Multi-scale habitat selection model assessing potential gray wolf den habitat and dispersal corridors in Michigan, USA

Stricker, Heather K.; Gehring, Thomas M.; Donner, Deahn M.; Petroelje, Tyler R.

doi:10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2018.12.021

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…We suggest potential for further recolonization of the western Great Lakes region is low, as unoccupied habitat and habitat connectivity are limited. The Straits of Mackinac can connect current range in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan with the Lower Peninsula during freeze-over, though recent crossings of the straits have been too infrequent for population establishment 67 . Recolonization of potential habitat in North and South Dakota is limited by low dispersal frequencies and high anthropogenic mortality 68 , and connectivity with current range may be higher through Manitoba than through Minnesota.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat selection of resident and non-resident gray wolves: implications for habitat connectivity

van den Bosch,

Kellner,

Gantchoff

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Habitat selection studies facilitate assessing and predicting species distributions and habitat connectivity, but habitat selection can vary temporally and among individuals, which is often ignored. We used GPS telemetry data from 96 Gray wolves (Canis lupus) in the western Great Lakes region of the USA to assess differences in habitat selection while wolves exhibited resident (territorial) or non-resident (dispersing or floating) movements and discuss implications for habitat connectivity. We used a step-selection function (SSF) to assess habitat selection by wolves exhibiting resident or non-resident movements, and modeled circuit connectivity throughout the western Great Lakes region. Wolves selected for natural land cover and against areas with high road densities, with no differences in selection among wolves when resident, dispersing, or floating. Similar habitat selection between resident and non-resident wolves may be due to similarity in environmental conditions, when non-resident movements occur largely within established wolf range rather than near the periphery or beyond the species range. Alternatively, non-resident wolves may travel through occupied territories because higher food availability or lower human disturbance outweighs risks posed by conspecifics. Finally, an absence of differences in habitat selection between resident and non-resident wolf movements may be due to other unknown reasons. We recommend considering context-dependency when evaluating differences in movements and habitat use between resident and non-resident individuals. Our results also provide independent validation of a previous species distribution model and connectivity analysis suggesting most potential wolf habitat in the western Great Lakes region is occupied, with limited connectivity to unoccupied habitat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat selection of resident and non-resident gray wolves: implications for habitat connectivity

van den Bosch,

Kellner,

Gantchoff

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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“…To represent the variation in importance for connecting different areas, we created a surface of cost values of habitat preference (Table 2) based on published scientific literature and expert knowledge of nine jaguar scientists with experience working in Belize and South-Eastern Mexico. Although basing cost values on expert knowledge as quantitative information is controversial, it has been commonly used as a surrogate when empirical data is limited or unavailable [8,[69][70][71][72][86][87][88][89]. To gather the information, we asked jaguar scientists to rank habitat preference according to their empirical and theoretical knowledge on habitat preference and resistance features to allow movement of jaguars across the landscape.…”

Section: Landscape Connectivitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Central Belize.

Menchaca

Rossi

Froidevaux

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background Connectivity among jaguar (Panthera onca) populations will ensure natural gene flow and the long-term survival of the species throughout its range. Jaguar conservation efforts have focused primarily on connecting suitable habitat in a broad-scale. Accelerated habitat reduction, human-wildlife conflict, limited funding, and the complexity of jaguar behaviour have proven challenging to maintain connectivity between populations effectively. Here, we used non-invasive genetic sampling and individual-based conservation genetic analyses to assess genetic diversity and levels of genetic connectivity between individuals in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We used expert knowledge and scientific literature to develop models of landscape permeability based on circuit theory with fine-scale landscape features as ecosystem types, distance to human settlements and roads to predict the most probable jaguar movement across central Belize. Results We used 12 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci to identify 50 individual jaguars. We detected high levels of genetic diversity across loci (HE= 0.61, HO= 0.55, and NA=9.33). Using Bayesian clustering and multivariate models to assess gene flow and genetic structure, we identified one single group of jaguars (K = 1). We identified critical areas for jaguar movement that fall outside the boundaries of current protected areas in central Belize. We detected two main areas of high landscape permeability in a stretch of approximately 18 km between Sittee River Forest Reserve and Manatee Forest Reserve that may increase functional connectivity and facilitate jaguar dispersal from and to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Our analysis provides important insights on fine-scale genetic and landscape connectivity of jaguars in central Belize, an area of conservation concern. Conclusions The results of our study demonstrate high levels of relatively recent gene flow for jaguars between two study sites in central Belize. Our landscape analysis detected corridors of expected jaguar movement between the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the Maya Forest Corridor. We highlight the importance of maintaining already established corridors and consolidating new areas that further promote jaguar movement across suitable habitat beyond the boundaries of currently protected areas. Continued conservation efforts within identified corridors will further maintain and increase genetic connectivity in central Belize.

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Potential cougar habitats and dispersal corridors in Eastern North America

et al. 2022

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Multi-scale habitat selection model assessing potential gray wolf den habitat and dispersal corridors in Michigan, USA

Cited by 8 publications

References 52 publications

Habitat selection of resident and non-resident gray wolves: implications for habitat connectivity

Habitat selection of resident and non-resident gray wolves: implications for habitat connectivity

Population Genetic Structure and Habitat Connectivity for Jaguar (Panthera onca) Conservation in Central Belize.

Potential cougar habitats and dispersal corridors in Eastern North America

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