cope’s Gray Treefrog at a site with little woody cover in which the species had not been previously observed, suggesting it may be increasingly widespread regionally. We also detected relatively widespread juvenile anuran dispersal at multiple terrestrial sites a considerable distance from standing water. Our results provide a preliminary examination of habitat associations and summer activity patterns for herpetofauna in the CPRV that can be used to inform conservation efforts and further studies of this system.

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Bat flight height monitored from wind masts predicts mortality risk at wind farms

Biological Conservation ◽

10.1016/j.biocon.2017.09.002 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 215 ◽

pp. 116-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

C. Roemer ◽

T. Disca ◽

A. Coulon ◽

Y. Bas

Keyword(s):

Mortality Risk ◽

Wind Farms ◽

Flight Height

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P-487: Physical activity patterns and mortality risk in older persons

European Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1016/s1878-7649(15)30611-2 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. S187

Author(s):

N. Van Schoor ◽

K. Swart ◽

D. Deeg ◽

M. Visser ◽

P. Lips

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Mortality Risk ◽

Older Persons ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Physical Activity Patterns

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DON'T SPEED UP, SPEED KILLS: MAMMAL ROADKILLS ON HIGHWAY SECTIONS OF PR-445 IN THE SOUTH OF BRAZIL

Oecologia Australis ◽

10.4257/oeco.2021.2501.04 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 (01) ◽

pp. 34-46

Author(s):

Alan Deivid Pereira ◽

◽

Marcelo Hideki Shigaki Yabu ◽

Iago Vinicios Geller ◽

Carlos Rodrigo Lehn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Feeding Habits ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Native Vegetation ◽

Population Declines ◽

Vehicle Collisions ◽

Species Activity ◽

Speed Up ◽

South Of Brazil ◽

The Impact

Animal-vehicle collisions are the main negative impact of roads on wildlife, where they cause population declines, shifts in community structure, and potential changes in species behavior. Here, we determined mammal roadkill rates and the hotspots with higher rates for medium- and large-bodied mammals on the Highway PR-445 in the state of Paraná, Brazil. We have also evaluated possible differences in the frequency of roadkills concerning species activity patterns and their feeding habits. In doing so, we monitored the PR-445 twice a week between the kilometers 1 and 76, from March 2018 to March 2019, totaling 7296 km after 96 trips. We have recorded 93 mammal roadkills belonging to 17 species, representing a rate of 0.013 individual/km/day. The Carnivora, Didelphimorphia, and Cingulata orders showed to be the most common representatives among the roadkills. Omnivores were more prone to get hit by vehicles than herbivores and carnivores. The type of mammal activity pattern was not determinant in explaining the differences in roadkill rates. Highways in Paraná are among the roads that register the highest number of vehicle collisions with vertebrates in the country. This issue, together with extensive habitat loss and fragmentation, increases the threats to the relictual fauna. Our results indicate that the regions with the highest incidence of mammal roadkills on PR-445 are those close to stretches over rivers and with remnants of native vegetation. Thus, we emphasize that more comprehensive measures (e.g., wildlife passages and speed reducers) are essential to mitigate the impact of roads on wildlife.

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Evaluating the Stressors Impacting Rescued Reptilian Wildlife

10.20944/preprints202102.0227.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Harsh Pahuja ◽

Edward Narayan

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Studies ◽

Activity Patterns ◽

Monitoring Program ◽

Stress Physiology ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Key Factors ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Species Activity ◽

Species Ecology

Direct and indirect anthropogenic factors play a massive role in driving wildlife species towards extinction. Longitudinal retrospective studies identify key ‘factors’ responsible for the decline in numbers of wildlife, however, lack the reasoning behind the events leading to mortality. The overarching aim of this study was to categorize these ‘factors’ into different stressor categories faced by reptiles to understand its impact on an individual, and to compare how each stressor category influences the survival of an individual. The results from this study indicated that almost half of the number of reptiles being hospitalized were due to exposure to preliminary stressors such as lawn mowing incidents and pet attack. Primary and secondary admissions were fairly equal in number, however the mortality rate for secondary admissions was drastically high (~80%). The discussion integrates species’ ecology and stress physiology which can prove to have multi-faceted benefits across the fields of ecology and animal welfare. Ecologists can use the results from this study to comprehend species’ activity patterns to better plan reptilian conservation programs, whereas, for wildlife clinicians and rehabilitators, assignment of stressor categories could be a beneficial tool for bolstering the welfare monitoring program for small native reptiles in clinical settings.

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