scholarly journals The Time Local Convex Hull method as a tool for assessing responses of fauna to habitat restoration: a case study using the perentie (Varanus giganteus : Reptilia : Varanidae)

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie L. Cross ◽  
Sean Tomlinson ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Philip W. Bateman

Understanding the behavioural responses of animals to habitat change is vital to their conservation in landscapes undergoing restoration. Studies of animal responses to habitat restoration typically assess species presence/absence; however, such studies may be restricted in their ability to show whether restoration is facilitating the return of self-sustaining and functional fauna populations. We present a case study using VHF/GPS tracking of a young adult perentie (Varanus giganteus), to demonstrate the range of applications of the Time Local Convex Hull method of home-range construction in analysing the behavioural responses of fauna to habitat change and restoration. Presence/absence studies provide single point locations of an animal, and the Minimum Convex Polygon method provides an invariant estimate of habitat use across the whole home range. However, the Time Local Convex Hull method provides a useful method for assessing movement and behavioural responses of fauna to habitat change and restoration, and the specific habitat requirements for the long-term support of populations. The breadth and multidimensionality of data generated indicates strongly that understanding the complex interactions between animals and their environment is fundamental to their conservation in the face of ever-increasing rates of human-induced habitat change and degradation.

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-18
Author(s):  
Alfadil Mohammed Abdelrahman Adam ◽  
Rudolf Kropil ◽  
Viliam Pichler

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate differences using three different approaches in home range sizes of selected male individuals of red deer (Cervus elaphus). This study was conducted in the Kremnica Mountains (the Western Carpathians) located in central Slovakia. The study included data from three individuals, collared and tracked by using the VHF (Very High Frequency) telemetry. The data were evaluated within three different seasons (winter, summer and rut). For the measuring of home range sizes three methods were used: Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP), Kernel Home Range (KHR) and Local Convex Hull (LoCoH). The seasonal effect on home range size was analyzed by using the analysis of variance (ANOVA) two and three main effects. The study showed differences in home range sizes and core areas in red deer population. The migrant individual had a lager home range size with used methods. The differences occurred between total seasonal home ranges, but statistically not significant. The home range created by Local Convex Hull was significantly smaller than the home range created by Kernel Home Range.


2021 ◽  
Vol 186 ◽  
pp. 360-365
Author(s):  
Kamilov Mirzoyan ◽  
Hudayberdiev Mirzaakbar ◽  
Khamroev Alisher

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 194008292110281
Author(s):  
Elène Haave-Audet ◽  
Doris Audet ◽  
Michelle Monge-Velazquez ◽  
Eleanor Flatt ◽  
Andrew Whitworth

Introduction: Background and Research Aims: Assessing biodiversity recovery is key to determine whether the objectives of habitat restoration for conservation are met. Many restoration initiatives use cross-sectional comparisons of wildlife communities to infer restoration impact instead of longitudinal assessments from a baseline state. Using an indicator of biodiversity in the neotropics— bats— we demonstrate how assessing community diversity and composition in an area targeted for restoration prior to implementation, and when compared to surrounding intact forest, provides the groundwork to track changes in the community post-restoration. Methods We assessed bat communities by 1) using mist-net surveys to identify species in the family Phyllostomidae (leaf-nosed bats), and 2) conducting acoustic surveys to identify non-phyllostomid species (aerial insectivores). Results For both groups, we found that areas targeted for restoration had similar diversity as the surrounding forest, but the two habitat types differed in community composition. Phyllostomids were captured at higher rates in forest, but aerial insectivores were detected at higher rates in restoration habitat. Conclusion Our baseline assessment revealed unexpected diversity in areas targeted for restoration. The presence of all trophic groups in restoration habitat suggests that bats provide key ecosystem services in the restoration process, such as through seed dispersal, pollination and insect pest control. Implications for Conservation: Conducting a baseline survey of bats in areas targeted for restoration demonstrated that the community was not species poor at the baseline and was different from the surrounding forest, allowing us to better track restoration success and the effects of different restoration treatments.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald G. Eckstein ◽  
Thomas F. O'Brien ◽  
Orrin J. Rongstad ◽  
John G. Bollinger

The effects of snowmobile traffic on the winter home-ranges, movements, and activity patterns, of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus), were studied during two winters in northern Wisconsin. There were no significant differences in home-range size and habitat use of the Deer in areas with and without snowmobiling. However, snowmobiling caused some Deer to leave the immediate vicinity of the snowmobile trail. Deer were most affected when they were within 61 m of the snowmobile trail.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
yang teng ◽  
Shupei TANG ◽  
lai heda meng ◽  
Liji Wu ◽  
Zhiqing HAN ◽  
...  

Abstract Home range size estimation is a crucial basis for developing effective conservation strategies and provides important insights into animal behavior and ecology. This study aimed at analyzing the home range variations, the influence of altitude in habitat selection, and comparing three methods in home range estimation of Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus griseus) living at a cliff landscape. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the annual home range sizes of individual animals but there was no difference in their seasonal home range sizes based on GPS tracking data of five female Chinese gorals from February 2015 to September 2018. The monthly home ranges decreased dramatically in May, June and July due to birth-giving. Notable seasonal variations were found in the micro-habitats of the Chinese gorals, as reflected by the altitude they inhabit, with higher altitude habitats used in spring and lower altitude habitats used in winter. Additionally, the altitude of monthly habitats was lowest in January, which may indicate an adaptation to low air temperature. We also found differences between estimation methods, namely minimum convex polygon (MCP), kernel density estimation (KDE) and α-local convex hull (α-LoCoH), with seasonal home range sizes derived from α-LoCoH being substantially smaller than those derived from MCP and KDE. In conclusion, our findings filled the gaps in home range study for this endangered species and contributed to effective conservation strategies. Considerations shall have to be given to the variations in home range estimation caused by different methods when dealing with rugged habitats, so as to make sure that any interpretation concerning the habitat use of the targeted species made on basis of such results would be meaningful and valid.


Land ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Aireona B. Raschke ◽  
Jeny Davis ◽  
Annia Quiroz

Land managers are currently faced with a nexus of challenges, both ecological and social, when trying to govern natural open spaces. While social media has led to many challenges for effective land management and governance, the technology has the potential to support key activities related to habitat restoration, awareness-raising for policy changes, and increased community resilience as the impacts of increased use and climate change become more apparent. Through the use of a case study examining the work of the Central Arizona Conservation Alliance’s social media ambassadorship and its app-supported community science projects, we examine the potential and realized positive impact that technology such as social media and smartphone apps can create for land managers and surrounding communities.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Teng ◽  
Shupei TANG ◽  
Dalai Menghe ◽  
Liji Wu ◽  
Zhiqing HAN ◽  
...  

Abstract Home range size estimation is a crucial basis for developing effective conservation strategies and provides important insights into animal behavior and ecology. This study aimed at analyzing the home range variations, the influence of altitude in habitat selection, and comparing three methods in home range estimation of Chinese gorals (Naemorhedus griseus) living at a cliff landscape. The results indicated that there were significant differences between the annual home range sizes of individual animals but there was no difference in their seasonal home range sizes based on GPS tracking data of five female Chinese gorals from February 2015 to September 2018. The monthly home ranges decreased dramatically in May, June and July due to birth-giving. Notable seasonal variations were found in the micro-habitats of the Chinese gorals, as reflected by the altitude they inhabit, with higher altitude habitats used in spring and lower altitude habitats used in winter. Additionally, the altitude of monthly habitats was lowest in January, which may indicate an adaptation to low air temperature. We also found differences between estimation methods, namely minimum convex polygon (MCP), kernel density estimation (KDE) and α-local convex hull (α-LoCoH), with seasonal home range sizes derived from α-LoCoH being substantially smaller than those derived from MCP and KDE. In conclusion, our findings filled the gaps in home range study for this endangered species and contributed to effective conservation strategies. Considerations shall have to be given to the variations in home range estimation caused by different methods when dealing with rugged habitats, so as to make sure that any interpretation concerning the habitat use of the targeted species made on basis of such results would be meaningful and valid.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-45
Author(s):  
Qin Su ◽  
Huahui Zeng ◽  
Yancan Tian ◽  
HaiLiang Li ◽  
Lei Lyu ◽  
...  

Seismic processing and interpretation techniques provide important tools for the oil and gas exploration of the Songliao Basin in eastern China, which is dominated by terrestrial facies. In the Songliao Basin, a large number of thin-sand reservoirs are widely distributed, which are the primary targets of potential oil and gas exploration and exploitation. An important job of the exploration in the Songliao Basin is to accurately describe the distribution of these thin-sand belts and the sand-body shapes. However, the thickness of these thin-sand reservoirs are generally below the resolution of the conventional seismic processing. Most of the reservoirs are thin-interbeds of sand and mudstones with strong vertical and lateral variations. This makes it difficult to accurately predict the vertical and horizontal distribution of the thin-sand bodies using the conventional seismic processing and interpretation methods. Additionally, these lithologic traps are difficult to identify due to the complex controlling factor and distribution characteristics, and strong concealment. These challenges motivate us to improve the seismic data quality to help delineate the thin-sand reservoirs. In this paper, we use the broadband, wide-azimuth, and high-density integrated seismic exploration technique to help delineate the thin-reservoirs. We first use field single-point excitation and single-point receiver acquisition to obtain seismic data with wide frequency-bands, wide-azimuth angles, and high folds, which contain rich geological information. Next, we perform the near-surface Q-compensation, viscoelastic prestack time migration, seismic attributes, and seismic waveform indication inversion on the new acquired seismic data. The 3D case study indicates the benefits of improving the imaging of thin-sand body and the accuracy of inversion and reservoir characterization using the method in this paper.


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