Road traffic kills hundreds of millions of animals every year, posing a critical threat to the populations of many species. To address this problem there are more than forty types of road mitigation ...measures available that aim to reduce wildlife mortality on roads (road-kill). For road planners, deciding on what mitigation method to use has been problematic because there is little good information about the relative effectiveness of these measures in reducing road-kill, and the costs of these measures vary greatly. We conducted a meta-analysis using data from 50 studies that quantified the relationship between road-kill and a mitigation measure designed to reduce road-kill. Overall, mitigation measures reduce road-kill by 40% compared to controls. Fences, with or without crossing structures, reduce road-kill by 54%. We found no detectable effect on road-kill of crossing structures without fencing. We found that comparatively expensive mitigation measures reduce large mammal road-kill much more than inexpensive measures. For example, the combination of fencing and crossing structures led to an 83% reduction in road-kill of large mammals, compared to a 57% reduction for animal detection systems, and only a 1% for wildlife reflectors. We suggest that inexpensive measures such as reflectors should not be used until and unless their effectiveness is tested using a high-quality experimental approach. Our meta-analysis also highlights the fact that there are insufficient data to answer many of the most pressing questions that road planners ask about the effectiveness of road mitigation measures, such as whether other less common mitigation measures (e.g., measures to reduce traffic volume and/or speed) reduce road mortality, or to what extent the attributes of crossing structures and fences influence their effectiveness. To improve evaluations of mitigation effectiveness, studies should incorporate data collection before the mitigation is applied, and we recommend a minimum study duration of four years for Before-After, and a minimum of either four years or four sites for Before-After-Control-Impact designs.
Across all landscape types, environmental managers work with communities to conserve biodiversity. The effectiveness of conservation practice, however, relies on acknowledging differences in ...preferences and values of nature. Implementing urban conservation is challenging because cities have diverse social, cultural and ecological attributes, meaning there are no simple solutions for the management or co-management of biodiversity. There is little guidance for urban environmental managers on how to 1) engage local urban communities and 2), implement conservation actions specific to cities and their communities. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 environmental managers from government and not-for-profit organizations across five Australian capital cities to 1) explore how environmental managers engaged local communities, and 2) understand the factors that enabled or constrained that engagement in conservation. Our aim was to understand the enablers and constraints of engagement with a view to share insights and patterns in the context of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) conceptual framework’s recognition of the diversity of values associated with nature’s contributions to people (NCP). We found that urban environmental managers facilitated NCP by working to improve people’s relationship with nature. Interviewees reported a range of enablers for community-based biodiversity conservation, including supportive organizational policies and strategies, community support, engaging Indigenous advisory groups, and deploying multi-use, integrative human-nature designs. Constraints and challenges included a lack of top-down commitment, reliance on individuals, and overly simplistic engagement strategies. Based on these findings, we identified opportunities for improved community engagement relevant to organizations responsible for urban environmental management.
Arboreal camera trapping is a burgeoning method providing a novel and effective technique to answer research questions across a variety of ecosystems, and it has the capacity to improve our ...understanding of a wide range of taxa. However, while terrestrial camera trapping has received much attention, there is little guidance for dealing with the unique challenges of working in the arboreal realm.
Our review draws on the expertise of researchers from six continents and the broader literature to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of arboreal camera trapping, and challenges to consider when using this technology. We also include mini‐guides with detailed information on the current arboreal camera trap literature, mounts used to install arboreal cameras, tree climbing pointers and safety tips, methods for deploying cameras without climbing, and tips for managing interference with camera function.
We find that arboreal camera traps have been most commonly used in the study of mammals in forests; however, there is potential for this method to be applied to a broad range of habitats including urban areas, and taxa such as birds, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants. Methods in arboreal camera trapping could be improved by developing a greater understanding of the factors affecting detection of species. The most common challenges of arboreal camera trapping are camera placement and camera site access. These can be overcome by understanding correct camera orientation, managing potential sources of interference in front of cameras, utilizing appropriate cameras mounts and training researchers properly.
Given the benefits and opportunities presented by arboreal camera trapping, it is likely to become an ever‐more popular method of studying arboreal species and systems. The information synthesized in this review provides guidance for future studies to help direct more reliable and robust ecological inferences from arboreal camera trapping.
Resumen
El fototrampeo arbóreo es un método emergente que brinda una técnica nueva y efectiva para responder a preguntas de investigación en una variedad de ecosistemas, y tiene la capacidad de mejorar nuestra compresión de una amplia gama de taxones. Sin embargo, mientras el fototrampeo terrestre ha recibido mucha atención, existen pocas pautas sobre cómo lidiar con los retos únicos de trabajar con cámaras en el ámbito arbóreo.
Nuestra revisión se basa en la experiencia de investigadores de seis continentes y en la literatura en general para evaluar las ventajas y desventajas del fototrampeo arbóreo y los retos a considerar al utilizar esta tecnología. También incluimos mini‐guías con información detallada sobre la literatura actual acerca del uso de cámaras trampa en los árboles, soportes utilizados para colocar las cámaras trampa, indicaciones y consejos para trepar árboles y acceder al dosel de manera segura, métodos para colocar las cámaras sin trepar y consejos para el manejo de interferencia en el funcionamiento de la cámara.
Nuestro estudio concluye que el fototrampeo arbóreo ha sido mayormente utilizado para el estudio de mamíferos en bosques. Sin embargo, esta metodología tiene el potencial de ser utilizada en un amplio rango de hábitats, incluyendo áreas urbanas, y taxones como aves, anfibios, invertebrados y plantas. Los métodos de fototrampeo arbóreo pueden mejorarse con una mayor comprensión de los factores que afectan la detección de especies. Los retos más comunes en el fototrampeo arbóreo son el acceso al sitio en el dosel donde se ubicará la cámara y la instalación de la misma. Estos retos se pueden superar entendiendo cuál es el mejor ángulo de orientación de la cámara, el manejo de las posibles fuentes de interferencia que se ubiquen delante de las cámaras, utilizando soportes apropiados para las cámaras y entrenando adecuadamente a los investigadores.
Dados los beneficios y las oportunidades presentados por el fototrampeo arbóreo, es probable que se convierta en un método cada vez más popular para estudiar especies y sistemas arbóreos. La información sintetizada en esta revisión proporciona una guía que ayudará a futuros estudios a realizar inferencias ecológicas más confiables y sólidas en base al fototrampeo arbóreo.
Résumé
Le piégeage photographique dans la couronne des arbres est une méthode en plein essor qui offre une technique novatrice et efficace pour répondre à des questions de recherche pour une variété d'écosystèmes, et permet d'améliorer notre compréhension d'une large diversité de taxons. Cependant, alors que le piégeage photographique au sol a reçu une grande attention, il y a peu de manuel pour répondre aux défis que posent les études dans le domaine de la canopée.
Notre analyse repose sur l'expertise de chercheurs provenant de six continents et sur la littérature générale pour étudier les avantages et désavantages du piégeage photographique en canopée, mais aussi les défis à prendre en compte quand cette technologie est utilisée. Nous intégrons des mini‐guides contenant des informations détaillées de la littérature actuelle sur les pièges photographiques et les supports utilisés en canopée, des conseils pour grimper en toute sécurité aux arbres, les méthodes pour déployer ces appareils sans grimper et des conseils pour limiter les interférences lors de leur fonctionnement.
Nous trouvons que les pièges photographiques en canopée ont été plus souvent utilisés pour étudier les mammifères dans les forêts, cette méthode ayant cependant un potentiel pour un large éventail d'habitats y compris les zones urbaines, et de taxons tels que les oiseaux, les amphibiens, les invertébrés, et les plantes. Les méthodes de piégeage photographique en canopée pourraient être optimisées en améliorant notre compréhension des facteurs qui affectent la détection des espèces. Les défis les plus courants du piégeage photographique sont le placement et l'accès au site de fixation des appareils. Ces problèmes peuvent être surmontés en identifiant les orientations les plus adaptées pour les appareils, en limitant les sources potentielles d'interférences devant les objectifs, en utilisant des supports appropriés ainsi qu'en formant correctement les chercheurs.
Compte tenu des bénéfices et des opportunités que représente l'usage du piégeage photographique en canopée, cette méthode est de plus en plus utilisée pour étudier les espèces dans la canopée. Les informations synthétisées dans cette revue fournissent des indications pour les études futures afin de permettre des déductions écologiques plus fiables et plus solides à partir du piégeage photographique dans la couronne des arbres.
Resumo
As armadilhas fotográficas em dossel arbóreo é um método emergente que fornece uma técnica nova e eficaz para responder a perguntas científicas em diversos ecossistemas e tem a capacidade de melhorar nossa compreensão de uma ampla gama de taxa. No entanto, embora o uso das armadilhas fotográficas terrestres tenha recebido muita atenção, existem poucas diretrizes sobre como lidar com os desafios exclusivos de trabalhar com câmeras em um ambiente arbóreo.
Nossa revisão baseia‐se na experiência de pesquisadores de seis continentes e na literatura geral para avaliar as vantagens e desvantagens das armadilhas fotográficas em árvores e os desafios a serem considerados ao usar essa tecnologia. Também incluímos mini‐guias com informações detalhadas sobre a literatura atual sobre o uso de armadilhas fotográficas, suportes usados para sua instalação, indicações e dicas para subir em árvores e acessar o dossel com segurança, métodos para colocar câmeras sem escalar e dicas para manejo de interferências na operação da câmera.
Nosso estudo conclui que as armadilhas fotográficas em dosseis arbóreos têm sido utilizadas principalmente para o estudo de mamíferos em florestas. No entanto, essa metodologia tem potencial para ser usada em uma ampla gama de habitats, incluindo áreas urbanas, e taxa como aves, anfíbios, invertebrados e plantas. Os métodos podem ser aprimorados com uma maior compreensão dos fatores que afetam a detecção de espécies. Os desafios mais comuns no uso das armadilhas fotográficas em árvores são o acesso ao local onde a câmera estará localizada no dossel, e a prórpia instalação destas câmeras. Esses desafios podem ser superados compreendendo o melhor ângulo de orientação da câmera, gerenciando fontes potenciais de interferência na frente das câmeras, usando suportes de câmera apropriados e treinando adequadamente os pesquisadores.
Dados os benefícios e oportunidades apresentados pelo uso das armadilhas fotográficas em árvores, é provável que se torne um método cada vez mais popular de estudar espécies e sistemas arbóreos. As informações sintetizadas nesta revisão fornecem orientações que ajudarão estudos futuros a fazer inferências ecológicas mais confiáveis e robustas com base no uso desta técnica.
摘要
作为一种新兴的技术方法, 树栖红外相机为我们探究多种生态系统中的科学问题提供了有效的技术支持, 可以进一步加深我们对广大生物类群的理解。然而, 相比广泛应用的地面相机监测技术, 我们依旧缺乏对于解决树栖红外相机应用相关问题的指导方针。
通过综述来自六大洲研究人员的专业技术知识和广泛的文献, 我们分析了树栖红外相机的优缺点及其实际应用中所面临的问题和挑战。同时基于现有文献信息, 我们撰写了树栖红外相机使用的迷你指南, 包括安装和固定相机的装置、爬树技巧和安全提示、无需攀爬部署相机的方法和解决干扰使相机正常工作的技巧。
结果发现树栖红外相机经常用于森林哺乳动物的研究, 但这种方法仍有其他潜在的应用, 如可应用于城市地区等的各种动物栖息地, 可应用于包括鸟类、两栖动物、无脊椎动物和植物等多种生物类群。通过进一步了解影响物种检测率的因素, 可以改进关于树栖红外相机的研究方法。树栖红外相机应用中最常见的挑战是相机的布置和相机位点的访问。这些问题可以通过确定正确的相机方向、处理相机镜头前的潜在干扰因素、使用合适的安装和固定装置及培训当地的研究人员来解决。
鉴于树栖红外相机的优点和所带来的机遇, 它很可能会成为研究树栖物种和生态系统更流行的技术方法。这篇综述提供的各种信息为未来相关研究提供了指导, 将有助于从树栖红外相机研究中获得更可靠和稳健的生态推论。
Traffic disturbances (i.e. pollution, light, noise, and vibrations) often extend into the area surrounding a road creating a 'road-effect zone'. Habitat within the road-effect zone is degraded or, in ...severe cases, completely unsuitable for wildlife, resulting in indirect habitat loss. This can have a disproportionate impact on wildlife in highly modified landscapes, where remaining habitat is scarce or occurs predominantly along roadside reserves. In this study, we investigated the road-effect zone for insectivorous bats in highly cleared agricultural landscapes by quantifying the change in call activity with proximity to three major freeways. The activity of seven out of 10 species of bat significantly decreased with proximity to the freeway. We defined the road-effect zone to be the proximity at which call activity declined by at least 20% relative to the maximum detected activity. The overall road-effect zone for bats in this region was 307 m, varying between 123 and 890 m for individual species. Given that this road-effect zone exceeds the typical width of the roadside verges (<50 m), it is possible that much of the vegetation adjacent to freeways in this and similar landscapes provides low-quality habitat for bats. Without accounting for the road-effect zone, the amount of habitat lost or degraded due to roads is underestimated, potentially resulting in the loss of wildlife, ecosystem services and key ecosystem processes (e.g. predator-prey or plant-pollinator interactions) from the landscape. We suggest all future environmental impact assessments include quantifying the road-effect zone for sensitive wildlife, in order to best plan and mitigate the impact of roads on the environment. Mitigating the effects of new and existing roads on wildlife is essential to ensure enough high-quality habitat persists to maintain wildlife populations.
Urban biodiversity conservation is critical if cities are to tackle the biodiversity‐extinction crisis and connect people with nature. However, little attention has been paid to how urban ...environmental managers navigate complex socio‐ecological contexts to conserve biodiversity in cities. We interviewed environmental managers from Australian cities to identify (1) the breadth of conservation actions undertaken and (2) the barriers and enablers to action. We found current practice to be more diverse, innovative, and proactive than previously described (318 actions across nine categories). Conversely, priority actions identified by the literature are yet to be “mainstream” in practice (e.g., designing for human–nature connection, securing space for nature in cities). Further, we identified a suite of levers to overcome barriers. Our research provides scientists and practitioners with an understanding of the multiple facets of conservation in cities and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in future research and practice.
Citizen‐science projects focused on ecology and conservation have been growing in popularity in recent years, offering many opportunities for researchers and volunteers alike. Two principal ...approaches to citizen‐science projects in ecology can be characterized as the data‐first approach and the question‐first approach. Here, we highlight the value of question‐first citizen‐science projects for providing insights into the ecology and management of urban wildlife, using case studies on (1) beneficial insects (pollinators, predators and parasitoids) and (2) possums and gliders in Australian cities and towns. The question‐first approach has many benefits, offering a platform to engage volunteers with the scientific process and the broader context of an ecological or conservation problem, while also connecting them with their local environment. Identifying the questions to be addressed in a citizen‐science project ahead of data collection allows for co‐design and stronger collaboration with volunteers, community groups, local experts, and landscape managers. Question‐first citizen science can also provide valuable ecological data that extend substantially beyond presence‐only records, including presence‐absence data collected via timed surveys and information on animal behavior and interspecific interactions. However, establishing and maintaining question‐first citizen‐science projects can be challenging, requiring the building and maintenance of many relationships and a multidisciplinary approach that goes well beyond the usual activities of an academic researcher. Well‐designed, question‐first citizen science has the capacity to achieve both scientific rigor and meaningful engagement with volunteer participants.
Citizen‐science projects focused on ecology and conservation have been growing in popularity, offering many opportunities for researchers and participants alike. In this Perspective article, we highlight the value of question‐first citizen science for the ecology and management of urban wildlife, using case studies on (1) beneficial insects and (2) possums and gliders.
The application of ecological theory in urban planning is becoming more important as land managers focus on increasing biodiversity to improve human welfare in cities. Authorities must decide not ...only what types of biodiversity-focused infrastructure should be prioritized, but also where new resources should be positioned and existing resources protected or enhanced. Measuring the contribution of green infrastructure to landscape connectivity can maximise the successful return and conservation of urban nature. By using ecological connectivity theory as a planning tool, the effect of different interventions (both positive and negative) on the ease with which wildlife can move across the landscape can be compared. Here we outline an approach to a) quantify ecological connectivity for different urban wildlife species and b) use this to test different urban planning scenarios using QGIS. We demonstrate extensions which improve the application of this method as a planning tool:•Conversion of the effective mesh size value (meff) to a “probability of connectedness” (Pc, for easier interpretation by local government and comparisons between planning scenarios).•An approach for measuring species-specific connectivity, including how to decide what spatial information should be included and which types of species might be most responsive to connectivity planning.•Guidance for using the method to compare different urban planning scenarios.
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Urban environments are arguably among the most suitable targets for conservation science, as they represent opportunities to preserve both species and habitats under threat while at the same time ...allowing people to engage with nature. We highlight the need for conservation within urban environments using species whose recovery is entirely dependent on effective action within cities and towns. We identified 39 urban-restricted species in Australia and reviewed the advice guiding their conservation to address the question, “What does conservation look like when cities are the last chance for saving species?” We argue that in such circumstances securing land for conservation purposes cannot be relied upon; instead, species must be protected on lands not originally intended for conservation and urban communities must be involved in recovery actions. Ultimately, to achieve such outcomes, decision makers need to recognize the importance of urban ecosystems in the recovery of imperiled species.
Roads and traffic are prominent components of most landscapes throughout the world, and their negative effects on the natural environment can extend for hundreds or thousands of meters beyond the ...road. These effects include mortality of wildlife due to collisions with vehicles, pollution of soil and air, modification of wildlife behavior in response to noise, creation of barriers to wildlife movement, and establishment of dispersal conduits for some plant and animal species. In southeast Australia, much of the remaining habitat for the squirrel glider,Petaurus norfolcensis, is located in narrow strips ofEucalyptuswoodland that is adjacent to roads and streams, as well as in small patches of woodland vegetation that is farther from roads. We evaluated the effect of traffic volume on squirrel gliders by estimating apparent annual survival rates of adults along the Hume Freeway and nearby low-traffic-volume roads. We surveyed populations of squirrel gliders by trapping them over 2.5 years, and combined these data with prior information on apparent survival rates in populations located away from freeways to model the ratio of apparent annual survival rates in both site types. The apparent annual survival rate of adult squirrel gliders living along the Hume Freeway was estimated to be approximately 60% lower than for squirrel gliders living near local roads. The cause of the reduced apparent survival rate may be due to higher rates of mortality and/or higher emigration rates adjacent to the Hume Freeway compared with populations near smaller country roads. Management options for population persistence will be influenced by which of these factors is the primary cause of a reduced apparent survival rate.
The objectives of conservation science and dissemination of its research create a paradox: Conservation is about preserving the environment, yet scientists spread this message at conferences with ...heavy carbon footprints. Ecology and conservation science depend on global knowledge exchange—getting the best science to the places it is most needed. However, conference attendance from developed countries typically outweighs that from developing countries that are biodiversity and conservation hotspots. If any branch of science should be trying to maximize participation while minimizing carbon emissions, it is conservation. Virtual conferencing is common in other disciplines, such as education and humanities, but it is surprisingly underused in ecology and conservation. Adopting virtual conferencing entails a number of challenges, including logistics and unified acceptance, which we argue can be overcome through planning and technology. We examined 4 conference models: a pure-virtual model and 3 hybrid hub-and-node models, where hubs stream content to local nodes. These models collectively aim to mitigate the logistical and administrative challenges of global knowledge transfer. Embracing virtual conferencing addresses 2 essential prerequisites of modern conferences: lowering carbon emissions and increasing accessibility for remote, time- and resource-poor researchers, particularly those from developing countries. Los objetivos de la ciencia de la conservación y la difusión de su investigación genera una paradoja: la conservación se enfoca en preservar el ambiente, pero los científicos dispersan este mensaje en conferencias con huellas de carbono pesadas. La ecología y la ciencia de la conservación dependen del intercambio de conocimiento global - hacer llegar a la mejor ciencia a los lugares en donde es más necesitada. Sin embargo, la asistencia de países desarrollados a conferencias típicamente sobrepasa a aquella de países en desarrollo que son puntos calientes de biodiversidad y conservación. Si hay una rama de la ciencia que debería estar intentando maximizar la participación mientras minimiza las emisiones de carbono, es la conservación. Las conferencias virtuales son comunes en otras disciplinas, como la educación y las humanidades, pero está sorprendentemente subutilizada en la ecología y en la conservación. Adoptar las conferencias virtuales conlleva un número de retos, incluyendo la logística y la aceptación unánime, que discutimos pueden sobreponerse por medio de la planificación y la tecnología. Examinamos cuatro modelos de conferencias: un modelo puramente virtual y tres modelos híbridos de núcleo-y-nodo, en los que los núcleos transmiten el contenido a los nodos locales. Estos modelos buscan colectivamente mitigar los retos logísticos y administrativos de la transferencia global de conocimientos. La adopción de las conferencias virtuales resuelve dos prerrequisitos esenciales de las conferencias modernas: reducir las emisiones de carbono e incrementar la accesibilidad para los investigadores remotos y escasos de tiempo y recursos, particularmente aquellos en los países en desarrollo.
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