Anuran Habitat Associations in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert, USA

AbstractThe genus Klebsiella is seemingly ubiquitous in terms of its habitat associations. Klebsiella is a common opportunistic pathogen for humans and other animals, as well as being resident or transient flora (particularly in the gastrointestinal tract). Other habitats include sewage, drinking water, soils, surface waters, industrial effluents, and vegetation. Until recently, almost all these Klebsiella have been identified as one species, ie, K. pneumoniae. However, phenotypic and genotypic studies have shown that “K. pneumoniae” actually consists of at least four species, all with distinct characteristics and habitats. General habitat associations of Klebsiella species are as follows: K. pneumoniae—humans, animals, sewage, and polluted waters and soils; K. oxytoca—frequent association with most habitats; K. terrigena— unpolluted surface waters and soils, drinking water, and vegetation; K. planticola—sewage, polluted surface waters, soils, and vegetation; and K. ozaenae/K. rhinoscleromatis—infrequently detected (primarily with humans).

Download Full-text

Sylvilagus audubonii and Lepus californicus Home Range Sizes in the Chihuahuan Desert

Western North American Naturalist ◽

10.3398/064.079.0415 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 79 (4) ◽

pp. 603

Author(s):

Robert L. Harrison

Keyword(s):

Home Range ◽

Chihuahuan Desert ◽

Lepus Californicus

Download Full-text

Identifying priority core habitats and corridors for effective conservation of brown bears in Iran

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-79970-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

A. Mohammadi ◽

K. Almasieh ◽

D. Nayeri ◽

F. Ataei ◽

A. Khani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Areas ◽

Brown Bear ◽

Population Connectivity ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Area Network ◽

Zagros Mountains ◽

Range Limit ◽

Brown Bears ◽

Core Areas ◽

Effective Conservation

AbstractIran lies at the southernmost range limit of brown bears globally. Therefore, understanding the habitat associations and patterns of population connectivity for brown bears in Iran is relevant for the species’ conservation. We applied species distribution modeling to predict habitat suitability and connectivity modeling to identify population core areas and corridors. Our results showed that forest density, topographical roughness, NDVI and human footprint were the most influential variables in predicting brown bear distribution. The most crucial core areas and corridor networks for brown bear are concentrated in the Alborz and Zagros Mountains. These two core areas were predicted to be fragmented into a total of fifteen isolated patches if dispersal of brown bear across the landscape is limited to 50,000 cost units, and aggregates into two isolated habitat patches if the species is capable of dispersing 400,000 cost units. We found low overlap between corridors, and core habitats with protected areas, suggesting that the existing protected area network may not be adequate for the conservation of brown bear in Iran. Our results suggest that effective conservation of brown bears in Iran requires protection of both core habitats and the corridors between them, especially outside Iran’s network of protected areas.

Download Full-text

Anurans in a Subarctic Tundra Landscape Near Cape Churchill, Manitoba

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v122i2.571 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 122 (2) ◽

pp. 129 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthew E. Reiter ◽

Clint W. Boal ◽

David E. Andersen

Keyword(s):

Boreal Forest ◽

Forest Edge ◽

Habitat Associations ◽

Probability Of Detection ◽

Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽

Wood Frogs ◽

Lithobates Sylvaticus ◽

Landscape Types ◽

Species Specific ◽

Monitoring Protocols

Distribution, abundance, and habitat relationships of anurans inhabiting subarctic regions are poorly understood, and anuran monitoring protocols developed for temperate regions may not be applicable across large roadless areas of northern landscapes. In addition, arctic and subarctic regions of North America are predicted to experience changes in climate and, in some areas, are experiencing habitat alteration due to high rates of herbivory by breeding and migrating waterfowl. To better understand subarctic anuran abundance, distribution, and habitat associations, we conducted anuran calling surveys in the Cape Churchill region of Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada, in 2004 and 2005. We conducted surveys along ~1-km transects distributed across three landscape types (coastal tundra, interior sedge meadow–tundra, and boreal forest–tundra interface) to estimate densities and probabilities of detection of Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) and Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus). We detected a Wood Frog or Boreal Chorus Frog on 22 (87%) of 26 transects surveyed, but probability of detection varied between years and species and among landscape types. Estimated densities of both species increased from the coastal zone inland toward the boreal forest edge. Our results suggest anurans occur across all three landscape types in our study area, but that species-specific spatial patterns exist in their abundances. Considerations for both spatial and temporal variation in abundance and detection probability need to be incorporated into surveys and monitoring programs for subarctic anurans.

Download Full-text