Changes in the plant community and ecosystem properties that follow conversion of agriculture to restored tallgrass prairies are poorly understood. Beginning 1995, we established a species-rich, prairie chronosequence where ∼3 ha agricultural land have been converted each year. Our goals were examine differences between these adjacent fields determine changes in, potential interactions between, occur over time prairies. During summers 2000–2002, examined species cover, soil C N, net N...

ABSTRACT Global positioning system (GPS) collars have been deployed on adult moose ( Alces americanus ) and other ungulates to study various aspects of their ecology, but until the current they not fitted neonates. The population in northeastern Minnesota, USA, has declining since 2006, information neonatal survival cause‐specific mortality are needed. We monitored hourly movements GPS‐collared females for indications calving. During 2 May–2 June 2013 we observed 47 73 collared (50 known...

Roadkill is one of the highest causes wildlife mortality and global conservation concern. Most roadkill studies have focused on in developed countries such as United States America temperate biomes, but there are limited data for impacts roads African tropics, where road infrastructure development projected to grow rapidly natural environments areas. The Tsavo Conservation Area an important biodiversity hotspot eastern Kenya bisected by a major highway railways that connect port Mombasa...

ABSTRACT Ungulate reproductive success (calf production and survival) influences population performance. The moose ( Alces alces ) in northeastern Minnesota, USA, has declined 65% from 2006 to 2018 but begun stabilize. Because causes of this decline were largely unknown, we investigated production, survival, cause‐specific mortality calves the global positioning system (GPS)‐collared females population. In 2013 2014, GPS‐collared 74 neonates monitored them for survival. 2015 2016, 50 35...

Predators can modulate disease transmission within prey populations by influencing demography and behavior. Predator-prey dynamics involve multiple species in heterogeneous landscapes; however, studies of predation on rarely consider the role landscapes or among diverse (i.e., spillover). We used high-resolution habitat movement data to model spillover risk brainworm parasite (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis) between two [white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) moose (Alces alces)], accounting...

Herbivores must balance energy needs with avoiding risks, using various cues to assess predation risk. The American beaver (Castor canadensis) is a semi-aquatic herbivore vulnerable on land by wolves (Canis lupis). We tested the use of wolf urine as potential tool reduce human-beaver confl icts. used infrared cameras monitor terrestrial foraging trails beavers during food cache construction in Seney National Wildlife Refuge, Michigan, from September November 2008. Two at 15 colonies (30...

American beavers (Castor canadensis) forage on various aquatic and terrestrial plant species. We used stable isotope analysis of carbon (C) nitrogen (N) to estimate source contributions seasonal assimilated beaver diets in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota, from Apr. 2007 Nov. 2008. Mean (±95% confidence interval) annual were estimated as 45.5 ± 11.4% 55.5% vegetation (22.0 14.5 emergent 33.5 7.9 floating leaf). Percentages leaf similar between winter summer diets, but increased 45% summer....

ABSTRACT Habitat use during calving and the energetically demanding post‐parturition period can be an important determinant of neonatal survival. The moose ( Alces alces ) population in northeastern Minnesota, USA declined 65% from 2006 to 2018. During 2013–2015, annual survival calves was estimated as low 28%. We remotely monitored global positioning system (GPS)‐collared adult female their neonates seasons examine movements, birth‐sites, habitat use, survival, cause‐specific mortality...

Capturing and collaring mammalian newborns is a valued technique in studies focused on survival, cause-specific mortality, maternal investment, other aspects of animal behavior ecology. Abandonment ungulate neonates has been highly variable often may be underestimated due to limited understanding this behavior. In study survival mortality GPS-collared moose (Alces americanus) calves declining population northeastern Minnesota, 9 49 (18.4%) (25 females 24 males) were abandoned postcapture...

Abstract The moose ( Alces alces ; mooz in Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language will follow scientific names) is a vital subsistence food source to Anishinabe people of the midwestern United States and has recently declined Minnesota, USA, with poor calf survival as contributing factor. Predation primary cause mortality we explored whether predation rates could be reduced through management single predator multi‐predator system. Thus, examined causes before (2013–2015) during (2016–2018)...

Given recent and abrupt declines in the abundance of moose ( Alces alces ) throughout parts Minnesota elsewhere North America, accurately estimating statewide population trends demographic parameters is a high priority for their continued management conservation. Statistical reconstruction using integrated models provides flexible framework combining information from multiple studies to produce robust estimates abundance, recruitment, survival. We used this combine aerial survey data...

Abstract Rail and road infrastructure is essential for economic growth development but can cause a gradual loss in biodiversity degradation of ecosystem function services. We assessed the influence underpass dimensions, fencing, proximity to water roads, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), presence other species livestock on use by large medium-sized mammals. Results revealed hyenas leopards used underpasses more than expected whereas giraffes antelopes less expected. Generalized...

Abstract The moose ( Alces alces ; mooz in Anishinaabemowin, Ojibwe language) population has recently declined Minnesota, USA, and gray wolf Canis lupus ma'iingan) predation is likely a contributing factor. We analyzed diet composition of wolves northeastern Minnesota during 2011–2013 to evaluate the importance as prey seasonal regional variations diet. identified frequency occurrence items biomass consumed 1,000 scats collected on adjacent Grand Portage Indian Reservation Voyageurs National...

ABSTRACT Capture‐induced abandonment of ungulate neonates has been poorly understood until recently, likely often underestimated, and anecdotally reported to occur at variable rates. This complex maternal behavior adversely affects the accuracy, efficiency, cost‐effectiveness, consequently overall value behavioral survival studies. To follow‐up on a previous study where we an 18.4% rate moose ( Alces alces ) following helicopter‐assisted capture in Minnesota, USA, tracked movement 12 13...

ABSTRACT Continuing research on cause‐specific mortality and annual survival of moose ( Alces alces ) calves in northeastern Minnesota, USA, is important to understanding the long‐term trajectory population. In 2013 2014, we observed global positioning system (GPS)‐collared, female exhibit a specific behavior (i.e., movement) associated with death their GPS‐collared neonate. The females made rapid, long‐distance movement (flee), followed by return calf site. We used characteristics this...

Discrete landscape features can concentrate animals in time and space, leading to non-random interspecific encounters. These encounters have implications for predator-prey interactions, habitat selection, intraspecific competition, transmission of parasites other pathogens. The lifecycle the parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis requires an intermediate host a terrestrial gastropod. Natural hosts P. are white-tailed deer, aberrant conservation concern is moose, which susceptible high...

ABSTRACT Deploying Global Positioning System (GPS) collars on ungulate neonates would offer notable advantages to examining their life history and influence population performance. During 2013 2014, we deployed expandable GPS 74 moose ( Alces alces ) in Minnesota, USA, estimate survival cause‐specific mortality during first year. Collars slipped from 10.5% 62.5% of calves at 15.8 (±4.5 [SE]) 27.9 (±8.1) days postcapture respectively, premature deterioration the breakaway mechanism or...

Moose (Alces alces) are generalist herbivores, but important aquatic-terrestrial ecotone specialists. Aquatic macrophytes a high-quality food source for moose during summer, the importance of aquatic sources to diet is difficult study. We used stable isotope analysis carbon and nitrogen from hooves forage (terrestrial plants, macrophytes, arboreal lichen) assess at Isle Royale National Park, Michigan, USA, using Bayesian mixing models. also evaluated isotopic variability along chronologies...

Abstract Pregnancy determination is necessary for sound wildlife management and understanding population dynamics. rates are sensitive to environmental physiological factors may indicate the overall trajectory of a population. can be assessed through direct methods (rectal palpation, sonography) or indicated using hormonal assays (serum progesterone pregnancy-specific protein B, fecal progestogen metabolites). A commonly used threshold 2 ng/ml in serum has been by moose biologists pregnancy...

Landscape management can influence the distribution, abundance, and diversity of terrestrial gastropods that host known parasites managed species ungulates. Multiple taxa are important intermediate hosts in lifecycle parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis, for which white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) definitive hosts. Moose (Alces alces) become infected with P. tenuis when they incidentally ingest gastropod hosts, leading to morbidity mortality. Populations moose Minnesota...

Abstract Estimation of population trends and demographic parameters is important to our understanding fundamental ecology species management, yet these data are often difficult obtain without the use from surveys or marking animals. The northeastern Minnesota moose ( Alces alces Linnaeus, 1758) declined 58% during 2006–2017, aerial indicated stability 2012–2017. In response decline, Department Natural Resources (MNDNR) initiated studies adult calf survival better understand cause‐specific...