Ecosphere最新文献

{"title":"Clarifying the trophic state concept to advance macroscale freshwater science and management","authors":"Michael F. Meyer,&nbsp;Benjamin M. Kraemer,&nbsp;Carolina C. Barbosa,&nbsp;Davi G. F. Cunha,&nbsp;Walter K. Dodds,&nbsp;Stephanie E. Hampton,&nbsp;César Ordóñez,&nbsp;Rachel M. Pilla,&nbsp;Amina I. Pollard,&nbsp;Joshua A. Culpepper,&nbsp;Alexander K. Fremier,&nbsp;Tyler V. King,&nbsp;Robert Ladwig,&nbsp;Dina M. Leech,&nbsp;Shin-Ichiro S. Matsuzaki,&nbsp;Isabella A. Oleksy,&nbsp;Simon N. Topp,&nbsp;R. Iestyn Woolway,&nbsp;Ludmila S. Brighenti,&nbsp;Kate C. Fickas,&nbsp;Brian P. Lanouette,&nbsp;Jianning Ren,&nbsp;Mortimer Werther,&nbsp;Xiao Yang","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70392","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70392","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For over a century, ecologists have used the concept of trophic state (TS) to characterize an aquatic ecosystem's biological productivity. However, multiple TS classification schemes, each relying on a variety of measurable parameters as proxies for productivity, have emerged to meet use-specific needs. Frequently, chlorophyll a, phosphorus, and Secchi depth are used to classify TS based on autotrophic production, whereas phosphorus, dissolved organic carbon, and true color are used to classify TS based on both autotrophic and heterotrophic production. Both classification approaches aim to characterize an ecosystem's function broadly, but with varying degrees of autotrophic and heterotrophic processes considered in those characterizations. Moreover, differing classification schemes can create inconsistent interpretations of ecosystem integrity. For example, the US Clean Water Act focuses exclusively on algal threats to water quality, framed in terms of eutrophication in response to nutrient loading. This usage lacks information about non-algal threats to water quality, such as dystrophication in response to dissolved organic carbon loading. Consequently, the TS classification schemes used to identify eutrophication and dystrophication may refer to ecosystems similarly (e.g., oligotrophic and eutrophic), yet these categories are derived from different proxies. These inconsistencies in TS classification schemes may be compounded when interdisciplinary projects employ varied TS frameworks. Even with these shortcomings, TS can still be used to distill information on complex aquatic ecosystem function into a set of generalizable expectations. The usefulness of distilling complex information into a TS index is substantial such that usage inconsistencies should be explicitly addressed and resolved. To emphasize the consequences of diverging TS classification schemes, we present three case studies for which an improved understanding of the TS concept advances freshwater research, management efforts, and interdisciplinary collaboration. To increase clarity in TS, the aquatic sciences could benefit from including information about the proxy variables, ecosystem type, as well as the spatiotemporal domains used to classify TS. As the field of aquatic sciences expands and climatic irregularity increases, we highlight the importance of re-evaluating fundamental concepts, such as TS, to ensure their compatibility with evolving science.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70392","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biodegradable plastic films as eco-sustainable alternative to polyethylene films: Effects on soil multifunctionality","authors":"Alessia Esposito,&nbsp;Giorgia Santini,&nbsp;Lucia Santorufo,&nbsp;Luigi Morra,&nbsp;Giulia Maisto,&nbsp;Flavia De Nicola,&nbsp;Enrica Picariello","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70388","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70388","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The use of plastic films is among the major sources of pollution in agricultural soils and can impact soil properties and ecological functions. This study aimed to assess the short-term effects of polyethylene (PE) and biodegradable (BIO) plastic films on soil quality and multifunctionality by comparing them with an untreated control (CNT). A comprehensive set of abiotic (texture, bulk density, pH, water content, organic and total carbon, and total nitrogen) and biotic (enzymatic activities, DNA yield, eubacterial and fungal biomass) soil properties was assessed 6 months after treatment application, both in mesocosm and field experiments. These parameters were used to: (1) calculate ecological indices (IBR, integrated biomarker response index; MAI, metabolic activity index; SQI, soil quality index) to assess soil quality; (2) derive soil functions (N and C storage and decomposition), then integrated into a soil multifunctionality index (SMF) and analyzed using a random forest approach to identify the most influential variables contributing to soil multifunctionality. In the field experiment, both BIO and PE plastic films increased soil water content compared to CNT, while BIO led to a 2-fold increase in β-glucosidase activity relative to PE and CNT. In the mesocosm experiment, PE increased total soil carbon by approximately 1.2-fold compared to BIO and CNT treatments. PE enhanced carbon storage capacity in mesocosm conditions, aligning with the results from the random forest analysis, which identified carbon storage as a key driver of soil multifunctionality. Despite these specific effects, no significant short-term changes in overall soil multifunctionality were observed for both plastic films. Among the indices tested, MAI highlighting differences between treatments emerged as the better integrative tool to monitor early functional changes in soil ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70388","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929532","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Crossing boundaries: Introduced trout alter the bird community in a naturally fishless headwaters ecosystem","authors":"Mary K. Clapp,&nbsp;Erik W. Meyer,&nbsp;Gail L. Patricelli","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70389","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70389","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Alpine areas such as the headwaters of California's Sierra Nevada are increasingly imperiled by climate change and other human-induced stressors. For one, the introduction of non-native fishes into over 60% of its historically fishless watersheds has profoundly restructured the aquatic food web, depressed the abundance, biomass, and diversity of native invertebrates, and endangered endemic vertebrate taxa. Lakes and their surrounding land are reciprocally connected through flows of organic matter, such as emerging aquatic insects; however, the extent to which trout introductions disrupt such flows to the terrestrial environment is poorly understood. Emerging aquatic insects are a potentially important prey source for birds; thus, we hypothesized that the community composition, diversity, and abundance of birds differ between fishless lakes and those stocked with trout due to reduced emerging aquatic insect biomass and diversity. We conducted lakeside bird surveys in headwater lake basins in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for three summers (2014–2015, 2020) at a total of 39 lakes and quantified the emergence of mayflies between lake types using sticky traps. In addition to major reductions in mayfly densities, we documented lower overall bird abundance at stocked lakes, as well as turnover in avian community composition between stocked and fishless lakes. A fish eradication project at one lake between 2016 and 2019 allowed us to conduct a multiple-control before-after-control-impact (M-BACI) case study to assess changes in the avian community following fish removal. After fish were removed, bird abundance was two times higher than at the control lake. Given the global decline of insect populations and their importance in bird diets, this study reinforces the importance of studying aquatic and terrestrial habitats as interdependent systems and motivates the restoration of naturally fishless habitats impacted by introduced fishes.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70389","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Agent-based models in applied ecology: Designing data-informed simulations for wildlife conservation and management","authors":"Kilian J. Murphy","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70342","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70342","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Agent-based models (ABMs) are increasingly recognized as valuable tools in applied ecology for simulating species behavior, ecological interactions, and responses to management. However, their adoption in conservation and policy contexts has been limited by a reliance on simplified representations and a lack of integration with empirical data. This paper presents a structured, data-informed framework for developing applied ABMs using high-resolution spatial, behavioral, and environmental datasets. By incorporating telemetry data, remote sensing products, and site-level ecological monitoring, the framework enables realistic simulations of ecological systems that can be used to virtually test management strategies and policy interventions. These models support real-time scenario testing, guide field data collection by identifying knowledge gaps, and facilitate transparent communication with stakeholders. We demonstrate the utility of this framework using a published case study on badger movement and bovine tuberculosis risk in a disturbance-driven landscape, showing how it reveals emergent behavioral patterns with implications for disease management. By formalizing a repeatable protocol for model development, validation, and stakeholder engagement, this research enhances the accessibility and applicability of ABMs in conservation planning, biodiversity monitoring, and human–wildlife conflict mitigation. The framework supports evidence-based decision-making while promoting transparency, adaptability, and cross-sector collaboration.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70342","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anthropogenic subsidies and wildfire influence density, occupancy, and species interactions of three avian predators","authors":"Terrah M. Owens,&nbsp;Lindsey R. Perry,&nbsp;Jonathan B. Dinkins","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70359","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70359","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anthropogenic subsidies and disturbance can benefit generalist avian species by providing additional food, nesting, and perching resources. In the sagebrush biome, anthropogenic subsidies have led to increases in the number of common ravens (<i>Corvus corax</i>; hereafter ravens), red-tailed hawks (<i>Buteo jamaicensis</i>), and Swainson's hawks (<i>Buteo swainsoni</i>), but it is unclear how wildfire disturbance may be affecting these species. We used 6 years of count data (2017–2022) to investigate the effects of anthropogenic subsidies and wildfire on density, occupancy, interspecific density dependence, and interactions of these three sympatric predators in five study areas in eastern Oregon. Estimated mean relative densities for all species varied annually, ranging from 1.00 to 2.05 km⁻² for ravens, from 0.46 to 1.09 km⁻² for red-tailed hawks, and from 0.07 to 0.38 km⁻² for Swainson's hawks. Mean occupancy probability was 0.78 across all study areas for red-tailed hawks and varied by study area for ravens and Swainson's hawks, ranging from 0.62 to 0.94 and from 0.70 to 0.97, respectively. N-mixture and occupancy models indicated that anthropogenic subsidies and recent wildfires (≤10 years) were positively associated with the density and occupancy of ravens and red-tailed hawks. However, only road density was associated with the occupancy of Swainson's hawks. There were no interspecific density-dependent effects for ravens and red-tailed hawks, but Swainson's hawk density decreased as densities of ravens and red-tailed hawks increased. Multispecies occupancy models indicated that most occupancy probabilities associated with anthropogenic subsidies were independent of allospecific presence. However, occupancy probabilities were influenced by wildfire, indicating negative interactions between Swainson's hawks and ravens but positive interactions between Swainson's and red-tailed hawks. Our results provide evidence that anthropogenic subsidies create hotspots of generalist predators in sagebrush ecosystems fragmented by wildfire. These increased densities may lead to human–wildlife conflicts, displacement of specialist predator species, and greater risk of predation to prey species of conservation concern.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70359","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144905623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term change and seasonal spillover risks of fatal acanthocephalan infection in southern sea otters","authors":"Richard E. Grewelle,&nbsp;Colleen Young,&nbsp;Corinne Gibble,&nbsp;Katherine Greenwald,&nbsp;Laird Henkel,&nbsp;Giulio A. De Leo,&nbsp;Melissa Miller","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70330","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70330","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Southern sea otters (<i>Enhydra lutris nereis</i>) face numerous risks to population recovery from infectious disease, shark attacks, and biotoxins. Recently, the most significant contributor to fatal infectious disease in sea otters has been acanthocephalan peritonitis (AP) caused by <i>Profilicollis altmani</i>. Despite the importance of AP-associated otter mortality, long-term and seasonal risks for spillover of this parasite from its avian definitive hosts (seabirds and shorebirds) and crustacean intermediate hosts, Pacific mole crabs (<i>Emerita analoga</i>), are poorly resolved. We analyzed a 30-year dataset of sea otter strandings (<i>n</i> = 4460 cases) within the extant southern sea otter range to assess the contributions of temporal, demographic, geographic, and environmental risk factors to the prevalence of AP in southern sea otters. We found the incidence of AP was driven by high prevalence in immature otters near or in Morro and Monterey Bays, primarily in the late spring. The seasonal fluctuations in AP prevalence aligned closely with the presence of Pacific mole crabs in the gastrointestinal tracts of stranded otters. For Monterey Bay otters, AP prevalence was also higher during El Niño years. Long-term trend analyses suggest that seasonal, demographic, and geographic patterns of AP prevalence in southern sea otters have shifted. Southern sea otter population recovery efforts can be informed by long-term monitoring that assesses the evolving risks of AP and other sources of mortality.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70330","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing the vulnerability and conservation potential of old-growth forests in British Columbia, Canada","authors":"Nick Pochailo,&nbsp;Leonardo Viliani,&nbsp;Jessica Stolar,&nbsp;Diana Stralberg,&nbsp;Scott E. Nielsen","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70373","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70373","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Climate change is predicted to have widespread effects on the distribution of many species and ecosystems, including old-growth forests. Because of the slow development time of old-growth forests, it is especially important for their management to map and understand areas of “climate change refugia.” British Columbia (BC), Canada, holds globally significant areas of old-growth forests with varying levels of threats from climate change. To better understand these threats, we used Maxent to model climate envelopes of BC's ecosystems, as represented by Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification units. We then projected ecosystem changes for the 2050s climate period and overlaid them with current and potential future old-growth forests (projected to become old growth in the absence of fire) to identify where these forests are likely to persist (“old-growth refugia”) and develop a provincial Refugia Probability Index. Finally, we assessed to what extent BC's current protected areas network represents current and future old-growth forest. Our analysis identified 110,545 km² of old-growth forest in BC as of 2021, which has the potential to increase via natural succession by up to an additional 69,410 km² by 2055, barring future wildfires or other disturbances. We also found that up to 54% of the province and 63% of current old growth fell within the projected area of maximum total refugia for the 2050s climate period. Our results indicate that less than 12% of these forests are currently within protected climate refugia, with under 0.2% in areas of “high” refugia probability. Thus, we demonstrate that almost all old growth in BC is susceptible to climate change, human development, or both, highlighting the vulnerability of these forests into the middle of the century. Overall, over 51% of BC's old growth was identified as susceptible to human development and within the projected area of maximum total refugia. We suggest future planning to focus on conserving elements of these areas, as their projected climate stability potentially translates into long-term protection. We provide a framework for forest and conservation managers to assess the future effects of climate change on old-growth forests in BC or beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70373","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multigenerational emergence trends of Brood X Magicicada spp. across habitat types in southwestern Ohio","authors":"Alfredo Ascanio,&nbsp;Brianna Louis,&nbsp;Andrew Cannizzaro,&nbsp;Victor Fitzgerald,&nbsp;Jason T. Bracken,&nbsp;Nicholas L. Rodenhouse,&nbsp;Thomas O. Crist,&nbsp;Tereza Jezkova","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70377","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70377","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Periodical cicadas (<i>Magicicada</i> spp.) emerge from the ground every 13- or 17-year intervals across the eastern and midwestern continental United States. Due to their long generation times, these animals are vulnerable to rapid environmental change, which has contributed to decreased densities and even extinction of different <i>Magicicada</i> broods. We investigated trends in population density and emergence phenology of Brood X cicadas across three reproductive events (1987, 2004, and 2021) in southwestern Ohio, comparing habitats with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance or origin: old-growth forest, rural woodlots, rural fencerows, and urban woodlots (added in 2021). Overall, we found that <i>Magicicada cassini</i>, <i>M. septendecim,</i> and <i>M. septendecula</i> were present in all studied sites, though the most abundant for the region was <i>M. cassini</i>. Our results revealed a generational decline in cicada density in old-growth forest and rural woodlots, while fencerows, often considered heavily disturbed habitats, showed a doubling in density across generations. Phenological data showed consistent protandry (earlier male emergence), with an increased offset between sexes in the 2021 emergence compared to 1987. Emergence timing also varied across habitats, with rural woodlots showing the earliest emergence and urban woodlots and fencerows (mainly composed by edge habitat) showing the latest. These findings challenge assumptions that disturbed habitats universally reduce insect populations and suggest that treed fencerows may serve as important reproductive refuges under certain conditions. However, variance and delay in female emergence may indicate changing environmental cues or phenological mismatches, potentially reducing reproductive success. To aid conservation efforts, we recommend continued and expanded monitoring of future Brood X emergences, expansion of sampling in old-growth forest sites, along with incentives to preserve and manage treed fencerows while also expanding existing tracts of forest.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70377","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144897772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Late season frosts and changing snowpack may exacerbate human–bear conflicts","authors":"Kevin T. Shoemaker,&nbsp;Heather E. Reich,&nbsp;Perry J. Williams,&nbsp;Megan J. Osterhout,&nbsp;Joshua P. Vasquez,&nbsp;Jon P. Beckmann,&nbsp;Carl W. Lackey,&nbsp;Kelley M. Stewart","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70379","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70379","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The North American black bear (<i>Ursus americanus</i>) is an opportunistic omnivore that depends on seasonal availability of fruits, nuts, grasses, and forbs for survival. Black bears on the urban–wildland interface also use anthropogenic food resources, especially when natural food resources are scarce. Consequently, natural food failure can exacerbate human–bear conflict, resulting in increases in human-caused mortality via vehicle strikes and management removal. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including drought or late frost. These climatic events may affect the spring growth resulting in loss of natural foods for bears and lead to heightened human–bear conflict in the future. In this study, we examined the effects of weather (snowpack and final freeze dates) on natural survival and cause-specific mortality (management removal and vehicle collision) of black bears in northwestern Nevada, using an extensive capture–recapture database (509 bears captured between 1998 and 2022). Our results indicated that late freeze dates were associated with a higher probability of conflict, increased probability of management removal, and reduced natural survival. Snowpack (snow-water equivalent) was weakly correlated with the probability of management removal, but the association was much weaker than the effect of late freeze dates. Anticipating the effects of late frost and snowpack on human–black bear conflict will help managers better anticipate and respond to potential high-conflict events.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70379","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144905622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial and temporal patterns of mammalian roadkill across subtropical protected areas in Nepal","authors":"Dayaram Pandey,&nbsp;Pemba Sherpa,&nbsp;Dipesh Kumar Sharma,&nbsp;Pratistha Shrestha,&nbsp;Gopal Khanal","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70383","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70383","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wildlife–vehicle collisions are a major source of anthropogenic wildlife mortality, making it essential to understand their spatial and temporal patterns for effective mitigation. In this study, we conducted a multisite, multiyear analysis of wildlife roadkill incidents recorded across six subtropical protected areas in Nepal over a five-year period (2017–2022). A total of 618 individual animals from 37 vertebrate species were killed in vehicle collisions, averaging five roadkills per 10 km annually. Roadkill accounted for approximately 27% of all recorded wildlife mortalities, highlighting it as a significant source of mortality and a growing threat to wildlife in protected areas. We found a clear taxonomic bias in roadkill, with ungulates and primates accounting for ~65% of all incidents. However, during the COVID-19 lockdown, carnivores were disproportionately affected, suggesting a potential shift in risk linked to altered traffic conditions. Multiscale regression modeling showed that roadkill risk increased with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), annual rainfall, and canopy cover, with consistent effects across scales of analysis (100-, 250-, and 500-m buffers). Seasonal differences were evident, with peak roadkill in winter, followed by autumn. Roadkill incidents increased modestly (3%) over the five-year period, but trends varied, with three of six protected areas showing an increasing trend. Importantly, the three key metrics (total magnitude, kill rate, and temporal trend) did not align; the protected area with the highest number of total roadkill did not exhibit the highest kill rate per km or increasing trend, but the one with the shortest road length passing through its area experienced an increasing trend. This mismatch likely reflects a complex interplay of factors, including road length and site-specific factors. This variation suggests that protected areas vary in their vulnerability to roadkill, underscoring the need for context-specific mitigation strategies tailored to each metric and site condition. As Nepal's road network continues to expand, targeted research and monitoring will be essential for identifying roadkill hotspots, assessing mitigation effectiveness, and informing conservation planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70383","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144861676","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}