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Animals
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Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research
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Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Wildlife".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 14605

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sasha Tetzlaff

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ERDC-CERL, Champaign, IL 61822, USA
Interests: behavior, ecology, conservation, and management of free-ranging and captive animals
Dr. Brett DeGregorio

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
U.S. Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Cooperative Research Unit, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
Interests: wildlife behavior; inter-species interactions; conservation biology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pressures imposed on wildlife to thrive in a world dominated by human-induced rapid environmental change are ever-increasing, and resources allocated to conservation and management remain limited. There is thus a continual need to improve methods in basic and applied wildlife research. Technological advances have allowed for a greater understanding of patterns and processes related to numerous aspects of wildlife biology, but empirical data comparing the efficacy of emerging technologies to more traditional approaches are often lacking. We welcome submissions demonstrating the use of innovative research techniques, tools, or technologies (broadly defined), or modification of such, that contribute to our understanding of animal behavior, ecology, or conservation. Ideal contributions should compare or at least discuss the novel technique/tool/approach to the more conventional method (e.g., using environmental DNA or unmanned aerial vehicles to detect rare and/or cryptic species in relation to live-trapping or visual encounter surveys). Laboratory studies and application of innovative analytical approaches are also suitable so long as they have a connection to or implications for field-based research. We do not discourage studies with neutral or negative findings, as they can still contribute to our understanding and serve as valuable learning opportunities for future efforts. Techniques proposals and topical review articles, such as commentaries, perspectives, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses, are also welcome. Our goal is for this Special Issue to serve as a forum for highlighting the numerous current technologies available to wildlife researchers that show promise for being pragmatic in terms of implementation and cost compared to the status quo.

Dr. Sasha Tetzlaff
Dr. Brett DeGregorio
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • animal
  • behavior
  • conservation
  • ecology
  • management
  • technique
  • technology

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 1353 KiB  
Article
Non-Invasive Monitoring of Adrenocortical Activity in Three Sympatric Desert Gerbil Species
by Álvaro Navarro-Castilla, Mario Garrido, Hadas Hawlena and Isabel Barja
Animals 2021, 11(1), 75; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010075 - 04 Jan 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2201
Abstract
The study of the endocrine status can be useful to understand wildlife responses to the changing environment. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively monitor adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in three sympatric gerbil species (Gerbillus andersoni [...] Read more.
The study of the endocrine status can be useful to understand wildlife responses to the changing environment. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively monitor adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in three sympatric gerbil species (Gerbillus andersoni, G. gerbillus and G. pyramidum) from the Northwestern Negev Desert’s sands (Israel). Animals included into treatment groups were injected with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate adrenocortical activity, while control groups received a saline solution. Feces were collected at different intervals and FCM were quantified by an EIA. Basal FCM levels were similar in the three species. The ACTH effect was evidenced, but the time of FCM peak concentrations appearance differed between the species (6–24 h post-injection). Furthermore, FCM peak values were observed sooner in G. andersoni females than in males (6 h and 18 h post-injection, respectively). G. andersoni and G. gerbillus males in control groups also increased FCM levels (18 h and 48 h post-injection, respectively). Despite the small sample sizes, our results confirmed the EIA suitability for analyzing FCM in these species as a reliable indicator of the adrenocortical activity. This study also revealed that close species, and individuals within a species, can respond differently to the same stressor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research)
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13 pages, 3970 KiB  
Article
Soft Release Translocation of Texas Horned Lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) on an Urban Military Installation in Oklahoma, United States
by Brett DeGregorio, Raymond Moody and Hannah Myers
Animals 2020, 10(8), 1358; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10081358 - 06 Aug 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2950
Abstract
Wildlife translocation is an often-used technique to augment populations or remove animals from harm’s way. Unfortunately, many translocation efforts fail to meet their goals for myriad reasons, particularly because translocated animals make large, erratic movements after release, which can result in high mortality [...] Read more.
Wildlife translocation is an often-used technique to augment populations or remove animals from harm’s way. Unfortunately, many translocation efforts fail to meet their goals for myriad reasons, particularly because translocated animals make large, erratic movements after release, which can result in high mortality rates. Soft release, holding animals in acclimation pens for some period of time at the recipient site before release, has been proposed as a technique to reduce these large movements and increase the survival of translocated animals. Here, we compared the survival and movement patterns of soft-released Texas horned lizards (Phrynosoma cornutum) with resident lizards, as well as hard-released lizards from a prior study. Juvenile lizards that were soft-released had high survival rates similar to resident lizards, despite still moving more frequently and occupying larger home ranges than residents. Conversely, soft-released adult lizards had survival rates similar to those that were hard-released, and much lower rates than resident adults. Curiously, soft-released adults did not have significantly higher movement rates or home range sizes than residents. Our results suggest that caution should be used before adult Texas horned lizards are translocated. However, juveniles responded well to soft release, and future research should explore whether they are more resilient to translocation in general, or if soft release provided a specific survival advantage. Contrary to our predictions, the survival of translocated animals was not related to their post-release movement patterns, and the mechanism underlying the observed survival patterns is unclear. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research)
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14 pages, 894 KiB  
Article
Estimating Abundance of Siberian Roe Deer Using Fecal-DNA Capture-Mark-Recapture in Northeast China
by Yuehui Li, Nana Li, Long Chen, Yueyuan Li, Zaiping Xiong and Yuanman Hu
Animals 2020, 10(7), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071135 - 03 Jul 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2380
Abstract
It is necessary to estimate the population abundance of deer for managing their populations. However, most estimates are from high-density populations inhabiting the forests of North America or Europe; there is currently a lack of necessary knowledge regarding low-density deer populations in different [...] Read more.
It is necessary to estimate the population abundance of deer for managing their populations. However, most estimates are from high-density populations inhabiting the forests of North America or Europe; there is currently a lack of necessary knowledge regarding low-density deer populations in different forest habitats. In this article, we used fecal DNA based on the capture-mark-recapture method to estimate the population abundance of Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) in Liangshui National Nature Reserve in the Lesser Xing’an Mountains, northeast China, where the deer population was found to be of a low density by limited studies. We used a robust survey design to collect 422 fecal pellet groups in 2016 and extracted DNA from those samples, generating 265 different genotypes; we thus identified 77 deer individuals based on six microsatellite markers (Roe1, Roe8, Roe9, BM757, MB25 and OarFCB304). With capture and recapture records of these 77 individuals, the abundance of roe deer was estimated to be 87 deer (80–112, 95% CI) using the Program CAPTURE. Using an effective sampling area which resulted from the mean maximum recapture distance (MMRD), we converted the population abundance to a density of 2.9 deer/km2 (2.7–3.7, 95% CI). Our study estimated the roe deer population abundance by a feces-based capture-mark-recapture approach in northeast China, successfully demonstrating the applicability of non-invasive genetic sampling in monitoring populations of deer in this area, which contributes to the development of low-density deer population ecology and management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research)
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17 pages, 920 KiB  
Article
Exploration of Environmental DNA (eDNA) to Detect Kirtland’s Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii)
by Rikki Ratsch, Bruce A. Kingsbury and Mark A. Jordan
Animals 2020, 10(6), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10061057 - 19 Jun 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3541
Abstract
Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys utilize DNA shed by organisms into their environment in order to detect their presence. This technique has proven effective in many systems for detecting rare or cryptic species that require high survey effort. One potential candidate for eDNA surveying [...] Read more.
Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys utilize DNA shed by organisms into their environment in order to detect their presence. This technique has proven effective in many systems for detecting rare or cryptic species that require high survey effort. One potential candidate for eDNA surveying is Kirtland’s Snake (Clonophis kirtlandii), a small natricine endemic to the midwestern USA and threatened throughout its range. Due to its cryptic and fossorial lifestyle, it is also a notoriously difficult snake to survey, which has limited efforts to understand its ecology. Our goal was to utilize eDNA surveys for this species to increase detection probability and improve survey efficiency to assist future conservation efforts. We conducted coverboard surveys and habitat analyses to determine the spatial and temporal activity of snakes, and used this information to collect environmental samples in areas of high and low snake activity. In addition, we spiked artificial crayfish burrows with Kirtland’s Snake feces to assess the persistence of eDNA under semi-natural conditions. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay using a hydrolysis probe was developed to screen the environmental samples for Kirtland’s Snake eDNA that excluded closely related and co-occurring species. Our field surveys showed that snakes were found in the spring during the first of two seasons, and in areas with abundant grass, herbaceous vegetation, and shrubs. We found that eDNA declines within a week under field conditions in artificial crayfish burrows. In environmental samples of crayfish burrow water and sediment, soil, and open water, a single detection was found out of 380 samples. While there may be physicochemical and biological explanations for the low detection observed, characteristics of assay performance and sampling methodology may have also increased the potential for false negatives. We explored these outcomes in an effort to refine and advance the successful application of eDNA surveying in snakes and groundwater microhabitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research)
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16 pages, 2885 KiB  
Article
Identification of Factors Affecting Predation Risk for Juvenile Turtles Using 3D Printed Models
by Sasha J. Tetzlaff, Alondra Estrada, Brett A. DeGregorio and Jinelle H. Sperry
Animals 2020, 10(2), 275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020275 - 11 Feb 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3077
Abstract
Although it is widely accepted that juvenile turtles experience high levels of predation, such events are rarely observed, providing limited evidence regarding predator identities and how juvenile habitat selection and availability of sensory cues to predators affects predation risk. We placed three-dimensional printed [...] Read more.
Although it is widely accepted that juvenile turtles experience high levels of predation, such events are rarely observed, providing limited evidence regarding predator identities and how juvenile habitat selection and availability of sensory cues to predators affects predation risk. We placed three-dimensional printed models resembling juvenile box turtles (Terrapene carolina) across habitats commonly utilized by the species at three sites within their geographical range and monitored models with motion-triggered cameras. To explore how the presence or absence of visual and olfactory cues affected predator interactions with models, we employed a factorial design where models were either exposed or concealed and either did or did not have juvenile box turtle scent applied on them. Predators interacted with 18% of models during field trials. Nearly all interactions were by mesopredators (57%) and rodents (37%). Mesopredators were more likely to attack models than rodents; most (76%) attacks occurred by raccoons (Procyon lotor). Interactions by mesopredators were more likely to occur in wetlands than edges, and greater in edges than grasslands. Mesopredators were less likely to interact with models as surrounding vegetation height increased. Rodents were more likely to interact with models that were closer to woody structure and interacted with exposed models more than concealed ones, but model exposure had no effect on interactions by mesopredators. Scent treatment appeared to have no influence on interactions by either predator group. Our results suggest raccoons can pose high predation risk for juvenile turtles (although rodents could also be important predators) and habitat features at multiple spatial scales affect predator-specific predation risk. Factors affecting predation risk for juveniles are important to consider in management actions such as habitat alteration, translocation, or predator control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Demonstration of Innovative Approaches for Advancing Wildlife Research)
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