Conservation Reserve Research Articles

Interactions between European rabbits and native marsupials in the absence of terrestrial predators

AbstractEuropean rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are ubiquitous across Australia and have the ability to influence native species directly and indirectly. Despite this, limited research focuses on interspecific interactions between rabbits and native mammals. We aimed to determine how site occupancy, detection probability, and temporal activity periods of native mammals changed in response to the presence or absence of rabbits. We monitored three native mammal species using 85 camera traps in a systematic grid at Mt Rothwell Conservation and Research Reserve (Victoria, Australia), a predator‐barrier fenced reserve with two distinct sections—an area with rabbits and an area without. Bettongs (rufous Aepyprymnus rufescens and eastern Bettongia gaimardi), eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunni), and southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) had a naïve site occupancy of 71%, 42%, and 24%, respectively. Site occupancy for both bandicoot species decreased in areas with more clumping grass with eastern barred bandicoot occupancy increasing with leaf litter cover, and southern brown bandicoots with vegetation height. Rabbit presence did not influence site occupancy of any species. Species detection probabilities were generally positively associated with open vegetation and rabbit presence, except for southern brown bandicoots which were more detectable without rabbits. Both bandicoot species shifted their peak activity periods in the absence of rabbits having an earlier, and more defined activity peak. Our results demonstrate that the presence of rabbits in the absence of invasive predators may not influence the site occupancy of co‐occurring native mammals, however, could influence the behaviour of smaller co‐occurring mammals, either directly or indirectly.

Spatial Optimization of Conservation Practices for Sediment Load Reduction in Ungauged Agricultural Watersheds

Conservation practices (CPs) are used in agricultural watersheds to reduce soil erosion and improve water quality, leading to a sustainable management of natural resources. This is especially important as more pressure is applied on agricultural systems by a growing population and a changing climate. A challenge persists, however, in optimizing the implementation of these practices given their complex, non-linear, and location-dependent response. This study integrates watershed modeling using the Annualized Agricultural Non-Point-Source model and a GIS-based field scale localization and characterization of CPs. The investigated practices are associated with the implementation of riparian buffers, sediment basins, crop rotations, and the conservation reserve program. A total of 33 conservation scenarios were developed to quantify their impact on sediment erosion reduction. This approach was applied in an ungauged watershed as part of the Mississippi River Basin initiative aiming at reducing one of the largest aquatic dead zones in the globe. Simulation results indicate that the targeted approach has a significant impact on the overall watershed-scale sediment load reduction. Among the different evaluated practices, riparian buffers were the most efficient in sediment reduction. Moreover, the study provides a blueprint for similar investigations aiming at building decision-support systems and optimizing the placement of CPs in agricultural watersheds.

Harvest and nitrogen effects on bioenergy feedstock quality of grass‐legume mixtures on Conservation Reserve Program grasslands

AbstractPerennial grass mixtures established on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands can be an important source of feedstock for bioenergy production. This study aimed to evaluate management practices for optimizing the quality of bioenergy feedstock and stand persistence of grass‐legume mixtures under diverse environments. A 5‐year field study (2008–2012) was conducted to assess the effects of two harvest timings (at anthesis vs after complete senescence) and three nitrogen (N) rates (0, 56, 112 kg N ha−1) on biomass chemical compositions (i.e., cell wall components, ash, volatiles, total carbon, and N contents) and the feedstock energy potential, examined by the theoretical ethanol yield (TEY) and the total TEY (i.e., the product of biomass yield and TEY, L ha−1), of cool‐season mixtures in Georgia and Missouri and a warm‐season mixture in Kansas. The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was used to investigate the effect of vegetative species transitions on feedstock quality. Although environmental variations (mainly precipitation) greatly influenced the management effect on chemical compositions, the delayed harvest after senescence generally improved feedstock quality. In particular, the overall cell wall concentrations and TEY of the warm‐season mixtures increased by approximately 7%. Additional N supplies improved the total TEY of both mixtures by ~1.6–4.2 L ha−1 per 1.0 kg N ha−1 input but likely lowered the feedstock quality, particularly for the cool‐season mixture. The cell wall concentrations of cool‐season mixture reduced by approximately 3%–6%. The CCA results indicated that the increased legume compositions (under low N input) likely enhanced lignin but reduced ash concentrations. This field research demonstrated that with proper management, grass‐legume mixtures on CRP lands can provide high‐quality feedstock for bioenergy productions.

Multi‐scale effects of land cover, weather, and fire on Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse

AbstractColumbian sharp‐tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) are endemic to grassland and shrub‐steppe ecosystems of western North America, yet their distribution has contracted to <10% of their historical range. Primary threats to Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse include loss of native habitat and conversion to agriculture, reductions in habitat once provided by the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), wildfire, and drought conditions, yet population‐level consequences of these threats and their spatio‐temporal scales of effect are poorly understood. We evaluated multi‐scale effects of land cover, weather, and fire histories on patterns of abundance and productivity for Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse populations during 1995–2020 in Idaho, USA, using mixed‐effects generalized regression and remotely sensed data. We demonstrated negative effects of fire, tree encroachment, and bare ground, positive effects of spring and summer precipitation and cover of shrubs and perennial forbs and grasses, and positive effects of CRP on grouse abundance that changed in magnitude with cover of perennials and shrubs near leks (i.e., strongest effects when average cover of shrubs and perennial forbs and grasses were less abundant). We also demonstrated per capita recruitment of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse is positively associated with late‐summer greenness. Our results show that several suspected threats have measurable, population‐level impacts to Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse within Idaho. Moreover, our results suggest ongoing changes occurring within the core range of Columbian sharp‐tailed grouse, including loss of CRP cover to tilled agriculture and changes to wildfire and precipitation dynamics are likely to have negative effects on populations.

Untangling two complementary camera trapping data sets to identify patterns in feral cat activity around a known night parrot population in western Queensland

Feral cats (Felis catus) are a significant predator of native birds in Australia, and a recognised predator for the endangered night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis). We examined camera trapping data from 2014 to 2020 collected at the Pullen Pullen (night parrot) reserve in south-western Queensland to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of feral cat activity. These data were collected from two discrete periods, with slightly different foci, and we undertook careful data exploration and refinement to identify a consistent data set. We modelled the relationship between the camera detections and a range of environmental, spatial, and temporal parameters, using logistic regression and two selection criteria (Akaike’s and Bayesian). The final parsimonious model identified that feral cat detection probability decreased with increasing ruggedness and increased as distance to creek lines decreased. Feral cat detection probability also declined over time from camera deployment. In each model the variance component estimates suggested that some influences on cat detection probability remain unexplained. Regardless, our results provide further data on feral cat activity, and therefore information to focus and improve the management of this threat to the night parrot and other significant species on this conservation reserve.

Decline in semi-arid reptile occurrence following habitat loss and fragmentation

Context Habitat loss and fragmentation are leading causes of biodiversity decline worldwide. In Australia, woodland habitat has been extensively cleared and fragmented yet there has been limited research on the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation on semi-arid reptiles, impeding conservation planning and recovery efforts. Aims We aimed to investigate factors influencing the distribution and occurrence of habitat specialist and generalist reptile species on a large agricultural holding in south-eastern Australia that has experienced habitat loss and fragmentation. Methods Reptiles were surveyed using pitfall and funnel traps and active searches across 20 sites stratified by land use and vegetation type. Twelve sites were established in remnant woodland patches embedded within an agricultural matrix and eight sites were established in a private conservation reserve on the same property. Generalised linear models were used to explore relationships between the occurrence of eight reptile species and predictor variables describing site, landscape and vegetation variables. Key results Of the 31 reptile species that were detected, eight were modelled. The results revealed that four specialist species, the eastern mallee dragon (Ctenophorus spinodomus), nobbi dragon (Diporiphora nobbi), barred wedge-snouted ctenotus (Ctenotus schomburgkii) and shrubland pale-flecked morethia (Morethia obscura), were closely associated with the conservation reserve, and that the southern spinifex ctenotus (Ctenotus atlas) had a strong association with spinifex (Triodia scariosa) dominated vegetation community. Conclusions Reptile habitat specialists are particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation and are at a higher risk of local extinction compared with habitat generalists. Reptile occurrence was reduced in remnant woodland patches, but remnant patches also supported a suite of habitat generalists. Implications A suite of semi-arid reptile species are sensitive to the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation and are susceptible to localised extinction. However, the presence of habitat generalists within woodland remnants highlights the value of retaining representative habitat patches in agricultural landscapes. Conservation of semi-arid woodland reptiles will depend on the retention of large tracts of protected vegetation across a broad range of soil types to maintain habitat heterogeneity and reptile diversity.

Birds on the edge: Spatial and temporal patterns in the bird community recorded at a conservation reserve on a bioregion woodland−grassland boundary in central Queensland

Monitoring the changes in occurrence and abundance of wildlife communities over time is important for more effective and targeted management and understanding long-term changes due to local and global environmental influences. In this study, we report on the first systematic bird survey carried out on Edgbaston Reserve, a protected area on the boundary of tropical and semi-arid bioregions in north-central Queensland. We systematically sampled the bird fauna at 24 sites over five surveys between 2018 and 2020, using a combination of 2-ha area searches and timed nocturnal censuses. We examined variation in composition and species abundance across the surveys using multivariate, regression and non-parametric analyses. A total of 6201 bird records comprising 123 species was collected. Forty-six species exhibited significant variation in abundance across the six sampled habitat types (Ironbark, Gidgee and Escarpment woodlands, Springs, Spinifex grasslands and Mitchell Grass Downs). Species composition also varied significantly across habitats and surveys, and there were clear differences in the Spinifex and Mitchell grass bird communities compared with those in the woodlands. Twenty species were recorded in only one of the five surveys, and 17 species were recorded in significantly higher abundance in some survey years, associated with an influx of granivores and nomadic and migratory species. The location of the property on the boundary of woodlands and more arid grasslands that contain springs, and the contrasting mix of eastern- and western-distributed birds, suggests that the continued monitoring of the avifauna provides an important opportunity to investigate long-term trends, linked to environmental change and annual management, to assist the preservation of this important bird community situated on the edge of two bioregions.

Five new species of mouse spiders in the genus Missulena (Mygalomorphae: Actinopodidae) from national parks and conservation reserves in Western Australia

Five new species of mouse spiders in the genus Missulena (Mygalomorphae: Actinopodidae) from national parks and conservation reserves in Western Australia

Effects of Sand Mining on Riverine Ecosystem and Otter Habitat in Kudli, Tungabhadra River

The Tungabhadra River in Karnataka has a significant amount of sand mining activity. With a growing demand for sand reflecting rapid urbanization and population growth, regulation has proven difficult leading to exploitation with serious environmental implications. Sand mining is a generic term referring to the process of extraction of sand from rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans. Illegal and unregulated sand mining would threaten the biodiversity of the river, and such alarming events were seen in almost all parts of the river Tungabhadra. The Tungabhadra River hosts India’s only otter conservation reserve, to conserve vulnerable species of smooth-coated otter. Furthermore, the TB River has significant habitat for a viable otter population along the entire length of the river. A study was conducted from June 2017 to January 2020 in 10 randomly selected stations with 31 sites. During the survey, we came across many threats to the otters, viz., pollution conflicts with fishermen, habitat deterioration by human activity, and so on. Among these factors, sand mining stands out to be the most disastrous to the survival of otter’s habitat. Among the 31 sampled sites, only 1 site was chosen called Kudli, which is examined, studied, and discussed in this paper.

The Importance of Artificial Wetlands in the Conservation of Wetland Birds and the Impact of Land Use Attributes Around the Wetlands: a Study from the Ajara Conservation Reserve, Western Ghats, India

Artificial wetlands are built to meet the rising human population's water needs, with little attention paid to their ecological significance. The current study was carried out to assess the importance of artificial wetlands in biodiversity conservation. Habitat quality of wetlands was assessed using the birds as an ecological indicator. Bird surveys were carried out at the five artificial wetlands located in the Ajara conservation reserve, northern Western Ghats, India. Bird surveys were conducted for five years (2011–2015). During the study, 165 bird species were recorded, including 34 wetland birds and 131 wetland-associated birds. Wetlands in forested areas have a higher richness of wetland birds. Wetlands surrounded by exotic plantations, agriculture, and human settlements exhibit lower wetland bird richness than wetlands in forested areas. Land use attributes around the wetlands affect wetland bird diversity. The current study gives a glimpse that these artificial wetlands could serve as a possible habitat for wetland birds.

A Promising Habitat Space for Blackbucks Antilope cervicapra Delimited by Declining Open Grassland Tracts and Increasing Tall Vegetations

This study was carried out in four consecutive years (2017–2020) to evaluate how increased tall vegetation growth changed the promising nature of open grassland habitat for blackbucks in Basur Amruth Mahal Kaval Blackbuck Conservation Reserve with an area of 7.36km2 . Based on facts that blackbucks avoid tall and thick vegetations and prefer only plain tracts for anti-predator benefits, our investigation gained curiosity on their activities of choosing bed down/resting behaviour locations inside and the outside their natural habitat. The focus of the study was to understand evolving behavioural adaptations of blackbuck herds against increasing habitat edges and predation pressures by utilizing the locally available open areas of agricultural crop fields outside their home ranges. Predation by leopards (0.407 individuals per sq. km) on blackbuck found predominant in this area probably at the habitat edges. The number of locally emigrating individuals made significant rise (x = 112, 0.047, 0.07) and gradual rise in the other elements. Vegetation control measures should be taken for providing healthy and promising open grassland habitat for blackbucks.

Persistence and quality of vegetation cover in expired Conservation Reserve Program fields

AbstractFor nearly 40 years, the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) has implemented practices to reduce soil erosion, improve water quality, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators on highly erodible cropland in the United States. However, an approximately 40,470 ha (10 million acres) decline in enrolled CRP land over the last decade has greatly reduced the program's environmental benefits. We sought to assess the program's enduring benefits in the central and western United States by (1) determining the proportion of fields that persist in CRP cover after contracts expired, (2) identifying the type of agricultural production that CRP fields shift to after contract expiration, (3) comparing the vegetation characteristics of expired CRP fields that are persisting in CRP‐type cover with enrolled CRP fields, and (4) identifying differences in management activities (e.g., haying, grazing) between expired and enrolled CRP fields. We conducted edge‐of‐field vegetation cover surveys in 1092 CRP fields with contracts that expired ≥3 years prior and 1786 currently enrolled CRP fields in 14 states. We found that 41% of expired CRP fields retained at least half of their area in CRP‐type cover, with significant variation in persistence among regions ranging from 19% to 84%. When expired fields retained CRP vegetation, bare ground was low in all regions and grass cover was somewhat greater than in fields with current CRP contracts, but at the expense of forb cover in some regions. Evidence of more frequent management in expired CRP fields may explain differences between active and expired CRP fields. Overall, there is clear evidence that CRP‐type cover frequently persists and provides benefits for more than three years after contract expiration. Retaining CRP‐type cover, post‐contract, is an under‐recognized program benefit that persists across the central and western United States long after the initial retirement from cropland.

Pathways to conservation persistence: Psychosocial drivers of durable grasslands following the Conservation Reserve Program

Pathways to conservation persistence: Psychosocial drivers of durable grasslands following the Conservation Reserve Program

A framework to estimate climate mitigation potential for US cropland using publicly available data

The US agricultural sector is proposed as one opportunity to contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions—reductions that are needed to limit atmospheric warming to be more in line with the US Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement. Improved management of agricultural soils can both mitigate GHG emissions and increase carbon (C) sequestration, but disagreement exists regarding what levels of adoption are possible and to what extent they may mitigate net GHG emissions. In this paper, we provide a framework for setting reasonable, short-term conservation practice adoption targets and quantifying the associated net emissions reductions. Our framework was constructed using USDA-based publicly available inventory data and mitigation potentials from the COMET-Planner tool scaled to nine farm resource regions. The framework includes 2017 levels of conservation practice adoption and two 10-year growth scenarios: business-as-usual (BAU) and accelerated adoption rates. We evaluated six cropland management practices and practices associated with Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) establishment. Based on existing (2017) census data, we estimated that 134.2 million tonnes (Mt) carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂e) per year have been or continue to be reduced through the adoption of conservation management practices on a cumulative total of 133.5 million hectares (Mha) of cropland. Under the BAU scenario, we estimated an additional 6.2 Mha y⁻¹ of adoption could result in a reduction potential of 48.7 Mt CO₂e y⁻¹. Under the accelerated scenario, we estimated an additional 13.1 Mha y⁻¹ of adoption could result in a reduction potential of 118.5 Mt of CO₂e y⁻¹ over the next 10 years. This framework highlights three key outcomes: (1) agriculture has had a substantial impact on GHG mitigation through existing/historical adoption of six cropland management practices and conversion of lands to the CRP; (2) these shifts in adoption provide an important baseline to make future projections of changes in practice adoption given regional trends and the resulting GHG mitigation potentials; and (3) disaggregating national estimates to the farm resource region level can help to inform and prioritize programs and policies consistent with existing climate goals. Estimates reported here reflect the current state of national modeling efforts and agricultural inventory sources. As new data such as the pending 2022 Ag Census report and model enhancements are made, the framework we outline here can be used to revise and update the estimates to improve accuracy and applicability.

Alterations in hydrological variables and substrate qualities and its impacts on a critical conservation reserve in the southwest coast of India

The present study investigated the long-term fluctuation in the hydrological and substrate variables at different habitats of Kadalundi-Vallikkunnu Community Reserve (KVCR) over the last decade. We hypothesize that natural impact represented by climate change and long-term impact from anthropogenic activities including industrialization and intensified agricultural practices have a direct effect on the natural hydrological cycle and the quality of coastal shores and thus can be a reason for coastal habitat and wildlife degradation. Results indicate a significant degradation in nutrient and organic matter concentration in the sediment and dramatic increase in nutrient concentration, salinity, temperature, and pH in the water. Sediment and water degradation can be one of the important factors affecting the structural quality and biodiversity of the region. Therefore, having long-term monitoring data can be useful to plan and design management and conservation strategies to protect local biodiversity and ecosystem.

Resource Conservation as the Main Factor in Increasing the Resource Efficiency of Russian Gas Companies

The complex modern trends in the growth of the consumption of raw hydrocarbon materials around the world, and as a consequence their accelerated depletion, have forced oil and gas industry enterprises to identify progressive resource-saving methods and technologies. Such methods could enable the environmental and technological effects of production processes to be achieved under conditions of sustainable economic development and with a policy of balanced consumption and resource provision. This research is devoted to the improvement of the scientific and methodological foundations and the development of predictive and analytical tools for assessing the efficiency of resource use in gas industry enterprises. With the application of the proposed instruments, we carry out simulation modeling of the efficiency of natural gas production, processing and pipeline transportation companies. In the course of a comparative analysis of the efficiency indicators for Russian gas companies, a resource-efficient variant of their development is selected and the most promising business projects are identified. Three branch companies of the Russian gas industry are accepted as the objects of the research in this study. As a result of the conducted approbation process, it is revealed that the existing practice of assessing consumption and resource provision in companies in the industry, as well as the use of methods and approaches to resource conservation, does not have a single and complex character. The methodology proposed by the authors makes it possible to approach industry companies with the same set of indicators, systematize and calculate them, identify existing unused reserves for resource conservation and identify promising resource-efficient projects.

Mobile animals and immobile protected areas: improving the coverage of nature reserves for Asian elephant conservation in China

AbstractMany protected areas worldwide have been established to protect the last natural refuges of flagship animal species. However, long-established protected areas do not always match the current distributions of target species under changing environmental conditions. Here we present a case study of the Asian elephant Elephas maximus in Xishuangbanna, south-west China, to evaluate whether the established protected areas match the species’ current distribution and to identify key habitat patches for Asian elephant conservation. Our results show that currently only 24.5% of the predicted Asian elephant distribution in Xishuangbanna is located within Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, which was established for elephant conservation. Based on the predicted Asian elephant distribution, we identified the most important habitat patches for elephant conservation in Xishuangbanna. The three most important patches were outside Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve and together they contained 43.3% of the estimated food resources for Asian elephants in all patches in Xishuangbanna. Thus, we identified a spatial mismatch between immobile protected areas and mobile animals. We recommend the inclusion of the three identified key habitat patches in a new national park currently being planned by the Chinese authorities for the conservation of the Asian elephant.

Avian Community Structure of Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve, Haridwar, Uttarakhand

A survey of avifauna was carried out in Jhilmil Jheel Conservation Reserve (JJCR) of Haridwar Forest Division, Uttarakhand during 2018-2020. Point count method was used to count birds in six habitats viz., plantation, mixed forest, riverine habitat, scrub forest, grasslands and agriculture field. In total, 170 species of birds representing 16 orders and 64 families were recorded. The dominant order was Passeriformes, while the dominant foraging guild was insectivore birds. Most of the bird species were resident. The overall bird species diversity was 4.126. JJCR harbours 10 species of globally threatened avifauna including 3 Critically Endangered, 3 Endangered, and 4 Vulnerable species; in addition, the reserve also has 8 species of Near Threatened birds. The present documentation of avian community structure would help in developing conservation plan of this IBA.

Availability of lesser prairie‐chicken nesting habitat impairs restoration success

AbstractRegional populations of lesser prairie‐chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) have been declining irregularly since the early 1900s (Jensen et al. 2000). Populations in the Sand Sagebrush Prairie Ecoregion of Kansas and Colorado, USA, have been experiencing declines during the last 2 decades. Ecoregion‐wide declines included the Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands in southwestern Kansas and southeastern Colorado, respectively, from which lesser prairie‐chickens were nearly extirpated by 2016. In 2014, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)–Forest Service created a vegetation management plan to restore lesser prairie‐chicken nesting habitat on the National Grasslands. We used management plan recommendations to evaluate available nesting habitat on National Grasslands and surrounding areas for 394 transmitter‐marked lesser prairie‐chickens translocated to the Sand Sagebrush Prairie Ecoregion during 2016–2019. We found that a small proportion of vegetation measurements met the USDA–Forest Service's 100% visual obstruction guidelines of 25.4 to 38.1 cm (Cimarron: 5.3–21.8% of observations among cover types; Comanche: 1.5–3.0%), and grass species with a high value for nesting were rare (Cimarron: 0.5–20.1% of observations within each cover type; Comanche: 1.5–3.0%). Lesser prairie‐chickens selected for 2 of the 10 National Grasslands' cover types (shrubland state and warm season shortgrass state) during breeding season movements, but only shrubland state was selected for during nesting. Our results indicate that nesting habitat for lesser prairie‐chickens is limited on Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. As private grassland was also avoided during nesting, lesser prairie‐chickens in Baca and Morton counties are currently primarily relying on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands to meet nesting habitat thresholds (Morton, KS: 17.7% CRP; Baca, CO: 16.6% CRP), which may be insufficient to sustain a viable population. Due to the impermanence of CRP, efforts to sustain local populations are likely to depend on increased improved lesser prairie‐chicken nesting habitat on National Grasslands. Grazing strategies such as rest‐rotation and year‐long deferments may provide opportunities to restore lesser prairie‐chicken habitat on sand sagebrush prairie.

Sighting of a butterfly, two spot plum Judy, Abisara bifasciata (Moore, 1877), (Lepidoptera: Riodininae) in Punjab, India

Recently, a butterfly, Two spot Plum Judy Abisara bifasciata (Moore, 1877), (Lepidoptera: Riodinidae: Riodininae) was sighted at Chamrour, Ranjit Sagar Conservation Reserve, Punjab at an altitude of 460 m ASL for the first time and the species is a new addition to the Butterflies of Punjab.