SNAPSHOT USA 2019 : a coordinated national camera trap survey of the United States

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.With the accelerating pace of global change, it is imperative that we obtain rapid inventories of the status and distribution of wildlife for ecological inferences and conservation planning. To address this challenge, we launched the SNAPSHOT USA project, a collaborative survey of terrestrial wildlife populations using camera traps across the United States. For our first annual survey, we compiled data across all 50 states during a 14-week period (17 August - 24 November of 2019). We sampled wildlife at 1509 camera trap sites from 110 camera trap arrays covering 12 different ecoregions across four development zones. This effort resulted in 166,036 unique detections of 83 species of mammals and 17 species of birds. All images were processed through the Smithsonian's eMammal camera trap data repository and included an expert review phase to ensure taxonomic accuracy of data, resulting in each picture being reviewed at least twice. The results represent a timely and standardized camera trap survey of the USA. All of the 2019 survey data are made available herein. We are currently repeating surveys in fall 2020, opening up the opportunity to other institutions and cooperators to expand coverage of all the urban-wild gradients and ecophysiographic regions of the country. Future data will be available as the database is updated at eMammal.si.edu/snapshot-usa, as well as future data paper submissions. These data will be useful for local and macroecological research including the examination of community assembly, effects of environmental and anthropogenic landscape variables, effects of fragmentation and extinction debt dynamics, as well as species-specific population dynamics and conservation action plans. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this paper when using the data for publication.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Mammal responses to global changes in human activity vary by trophic group and landscape

Wildlife must adapt to human presence to survive in the Anthropocene, so it is critical to understand species responses to humans in different contexts. We used camera trapping as a lens to view mammal responses to changes in human activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across 163 species sampled in 102 projects around the world, changes in the amount and timing of animal activity varied widely. Under higher human activity, mammals were less active in undeveloped areas but unexpectedly more active in developed areas while exhibiting greater nocturnality. Carnivores were most sensitive, showing the strongest decreases in activity and greatest increases in nocturnality. Wildlife managers must consider how habituation and uneven sensitivity across species may cause fundamental differences in human–wildlife interactions along gradients of human influence.Peer reviewe

Long-term history of vehicle collisions on the endangered Nēnē (Branta sandvicensis).

Millions of birds in the United States die annually due to vehicle collisions on roads. Collisions may be of particular interest for species of conservation concern, such as the endangered Hawaiian goose (Nēnē), which is endemic to Hawai'i. Using a nearly 40-year dataset of Nēnē road mortality in and around Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, we sought to answer the following research questions: 1) has Nēnē mortality changed over time? 2) are there times of the year in which mortality is greatest and does it relate to specific events in the species' lifecycle? 3) does age at mortality differ over time, space, or sex? 4) given that existing mortalities appear to occur only in certain locations, do the number of mortality events differ across these locations; 5) does mortality rate show any density dependence? and, 6) are mortality rates related to numbers of visitors or vehicles? Between 1977 and 2014, a total of 92 Nēnē died from vehicle collisions; while absolute mortality increased over this time, the mortality rate remained the same. Similarly, average age of mortality increased over time, but did not differ by location or sex. Between 1995 and 2014, Nēnē population size and mortality rates were not correlated. Mortality was greatest in November and December (breeding season) and lowest in June. Most of the mortality occurred along just three stretches of road in and around the park, with the number of mortalities split about evenly inside and outside of the park. Furthermore, Nēnē mortality was unrelated to the number of visitors or traffic volume in the park. These findings suggest vehicle collisions are a growing concern for Nēnē, but that management actions to reduce mortality can be targeted at specific road segments and times of the year

Key demographic factors for recovery of the endangered Nightingale Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus hiwae) via population viability analysis

The Nightingale Reed-Warbler (Acrocephalus hiwae), a critically endangered songbird, is the last remaining of four reed-warbler species that once inhabited the Mariana Islands. The most recent population estimate for the species is 2915-3742 individuals distributed over the islands of Saipan (n = 2742, 95% CI = 1686-3956) and Alamagan (n = 946, 95% CI = 173-1000), which represents a significant decline for the species on Saipan. Though data on life history parameters such as survival rates are not widely available, other parameters such as clutch size and nest success have been studied. Given the extirpation of three of the four reed-warbler species from the Mariana Islands, the recent significant decline of the larger Saipan population, and the increasing threats faced by the species, it is critical to determine what additional life history information is needed to aid management decisions. Using Vortex, we developed stochastic population models to represent current reed-warbler population dynamics and used sensitivity analysis to identify the life history parameters to which the model was most sensitive. Baseline models without inbreeding indicated declines of the Nightingale Reed-Warbler populations on Saipan and Alamagan, as well as of the overall population. The inclusion of inbreeding further increases the modeled rate of population decline. Parameters such as initial population size, carrying capacity, and male survival have relatively little influence on reed-warbler population models, while female and juvenile survival and, to a lesser degree, fecundity measures, exhibit strong influences on the species' population dynamics. We recommend effort be placed on collecting updated survival data for all life stages, but particularly for females and juveniles. Given model predictions of vulnerability to extinction, we recommend management actions that may increase survival rates of juveniles and females

Technical Bulletin No.: 33

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Juggling parenthood and ornithology: A full lifecycle approach to supporting mothers through the American Ornithological Society

The understanding that motherhood impacts career paths is so pervasive among early-career scientists that some feel they must choose parenthood or a career. The penalties associated with motherhood can contribute to the “leaky pipeline,” which equates to the high attrition rate of women due to social, economical, or temporal factors as they proceed through their career and exacerbates persistent gender gaps at mid- and late-career stages. Here, we review the literature and summarize common challenges faced by ornithologist mothers and nonbinary parents, and we adopt a full lifecycle approach to recommend evidence-based strategies for overcoming those challenges. The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is well positioned to support and celebrate women and nonbinary ornithologists who choose parenthood, and we highlight progress made by the AOS to improve gender diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Society. For example, AOS caregiver grants allow more parents to attend and participate in conferences. We suggest additional initiatives (e.g., elevating role models, hosting mentoring networks, and disseminating best practices) that could further support women who want to become or already are parents while also achieving rewarding careers in ornithology. AOS leadership can take steps to close the gender gap in ornithology and other Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. With a larger, more diverse, and talented community, the Society will be better equipped to achieve its mission: conserving and understanding bird life on earth, enriching ornithology as a profession, and mentoring young professionals.This article is published as Susannah B Lerman, Liba Pejchar, Lauryn Benedict, Kristen M Covino, Janis L Dickinson, Jean E Fantle-Lepczyk, Amanda D Rodewald, Carol Vleck, Juggling parenthood and ornithology: A full lifecycle approach to supporting mothers through the American Ornithological Society, Ornithological Applications, Volume 123, Issue 2, 4 May 2021, duab001, https://doi.org/10.1093/ornithapp/duab001. This work is written by (a) US Government employee(s) and is in the public domain in the US

Economic Costs of Biological Invasions in the United States

The United States has thousands of invasive species, representing a sizable, but unknown burden to the national economy. Given the potential economic repercussions of invasive species, quantifying these costs is of paramount importance both for national economies and invasion management. Here, we used a novel global database of invasion costs (InvaCost) to quantify the overall costs of invasive species in the United States across spatiotemporal, taxonomic, and socioeconomic scales. From 1960 to 2020, reported invasion costs totaled $4.52 trillion (USD 2017). Considering only observed, highly reliable costs, this total cost reached$1.22 trillion with an average annual cost of $19.94 billion/year. These costs increased from$2.00 billion annually between 1960 and 1969 to $21.08 billion annually between 2010 and 2020. Most costs (73$896.22 billion), as opposed to management expenditures ($46.54 billion). Moreover, the majority of costs were reported from invaders from terrestrial habitats ($643.51 billion, 53%) and agriculture was the most impacted sector ($509.55 billion). From a taxonomic perspective, mammals ($234.71 billion) and insects ($126.42 billion) were the taxonomic groups responsible for the greatest costs. Considering the apparent rising costs of invasions, coupled with increasing numbers of invasive species and the current lack of cost information for most known invaders, our findings provide critical information for policymakers and managers

Economic costs of biological invasions in the United States

Highlights: • From 1960 to 2020 reported costs of US biological invasions were at least $1.22 tril. • Annual invasion costs increased from$2 bil in 1960–69 to $21 bil in 2010–20. • Most costs were damages ($896 bil), with lower management investments ($47 bil). • Agriculture sector ($510 bil) and terrestrial habitat ($644 bil) were impacted most. • Knowledge gaps in reporting make these monetary costs severely underestimated. Abstract: The United States has thousands of invasive species, representing a sizable, but unknown burden to the national economy. Given the potential economic repercussions of invasive species, quantifying these costs is of paramount importance both for national economies and invasion management. Here, we used a novel global database of invasion costs (InvaCost) to quantify the overall costs of invasive species in the United States across spatiotemporal, taxonomic, and socioeconomic scales. From 1960 to 2020, reported invasion costs totaled$4.52 trillion (USD 2017). Considering only observed, highly reliable costs, this total cost reached $1.22 trillion with an average annual cost of$19.94 billion/year. These costs increased from $2.00 billion annually between 1960 and 1969 to$21.08 billion annually between 2010 and 2020. Most costs (73%) were related to resource damages and losses ($896.22 billion), as opposed to management expenditures ($46.54 billion). Moreover, the majority of costs were reported from invaders from terrestrial habitats ($643.51 billion, 53$509.55 billion). From a taxonomic perspective, mammals ($234.71 billion) and insects ($126.42 billion) were the taxonomic groups responsible for the greatest costs. Considering the apparent rising costs of invasions, coupled with increasing numbers of invasive species and the current lack of cost information for most known invaders, our findings provide critical information for policymakers and managers

Economic Costs of Biological Invasions in the United States

The United States has thousands of invasive species, representing a sizable, but unknown burden to the national economy. Given the potential economic repercussions of invasive species, quantifying these costs is of paramount importance both for national economies and invasion management. Here, we used a novel global database of invasion costs (InvaCost) to quantify the overall costs of invasive species in the United States across spatiotemporal, taxonomic, and socioeconomic scales. From 1960 to 2020, reported invasion costs totaled $4.52 trillion (USD 2017). Considering only observed, highly reliable costs, this total cost reached$1.22 trillion with an average annual cost of $19.94 billion/year. These costs increased from$2.00 billion annually between 1960 and 1969 to $21.08 billion annually between 2010 and 2020. Most costs (73$896.22 billion), as opposed to management expenditures ($46.54 billion). Moreover, the majority of costs were reported from invaders from terrestrial habitats ($643.51 billion, 53%) and agriculture was the most impacted sector ($509.55 billion). From a taxonomic perspective, mammals ($234.71 billion) and insects ($126.42 billion) were the taxonomic groups responsible for the greatest costs. Considering the apparent rising costs of invasions, coupled with increasing numbers of invasive species and the current lack of cost information for most known invaders, our findings provide critical information for policymakers and managers