Abstract The decline of neotropical migratory birds in North America is closely tied to habitat loss, including the degradation bottomland hardwood and riparian forests, which provide essential habitats for numerous species. To address this, U.S. Fish Wildlife Service conducts bird surveys monitor restoration efforts evaluate conservation outcomes. This study assessed avian from three National Refuges Texas Oklahoma, using simulations, field data, literature current sampling protocols. Our...

Abstract As climate change alters habitat availability and quality for wildlife globally, understanding how different species respond to these changes will be critical effective conservation. Migratory shorebirds may especially vulnerable because of their strong dependence on a variety weather-dependent wetlands throughout annual cycles. However, are also flexible in foraging behaviors able overcome the effects reduced wetland during severe weather events such as drought by increasing...

Abstract Movement and selection are inherently linked behaviors that form the foundation of a species' space‐use patterns. Anthropogenic development in natural ecosystems can result variety behavioral responses involve changes either movement (speed or direction travel) (resources used), which turn may cause population‐level consequences including loss landscape connectivity. Understanding how species alters these different response to human activity is essential for effective conservation....

Wetland ecosystems are vital for maintaining global biodiversity, as they provide important stopover sites many species of migrating wetland-associated birds. However, because weather determines their hydrologic cycles, wetlands highly vulnerable to effects climate change. Although changes in temperature and precipitation resulting from change expected reduce inundation wetlands, few efforts have been made quantify how these will influence the availability migratory wetland Additionally,...

Abstract Many species are frequently faced with the decision about how to balance use of thermal refuge against access food resources. We evaluated habitat female greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido) assess potential for trade-offs between conditions and resources during selection process. Our objectives were 1) compare near-ground temperatures, invertebrate availability, vegetation characteristics at sites used by random landscape locations in various time since fire patches 2)...

Woody plant encroachment in grasslands represents one of the greatest challenges for global biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, this is a social-ecological problem, where human activity and behavior have resulted significant changes ecological processes that control woody plants, failure to fully recognize role has led continued loss worldwide. It therefore critical conservation professionals understand how systems, settlement patterns, fragmentation from anthropogenic development...

Abstract Heterogeneity has a critical influence on biodiversity and ecosystem processes. While the of heterogeneity species diversity abundance is well documented, how influences distribution arrangement necessary resources across landscape still unclear. in vegetation structure composition often cited as an important factor near‐ground thermal environment; however, because paucity comparative studies landscapes that differ their degree heterogeneity, researchers lack knowledge underlying...

Recent declines in eastern wild turkeys (

Grasslands are inherently dynamic systems having developed with frequent disturbance from fire and grazing that varies in space time to create heterogeneity. Today, many management practices emphasize the even use of grasslands by grazers either no or uniform fires, resulting lack variability plant structure composition support entire suite grassland biodiversity. Previous research has suggested reintroduction variable may be among best conservation strategies for birds, as these promote...

Abstract Wildlife habitat use is the result of behaviors that occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales. The interactions between these can often in complex patterns selection make it challenging to select most appropriate scale implement management actions. Greater Prairie‐Chickens ( Tympanuchus cupido ), a declining grassland grouse species, face many conservation challenges throughout its distribution, including increased fragmentation from anthropogenic activities (e.g., energy...

ABSTRACT The influence of weather on wildlife populations has been documented for many species; however, much the current literature focused effects within a season and consists short‐term studies. use long‐term datasets that cover variety environmental conditions will be essential assessing possible carry‐over experienced in one behavior fitness subsequent seasons. In this study, we evaluated variables measured over multiple temporal scales reproductive performance greater prairie‐chickens...

Wetlands provide many ecosystem services and functions, including critical stopover habitat for numerous migratory bird species. Yet, loss degradation of wetlands due to land use cover changes have greatly reduced wetland extent worldwide, leading declines shorebirds globally. In the Western Hemisphere, North American Great Plains important shorebirds; however, much remains be learned about shorebird during stopovers in this region, species‐specific associations with landscape‐scale...

Recent declines in eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) has prompted increased interest management and research of this important game species. However, the mechanisms underlying these are unclear, leaving uncertainty how best to manage Foundational effective wildlife species is understanding biotic abiotic factors that influence demographic parameters contribution vital rates population growth. Our objectives for study were to: 1) conduct a literature review collect all...