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opencc-zeroJan 2024View details →

Humans drive spatial variation in mortality risk for a threatened wolf population in a Canis hybrid zone

<ol> <li>Large carnivores often exhibit high survival rates in protected areas, whereas intentional and unintentional human-caused mortality may be greater in adjacent areas. These patterns can result in source-sink dynamics and limit population expansion beyond protected areas.</li> <li>We used telemetry data from 438 canids in 141 packs collected from 2002–2020 to evaluate mortality risk for wolves, coyotes, and admixed canids in a 3-species hybrid zone in and adjacent to a large protected area in Ontario, Canada. The hybrid zone is occupied by most of the remaining eastern wolves (Canis lycaon), a rare, threatened species that hybridizes with sympatric eastern coyotes (C. latrans) and Great Lakes gray wolves (C. lupus).</li> <li>Within Algonquin Provincial Park (APP), annual human-caused mortality from harvest and vehicles was low (0.06, 95% CI [0.03, 0.08]), whereas annual human-caused mortality was higher in adjacent areas (0.31, 95% CI [0.25, 0.37]). Smaller protected areas implemented to help protect eastern wolves did not significantly reduce mortality. Eastern wolves survived poorly relative to other canids and dispersing canids survived poorly relative to residents. Mortality risk was greater when canids were closer to roads. Mortality risk was also increased or reduced by the strength of individual-level selection or avoidance of roads relative to their availability, respectively.</li> <li>Our results provide a comprehensive evaluation of factors influencing spatial variation in mortality risk for canids to inform eastern wolf recovery efforts. Additionally, we developed a novel modeling approach for investigating the influence of resource selection on mortality risk, which highlighted that individual-level responses to risk can strongly influence population-level mortality patterns.</li> <li> Synthesis and applications. Despite being listed as 'threatened' under the Ontario Endangered Species Act, eastern wolves are still legally trapped and shot outside protected areas in central Ontario. Eastern wolves and dispersing canids survive poorly outside of APP, primarily from human-caused mortality. These results, along with the apparent inadequacy of the smaller protected areas, suggest that expanding the threatened eastern wolf population outside APP is unlikely under current management conditions. Protecting eastern wolves from human-caused mortality is complicated as it would require a harvest ban for all canids, including coyotes.</li> </ol>

opencc-by-4.0Mar 2024View details →

Seasonal and spatial variation of paraben concentrations in urban coastal waters from freshwater lagoons to the open ocean of Brazil

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opencc-zeroNov 2021View details →

R script used for: Telomeres in a spatial context: a tool for understanding ageing pattern variation in wild populations

Ageing refers to the loss of organismal functionality with age, a process that is characterised by decreased reproduction and survival probability. In natural populations, it is expected that environmental conditions influence an individual's ageing trajectory. Understanding the role of environmental heterogeneity on ageing variation could provide criticleinsights into population resilience and species distribution but remains overlooked. Telomeres, the end cap of chromosomes, are a promising integrative physiological marker of an individual's health and a possible proxy to aid the understanding of variation in ageing trajectories. Here, we review the existing information on telomere length and its dynamics in wild populations distributed across spatial scales. Despite a relative scarcity of information, there is evidence for divergence in telomere length between populations facing contrasting environments. Nonetheless, a higher spatial resolution and temporal replication is needed to fully understand the role that environmental conditions play on telomere length variation. Since most of the existing studies are correlational, future field and laboratory experiments are required. For the first time, we demonstrate the use of population telomere data to predict species habitat suitability through Species Distribution Models (SDMs). This represents a promising new research area in the study of ageing pattern variation in wild populations. Furthermore, the inclusion of telomere data in future physiological-SDMs may improve our understanding of species distribution and population resilience. However, the use of telomeres within this context could be limited if no previous knowledge on the relevance of telomeres as markers of health and survival at the species level is available. Finally, we suggest some key practical and theoretical considerations that, ideally, future studies combining biogeographic and telomere data should pay attention.

opencc-zeroJan 2022View details →

Data from: Spatial variation in the biotic and abiotic filters of oyster recruitment: Implications for restoration

Attempts to restore marine ecosystems are increasing, but the success of projects remains variable. For marine invertebrates, the establishment of self-sustaining populations requires a larval supply as well as conditions that permit recruitment. Abiotic and biotic conditions that determine recruitment can vary across environmental gradients and have opposing or reinforcing effects. We assessed how predation and tidal inundation influence recruitment of the reef-forming oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, at 15 sites, 5 estuaries and 8 degrees of latitude in eastern Australia. Oysters recruited to all 15 sites, but their density displayed spatially variable effects of tidal inundation and caging. Effects of tidal inundation and caging were weakest at the two lower-latitude estuaries where recruitment was low overall, average temperature and turbidity were high and dissolved oxygen low. At higher-latitude estuaries, where abiotic conditions were more favourable for recruitment, recruit density displayed tidal elevation gradients that were dependent on caging and time. Initially, recruit density decreased with tidal inundation (and exposure to finfish predators), in the uncaged but not the caged treatment. However, over time the elevation gradient disappeared, and recruitment and survival of oysters was greater in caged than uncaged treatments irrespective of elevation. Synthesis and applications: Our results suggest that both abiotic (i.e. temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen) and biotic (i.e. predation) factors can negatively influence oyster recruitment and, hence, restoration success. Consequently, oyster reef restoration projects should be planned to prioritise sites with low turbidity, high dissolved oxygen and low predation unless these stressors can be mitigated. Restoration projects that are designed with knowledge of local stressors are more likely to be successful.

opencc-zeroFeb 2022View details →

Counting the bodies: estimating the numbers and spatial variation of Australian reptiles, birds and mammals killed by two invasive mesopredators

Aim: Introduced predators negatively impact biodiversity globally, with insular fauna often most severely affected. Here, we assess spatial variation in the number of terrestrial vertebrates (excluding amphibians) killed by two mammalian mesopredators introduced to Australia, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). We aim to identify prey groups that suffer especially high rates of predation, and regions where losses to foxes and/or cats are most substantial. Location: Australia Methods: We draw information on the spatial variation in tallies of reptiles, birds and mammals killed by cats in Australia from published studies. We derive tallies for fox predation by (i) modelling continental-scale spatial variation in fox density, (ii) modelling spatial variation in the frequency of occurrence of prey groups in fox diet, (iii) analysing the number of prey individuals within dietary samples, and (iv) discounting animals taken as carrion. We derive point estimates of the numbers of individuals killed annually by foxes and by cats, and map spatial variation in these tallies. Results: Foxes kill more reptiles, birds and mammals (peaking at 1,071 km-2 yr-1) than cats (55 km-2 yr-1) across most of the unmodified temperate and forested areas of mainland Australia, reflecting the generally higher density of foxes than cats in these environments. However, across most of the continent – mainly the arid central and tropical northern regions (and on most Australian islands) – cats kill more animals than foxes. We estimate that foxes and cats together kill 697 million reptiles annually in Australia, 510 million birds and 1435 million mammals. Main conclusions: This continental-scale analysis demonstrates that predation by two introduced species takes a substantial and ongoing toll on Australian reptiles, birds and mammals. Continuing population declines and potential extinctions of some of these species threatens to further compound Australia's poor contemporary conservation record.

opencc-zeroMar 2022View details →

Data from: Prairie dogs, cattle subsidies, and alternative prey: Seasonal and spatial variation in coyote diet in a temperate grassland

As the dominant predator on North America's grasslands, coyotes (Canis latrans) have a large influence on biodiversity, both on working ranches and in protected parks. Ground squirrel (sciurid) species and livestock carrion are often abundant on grasslands worldwide and have the potential to influence a predator's consumption of alternative prey. We collected 1321 scats in four seasons over two years in and adjacent to Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, to test the hypothesis that seasonal and spatial variation in consumption of sciurid prey and cattle (Bos taurus) carrion influenced coyote consumption of alternative prey. Sciurid (black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus and Richardson's ground squirrel Urocitellus richardsonii) remains were common from spring to fall and had a strong inverse relationship with deer (mule deer Odocoileus hemionus and white-tailed deer O. virginianus), which were most common in winter scats. Cattle remains were most common during spring, fall and winter, occurring in 10.6% of scats annually. Biomass estimates indicated that cattle was the highest ranked food on cattle grazing land year-round, and the 2nd ranked food, after deer, during winter on the portion of the park from which cattle were excluded. Closer proximity of scats to a prairie dog colony increased the likelihood of prairie dog remains throughout the year and reduced the likelihood of cattle remains in scats from spring to fall, but not during winter. Individual differences in foraging and ranging behavior may explain the spatial distribution of prairie dog versus cattle in scats. Further work is needed to determine whether sciurid prey, deer, or livestock carrion support large predator populations on grassland habitats to a level that may negatively affect coexisting prey species, including species at risk.

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

History and environment shape spatial genetic variation and predict climate maladaptation in a narrowly distributed serotinous pine, Pinus muricata

Understanding the distribution of genetic diversity and differentiation in species with disjunct and isolated populations is critical for assessing how environment shapes genetic variation and the potential response to climate change. In contrast to the large distributions and population sizes of most pine species, Pinus muricata (Bishop pine) occurs in a small number of isolated and disjunct populations occupying a narrow band of environmental conditions along the coast of western North America. We used genotyping by sequencing to generate population genomic data for trees sampled from nearly all existing populations of P. muricata (12 populations, 213 individuals, 7,828 loci) to describe the spatial arrangement of genetic differentiation and diversity. We used genetic-environment association (GEA) analyses to quantify the contribution of environmental variables to local adaptation and spatial genetic structure. Based on these results, we quantified relative levels of potential maladaptation given future climate projections at 2041 – 2060 and 2081 – 2100. Our analyses reveal pronounced spatial genetic structure across the distribution, with most populations forming genetically identifiable groups across a latitudinal gradient, and remarkable evidence for differentiation among three proximally distributed stands on Santa Cruz Island. Despite occurring in small, isolated populations, P. muricata do not exhibit strongly reduced diversity. GEA analyses suggested that specific soil and climate variables have contributed to local adaptation. Genomic offset analyses suggest geographic variation in potential maladaptation, with northern populations experiencing higher levels under projected climate change. Overall, our results suggest that isolation and local adaptation have shaped genetic variation among disjunct populations, and illustrate the consequences of this variation for P. muricata under projected climate change.

FIGURE 59 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURE 59. Abundance of Steneotarsonemus spinki vs S. subfurcatus within the species complex of rice sheath mites across the different agroecological zones of West Bengal. Equal letters for each species category do not differ significantly at p<0.05.

FIGURE 58 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURE 58. Results of Non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS), using Bary Curtis matrix, applied to test similarity in morphological variant composition of Steneotarsonemus spinki males in Eastern India (The states are colour coded as green: West Bengal; Blue: Orissa; Yellow: Tripura; Red: Manipur).

FIGURE 57 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURE 57. Abundance of morphological variants (mean±S.E.) of Steneotarsonemus spinki male in Eastern India. Mean followed by same letter do not differ significantly at 5% level of Significance.

FIGURES 41.—47. Steneotarsonemus spinki 41 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 41.—47. Steneotarsonemus spinki 41—Dorsal surface (female), 42—Ventral surface (female), 43. Dorsal surface (male), 44—Ventral surface (male), 45. Leg IV (male, variant S), 46. Leg IV (male, variant I), 47. Leg IV (male, variant L).

FIGURES 38.—40 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 38.—40. Three variants of Steneotarsonemus spinki (male Leg IV). 38.Variant S, 49. Variant I and 40. Variant L (top to bottom).

FIGURES 53.—56. Steneotarsonemus subfurcatus 53 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 53.—56. Steneotarsonemus subfurcatus 53—Dorsal surface (female), 54—Ventral surface (female), 55. Dorsal surface (male), 56—Ventral surface (male).

FIGURES 28.—31 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 28.—31. Steneotarsonemus subfurcatus (female). 28.—leg I, 29.—leg II, 30.—leg III, 31.—leg IV.

FIGURES 34.—37 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 34.—37. Steneotarsonemus subfurcatus (male). 34.—leg I, 35.—leg II, 36.—leg III, 37.—leg IV.

FIGURES 48.—52. Steneotarsonemus furcatus 48 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURES 48.—52. Steneotarsonemus furcatus 48—Dorsal surface (female), 49—Ventral surface (female), 50. Dorsal surface (male), 51—Dorsal surface (male), 52. Ventral surface (male).

FIGURE 1 in Complementary description of three species of Steneotarsonemus (Acari: Tarsonemidae) from rice agroecosystems of Eastern India with notes on their taxonomic status, spatial distribution, intraspecific variation and species composition

FIGURE 1. Map of India depicting the locations of survey areas from where the specimens were collected.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2022View details →

The datasets for the paper "Spatial and temporal distribution of lobate scarps in the lunar south polar region: Evidence for latitudinal variation of scarp geometry, kinematics and formation ages, continuous tectonic activity in the last 100 million years and seismically safe south pole Artemis human landing site" Geophysical Research Letters.

This dataset provides the original data that were used for preparing the illustrations, figures and tables.

opencc-zeroSep 2022View details →

Individual-level leaf trait variation and correlation across biological and spatial scales

Even with increasing interest in the ecological importance of intraspecific trait variation (ITV) for better understanding ecological processes, few studies have quantified ITV in seedlings and assessed constraints imposed by trade-offs and correlations among individual-level leaf traits. Estimating the amount and role of ITV in seedlings is important to understand tree recruitment and long-term forest dynamics. We measured ten different size, economic, and whole leaf traits (lamina and petiole) for more than 2800 seedlings (height ≥ 10 cm and diameter at breast height < 1 cm) in 283 seedling plots, and then quantified the amount of ITV and trait correlations across two biological (intraspecific and interspecific) and spatial (within and among plots) scales. Finally, we explored the effects of trait variance and sample size on the strength of trait correlations. We found about 40% (6~63%) variation in leaf-level traits was explained by ITV across all traits. Lamina and petiole traits were correlated across biological and spatial scales, whereas leaf size traits (e.g., lamina area) were weakly correlated with economics traits (e.g., specific lamina area); <a name="_Hlk61031779">lamina mass ratio was strongly related to the petiole length</a>. Trait correlations varied among species, plots, and different scales but there was no evidence that the strength of trait relationships was stronger at broader than finer biological and spatial scales. While larger trait variance increased the strength of correlations, the sample size was the most important factor that was negatively related to the strength of trait correlations. Our results showed that a large amount of trait variation was explained by ITV, which highlighted the importance of considering ITV when using trait-based approaches in seedling ecology. In addition, sample size was an important factor that influenced the strength of trait correlations, which suggests that comparing trait correlations across studies should consider the differences in sample size.