Habitat Use Research Articles

The American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) spawns regularly in salt marshes

While considered ecological generalists in most aspects of their life history, horseshoe crabs (Limulus polyphemus) have traditionally been regarded as reproductive habitat specialists, given that spawning is thought to occur primarily on beaches where conditions for embryonic development are considered optimal. Observations of horseshoe crabs spawning in other habitats were deemed isolated and the behavior non‐adaptive. Here, we used spawning and egg surveys to compare the use of beach and salt marsh habitats for spawning by the horseshoe crab in three US states along the Atlantic coast. We found similar spawning and egg densities in both habitats but were more likely to find eggs in marsh habitats, indicating that spawning in marsh habitats is common and geographically widespread. These results suggest that the conservation of salt marshes may be critical for the protection of this species and that management strategies should be revised to incorporate this generalist behavior.

Heterogeneity is key to supporting forest-dweller butterflies

Worldwide, forests are considered biodiversity hotspots. Butterflies are among the surrogate species for forest biodiversity yet in many parts of the world, little is known about the presence or habitat use of forest-dweller butterflies. In this study we aimed to narrow the information gap by applying a time-effective butterfly survey in forests in northeast Türkiye that are surrounded by several prime butterfly areas. The target species were Boloria euphrosyne, Coenonympha arcania, Erebia aethiops, and Satyrium ilicis. The surveys provided 128 records of the species. Random forests models showed that the mean temperature of the warmest month, canopy cover of pine trees, tree size, and managed meadows in or at the edge of forests are important parameters for species occurrence. Nevertheless, the direction of the effects varied between species. Maintaining heterogeneity in forests in terms of the forest variables indicated above and promoting small-scale grassland management in forest openings and edges are important conservation measures for forest-dwelling butterflies. The relevance of the temperature suggests that climate change may have significant effects on the occurrence of forest butterflies. Key words: Habitat use, Hay meadows, Forest structure, Erebia aethiops, Satyrium ilicis, Coenonympha arcania

Beyond boundaries: governance considerations for climate-driven habitat shifts of highly migratory marine species across jurisdictions

The mobile nature of migratory marine animals across jurisdictional boundaries can challenge the management of biodiversity, particularly under global environmental change. While projections of climate-driven habitat change can reveal whether marine species are predicted to gain or lose habitat in the future, geopolitical boundaries and differing governance regimes may influence animals’ abilities to thrive in new areas. Broad geographic movements and diverse governance approaches elicit the need for strong international collaboration to holistically manage and conserve these shared migratory species. In this study, we use data from the Tagging of Pacific Predators program to demonstrate the feasibility of using climate-driven habitat projections to assess species’ jurisdictional redistribution. Focusing on four species (shortfin mako shark, California sea lion, northern elephant seal, and sooty shearwater), we calculate the projected change in core habitat across jurisdictional boundaries throughout the century and highlight associated management implications. Using climate-driven habitat projections from the period of 2001 to 2010, and an RCP 8.5 climate scenario, we found that all four species are projected to face up to a 2.5-10% change in core habitat across jurisdictions in the Northeast Pacific, with the greatest gains of core habitat redistribution within the United States exclusive economic zone and in areas beyond national jurisdiction. Overall, our study demonstrates how efforts to understand the impacts of climate change on species’ habitat use should be expanded to consider how resulting shifts may provoke new management challenges in a legally bounded, yet physically borderless ocean. We discuss governance implications for transboundary habitat redistribution as highly migratory marine species potentially shift across legal jurisdictions, including new ocean areas beyond national judications, considerations which are applicable within and beyond this Pacific case study. Our study also highlights data needs and management strategies to inform high-level conservation strategies, as well as recommendations for using updated tagging data and climate models to build upon this approach in future work.

Using juvenile movements as a proxy for adult habitat and space use in long‐lived territorial species: a case study on the golden eagle

Effective conservation management of wildlife species depends on understanding their space and habitat use. Telemetry has become the primary source of data for information on how species use space and habitats. However, animals can be difficult to capture, leading to limited sample sizes and thus low quality inferences. As some individuals may be easier to capture than others, it may be tempting to use them to make inferences about the studied population as a whole. Juvenile birds, in contrast to adults, are easy to capture while they are still in the nest. However, there are few studies on when and how they might serve to obtain a representative characterization of the habitat or space use of adults. This study investigated this by using GPS‐tracking data of 35 adult/juvenile dyads of golden eagles Aquila chrysaetos, with the juvenile and adult in a dyad sharing the same home‐range. We assessed juvenile‐to‐adult home‐range overlap and also compared their relative use of habitats within that space. We also analysed how these metrics evolved throughout the post‐fledging dependence period (PFDP). During this period, juvenile‐to‐adult similarity was more than 80% for the entire home‐range, whereas it was lower for the core area (approximately 60%). Habitat‐use similarity was high, at approximately 90% for both the home‐range and core area, both in land‐cover and topography. The similarity increased following the improvement of juvenile flight skills over a period of two months, to the extent that two months after fledging and until the end of the PFDP, habitat and space use of juveniles can be used to infer the home‐range and habitat requirements of adults. It would be valuable to study this ‘adult‐by‐juvenile replacement' approach in other species to determine whether it could be generalized, notably for species with a shorter dependence period or more complex social interactions.

Population growth, habitat use, and conservation strategies of the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) in the southwest coast of Taiwan

Population growth, habitat use, and conservation strategies of the Black-faced Spoonbill (Platalea minor) in the southwest coast of Taiwan

Howling shadows: First report of domestic dog attacks on globally threatened mountain tapirs in high Andean cloud forests of Colombia

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) are recognised worldwide not only as man’s best friend, but also as a form of anthropogenic edge effect impacting wildlife through predation, competition and disease infection. In the Northern Andes, there is growing evidence of dogs inducing activity shifts or alterations in the habitat use of native mammalian species. However, little information exists on direct attacks of dogs on wildlife, even in the case of species of conservation concern such as the mountain tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Here, we used camera traps to report two cases of dogs chasing and attacking mountain tapirs in a protected area of the Central Andes of Colombia. The first event showed a direct physical contact between a living adult mountain tapir and two dogs, but the picture’s angle did not lead to observable signs of wounds or other injuries. The second event showed an adult mountain tapir running while being chased by the same two dogs of the first event, denoting a stressful moment for the tapir. This may have negative consequences on the populations of mountain tapirs through decreased reproductive performance and foraging efficiency, increased potential for disease outbreaks and more. Population management and control of domestic dogs inside and around protected areas must be considered a priority in future conservation actions to support a healthy population of mountain tapirs and other imperilled species in the region.

Trophic ecology and small‐scale differentiation of ecological groups of franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, in southeastern Brazil, revealed by carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes

AbstractThe franciscana, Pontoporia blainvillei, is an endemic dolphin off the east coast of South America and is considered the most endangered cetacean in the western South Atlantic. In the present study, we analyzed the muscle tissue of 24 franciscana dolphins found on the coast of Espírito Santo (ES) between 2010 and 2019 to investigate trophic ecology using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. In addition, 127 prey were analyzed to identify the preferred prey. The most important prey species in the diet of the franciscana dolphins were Trichiurus lepturus, Chirocentrodon bleekerianus, and Pellona harroweri. The franciscana dolphins were grouped into three subareas according to where they were collected throughout the distribution: 1 (North), 2 (Center), and 3 (South). In subarea 1, the preferred prey were Stellifer spp., Isopisthus parvipinnis, and P. harroweri, while in subareas 2 and 3, the prey were similar, changing the order of preference among them (Stellifer spp., T. lepturus, and C. bleekerianus). Finally, we identify two possible ecological groups of franciscana dolphins on the coast of ES, influenced by different carbon sources. Our results improve our understanding of the franciscana dolphin's trophic ecology and habitat use, providing new information and guidelines for species conservation in the region.

Making better use of tracking data can reveal the spatiotemporal and intraspecific variability of species distributions

Understanding geographic ranges and species distributions is crucial for effective conservation, especially in the light of climate and land use change. However, the spatial, temporal and intraspecific resolution of digital accessible information on species distributions is often limited. Here, we suggest to make better use of high‐resolution tracking data to address existing limitations of occurrence records such as spatial biases (e.g. lack of observations in parts of the geographic range), temporal biases (e.g. lack of observations during a certain period of the year), and insufficient information on intraspecific variability (e.g. lack of population‐ or individual‐level variation). Addressing these gaps can improve our knowledge on geographic ranges, intra‐annual changes in species distributions, and population‐level differences in habitat and space use. We demonstrate this with tracking data and species distribution models (SDMs) of the barnacle goose, a migratory bird species wintering in western Europe and breeding in the Arctic. Our analyses show that tracking data can 1) supplement occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) in remote areas such as the European and Russian Arctic, 2) improve information on the temporal use of wintering, staging and breeding areas of migratory species and 3) be used to reveal distribution patterns at the population level. We recommend a broader use of tracking data to address the Wallacean shortfall (i.e. the incomplete knowledge on the geographic distribution of species) and to improve forecasts of biodiversity responses to climate and land use change (e.g. species vulnerability assessments). To avoid common pitfalls, we provide six recommendations for consideration during the research cycle when using tracking data in species distribution modelling, including steps to assess biases and integrate information on intraspecific variability in modelling approaches.

Habitat use of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles at the northern limit of their distribution range of the Northwest Pacific Ocean.

Verifying habitats, including the foraging and nesting areas for sea turtles, enables an understanding of their spatial ecology and successful planning of their conservation and management strategies. Recently, the observation frequency and bycatch of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtles have increased in the northern limit of their distribution range, in the northern part of the East China Sea and East (Japan) Sea. We conducted satellite tracking to investigate the habitat use of seven loggerhead and eight green turtles from June 2016 to August 2022 in this area, where little is known about their spatial ecology. We applied a 50 percent volume contour method to determine their main foraging areas and analyzed 6 environmental variables to characterize their habitats. Loggerhead turtles mainly stayed in and used the East China Sea as a foraging area during the tracking period, while two individuals among them also used the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area. Most green turtles also used the East China Sea as a foraging area, near South Korea and Japan, with one individual among them using the lower area of the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area. Notably, one green turtle traveled to Hainan Island in the South China Sea, a historical nesting area. Our results showed that the two sea turtle species included the East Sea as a seasonal foraging area, possibly owing to the abundance of food sources available, despite its relatively lower sea temperature. Considering that loggerhead and green sea turtles were observed using the northern part of the East China Sea and East Sea more frequently than previously known and that the sea temperature gradually increases due to climate change, conservation and management activities are required for sea turtles in these areas.

Broadscale and fine‐scale variables predict the occurrence of a stream‐breading bufonid: Habitat use by the Arizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus)

AbstractArizona toad (Anaxyrus microscaphus) is a stream‐breeding bufonid of conservation concern in Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada. We determined the occupancy and habitat use of the Arizona toad throughout its range. We surveyed 500‐m reaches along perennial and intermittent streams during the summers of 2021 and 2022 (n = 232) in Arizona. We recorded the presence of all toad life stages, focusing on larval stages. We related toad occupancy to broadscale environmental variables, including measures of bioclimate, habitat heterogeneity, solar radiation, and topography. We collected fine‐scale variables to summarize vegetation cover and substrate within plots (n = 53). We applied multiple occupancy models. Single‐species model results found low toad occupancy with high detection. Two principal component analyses (PCA) were run on broadscale and fine‐scale variables to reduce the number of variables included in the models. Toad occupancy was best predicted by top models with bioclimatic components; occupancy decreases with extremely hot temperatures and less precipitation. A logistic regression related toad presence to fine‐scale components with top models describing riparian complexity and algae. Arizona toads were selected for areas with foliar canopy cover, shallow water, algae cover, and pebble substrates. Arizona toad is an uncommon species and maintaining riparian forests of complex habitats with shallow and side‐channel flow will be important for toad conservation. Implications of less water cause riparian habitat to dry, which ultimately harms aquatic life.

Matching the elemental fingerprints of fish otoliths with water masses of the St. Lawrence River and its tributaries, Canada

The physicochemical heterogeneity of large river ecosystems generates a mosaic of habitats that support diverse fish communities. Understanding the connectivity between habitats and exploited fish populations is necessary for the sustainable management of fisheries. This study evaluates the spatial concordance between elemental fingerprints of fish otoliths and surface waters in the St. Lawrence River (Canada) and its tributaries. We sampled 16 tributaries and various freshwater habitats of the St. Lawrence River and collected 136 water samples and 930 fish, representing 21 species. We observed a high spatial variability of trace element composition in the water and fish otolith samples. Reclassification using Sr and Ba concentrations of the collected water and otoliths was sufficiently accurate to correctly assign most fish to their capture region. We also observed significant variation in the elemental deposition relationships for Sr and Ba among fish families. The development of this elemental fingerprint reference database is fundamental for understanding the structure of exploited fish populations, validating the connectivity among habitats, and reconstructing habitat use by invasive fish species.

Dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) habitat use in a mussel farming region and changes over time

ABSTRACT Information on marine mammal habitat use in coastal areas can provide a better understanding of anthropogenic effects on species. Admiralty Bay, New Zealand has extensive near-shore mussel farms and is an important dusky dolphin (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) foraging habitat. Prior dusky dolphin research indicated a declining trend in regional abundance from the late 1990s to mid-2000s. We describe dusky dolphin behaviour, habitat patch use and movement patterns in Admiralty Bay in 2011–2012 and compare findings to previous research to capture long-term trends. Sampling methods included small-boat group follows and photo-identification and shore-based theodolite tracking. Dolphin encounter rate, mean group size, and individual resighting rate showed a negative trend from previous years. Coordinated prey ball herding, a foraging technique documented in previous years, was rarely observed during this study. Dolphins were more likely to forage near farms (excluding specialised prey herding), though they seldom entered farms. Near shore, swimming speed was slower, reorientation rate was higher, and linearity was lower in the presence of farms than in their absence. This research builds upon prior studies, suggesting a continued decline in dusky dolphin presence, and highlights differences in habitat patch use in a human-altered ecosystem.

Sensitivity of insectivorous bat foraging guilds to urbanization and implications for sustainable development

Substantial urban expansion is expected in global biodiversity hotspots over the next decade, especially in Asia. One such hotspot is Sulawesi, Indonesia, which hosts a diverse array of wild mammals, including bats. While urbanization may threaten some bats, species are not uniformly sensitive to urbanization. Many bat species’ sensitivity to urbanization is associated with their foraging strategies (or foraging guild), but information from Asia, generally, is severely lacking. Here we address this knowledge gap regarding urban sensitivity among insectivorous, echolocating bats within the context of urban informal settlements around the city of Makassar, South Sulawesi. Globally and in Makassar, informal settlements often exist on the fringe of cities, forming an urban-undeveloped land interface. Consequently, they may present opportunities to support conservation for some bats, given a growing focus on nature-based sustainable development solutions to improve the lives of informal settlement residents. We examined how, among informal settlements across Makassar, relative activity of bat sonotypes (in lieu of taxonomic species) from different foraging guilds was related to environmental factors associated with urban expansion. We found bat activity was influenced by processes interacting across multiple spatial scales ranging from the landscape- (e.g., spatial location relative to dense development in the urban core) to local-level (e.g., particular environmental features within 500 m). Broadly, we found some foraging guilds had lower overall relative activity, as well lower activity within the urban core compared to the peri-urban zone, indicating differential sensitivity to urbanization among Makassar’s bats that matches findings elsewhere. However, intensity of both urban and peri-urban informal settlement habitat use by particular bats was driven by a combination of landscape- and local-scale features. At the local scale, tree cover and inland water area frequently influenced sonotype activity in settlements, including urban core habitat use by urban-sensitive bats. Our work demonstrates that, especially if coordinated across broader spatial scales, local nature-based upgrades in informal settlements incorporating diverse green and blue spaces have the potential to enhance suitability of urban zones for both bats and for people.

Functional traits drive tadpole responses to land use in coastal areas

Abstract Land use changes are considered a significant cause of amphibian declines worldwide. However, little is known regarding which land uses have more pervasive impacts and which help to supplement the biodiversity conserved in protected areas. In addition, amphibian species respond to a broad array of geographical constraints, which may blur responses to disturbance, depending on the species' natural history. Here, we explored whether functional diversity patterns of amphibian assemblages are linked to human land use while considering spatial autocorrelation and phylogenetic relatedness among species. We surveyed tadpoles along 500 km in coastal wetlands in southern Brazil and quantified four traits related to tadpole habitat use and predator avoidance. Spatial components influenced functional richness to a greater extent than land use. Functional evenness was higher in ponds surrounded by more exotic reforestation, and to a lesser extent an effect of crop area. Functional divergence was also associated with reforestation areas. Our results showed that some land uses (reforestation with exotic species and temporary crops) have more pervasive impacts on tadpole communities. Such changes in amphibian communities occurred even at low levels of landscape change. Our findings highlight that conversion to human land use requires complementary approaches (i.e., tadpole and adult responses) to provide early warning signals about habitat modification effects.

Breeding biology of the Ochre-breasted pipit (Anthus nattereri), with notes on its conservation in the Upper Rio Grande Grasslands, south-eastern Brazil

ABSTRACT The Ochre-breasted pipit Anthus nattereri is a terrestrial bird restricted to natural grasslands of south-eastern South America. The species is globally Vulnerable to extinction and its natural history is still poorly known. We investigated the breeding biology of Ochre-breasted pipits, commenting on its habitat use and the potential impacts of local grasslands management practices with fire on the species’ conservation. Fieldwork took place mainly between January and December 2016 in the Upper Rio Grande Grasslands, south-eastern Brazil. Five nests of the species were found between September and November, one of them recently destroyed by fire. Nests were cup shaped and placed on the ground, being built with dry grasses, resembling the pattern documented for other species of Anthus. The eggs were covered with brownish spots and dots to a variable extent and the background colour ranged from greyish white to brownish white. The egg colour pattern also fell within the known range of variation for congeneric species, as did the clutch size (two to three eggs) observed in tropical species of Anthus. Ochre-breasted pipits tended to occupy nesting sites with higher and denser grass cover (eg small patches of vegetation that survived the last fire event) when compared to non-nest sites located in adjacent recently burned areas, which potentially suggests a preference for such habitat attributes. Although the Ochre-breasted pipit is relatively common in the study area, the highest temporal incidence of fire coincides with its breeding season, which can directly impact the local population through the burning of nests and the elimination of suitable nesting sites. Thus, it is important to conduct long-term studies to evaluate the impact of different fire regimes on the reproductive performance of Ochre-breasted pipits, thus allowing the design of better ecosystem management practices to guarantee its conservation.

Population distribution and drivers of habitat use for the Burrunan dolphins, Port Phillip Bay, Australia.

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops) populations, also described as the Burrunan dolphins, consist of a resident population of approximately 150 individuals in Port Phillip Bay (PPB), Victoria. Previous reports indicate distribution across a small southern region of PPB; however, little is known about their full distribution patterns across the entire PPB region. Here, we investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of the Burrunan dolphins across four zones representative of PPB benthic habitats and bathymetry to gain a better understanding of the potential drivers of the population's habitat use. Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia. One hundred and twenty-nine boat-based surveys were undertaken between March 2015 and August 2021, encompassing 181 sightings. Generalised linear models (GLMs) were used to investigate annual, seasonal and zonal variation. We found no variation in sighting frequencies between years. Austral summer and winter had a significantly higher sighting frequency than autumn. We found that Burrunan dolphins utilise the entire bay, further extending the species range, and show a significantly higher number of sightings in the southern zone than in any other zones. Overlaying dolphin sightings with known oceanographic characteristics within PPB, we found bathymetry and benthic habitats were potential drivers for the Burrunan dolphins distribution and habitat use within the bay, with the dolphins significantly favouring the 5-10 and 10-15 m contour depths. These results show a more widespread distribution across the bay than previously documented. We recommend expansion of the current marine protected areas in the north and south of the bay. This study has increased our understanding of the vital habitat for the Burrunan dolphin populations. By providing evidence-based conservation recommendations, we hope to improve and contribute to future research, conservation management plans and effective marine protected areas across PPB for the resident Burrunan dolphin population.

Neotropical mammal responses to megafires in the Brazilian Pantanal.

The increasing frequency and severity of human-caused fires likely have deleterious effects on species distribution and persistence. In 2020, megafires in the Brazilian Pantanal burned 43% of the biome's unburned area and resulted in mass mortality of wildlife. We investigated changes in habitat use or occupancy for an assemblage of eight mammal species in Serra do Amolar, Brazil, following the 2020 fires using a pre- and post-fire camera trap dataset. Additionally, we estimated the density for two naturally marked species, jaguars Panthera onca and ocelots Leopardus pardalis. Of the eight species, six (ocelots, collared peccaries Dicotyles tajacu, giant armadillos Priodontes maximus, Azara's agouti Dasyprocta azarae, red brocket deer Mazama americana, and tapirs Tapirus terrestris) had declining occupancy following fires, and one had stable habitat use (pumas Puma concolor). Giant armadillo experienced the most precipitous decline in occupancy from 0.431 ± 0.171 to 0.077 ± 0.044 after the fires. Jaguars were the only species with increasing habitat use, from 0.393 ± 0.127 to 0.753 ± 0.085. Jaguar density remained stable across years (2.8 ± 1.3, 3.7 ± 1.3, 2.6 ± 0.85/100 km2), while ocelot density increased from 13.9 ± 3.2 to 16.1 ± 5.2/100 km2. However, the low number of both jaguars and ocelots recaptured after the fire period suggests that immigration may have sustained the population. Our results indicate that the megafires will have significant consequences for species occupancy and fitness in fire-affected areas. The scale of megafires may inhibit successful recolonization, thus wider studies are needed to investigate population trends.

The urban lives of green sea turtles: Insights into behavior in an industrialized habitat using an animal-borne camera.

The cryptic and aquatic life histories of sea turtles have made them a challenging group to directly observe, leaving significant knowledge gaps regarding social behavior and fine-scale elements of habitat use. Using a custom-designed animal-borne camera, we observed previously undocumented behaviors by green turtles (Chelonia mydas) at a foraging area in San Diego Bay, a highly urbanized ecosystem in California, USA. We deployed a suction-cup-attached pop-off camera (manufactured by Customized Animal Tracking Solutions) on 11 turtles (mean straight carapace length = 84.0 ± 11.2 cm) for between 1 and 30.8 h. Video recordings, limited to sunlit hours, provided 73 h of total observation time between May 2022 and June 2023. We observed 32 conspecific interactions; we classified 18 as active, entailing clear social behaviors, as compared with 14 passive interactions representing brief, chance encounters. There was no evidence for agonistic interactions. The camera additionally revealed that green turtles consistently use metal structures within urban San Diego Bay. In seven instances, turtles exhibited rubbing behavior against metal structures, and we observed two examples of turtles congregating at these structures. High rates of intraspecific interaction exhibited relatively consistently among individuals provide a compelling case for sociality for green turtles in San Diego Bay, adding to a growing research base updating their historical label of "non-social." The frequent use of metal structures by the population, in particular the rubbing of exposed skin, has implications for behavioral adaptations to urban environments. Our study exemplifies the promise of technological advances (e.g., underwater and animal-borne cameras) for updating natural history paradigms, even for well-studied populations.

Local reflects global: Life stage-dependent changes in the phenology of coastal habitat use by North Sea herring.

Climate warming is affecting the suitability and utilization of coastal habitats by marine fishes around the world. Phenological changes are an important indicator of population responses to climate-induced changes but remain difficult to detect in marine fish populations. The design of large-scale monitoring surveys does not allow fine-grained temporal inference of population responses, while the responses of ecologically and economically important species groups such as small pelagic fish are particularly sensitive to temporal resolution. Here, we use the longest, highest resolution time series of species composition and abundance of marine fishes in northern Europe to detect possible phenological shifts in the small pelagic North Sea herring. We detect a clear forward temporal shift in the phenology of nearshore habitat use by small juvenile North Sea herring. This forward shift might be linked to changes in water temperatures in the North Sea. We next assessed the robustness of the effects we found with respect to monitoring design. We find that reducing the temporal resolution of our data to reflect the resolution typical of larger surveys makes it difficult to detect phenological shifts and drastically reduces the effect sizes of environmental covariates such as seawater temperature. Our study therefore shows how local, long-term, high-resolution time series of fish catches are essential to understand the general phenological responses of marine fishes to climate warming and to define ecological indicators of system-level changes.

Management implications of habitat selection by whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the Texas coast

AbstractEffective habitat management for rare and endangered species requires a thorough understanding of their specific habitat requirements. Although machine learning models have been increasingly used in the analyses of habitat use by wildlife, the primary focus of these models has been on generating spatial predictions. In this study, we used machine learning models in combination with simulated management actions to guide planning and inform managers. We used data from 61 whooping cranes (Grus americana) tagged with GPS telemetry collars between 2009 and 2018 near Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in coastal Texas. We included variables based on topography, land use classification, vegetation height, plant phenology, drought, storm surge events, and both wild and prescribed fires. We then built models at multiple scales: population level, home range level, and roosting and daytime within home range level. We simulated responses to the two primary management actions used to enhance whooping crane habitat on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge: prescribed fire and removal of woody vegetation. At the population and home range scales, land use classification variables had the highest importance values, whereas the combined elevation and bathymetry layer was the most important predictor at both roosting and daytime within home range scales. Our findings revealed that the effects of fire, although generally modest, varied spatially. Areas dominated by estuarine wetlands exhibited higher predicted use within the first months after a fire, whereas those dominated by palustrine wetlands were more likely to be avoided in the immediate postfire years. Our simulation of vegetation removal identified the areas on Aransas National Wildlife Refuge where whooping cranes were predicted to benefit the most if vegetation were removed. These techniques can be used by other researchers wanting to examine and predict the effects of potential management actions on target species habitat.