Landscape-Scale Conservation And Management Of Montane Wildlife: Contemporary Climate May Be Changing The Rules

Both paleontological and contemporary results have suggested that montane ecosystems to be systems of relatively rapid faunal change compared to many valley-bottom counterparts. In addition to experiencing greater magnitudes of contemporary change in climatic parameters than species in other ecosystems, mountain-dwelling wildlife must also accommodate often greater intra-annual swings in temperature and wind speeds, poorly developed soils, and generally harsher conditions. Research on a mountain-dwelling mammal species across 15 yrs of contemporary data and historical records from 1898-1956 suggest that pace of local extinctions and rate of upslope retraction have been markedly more rapid and governed by markedly different dynamics in the last decade than during the 20th century. This may mean that understanding past dynamics of species losses may not always help predict patterns of future loss. Given the importance of clinal variability and ecotypic variation, phenotypic plasticity, behavioral plasticity, and variation in climatic conditions, for widely-distributed species’ geographic ranges to be determined by different factors in different portions of their range is not uncommon. Consequently, greatest progress in understanding distributionalchange phenomena will occur with coordinated, landscape-scale research and monitoring. Landscape Conservation Cooperatives and Climate Science Centers are newly emerging efforts that may contribute greatly to such broad-scale investigations, e.g., climate-wildlife relationships. Based on our empirical findings and our review of related literature, we propose tenets that may serve as foundational starting points for mechanism-based research at broad scales to inform management and conservation of diverse montane wildlife and the ecosystem components with which they interact

Cameras, Coyotes, and the Assumption of Equal Detectability

Remote cameras are an increasingly important tool in management and wildlife studies. However, we often do not know if they provide an unbiased sample of populations. Using a marked, radio-collared population of coyotes (Canis latrans) of known social status, we evaluated the influence of temporal (daily and seasonal) and spatial (distance between units, habitat, and proximity to human structures) factors on vulnerability to photo-captures. During 8 unbaited camera sessions of 6 weeks each, we obtained 158 coyote photographs at a photo-capture success rate of 1.6%. We were able to identify not only marked individuals, but also a number of uncollared adults through variation in their pelage. Photo-capture of adults peaked 2 weeks after we established camera stations. Annual success for photographing adult coyotes was greatest during March and April, which corresponded with the dispersal season. The majority of photo-captures occurred at night, and adult photo-captures peaked around midnight, with smaller peaks at dawn and dusk. Rather than reflecting a circadian activity pattern, nighttime captures seemed to reflect when adult coyotes were most vulnerable to photo-capture. Characteristics of camera locations, such as amount of human activity, being on roads versus trails, and habitat type, also influenced the number of photo-captures. We conclude that remote cameras do not always provide an unbiased sample of populations and that animal behavior is important to consider when using these systems. Researchers using camera techniques need to carefully consider when, where, and how cameras are placed to reduce this bias

Charismatic megafauna or exotic pest? Interactions between popular perceptions of feral horses (Equus caballus) and their management and research

To date, management and research on feral horses have been strongly influenced by concerns and priorities of the general public. Due to outcry from numerous interest groups, research and management of feral horses have tended to be autecological, focused on individuals rather than populations, and addressing potential competition between horses and cattle, thus largely ignoring questions addressing roles that feral horses may play in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Management can never satisfy all desires of all interest groups, and research rarely can give answers so definitive that further questions will not arise. However, as we attempt to demonstrate, both management and research can help shape and inform public opinion through numerous means. Because feral horses have been one of the most contentious management issues of the last 100 years, it is critical that managers and investigators address both immediate and long-term concerns in their work. Honest communication of results and associated levels of uncertainty, along with rigorous testing of alternative explanations, are essential in issues having high levels of sociopolitical interest. Continued use of relevant, well-planned investigations in concert with thoughtful management may help define the future role the feral horse will play as "an integral part of the system of public lands" in the western United States

Wariness of coyotes to camera traps relative to social status and territory boundaries

The primary objective of this study was to develop a better understanding of coyote (Canis latrans) wariness particularly as it related to social status. We determined that territory status (controlling alpha, resident beta, or nonterritorial transient) affected vulnerability to photo-capture by infrared-triggered camera systems. All coyotes were wary of cameras, leading to relatively low numbers of photo-captures, most of which occurred at night. Alphas were significantly underrepresented in photographs and were never photo-captured inside their awn territories. Betas were photographed inside and outside their territories, whereas transients were most often photographed on edges of territories. Both alphas and betas were photographed more often on territorial edges when outside their territories. We next addressed the question of how alphas were better able to avoid photo-capture. Alphas tracked human activity within their territories and presumably learned the locations of cameras as they were being set up. They did this either by approaching our location directly or by moving to a vantage point from where they could observe us. Betas and transients either withdrew or did not respond to human activity. Trials in which a dog was present were more likely to elicit an approach response from alphas. Avoidance of camera stations and the tracking of human activity implied wariness toward objects or locations resulting from their learned association with human presence rather than neophobia toward the objects themselves

Charismatic megafauna or exotic pest? Interactions between popular perceptions of feral horses (Equus caballus) and their management and research

To date, management and research on feral horses have been strongly influenced by concerns and priorities of the general public. Due to outcry from numerous interest groups, research and management of feral horses have tended to be autecological, focused on individuals rather than populations, and addressing potential competition between horses and cattle, thus largely ignoring questions addressing roles that feral horses may play in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Management can never satisfy all desires of all interest groups, and research rarely can give answers so definitive that further questions will not arise. However, as we attempt to demonstrate, both management and research can help shape and inform public opinion through numerous means. Because feral horses have been one of the most contentious management issues of the last 100 years, it is critical that managers and investigators address both immediate and long-term concerns in their work. Honest communication of results and associated levels of uncertainty, along with rigorous testing of alternative explanations, are essential in issues having high levels of sociopolitical interest. Continued use of relevant, well-planned investigations in concert with thoughtful management may help define the future role the feral horse will play as "an integral part of the system of public lands" in the western United States