Ecosphere最新文献

{"title":"Big trees burning: Divergent wildfire effects on large trees in open- vs. closed-canopy forests","authors":"Garrett W. Meigs,&nbsp;Caden P. Chamberlain,&nbsp;James S. Begley,&nbsp;C. Alina Cansler,&nbsp;Derek J. Churchill,&nbsp;Gina R. Cova,&nbsp;Daniel C. Donato,&nbsp;Joshua S. Halofsky,&nbsp;Jonathan T. Kane,&nbsp;Van R. Kane,&nbsp;Susan J. Prichard,&nbsp;L. Annie C. Smith","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70360","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70360","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wildfire activity has accelerated with climate change, sparking concerns about uncharacteristic impacts on mature and old-growth forests containing large trees. Recent assessments have documented fire-induced losses of large-tree habitats in the US Pacific Northwest, but key uncertainties remain regarding contemporary versus historical fire effects in different forest composition types, specific impacts on large trees within closed versus open canopies, and the role of fuel reduction treatments. Focusing on the 2021 Schneider Springs Fire, which encompassed 43,000 ha in the eastern Cascade Range of Washington and burned during a period of severe drought, this study addresses three interrelated questions: (1) Are burn severity distributions consistent with historical fire regimes in dry, moist, and cold forest types? (2) How does burn severity vary among forest structure classes, particularly large trees with open versus closed canopies? (3) How do fuel reduction treatments influence forest structure and burn severity inside and outside of treated areas? Within each forest type, burn severity proportions were similar to historical estimates, with lower overall severity in dry forests than in moist and cold forests. However, across all forest types combined, high-severity fire affected 30% (4500 ha) of large-tree locations with tree diameters &gt;50 cm. In each forest type, burn severity was lower in locations with large-open structure (&lt;50% canopy cover) than in locations with large-closed structure (&gt;50% canopy cover). Burn severity also was lower inside than outside treated sites in all structure classes, and untreated large-closed forests tended to burn at lower severity closer to treatments. These results highlight the susceptibility of dense, late-successional forests to contemporary fires, even in events with widespread potentially beneficial effects consistent with historical fire regimes. These results also illustrate the effectiveness of treatments that shift large-closed to large-open structures and suggest that treatments may help mitigate fire effects in adjacent large-closed forests. Long-term monitoring and adaptive management will be essential for conserving critical wildlife habitats and fostering ecosystem resilience to climate change, wildfires, and other disturbances.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70360","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144998875","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":"Hydrology drives facilitative and competitive strategies in freshwater macrophyte and microbial communities","authors":"Paige M. Kleindl,&nbsp;Anna Wachnicka,&nbsp;Jay P. Sah,&nbsp;Michael S. Ross,&nbsp;Evelyn E. Gaiser","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70384","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70384","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Pulses of resource availability along environmental gradients can filter the local and regional distribution of macrophyte and microbial mat communities in wetlands. Wetlands that experience short hydroperiods (i.e., &lt;6 months with standing water) may cause macrophyte and microbial mat competition for water. However, the stress gradient hypothesis predicts that abiotic stress should increase facilitative co-regulation of producer dynamics. To determine if and how macrophyte and microbial mat biomass covary along a hydrologic gradient, we conducted two observational surveys and a biomass removal experiment in Everglades National Park, FL, USA. In the survey, macrophyte and microbial mat biomass were measured over a two-year period across nine hydrologically regulated macrophyte community types to determine drivers of biomass and macrophyte–microbial mat interactions along a hydroperiod gradient (3–8 months) using a structural equation model. In the experiment, the effect of hydrology on the interaction between macrophytes and microbial mats was quantified by measuring the effect of bimonthly removal of macrophyte or microbial mat biomass on the biomass of both communities in plots in wetlands with contrasting hydroperiods (3–6 months). Hydrology and biological interactions influenced macrophyte and microbial mat biomass, with stronger interactions observed in the shortest hydroperiod transect sites dominated by <i>Schoenus nigricans</i> and <i>Cladium jamaicense</i>. Along the hydrologic gradient, we found direct negative effects of macrophyte biomass on microbial biomass and vice versa, and a significant positive effect of microbial response to flooding duration on macrophyte biomass. Experimental macrophyte removal in shorter-hydroperiod wetlands resulted in a significant increase in microbial biomass while microbial mat removal reduced biomass of the dominant macrophyte <i>C. jamaicense</i>. The facilitative effect of microbial mats on macrophyte biomass in shorter-hydroperiod wetlands may be driven by mats prolonging soil moisture retention due to their desiccation-resistant structure. Stress-induced facilitation supported the stress gradient hypothesis across the short-hydrologic gradient, while competitive interactions were also observed. As climate and human drivers continue altering hydrology in aquatic systems, the type and strength of community interactions will continue to shift and alter distributions across the landscape.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70384","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144998993","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":"Ephemeral flows and vegetation productivity: Insights for desert conservation","authors":"Nicole M. Fiore,&nbsp;Megan E. Lulow,&nbsp;Travis E. Huxman","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70391","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70391","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In desert environments, infrequent but intense rainfall events drive ephemeral flows that shape the landscape, influence vegetation patterns, and sustain biodiversity. However, despite their ecological and hydrological importance, ephemeral flows are poorly mapped and assessed, hindering effective study, management, and conservation. To address this gap, we developed and validated a high-resolution surface hydrology dataset for the Borrego Springs Subbasin in California, USA, using a 1-m digital elevation model (DEM) and the ArcGIS Hydrology Toolset. The dataset includes detailed outputs illustrating water movement across the landscape, including flow direction, flow accumulation, flow networks, and distance to the nearest flow path for each cell in the subbasin. Validation was conducted using satellite imagery following a significant monsoon rainfall event, which revealed visible water flow and wet soil. Leveraging this dataset, we present a novel framework for examining the relationship between flow proximity and vegetation productivity, using the mean growing season normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as a proxy for vegetation productivity and cover. Our findings reveal a strong decrease in NDVI values with increasing distance from flow paths. Dense, highly productive vegetation (NDVI &gt; 0.5) was restricted to areas within 40 m of ephemeral flow paths, while the highest NDVI (NDVI &gt; 0.75) was confined to within 10 m. These findings underscore the central role ephemeral flows play in structuring desert vegetation by generating consistent spatial patterns of productivity at the meter scale. However, we also found that urban development in the central subbasin has significantly disrupted natural flow networks, reducing hydrologic connectivity and altering the distribution of surface water resources. When viewed in the context of finer scale soil moisture dynamics and broader geomorphic processes, these patterns offer insight into the multiscale physical drivers shaping arid landscapes. By validating the dataset and exploring its ecological applications, this study provides essential insights into the ecohydrological interactions that govern arid regions and offers a valuable tool for managing and conserving desert ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":48930,"journal":{"name":"Ecosphere","volume":"16 9","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ecs2.70391","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144998990","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":"Changes in the storage of soil biogenic elements across different restoration years in the Xianghai degraded wetland","authors":"Dan-Dan Zhao,&nbsp;Jian-Miao Wang,&nbsp;Jia-Chen Wang,&nbsp;Chen Liang,&nbsp;Ji-Ping Liu","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70390","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70390","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wetland restoration through plant transplantation has been shown to positively influence the accumulation and stability of soil biogenic elements; however, there is limited understanding of the dynamic changes in these elements within typical plant communities of inland wetlands across varying restoration years. This study employed in situ field soil sampling to investigate the effects of different restoration years (one year, three and five years) on soil biogenic elements across distinct plant communities in typical inland wetlands, utilizing a space-for-time approach. The findings revealed that the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC) and total phosphorus (TP) were significantly greater in the <i>Phragmites australis</i> wetland compared to the <i>Typha orientalis</i> wetland, owing to the higher biomass of <i>P. australis</i>. The ratios of total nitrogen (TN) to TP and SOC to TP increased significantly in both <i>T. orientalis</i> and <i>P. australis</i> wetlands. The contents and densities of SOC and TP increased in both wetlands as restoration year progressed, which was linked to decreased soil temperature and increased soil moisture and bulk density. The content and density of TN also significantly increased in the <i>P. australis</i> wetland with longer restoration years, while those were higher in the <i>T. orientalis</i> wetland restored for three years, caused by the positive effect of lower soil temperature and minimal root disturbance. The contents and densities of SOC and TP were higher in the <i>P. australis</i> wetland than those in the <i>T. orientalis</i> wetland due to superior regulation of soil moisture and temperature. Our results suggest that prolonged restoration years enhance the content and density of soil biogenic elements, underscoring the importance of consideration of the duration of wetland restoration when evaluating the dynamics of soil carbon and nutrient accumulation in typical degraded inland marshes.</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/ecs2.70390","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929629","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":"Terrestrial and aquatic drivers of occupancy in four semiaquatic mammals","authors":"Derek Whipkey,&nbsp;Charlotte Narr,&nbsp;Brent S. Pease,&nbsp;Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau","doi":"10.1002/ecs2.70386","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ecs2.70386","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Semiaquatic mammals serve as ecosystem engineers and indicator species in their environment. While they play important roles in both terrestrial and aquatic systems, the relative importance of each ecosystem in shaping semiaquatic mammal distributions remains unclear. Additionally, occupancy studies generally focus on a single type of waterbody (e.g., lentic or lotic systems), limiting a holistic understanding of factors impacting these species distribution. To address the relative importance of terrestrial and aquatic environments to semiaquatic mammal distributions, we surveyed 67 sites across four counties in southern Illinois, USA, from March to May 2023 for American beaver (<i>Castor canadensis</i>), muskrat (<i>Ondatra zibethicus</i>), river otter (<i>Lontra canadensis</i>), and American mink (<i>Neogale vison</i>). Sites were distributed evenly between waterbody type and size. Given the elusive nature of these species, we combined two detection methods, sign surveys and camera traps, to increase detection. We applied a Bayesian multi-method occupancy model that incorporates both detection methods to estimate a single occupancy probability for each target species. To evaluate the relative importance of aquatic and terrestrial factors on occupancy, we built candidate models of aquatic and terrestrial covariates separately to identify the most important covariates of each category. The individual top model varied by species, but a combined model of the top aquatic and terrestrial models provided the best overall predictions for each species. Beaver, otter, and mink occupancy showed positive associations with large waterbodies, while muskrat occupancy was positively linked to lotic systems. Additionally, muskrat and mink occupancy were positively related to increasing distance from roads. Our results suggest that while aquatic and terrestrial factors have varying influences in predicting semiaquatic mammal occupancy, considering both yields the most accurate results. All four semiaquatic mammal species we studied were impacted differently by lentic and lotic waterbodies, highlighting the importance of considering both types to better understand their distributions. Our framework is applicable to numerous environments and has the potential to enhance efforts to sustain semiaquatic mammal populations and their habitats.</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/ecs2.70386","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144929628","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":"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}