Species’ surrogacy for conservation planning: caveats from comparing the response of three arboreal rodents to habitat loss and fragmentation

Mortelliti, Alessio; Santulli, Giulia; Boitani, Luigi

doi:10.1007/s10531-008-9477-2

Cited by 36 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…The importance of patch size on dormouse occupancy has been highlighted by previous studies (Bright et al 1994, Mortelliti et al 2008, Keckel et al 2012. Even if improved habitat quality led to higher individual survival and population density (as well as colonization chances, as above highlighted), these alone were not sufficient to ensure population persistence, which was ultimately related to the size of the habitat patch.…”

Section: The Extinction Processmentioning

confidence: 87%

“…We selected the hazel dormouse as our target species for four reasons: (1) it is well documented as being sensitive to habitat loss and to the disruption of connectivity (Bright et al 1994, Mortelliti et al 2008, 2010b, Keckel et al 2012, (2) it is a forest specialist that has similar responses to landscape change as several other vertebrate species (Bright and Morris 1996, Mortelliti et al 2010b, Mortelliti 2013, (3) its food resources (fruit and flowers of shrub species) are well known (Juškaitis 2008) and relatively easy to estimate, and (4) by using nest-boxes, it is possible to directly estimate litter size of females (Juškaitis 2008). These four key characteristics make the v www.esajournals.org hazel dormouse an ideal model species for evaluating the effects of patch variables on individuals and populations (Bright and Morris 1996).…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Population and individual‐scale responses to patch size, isolation and quality in the hazel dormouse

et al. 2014

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Abstract. Patch size, isolation and quality are key factors influencing species persistence in fragmented landscapes. However, we still lack a detailed understanding of how these variables exert their effects on populations inhabiting fragmented landscapes. At which ecological scale do they have an effect (e.g., individuals versus populations) and, on which demographic parameters?Answering these questions will identify the mechanisms that underlie population turnover rather than solely predicting it based on proxies (e.g., presence/absence data).We report the results of a large-scale, three-year study focused on the relative effects of patch size, isolation and quality on individuals and populations of an arboreal rodent, the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). We examined 30 sites nested within three landscapes characterized by contrasting levels of habitat amount and habitat quality (food resources). We quantified the effects of patch size and quality on the response of individuals (survival and litter size) and populations (density and colonization/extinction dynamics). We identified demographic mechanisms which led to population turnover. Habitat quality positively affected survival (not litter size) and population density (measured through an index). We infer that the decline in survival due to patch quality reduced patch recolonization rather than increasing extinction, while extinction was mainly affected by patch size. Our findings suggest that the effect of patch quality on individual and population parameters was constrained by the physical structure of the surrounding landscapes. At the same time, our results highlight the importance of preserving habitat quality to help the persistence of entire systems of patches.

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Section: The Extinction Processmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Population and individual‐scale responses to patch size, isolation and quality in the hazel dormouse

et al. 2014

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“…Small mammals depend on vegetation for cover and food, without which their populations cannot persist. Although artificial sound and light can influence prey abundance and availability (Francis et al 2011, Gaston et al 2013, changes to the vegetation from construction of human features on the landscape probably has a much larger impact on prey populations than noise or light (Andrén 1994, Sauvajot et al 1998, Mortelliti et al 2009). Most roads in the Canadian grasslands follow the 1 mile (~1.6 km) section lines originally laid out by the Dominion Land Survey of Canada in the late 1800s.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of human footprint and sensory disturbances on night-time space use of an owl

Scobie¹,

Bayne²,

Wellicome³

2016

Endang. Species. Res.

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Artificial sensory disturbances (sound and light) can extend far beyond the physical footprint of human development. Nocturnal predators such as owls may be influenced by artificial sound and light, as they depend on aural and visual cues when hunting. Owl nocturnal movements may also be altered by physical changes to the landscape, as these can affect prey availability. The burrowing owl population in Canada has declined by 90% and was classified as endangered in 1995. We tracked adult male burrowing owls Athene cunicularia with GPS dataloggers, and used resource selection models to examine their night-time movement patterns in relation to human infrastructure and associated artificial light and sound. The amount of sound and light from compressor stations, oil wells, traffic, towns and buildings was calculated for each owl and random location. We found that owl night-time space use was better predicted by distance to infrastructure on the landscape than by intensity of sensory disturbance. Burrowing owls did not show a pronounced avoidance of artificial sound. Infrastructure best predicts owl space use, perhaps because associated changes to vegetation alter prey abundance and availability. While human infrastructure most influenced owl nocturnal space use, the extent to which ecosystems are impacted by artificial sound and light is becoming clearer and needs to be considered when assessing the total effect of human development on species.

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“…Nest chambers inside the trunks and branches of comparable size with large nestboxes can be found only in mature and old forests and might become a limiting factor in Temperate or Boreal forests managed for industrial logging (Ecke et al 2002, Lampila et al 2009, Bogdziewicz & Zwolak 2014, as well as in Mediterranean forests periodically subjected to large summer wildfires (Sarà et al 2006, Moreira & Russo 2007. In addition to the destruction of mature stands suitable for dormice reproduction, wildfires promote scrubland expansion; thus increasing habitat fragmentation detrimental for dormice and arboreal rodents (Mortelliti et al 2009, Zapponi et al 2013). According to our modelling, predictors would outline a preference for mixed oak-stands, and the connectivity of canopies can facilitate arboreal movements and provide abundant food (Juškaitis & Siozinyte 2008, Sevianu & David 2012.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The mean life expectancy of edible dormice varies (2.4-5.6 years) among investigated populations (Lebl et al 2011). All those features limit the potential suite of available habitats and make edible dormouse highly sensible to habitat fragmentation (Mortelliti et al 2009). …”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preferences of edible dormouse,Glis glis italicus: implications for the management of arboreal mammals in Mediterranean forests

Marteau¹,

Sarà²

2015

Folia Zoologica

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Abstract.Research on arboreal mammals living in Mediterranean forests is poor. Molecular research assessed the existence of an evolutionary significant unit in the edible dormouse populations living in south Italy, Sicily and Sardinia, and we decided to investigate the environmental factors capable of explaining its occurrence and abundance in Sicily, for a better management of these populations. We assessed the species habitat preferences by setting 25 large and 25 small nestboxes in five sample areas along an altitudinal gradient of the Madonie Range, and recorded habitat variables, food availability, and demographic data for two years. To obtain synthetic descriptors of the dormice habitat requirements, we extracted uncorrelated linear combinations of original variables by Principal Component Analysis; then we modelled habitat preferences of dormice by Generalized Linear Models, and selected the best models by Akaike's information criterion and model averaging. Dormice abundances varied markedly between the two years of study. Population peaked and reproduced in 2010, a masting year of oaks and beeches. In the following non-masting year, a much lower number of adults and yearlings used nestboxes, without any sign of reproduction. In both years we found a significant effect of altitudinal vegetation belt. Dormice seem to prefer mixed broad-leaved and evergreen (cork, holm) oak forests below 800-1300 m a.s.l, to beech forests at higher altitude, and avoid coniferous plantations. Inside these woodlands they seem to prefer monotypic and mature oak-stands with dense canopies. Large nestboxes are more preferred than small ones only during reproductive years. Protection of large and mature woodland from wildfires and forestry management caring the retention of significant elements like old trees, logs and litter mounds are necessary to maintain the habitat of edible dormouse in Southern Mediterranean forests. Artificial nestboxes are a viable device to help population restocking in degraded forests. 137Often authors refer to habitat selection and habitat preference as they were equivalent (e.g. Berg & Berg 1998, Suárez-Seoane et al. 2002, Jeganathan et al. 2004. We prefer to make a distinction between habitat selection, the behavioural process with which individuals choose resources, and habitat preference, i.e. the final pattern of habitats used with respect to their availability (Manly et al. 2002, Martínez et al. 2003. In addition, habitat preferences have been assumed to be adaptive (Martin 1998), as they involve a hierarchical discrimination of environmental features that provide the use of different pattern of resources, which in turn affect survival and reproduction of animal species. We therefore referred our research in terms of habitat preference, because we aimed to determine the habitat features on which the settlement of our focal species (the edible dormouse, Glis glis) depends in a Mediterranean forest, and whether habitat requirements are the same between different age cohorts of individuals. The ph...

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Species’ surrogacy for conservation planning: caveats from comparing the response of three arboreal rodents to habitat loss and fragmentation

Cited by 36 publications

References 30 publications

Population and individual‐scale responses to patch size, isolation and quality in the hazel dormouse

Population and individual‐scale responses to patch size, isolation and quality in the hazel dormouse

Influence of human footprint and sensory disturbances on night-time space use of an owl

Habitat preferences of edible dormouse,Glis glis italicus: implications for the management of arboreal mammals in Mediterranean forests

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