Many authors have suggested that the negative effects of roads on animals are largely owing to traffic noise. Although suggestive, most past studies road noise wildlife were conducted in presence other confounding roads, such as visual disturbance, collisions and chemical pollution among others. We present, our knowledge, first study experimentally apply a roadless area at landscape scale-thus avoiding aspects present studies. replicated sound roadway intervals-alternating 4 days with...

Raptors provide critical ecosystem services, yet there is currently no systematic, global synthesis of their conservation status or threats. We review the International Union for Conservation Nature's Red List to examine status, distributions, threats, and recommendations all 557 raptor species. further assess significance Important Bird Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) conservation. also determine which countries contain most species listed under Memorandum Understanding on Migratory Birds Prey in...

Decades of research demonstrate that roads impact wildlife and suggest traffic noise as a primary cause population declines near roads. We created "phantom road" using an array speakers to apply roadless landscape, directly testing the effect alone on entire songbird community during autumn migration. Thirty-one percent bird avoided phantom road. For individuals stayed despite noise, overall body condition decreased by full SD some species showed change in ability gain when exposed migratory...

Abstract Aim Raptors serve critical ecological functions, are particularly extinction‐prone and often used as environmental indicators flagship species. Yet, there is no global framework to prioritize research conservation actions on them. We identify for the first time factors driving extinction risk scientific attention raptors develop a novel priority index (RCPI) priorities. Location Global. Methods use random forest models based traits extrinsic data drivers of in all raptors. then map...

Adaptations to divert the attacks of visually guided predators have evolved repeatedly in animals. Using high-speed infrared videography, we show that luna moths (Actias luna) generate an acoustic diversion with spinning hindwing tails deflect echolocating bat away from their body and toward these nonessential appendages. We pit against big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) demonstrate a survival advantage ∼ 47% for versus those had removed. The benefit is equivalent conferred by bat-detecting...

Negative impacts from anthropogenic noise are well documented for many wildlife taxa. Investigations of the effects on bats however, have not been conducted outside laboratory. Bats that hunt arthropods rely auditory information to forage. Part this acoustic can fall within spectrum noise, which potentially interfere with signal reception and processing. Compressor stations associated natural gas extraction produce broadband 24 hours a day, 365 days year. With over half million producing...

Resumen La naturaleza carismatica y la enigmatica disminucion poblacional de Falco sparverius ha provocado el interes preocupacion tanto cientificos (ciudadanos profesionales) como del publico en general. Aunque se han propuesto diversas razones causas esta disminucion, hay poca o nula evidencia empirica para mayoria las amenazas hipotetizadas consecuentemente no existen recomendaciones gestion apoyadas empirica. Presentamos investigaciones futuras sobre causa F. sparverius. Ademas,...

Abstract Anthropogenic noise is a widespread and growing form of sensory pollution associated with the expansion human infrastructure. One specific source constant intense that produced by compressors used for extraction transportation natural gas. Terrestrial arthropods play central role in many ecosystems, given numerous species rely upon airborne sounds substrate‐borne vibrations their life histories, we predicted increased background sound levels or presence compressor would influence...

Species considered raptors are subjects of monitoring programs, textbooks, scientific societies, legislation, and multinational agreements. Yet no standard definition for the synonymous terms "raptor" or "bird prey" exists. Groups, including owls, vultures, corvids, shrikes variably based on morphological, ecological, taxonomic criteria, depending authors. We review various criteria previously used to define we present an updated that incorporates current understanding bird phylogeny. For...

Abstract Collision‐caused fatalities of animals at wind power facilities create a ‘green versus green’ conflict between wildlife conservation and renewable energy. These can be mitigated via informed curtailment whereby turbines are slowed or stopped when considered increased risk collision. Automated monitoring systems could improve efficacy curtailment, yet such technology is undertested. We test the an automated system—a camera system that detects flying objects, classifies them decides...

Abstract Several past studies have demonstrated the effects of anthropogenic noise on populations animals. Yet, differing by age and subsequent changes in structure are poorly understood. We experimentally tested traffic alone a community migrating birds at fall stopover site south‐western Idaho using an array speakers – creating phantom road that replicated sound roadway without other confounding aspects roads. Both hatch‐year adult were negatively affected having lower capture rates, body...

Understanding the factors that influence distribution of vectors is critical to assess risk disease transmission across landscapes. For mosquitoes, existing spatial models use only habitat elements (hydrologic and floristic) predict within landscape, ignoring potential importance hosts. We tested hypothesis hosts would better explain mosquitoes than variables using Information Theory Poisson Regression. analyzed abundance ectotherm‐biting their from 37 points over a 28‐km 2 area in Tuskegee...

Riparian forests are often the last remaining areas of natural vegetation in agricultural and plantation forestry landscapes. Covering millions hectares land Indonesia, industrial pulpwood plantations have rapidly replaced native forests. Our study aimed to better understand conservation importance linear remnants riparian forest by examining their use larger (>1 kg) mammal species. site was located within an extensive acacia ( Acacia mangium) adjoining Tesso Nilo National Park Sumatra,...

Prey transmit sensory illusions to redirect predatory strikes, creating a discrepancy between what predator perceives and reality. We use the acoustic arms race bats moths investigate evolution function of illusion. The spinning hindwing tails silk (Saturniidae) divert bat attack by reflecting sonar create misleading echoic target. characterized geometric morphometrics moth hindwings across moths, mapped these traits onto new, robust phylogeny, found that elaborated structures have converged...

Abstract Burgeoning urbanization, development and human activities have led to reduced opportunities for nature experience in quiet acoustic environments. Increasing noise affects both humans wildlife alike. We experimentally altered human‐caused sound levels a paired study using informational signs that encouraged behaviours week‐on, week‐off blocks on the trail system of Muir Woods National Monument, California, USA test if soundscape influences experiences. Using continuous measurements...

Seasonal shifts in host use by mosquitoes from birds to mammals drive the timing and intensity of annual epidemics mosquito-borne viruses, such as West Nile virus, North America. The biological mechanism underlying these has been a matter debate, with hypotheses falling into two camps: (1) shift is driven changes abundance, or (2) seasonal foraging behavior mosquitoes. Here we explored idea that are temporal patterns reproduction. We investigated relationship between reproductive phenology...

Snakes often occur in species-rich assemblages, and sympatry is thought to be facilitated primarily by low diet overlap, not interspecific interactions. We selected, a priori, three species pairs consisting of that are morphologically taxonomically similar may therefore likely engage interspecific, consumptive competition. then examined large-scale database snake detection/nondetection data used occupancy modelling determine whether these together more or less frequently than expected chance...

Habitat loss and degradation are thought to be the primary drivers of species extirpations, but for many we have little information regarding specific habitats that influence occupancy. Snakes conservation concern throughout North America, effective management hindered by a lack basic natural history small number large-scale studies designed assess general population trends. To address this gap, compiled detection/nondetection data 13 large terrestrial from 449 traps located across...

Studies investigating winter transmission of Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) were conducted in Hillsborough County, Florida. The was detected Culiseta melanura and Anopheles quadrimaculatus February 2012 2013, respectively. During the months, herons most important avian hosts for all mosquito species encountered. In collections carried out summer 2011, blood meals taken from still common, but less frequently encountered than winter, with an increased frequency mammalian-...

Automated surveys for wildlife have the potential to improve data collection while averting mortality of animals. Collisions eagles at wind power facilities are particularly concern and therefore an automated system that could detect birds, determine if they eagles, track their movement, might aid in curtailing turbines before collisions occur. Here, we use human observers photographs test ability a camera-based monitoring system, called IdentiFlight, detect, classify, birds. IdentiFlight...

Many defended animals prevent attacks by displaying warning signals that are highly conspicuous to their predators. We hypothesized bioluminescing fireflies, widely known for vibrant courtship signals, also advertise noxiousness echolocating bats. To test this postulate, we pit naïve big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) against chemically fireflies (Photinus pyralis) examine whether and how these beetles transmit salient warnings demonstrate nocturnal predators learn avoid noxious using either...

Summary Warming temperatures cause temporal changes in growing seasons and prey abundance that drive earlier breeding by birds, especially dietary specialists within homogeneous habitat. Less is known about how generalists respond to climate‐associated shifts or phenology, which may occur at different rates across land cover types. We studied whether phenology of a generalist predator, the American kestrel ( Falco sparverius ), was associated with and, presumably, abundance, mosaic...