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In the late Professor G. Mace's iconic work entitled “Whose conservation?” she laid out the four movements through which U.K. conservation has progressed in the last 70 years. These are key concepts in understanding the motivations and perspectives behind conservation practice and continue to provide a useful framework through which to examine the contributions of related disciplines to habitat management and ecological restoration. Paleoecology, whilst well established as a field of research, is still finding its place as an applied science that is fully integrated into conservation practice. To facilitate the closing of this research‐implementation gap, the paper presents a reflection of the current and potential contributions of paleoecology through the lens of Mace's four conservation philosophies. The key message that emerges is that the integration and application of paleoecology in conservation is essential to holistically address the ongoing biodiversity crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in phenology are a conspicuous fingerprint of climate change, leading to fears that phenological mismatches among interacting species will be a leading cause of population declines and extinction. We used quantile regression to analyze museum collection data and estimate changes in the phenological overlap of Baltimore checkerspot butterflies and 12 common nectar plant species over several decades in two geographic regions. We combined these museum data with field estimates of each species' flower density and nectar sugar production to estimate changes in resource availability caused by shifts in phenological overlap. Phenological overlap (measured as the proportion of plant flowering during the flight period of an average butterfly) decreased through time, primarily because the flowering period of nectar plants was longer, but the flight period of butterflies was shorter in recent years. Our study was also motivated by the hypothesis that phenological mismatches may be more severe in the southern region due to a midsummer dearth in floral resources, but this hypothesis was not supported by our data. Although phenological overlap was somewhat smaller in the southern region, changes in overlap through time were similar in both regions. When phenological overlap was weighted by nectar sugar production of different species, the overlap increased in the southern region but decreased in the northern region (the opposite of our prediction). Overall, nectar resources were much more abundant at study sites in our northern region than in our southern region, possibly due to differences in land management. Our study demonstrates the complexities of phenological mismatch of interacting species and highlights that phenological changes may have small impacts on population viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this selection of papers is the linkage of habitat and population dynamics for the purpose of conservation. We thus provide a general framework for making conservation decisions, emphasizing how knowledge of habitat–population linkages fits into this framework. We begin by describing structured decision-making (SDM) as a general approach to making conservation decisions. SDM requires the development of the following elements: objectives, actions, model(s), monitoring, and decision algorithm. We then describe adaptive resource management (ARM), a specific type of SDM developed for recurrent decisions characterized by potentially resolvable uncertainty. Many different classes of actions can be used to influence animal population dynamics, and modification of habitat is one class of action that is frequently used. Habitat management requires models for predicting responses of the managed system to management actions, and these models are based on our knowledge of habitat–population linkages. Frequently, these models are decomposed into two submodels: one used to predict habitat changes expected to result from management actions and another used to predict population responses to habitat changes. This latter modeling focuses generally on the influence of habitat change on vital rates governing the dynamics of population state variables (variables such as population size or density that describe the status or health of a population). Specific recommendations depend on 1) the vital rates and state variable(s) being considered, 2) the relative spatial scales of animal movement and habitat measurement, and 3) the relative temporal scales of habitat change and vital rate estimation. Finally, we present an example of an ARM program for habitat management, highlighting the role of habitat-linked population modeling in this effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

City parks serve as valuable refuges for invertebrates in the urban environment, which are constantly exposed to human influence caused by management practices in the parks. Many harvestman species are suitable bioindicators for monitoring ecological change; however, their effective use in environmental assessment necessitates to expand the insufficient knowledge of ecological environmental specificities of their communities. We studied the diversity and dynamics of harvestman (Opiliones) communities in the historical park in Rusovce, situated in the southwestern part of Bratislava (Slovakia). Seven study sites were investigated, representing areas subjected to different management practices. The research was conducted from March 2019 to April 2020, using pitfall traps. We evaluated the impact of microclimatic variables (soil and air temperature), environmental characteristics (plant diversity and cover of vegetation layers, age of forest stands, thickness of the litter layer), and management practices on the structure of harvestman communities. The study revealed the response of specific harvestman species to temperature variations, emphasizing the importance of microclimatic conditions. Environmental variables, such as the richness of plant species in the shrub layer, the cover of the herb and shrub vegetation layers, and the age of the forest stands, were identified as key factors that influence the dispersal of harvestman species. Furthermore, management practices, especially the presence of monoculture tree plantations, significantly affected the species composition of harvestmen. Examining the sensitivity of Opiliones, important bioindicators, to these factors is crucial for implementing effective conservation strategies in urban green spaces and anthropogenically influenced ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts to restore habitats and conserve wildlife species face many challenges that are exacerbated by limited funding and resources. Habitat restoration actions are often conducted across a range of habitat conditions, with limited information available to predict potential outcomes among local sites and identify those that may lead to the greatest returns on investment. Using the Gunnison sage-grouse (Centrocercus minimus) as a case study, we leveraged existing resource selection function models to identify areas of high restoration potential across landscapes with variable habitat conditions and habitat-use responses. We also tested how this information could be used to improve restoration planning. We simulated change in model covariates across crucial habitats for a suite of restoration actions to generate heatmaps of relative habitat suitability improvement potential, then assessed the degree to which use of these heatmaps to guide placement of restoration actions could improve suitability outcomes. We also simulated new or worsening plant invasions and projected the resulting loss or degradation of habitats across space. We found substantial spatial variation in projected changes to habitat suitability and new habitat created, both across and among crucial habitats. Use of our heatmaps to target placement of restoration actions improved habitat suitability nearly fourfold and increased new habitat created more than 15-fold, compared to placements unguided by heatmaps. Our decision-support products identified areas of high restoration potential across landscapes with variable habitat conditions and habitat-use responses. We demonstrate their utility for strategic targeting of habitat restoration actions, facilitating optimal allocation of limited management resources to benefit species of conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military training areas can host important biodiversity, due to the preservation of diverse, nutrient‐poor historical cultural landscapes and an insect‐friendly disturbance regime. In Europe, many training areas were abandoned after the end of the cold war in 1991 and the withdrawal of the Allied and Soviet forces. Many of these are now protected areas, and current management strategies vary from rewilding to active habitat management such as grazing or mowing. In a capture–release–recapture approach, marking 2418 individuals, we assessed the population size and movement patterns of the dry ecotype of the Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia Rottemburg 1775 on three former military training areas in Germany that varied in size and management (natural succession, mowing, and sheep‐/goat grazing). Euphydryas aurinia is a rare and declining butterfly species listed in Annex II of the European Union Habitats Directive. Jolly–Seber models revealed a large population of ca. 19,000 individuals on the largest study site and a smaller population at a second site, whereas recapture rates were too low to predict the population size reliably at a third site. Population densities were 190–194 butterflies ha−1 at the unmanaged, large site and 56–71 butterflies ha−1 at a smaller site grazed with sheep. Thirty‐nine percent of the recapture events occurred within the same 1‐ha‐study plot. The average minimum flight distance between the study plots was 313 m for males and 328 m for females. The maximum lifetime flight distance was 1237 m within 3 days. No dispersal was detected between study sites. Thirty years after cessation of the military use, the large former training site still held what likely is one of the largest populations of the species dry ecotype in Central Europe, including in areas where management ceased already in 1991. This suggests remarkable persistence of the species in areas without regular management, contrary to current opinion. However, regular flight distances seem not to be sufficient to connect the isolated habitat patches. It remains unknown how long the large population at the abandoned military area will persist without active habitat management. Careful, but active habitat management and restoration of habitat connectivity should thus be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While native grass and shrub restoration is often promoted for bird conservation, evaluations are necessary to understand the effects of habitat change on songbird vital rates and migratory stopover use. We evaluated the effects of native vegetation restoration on the species richness, productivity, and capture rate of breeding and fall migrating songbirds at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, in central Kentucky, USA. From 2009 to 2022, we conducted constant effort mist netting, resulting in 8418 captures of 110 bird species. In 2012–2013, we implemented management in the study area, which began as an old field, to restore native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Effects on the vital rates of breeding species included higher Spizella pusilla (field sparrow) and Spinus tristis (American goldfinch) productivity post restoration. Restoration of native vegetation also led to significantly higher fall capture rates for pooled cohorts of both long-distance and medium-distance migrants. Our results demonstrate that the restoration and management of native vegetation can enhance stopover habitats for fall migrating songbirds including neotropical migrants and the field sparrow, a common bird in steep decline. We recommend prioritizing areas for native grass and shrub restoration that initially lack structural heterogeneity (a well-developed grass component with diverse forbs and interspersed shrubs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study investigated the potential for enhancing the efficacy of the biological control agent, Aphidius colemani, against the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii, by planting Zinnia elegans flowers alongside cucumbers in greenhouses. Three treatments were examined: (1) the combined use of Z. elegans and A. colemani; (2) A. colemani alone; and (3) a control without either. Our results indicated that the Z. elegans and A. colemani combination maintained a lower A. gossypii population compared to other treatments. While A. colemani alone initially suppressed the A. gossypii population, it soon increased. This study concluded that integrating Z. elegans with the biological control agent could more effectively manage aphid populations in cucumber greenhouses. This study aimed to evaluate the enhancement of A. gossypii control by A. colemani when Z. elegans was planted as a companion crop in cucumber greenhouses. The density and spatial distribution of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies were investigated across three treatment plots: (1) the simultaneous application of A. colemani and cultivation of Z. elegans (parasitoid-zinnia plot); (2) the application of A. colemani alone (parasitoid plot); and (3) a control plot (no application of both). A. gossypii maintained low densities in the parasitoid–zinnia plots, while its densities in the parasitoid plots initially decreased but rapidly increased thereafter. The spatial distribution patterns of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies showed similar trends across treatments. However, the parasitism rate of A. gossypii exhibited random distribution in parasitoid and control plots, while showing uniform distribution in the parasitoid–zinnia treatment. These results supported the idea that cultivating Z. elegans alongside cucumber could enhance the effectiveness of A. colemani as a biocontrol agent against A. gossypii, highlighting the importance of such companion planting in pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species distribution information is essential for conservation. However, sampling the full range of a species' potential distribution is rarely feasible, necessitating the development of models to predict distributions, as well as relevant environmental and biotic drivers. We applied a novel approach to model the distribution of a species at risk in Canada, silver shiner (SS; Notropis photogenis) in tributaries of Lake Ontario using the fish community as a predictor of SS occurrence. Associative rule learning (ARL) identified simple species combinations that provided strong insight into SS distribution, which may be particularly useful for identifying new occupied locations, including making sampling decisions in real time. The species with the most positive or negative associations with SS identified by ARL were included in a random forests model, which predicted SS distribution with high accuracy in test data from the study tributary system and in a neighbouring system where SS is exceedingly rare. Predicting species distributions based on biotic associations presents opportunities for discovering new populations, identifying critical habitat, and evaluating the suitability of sites for re-introduction potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower strips are a prominent agri‐environmental scheme with the central objective to promote biodiversity and maintain associated ecosystem services. The promotion of natural enemies by increasing resource availability through flower strips is a promising approach for integrated pest management.In a 3‐year field study, two annual and two perennial flower strip mixtures, as well as a grass mixture, were tested regarding their attractiveness for natural enemies at three different study sites in Germany. Natural enemies were sampled annually in nine sampling rounds at a 10‐day rhythm using sweep netting and pitfall traps. To assess available floral resources, we estimated the species‐specific flower cover and classified species into flower types.Flower strip mixtures differed in their attractiveness to natural enemies. Treatment effects on arthropod activity density were most pronounced in the second and third year. Overall, perennial were more attractive than annual flower strip mixtures for most natural enemies, however, the response to flower strip mixtures varied significantly among taxa. For example, perennial flower strips showed a two‐ to fourfold increase of plant‐dwelling spider and parasitoid wasp activity density as well as higher numbers of juvenile stages of predatory bugs and rove beetles compared to annual flower strips. In contrast, annual flower strip mixtures showed the highest attractiveness for ground beetles. Moreover, different natural enemy taxa were associated with varying flower strip characteristics such as flower type proportion, herbivore availability and plant species richness.Synthesis and applications. We found taxon‐specific responses of natural enemies to different flower strips, which provide guidance for the floral composition of flower strips in order to maximize their effectiveness for natural pest control. We suggest the use of perennial mixtures with high proportion of flower heads (Asteraceae) and disk flowers (esp. Apiaceae, Rubiaceae, Brassicaceae) in particular, but also flag blossoms (Fabaceae) as these flower types were positively associated with several natural enemy groups. However, since we found mixed responses to flower types, specific flower strip composition will ultimately depends on its objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in phenology are a common response to climate change, but their impact on population dynamics is often ambiguous and at‐risk species are omitted from most analyses.We assessed the relationship between change in abundance and change in phenology for 114 butterfly populations of 31 at‐risk species from five families in 10 US states. We used data from Pollard‐walk and similar monitoring programmes for which count data were collected on multiple occasions per year. We also collected information from managers on site‐level management interventions.To estimate abundance, we first fit separate smoothing splines for each species at each site. Yearly abundance was estimated as the area under the activity curve for that year, and from this, we estimated abundance trends over the period for which we had population data. Phenological shifts were measured as the changes in median activity date, beginning of flight season, duration of flight season and phenological constancy (negative of the magnitude of trends in median activity date). We also evaluated the association of ecological traits (voltinism, diet breadth, position within geographic range, ecoregion, overwintering stage and seasonality) and management (proportion of years with interventions) with trends in abundance and in phenology.Across all populations, the estimated trend in abundance was −0.085, equivalent to an 8.1% decline/year. Positive trends in abundance were associated with smaller shifts in the median flight date (higher constancy). We also found strong associations between trends in abundance and management interventions, with increased management associated with increasing abundance trends. In general, ecological traits were not strongly associated with trends in phenology or trends in abundance.Synthesis and applications: Populations with less phenological constancy are more likely to be rapidly declining and populations with more frequent management interventions are increasing. These results suggest that one key outcome of management interventions may be to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change, which in turn may contribute to higher population growth. These results also imply that managers may need to alter the timing of appropriate management to synchronize with activities of at‐risk species as species shift their phenology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weed management is crucial in most cropping systems in part because of direct and indirect interactions of weeds as alternative hosts for pest species and food and shelter for natural enemies. The tested hypothesis was that weed management would affect insect pests' infestation of different sweet corn genotypes, altering or modulating resistance. Five commercial sweet corn genotypes (GSS 41243, GSS 3969, GSS 41499, GSS 42072, and Tropical Plus) were cultivated during two growing seasons under clean weed (herbicide application) and reduced weed (grazed weeds between rows) management. Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), and cornsilk fly (Euxesta sp.) infestation was surveyed for 7 and 13 sampling dates by counting the insects found on the plants during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, respectively. Sweet corn ears were also sampled on three different occasions in each season. The number of larvae of each species, the damage scores for the noctuids (corn earworm and fall armyworm), the number and percentage of damaged grains by the larvae infesting corn ears (cornsilk fly, corn earworm, and fall armyworm), and size, diameter, and length of ears with or without husks were assessed. Yellow sticky traps were used to determine the abundance of cornsilk fly adults on four and five different occasions in the 2015 and 2016 seasons. The genotypes GSS4199 and GSS3969 were less damaged by fall armyworm, corn earworm, and cornsilk fly, and these differences were observed when sweet corn genotypes were growing under clean weed management. Plant characteristics such as differences in ear length and diameter with and without husks negatively affected ear pests. There was a positive and significant correlation between cornsilk fly and fall armyworm and corn earworm's occurrence, suggesting that infestations with corn earworms facilitate the infestation of cornsilk fly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Conservation of endangered species necessitates an in-depth understanding of their ecological requirements. Particularly in landscape ecology, the behavioural tendencies of threatened butterfly species in Gotland, a biodiversity-rich island in the Baltic Sea, become crucial. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to elucidate the movement patterns of three threatened butterfly species—Euphydryas aurinia, Parnassius apollo, and Phengaris arion—in Gotland and to identify the influence of specific land characteristics on these patterns. Methods: Our study, conducted from 2017 to 2020 across 60 km2 in Gotland, involved detailed capture-mark-recapture (CMR) efforts of 29,584 captures including 16,223 unique butterflies. We investigate the departure and arrival events of butterflies, specifically focusing on the associations between movements when individuals leave or enter a hectare grid different from their previously recorded location and key landscape features: open vegetated land, ground moisture, and forest cover. We model landscape features to examine the interplay between these and butterfly movement patterns, providing insights into preferred landscape features and conservation strategies. Results: Among the 4821 arrivals and 5083 departures documented, the species exhibited differential responses to the evaluated habitat features. Both E. aurinia and P. apollo displayed a positive density-dependent dispersal, while P. arion's movements were not significantly associated with any of the examined habitat features. Landscape properties like open vegetated land and ground moisture index statistically influenced the likelihood of arrival and departure. Conclusions: The study accentuates the relationship between land cover and the behavioural tendencies of the subject butterfly species. It has broader implications for the targeted habitat management strategies that would benefit threatened butterfly populations in Gotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence-based management is needed to reverse declines in insect abundance. The Lulworth Skipper Thymelicus acteon is a range-restricted and declining species in the UK and northern Europe associated with mid-successional grassland, which presents management challenges because interventions are necessary to prevent long-term habitat deterioration but can result in short-term reductions in quality. In addition, site management should be compatible for the focal species and for wider plant and insect diversity. We conducted factorial experimental management trials to understand effects of cutting and rotovation on the height and structure of vegetation containing the larval host plant Tor-grass Brachypodium rupestre. We monitored vegetation height, B. rupestre cover and plant diversity, and T. acteon larval presence over four years. Rotovation and cutting differed in their effects on habitat structure and larval occupancy relative to controls. Vegetation height and host plant cover, the most important components of habitat quality for T. acteon, were faster to recover to suitable levels on cut plots. However, larval occupancy increased more quickly on rotovated plots, where plant species diversity was also higher. Results suggest that due to initial negative impacts of interventions on T. acteon occupancy, low frequency or low-intensity management, such as managing sections of a site every three years, is advisable. Our results show that rotovation or cutting the sward can be suitable for mid-successional grassland species such as Lulworth Skipper on sites where grazing might be problematic. Rotational grazing or rotovation can maintain suitable conditions for habitat specialist insects requiring a range of different grassland conditions, serving wider conservation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pyrenean grey partridge (Perdix perdix hispaniensis) is an endangered and insufficiently studied galliform occurring in upland habitats dominated by shrublands in Spain, France, and Andorra. Aiming to develop tailored management to favour the species, we studied the effect of habitat management on a partridge population located in Zamora province within the Galician–Duero mountains as part of a long-term project promoted by the regional government (Junta Castilla y León). Management was based on carrying out conservation and recovery of optimal habitats through clearing shrublands (either plots or linear) distributed in a "core area" of 45 km2, conducting tracks with beaters and pointing dogs during autumn in three areas, and comparing the partridge abundance before (2000–2006) and after (2007–2023) management. Habitat management increased partridge abundance values in two areas (1.46 and 1.68 times higher) and had no effect on the remaining one. The pattern of grey partridge abundance during the study was irregular and not influenced by the weather, and the highest abundance values were reached 8–10 years after habitat measures were implemented for the first time. Habitat management allowed high autumn abundance to be reached (mean kilometre abundance values of 2.94 and 3.74 birds/km in two areas), while the mean number of birds per family group was not affected by management (nine birds/group). When aiming to recover Pyrenean grey partridge populations, habitat management should be based on the conservation and management of shrublands to provide mixed habitats in the medium and long term, ensuring regular partridge monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Managed populations of the alfalfa leafcutting bee (ALCB), Megachile rotundata (F.), are often not sustainable. In addition to numerous mortality factors that contribute to this, the dense bee populations used to maximize alfalfa pollination quickly deplete floral resources available to bees later in the summer. Providing alternative floral resources as alfalfa declines may help to improve ALCB reproduction. Methods: We examined the relationship between floral resource availability and ALCB reproduction and offspring condition via (1) a field study using alfalfa plots with and without late-blooming wildflower strips to supply food beyond alfalfa bloom, and (2) a field-cage study in which we provided bees with alfalfa, wildflowers, or both as food resources. Results: In the field study, bee cell production closely followed alfalfa floral density with an initial peak followed by large declines prior to wildflower bloom. Few bees visited wildflower strips, whose presence or absence was not associated with any measure of bee reproduction. However, we found that female offspring from cells provisioned earlier in the season, when alfalfa predominated as a source of provisions, eclosed with greater body sizes and proportion body lipids relative to total body mass. For bees restricted to cages, the proportion of offspring that survived to adults was highest on pure alfalfa diets. Adding wildflowers to cages with alfalfa did not affect adult offspring production or female offspring body size and lipid content. Furthermore, although similar numbers of adults were produced on wildflowers alone as with alfalfa alone, females eclosed with smaller body sizes and lower proportion body lipids on wildflowers despite the higher protein content we estimated for wildflower pollen. We found no evidence that adding the late-season wildflower species that we chose to plant enhanced ALCB offspring numbers. Our results highlight the importance of considering multiple measures of reproductive success, including offspring body size and lipid stores, when designing and evaluating floral resource management strategies for agroecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat management have received considerable attention in agricultural systems for the promotion of successful pest management. The intercropping of aromatic plants in plantation crops can result in reduced pest abundance as a repellent directly and/or increasing natural enemy abundance thereby reducing pest abundance indirectly. To promote the management of pests in tea plantations, we intercropped three aromatic plants, Tagetes patula (L.) (Asteraceae), Tagetes erecta (L.) (Asteraceae), and Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton (Lamiaceae) to assess their impact on the dynamics of species abundance, richness, and diversity of arthropod pests and their natural enemies over 2 years. Results showed that aromatic plants decreased the abundance of pest, with concomitant increases in predator (especially spiders and ladybirds) and parasitoid (Ichneumonidae spp.) abundance, creating a stable low abundance of pests in tea plantations. The ratio of natural enemies to pests in fields intercropped with T. erecta was fourfold to sevenfold higher than observed in naturally tilled plots. Aromatic plants also had a significant positive effect on species richness and evenness of natural enemies. The T. patula and T. erecta intercropped treatments showed significantly higher pest evenness and higher natural enemy diversity than that in clean tillage. Our study indicated that biocontrol via habitat management with intercropping aromatic plants could become a recommended practice for pest management in tea plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Turfgrass is a prevalent ground cover type within urban areas, and is found on large swathes of commercial, residential, and recreational land. Turfgrass supports low biodiversity compared with more diverse vegetation communities. One increasingly popular method for supporting arthropod communities in urban areas is to plant wildflowers in available spaces using a commercial seed mix, which can support beneficial insects such as butterflies, bees, and natural enemies. However, the long-term impacts of these wildflower habitats on arthropod communities in turfgrass systems is poorly known. To explore this, we used pan traps to sample insects from turfgrass systems adjacent to wildflower plots over three years and quantified how different insect groups changed in abundance. We found that different insect groups had variable changes in abundance over time, with sweat bees (Halicitdae) and skipper butterflies (Hesperiidae) being less abundant two years after wildlife implementation, and predatory flies showing boosted abundance for two years post-implementation. These results point to the complex dynamics of arthropod communities in turfgrass systems following wildflower implementation and the need to study how to best maintain these habitats to support long-term biodiversity. Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, increasing numbers of land managers are choosing to partially convert turf habitat to wildflower habitat using commercially available seed mixes. However, the population dynamics of arthropod groups in these systems are poorly known, with consequentially little information on best long-term practices for managing wildflower habitats in turfgrass systems. To address this gap, we sampled insects using pan traps in turfgrass systems pre- and post-implementation of wildflower habitats and examined the change in abundance of several insect families and functional guilds. Insect groups had variable responses to wildflower habitat implementation, with some groups such as sweat bees and skipper butterflies showing a decline two years post-implementation. Other groups, such as predatory flies, were relatively more abundant one and two years post-implementation. These variable responses point to the need for more research on the long-term effects of wildflower habitats on beneficial insects in turfgrass habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae), is a major pest of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. Poales: Poaceae) across the northern Great Plains of North America. Cephus cinctus has a wide host range, attacking numerous wild grasses and cultivated cereals in crop and grassland habitats, where it is, in turn, attacked by 2 native braconid parasitoids. Quantitative assessments of C. cinctus infestation and parasitism levels in different grass species across the full spectrum of available hosts are important in assessing the extent to which grasslands, or specific constituent grass species, may be reservoirs of pests or parasitoids moving into wheat. We quantified infestation and parasitism levels in over 25,000 stems collected from 17 grass species and wheat spanning 35 sites in central Montana, United States, over 2 yr. Infestation levels in 5 grass species, primarily wheatgrasses, were high (38%–65%) and similar to the levels observed in wheat (55%). In contrast, the majority of grass species (12 of 17) had significantly lower levels of infestation (<10%), suggesting that most grasses are not important reservoirs of C. cinctus. Parasitism levels in highly infested wheatgrasses were, on average, 3 times higher than those in cultivated wheat, suggesting that these grasses could provide important conservation habitat for parasitoids. Future work examining the relative performance of pests and parasitoids in these grasses will be important in gauging their relative value as plant materials to bolster parasitoid conservation in reseeded grassland habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Military training areas can host important biodiversity, due to the preservation of diverse, nutrient‐poor historical cultural landscapes and an insect‐friendly disturbance regime. In Europe, many training areas were abandoned after the end of the cold war in 1991 and the withdrawal of the Allied and Soviet forces. Many of these are now protected areas, and current management strategies vary from rewilding to active habitat management such as grazing or mowing. In a capture–release–recapture approach, marking 2418 individuals, we assessed the population size and movement patterns of the dry ecotype of the Marsh Fritillary Euphydryas aurinia Rottemburg 1775 on three former military training areas in Germany that varied in size and management (natural succession, mowing, and sheep‐/goat grazing). Euphydryas aurinia is a rare and declining butterfly species listed in Annex II of the European Union Habitats Directive. Jolly–Seber models revealed a large population of ca. 19,000 individuals on the largest study site and a smaller population at a second site, whereas recapture rates were too low to predict the population size reliably at a third site. Population densities were 190–194 butterflies ha−1 at the unmanaged, large site and 56–71 butterflies ha−1 at a smaller site grazed with sheep. Thirty‐nine percent of the recapture events occurred within the same 1‐ha‐study plot. The average minimum flight distance between the study plots was 313 m for males and 328 m for females. The maximum lifetime flight distance was 1237 m within 3 days. No dispersal was detected between study sites. Thirty years after cessation of the military use, the large former training site still held what likely is one of the largest populations of the species dry ecotype in Central Europe, including in areas where management ceased already in 1991. This suggests remarkable persistence of the species in areas without regular management, contrary to current opinion. However, regular flight distances seem not to be sufficient to connect the isolated habitat patches. It remains unknown how long the large population at the abandoned military area will persist without active habitat management. Careful, but active habitat management and restoration of habitat connectivity should thus be considered.

The focus of this selection of papers is the linkage of habitat and population dynamics for the purpose of conservation. We thus provide a general framework for making conservation decisions, emphasizing how knowledge of habitat–population linkages fits into this framework. We begin by describing structured decision-making (SDM) as a general approach to making conservation decisions. SDM requires the development of the following elements: objectives, actions, model(s), monitoring, and decision algorithm. We then describe adaptive resource management (ARM), a specific type of SDM developed for recurrent decisions characterized by potentially resolvable uncertainty. Many different classes of actions can be used to influence animal population dynamics, and modification of habitat is one class of action that is frequently used. Habitat management requires models for predicting responses of the managed system to management actions, and these models are based on our knowledge of habitat–population linkages. Frequently, these models are decomposed into two submodels: one used to predict habitat changes expected to result from management actions and another used to predict population responses to habitat changes. This latter modeling focuses generally on the influence of habitat change on vital rates governing the dynamics of population state variables (variables such as population size or density that describe the status or health of a population). Specific recommendations depend on 1) the vital rates and state variable(s) being considered, 2) the relative spatial scales of animal movement and habitat measurement, and 3) the relative temporal scales of habitat change and vital rate estimation. Finally, we present an example of an ARM program for habitat management, highlighting the role of habitat-linked population modeling in this effort.

Understory plantation of cardamom (genus Amomum) is an ancient and widespread agroforestry practice in the eastern Himalayas and Southeast Asia, an area that supports high regional biodiversity. Cardamom provides an important cash income to rural people, and governments encourage cardamom cultivation as a replacement for slash-and-burn agriculture to alleviate poverty, aligning with the principles of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) program initiated by the FAO. This program recognizes and supports traditional agricultural practices that contributes to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. In this context, cardamom agroforestry not only supports local economies but also provides crucial habitat for animals, including the newly described skywalker hoolock gibbon (Hoolock tianxing). Nearly half of the remnant population of the skywalker hoolock gibbon lives in cardamom agroforest. In order to evaluate if gibbons could survive in cardamom agroforest for a relatively long term, we compared foraging behavior of gibbons over a year living in cardamom agroforests (group NA) and well-preserved forests (group BB) in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan, China. In response to habitat degradation caused by cardamom plantation, group NA increased feeding time and spent more time feeding on leaves. Notably, they consumed nuts of Castanopsis hystrix which is an unusual food type for gibbons. On the contrary, members of group BB rarely ate nuts though Castanopsis hystrix is abundant within its home range. However, group NA did not occupy a large home range, or travel longer in time or distance than group BB. We also monitored female reproduction of five groups for 5–13 years. Two adult females living in agroforests successfully reared two or three offspring with an inter-birth interval of five years. In addition, we surveyed group size of 16 groups (9 in agroforest vs. 7 in well preserved forests) from 2017 to 2023, and we found no significant difference in group size between habitats. Our results suggested that cardamom agroforest can sustain skywalker hoolock gibbons provided it is not too fragmented and hunting is prohibited.

Knowledge of the relationships between food habits and habitat is crucial for the assessment of habitat quality for birds. The present study investigated the diet and reproductive success of Little Bitterns Ixobrychus minutus nesting on cyprinid fish ponds, an important breeding habitat of this species in central and eastern Europe. Being subject to different management practices, fish ponds provide food resources of uneven availability for this small heron. Prey items regurgitated by nestlings were examined, and breeding success was estimated on monoculture ponds stocked either with small fish (of a size suitable for feeding nestlings) or large fish (unavailable to Little Bitterns and adversely affecting their non-fish prey), on abandoned ponds dominated by small fish but with large fish also present, and on angling ponds dominated by large sport fish but harbouring significant numbers of small fish as well. A total of 1356 prey items from 78 broods were identified. Although Little Bitterns exhibited dietary flexibility in response to the contrasting availability of prey on their nesting ponds, the bulk of the nestlings' diet consisted of fish. The size of fish brought to the nest increased significantly with brood age, showing that parents adjusted the prey size to the gape constraints of their young. The chick production determined for 73 broods did not differ with respect to pond management, but the dietary composition indicated that to compensate for food shortages, birds nesting on ponds containing mainly large fish made foraging flights to food-richer ponds. The abundance of small-sized fish prey may be a factor limiting the breeding success of small- and medium-sized predatory waterbirds and should be taken into consideration in management strategies of habitats dominated by fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is an endangered species native to the Iberian Peninsula, playing a vital ecological role in Mediterranean ecosystems as prey for several threatened predators. Conservation efforts have been implemented to halt its decline, with a particular focus on the Iberian rabbit subspecies (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus). Many conservation programmes involve restocking and habitat management, including the construction of artificial warrens to provide essential refuge sites. In this study, we examined the use of four types of artificial warrens (logs, Mayoral®, pallets and tubes) by a restocked Iberian rabbit population within a fenced park in southern Portugal. We investigated the factors influencing warren use, basing our analysis on faecal pellet counts at the entrances of artificial warrens. We analysed spatial and temporal patterns in warren use using a generalised additive mixed model. Additionally, we determined the efficiency of each type of artificial warren by computing the ratio between the costs of building the warren and the level of warren use by the rabbits. Our results indicate that Mayoral, tube and log warrens are significantly less used compared to pallet warrens (Logs: β=-0.171±0.041; Mayoral: β=-0.149±0.058; Tube: β=-0.240±0.071). Moreover, pallet warrens were found to be more cost-effective compared to other types analysed. Furthermore, rabbits preferred artificial warrens surrounded by a higher proportion of shrubs (β=0.132±0.037). Artificial warren use exhibited seasonal variation, declining gradually during the winter and early spring, and recovering in late spring, coinciding with the expected breeding peak. Based on our findings, we recommend the implementation of pallet warrens in rabbit restocking programmes to provide immediate shelter and breeding sites for the released rabbits. Furthermore, artificial warrens should be strategically located near shrub patches to facilitate safe access to vital resources such as food and water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment compaction is an indicator of the health of benthic communities. At the same time, many of the extractive or cultivation activities on the coast take place in areas of special environmental interest and remove or compact the sediment by their own activity or simply by access on foot.Measurements of compaction or penetration resistance of marine or river sediments are not common, especially in submerged environments. Although there are devices, such as vane testers, that can be used in non‐submerged sediments, lightweight and inexpensive devices for measuring compaction in submerged sediments are rare.An apparatus for measuring sediment penetration resistance based on the dynamic cone penetrometers used in terrestrial environments is described and tested. The device is lightweight and inexpensive, and although it is intended for use in submerged sediments, it can also be used manually in sediments accessible by foot.In the process of testing the apparatus, the penetration resistance values of surfaced sediments have been compared with those obtained with a vane tester to estimate compaction.This new lightweight penetrometer provides inexpensive penetration resistance values as a measure of compaction in the sediment layer of greatest interest for the management of habitats and communities and makes it possible to establish criteria for action and to measure its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffee is an important commodity in Latin America that is grown by smallholder farmers and large-scale coffee producers. The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) is a major pest of coffee that originates from West Africa and has invaded all coffee-producing regions. With climate change, the problems that this beetle poses to coffee production are expected to increase. Controlling this pest is a true challenge and chemical insecticides still are one of the main tools used, despite the environmental and human-health issues associated with this approach. To find sustainable alternatives for chemical control of the coffee berry borer, classical biological control, augmentative biological control, and integrated pest management have received extensive attention. Parasitoids, predators, entomopathogenic fungi, and nematodes have been identified and studied for their potential to manage the infestations of this major coffee pest. Conservation biological control has recently gained more attention, but its development is still in its infancy. In this review, we examine strategies for the control of the coffee berry borer in Latin America. We identify knowledge gaps for developing sustainable biological control programs, including conservation biological control within the context of farming systems, land use in the surrounding landscape, as well as the vision of coffee growers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Managed populations of the alfalfa leafcutting bee (ALCB), Megachile rotundata (F.), are often not sustainable. In addition to numerous mortality factors that contribute to this, the dense bee populations used to maximize alfalfa pollination quickly deplete floral resources available to bees later in the summer. Providing alternative floral resources as alfalfa declines may help to improve ALCB reproduction. Methods We examined the relationship between floral resource availability and ALCB reproduction and offspring condition via (1) a field study using alfalfa plots with and without late-blooming wildflower strips to supply food beyond alfalfa bloom, and (2) a field-cage study in which we provided bees with alfalfa, wildflowers, or both as food resources. Results In the field study, bee cell production closely followed alfalfa floral density with an initial peak followed by large declines prior to wildflower bloom. Few bees visited wildflower strips, whose presence or absence was not associated with any measure of bee reproduction. However, we found that female offspring from cells provisioned earlier in the season, when alfalfa predominated as a source of provisions, eclosed with greater body sizes and proportion body lipids relative to total body mass. For bees restricted to cages, the proportion of offspring that survived to adults was highest on pure alfalfa diets. Adding wildflowers to cages with alfalfa did not affect adult offspring production or female offspring body size and lipid content. Furthermore, although similar numbers of adults were produced on wildflowers alone as with alfalfa alone, females eclosed with smaller body sizes and lower proportion body lipids on wildflowers despite the higher protein content we estimated for wildflower pollen. We found no evidence that adding the late-season wildflower species that we chose to plant enhanced ALCB offspring numbers. Our results highlight the importance of considering multiple measures of reproductive success, including offspring body size and lipid stores, when designing and evaluating floral resource management strategies for agroecosystems.

While native grass and shrub restoration is often promoted for bird conservation, evaluations are necessary to understand the effects of habitat change on songbird vital rates and migratory stopover use. We evaluated the effects of native vegetation restoration on the species richness, productivity, and capture rate of breeding and fall migrating songbirds at the Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, in central Kentucky, USA. From 2009 to 2022, we conducted constant effort mist netting, resulting in 8418 captures of 110 bird species. In 2012–2013, we implemented management in the study area, which began as an old field, to restore native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Effects on the vital rates of breeding species included higher Spizella pusilla (field sparrow) and Spinus tristis (American goldfinch) productivity post restoration. Restoration of native vegetation also led to significantly higher fall capture rates for pooled cohorts of both long-distance and medium-distance migrants. Our results demonstrate that the restoration and management of native vegetation can enhance stopover habitats for fall migrating songbirds including neotropical migrants and the field sparrow, a common bird in steep decline. We recommend prioritizing areas for native grass and shrub restoration that initially lack structural heterogeneity (a well-developed grass component with diverse forbs and interspersed shrubs).

This study aimed to evaluate the enhancement of A. gossypii control by A. colemani when Z. elegans was planted as a companion crop in cucumber greenhouses. The density and spatial distribution of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies were investigated across three treatment plots: (1) the simultaneous application of A. colemani and cultivation of Z. elegans (parasitoid-zinnia plot); (2) the application of A. colemani alone (parasitoid plot); and (3) a control plot (no application of both). A. gossypii maintained low densities in the parasitoid–zinnia plots, while its densities in the parasitoid plots initially decreased but rapidly increased thereafter. The spatial distribution patterns of A. gossypii and parasitized mummies showed similar trends across treatments. However, the parasitism rate of A. gossypii exhibited random distribution in parasitoid and control plots, while showing uniform distribution in the parasitoid–zinnia treatment. These results supported the idea that cultivating Z. elegans alongside cucumber could enhance the effectiveness of A. colemani as a biocontrol agent against A. gossypii, highlighting the importance of such companion planting in pest management strategies.

Grassland birds are in steep decline, with population declines reported in 74% of North American grassland species in the past 50 years. Declines are particularly severe in the eastern United States where they are influenced by habitat loss and alteration due to urbanization, forest regrowth, and agricultural intensification. The United States National Park Service maintains civil war battlefields in the eastern United States as historical and cultural parks that may also provide habitat refuge for grassland birds within an increasingly urbanized matrix. To assess the conservation importance of battlefield parks and the role of park management in sustaining grassland birds, we surveyed for 2 declining grassland‐breeding species, eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), at 242 points across 4 battlefield parks in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia, USA, from 2014–2019 and in 2021. We modeled the effects of park management activities (prescribed fire, agricultural leases, and delayed harvest) and habitat and landscape characteristics on breeding‐season occupancy. There was support for the influence of local habitat features, landscape, and management. Breeding‐season occupancy of both species was consistently higher in hayfields and pasture than in row crops, and both species responded positively to hay and crop harvest delays intended for grassland bird conservation. Prescribed fire within the past 2 years had a positive effect on occupancy of grasshopper sparrows but did not influence eastern meadowlarks. Eastern meadowlarks responded to land cover at multiple spatial scales that are influenced by land use within and outside the parks. Management activities that maintain the parks' cultural goals, including partnerships between national parks and private agricultural operators, are likely to provide valuable habitat for these 2 obligate grassland birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming is driving species to shift their geographical distribution poleward to track suitable climatic conditions. Two strategies have been suggested to help species respond to climate warming: facilitating distribution change or improving persistence. We questioned whether habitat management in favour of duck hunting activities interacted with duck responses to climate warming. We studied nonbreeding waterbird community changes (110 species) over 28 years at 851 sites in South-West Europe, where habitat management is a common practice to attract and hunt ducks. We hypothesized that duck species targeted by habitat management do not need to track temperature changes as much as non-hunted species, because of the availability of suitable habitats provided by hunting land managers. We used the community temperature index (CTI) to assess the temporal responses of communities and species to climate warming. We compared the effect of hunting status with other functional traits on species responses, controlling for phylogenetic relatedness. The CTI trend has increased over the study period, indicating a community adjustment to climate warming. However, hunted ducks contributed to almost 40% of the negative contributions to this community adjustment, suggesting that hunted ducks do not shift their distribution as much as the other waterbirds do. Winter fidelity associated with the provision of attractive feeding grounds might explain why ducks did not seem to shift their distribution in response to climate warming. This study suggests the broad impact of human activities on wildlife, including on large-scale distribution processes, and questions the long-term consequences on duck populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is vital to identify habitats used by each life stage of a species to formulate effective conservation management and restoration guidelines. For the threatened green and golden bell frog, Litoria aurea, it is currently recommended that, to prevent waterbody shading, managed or constructed habitat for the species should not include trees. Shading has been reported to prevent adults from sun basking, reduce breeding activity, and lower water temperatures, which may impede tadpole growth and development and provide optimum conditions for the amphibian chytrid pathogen, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. However, the complete exclusion of trees, which are naturally present in L. aurea habitat, warrants evidence that supports this recommendation. In the present study, we used a multi‐year dataset on an L. aurea population on Kooragang Island, NSW, Australia to determine the occurrence of tree use by post‐metamorphic individuals. These data included information on nearly 12 500 individuals captured from 86 waterbodies across 8 consecutive breeding seasons. We found that tree use by juveniles, adult males, and adult females was widespread and common, occurring both during the day and night, with more than one out of every 20 individuals captured in trees. Our findings suggest that trees are a potentially important attribute of the terrestrial component of wetland habitats occupied by L. aurea. We hypothesize that trees may (i) create microhabitat for foraging and/or increased diversity of prey species, (ii) provide refuge from predators, and (iii) allow sun basking off the ground, thereby offering protection against the chytrid fungus while removing them from chytrid‐prevalent environments such as water and moist soils. We call for the careful reconsideration of tree exclusion within L. aurea habitat and further research into the benefits of allowing trees to grow near waterbodies to accommodate the ecological needs of this threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saproxylic insect species have deadwood‐specific requirements to survive, such as advanced decay stages. However, in some parts of the world, deadwood is currently considered an endangered resource. The Poqui's stag beetle Sclerostomulus nitidus (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)—a critically endangered saproxylic species—was rediscovered during the 2010s, but non‐academic collection currently threatens it with extinction in a projected 10‐year span.Our main aim was to identify key macro‐ and microhabitat tools to restore this species' population by associating the abundance of S. nitidus with deadwood micro‐ and macrohabitat variables such as vegetation type (pure Nothofagus stands vs. hygrophilous forest stands) and elevation.We measured decay stage (low, medium and high), volume and length of dead logs and the vegetation type and elevation of where they were available inside the restricted habitat of S. nitidus and assessed these variables as predictors of S. nitidus abundance using GLM analysis.We found that abundance (current and projected) is strongly associated (90%) with high stages of wood decay and lower elevations.Microhabitat restoration by (i) replacement of low‐quality highly decayed deadwood but keeping equal volumes and (ii) injection of highly suitable habitat as a novel fieldwork experiment could be the best short‐term to mid‐term alternative for saving S. nitidus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat modification and invasive species are considered some of the most impelling causes of the ongoing sixth mass extinction, especially in freshwater ecosystems. Artificial water troughs are, in this regard, particularly vulnerable environments, while being pivotal breeding habitats for many amphibian species. However, despite their well‐known importance and their conservation concern, detailed information on the resilience of such ecosystems is lacking.This note describes the events following the introduction of invasive fish species into a water trough in southern Italy and reconstructs the recolonization times of two newt species (Lissotriton italicus, Triturus carnifex) after disappearance of the fish a few months later.As expected, both newt species were no longer observed in the water as soon as the fish were introduced in the trough. However, in contrast to previous reports, they recolonized it within 2 months of the last observation of fish and, in the case of L. italicus, bred shortly after.Although the short permanence of fish in the trough may have facilitated the recolonization process, this event represents the fastest recolonization by newts of a restored habitat ever reported in the wild and sheds further insights on the resilience of amphibian species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grassland birds are among the most imperiled groups of birds in North America. Conversion of native prairie to cropland and developed areas, rangeland deterioration, and fragmentation have contributed to precipitous losses in obligate grassland bird species. Since the mid-1800s, >80% of grassland ecosystems have been lost in North America. One species sensitive to the degradation of grassland types is the Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda), which can serve as an indicator species for prairie sustainability and has experienced a 4.5% decline in numbers in the eastern United States since 1966. We assessed scientific literature for the Upland Sandpiper from 1886 to 2022 to identify historical and potential future threats, describe breeding habitat limiting factors, and evaluate breeding habitat management strategies that can effectively conserve the Upland Sandpiper across the Great Plains region of North America. Using this data, we constructed a hierarchical model of Upland Sandpiper nest site preferences to better understand their habitat ecology and guide habitat management. Upland Sandpipers use short, mixed, and tallgrass prairie, jack pine (Pinus banksiana) barrens, cropland, peatlands, and alpine ridges for breeding. Historical land management practices in the Great Plains region of the United States have left once-suitable Upland Sandpiper habitat increasingly fragmented and often with unsuitable composition and/or structure for breeding. Prairie should be managed for a mosaic of vegetation heights by burning 20–30% of grassland area annually in March–April, or by grazing cattle year-round at 3.2–4.6 ha per animal unit. These conservation strategies should provide grassy vegetation 15–30 cm tall for nesting in May interspersed with patches of vegetation <10 cm tall for feeding and successful brood-rearing. Habitat management for the structural and compositional habitat requirements of Upland Sandpiper can benefit more than 90 grassland bird species. Las aves de pastizales son uno de los grupos de aves en mayor peligro de Norteamérica. El cambio de praderas nativas a áreas desarrolladas, degradación del ámbito hogareño y fragmentación han contribuido al declive precipitado de las especies de aves obligadas de pastizal. Desde mediados de los 1800s, se ha perdido >80% de los ecosistemas de pastizal en Norteamérica. Una especie sensible a la degradación de tipos de pastizales es el correlimo Bartramia longicauda, que sirve de especie indicadora de sustentabilidad de pradera y ha experimentado un declive de 4.5% en su número de individuos desde 1966. Hicimos una revisión de literatura acerca del correlimo Bartramia longicauda de 1886 a 2022 para identificar amenazas históricas y potenciales a futuro, describir factores que limiten el hábitat de reproducción y evaluar estrategias de manejo de hábitat reproductivo que pueden ser usadas para conservar efectivamente el correlimo Bartramia longicauda en la región de Grandes Praderas de Norteamérica. Usando estos datos, construimos un modelo jerárquico de preferencia de sitios de anidación del correlimo Bartramia longicauda para entender mejor su ecología de hábitat y asesorar el manejo de su hábitat. Los correlimos Bartramia longicauda usan para su reproducción pradera de pastos cortos, mixtos y altos, barrenos de pino de Banks (Pinus banksiana), campos de cultivo, turberas y crestas alpinas. Prácticas históricas de manejo de tierras en la región de Grandes Praderas de los Estados Unidos han convertido un hábitat que era favorable al correlimo Bartramia longicauda en un sitio cada vez más fragmentado y con una composición y/o una estructura muchas veces desfavorable para su reproducción. La pradera debería de ser manejada para ser un mosaico de alturas de vegetación, quemándo un 20–30% de área de pastizal anualmente en marzo-abril, o por introduciendo ganado rumiante todo el año en una proporción de 3.2–4.6 ha por unidad animal. Estas estrategias de conservación deberían proveer vegetación herbácea de 15–30 cm de altura para anidación en mayo entremezclada con parches de vegetación de <10 cm de altura para alimentación y crianza exitosa de las puestas. El manejo de hábitat para cumplir con requisitos de estructura y composición de hábitat requerido por el correlimo Bartramia longicauda podría beneficiar a más de 90 especies de aves de pastizal. Palabras clave: conservación de aves de pastizal, especies indicadoras, forrajeo, manejo de hábitat, Programa de Conservación de Reservas, sobrevivencia diaria de nidos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius) is a threatened butterfly throughout Europe due to its special life cycle and habitat loss. P. teleius butterflies tend to be very sedentary and move only a few hundred meters a day and rarely leave their home patches. In this paper, details are presented regarding the first mention of P. teleius in the region of Săcădat locality, Bihor County, Romania. This location meets all the environmental requirements of P. teleius (host plants for larvae and ants of the genus Myrmica). The area researched was about 3.16 ha, with about 25000 individuals of Sanguisorba officinalis L. flowers, on which we found an approximate number of 94 P. teleius butterflies. We hope that our initial study of P. teleius could have a positive impact on the conservation of this species in this new location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Intraspecific variation in plants is a major ecological mechanism whose local determinants are still poorly understood. In particular, the relationship between this variation and human practices may be key to understanding human–nature relationships. We argue that it is necessary to consider how human practices both influence and depend on the phenotypic variability of species of interest. Arnica montana (arnica) is a good model to study the complex interactions between human actions and plant phenotype, as (i) its ecological niche is shaped by human management actions and (ii) its variability has consequences for harvesters. Using a functional trait approach, we examined feedback loops linking management actions, plant phenotype and harvesting practices. In 27 sites in southeastern France, we measured vegetative and reproductive functional traits of arnica of interest for harvesters, and recorded management actions (grazing; mowing) and ecological variables (including height of surrounding vegetation and tree cover). We examined their effects on plant traits with linear mixed models and used path analysis to test if the effects of human management on traits are mediated by the height of surrounding vegetation. Management actions affected functional traits of arnica. Biomass removal practices (grazing, mowing) were associated with smaller plants producing smaller leaves with reduced specific leaf area. We uncovered the core role of the height of surrounding vegetation in determining this phenotype. Tree cover was associated with reduced flowering. The observed intraspecific variation in response to management actions differentially impacts the two main harvesting practices. Flower-head harvesting depends on reproductive traits that are not impacted by mowing (which is done in winter) but adversely affected by tree cover. In contrast, traits associated with large biomass under tree cover or with high surrounding vegetation are favourable for whole-plant harvesters. Our trait-based approach unveiled clear links between management actions and plant phenotype, with impacts on both vegetative and reproductive traits. These changes induced by management also affect the practices of harvesters. We thus demonstrated a feedback loop between human actions and plant phenotype and provided a novel perspective on human-related causes and consequences of plant intraspecific variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Managers tasked with controlling invasive species require effective methods that are quick and easy to use without inflicting extensive nontarget damage, while also being compatible with other scheduled management responsibilities. Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle) is a non‐native shrub that has invaded eastern and midwestern North American deciduous forests, altering ecosystem function and reducing biodiversity. This study explores prescribed fire and seasonal basal applications of triclopyr ester as control methods and examines the extent of nontarget damage. We used paired‐split plots to implement basal bark treatments in different seasons within burned and unburned units, and we tracked individual L. maackii to determine mortality and hyperlocal impacts of management. Basal bark treatments killed 98.4% of L. maackii across seasonal timings. Nontarget plant cover declined similarly for all herbicide application seasons, but there were some signs of recovery within 4 years, and the early‐ and late spring treatments were less affected overall. Species richness showed biologically small but statistically different declines across treatment times. Prescribed fire did not impact L. maackii mortality or interact with herbicide efficacy. Basal bark applications of triclopyr are an effective means of L. maackii control regardless of application timing, which allows managers to implement it at their convenience to avoid interfering with other management tasks that have time constraints.

Recovery of the endangered Mount Graham red squirrel (MGRS) will likely be long and challenging. Its limited habitat, isolation to Pinaleño Mountain range, and demographic characteristics restrict its ability to rebound quickly from threats that impact both the squirrel and its habitat. Currently, threats to the MGRS include habitat degradation and loss through high-severity wildfire, fire suppression activities, insect outbreaks, climate change, and human development, and predation, as well as competition with Abert’s squirrels. The most recent wildfire in 2017 impacted over 48,000 acres of already reduced habitat. A critical first step is to protect and manage the remaining population of the MGRS and its habitat. Management includes but is not limited to maintaining and improving the spruce-fir and mixed conifer biomes, while balancing the need to reduce risk of catastrophic wildfire with the needs of the squirrel. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services is conducting an Abert’s Squirrel Removal Project at the request of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in collaboration with a team of Mount Graham red squirrel experts and managers, to reduce the number of Abert’s squirrels in historical MGRS habitat throughout the Pinaleño Mountains to assist in meeting the needs of the USFWS’ 2011 MGRS draft recovery plan. Abert’s squirrel removals are conducted monthly to minimize competition with MGRS.

The Pyrenean grey partridge (Perdix perdix hispaniensis) is an endangered and insufficiently studied galliform occurring in upland habitats dominated by shrublands in Spain, France, and Andorra. Aiming to develop tailored management to favour the species, we studied the effect of habitat management on a partridge population located in Zamora province within the Galician–Duero mountains as part of a long-term project promoted by the regional government (Junta Castilla y León). Management was based on carrying out conservation and recovery of optimal habitats through clearing shrublands (either plots or linear) distributed in a “core area” of 45 km2, conducting tracks with beaters and pointing dogs during autumn in three areas, and comparing the partridge abundance before (2000–2006) and after (2007–2023) management. Habitat management increased partridge abundance values in two areas (1.46 and 1.68 times higher) and had no effect on the remaining one. The pattern of grey partridge abundance during the study was irregular and not influenced by the weather, and the highest abundance values were reached 8–10 years after habitat measures were implemented for the first time. Habitat management allowed high autumn abundance to be reached (mean kilometre abundance values of 2.94 and 3.74 birds/km in two areas), while the mean number of birds per family group was not affected by management (nine birds/group). When aiming to recover Pyrenean grey partridge populations, habitat management should be based on the conservation and management of shrublands to provide mixed habitats in the medium and long term, ensuring regular partridge monitoring.

Urbanization is rapidly influencing the abundance and diversity of arthropods. Within urban systems, managed turfgrass is a prominent land cover which can support only a limited number of arthropod groups. To allow for more arthropod biodiversity and to support beneficial insects within turfgrass, increasing numbers of land managers are choosing to partially convert turf habitat to wildflower habitat using commercially available seed mixes. However, the population dynamics of arthropod groups in these systems are poorly known, with consequentially little information on best long-term practices for managing wildflower habitats in turfgrass systems. To address this gap, we sampled insects using pan traps in turfgrass systems pre- and post-implementation of wildflower habitats and examined the change in abundance of several insect families and functional guilds. Insect groups had variable responses to wildflower habitat implementation, with some groups such as sweat bees and skipper butterflies showing a decline two years post-implementation. Other groups, such as predatory flies, were relatively more abundant one and two years post-implementation. These variable responses point to the need for more research on the long-term effects of wildflower habitats on beneficial insects in turfgrass habitats.

Habitat specialists, impacted by anthropogenic land modification, are often of great conservation concern. Florida Scrub-Jays ( Aphelocoma coerulescens ) are threatened, scrub-endemic birds primarily found in small, isolated patches where they have a high probability of extirpation. One of the last large tracts of scrub habitat is found at Kennedy Space Center on the Atlantic coast of Florida, where almost 300 breeding pairs of scrub-jays occur. The majority of breeders are found among four subpopulations separated by suboptimal habitat matrix that could become barriers to movement. Neutral genetic diversity and connectivity among patches were investigated using 15 microsatellite loci. Globally and within study sites, heterozygosity (He 0.69–0.74) was comparable to values from similar studies using the same microsatellite loci in Florida Scrub-Jays. In addition, birds with territories in lower quality habitats had genetic diversity comparable to those in higher quality habitats. Three genetic clusters were identified; however, one of the clusters included individuals that were closely related but had dispersed to neighboring territories. Genetic relatedness was correlated with geographic distance, but not with habitat resistance, or with the size of the gap between suitable habitats. These results suggest that geographic distance, rather than the presence of suboptimal habitats or the size of habitat gaps, could limit dispersal among subpopulations at Kennedy Space Center. Territories found in higher quality habitats contained individuals with a higher probability of being first-generation migrants, possibly showing a preference for movement into high-quality areas. Continuing management for high quality scrub habitats is needed to maintain current levels of genetic diversity and connectivity among subpopulations at Kennedy Space Center.

Reedbeds are crucial breeding habitats for vulnerable songbird species. Irrespective of their protection status, these habitats may be threatened by organic matter accumulation, progressively leading to structural homogenization and habitat succession towards woodland. Managers prevent excessive litter build-up with various interventions opening-up the reedbeds, such as grazing, which may be detrimental or suitable for some reed bird species. We assessed the effects of extensive grazing by horses and its cessation in the medium and long terms on reedbed structure, and the consequences on reed-nesting songbird densities in Estagnol Nature Reserve, a protected wetland near the French Mediterranean coast. We compared reedbed structural features between grazed, newly ungrazed and old-ungrazed plots. During nine years, we censused four songbird species in spring and collected water level data in the same survey plots. Grazing reduced reedbed extent, rejuvenated the vegetation with more short green stems on a thinner litter, and produced higher structural heterogeneity and discontinuity compared to long-lasting non grazing. Newly ungrazed plot showed intermediate effects. All surveyed songbird total densities were similar among plots while species numbers and densities differed. Grazed reedbed was more attractive to Moustached Warblers (Acrocephalus melanopogon) and Great Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), likely due to the large edges and the high vegetation structural heterogeneity. However, Moustached Warblers were more negatively affected by higher water level in grazed reedbed, presumably because flooding prevents litter foraging. The newly ungrazed reedbed was not preferred by any species. All warbler species were found under low density in the old-ungrazed reedbed, where Reed Buntings (Emberiza schoeniclus) were exclusively found. Food availability related to thick litter layer may explain this predilection. Common Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) were found everywhere in similar densities. We conclude that reedbed management by extensive horse grazing and also its long-term cessation may benefit several songbird species. Within a context of wetland degradation and disappearance, both management strategies are useful to establish and maintain suitable habitats for reed-nesting songbird communities.

Shorebird populations are declining worldwide, mainly due to human disturbances and loss of coastal wetlands. However, supratidal habitats as saltpans could play a role in buffering human impact. Saltpans have shown to be important as feeding or breeding sites of some shorebird species. A potential conservation strategy to increase shorebird populations in saltpans is to manipulate the cues that birds use to select optimal breeding habitat. Here it is hypothesized that shorebirds are attracted to bivalve shells due to the advantages they offer. Following this hypothesis, we supplemented a restored saltpan in 2019 and 2021 with bivalve shells, expecting an increase in the number of breeding birds’ nests. More than 75% of Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) and Little Tern (Sternula albifrons) nests were found in patches with shells in both years. The best model for both species indicates that the presence of shells is the factor that most correlates with the location of nests. The probability of choosing one place over another to settle their nest increases in areas with an abundance of shells, double in the case of the Kentish Plover and triple in the case of the Little Tern. The result of this study may constitute a valuable tool for attracting birds to restored saltpans and could contribute to the success of expensive restoration projects where time is usually a constraint.

Wind power is a rapidly growing renewable energy sector that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides sustainable energy. However, environmental destruction in wind power plant areas, particularly in wind farms within forests, is an emerging issue. This study aimed to analyze the impact of wind-farm roads on terrestrial animals in forested areas. A camera trap survey was conducted to investigate the impact of road management on wildlife behavior. We installed 52 cameras along roads connecting wind turbines for three months (1st October to 30th December 2021) on the Yeongyang-gun wind farm in South Korea and evaluated animal occupancy and detection probabilities using an occupancy model. Factors related to terrain and vegetation were used to estimate the occupancy probability (station use). The detection analysis included the presence or absence of guardrails, wind turbines, shrublands, and retaining walls. Additional variables included camera type, number of camera-operating days, and survey time. During the survey period, seven terrestrial mammals (roe deer, wild boar, water deer, raccoon dogs, badgers, leopards, cats, and martens) were captured using cameras. Based on camera trap records, roe deer was the most dominant species, followed by wild boars, raccoon dogs, and water deer, with fewer badgers and martens. The presence of forests in the road area was a significant factor for most species in terms of use probability, and camera type was significant for detection probability. Detecting animals along roads shows that roads are passageways for wildlife, affecting animal behavior during vehicle movement and can cause habitat disconnection. Our results demonstrate that wind farms are indirectly linked to wildlife distribution and welfare. Effective management policies for mitigating wildlife disruption can support sustainable ecosystems and biodiversity. The results of this study can serve as a reference for supporting wildlife conservation, terrestrial ecosystems, and environmental impact assessments.

Freshwater wetlands and their biodiversity have suffered substantial losses globally, mainly due to the drainage of wetlands for agriculture. Recent studies suggest that small drainage and/or irrigation canals established in lowland areas can function both as partial replacement of wetlands lost and as biodiversity hotspots in agricultural landscapes. However, small canals are usually not protected or managed for biodiversity. We studied whether and how the timing of reed management (removal in winter, in spring, no removal) on small canals affects nest site selection and breeding success in Great Reed Warblers, Acrocephalus arundinaceus, a flagship species of small canals in an intensive agricultural landscape in a five-year quasi-experiment. We found significantly more nests in winter-managed than in non-managed canal sections and hardly any in spring-managed sections. The number of nests also increased with the proportion of reed removed and with reed density. Breeding success measured as the probability of fledging chicks was positively influenced by reed density only and was not affected by management type, nesting height, water depth and water level fluctuation. Reed density had a central role as it mediated the effect of management both on nest site selection and breeding success, likely through better concealment of the nests from predators. Our results suggest that winter management should be favored as much as possible in the conservation of Great Reed Warblers and other reed-nesting passerines, whereas spring management should be avoided as it results in a complete lack of reed or poorly grown reed unsuitable for nest-building by the start of the breeding season. Our study draws attention to the importance of proper management of small canals that can serve as local hotspots of biodiversity in heavily human-modified landscapes, and which thus deserve more conservation attention than they currently have.

Northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus) are declining across their range. Population recovery requires a better understanding of the influence of management strategies and land cover on specific demographic components of full annual cycle population dynamics. We used known‐fate daily survival models to relate adult breeding season survival and nest survival to land cover composition, woody cover, and management actions on 5 study sites in southwest Missouri, USA. We collected 3,516 observations of daily nest survival from 364 bobwhite nests for 7,509 exposure days and 34,386 observations of adult survival from 955 bobwhites for 85,225 exposure days during breeding seasons in 2014–2018. The most supported model for nest and adult breeding season survival included environmental covariates for percent native grass and agricultural cover, distance to shrub, and distance to tree. Both nest and adult breeding season survival were positively related to distance to trees. Nest survival was negatively related to percent agricultural crop cover. Areal nest and adult breeding season survival were greater on native grassland sites compared to conservation areas that maintained small units of strip crop and wooded cover. Management to sustain or expand native grass cover and reduce tree cover should benefit bobwhite nest survival and adult breeding season survival in the landscapes we studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]