Effects of Roads on Endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes

ABSTRACT San Joaquin kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis mutica) occur in central California, USA, and are endangered due to habitat loss and degradation. As the human population of California grows, more roads are being constructed in remaining kit fox habitat. We examined effects of 2-lane roads on demographic and ecological patterns of kit foxes on the Lokern Natural Area (LNA) from August 2001 to June 2004. Of 60 radiocollared kit foxes, only one was struck by a vehicle. Foxes were assigned to 1 of 3 risk categories (high, medium, or low) based on proportion of time spent in road-effect zones, which were defined by the probability of a fox encountering a road during nocturnal movements. Fox survival probabilities, reproductive success, litter size, nocturnal movements, and den placement all were similar among risk categories. Nocturnal locations of foxes were closer to roads than were den locations, and den fidelity was lowest for medium-risk foxes and highest for low-risk foxes but intermediate for high-risk foxes. Food availability and use were not affected by proximity to roads. We were unable to detect any significant detrimental effects from 2-lane roads on kit fox demography and ecology. Our results suggest that standard mitigation strategies, such as crossing structures and exclusionary fencing, would not benefit kit foxes on the LNA.     

Field Sedation of Coyotes,Red Foxes,and Raccoons With Medetomidine and Atipamezole

Abstract: We chemically restrained free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and raccoons (Procyon lotor) using medetomidine antagonized by atipamezole. All coyotes and 80% of red foxes were sedated with mean ± standard deviation doses of 0.12 ± 0.02 mg/kg and 0.14 ± 0.02 mg/kg medetomidine, respectively. Seventy-seven percent of raccoons were sedated with 0.21 ± 0.05 mg/kg medetomidine. In all species we observed occasional movement, muscle rigidity, and partial-arousal during sedation. Animals were alert within 4.3–8.6 ± 3.5–8.4 min following atipamezole at 0.4 mg/kg. Medetomidine and atipamezole provided safe handling in most animals and rapid recovery without use of a controlled substance. At these doses, biologists in the field should be prepared to administer a supplementary dose of medetomidine to some animals depending on ambient conditions and the objectives of the restraint event.     

A noninvasive method for distinguishing among canid species: amplification and enzyme restriction of DNA from dung

Endangered San Joaquin kit foxes Vulpes macrotis mutica can be sympatrically distributed with as many as four other canids: red fox, gray fox, coyote and domestic dog. Canid scats are often found during routine fieldwork, but cannot be reliably identified to species. To detect and study the endangered kit fox, we developed mitochondrial DNA markers that can be amplified from small amounts of DNA extracted from scats. We amplified a 412-bp fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome- b gene from scat samples and digested it with three restriction enzymes. The resulting restriction profiles discriminated among all five canid species and correctly identified 10 'unknown' fox scats to species in blind tests. We have applied our technique to identify canids species for an environmental management study and a conservation study. We envision that our protocol, and similar ones developed for other endangered species will be greatly used for conservation management in the future.     

栖息地毁坏与动物物种灭绝关系的模拟研究

利用多个物种共存模式模拟了不同情况下的不同动物种群演化的动力学特性,研究结果表明：（1）由于栖息地的毁坏所导致的动手的种灭绝是依赖于对物种死亡率和有关平衡态的假设的,不同的假设下,既使栖息地的破坏率相同,灭绝的物种可能是竞争能力最强的若干物种,也可能是竞争能力相对较弱的若干物种,既不象传统的物种进化理论所认为的必是弱的物种先灭绝,也不象Tilman等人所认为的一定是最强的若干物种先灭绝;（2）如果弱的物种具有较高的平均死亡率,则当栖息地受到一定的毁坏时,将有较多强的物种灭绝,而且物种灭绝时间将大大缩短;（3）在物种死亡率不变的情形下,物种在未受毁坏栖息地上的平衡态和大占有率pl^0,将有利于物种的生存。     

Habitat orientation alters the outcome of interspecific competition: A microcosm study with zooplankton grazers

Habitat orientation has recently been demonstrated to affect the foraging behavior, growth, and production of plankton grazers. Because the orientation effect may vary with species, we hypothesize that habitat orientation may alter interspecific interactions between animal species. We experimentally investigated how habitat orientation (placing cuboid chambers in three orientations with long, medium, and small side as the chamber height) affected the interaction between two common cladoceran species, Daphnia magna and Moina micrura, which competitively exploited green algae of Chlorella pyrenoidosa at two volume scales (64 and 512 ml). Results show that chamber orientation and volume additively affected the behavior and species performance of the grazers. Specifically, both grazer species generally decreased their average swimming velocity, grazing rate (on algal cells), body size, and survival and reproduction rates with increasing chamber height for both chamber volumes and with decreasing chamber volume regardless of chamber orientation. Nevertheless, the decrease magnitude was greater for M. micrura with increasing chamber height but was greater for D. magna with decreasing chamber volume. Correspondingly, when cocultured, the density ratio of D. magna to M. micrura increased with increasing chamber height but decreased with decreasing chamber volume. At the end of the experiment, none of D. magna individuals survived in the small and short (large‐based) chambers, and few M. micrura individuals survived in large and tall (small‐based) chambers. These results indicate that both habitat orientation and size affect the outcome of interspecific competition between grazer species. We suggest that variation in habitat orientation may improve community coexistence and species diversity in nature.     

Bats partition activity in space and time in a large,heterogeneous landscape

Diverse species assemblages theoretically partition along multiple resource axes to maintain niche separation between all species. Temporal partitioning has received less attention than spatial or dietary partitioning but may facilitate niche separation when species overlap along other resource axes. We conducted a broad‐scale acoustic study of the diverse and heterogeneous Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the Appalachian Mountains. Between 2015 and 2016, we deployed acoustic bat detectors at 50 sites (for a total of 322 survey nights). We examined spatiotemporal patterns of bat activity (by phonic group: Low, Mid, and Myotis) to test the hypothesis that bats partition both space and time. Myotis and Low bats were the most spatially and temporally dissimilar, while Mid bats were more general in their resource use. Low bats were active in early successional openings or low‐elevation forests, near water, and early in the evening. Mid bats were similarly active in all land cover classes, regardless of distance from water, throughout the night. Myotis avoided early successional openings and were active in forested land cover classes, near water, and throughout the night. Myotis and Mid bats did not alter their spatial activity patterns from 2015 to 2016, while Low bats did. We observed disparate temporal activity peaks between phonic groups that varied between years and by land cover class. The temporal separation between phonic groups relaxed from 2015 to 2016, possibly related to changes in the relative abundance of bats or changes in insect abundance or diversity. Temporal separation was more pronounced in the land cover classes that saw greater overall bat activity. These findings support the hypothesis that niche separation in diverse assemblages may occur along multiple resource axes and adds to the growing body of evidence that bats partition their temporal activity.     

同域分布红腹锦鸡和红腹角雉在不同空间尺度下的生境分化

生境分化是群落物种缓解种间竞争压力,实现同域稳定共存的重要途径,是群落生态学领域的重要研究内容。同域动物的生境分化是空间尺度依赖的生态过程,从不同空间尺度分层研究物种的生境分化,对于全面了解同域动物的共存模式和机制,以及实现多物种整合保护都具有重要意义。2018年1月至8月,在四川白水河国家级自然保护区对同域分布的红腹锦鸡(Chrysolophus pictus)和红腹角雉(Tragopan temmminckii)进行了野外调查,基于MaxEnt模型和样方法,从宏生境和微生境两个空间尺度对其生境分化进行了研究。结果显示:1)在宏生境尺度,两种雉类的适宜宏生境重叠面积达44.59 km~2,分别占红腹锦鸡和红腹角雉适宜宏生境面积的58.73%和44.3%,表明二者在宏生境尺度上没有发生明显的种间分化;2)微生境尺度是两种雉类生境分化的关键尺度,海拔、坡位、最近水源距离和乔木层盖度4个特征上的显著差异,使二者的微生境发生显著的种间分化;3)虽然在不同空间尺度下具有不同的分化程度和方式,但两种雉类在海拔适应性、人为干扰耐受性以及对水源的依赖性上的差异在两个尺度下表现出了一定的一致性。此外,基于二者生境需求的异同,提出了控制人为干扰、加强宣传教育、维持自然植被多样性和镶嵌格局等针对该区域雉类物种共同保护的建议。     

An Experimental Study of Competition Between the Native Sacramento Perch (Archoplites interruptus) and Introduced Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

The Sacramento perch (Archoplites interruptus), a sunfish (Centrarchidae) native only to the Central Valley of California, has been eliminated from most of its native range. To examine the role of interspecific competition in this decline, a series of experiments were conducted to assess the growth, aggressive behavior, and habitat use of Sacramento perch in the presence of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), an introduced centrarchid. The experiments indicate that (1) Sacramento perch gain less weight and show reduced growth when placed with bluegill, but that this interaction only occurs with food limitation, and is not affected by overall fish density; (2) Sacramento perch demonstrate less aggressive behavior than bluegill, but become more aggressive when they are conspicuously larger than bluegill; (3) Sacramento perch shift their habitat use in the presence of bluegill. Overall the results imply that Sacramento perch and bluegill exhibit interspecific competition where the mechanism of interaction is aggressive dominance by bluegill. It is suggested that long term persistence of Sacramento perch may require a habitat that is free of introduced centrarchid fishes, or one controlled by a naturally variable hydrological regime.     

Survival and Cause-Specific Mortality of Red Foxes in Agricultural and Urban Areas of Illinois

Abstract: Range expansion and population increase by coyotes (Canis latrans), reduced hunting and trapping, and intensified agricultural practices in the Midwest have altered red fox (Vulpes vulpes) mortality, although relative impacts of these factors are unknown. We examined mortality causes and survival of red foxes in urban and rural agricultural areas of Illinois, using radio telemetry data from 335 foxes (Nov 1996 to May 2002). We used Akaike's Information Criterion to evaluate six survival models for foxes reflecting 1) environmental effects, 2) intrinsic effects, 3) temporal effects, 4) behavioral effects, 5) social effects, and 6) a global model. Environmental and intrinsic models of survival were optimal for adult foxes. Adult foxes with low (0-20%) and high (80-100%) percentages of row crops in their home ranges had higher survival than adults with moderate percentages (40-70%). Heavier adults at capture also survived better. A global model (all covariates) was optimal for juvenile foxes. Higher juvenile survival associated with larger litters, lower body fat, and reduced dispersal time. Yearly survival ranged from 0.18 for rural male juveniles to 0.44 for rural female adults. Adult survival rates (0.35) were 11% higher than juvenile survival rates (0.24). Yearly survival varied for urban foxes due to cyclic outbreaks of sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabei). Thus, summer survival (May-Sep) of urban juveniles ranged from 0.10 (mange present) to 0.83 (no mange recorded). Mange was the most common (45% of all fatalities) source of mortality for urban foxes, followed by road kill (31%). We recorded only 4 mange fatalities (2%) for rural foxes. Rural foxes experienced low hunting mortality (7%) and equivalent road kill and coyote predation fatalities (40% each). Sources of mortality for midwestern foxes have dramatically changed since the 1970s when hunting was the major cause of mortality. Coyote predation has effectively replaced hunting mortality, and cyclic patterns of mange outbreaks in urban fox populations might indicate a dynamic source or sink relationship to surrounding rural fox populations. Absent mange, urban areas might provide refugia for red foxes where coyote populations persist at high densities in rural areas. Managers of sympatric urban and rural wildlife populations must understand survival dynamics influencing the population at the landscape level.     

Habitat Interference by Axis Deer on White-Tailed Deer

Abstract: Many studies of interactions between exotic and native ungulates have not had temporal and spatial controls nor have they considered the types of competitive interactions that would allow coexistence. For exotic axis deer (Axis axis) and native white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to coexist one species should be superior at interference competition and the other species should be superior at exploitative competition. We generated and tested predictions, based on body size and diet breadth, about habitat selection by white-tailed deer in the presence and absence of axis deer, dominance relationships, and time at sites provisioned with high quality forage. We conducted our study in treatment (axis and white-tailed deer) and control (white-tailed deer only) areas when both species were present and after axis deer were removed. We conducted vehicle surveys to determine habitat use of both species. At provisioned feeding sites we recorded aggressive behaviors and amount of time species spent at feeding sites alone and together. In the treatment area white-tailed deer selection for wooded habitat increased 2.1 times after axis deer were removed, whereas habitat selection by white-tailed deer was constant in the control area over the same time. At feeding sites axis deer were dominant to white-tailed deer; both species spent a significantly greater amount of time alone than at feeders together, but amount of time that individuals of each species spent at feeders did not differ. Axis deer were superior at interference competition, but white-tailed deer were not superior at exploitative competition; thus, species coexistence is unlikely. Whether white-tailed deer are negatively impacted by axis deer at spatial scales larger than our experiment probably depends on abundance of axis deer at larger spatial scales. Experiments of species interactions with temporal and spatial controls that consider types of competitive interactions increase a manager's understanding of when and how native ungulates may be negatively impacted by exotic ungulates.     

Relative importance of hydrological variables in predicting the habitat suitability of Euryale ferox Salisb.

Aims Aquatic ecosystems are a priority for conservation as they have become rapidly degraded with land-use changes. Predicting the habitat range of an endangered species provides crucial information for biodiversity conservation in such rapidly changing environments. However, the complex network structure of aquatic ecosystems restricts spatial prediction variables and has hitherto limited the use of habitat models to predict species occurrence in aquatic ecosystems. We used the maximum entropy model to evaluate the potential distribution of an endangered aquatic species, Euryale ferox Salisb. We tested the relative influence of (i) climatic variables, (ii) topographic variables, and (iii) hydrological variables derived from remote sensing data to improve the prediction of occurrence of aquatic plant species.Methods We considered the southern part of the Korean Peninsula as the modeling extent for the potential distribution of E. ferox. Occurrence records for E. ferox were collected from the literature and field surveys. We applied maximum entropy modeling using remotely sensed environmental variables and evaluated their relative importance as prediction variables with variation partitioning.Important findings The species distribution model predicted potential habitats of E. ferox that matched the actual distribution well. Floodplain wetlands and shallow reservoirs were the favored habitats of E. ferox. Quantitative loss and fragmentation of wetland habitats appeared to be a major reason for the decrease of E. ferox populations. Our results also imply that hydrological variables (i.e. normalized difference water index) derived from remote sensing data greatly increased model prediction (relative contribution: 10.5–37.0%) in the aquatic ecosystem. However, interspecific competition within a similar niche environment should be considered to increase the accuracy of the distribution model.     

Habitat use of juvenile white sturgeon in the Kootenai River, Idaho and British Columbia

Ultrasonic telemetry was used to assess habitat features utilized by 36 endangered juvenile white sturgeon, Acipenser transmontanus, in the lower 120 km of the Kootenai River of Idaho, USA and British Columbia, Canada during the summer and early fall of 1999 and 2000. All 36 fish were initially captured in pools using gillnets and released there, but most of the subsequent telemetry contacts were in glides, indicating these fish moved freely between the two macro-habitats. The low electivity indices indicated little preference between glides and pools. Most contacts were in glides, in the outside bend of the river channel (50), and in or near a visually defined thalweg. Contacts were most often associated with sand substrates and no cover. Physical habitat characteristics (nose [bottom] water velocity, depth, substrate, and cover) were recorded at 168 contact locations. The combination of significantly greater velocities and depths at contact sites vs. non-contact sites (p < 0.01) indicated these fish actively found and used areas of higher velocity and greater depth within the Kootenai River. There was little cover found for fish in the river other than large sand dunes and depth. The combination of depth and nose velocity data supported the idea that large sand dunes are providing refugia in the form of velocity breaks.     

Range‐wide persistence of the endangered arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus) for 20+ years following a prolonged drought

Prolonged drought due to climate change has negatively impacted amphibians in southern California, U.S.A. Due to the severity and length of the current drought, agencies and researchers had growing concern for the persistence of the arroyo toad (Anaxyrus californicus), an endangered endemic amphibian in this region. Range‐wide surveys for this species had not been conducted for at least 20 years. In 2017–2020, we conducted collaborative surveys for arroyo toads at historical locations. We surveyed 88 of the 115 total sites having historical records and confirmed that the arroyo toad is currently extant in at least 61 of 88 sites and 20 of 25 historically occupied watersheds. We did not detect toads at almost a third of the surveyed sites but did detect toads at 18 of 19 specific sites delineated in the 1999 Recovery Plan to meet one of four downlisting criteria. Arroyo toads are estimated to live 7–8 years, making populations susceptible to prolonged drought. Drought is estimated to increase in frequency and duration with climate change. Mitigation strategies for drought impacts, invasive aquatic species, altered flow regimes, and other anthropogenic effects could be the most beneficial strategies for toad conservation and may also provide simultaneous benefits to several other native species that share the same habitat.     

Habitat choice of Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyi) in Laikipia, Kenya

Characterizing habitat choice is essential for endangered species conservation. For the endangered Grevy's zebra ( Equus grevyi ), as with many widely ranging vertebrates, human activities may be an important factor affecting space use. Grevy's zebras are grazing ungulates inhabiting the savannahs of central-northern Kenya and Ethiopia. Past research on their social organization indicates that reproductive status shapes associations and movements. Here, we examine how habitat use varies across four reproductive classes: lactating and nonlactating females, bachelors and territorial males. We also test whether Grevy's zebra avoid locations close to active livestock corrals, or bomas . We find that forage quality, forage quantity and habitat openness of locations used by Grevy's zebra vary significantly depending on individual reproductive state. Lactating females and bachelors use areas with green, short grass and medium-dense bush more frequently than nonlactating females or territorial males. We hypothesize that lactating females trade off forage quantity and safety to access nutrients in growing grass. Across reproductive classes, Grevy's zebra choose locations further from active bomas than if they used the area randomly. Our results suggest that Grevy's zebra may require a range of vegetation characteristics for different reproductive classes. Further, they may need areas free from competition or disturbance by livestock.     

Effects of Sarcoptic Mange on Coyotes at Wind Cave National Park

Abstract: Home-range size and population abundance indices of coyotes (Canis latrans) have not been documented in Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, USA. In 2003 and 2004, we captured a total of 26 coyotes and radiocollared 22 adults (12 F, 10 M). In 2003 and 2004, 2 of 17 (12%) and 5 of 9 (56%) coyotes, respectively, were infected with sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) at the time of capture. Thus, objectives were modified to document effects of the mange epizootic on the coyote population. In 2003, home-range (adaptive-kernel) sizes for male coyotes with mange and those considered healthy were 8.26 ± 1.63 (SE) km² and 9.67 ± 2.80 km², respectively. In 2004, home-range sizes for those male coyotes with and without mange were 22.69 ± 9.06 km² and 12.51 ± 2.73 km², respectively. Male home-range size did not differ between years (P = 0.14) or by status (with or without mange; P = 0.84). Survival of collared coyotes was 60% at the end of 2003. Results from fecal line transects, an index of relative abundance, indicated that the coyote population decreased by 48% from 2003 to 2004. Continued monitoring of sarcoptic mange epizootics will enable managers to assess the effects of mange on coyote populations.     

蒙古栎林种内和种间竞争研究

蒙古栎（Quercus mongolica Fischer ex Ledebour）林是东北地区常见的典型森林类型之一。以黑龙江中央站黑嘴松鸡国家级自然保护区面积为1 hm²的蒙古栎林固定样地为研究对象，采用固定样圆法确定了竞争范围，并利用Hegyi竞争指数分析了蒙古栎林的种内和种间竞争状态。研究结果表明：蒙古栎的种内和种间竞争强度分别占总竞争强度的28.08%和71.92%，说明了蒙古栎的种内竞争强度小，竞争压力主要来自于种间。白桦（Betula platyphylla Suk.）、黑桦（Betula dahurica Pall.）、兴安落叶松（Larix gmelinii（Ruprecht）Kuzeneva）数量较多，个体高大，对蒙古栎的竞争压力较大。蒙古栎种内和种间竞争强度的顺序为：白桦 > 蒙古栎 > 黑桦 > 兴安落叶松 > 山杨（Populus davidiana Dode） > 紫椴（Tilia amurensis Rupr.） > 大黄柳（Salix raddeana Laksch.）。蒙古栎的胸径与整个林分、伴生树种以及蒙古栎种内的竞争强度成幂函数关系，随着对象木胸径增大，3种竞争强度均减小。当蒙古栎胸径小于20 cm时，竞争强度较大；当胸径大于20 cm时，蒙古栎所受的竞争压力较小，并趋于稳定，通过所得的模型可以很好地预测出蒙古栎种内和种间的竞争强度。     

新疆莫索湾垦区啮齿动物群落分布与生境类型关系的研究

为探索沙漠开垦为绿洲后,啮齿动物群落的生态分布格局及变迁规律,2004年6～8月对莫索湾垦区150团场啮齿动物进行了调查.结果表明：荒漠开垦为林地,红尾沙鼠占据主导地位;开垦为农田,鼠类群落表现出较大差异：棉田中柽柳沙鼠占主导地位,麦田中小家鼠为优势鼠种,苜蓿地则以小林姬鼠为主,白菜地中灰仓鼠占据优势地位;城镇居民区“伴人”鼠种褐家鼠居于绝对优势.结论：在荒漠开垦为林地、农田和变为居民区的过程中,鼠类群落也相应地由荒漠鼠类向人工景观鼠类演变.然而对于从沙漠腹地开垦出来的绿洲,虽然人类已开垦经营了半个世纪,但啮齿动物群落的原始荒漠特征仍较完善地保存着,这与当地极端的地理特征相一致.     

Habitat use of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri and association with other fish species in a disconnected Danube side arm

Fish assemblages along the longitudinal course of an old, disconnected and modified side arm of the Danube floodplain downstream of Vienna, Austria, as well as habitat structure, hydro‐morphological and hydro‐chemical factors, were investigated in order to analyse the key environmental determinants of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri. Generally, U. krameri was the most abundant species in the system. It occurred in disconnected ditches, ponds and pools with dense reed belts and comparatively low nutrient content, indicating its natural association with marsh habitats. At infrequently disturbed sites it was associated with a small group of stagnophilious and highly specialized species with adaptations to strong oxygen fluctuations. At frequently flooded sites, the species was absent or occurred in low abundances, indicating its adaptation to water bodies in older successional stages and its low competitive power in permanently connected floodplain habitats.