Human Disturbance Research Articles

Honeycomb worm bioconstructions persist under combined human and wave-related disturbances

Marine bioconstructions and their ecological functions are increasingly threatened by compounded natural disturbances and direct and indirect impacts of anthropogenic activities. Through a manipulative experiment in the field, we assessed the response of intertidal biogenic patches built by the honeycomb worm, Sabellaria alveolata, to combined disturbances. Repeated battering events, simulating those associated with waves, were applied on intact or previously damaged bioconstructions, mimicking those impacted by harvesting of infaunal organisms. Descriptors of reef status, including the total patch size, the percentage cover of intact bioconstruction, tube density and diameter were examined as response variables to test two hypotheses: i) multiple disturbances would result in disproportionate effects on S. alveolata structures compared to isolate perturbations; ii) the structural stability of bioconstruction would be increasingly undermined by physical impacts with the increasing degree of reef damage from previous harvesting disturbance. When applied separately, intermediate intensity of harvesting and battering were associated with a larger size of S. alveolata patches compared to the unmanipulated control, while the cover of intact bioconstruction tended to decline over time in all experimental conditions. Such a reduction was particularly small under the high level of harvesting. The density and the diameter of sabellariid tubes were not significantly affected by any treatment. The difference between the effect of battering combined with each level of harvesting and the cumulative effect of each disturbance applied separately did not deviate from what would be expected by chance. Our findings highlight the ability of the examined bioconstructions to withstand and potentially thrive under compound disturbances, offering crucial insights for the implementation of sustainable conservation strategies in a threatened biogenic habitat.

Timber and carbon sequestration potential of Chinese forests under different forest management scenarios

Developing forestry action plans with the goal of carbon neutrality is a critical task to identify carbon sink potential and balance the pathways of China's forests. Current research that predicts forest biomass carbon stock and sink potential has shortcomings, such as an incomplete assessment of China's forest carbon sink range, assumptions based on unchanged forest area in the base year and insufficient consideration of natural and human disturbance factors. This study utilised the national forest inventory (NFI) data to construct a model of forest growth and consumption using a machine learning algorithm (i.e. random forest), identified suitable areas for future forest expansion by integrating multi-source data, and set up three future forest management scenarios: business as usual (BAU), enhanced policy scenario (EPS) and maximum potential scenario (MPS). In addition, changes in the area, volume stock and biomass carbon stock in China's forests between 2020 and 2060 were predicted under three forestry activities (i.e. existing forest, afforested/reforested (AR) forest and forest conversion) and three climate scenarios (i.e. SSP126, SSP370 and SSP585) based on the 9th NFI (2014–2018). According to China's relevant planning goals and suitable forest space, the area of AR forests is predicted to be 55.55 × 106 hm2 by 2060, and the forest coverage rate is predicted to increase from 23% in 2018 to 28% by 2060. Biomass carbon sequestration (BCS) between 2020 and 2060 in AR forests is predicted to be 36.00 TgC per year. By 2060, the average BCS is predicted to be approximately 140.00–287.56 TgC per year in China's forests, which is mainly owing to arbor forest management. Under the BAU and EPS scenarios, BCS in China's forests is expected to decline from 2020 to 2060. However, under the MPS, BCS in China's forests is projected to increase and be maintained at 322 TgC per year or above by 2060, with wood production reaching 4.71 × 108 m3 per year. China's forests are predicted to experience an increase in biomass carbon stock in the future and play a role as a carbon sink. By taking measures to achieve the maximum growth potential of all forest types, China's forests will achieve a win‒win situation between carbon sinks and timber production.

Improving Inference Within Freshwater Community Studies: Accounting for Variable Detection Rates of Amphibians and Fish.

Research into freshwater communities often aims to link patterns of species distribution in ponds with underlying biotic factors. However, errors with species detection (e.g. false negatives) may underestimate distribution and bias assessments of community structure. Occupancy models that account for imperfect detection offer a solution to this problem. Here, we used three methods (call/visual encounter surveys, dip-netting and newt trapping) to survey amphibians and fish (potential amphibian predators) at 100 ponds in an urbanised landscape in Hungary over one breeding season. We estimated species detection probabilities for amphibians (all life stages combined) and fish using occupancy models to gain insight into amphibian-fish relationships and other survey-specific variables. We detected nine amphibian and 20 fish species. There were relatively low but variable estimated probabilities of detection for amphibians (mean: 0.320, 95% Bayesian credible interval: 0.142-0.598), with three species having detection rates < 0.1. Probabilities of detection peaked in the middle of the breeding season and increased with survey effort. Detection probabilities of five species were negatively associated with the detection of fish at a pond, while there were positive relationships between detection and emergent vegetation cover. We found no substantial differences in detection rates among the three survey methods. The probability of detecting fish was much higher than for amphibians (0.588, 0.503-0.717) but was lower at ponds with high emergent vegetation where amphibian detection was higher. Our results underscore the importance of accounting for the imperfect detection of both response organisms and potentially interacting species in aquatic community studies. We recommend applying multi-species occupancy models to enable inference for both common and rare species at ponds in landscapes subjected to human disturbances.

Drivers of Wolf Activity in a Human-Dominated Landscape and Its Individual Variability Toward Anthropogenic Disturbance.

Wolves (Canis lupus) exhibit contrasted activity patterns along their distribution range. The shift from diurnal to nocturnal habits within and among populations appears to be primarily driven by localized levels of human activity, with ambivalent responses toward such disturbance reported among populations. Yet, the drivers and the underlying individual variability of temporal avoidance patterns toward human remains unexplored. We equipped 26 wolves with GPS-GSM collars, obtaining 54,721 locations. We used step lengths, turning angles, and accelerometer data from recorded locations to infer activity through hidden Markov models (Conners, M. G., T. Michelot, E. I. Heywood, et al. 2021. "Hidden Markov Models Identify Major Movement Modes in Accelerometer and Magnetometer Data From Four Albatross Species." Movement Ecology 9, no. 1: 1-16.). We further explored the probability of activity as a function of a set of proxies of anthropogenic disturbance at different spatial scales and its interaction with different periods of the day by fitting population-level and individual-based hidden Markov models. Wolves were predominantly active during dusk and night, yet variations in activity emerged among individuals across day periods. We did not find clear population-level effects of anthropogenic disturbance predictors, as these were masked by a wide range of individual-specific responses, which varied from positive to negative, with inter-individual variability in responses changing according to different predictors and periods of the day. Our results suggest a non-uniform strategy of wolves in adapting their behavior to human-dominated environments, further underscoring the role of vegetation patches acting as functional refuge cover for buffering the effects of anthropogenic disturbance and boosting the persistence of the species in human-dominated landscapes. This study, for the first time, reveals the individual variability in wolf responses to human disturbance. By fitting hidden Markov models to data from GPS-GSM collars deployed on 26 wolves, we found significant variation between individuals in their responses to different levels of anthropogenic pressure and across different times of day, highlighting a non-uniform strategy for coping with perturbations in human-dominated landscapes. Our findings underscore the diverse behavioral adjustments employed by wolves to persist in these environments and highlight the critical importance of vegetation patches serving as refuge cover.

Evaluating the effects of nest management on a recovering raptor using integrated population modeling

AbstractEvaluating population responses to management is a crucial component of successful conservation programs. Models predicting population growth under different management scenarios can provide key insights into the efficacy of specific management actions both in reversing population decline and in maintaining recovered populations. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) conservation in the United States has seen many successes over the last 50 years, yet the extent to which the bald eagle population has recovered in Arizona, an important population within the Southwest region, remains an area of debate. Estimates of the species' population trend and an evaluation of ongoing nest‐level management practices are needed to inform management decisions. We developed a Bayesian integrated population model (IPM) and population viability analysis (PVA) using a 36‐year dataset to assess Arizona bald eagle population dynamics and their underlying demographic rates under current and possible future management practices. We estimated that the population grew from 77 females in 1993 to 180 females in 2022, an average yearly increase of 3%. Breeding sites that had trained personnel (i.e., nestwatchers) stationed at active nests to mitigate human disturbance had a 28% higher reproductive output than nests without this protection. Uncertainty around population trends was high, but scenarios that continued the nestwatcher program were less likely to predict abundance declines than scenarios without nestwatchers. Here, the IPM‐PVA framework provides a useful tool both for estimating the effectiveness of past management actions and for exploring the management needs of a delisted population, highlighting that continued management action may be necessary to maintain population viability even after meeting certain recovery criteria.

Divergent Importance and Geographic Patterns in Threats to Birds and Mammals in China

ABSTRACTAimWildlife populations are continuing to decrease worldwide. Understanding the ranking and distribution of drivers of species declines is crucial to enable targeted actions to counteract major threats. However, few studies have assessed the relative importance and geographic distribution of threats to biodiversity in China, even for high‐profile groups such as birds and mammals. Therefore, this study aims to rank and map the distribution of threat to birds and mammals in China, which could provide novel insight into biodiversity conservation in China.LocationChina.MethodsA database of different threats for 147 threatened bird species and 176 threatened terrestrial mammal species was obtained from China's Red List of Biodiversity published in 2021. We collated information on the distribution and threat categories for birds and mammals in China, aiming to classify, rank and map threats. We used Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index to examine the correlations of threats occurring simultaneously, and compared the distribution of habitat of threatened birds and mammals. In addition, we conducted threat ranking analyses of threatened birds and mammals between different orders and traits (body mass and clutch/litter sizes).ResultsThe results showed that the most common threats to birds were habitat loss, hunting, human disturbance, agriculture, pollution and logging, while the most common threats to mammals were hunting, agriculture, logging, habitat loss, human disturbance and livestock farming or ranching. These threats showed different geographic patterns, and some threats frequently co‐occur as threat syndromes. Forests were the primary habitat for most threatened species, and orders formed by larger species with small clutch or litter sizes were more likely to be threatened.Main ConclusionsWe highlight the most common threats and key areas for conservation. Furthermore, focusing on clusters of co‐occurring threats may be the most effective way to aid recovery of threatened species, and targeted actions are needed to counter ongoing population declines in many groups. These actions should not be limited to the protection of regions where species are at risk of multiple significant threats, but should also include the maintenance and restoration of native forests and strategic planning of afforestation through planted forests.

Fisher activity patterns show potential for behavioral adaptations to human modified landscapes

Animals alter their diel activity in response to physiological constraints and ecological conditions. Fisher (Pekania pennanti) activity is known to vary through the diel cycle and change in response to cold stress and generally through both the climatic and biological seasons. However, less is known whether thermoregulatory effects impact fisher activity in milder climates and in areas of high human disturbance. We focused on two distinct research objectives to understand the 1) physiological constraints, and 2) ecological components of fisher activity in a highly disturbed landscape with a relatively mild climate. We used accelerometer data from 34 individual live-captured fisher in Rhode Island, USA from 2021 to 2023. We found that fisher activity patterns were primarily driven by diel cycle with higher activity levels at night than during the day. We did not observe any physiological influence of ambient temperature on fisher activity; daily minimum temperatures did not constrain fisher activity in the colder months, nor did daily maximum temperatures in warmer months. We did find that female activity levels differed by breeding status with non-pregnant females having higher activity levels than pregnant females. Considering ecological components, we found fisher decreased activity levels in higher road density areas during warmer months that coincide with higher traffic volumes. For fisher living in areas with lower road densities, we saw higher activity in the breeding season and summer than in winter. In contrast, fisher living in areas with high road densities had lower activity in the breeding season and summer than in winter. We conclude that fisher largely do not shift their activity to mitigate thermoregulatory costs in areas where temperatures do not reach extremes for extended periods of time. However, our findings suggest that behavioral shifts in activity are impacted by human disturbance and fisher minimize activity in risky areas.

Diversity of bacterial communities in wetlands of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve: a comparative analysis between conserved and semi-urbanized zones in pre-Mayan Train era

BackgroundThe Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (CBR) is known for its rich animal and plant biodiversity, yet its microbial communities remain largely unknown. The reserve does not possess permanent bodies of water; nevertheless, seasonal depressions associated with fractures create wetlands, known locally as aguadas. Given the recent construction of the Maya train that crosses the CRB, it is essential to assess the biodiversity of its microorganisms and recognize their potential as a valuable source of goods. This evaluation is pivotal in mitigating potential mismanagement of the forest ecosystem. To enhance comprehension of microbial communities, we characterized the microbiota in three different wetlands. Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 wetlands are located in a zone without human disturbances, while the third, Ag-SU3, is in a semi-urbanized zone. Sampling was carried out over three years (2017, 2018, and 2019), enabling the monitoring of spatiotemporal variations in bacterial community diversity. The characterization of microbiome composition was conducted using 16S rRNA metabarcoding. Concurrently, the genomic potential of select samples was examined through shotgun metagenomics.ResultsStatistical analysis of alpha and beta diversity indices showed significant differences among the bacterial communities found in undisturbed sites Ag-UD1 and Ag-UD2 compared to Ag-SU3. However, no significant differences were observed among sites belonging to the undisturbed area. Furthermore, a comparative analysis at the zone level reveals substantial divergence among the communities, indicating that the geographic location of the samples significantly influences these patterns. The bacterial communities in the CBR wetlands predominantly consist of genera from phyla Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Proteobacteria.ConclusionThis characterization has identified the composition of microbial communities and provided the initial overview of the metabolic capacities of the microbiomes inhabiting the aguadas across diverse conservation zones. The three sites exhibit distinct microbial compositions, suggesting that variables such as chemical composition, natural and anthropogenic disturbances, vegetation, and fauna may play a pivotal role in determining the microbial structure of the aguadas. This study establishes a foundational baseline for evaluating the impact of climatic factors and human interventions on critical environments such as wetlands.

Assessment of health risk of antibiotics resistance genes from human disturbed habitat to wild animals: Metagenomic insights into availability and functional changes of gut microbiome

Not all antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pose an ecological risk to their host animals. A standard should be developed to study which types of ARGs posed an ecological risk to wild animals under human disturbances (HDs). In this study, the golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) were used as sentinel species. According to the animals-associated enrichment, mobility, and pathogenicity, the ARGs in habitat of sentinel species were divided into four levels. If the mobile and pathogenic ARGs that could be collinear with the metagenome-assembled genome (MAGs) in the gut of the sentinel species, the ARGs were defined as Rank I ARGs and they were considered to have ecological risk to sentinel species. Functional genes in the MAGs that collinear with the Rank I ARGs were used to predict the health risks of sentinel species. The ecological risk to sentinel species was present in 0.158 % of the ARGs-contigs in the habitat. Cultivation and villages, but not grazing, agriculture and ecotourism, increased the ecological risk of the ARGs to wild animals, The ability of gut microbiome to acquire mobile and pathogenic ARGs increased, as did the collinear functional genes, and the health risks of the wild animals also enhanced by the disturbances of cultivation and villages. Cultivation and villages increased the nutrient content of the soil, and they had a positive effect on the ecological risk of Rank I ARGs by affecting the mobile genetic elements (MGEs), microbiome and the resistant group in the habitat, which was why the cultivation and villages increased the health risks of wild animals. We proposed that cultivation and living should be controlled, while grazing, agriculture and ecotourism could be developed in nature reserves of wild animals, but the nutrients in the wild animals' habitat should be monitored.

On the Conservation of the Canarian Laurel Forest: What Do Lichens Have to Say?

The fragmentation and degradation of primary forests are serious threats to the long-term persistence not only of the tree species they comprise, but also of many organisms inhabiting them. The Canarian laurel forest, known as monteverde, is a highly threatened endemic forest of the Macaronesian region. Lichens are considered ideal bioindicators for assessing the effects of human disturbances on ecosystems and anticipating the response of other less sensitive organisms. However, no studies have used them as model organisms to analyze the conservation status of this primary forest in the Macaronesian region. In the present study, we analyzed several variables of the lichen biota of the Canarian laurel forest on the islands with the highest representation within this archipelago: La Gomera, La Palma, and Tenerife. We analyzed the species richness (and its relationship to island size with the real and potential vegetation areas of the laurel forest); the lichen diversity value, the number of shared and exclusive species on each of the islands as well as lichen functional traits as they have become important for evaluating the response of epiphytic lichens to environmental changes. The results indicate that there are signs of a potential extinction debt occurring in the diversity of epiphytic lichens in some areas. Furthermore, it has been observed that, despite the presence of some exclusive species on each island, the overall composition does not differ between them. Considering the functional traits of lichens, there are patterns that can provide information about the unique characteristics of the laurel forest of each of the studied islands.

Can dry rivers provide a good quality of life? Integrating beneficial and detrimental nature's contributions to people over time.

Although dry rivers only flow after heavy rainfall, recent studies have evidenced that they provide benefits to people. However, part of society undervalues these benefits, raising the question of whether they contribute to a good quality of life (GQL). We hypothesised that the benefits of dry rivers contribute to GQL of local communities as long as these benefits are not altered by human disturbance. Local communities closely associated with three dry rivers in Murcia (Spain) were interviewed. The relationships between benefits and GQL, and between detriments and GQL were described. Different benefits and detriments have different impacts on GQL dimensions. Social perceptions of the contribution of benefits and detriments to GQL vary between communities and individuals, and change over time. This implies the development of social studies to ensure inclusive management. Incorporating detriment co-production into research can raise people's awareness of the role that human activities play in maintaining GQL.

Rapid evaluation of habitat connectivity change to safeguard multispecies persistence in human-transformed landscapes

AbstractFollowing the adoption of the Post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) there is a clear science-policy need to protect habitat connectivity and track its change over time to safeguard biodiversity and inform conservation planning. In response to this need we describe an analytical, multi-indicator and multispecies approach for the rapid assessment of habitat connectivity at fine spatial grain and at the extent of an entire ecoregion. Out of 68 connectivity indicators we found through a literature review, we identified a key-set of six indicators that align with the Essential Biodiversity Variables framework and are suitable to guide rapid action for connectivity and conservation targets in the KM-GBF. Using these selected indicators, we mapped and evaluated connectivity change from 2011 to 2021 across the ecoregion of the St-Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec (~ 30,000 km2) for seven ecoprofile species representing regional forest habitat needs. For most of these species, trends over the last decade indicate a decline in effective connected area and metapopulation carrying capacity, via a division of large contiguous habitat into smaller fragments, whereas on average, habitat area slightly increased. These results highlight that temporal changes in habitat area and connectivity are not necessarily correlated and the urgent need to conserve and restore connectivity to meet targets under the KM-GBF. We provide an R-tool to support our general approach, which enables a comprehensive evaluation of connectivity for regional spatial planning for biodiversity in regions with moderate to high human disturbance.

Effects of Acmella radicans Invasion on Soil Seed Bank Community Characteristics in Different Habitats.

To examine the effects of the recent Acmella radicans invasion on plant community and diversity in invaded habitats, the composition, density, species richness, diversity indices, and evenness index of the soil seed bank community of two different habitats (wasteland and cultivated land) in Yunnan Province, China, were analyzed through field sampling and greenhouse germination tests. A total of 28 species of plants belonging to 15 families and 28 genera, all annual herbs, were found in the soil seed bank. Seed densities and species number in the seed bank tended to be greater in April than in October; cultivated land also featured higher seed densities and species numbers compared to wasteland. With increased A. radicans cover, the seed bank population of A. radicans also significantly increased, but the seed bank populations of many other dominant species (e.g., Ageratum conyzoides and Gamochaeta pensylvanica) and native species (e.g., Laggera crispata and Poa annua) clearly declined. The germination of A. radicans seeds was concentrated during the period from the 4th to the 5th weeks. Vertically, the seed number of A. radicans was significantly different among the 0-5 cm, 5-10 cm and 10-20 cm layers that accounted for 80.7-90.6%, 9.4-16.1% and 0.0-3.2% of the total seed density in wasteland, respectively; and in cultivated land, A. radicans accounted for 56.8-64.9%, 26.7-31.8% and 8.1-13.5% of the total seed density, respectively. With reduced A. radicans cover, the species richness, Simpson index, Shannon-Wiener index, and Pielou indices of the weed community generally increased, and most diversity indices of weed communities in cultivated land were lower than in wasteland under the same cover of A. radicans. The results indicate that the invasion of A. radicans has negatively affected local weed community composition and reduced weed community diversity, and that these negative impacts in cultivated land may be enhanced by human disturbance. Our study was the first to elucidate the influence of A. radicans invasion on soil seed bank community characteristics in invaded habitats, providing a better understanding of its invasion and spread mechanisms in order to aid in developing a scientific basis for the prevention and control of this invader.

Ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the Summer habitat use of Bos gaurus and its conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

Gaur (Bos gaurus) is listed as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List of threatened species due to the rapid population decline caused by human pressures in their habitats. To develop successful conservation plans, it is essential to understand the relationship between Gaur and their habitats. This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing Gaur habitat use and identify and rank conservation threats in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Using line transect surveys, we recorded Gaur's presence via direct sightings and indirect signs (dung, footprints, horns) over an area of 176 km2 in July and August 2022. We used binary logistic regression models to determine the collected ecological and anthropogenic factors influencing the occurrence of Gaur and the relative whole-site threat ranking method to rank conservation threats. The results revealed that the probability of Gaur occurrence increases with moderate to high canopy cover, riverine and Shorea robusta dominated forests, and nearest distance to road/path/firelines, while decreasing with the presence of predators. Uncontrolled fire, invasive species, human disturbances, and climate change were ranked as the most prevailing threats to Gaur in our study area. Conservation managers should implement effective habitat management interventions, such as construction of waterhole, firelines maintenance, grassland management, and control of invasive species in the potential habitats, to safeguard and maintain the sustainability of Gaur populations and associated herbivores. Future studies should consider larger geographical settings and multiple seasons, and habitat suitability assessments should be conducted to determine current and future suitable habitat refugia for Gaur and other threatened wildlife species at the landscape level.

No effects of abiotic and anthropogenic factors on reef-associated neonate shark abundance within a shark nursery-area system

Context Coastal habitats function as shark nursery areas; however, coastal habitats can experience extreme variation in abiotic conditions and are susceptible to human disturbances. Aims Drivers of abundance were tested within a shark nursery-area system in two populations of reef-associated neonate sharks, namely, blacktip reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and sicklefin lemon sharks (Negaprion acutidens). Methods Catch data from a fisheries-independent gill-net survey (n = 90 sets from October 2018 to March 2019) at 10 sites around Moorea, French Polynesia, were used to test for associations between shark abundance and abiotic conditions (temperature, oxygen, pH, salinity, lunar phase and depth). Historical levels of fin-fish fishing effort, trampling (i.e. human movement through habitat), and coastal artificialisation (i.e. walls and embankments) estimated for each site were used to test for anthropogenic effects on shark abundance. Key results There were no effects of any abiotic or anthropogenic factor on abundance of either species. Conclusions Previous work corroborates our findings by demonstrating neonate sharks’ physiological tolerance to extreme abiotic conditions and high survival in response to anthropogenic stressors. Alternatively, populations are already degraded from decades of coastal development. Implications These data can aid in predicting the use of coastal habitats as shark nursery areas.

Stands diversity and population structure of five ethnoveterinary woody species according to climatic zone and human disturbance in Benin (West Africa)

Farmers continue to use medicinal plants, alone or in combination with veterinary medicines, to treat animal diseases, especially in developing countries. The study aimed to determine the effect of climatic zone and anthropic disturbance level on the diversity of the natural stand and structures of Morinda lucida Benth, Spondias mombin L., Terminalia leiocarpa (DC.) Baill, Crossopteryx febrifuga (Afzel. ex G. Don) Benth, and Vitex doniana Sweet, five plant species often used in ethnoveterinary medicine in Benin. A floristic inventory was conducted in 206 plots of 0.15 ha each, distributed across 6 forests/hunting areas as well as surrounding fields and fallow land. The data were analyzed using R software by calculating the importance value index and the population structural parameters (density, basal area, mean height, etc.). The results showed that the floristic composition of the habitats of the five target species varied by climatic zone and disturbance level. Morinda lucida, S. mombin, and V. doniana were available in stands undergoing heavy disturbance in the Guinean zone, whereas T. leiocarpa and C. febrifuga were more available in the Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian zones. Values of structural parameters of these species were higher in the Guinean zone than in the other two zones. Furthermore, the results of the diameter structure showed C-values ranging from 1 to 3.6, suggesting the predominance of young individuals. This suggests strong human pressure on the adults of studied plants. These results should be used to contribute to the sustainable use of these species. Recommendations are made for the sustainable use of these five species, especially T. leiocarpa and C. febrifuga, which were heavily exploited given their low availability in stands under high human disturbance.

Wild Boar Proves High Tolerance to Human-Caused Disruptions: Management Implications in African Swine Fever Outbreaks.

Currently, African swine fever (ASF), a highly fatal disease has become pervasive, with outbreaks recorded across European countries, leading to preventative measures to restrict wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) movement, and, therefore, keep ASF from spreading. This study aims to detail how specific human activities-defined as "car", "dog", "chainsaw", and "tourism"-affect wild boar behavior, considering the disturbance proximity, and evaluate possible implications for wild boar management in ASF-affected areas. Wild boar behavior was studied using advanced biologging technology. This study tracks and analyzes wild boar movements and behavioral responses to human disturbances. This study utilizes the dead reckoning method to precisely reconstruct the animal movements and evaluate behavioral changes based on proximity to disturbances. The sound of specific human activities was reproduced for telemetered animals from forest roads from different distances. Statistical analyses show that wild boars exhibit increased vigilance and altered movement patterns in response to closer human activity, but only in a small number of cases and with no significantly longer time scale. The relative representation of behaviors after disruption confirmed a high instance of resting behavior (83%). Running was the least observed reaction in only 0.9% of all cases. The remaining reactions were identified as foraging (5.1%), walking (5.0%), standing (2.2%), and other (3.8%). The findings suggest that while human presence and activities do influence wild boar behavior, adherence to movement restrictions and careful management of human activity in ASF-infected areas is not a necessary measure if human movement is limited to forest roads.

Human-derived food shrinks home ranges and alters resource selection of mammals at the urban-wild interface

Protected lands are an important source of food, shelter, and reproductive opportunities for wildlife, especially in urban landscapes. When urban development abuts the edges of undisturbed ecosystems, synanthropic species can alter their foraging behaviors and movement to utilize human-supplemented resources throughout the urban-wild interface. Therefore, urban development on the edges of protected lands can have pronounced effects on animal movement and ecosystem functions. Iconic urban adaptive mesopredators such as northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) often benefit from human-supplemented food sources such as unsecured garbage, pet food, and fresh water when available. To investigate how urban edges affect the movements of urban-adapted omnivores within conservation lands, we estimated home ranges and third-order resource selection of 27 raccoons and 12 opossums with GPS collars throughout the protected areas of northern Key Largo, FL, USA between April 2022–October 2023. The proportion of urban development in an individual's home range was the most influential factor associated with home range size, followed by species and sex. Individuals with greater proportions of residential neighborhoods and commercial areas in their home ranges exhibited smaller home ranges. Third-order resource selection functions identified both mesopredator species using residential and commercial land use areas more than they were available on the landscape. These results indicate that urban areas attract urban-adapted mesopredators from protected areas and result in smaller home ranges in the face of abundant human-derived food. Reduced home ranges on edges can support higher densities of animals, which may increase rates of disease transmission, especially when the urban borders support populations of feral domestic species. Shifting foraging behaviors from the protected areas to urban edges could have cascading downward effects if seed-dispersing roles are diluted. As urbanization increases and the distance between wild lands and human disturbance decreases, it is increasingly important to study the mechanisms of how urban development on the edges of protected areas affect the movement of wildlife.

Impacts of visitors on female pheasants in pheasantry, Haripur, Pakistan.

The interaction between visitors and captive birds is complex, with a potential impact on bird's behavior and welfare. Understanding this interaction is essential for effective conservation and management. We conducted a study at the University of Haripur's pheasantry in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan to investigate the effects of visitor numbers, duration of visitor presence, and climatic factors on the behavior of female pheasants. We observed the state and events of feeding, hiding, and moving behaviors of 16 randomly selected individuals from five species. The mixed-effects modeling results show that visitors (VT), visitors' presence duration (VPD), and temperature (TP), significantly influence feeding events (p < 0.001), feeding duration (p < 0.001), hiding events (p < 0.001) and hiding duration of female pheasants (p < 0.001). The moving events of pheasants were also significantly affected by both VT and VPD (VT: p = 0.002, VPD: p < 0.001). Moreover, under high visitor conditions, the impact of VPD on the behavior of female pheasants was more pronounced (p < 0.001). Additionally, our result reveals that different species of pheasants exhibit varying sensitivities to human factors and climatic factors. For instance, the two species of female pheasants with the highest feeding and hiding events were the Green pheasant (Phasianus versicolor) and the Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus). While hiding duration of female Green pheasants, female Golden pheasants (Chrysolophus pictus), and female Silver pheasants (Lophura nycthemera) was longer than those of others. The mean number of moving events was highest in females of Ring-necked, followed by Golden pheasants. The female Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) and female Silver pheasants were the birds with the longest moving duration. Our findings highlight the necessity for customized management strategies, to lessen the effects of human disturbances in pheasantries. For a thorough understanding of these interactions, more studies involving larger sample sizes and a wider variety of species are advised.

Modelling the Distribution and Habitat Suitability of the European Wildcat (Felis silvestris) in North-Western Spain and Its Conservation Implications.

Human activities have resulted in severe habitat degradation and fragmentation at a global scale. Despite this scenario, some carnivore species that adapted to the new conditions are expanding, leading to close coexistence with humans and the emergence of potential conflicts. In this work, we used a European wildcat (Felis silvestris) observations database of more than 350 sightings over 17 years in NW Spain to build suitability models based on environmental, topographic, climatic, and human impact variables. MaxEnt was used to analyse the availability of suitable habitats for the species at a regional scale. Our results showed that less than one third of the suitable area for the species had confirmed wildcat presence. Elevation, the percentage of forested area, and footpath density were the three main variables conditioning wildcat presence, with the first two variables having positive effects and footpath density negatively affecting wildcat presence. The selection of high areas and forest areas by the species seems to be related to food availability, while the avoidance of footpaths seems to be related to the fact that main mortality causes are linked to human disturbances. The results enhance the understanding of the European wildcat ecology and provide insight into potential management plans to ensure the conservation of one of the main populations of the species throughout its range.