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opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Home range and habitat selection of wolves recolonising Central European human-dominated landscapes

Decades of persecution has resulted in the long-term absence of grey wolves (Canis lupus) from most European countries. However, recent changes in both legislation and public attitudes toward wolves has eased the pressure, allowing wolves to rapidly re-establish territories in their previous Central European habitats over the last 20 years. Unfortunately, these habitats are now heavily altered by humans. Understanding the spatial ecology of wolves in such highly modified environments is crucial, given the high potential for conflict and the need to reconcile their return with multiple human concerns. We equipped 20 wolves, originating from seven packs in six Central European regions, with GPS collars, allowing us to calculate monthly average home range sizes for 14 of the animals of 213.3 km2 using Autocorrelated Kernel Density Estimation. We then used ESA WorldCover data to assess the mosaic of available habitats used within each home range. Our data confirmed a general seasonal pattern for breeding individuals, with smaller apparent home ranges during the reproduction phase, and no specific pattern for non-breeders. Predictably, our wolves showed a general preference for remote areas, and especially forests, though some wolves within military training areas also showed a broader preference for grassland, possibly influenced by local land use and high availability of prey. Our results provide a comprehensive insight into the ecology of wolves during their re-colonisation of Central Europe. Though wolves are spreading relatively quickly across Central European landscapes, their permanent reoccupation remains uncertain due to conflicts with the human population. To secure the restoration of European wolf populations, further robust biological data, including data on spatial ecology, will be needed to clearly identify any management implications.

Fig. 5 in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 5. Dhole (column A) and jackal (column B) step length and turning angle distributions of encamped (black) and exploratory (grey) behavioral states. Turning angles (in degrees) for both the encamped and exploratory states are plotted on the same polar plot for each species.

Fig. 4 in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 4. Comparison of both species' daily activity patterns. Smoothing was achieved by averaging over 4 hour time intervals. The 95% confidence intervals were estimated from the standard error of the mean step length.

Fig. 3 in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 3. Autocorrelation function (ACF) of: A, the dhole; and B, the jackal step length. Data points above the dotted line are classified as autocorrelated.

Fig. 2 in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 2. Decile-shaded isopleths of convex hull home ranges for the dhole and jackal in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.

Fig. 1 in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 1. Dhole and jackal relocations overlaid on a land cover map of Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand.

Fig. 6. A in Comparative movement analysis for a sympatric dhole and golden jackal in a human-dominated landscape

Fig. 6. A, Semi-variance comparison of dhole and jackal positions. Since the dhole was monitored for a shorter time than the jackal (due to collar malfunctions), we present comparative data for this shorter time period. B, The complete jackal semi-variogram. Both semi-variograms are limited in scope to the first two thirds of the data, since estimates in the last third of the semi-variogram has very large confidence intervals. Semi-variance and 95% confidence intervals (CI) estimated from the standard error of the mean semivariance, were smoothed using a moving average over 20 lags.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2021View details →

Malayan kraits (Bungarus candidus) show affinity to anthropogenic structures in a human dominated landscape

Data, code, and supplemental materials for Hodges et al. (2021): Malayan kraits (Bungarus candidus) show affinity to anthropogenic structures in a human dominated landscape. Including: radio-telemetry movement data, camera trapping activity/behavior data, habitat use data, land-use shapefiles, and R scripts to reproduce analyses.

publicOct 2025View details →

Data from: Large carnivores persisting in a human-dominated landscape: Suitable habitat and connectivity for Asiatic black bears in China

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publicFeb 2025View details →

Data from: Seasonal and anthropogenic effects on niche overlap and habitat selection by sympatric bears (Ursus arctos marsicanus) and wolves (Canis lupus) in a human-dominated landscape

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publicMay 2024View details →

Data from: Home range and habitat selection of wolves recolonising Central European human-dominated landscapes

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zenodo36/100

Using psychophysical performance to predict short-term ocular dominance plasticity in human adults

This is the dataset reported in the manuscript "Using psychophysical performance to predict short-term ocular dominance plasticity in human adults" published in the Journal of Vision 2020;20(7):6. doi: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.20.7.6">https://doi.org/10.1167/jov.20.7.6</a>

opencc-by-4.0Jul 2020View details →

opencc-zeroDec 2016View details →

Data from: A landscape of coexistence for a large predator in a human dominated landscape

Human related mortality is a major threat for large carnivores all over the world and there is increasing evidence that large predators respond to human related risks in a similar way as prey respond to predation risk. This insight recently led to the conceptual development of a landscape of coexistence that can be used to identify areas which can sustain large predator populations in human dominated landscapes. In this study we applied the landscape of coexistence concept to a large predator in Europe. We investigated to what extent Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) habitat selection is affected by human disturbance in a human dominated landscape. More specifically, we were interested in the existence of a tradeoff between the availability of roe deer, one of their main prey and avoidance of human disturbance and how this affects the spatio-temporal space use patterns of lynx. We found that lynx face a tradeoff between high prey availability and avoidance of human disturbance and that they respond to this by using areas of high prey availability (but also high human disturbance) during the night when human activity is low. Furthermore our analysis showed that lynx increase their travelling speed and remain more in cover when they are close to areas of high human disturbance. Despite clear behavioral adjustments in response to human presence, prey availability still proved to be the most important predictor of lynx occurrence at small spatial scale, whereas human disturbance was considerably less important. The results of our study demonstrate how spatio-temporal adaptations in habitat selection enable large carnivores to persist in human dominated landscapes and demonstrate the usefulness of the concept of a landscape of coexistence to develop adaptive management plans for endangered populations of large carnivores.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Natal dispersal of tree sloths in a human-dominated landscape: implications for tropical biodiversity conservation

1. Habitat loss and fragmentation resulting from the conversion of tropical forests are among the most important threats to biodiversity globally. Habitat specialists and species with low dispersal capacity are expected to be the most sensitive to such changes. Relatively little is known, however, about how habitat change and life history interact to impact natal dispersal and population viability in tropical species. 2. Here, we characterized natal dispersal patterns, habitat selection, and survival rates in two-toed (Choloepus hoffmanni) and three-toed (Bradypus variegatus) sloths within a human-dominated tropical landscape in Costa Rica consisting of a shade-grown cacao plantation surrounded by riparian forests and cattle pastures. 3. Radio-marked individuals of both species preferentially selected tropical forests during natal dispersal and were commonly observed using riparian forest buffers for dispersal. The more specialized and sedentary three-toed sloth, however, avoided both pastures and shade-grown cacao for dispersal, whereas two-toed sloths only avoided pastures. 4. Juvenile survival was lower for three-toed than two-toed sloths, and was lowest immediately following maternal independence for both species. Despite interspecific differences, juvenile survival was high and sufficient to maintain stable populations of both species. 5. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that tropical forest conversion is more likely to impact the natal dispersal success of specialized and dispersal-limited species. Moreover, riparian forest buffers appear to provide critical corridors for maintaining such species, and biodiversity more broadly, in modified tropical landscapes.07-Feb-2018

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Data from: Genetic analysis of red deer (Cervus elaphus) administrative management units in a human-dominated landscape - patterns of genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow

Red deer (Cervus elaphus) throughout central Europe are impacted by different anthropogenic activities including habitat fragmentation, selective hunting, and translocations. This has substantial influences on genetic diversity and the long-term conservation of local populations of this species. Here we use genetic samples from 480 red deer individuals to assess the genetic diversity and differentiation of the 12 administrative management units located in Schleswig Holstein, the northernmost federal state in Germany. We applied multiple analytical approaches and show that the history of local populations (i.e., translocations, culling of individuals outside of designated red deer zones, and anthropogenic infrastructures) has led to comparably low levels of genetic diversity. The mean expected heterozygosity was below 0.6 and we observed on average 4.2 alleles across 12 microsatellite loci. Effective population sizes below the recommended level of 50 were estimated for multiple local populations. Our estimates of genetic structure and gene flow show that red deer in northern Germany are best described as a complex network of asymmetrically connected subpopulations, with high genetic exchange among some local populations and reduced connectivity of others. Genetic diversity was also correlated with population densities of neighboring management units. Based on these findings, we suggest that connectivity among existing management units needs to be considered in the practical management of the species, which means that some administrative management units should be managed together, while the effective isolation of other units needs to be mitigated.

opencc-zeroMay 2024View details →

Data from: Elephant pathway use in a human-dominated landscape

Habitat loss and fragmentation are one of the biggest threats facing wildlife today. Understanding the role of wildlife pathways in connecting resource areas is key to maintain landscape connectivity, reduce the impacts of habitat loss and help address human-wildlife conflict. In this study, we used sign surveys and camera trapping to understand the fine scale movement of elephants moving between a protected area and agricultural zone in the Masai Mara, Kenya. We used Generalised Linear Models to determine factors driving high frequency of pathway use by elephants. Our results showed strong seasonal trends in pathway use, with peaks coinciding with the dry season. However, no correlations between rainfall and pathway use were found. Temporal patterns of pathway use indicate that elephants use risk avoidance strategies by moving between the two areas at times of low human disturbance. Spatial analysis revealed that the most frequently used pathways were closer to farms, saltlicks and forest and those that had a higher percentage of forest cover. Our models also showed a positive relationship between pathway use and the number of elephant crop raiding incidents, highlighting that pathways can play a role in human-elephant conflict. As habitat loss continues, pathways may become more important for linking resources. However, they are also likely to facilitate movement into farmland. The results from this study provide an opportunity for planned management activities to ensure connectivity and to mitigated conflict.

opencc-zeroDec 2022View details →

Antelope space-use and behaviour indicate multi-level responses to varying anthropogenic influences in a highly human-dominated landscape

A primary means of conserving a species or a habitat in a human-dominated landscape is through promoting coexistence with humans while minimizing conflict. For this, we should understand how wildlife are impacted by direct and indirect human activities. Such information is rare from areas with high human densities. To investigate how animals respond to altered ecological conditions in human-dominated landscapes, we focussed on a wild herbivore of conservation concern in Krishnasaar Conservation Area (KrCA) in Nepal. Here, blackbuck, Antilope cervicapra, a generalist grazer, lives in refugia located in a growing human population. We studied the impacts of humans on habitat use and behaviour of blackbuck. We laid 250 x 250 m grid cells in the entire KrCA and carried out indirect sign surveys with three replications for habitat use assessment. We observed herds of blackbuck for 89 hours in different habitat types using scan sampling methods. Our habitat-use survey showed that habitats under intensive human use were hardly used by blackbuck, even when high-quality forage was available. Habitat openness was the major predictor of habitat-use inside the core area, where levels of human activities were low. We also found a positive correlation between habitat use by blackbuck and livestock. Blackbuck were substantially more vigilant when they were in forest than in grassland, again indicating an influence of risk. Overall, blackbuck appear to be sensitive to risk associated with both natural and anthropogenic factors. Our findings have direct implications for managing human-wildlife interactions in this landscape, specifically regarding strategies for livestock grazing in habitats highly used by blackbuck and concerning predictions of how changing land use will impact long-term persistence of blackbuck. Our work suggests that wild herbivores may be able to persist in landscapes with high human densities so long as there are refuges where human activities are relatively low.

publicFeb 2021View details →

Human-dominated landcover corresponds to spatial variation in Mourning Dove reproductive output across the United States.

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