Barriers, corridors or suitable habitat? Effect of monoculture tree plantations on the habitat use and prey availability for jaguars and pumas in the Atlantic Forest

Context Assisted colonisation has the potential to protect species from intractable threats within their historical ranges. The Australian mainland subspecies of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) is extinct in the wild, with surviving populations restricted to small sites protected by predator–barrier fences. PVA modelling shows that a self-sustaining bandicoot population would require an area free of the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) of at least 2500ha. French Island is outside the historic range of the species, but is fox-free and contains around 9000ha of potentially suitable habitat. Aims This study will assess the suitability of French Island as a potential site for a self-sustaining eastern barred bandicoot population by conducting a 1-year assisted colonisation trial to assess habitat use, body condition and survival. Methods Between July and September 2012, 18 adult bandicoots were released. We radio-tracked bandicoots using intraperitoneal radio-transmitters for up to 122 days and trapped fortnightly. Key results The release group met the three measures of success: (1) appropriate habitat use; (2) recovery of post-release bodyweight; and (3) founder survival exceeding 100 days. Habitat use and body condition throughout the trial reflected that of mainland populations, and seven bandicoots survived longer than 100 days. Mortality was greatest in the first month, with veterinary investigations confirming two deaths due to cat predation, two deaths from toxoplasmosis and one unknown cause of death. Bandicoots that survived longer than 100 days occupied higher, drier ground than those that did not. Toxoplasmosis cases were associated with lower topographic position on the site. Conclusions Our results suggest that French Island provides suitable habitat for the establishment of a population of eastern barred bandicoots. On French Island, toxoplasmosis was identified as an important source of mortality in addition to cat predation, and warrants further investigation. Implications Given the costs and challenges of predator control and the maintenance of predator exclusion fences, assisted colonisation to one or more fox-free islands remains the most viable option to establish self-sustaining bandicoot populations. Our results highlight the value in conducting trial releases ahead of major translocations.

Download Full-text

Fruit Availability and Peccary Frugivory in an Isolated Atlantic Forest Fragment: Effects on Peccary Ranging Behavior and Habitat Use

Biotropica ◽

10.1111/j.1744-7429.2007.00351.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

pp. 070925063121003-??? ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Alexine Keuroghlian ◽

Donald P. Eaton

Keyword(s):

Habitat Use ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Ranging Behavior ◽

Forest Fragment ◽

Fruit Availability

Download Full-text

Dispersal, home-range size, and habitat use of an endangered land snail, the Oregon forestsnail (Allogona townsendiana)

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z2012-056 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (7) ◽

pp. 875-884 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

A.B. Edworthy ◽

K.M.M. Steensma ◽

H.M. Zandberg ◽

P.L. Lilley

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Home Range ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Land Snail ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Dispersal Distance ◽

Land Snails ◽

Dispersal Ability ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Maximum Displacement

Terrestrial molluscs have declined globally, often as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation. Many land snails are poor dispersers and exist in isolated habitat patches. The Oregon forestsnail ( Allogona townsendiana (I. Lea, 1838)) coincides with the most densely populated region of British Columbia and is listed as endangered in Canada. To investigate the dispersal distances and habitat-use patterns of Oregon forestsnails, we tagged and tracked 21 adult snails at Langley, British Columbia, for up to 3 years (2005–2008). The maximum daily dispersal distance for a snail was 4.5 m and the maximum displacement that we observed for a snail was 32.2 m during 3 years. Snails occupied home-range areas of 18.4–404.4 m2, often overlapping both forest and meadow habitat. Their home-range sizes were smaller in habitats with high availability of stinging nettle ( Urtica dioica L.), which may be an indicator of high-quality habitat. Our results suggest that the Oregon forestsnail is a relatively sedentary species with limited dispersal ability in its adult stage. Although Oregon forestsnails are likely unable to colonize suitable habitat independently, remnant forest–meadow mosaic patches such as our study site provide valuable habitat for Oregon forestsnail, which are supplementary to large tracts of intact forest where most of their populations are found.

Download Full-text

Effects of exotic tree plantations on the richness of dragonflies (Odonata) in Atlantic Forest, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

International Journal of Odonatology ◽

10.1080/13887890.2016.1251343 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 207-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Samuel Renner ◽

Eduardo Périco ◽

Göran Sahlén

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Rio Grande ◽

Tree Plantations ◽

Rio Grande Do Sul ◽

Exotic Tree

Download Full-text

Scales of Food Availability for an Endangered Insectivore, The Hawaii Akepa

The Auk ◽

10.1093/auk/119.1.166 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 119 (1) ◽

pp. 166-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Scott Fretz

Keyword(s):

Food Availability ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Canopy Cover ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Prey Population ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Population Declines ◽

Loxops Coccineus ◽

A Site

Abstract The Hawaii Akepa (Loxops coccineus coccineus) is an endangered bird that has declined dramatically in the last 100 years, and is now rare or absent from many areas that appear to support suitable habitat. Food availability may play a role in these distribution patterns, but differences in food between sites may arise from different sources. I compared prey availability between a site supporting a large, stable Hawaii Akepa population, and a site from which Hawaii Akepa have declined in the last 100 years for unknown reasons. I used three spatial scales to compare food between sites to explore the basis of differences in food between sites. At a scale appropriate for comparing prey population dynamics (scale 1), I found that prey population densities are similar between sites, suggesting that introduced (or native) predators or parasitoids have not affected prey populations differently between sites. At two larger scales incorporating habitat structure, I found that food availability is much lower at the site of Hawaii Akepa declines. Differences in canopy density per square meter (scale 2), and in canopy cover per square kilometer (scale 3), result in lower food availability that may have effects on individual foraging birds as well as on potential Hawaii Akepa population density. These findings illustrate the importance of explicitly incorporating spatial scale into inquiries about food for Hawaii Akepa, and suggest that the site of population declines may not be suitable habitat with respect to food for this species.

Download Full-text

Movements of the Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) in Nova Scotia

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v129i4.1760 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 379

Author(s):

T. L. Imlay ◽

J. Saroli ◽

T. B. Herman ◽

S. W. Mockford

Keyword(s):

Nova Scotia ◽

Annual Variation ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Home Range Size ◽

Water Levels ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Home Ranges ◽

Daily Movement ◽

The Status ◽

Best Fit

The disjunct Eastern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus) population in southwest Nova Scotia is listed as “threatened” by the committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. A study of the movements of the species at two lakeshore locations known to support a high density of Eastern Ribbonsnakes was undertaken in 2007 and 2008. Average seasonal movements at both sites ranged from 17 m to 84 m for juvenile snakes and 21 m to 130 m for adults; one neonate was recaptured during the study after travelling 32 m. The maximum distance travelled by an individual snake was 391 m in one season. The best-fit model to explain differences in daily movement patterns included year (P = 0.041), indicating that there is annual variation in the movements of this species. Low recapture rates precluded accurate estimates of home-range size, which varied roughly from 0.16 ha to 0.78 ha. Both movements and home ranges were larger than previously documented in Nova Scotia, but maximum distances travelled were consistent with a previous study in Michigan. Most documented movements were along the lakeshore within contiguous, suitable habitat. More work is needed to understand the frequency of large movements and triggers that initiate movements, e.g., changes in water levels, habitat suitability, or prey availability.

Download Full-text

Changes to anuran diversity following forest replacement by tree plantations in the southern Atlantic forest of Argentina

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2018.03.038 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 424 ◽

pp. 529-535 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elena Gangenova ◽

Gustavo A. Zurita ◽

Federico Marangoni

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Tree Plantations

Download Full-text

Changes in spider diversity through the growth cycle of pine plantations in the semi-deciduous Atlantic forest: The role of prey availability and abiotic conditions

Forest Ecology and Management ◽

10.1016/j.foreco.2018.03.025 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 424 ◽

pp. 536-544 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ana Munévar ◽

Gonzalo D. Rubio ◽

Gustavo Andrés Zurita

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Forest ◽

Prey Availability ◽

Growth Cycle ◽

Pine Plantations ◽

Abiotic Conditions

Download Full-text

Implications of forest management practices for sex-specific habitat use by Nycticeius humeralis

Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.1093/jmammal/gyz088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 1263-1273

Author(s):

Youngsang Kwon ◽

Anna C Doty ◽

Megan L Huffman ◽

Virginie Rolland ◽

Daniel R Istvanko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Habitat Use ◽

Vegetation Index ◽

Management Practices ◽

Anthropogenic Impacts ◽

Suitable Habitat ◽

Foraging Habitat ◽

Landscape Characteristics ◽

Wide Range ◽

Probability Of Presence

AbstractNorth American bats are experiencing declines in part due to anthropogenic impacts resulting in habitat loss and disturbance. In eastern deciduous forests, bats rely on forest resources for all or part of the year. Therefore, to promote conservation of bats, it is essential to determine whether current forest management techniques are compatible with habitat use by bats. We evaluated the relative effect of landscape characteristics, including forest management variables, on sex-specific foraging habitat of an insectivorous forest-dwelling bat species, the evening bat (Nycticeius humeralis), and predicted areas of suitable habitat for N. humeralis. A total of 18 variables were assessed using a maximum-entropy (Maxent) machine-learning approach: eight land use–land cover classes, three stand types, two topography measures, normalized difference vegetation index, and four forest management variables. Females showed the highest probability of presence closer to stands treated with prescribed fire, whereas males showed the highest probability of presence closer to reforested stands. In general, males exhibited more flexibility than females in their habitat selection. The Maxent model further indicated that habitat associated with suitability of > 70% was ~4 times larger for males than females, and predicted an additional area of suitable foraging habitat where no presence locations had been recorded. Our modeling approach may be suitable for other researchers to derive models appropriate for a wide range of bat species.

Download Full-text