| 1. |
- Allen, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Habitat-performance relationships of a large mammal on a predator-free island dominated by humans
- 2017
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Ingår i: Ecology and Evolution. - : Wiley. - 2045-7758. ; 7, s. 305-319
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The demographic consequences of changes in habitat use driven by human modification of landscape, and/or changes in climate, are important for any species. We investigated habitat-performance relationships in a declining island population of a large mammal, the moose (Alces alces), in an environment that is predator-free but dominated by humans. We used a combination of demographic data, knowledge of habitat selection, and multiannual movement data of female moose (n = 17) to understand how space use patterns affect fecundity and calf survival. The calving rate was 0.64 and was similar to calving rates reported in other populations. Calf survival was 0.22 (annually) and 0.32 (postsummer), which are particularly low compared to other populations where postsummer survival is typically above 0.7. Home ranges were mainly composed of arable land (>40%), and selection for arable land was higher in winter than in summer, which contrasts with previous studies. Females that spent more time in broadleaf forest in the summer prior to the rut had higher fecundity rates, while more time spent in arable land resulted in lower fecundity rates. Females that spent more time in thicket/scrubland habitats during winter had lower calf survival, while females that had higher use of mixed forests tended to have higher calf survival. The dominance, and subsequent use, of suboptimal foraging habitats may lead to poor body condition of females at parturition, which may lower calf body weights and affect the mother's ability to lactate. In addition, our results indicated that the growing season has advanced significantly in recent decades, which may be causing a mismatch between parturition and optimal resource availability. These effects may exacerbate the female's ability to meet the energetic demands of lactation. Therefore, the observed low calf survival appears to be caused by a combination of factors related to current land use and may also be due to changing vegetation phenology. These results have important implications for the management of species in human-dominated landscapes in the face of climate change, and for an increased understanding of how species may adapt to future land use and climate change.
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| 2. |
- Allen, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Linking Movement Ecology with Wildlife Management and Conservation
- 2016
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 2296-701X. ; 3
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- A common challenge in species conservation and management is how to incorporate species movements into management objectives. There often is a lack of knowledge of where, when, and why species move. The field of movement ecology has grown rapidly in the last decade and is now providing the knowledge needed to incorporate movements of species into management planning. This knowledge can also be used to develop management strategies that are flexible in time and space and may improve the effectiveness of management actions. Therefore, wildlife management and conservation may benefit by strengthening the link with movement ecology. We present a framework that illustrates how animal movement can be used to enhance conservation planning and identify management actions that are complementary to existing strategies. The framework contains five steps that identify (1) the movement attributes of a species, (2) their impacts on ecosystems, (3) how this knowledge can be used to guide the scale and type of management, (4) the implementation, and (5) the evaluation of management actions. We discuss these five steps in detail, highlighting why the step is important and how the information can be obtained. We illustrate the framework through a case study of managing a highly mobile species, the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), a harvested species of conservation concern. We believe that the movement-management framework provides an important, and timely, link between movement ecology and wildlife management and conservation, and highlights the potential for complementary, dynamic solutions for managing wildlife.
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| 3. |
- Allen, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Moving in the Anthropocene: Global reductions in terrestrial mammalian movements
- 2018
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Ingår i: Science. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 0036-8075 .- 1095-9203. ; 359, s. 466-469
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Animal movement is fundamental for ecosystem functioning and species survival, yet the effects of the anthropogenic footprint on animal movements have not been estimated across species. Using a unique GPS-tracking database of 803 individuals across 57 species, we found that movements of mammals in areas with a comparatively high human footprint were on average one-half to one-third the extent of their movements in areas with a low human footprint. We attribute this reduction to behavioral changes of individual animals and to the exclusion of species with long-range movements from areas with higher human impact. Global loss of vagility alters a key ecological trait of animals that affects not only population persistence but also ecosystem processes such as predator-prey interactions, nutrient cycling, and disease transmission.
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| 4. |
- Allen, Andrew, et al.
(författare)
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Scaling up movements: from individual space use to population patterns
- 2016
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Ingår i: Ecosphere. - : Wiley. - 2150-8925. ; 7, s. 1-16
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studying multiple individuals from multiple populations would add knowledge about the proportion of different movement strategies (migratory vs. resident) and how space use patterns vary within and across populations. This allows for effective conservation or management of partially migratory animal populations by identifying the appropriate size of management units and temporal interventions. However, this knowledge is often lacking as only a few individuals from a single population are tracked in space and time. To understand the drivers of intraspecific variation in movement patterns across a broad scale, we analyzed the multiannual space use of 307 moose (Alces alces), containing 544 single-year trajectories, from 10 study areas that are spread over a 1500-km latitudinal gradient. Using a novel approach, we quantified within-and among-population variation in movement and space use patterns. We identified the movement strategy (migratory, sedentary, nomadic, or dispersal) of moose and computed annual and seasonal home ranges. Individuals demonstrated variable movement strategies from migration to year-round residence. Summer home ranges were larger in northern study areas, whereas no geographical trends were detected among populations in winter home ranges. Individual-level traits, such as sex and age, along with factors related to the landscape, such as land use and habitat, explained variation within populations, whereas climatic factors such as temperature and vegetative productivity explained variation among populations. Importantly, the variables that explained individual-level variation in space use within populations were different for all our populations. We demonstrate the intricate interplay between individual life history and landscape scale variables and how they may determine the observed movement patterns and influence the scale of management.
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| 5. |
- Arnemo, Jon, et al.
(författare)
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Lipidomics Reveals Seasonal Shifts in a Large-Bodied Hibernator, the Brown Bear
- 2019
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Physiology. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-042X. ; 10
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Prior to winter, heterotherms retain polyunsaturated fatty acids ("PUFA"), resulting in enhanced energy savings during hibernation, through deeper and longer torpor bouts. Hibernating bears exhibit a less dramatic reduction (2-5 degrees C) in body temperature, but lower their metabolism to a degree close to that of small hibernators. We determined the lipid composition, via lipidomics, in skeletal muscle and white adipose tissues ("WAT"), to assess lipid retention, and in blood plasma, to reflect lipid trafficking, of winter hibernating and summer active wild Scandinavian brown bears (Ursus arctos). We found that the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids in muscle of bears was significantly higher during winter. During hibernation, omega-3 PUFAs were retained in WAT and short-length fatty acids were released into the plasma. The analysis of individual lipid moieties indicated significant changes of specific fatty acids, which are in line with the observed seasonal shift in the major lipid categories and can be involved in specific regulations of metabolisms. These results strongly suggest that the shift in lipid composition is well conserved among hibernators, independent of body mass and of the animals' body temperature.
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| 6. |
- Cayol, Claire, et al.
(författare)
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Urban forest soils harbour distinct and more diverse communities of bacteria and fungi compared to less disturbed forest soils
- 2023
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Ingår i: Molecular Ecology. - : Wiley. - 0962-1083 .- 1365-294X. ; 32, s. 504-517
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Anthropogenic changes to land use drive concomitant changes in biodiversity, including that of the soil microbiota. However, it is not clear how increasing intensity of human disturbance is reflected in the soil microbial communities. To address this issue, we used amplicon sequencing to quantify the microbiota (bacteria and fungi) in the soil of forests (n = 312) experiencing four different land uses, national parks (set aside for nature conservation), managed (for forestry purposes), suburban (on the border of an urban area) and urban (fully within a town or city), which broadly represent a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance. Alpha diversity of bacteria and fungi increased with increasing levels of anthropogenic disturbance, and was thus highest in urban forest soils and lowest in the national parks. The forest soil microbial communities were structured according to the level of anthropogenic disturbance, with a clear urban signature evident in both bacteria and fungi. Despite notable differences in community composition, there was little change in the predicted functional traits of urban bacteria. By contrast, urban soils exhibited a marked loss of ectomycorrhizal fungi. Soil pH was positively correlated with the level of disturbance, and thus was the strongest predictor of variation in alpha and beta diversity of forest soil communities, indicating a role of soil alkalinity in structuring urban soil microbial communities. Hence, our study shows how the properties of urban forest soils promote an increase in microbial diversity and a change in forest soil microbiota composition.
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| 7. |
- Cooke, Steven J., et al.
(författare)
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Animal migration in the Anthropocene : threats and mitigation options
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Ingår i: Biological Reviews. - 1464-7931.
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Animal migration has fascinated scientists and the public alike for centuries, yet migratory animals are facing diverse threats that could lead to their demise. The Anthropocene is characterised by the reality that humans are the dominant force on Earth, having manifold negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Considerable research focus has been given to assessing anthropogenic impacts on the numerical abundance of species/populations, whereas relatively less attention has been devoted to animal migration. However, there are clear linkages, for example, where human-driven impacts on migration behaviour can lead to population/species declines or even extinction. Here, we explore anthropogenic threats to migratory animals (in all domains – aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial) using International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Threat Taxonomy classifications. We reveal the diverse threats (e.g. human development, disease, invasive species, climate change, exploitation, pollution) that impact migratory wildlife in varied ways spanning taxa, life stages and type of impact (e.g. from direct mortality to changes in behaviour, health, and physiology). Notably, these threats often interact in complex and unpredictable ways to the detriment of wildlife, further complicating management. Fortunately, we are beginning to identify strategies for conserving and managing migratory animals in the Anthropocene. We provide a set of strategies that, if embraced, have the potential to ensure that migratory animals, and the important ecological functions sustained by migration, persist.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Ecke, Frauke, et al.
(författare)
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Population fluctuations and synanthropy explain transmission risk in rodent-borne zoonoses
- 2022
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Ingår i: Nature Communications. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2041-1723. ; 13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Population fluctuations are widespread across the animal kingdom, especially in the order Rodentia, which includes many globally important reservoir species for zoonotic pathogens. The implications of these fluctuations for zoonotic spillover remain poorly understood. Here, we report a global empirical analysis of data describing the linkages between habitat use, population fluctuations and zoonotic reservoir status in rodents. Our quantitative synthesis is based on data collated from papers and databases. We show that the magnitude of population fluctuations combined with species’ synanthropy and degree of human exploitation together distinguish most rodent reservoirs at a global scale, a result that was consistent across all pathogen types and pathogen transmission modes. Our spatial analyses identified hotspots of high transmission risk, including regions where reservoir species dominate the rodent community. Beyond rodents, these generalities inform our understanding of how natural and anthropogenic factors interact to increase the risk of zoonotic spillover in a rapidly changing world.
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| 10. |
- Ecke, Frauke, et al.
(författare)
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Puumala Orthohantavirus Infection Does Not Affect the Trapping Success of Its Reservoir Host
- 2022
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Ingår i: Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. - : Mary Ann Liebert. - 1530-3667 .- 1557-7759. ; 22:5, s. 297-299
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Pathogens might affect behavior of infected reservoir hosts and hence their trappability, which could bias population estimates of pathogen prevalence. In this study, we used snap-trapping data on Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV)-infected (n = 1619) and noninfected (n = 6940) bank voles (Myodes glareolus) from five vole cycles, normally representing increase, peak, and decline phase, to evaluate if infection status affected trapping success. If PUUV infection, as previously suggested, increases activity and/or mobility, we would expect a higher proportion of infected than noninfected specimens in the first trapping night. However, the proportion of PUUV-infected voles did not differ across the three trapping nights. We conclude that PUUV infection did not affect trapping success, confirming snap trapping as an appropriate trapping method for studies on PUUV prevalence and likely other orthohantaviruses.
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| 11. |
- Ecke, Frauke, et al.
(författare)
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Sublethal Lead Exposure Alters Movement Behavior in Free-Ranging Golden Eagles
- 2017
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 51:10, s. 5729-5736
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lead poisoning of animals due to ingestion of fragments from lead-based ammunition in carcasses and offal of shot wildlife is acknowledged globally and raises great concerns about potential behavioral effects leading to increased mortality risks. Lead levels in blood were correlated with progress of the moose hunting season. Based on analyses of tracking data, we found that even sublethal lead concentrations in blood (25 ppb, wet weight), can likely negatively affect movement behavior (flight height and movement rate) of free ranging scavenging Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). Lead levels in liver of recovered post-mortem analyzed eagles suggested that sublethal exposure increases the risk of mortality in eagles. Such adverse effects on animals are probably common worldwide and across species, where game hunting with lead-based ammunition is widespread. Our study highlights lead exposure as a considerably more serious threat to wildlife conservation than previously realized and suggests implementation of bans of lead ammunition for hunting.
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
- Ericsson, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Offset between GPS collar-recorded temperature in moose and ambient weather station data
- 2015
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Ingår i: European Journal of Wildlife Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1612-4642 .- 1439-0574. ; 61, s. 919-922
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- GPS collar-recorded temperature is often considered as a proxy for the ambient temperature in wildlife ecology studies, yet few studies actually test its reliability as well as the correlation with ambient temperature. Here, we address this question and demonstrate a strong correlation between collar temperature and weather station data, indicating that GPS collar sensor data can be regarded as a reliable index of ambient air temperature. Using data obtained from 384 free-ranging moose equipped with GPS collars between latitude 57A degrees N to 68A degrees N in Sweden, we analyzed 1,467,361 paired observations of collar temperature and air temperature of the nearest official Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute station. We found a systematic offset that varied across months, being larger during the warm summer months than during the winter period. We found an average correlation of .91 (r (s); range .75 to .93, median .91) between collar and ambient temperature of the nearest weather station. Thus, temperature sensors in, e.g., a GPS collar, may be used to study animal behavior, movement and habitat choice in relation to ambient air temperature. This aligns with the calls for using animals as not only subjects but also as the samplers of the environment. It also opens up possibilities for large-scale projects on animal ecology and physiology in the absence of ground measuring stations on higher spatial scales like home range and landscape. As an application of collar temperature, we show that changes in the movement patterns seem to be highly influenced by temperature-induced heat stress that moose experience during summer.
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| 16. |
- Ericsson, Göran, et al.
(författare)
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Slutrapport. Temaforskningsprogram Vilt och Skog 2010-2012
- 2013
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Liksom under föregående projektperiod har styrgruppen under 2010‐12 varit mycket engagerad och aktiv. För tema 1 ‐ Klövviltets fördelning och nyttjande av skogslandskapet ‐ har det inneburit ett fortsatt fokus på älg fram till 2012 då programmet startade förberedelserna för flerartsstudier. För tema 2 ‐ Skogsskötsel, foderproduktion och utnyttjande – har det medfört dels ett fortsatt fokus utvärdering av åtgärderna i Sveaskogs foderprojekt, dels ett tydligare arbete med fler studieområden och klövviltets nyttjande av miljön. För tema 3 ‐ Förbättrade instrument för övervakning av viltpopulationerna – har resurserna koncentrerats på studier av referenshägn. Utifrån rogrammets resurser, >3 Mkr per år, och den ambitiösa programplanen som styrgruppen tillsammans med forskarna utarbetat, är det programledningens bedömning att vi mer än väl nått målen vad gäller relevant kunskap för sektorn och SLU, särskilt inom följande områden. Vi har… * med flera studiepopulationer i södra, mellersta och norra Sverige studerat älgarnas fördelning och nyttjande av skogslandskapet med hjälp av GPS; * med tre studiepopulationer i södra Sverige studerat klövviltets fördelning och nyttjande av skogslandskapet med hjälp av inventeringar; * dokumenterat nyttjandet ur ett flerartsperspektiv i tre områden i södra Sverige; * utvärderat effekten på skog av direkt foderskapande åtgärder inklusive viltåkrar; * i stor skala utvecklat och utvärderat metoder för uppföljning av klövviltets fördelning i landskapet och deras påverkan; * etablerat och delvis utvärderat referenshägn som ett förbättrat instrument för bedömning av betespåverkan; * i de två regeringsuppdragen till SLU om inventeringsmetoder för älg och utbildning adaptiv förvaltning utarbetat faktablad, manualer och utbildningsmaterial, samt deltagit i utbildning av länsstyrelser och skogsnäring Vi bedömer att vi endast delvis nått målen för… * några planerade foderskapande åtgärder. Vi bedömer att orsaken till detta är rent praktiska inom skogssektorn, vilka stått helt utanför vår kontroll. Det handlar dels om att åtgärderna sattes in så sent (säsongen 2010‐2011 eller 2012 för frihuggning av ekar) att effekterna helt enkelt inte kunnat utvärderas (främst viltanpassad röjning), dels att planerade åtgärder som plantering av salix inte alls blev av, dels att vissa åtgärder utfördes i mycket mindre omfattning än planerat; * förbättrade instrument för övervakning av viltpopulationerna. SLU:s och den skogsvetenskapliga fakultetens mål med temaforskningsprogram är att bygga ny kompetens. Under programperioden har SLU blivit den ledande miljön inom adaptiv klövviltförvaltning, rörelseekologi, vilt och foderskapande åtgärder samt inventeringsmetodik för betning och klövvilt. Programmet har tränat fyra postdoktorala forskare varav två är docent på SLU idag. Vi har internationellt rekryterat två forskarassistenter som redan nu efter två år är under prövning för docentur vid SLU. Programet har tränat 22 studenter, sammanfattat kunskapen i 17 rapporter, 22 examensarbeten (21 master, 1 kandidat), 15 faktablad, 7 bokkapitel, 6 manualer för adaptiv 4 älgförvaltning, 6 instruktioner om försöksdesign, >11 populärvetenskapliga artiklar och slutligen 51 vetenskapliga arbeten till refereegranskade tidskrifter. Därtill har vi medverkat i ett stort antal publika möten från Skåne i söder till Norrbotten i norr.
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