Modeling cetacean habitat use in an urban coastal area in southeastern Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 642 ◽  
pp. 227-240
Author(s):  
L Lodi ◽  
R Tardin ◽  
G Maricato
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Cetacean Species ◽  
Few Data

Most studies of cetacean habitat use do not consider the influence of anthropogenic activities. We investigated the influence of environmental and anthropogenic variables on habitat use by humpback Megaptera novaeangliae and Bryde’s whales Balaenoptera brydei off the coast of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. Although there are 2 marine protected areas (MPAs) in this area, few data are available on cetacean habitat use or on the overlap of different cetacean species within these MPAs. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of the MPAs and propose a buffer zone to better protect the biodiversity of the study area. We conducted systematic surveys and developed spatial eigenvector generalized linear models to characterize habitat use by the species in the study area. Habitat use by humpback whales was influenced only by depth, whereas for Bryde’s whales there was the additional influence of anthropogenic variables. For Bryde’s whales, which use the area for feeding, sea surface temperature and the distance to anchorages had a major influence on habitat use. We also showed that neither of the MPAs in the study area adequately protects the hotspots of either whale species. Most of the humpback whale grid cells with high sighting predictions were located within 2 km of the MPAs, while areas of high sighting prediction of Bryde’s whales were located up to 5 km from the MPAs, closer to beaches. Our findings provide important insights for the delimitation of protected areas and zoning of the MPAs.

Environment and anthropogenic activities influence cetacean habitat use in southeastern Brazil

2019 ◽  
Vol 616 ◽  
pp. 197-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
RH Tardin ◽  
Y Chun ◽  
CN Jenkins ◽  
IS Maciel ◽  
SM Simão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Southeastern Brazil

scholarly journals Remote Sensing Methods for the Biophysical Characterization of Protected Areas Globally: Challenges and Opportunities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Javier Martínez-López ◽  
Bastian Bertzky ◽  
Simon Willcock ◽  
Marine Robuchon ◽  
María Almagro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Biophysical Characterization ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Scale Characterization

Protected areas (PAs) are a key strategy to reverse global biodiversity declines, but they are under increasing pressure from anthropogenic activities and concomitant effects. Thus, the heterogeneous landscapes within PAs, containing a number of different habitats and ecosystem types, are in various degrees of disturbance. Characterizing habitats and ecosystems within the global protected area network requires large-scale monitoring over long time scales. This study reviews methods for the biophysical characterization of terrestrial PAs at a global scale by means of remote sensing (RS) and provides further recommendations. To this end, we first discuss the importance of taking into account the structural and functional attributes, as well as integrating a broad spectrum of variables, to account for the different ecosystem and habitat types within PAs, considering examples at local and regional scales. We then discuss potential variables, challenges and limitations of existing global environmental stratifications, as well as the biophysical characterization of PAs, and finally offer some recommendations. Computational and interoperability issues are also discussed, as well as the potential of cloud-based platforms linked to earth observations to support large-scale characterization of PAs. Using RS to characterize PAs globally is a crucial approach to help ensure sustainable development, but it requires further work before such studies are able to inform large-scale conservation actions. This study proposes 14 recommendations in order to improve existing initiatives to biophysically characterize PAs at a global scale.

Protected areas and unpaved roads mediate habitat use of the giant anteater in anthropogenic landscapes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia F Versiani ◽  
Larissa L Bailey ◽  
Nielson Pasqualotto ◽  
Thiago F Rodrigues ◽  
Roberta M Paolino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Brazilian Cerrado ◽  
Anthropogenic Landscapes ◽  
Unpaved Roads ◽  
Relative Paucity ◽  
Model Average

Abstract The drastic reduction of the Brazilian Cerrado has transformed this savanna hotspot into vast swaths of commodity-based agriculture fields, mainly soybean, sugarcane, and beef-production pasturelands. The resulting habitat loss and fragmentation are the principal factors underlying population decline of native species inhabiting the Cerrado, particularly those with a high demand for space, low population density, and specialized diet, such as the endangered giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla). Although the species has been studied in protected areas, we know much less about its ability to endure in disturbed landscapes. Here, we analyzed camera-trapping data to estimate a proxy of habitat use (ψ^; occupancy) and detection probabilities of the giant anteater, identifying environmental covariates influencing these parameters in landscapes with intensive agriculture and commercial forestry. We found this species using about half of the study area (model average ψ^ = 0.51, CI = 0.40–0.62), with two predictors strongly influencing habitat use: protected areas and unpaved roads. In turn, detection probability correlates positively with area of open Cerrado and negatively with area of settlements. The species is more likely to use unpaved roads inside protected areas (ψ^ = 0.90, CI = 0.47–0.75), compared to off road sites in the surrounding areas (ψ^ = 0.19, CI = 0.10–0.34). Our findings indicate that giant anteaters are dependent on nature reserves and native vegetation areas existing on private properties, whose protection is regulated by the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law. Given the relative paucity of state-owned protected areas in the Brazilian Cerrado, increasing the adherence of rural owners to this law is, therefore, key for the conservation of the giant anteater. The intense use of unpaved roads might reflect travelling and/or foraging optimization, a behavioral response that, nevertheless, may compound this species’ susceptibility to suffer mortality from roadkill.

scholarly journals Habitat partitioning, habits and convergence among coastal nektonic fish species from the São Sebastião Channel, southeastern Brazil

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 299-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Zaniolo Gibran
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Body Shape ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Divergent Evolution ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Ecological Performance ◽  
Intimate Link

Based on a fish survey and preliminary underwater observations, 17 "morphotypes" were identified that characterize the morphological diversity found within 27 nektonic fish species sampled at São Sebastião Channel. Such "morphotypes" were studied using an ecomorphological approach, with the intention to investigate similarities and differences in shape and habits. Underwater field observations were also performed, to verify if the lifestyle of these species, such as vertical occupation of the water column and the habitat use, are in accordance with their distribution in the morphospace. The results, complemented with data from scientific literature on the taxonomy and phylogenies of these species, allowed discussing some of the typical cases of convergent and divergent evolution. Some of the ecomorphological clusters had no phylogenetic support although this is probably due to the environmental conditions in which theirs members have evolved. The body shape and fins positions of a fish clearly influence its ecological performance and habitat use, corroborating the ecomorphological hypothesis on the intimate link between phenotype and ecology.

scholarly journals Stool and ruminal microbiome components associated with methane emission and feed efficiency in Nelore beef cattle.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno G.N. Andrade ◽  
Haithem Afli ◽  
Flavia A. Bressani ◽  
Rafael R. C. Cuadrat ◽  
Priscila S. N. de Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methane Emission ◽  
Feed Efficiency ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Mixed Linear Models ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Feed Composition ◽  
Fecal Microbiome ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: The impact of extreme changes in weather patterns in the economy and human welfare are some of the biggest challenges that our civilization is facing. From the anthropogenic activities that contribute to climate change, reducing the impact of farming activities is a priority, since it is responsible for up to 18% of greenhouse gases linked to such activities. To this end, we tested if the ruminal and fecal microbiome components of 52 Brazilian Nelore bulls, belonging to two treatment groups based on the feed intervention, conventional and by-products based diet, could be used in the future as biomarkers for methane emission and feed efficiency in bovine.Results: We identified a total of 5,693 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) in the Nelore bulls microbiomes. Differential abundance (DA) analysis with the ANCOM approach identified 30 bacterial and 15 archaea ASVs as DA among treatment groups. Association analysis using Maaslin2 and Mixed Linear Models indicated that bacterial ASVs are linked to the residual methane emission (RCH4) and Residual Feed Intake (RFI) phenotypes, contributing to the host’s phenotypic variation, suggesting their potential as targets for interventions and/or biomarkers.Conclusion: Feed composition induced significant differences in abundance and richness of ruminal and fecal microbial populations. The diet based on industrial byproducts applied to our treatment groups influenced the microbiome diversity of bacteria and archaea, but not of protozoa. Different ASVs were associated with RCH4 emission and RFI in both ruminal and fecal microbiomes. While ruminal ASVs are expected to directly influence RCH4 emission and RFI, the relation of fecal taxa, such as Alistipes and Rikenellaceae (gut group RC9), with these traits might also be associated with host health due to their link to anti-inflammatory compounds, and these have the potential to be used as accessible biomarkers for these complex phenotypes.

Overwintering habitat use of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum): defining critical habitat using a novel underwater video survey and modeling approach

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1248-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xinhai Li ◽  
Matthew K Litvak ◽  
John E. Hughes Clarke
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Video Camera ◽  
Sampling Procedure ◽  
Shortnose Sturgeon ◽  
Underwater Video ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Critical Habitat ◽  
Acipenser Brevirostrum ◽  
Modeling Approach

The overwintering habitat use of shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) was investigated from January to March 2005 in the upper Kennebecasis River, New Brunswick, Canada, using a novel underwater video camera system and modeling approach. Following a random sampling procedure, 187 holes were drilled into the ice, and 234 sturgeon were counted and video-recorded. We found that sturgeon concentrated in a 2 ha area at the confluence of the Kennebecasis and Hammond rivers on a flat sandy substrate at a depth of 3.1–6.9 m. Generalized linear models were developed to describe the relationship of shortnose sturgeon density and habitat variables. The model indicated that the shortnose sturgeon had significant preference to deeper areas within this region. The total abundance of shortnose sturgeon in the area was estimated to be 4836 ± 69 (mean ± standard error) using the ordinary kriging method to interpolate sturgeon density at unsampled sites. This overwintering habitat of shortnose sturgeon can be defined as critical habitat following the identification policies of the Canadian Species at Risk Act (SARA).

Age-specific behavior and habitat use in humpback whales: Implications for vessel strike

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
JEF Stepanuk ◽  
EI Heywood ◽  
JF Lopez ◽  
RA DiGiovanni Jr ◽  
LH Thorne
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Humpback Whales ◽  
Specific Behavior

scholarly journals MODELO DE ZONEAMENTO DE RISCO DE INCÊNDIOS PARA UNIDADES DE CONSERVAÇÃO BRASILEIRAS: O CASO DO PARQUE ESTADUAL DO CERRADO (PR)

FLORESTA ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Letícia Koproski ◽  
Matheus Pinheiro Ferreira ◽  
Johann Georg Goldammer ◽  
Antonio Carlos Batista
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Geographical Information ◽  
Slope Aspect ◽  
Integrated Analysis ◽  
Risk Map ◽  
Integration Model ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Few Data

Este trabalho teve como objetivo estabelecer um modelo de zoneamento de risco de incêndios pela análise dos fatores físicos, associados às fontes de ignição e aos fatores de propagação dos incêndios, que pudesse ser aplicado à realidade da gestão das áreas protegidas em território brasileiro. Para tanto, o Parque Estadual do Cerrado foi selecionado como área de estudo. Foram produzidos mapas de riscos referentes à cobertura vegetal (V), influências humanas (H), declividade (D), orientação das encostas (E) e altimetria (A). O zoneamento foi gerado pela superposição dos mapas de risco, em função da somatória ponderada dos riscos parciais, representado pela equação: RISCO: 4V +3H + 1D + 1E + 1A. A partir do zoneamento, foi possível identificar duas áreas prioritárias para o manejo do fogo com relação ao risco de incêndios na Unidade. O modelo de integração traduziu adequadamente os níveis de risco e pode ser aplicado em outras unidades de conservação, especialmente em locais onde não existam muitos dados disponíveis sobre o histórico do fogo, ou onde existam poucos dados disponíveis sobre as áreas de estudo. Recomenda-se a utilização do modelo em locais onde não existam diferenças climáticas significativas.Palavras-chave: Mapas de risco; incêndios florestais; SIG; proteção florestal; áreas protegidas. AbstractFire risk mapping for Brazilian protected areas: the case of Cerrado State Park (PR). The aim of this research was to develop a model of forest fire risk map for Brazilian protected areas. The Cerrado State Park, located in Jaguariaíva city, State of Paraná, south of Brazil, was the focused area. The fire risk map was built up through the integrated analysis of vegetation cover (V), slope gradient (G), slope aspect (A), elevation (E), and human activities (H). For this analysis the Geographical Information System (GIS) was used. The fire risk map was the result of the overlay of the preliminary risk maps, by the model represented by the equation: RISK: 4V + 3H + 1G + 1A + 1E. The results presented that the integration model worked successfully for the area, properly managing the variables according to local characteristics and indicated two priority fire management areas in the Park. The model can be applied to protected areas with few data about fire history or few data about the area itself. The model is not recommended to be used in areas with significantly different climates.Keywords: Fire risk map; wildfires; GIS; forest protection.

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