Habitat Improvement Research Articles

Breeding Brown Pelicans Improve Foraging Performance as Energetic Needs Rise

Optimal foraging theory states that animals should maximize resource acquisition rates with respect to energy expenditure, which may involve alteration of strategies in response to changes in resource availability and energetic need. However, field-based studies of changes in foraging behavior at fine spatial and temporal scales are rare, particularly among species that feed on highly mobile prey across broad landscapes. To derive information on changes in foraging behavior of breeding brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) over time, we used GPS telemetry and distribution models of their dominant prey species to relate bird movements to changes in foraging habitat quality in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Over the course of each breeding season, pelican cohorts began by foraging in suboptimal habitats relative to the availability of high-quality patches, but exhibited a marked increase in foraging habitat quality over time that outpaced overall habitat improvement trends across the study site. These findings, which are consistent with adjustment of foraging patch use in response to increased energetic need, highlight the degree to which animal populations can optimize their foraging behaviors in the context of uncertain and dynamic resource availability, and provide an improved understanding of how landscape-level features can impact behavior.

Paths for colonization or exodus? New insights from the brown bear (Ursus arctos) population of the Cantabrian Mountains.

Over the centuries, the geographical distribution of brown bear (Ursus arctos) across the Iberian Peninsula has been decreasing, with the species currently confined to North Iberia. The Cantabrian brown bear population is one of the smallest in Europe and is structured into two subpopulations, positioned along an east-west axis. Given the current critically endangered status of this population, it is essential to have a clear picture of its within-population genetic patterns and processes. We use a set of three molecular markers (mitochondrial DNA, autosomal microsatellites and sex markers) to clarify the genetic origins and assess the migration patterns and gene flow of the Cantabrian brown bear population. Our results reveal the presence of two different mitochondrial (matrilineal) haplotypes in the Cantabrian population, both belonging to European brown bear clade 1a. The two haplotypes are geographically structured between Eastern (haplotype CanE) and Western Cantabrian (haplotype CanW) subpopulations, which is consistent with the genetic structure previously identified using nuclear markers. Additionally, we show that CanE is closer to the historical Pyrenean (Pyr) haplotype than to CanW. Despite strong structuring at the levels of mtDNA and nuclear loci, there is evidence of bidirectional gene flow and admixture among subpopulations. Gene flow is asymmetrical and significantly more intense from the Eastern to the Western Cantabrian subpopulation. In fact, we only detected first generation male migrants from the Eastern to the Western Cantabrian subpopulation. These results suggest more intense migration from the smaller and more vulnerable Eastern Cantabrian subpopulation towards the larger and more stable Western Cantabrian subpopulation. These new insights are relevant for assessments of on-going conservation measures, namely the role of dispersal corridors and enhanced connectivity. We discuss the importance of complementary conservation measures, such as human-wildlife conflict mitigation and habitat improvement, for the conservation of a viable Cantabrian brown bear population.

Variability and relationships among rooting characteristics for white poplar hardwood cuttings

White poplar is a key species in wood production and afforestation, but also very important for biodiversity preservation and habitat improvement. Vegetative propagation from hardwood cuttings is the most desirable method of white poplar breeding. The present research analyzed the effect of various technological treatments on four white poplar clones. Selected treatments were powder formulations of indole butyric acid (IBA) and foliar treatment with urea. The variability of 14 morphometric characteristics on the rooting of cuttings was analyzed, as well as relationships between them. Differences in analyzed morphometric characteristics depended on genotype, while the effect of the examined technological treatments was detected only by Fisher?s least significant difference (LSD) test. Significant variability between genotypes was found for traits describing rooting at the basal cut (R0 and R0p), the number of leaves (LN), the total number of roots (TRN), and cutting survival in the first part of the growing season (SURV07). Application of IBA had significant stimulating effects on rooting at the lower part of cuttings (R05) compared to controls. Variability between genotypes after foliar treatment with urea was not detected. The examined parameters were grouped into 5 groups by principal component analysis, where shoot traits and traits that describe rooting at the basal cut were in the same group with total number of roots, and cutting survival (SURV07) was in a separate group. These results suggest a need for further testing of the characteristics of hardwood cuttings in white poplars. More efficient clone technology is needed, using auxins and/or nitrogen fertilization designed to suit the specific requirements of particular clones.

Changing landscape configuration demands ecological planning: Retrospect and prospect for megaherbivores of North Bengal.

The Gorumara National Park (GNP) is an important conservation area located in the northern region of West Bengal State, India, as it provides habitat for three megaherbivores: Indian One-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and Gaurs (Bos gaurus). It harbours one of the last population of the one-horned rhino. In the present study, landscape change and configuration were investigated by comparing three Landsat images, from 1998, 2008 and 2018. The images were classified into six different landcover classes following standard methodology. The present study also involves evaluation of landscape and anthropogenic predictors influence on the megaherbivores of GNP, followed by future landcover simulation for the year 2028. The result shows a significant decrease in the grassland cover from 18.87 km2 to 8.27 km2 from 1998 to 2018, whereas the woodland cover has increased from 50.14 km2 to 62.09 km2 between 1998 and 2018. The landscape configuration indices such as Number of Patches (NP), Patch Density (PD), Interspersion and Juxtaposition (IJI), Aggregation Index (AI) and Mean Shape Index (SHAPE AM) indicated that the landscapes has lost complexity in the spatial placement of patches of different Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) classes. Also, the landscape over the three decades has become uniform in terms of diversity of patches, because of earlier plantation activities by the forest managers. Result also indicated that grassland, along with its class metrics are the top predictors contributing 43.6% in explaining the spatial distribution of megaherbivores in GNP. Results from the simulated landcover of 2028 suggest a possible decline in overall grassland by 6.23% and a subsequent upsurge in woodland by 6.09% from 2018. The present result will be useful in guiding the forest management in developing habitat improvement strategies for the long- term viability of megaherbivore populations of rhino, gaur and elephant in the GNP.

A case-study evaluating river rehabilitation alternatives and habitat heterogeneity using the hydromorphological index of diversity

Concurrent rehabilitation alternatives were evaluated for a 1900 m reach of the River Etsch in northern Italy using a recently developed Hydro Morphological Index of Diversity (HMID) model. HMID is a new tool enabling quantitative assessments of river restoration alternatives on ecologically relevant scales. The model is able to characterize both the spatial and temporal hydrodynamic variability, in relation to morphological characteristics, and thereby to assess the overall physical habitat variability imparted by different restoration alternatives. Three habitat alternatives were evaluated (boulder clusters, groynes, alternating bars) and compared to existing conditions where a prismatic channel exists. The placement of boulder clusters represented the simplest and cheapest option to implement but produced marginal improvements in the aquatic habitat. Installation of groynes resulted in moderate increases to spatial habitat variability, resulting in the largest capital investment. The introduction of alternating bars within a modestly increased channel width produced the greatest increase in physical habitat diversity and thus morphodynamic complexity while resulting in moderate capital investment construction costs compared to a full geomorphic restoration. The alternating bar rehabilitation alternative also supported the greatest habitat diversity and lowest variation in hydraulic conditions under low-flow conditions.

Relationships between absenteeism, conservation group membership, and land management among family forest owners

Absentee landowners, or those who do not live on their forestland, own approximately 117 million acres of private forestland in the U.S. Thus, their land management decisions and activities influence the flow of forest-based goods and services. We explore the question of whether absentee family forest owners are less active land managers than resident landowners and whether membership in conservation organizations is associated with higher levels of land management activity by absentee owners. To examine these questions, we administered a mail survey to randomly-selected family forest landowners in Indiana. While we found some support for the contention that absentee owners are less active forestland managers than resident owners, we also found they are not necessarily inactive landowners. We found absentee owners were less likely to have: inspected their forestland for invasive plants, pulled or cut invasive plants, used herbicides to kill invasive plants, reduced fire hazard, or grazed livestock than resident owners. Absentee owners were more likely to be enrolled in the Indiana Classified Forest and Wildlands Program, a preferential forest property tax program. Absentee owners who are members of a conservation organization were more likely than absentee non-member owners to have undertaken a variety of land management activities, including: undertaking wildlife habitat improvement projects, inspecting their forestland for invasive plants, pulling or cutting invasive plants, enrolling in the Indiana Classified Forest and Wildlands program, and obtaining a management plan.

Analisis Produksi Kepiting Bakau (Scylla seratta ) Kabupaten Bone

Salah satu daerah penghasil kepiting bakau terbesar di Kabupaten Bone adalah Kecamatan Cenrana. Peningkatan jumlah produksi kepiting bakau pada tahun 2016 adalah sumbangsi terbesar dari Kecamatan Cenrana. Akan tetapi, seiring permintaan kepiting bakau di Kabupaten Bone terus meningkat, jumlah produksinya belum mampu memenuhi permintaan pasar kepiting bakau meskipun produksinya pernah mengalami peningkatan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh input produksi (lahan tambak, benih, pakan dan tenaga kerja) terhadap produksi kepiting bakau. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan di Kecamatan Cenrana, Kabupaten Bone, Penentuan lokasi dilakukan secara sengaja (purvosive). Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada Bulan Februari sampai dengan Maret 2018. Responden dalam penelitian ini adalah petani kepiting bakau yang dipilih menggunakan metode sampling sebanyak 92 orang. Adapun analisis data yang digunakan yaitu analisis regresi berganda dengan metode Ordinary Least Square (OLS), model yang digunakan adalah persamaan fungsi produksi Cobb-Douglas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan produksi kepiting bakau dipengaruhi oleh faktor lahan tambak (0,231), benih (0,459), pakan (0,155) dan tenaga kerja (0,238) dan berpengaruh positif dan signifikan terhadap produksi kepiting bakau. Produksi kepiting bakau akan semakin meningkat karena ada potensi peningkatan produksi kepiting bakau dengan adanya kepastian ketersediaan benih melalui perbaikan habitat mangrove yang lebih baik, peraturan penangkapan induk kepiting bakau yang bertelur dan perbaikan lingkungan akibat pencemaran disekitar hulu Sungai Cenrana Kabupaten Bone.

Reintroduction of storks and habitat improvement for them

Reintroduction of storks and habitat improvement for them

Low productivity and unsuitable management drive the decline of central European lapwing populations

AbstractDespite the protective measures that have been implemented to increase the productivity of meadow birds, populations are still declining in most breeding and wintering areas. We therefore still do not know how large the protective efforts need to be to curb the decline of the meadow bird populations. By taking advantage of monitoring data from the populations of lapwings in the Netherlands (NL) and one region in Germany [Schleswig‐Holstein (SH)], we investigated the demographic drivers responsible for the decline of the populations and evaluated the impact of protective measures. In these populations, some nests are marked with sticks such that they are not destroyed by farming activity. We analyzed the data with integrated population models and show that average demographic rates were similar in the two populations. Retrospective analyses demonstrated that variation in productivity most strongly impacted population dynamics and that its variation was influenced by the local environments. Our results confirmed that low productivity (0.55 and 0.46 fledglings per pairs in SH and NL, respectively) was the main reason for the decline of the lapwing populations. Productivity of 0.76 (SH) and 0.91 (NL) fledglings per pairs would be required to stabilize the populations. The implemented nest protection had a positive effect on nest success, but did not improve chick survival, and consequently the effect on population growth rates remained insufficient. The population growth rate in NL would increase by only 2% if all nests were protected. Our results suggest that protective measures should prioritize the reduction in predation and the improvement of chick habitat by promoting heterogeneous swards combining tall vegetation for hiding and short and open vegetation for foraging.

Use of Natural and Added Cover Types by Game and Nongame Fishes in a Great Plains River

AbstractThe rivers in the western Great Plains of the United States are characterized by low gradients, sandy substrates, and a relative scarcity of structural habitat. Habitat improvement projects in these systems often involve the addition of large wood and rock riprap to increase habitat for nonnative game fishes, such as piscivorous Brown Trout Salmo trutta. However, little is known about the use of added habitats by the small‐bodied nongame fishes that historically dominated the fish assemblages in these systems. We evaluated habitat availability and fish habitat use in the Laramie River (Wyoming, USA) at four sites that contained natural and added habitats. We calculated habitat selection for three natural cover types (natural wood, macrophytes, and undercut bank), two added cover types (added wood and rock riprap), and open water. Open‐water habitat dominated all sites (87–94% of the stream area), but all species except Johnny Darter Etheostoma nigrum showed negative selection for this cover type. Most species showed positive selection for both natural and added cover types but showed greater selectivity for natural wood compared to added wood. Native, small‐bodied fishes in the Laramie River used added cover types intended to benefit populations of Brown Trout. Thus, features that enhance habitat for Brown Trout also should benefit native species in Great Plains rivers that have limited natural structural habitat.

A QTL associated with leaf trichome traits has a major influence on the abundance of the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri in a hybrid grapevine population

The abundance of predatory phytoseiid mites, Typhlodromus pyri, important biological control agents of spider mite pests in numerous crops, is positively influenced by the density of leaf trichomes and tuft-form domatia in vein axils. Identification of the genetic regions controlling both trophic levels could facilitate the improvement of predatory mite habitat in breeding programs. The abundance of T. pyri and non-glandular trichomes was measured in a segregating F1 family derived from the cross of the complex Vitis hybrid, ‘Horizon’, with Illinois 547-1 (V. rupestris B38 × V. cinerea B9), finding positive correlation among traits. High density genetic maps were used to localize one major quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1 of Illinois 547-1 associated with both predatory mite abundance and leaf trichomes. This QTL explained 23% of the variation in phytoseiid abundance and similar amounts of variance in domatia rating (21%), domatia size (16%), leaf bristle density (37% in veins and 33% in blades), and leaf hair density (20% in veins and 15% in blades). Another nine QTL distributed among chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 8, and 15 were associated solely with trichome density, and explained 7–17% of the phenotypic variation. Combined, our results provide evidence of the genetic architecture of non-glandular trichomes in Vitis, with a major locus influencing trichome densities, domatia size and predatory mite abundance. This information is relevant for breeding grapevines with a more favorable habitat for biological control agents.

Fish and fisheries of Bada (Rasbora spp.) in Lake Maninjau, West Sumatra

Bada is the local name for Rasbora spp in Lake Maninjau. This fish is an economic fisheries commodity for consumption and has become one of the culinary icons of Maninjau area. Many studies have been carried out related to bada fish in Lake Maninjau, but continuous studies are needed to complete aspects that have not been done or for evaluation purposes, in order to take conservation or management actions. Therefore this study aims to convey the latest status of fish (species distribution of bada fish) and fisheries of bada (fishing activity, relative abundance distribution, and production trend). For species distribution of bada, sampling was carried out in six sampling station of lake waters (Bayur, Kularian, Muara Tanjung, Muko-muko, Sigiran, and Galapung) and four stream waters (Kularian Stream, Muara Tanjung Stream, Koto Gadang Stream, and a stream in Galapung) as inlets of Lake Maninjau in April 2017. For fisheries of bada analysis sampling was carried out in four stations of lake waters (Bayur, Linggai, Sigiran, and Galapung) from April to November 2017. Fish was caught using gillnet and liftnet. Catch data also obtained from some of fishermen as enumerator. In addition, interviews were also conducted with stakeholder from policy maker element. Species of bada were determined based on morphological identification. Three species of bada fish (Rasbora spp) were found in the lake and inlets of the lake, namely Rasbora lateristriata, Rasbora argyrotaenia, and Rasbora cf sumatrana. Rasbora lateristriata has the widest distribution in both lake and inlets. Analysis of Variance result showed that the abundance of bada fish (all types of Rasbora) was relatively same in all locations in Lake Maninjau (p > 0.05). Catch of bada in recent years declined sharply compared to 2008, for example catches in Bayur decreased by 80%. Current fishing activities also experienced a decline as fishermen using gillnet were rarely found. Current fishing of bada are mostly using lukah (trap) which were found in two locations, namely Rangeh stream and Batang stream. Bagan (lifnet) were found in Bayur, Muara Tanjung, Muko-muko, and Sigiran. Recommended management efforts are regulation of fishing (types of fishing gears and locations), maintain the lake and inlets connectivity, habitat improvement through construct fish shelters, and restocking.

Bridging the Urban-Rural Divide Between Ecosystem Service Suppliers and Beneficiaries: Using a Distributed Community Nursery to Support Rural Revegetation.

The provision of ecosystem services from vegetation on private land is constrained by a lack of effective markets to overcome the costs of supply. Urban beneficiaries of ecosystem services from vegetation on private, rural land have limited options for enhancing the supply. This study examines a not-for-profit revegetation programme, the Tree Scheme, in which participants are volunteers who grow seedlings for revegetation on rural land, and rural landholders who use the seedlings in revegetation. We used records of participation and seedlings, along with participant questionnaires to investigate the flow of resources between volunteer growers and rural landholders. The programme produced approximately 22.5 million seedlings between 1994 and 2012; 79% of seedlings were grown in urban locations and 79% of seedlings were ordered for rural plantings. Landholders identified a mixture of objectives for revegetation, with improvement of habitat and biodiversity being most common, followed by objectives with higher private benefits, including planting for windbreaks, erosion control and screening. Volunteer growers reported liking the programme because of the programme's intended environmental benefits, the satisfaction they gained from raising seedlings and other social benefits of participation. The programme demonstrates that a substantial flow of resources between urban ecosystem services beneficiaries and rural producers can be achieved by facilitating voluntary actions. The type and scale of this programme is rare and potentially transferable.

Modelling changes in trout habitat following stream restoration

AbstractStream restoration was implemented on the Upper Arkansas River near Leadville, Colorado, to improve brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations. Metals pollution and channel disturbance associated with historic mining, land use, and water development degraded aquatic and riparian habitat. Changes in instream habitat quality following restoration were investigated with a before–after–control–impact study design. Baseline, as‐built, and effectiveness surveys were conducted in 2013, 2014, and 2016, respectively. Two‐dimensional hydrodynamic modelling with River2D was used to estimate weighted usable area (WUA) for adult, juvenile, fry, and spawning brown trout across a range of flows. WUA was calculated from habitat suitability curves for velocity, depth, and channel substrate. Foraging positions (FP) and habitat heterogeneity were also evaluated as indices of habitat quality. All results were analysed with analysis of variance. At impact sites, WUA increased by 12.2% from 2013 to 2014 but decreased by 10.2% from 2014 to 2016, whereas FP increased by 24.8% from 2013 to 2014 but decreased by 26.1% from 2014 to 2016. Spawning habitat increased 53.3% from 2014 to 2016 at impact sites. The 15.4% increase in depth variability from 2013 to 2016 indicates that habitat heterogeneity was enhanced at impact sites. No changes in WUA, FP, or habitat heterogeneity were observed at control sites. Although changes in WUA and FP suggest that initial habitat improvements were not sustained, increased spawning habitat and depth heterogeneity suggest otherwise. Our results highlight the value of monitoring strategies that utilize multiple lines of evidence to evaluate restoration effectiveness, inform adaptive management, and improve restoration practices.

Local adaptation stops where ecological gradients steepen or are interrupted.

Population genetic models of evolution along linear environmental gradients cannot explain why adaptation stops at ecological margins. This is because, unless models impose reductions in carrying capacity at species’ edges, the dominant effect of gene flow is to increase genetic variance and adaptive potential rather than swamping local adaptation. This allows the population to match even very steep changes in trait optima. We extend our previous simulations to explore two nonlinear models of ecological gradients: (a) a sigmoid (steepening) gradient and (b) a linear gradient with a flat centre of variable width. We compare the parameter conditions that allow local adaptation and range expansion from the centre, with those that permit the persistence of a perfectly adapted population distributed across the entire range. Along nonlinear gradients, colonization is easier, and extinction rarer, than along a linear gradient. This is because the shallow environmental gradient near the range centre does not cause gene flow to increase genetic variation, and so does not result in reduced population density. However, as gradient steepness increases, gene flow inflates genetic variance and reduces local population density sufficiently that genetic drift overcomes local selection, creating a finite range margin. When a flat centre is superimposed on a linear gradient, gene flow increases genetic variation dramatically at its edges, leading to an abrupt reduction in density that prevents niche expansion. Remarkably local interruptions in a linear ecological gradient (of a width much less than the mean dispersal distance) can prevent local adaptation beyond this flat centre. In contrast to other situations, this effect is stronger and more consistent where carrying capacity is high. Practically speaking, this means that habitat improvement at patch margins will make evolutionary rescue more likely. By contrast, even small improvements in habitat at patch centres may confine populations to limited areas of ecological space.

Are non-industrial private forest owners willing to deliver regulation ecosystem services? Insights from an alpine case

As non-industrial private forest owners own a large share of forests in Europe, their management choices can largely affect the delivery of forest ecosystem services of different types: provisional, regulation and cultural. The literature is rich in studies exploring the delivery of both provisional services (timber or wood products) and cultural ones (recreation or amenity). However, fewer researches have addressed the delivery of regulation services like regulation of climate, carbon sequestration or preservation of habitats. The paper intends to contribute to this scarce literature with a Southern European case study. It analyses whether non-industrial private forest owners from an Italian alpine region would be willing to deliver additional (i.e. beyond legal requirements) quantities of regulation forest ecosystem services, whether they would do so with or without payment, and what affects such willingness. Three services are analysed: habitat improvement, soil conservation and carbon sequestration. Three multinomial logit models are estimated on a sample of 106 non-industrial forest owners. The results show, among others, that the willingness to deliver regulation forest ecosystem services is enhanced when the service impacts also on the property scale: this result concurs with the literature which shows that non-industrial private forest owners very often maximise not only their profit but also their overall utility by considering the self-consumption of services. The paper concludes by providing indications for targeting and tailoring active forest management policies focused on non-industrial forest owners of Italian alpine regions.

Changes in habitat selection patterns of the gray partridge Perdix perdix in relation to agricultural landscape dynamics over the past two decades.

Changes in agricultural practices have reshaped agricultural landscapes and triggered a drastic decline in spatial and temporal heterogeneity leading to changes in habitat quality and food resources for birds. However, the precise relationships between landscape changes, spatial and temporal heterogeneity, and habitat preferences in response to those changes remain poorly known.We investigated patterns of habitat selection and causes for changes over the years 1997–2017 for the gray partridge Perdix perdix, an iconic farmland species which has experienced a severe decline since the 1950s. Using a long‐term (1997–2017) dataset collected over 435 km2, we modeled relationships between annual land‐cover maps and partridge sightings over 17 5‐year moving windows, assessing the effects of landscape metrics, the strength of the relationships, and the dynamics of habitat suitability.We detected a shift in gray partridge habitat preferences over time, toward more risky habitats. Avoidance of predator reservoirs (woodlands and buildings) has weakened, and selection of human infrastructure, such as roads and tracks, has increased. Since 1997, the mean size of suitable patches has also decreased by about 26%.We have interpreted these changes in habitat selection as being the result of decreasing habitat quality and the increasing prevalence of captive‐reared birds, currently released in their thousands in the study site. Synthesis and applications. The gray partridge has not adjusted well to changes in farming practices, and the low, still decreasing, population density suggests that it is not sustainable, despite local initiatives and the investment in captive‐bird releases. We emphasize that efforts must be redirected toward habitat improvement to restore the density of refuge cover, insects, and seeds in the landscape, hunting management to ensure self‐sustainable populations and massive releases of high‐quality birds. Only integrated local management, involving hunters, farmers, gamekeepers, and scientists can ensure the recovery of this species.

Species richness of polypores can be increased by supplementing dead wood resource into a boreal forest landscape

Abstract To prevent local species extinction and to counteract population declines, we must ensure species have access to resources they require for life. This can be done through ecological restoration where previously depleted resources are reintroduced. If the restoration is conducted as a one‐off action in a large area, it resembles a natural resource pulse, which should lead to increased abundance of individuals, accompanied possibly by increased species richness. Species–energy relationship and underlying theory enable predictions about how different features of resource pulses affect species richness. We conducted a large‐scale, controlled, randomized and replicated field experiment to study the effect of a resource addition on polypore species richness in a previously managed boreal forest landscape in Finland. We manipulated the amount and distribution of dead wood and studied the effects on polypore assemblages on added and natural dead wood during 9 years after manipulation (2004–2012). By adding dead wood, species richness grew, mainly through increasing abundances: a large amount of dead wood resulted in higher abundance, higher number and faster accumulation of species than a small amount of dead wood. For a given abundance, dead wood addition contained fewer species than natural dead wood. This is most probably because added dead wood was of low diversity and provided habitat only for a limited number of species. Species richness on natural dead wood increased substantially during the study period, and this increase was not related to the resource manipulation. Thus, habitat improvement through natural succession can occur within a relatively short time period irrespective of human intervention. Synthesis and applications. We demonstrate how the introduction of dead wood additions can strengthen polypore populations. The species taking advance of the introduced resource were primarily common species, instead of rare or red‐listed species. Thus, we recommend ensuring the natural formation of dead wood while the populations of the common species supporting ecosystem functions can be increased by adding dead wood in the landscape.

Investigating Potential Impacts of Credit Failure Risk Mitigation on Habitat Exchange Outcomes

Voluntary, market-based conservation programs are one tool available to land managers and regulators to maintain and enhance environmental resources. One such program type is a habitat exchange, through which a private landowner sells conservation to developers to offset a disturbance on the landscape. Since landowner participation is voluntary, price and contract terms must be sufficiently appealing to induce participation. Moreover, landowners who undertake costly actions to generate sellable credits face risk of failure. In particular, stipulated habitat improvements may fail to be achieved in the future due to events outside the control of landowners, resulting in foregone conservation payments. In the absence of sufficient real-world data for conventional econometric analysis, we implement a laboratory market experiment to assess the impact of market structure, credit failure risk, and a potential reimbursement policy on habitat exchange outcomes (market price, quantity traded, earnings, and efficiency). Findings suggest that failure risk significantly reduces habitat credit production and trade in this market environment, putting the potential success of such emerging markets in question. A private party risk mitigation strategy of buyers reimbursing sellers for production costs on failed units could mitigate these impacts. Specifically, reimbursing sellers for production costs on credits that fail to maintain habitat quality for their contract life can significantly mitigate reductions in conservation production resulting from this risk.

Prescribed Fire Effects on Water Quality and Freshwater Ecosystems in Moist-Temperate Eastern North America

Forests of the eastern United States provide numerous ecosystem services, including water filtration. Forest management activities of eastern forests often include prescribed fire to accomplish a variety of management objectives such as invasive species control, wildlife habitat improvement, ecosystem restoration, and hazardous fuel reduction. Despite widespread use of prescribed fire in this region and the need to maintain adequate water quality from forests impacted by this practice, there is a paucity of knowledge on prescribed fire's impacts on water quality. This article summarizes and consolidates known impacts of prescribed fire on chemical, physical, and biological properties related to water quality and freshwater ecosystems in moist-temperate eastern North America, including impacts on drinking water treatability. Based upon this synthesis, it appears that most prescribed fires in eastern forests are low intensity and low severity and cause minimal changes to forest soil properties, leading to minimal adverse impacts that might exacerbate soil erosion and adversely affect surface waters. In some cases, prescribed fire has been shown to enhance water quality in the region. Technological advancements in monitoring fire behavior have the potential to advance our knowledge regarding the effects of prescribed fire on water quality in the eastern forest region, particularly for fires of mixed or moderate severity and fires occurring in complex terrain.