Global Ecology and Conservation最新文献

{"title":"Environmental challenges influencing maternal care and nesting success in the Broad-snouted Caiman","authors":"Sofía E. Pierini ,&nbsp;Melina S. Simoncini ,&nbsp;Alejandro Larriera ,&nbsp;Jazmín Bauso ,&nbsp;Leonardo J. Scarpa ,&nbsp;Carlos I. Piña","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04088","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04088","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Maternal care and nesting success are critical components of the reproductive cycle in crocodilians, and are strongly influenced by environmental conditions. We studied the effects of environmental factors on maternal care and nesting success in the Broad-snouted Caiman (<em>Caiman latirostris</em>), and we described the behavioral patterns of females. Using camera traps, we monitored 64 nests in forest, savanna, and marsh habitats across different levels of anthropogenic disturbance in Santa Fe, Argentina, over four nesting seasons (2018–2022). Regarding maternal care behavior, we identified nest defense, hatching assistance, and protecting unhatched eggs, in addition to the same patterns previously observed in captivity (nest construction, egg-laying, nest maintenance, and guarding the nest). Maternal care was more frequently observed in marsh nests. However, maternal care did not significantly vary in response to anthropogenic disturbances, nor across nesting seasons. Overall, 38 % (24 out of 64) of the nests were successful, and success was positively associated with maternal care. Most unsuccessful nests occurred in savanna areas, where nests were often affected by flooding and predation by feral pigs (<em>Sus scrofa</em>). These findings contribute to a better understanding of the reproductive strategies of the Broad-snouted Caiman and highlight the need for further research on the costs and benefits of maternal care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04088"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The loss of prey base may drive the jaguar (Panthera onca) toward extinction in the Atlantic Forest of South America","authors":"Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi de Barros Ferraz ,&nbsp;Roberta Montanheiro Paolino ,&nbsp;Roberto Fusco-Costa ,&nbsp;Ricardo Sampaio ,&nbsp;Ana Beatriz de Almeida ,&nbsp;Juliano André Bogoni ,&nbsp;Vania Foster ,&nbsp;Yara Barros ,&nbsp;Adriano Garcia Chiarello","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04084","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04084","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Jaguar (<em>Panthera onca</em>) is critically endangered in the Atlantic Forest hotspot. Concerned with its imminent extinction, this study combined information on jaguar diet and feeding habits with the most extensive standardized camera-trap survey of jaguar prey species ever conducted in the biome. We aimed to estimate local prey abundance and biomass in nine protected areas, comparing a high-abundance area in the Green Corridor to lower-abundance or jaguar-free areas in the Coastal Atlantic Forest. Additionally, we evaluated the influence of human pressures and environmental variables on prey availability. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the prey items in the jaguar diet. Camera traps were deployed in a systematic grid. We estimated the local abundance of 14 key prey species using detection/non-detection data in a multi-region community modelling approach. Results showed that jaguar diets are dominated by large-bodied prey, particularly Tayassuidae and Cervidae. Estimated prey abundances (mean = 27.3 individuals) and biomass (mean = 638 kg) were highest in the Green Corridor - and lowest in Coastal Atlantic Forest regions (abundance mean ranging from 1.3 to 10 individuals and mean biomass ranging from 8.2 to 492 kg PA) where jaguars are absent or occur at very low densities. The low abundance and biomass of prey species was explained by human presence, since prey was more abundant in areas with a high cost of human access and less abundant where human access was favored. Long-term conservation of jaguars in the Atlantic Forest depends on restoring prey populations through participatory governance and adaptive management that bridges ecological and social dimensions of conservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04084"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal patterns of fish diversity in a dammed river: eDNA evidence from the Jialing River and conservation implications","authors":"Xiaohan Dong ,&nbsp;Ruli Cheng ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Huang ,&nbsp;Ziwei Wang ,&nbsp;Zongqiang Qi ,&nbsp;Xinxin Zhou ,&nbsp;Qing Zuo ,&nbsp;Yanjun Shen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04095","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04095","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cascade hydropower development represents a significant anthropogenic pressure on freshwater ecosystems, potentially reshaping fish diversity and community structure. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding within a spatial comparative design—in the absence of pre-dam baseline data—this study investigated fish diversity patterns in the mainstem of the Jialing River, the largest tributary in the Upper Yangtze Basin, China. A total of 113 fish species were identified across 20 reservoir segments. The communities were predominantly composed of lentic-adapted species characterized by benthic habits, omnivorous diets, adhesive eggs, early maturity, small size, and non-migratory behavior—in comparison to historical records. While no significant differences in α-diversity were detected among river sections, β-diversity analysis revealed higher community similarity in the intensively dammed middle reach (14 dams/389 km; Jaccard = 0.7688, β_sorenson = 0.2105) compared to the upper (4 dams/560 km; Jaccard = 0.7431, β_sorenson = 0.2414) and lower reaches (1 dam/137 km; Jaccard = 0.7179, β_sorenson = 0.2691), suggesting a potential homogenization trend associated with dam density. Redundancy analysis (RDA) identified altitude (R²=63.31 %, P &lt; 0.01) and reservoir length (R²=36.71 %, P &lt; 0.01) as key factors shaping community differentiation. Seasonal variabilities significantly influenced community turnover, with chemical oxygen demand (COD) during flood season playing a major role in temporal dynamics. This study provides a baseline assessment of fish diversity patterns in a heavily dammed river system, offering insights for conservation planning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04095"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"DNA macrobarcoding reveals seasonal differences and spatial heterogeneity in the diet of Chinese Milu (Elaphurus davidianus) in China","authors":"Meihui Wang ,&nbsp;Zhibin Cheng ,&nbsp;Qingyun Guo ,&nbsp;Zhenyu Zhong ,&nbsp;Guoxiang Yang ,&nbsp;Libo Wang ,&nbsp;Hongxin Yi ,&nbsp;Tao Yang ,&nbsp;Yuming Zhang ,&nbsp;Xiaopeng Yu ,&nbsp;Haibo Ma ,&nbsp;Yongqiang Zhao ,&nbsp;Shumiao Zhang ,&nbsp;Yunfang Shan ,&nbsp;Chenmiao Feng ,&nbsp;Hongxuan He ,&nbsp;Jiade Bai ,&nbsp;Qingxun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Chinese Milu (<em>Elaphurus davidianus</em>), a wetland herbivore endemic to China, has been successfully reintroduced and is now distributed across various regions in the country. However, seasonal and regional variations in its dietary preferences remain poorly understood, limiting insight into the species’ survival strategies. This study presents the first application of DNA metabarcoding to compare the diets of both free-range and wild Milu across 10 research sites in China during both dry and wet seasons. A total of 269 fecal samples were analyzed, resulting in 13,060 OTUs and the identification of 689 plant species available for foraging by Milu. seasonality is a key factor driving changes in Milu feeding habits, and that Milu respond to seasonal nutritional stress by significantly adjusting their food composition. Spatial heterogeneity also plays a significant role in shaping dietary variation. The dietary composition of Milu populations varies across different protected areas, and Milu are capable of adjusting their feeding habits according to habitat characteristics. Moreover, wild populations demonstrated higher adaptive plasticity, whereas free-range groups exhibited dietary convergence and reduced seasonal adaptability. This findings mainly inform habitat and feeding management recommendations of Milu.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04112"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Safeguarding islands: A systematic review of global island biosecurity plans","authors":"Yang Liu,&nbsp;Chad L. Hewitt ,&nbsp;Simon J. McKirdy,&nbsp;Melissa L. Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04107","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04107","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Islands are globally recognised for their unique biodiversity and high levels of endemism. These fragile ecosystems also support the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people, many of whom depend directly on natural resources for economic and cultural wellbeing. As international and domestic trade and tourism increases globally, so too does the risk of introduction of invasive alien species. In response, a growing number of islands have developed biosecurity plans to manage these risks. This study presents a systematic review of global island biosecurity plans. We found 41 island biosecurity plans from 13 countries with three countries accounting for 63 % of all island biosecurity plans; Australia (15 of 41 biosecurity management plans; 37 %), United States of America (6 of 41; 15 %), and New Zealand (5 of 41; 12 %). The number of world heritage sites, and the volume of international tourist arrivals, emerged as strong predictors for the presence of an island biosecurity plan. However, these factors were not strong predictors of the contents of plans. Plan content was strongly associated with interactions between environmental (e.g. terrestrial, marine, freshwater, or disease), governance (e.g. site, local, subnational, national, regional, or international), and economic (e.g. agriculture, fishery, tourism, export, import, or other) focus of islands. By highlighting the limited number of islands globally with established biosecurity management plans, and identifying shared features and context-dependent differences, this study provides a foundation for developing generalised, yet adaptable, biosecurity frameworks tailored for diverse island contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-source captive breeding maintains nuclear genetic diversity in Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) despite severe mitochondrial erosion","authors":"Han Jiang ,&nbsp;Wei Li ,&nbsp;Zhengwei Luo ,&nbsp;Xianna Lan ,&nbsp;Guillem Ylla ,&nbsp;Mi Zhou ,&nbsp;Xinghu Qin ,&nbsp;Defu Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Alpine musk deer (<em>Moschus chrysogaster</em>) is endemic to China and designated as a first-class nationally protected animal due to its critically endangered status, with wild populations sharply declining from poaching and habitat loss. Since 1990, a captive-breeding program in Xinglong Mountain, Gansu Province, has maintained the only population for musk production and potential reintroduction. However, the genetic consequences of three decades of closed, multi-source breeding remain unclear, limiting assessments of long-term survival and rewilding potential. We assessed nuclear genetic diversity in this captive population using 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci genotyped in 340 individuals. Diversity metrics (allelic richness, heterozygosity, inbreeding coefficient, and PIC) were compared to published data from wild and related musk deer. Our analyses revealed that the captive population includes at least three distinct ancestral lineages and retains nuclear genetic diversity comparable to or higher than wild populations. This contrasts with earlier findings of severely reduced mitochondrial diversity, indicating maternal genetic erosion. The disparity between high nuclear and low mitochondrial variation underscores the benefits of a multi-source founding strategy. While the limited number of founding females constrained mitochondrial lineages, the mixing of several source populations preserved nuclear diversity through combined contributions. We conclude that effective captive management should focus on maintaining multiple lineages, particularly regarding maternal diversity, given the severe mitochondrial erosion, there should be a regular priority to introduce genetically validated females from distinct wild sources to mitigate genetic drift. Overall, this study demonstrates that a diversified captive-breeding strategy can sustain high nuclear genetic diversity in Alpine musk deer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04103"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146174212","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fish diversity and invasive species detection in the Perak River, Malaysia, through eDNA metabarcoding","authors":"Ghazanfer Ali ,&nbsp;Subha Bhassu ,&nbsp;Jiao Yang ,&nbsp;Thenmoli AP Govindasamy ,&nbsp;Norhafiza Mohd Arshad ,&nbsp;Lavanya Vythalingam ,&nbsp;Satoshi Nagai","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened globally, facing rapid biodiversity declines due to habitat degradation, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species introductions. Southeast Asia, recognized as a global freshwater biodiversity hotspot, is experiencing some of the highest extinction risks. The Perak River, Malaysia’s second-longest river, supports diverse fish communities critical for regional ecological stability and food security, but comprehensive biodiversity assessments have been lacking. This study used environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding targeting the 12S rRNA gene to comprehensively assess fish diversity and detect invasive species across the Perak River. Water samples from five locations were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing on the Illumina MiSeq platform. We identified 16 orders, 32 families, 51 genera, and 57 species, with Cyprinidae being the dominant family (15.78 % of species). Invasive species such as <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>, <em>Oreochromis spp.</em>, and <em>Gambusia affinis</em> recognised as invasive either globally or in Malaysia were also detected, raising ecological concerns. Our results highlight the efficiency of eDNA metabarcoding for non-invasive biodiversity monitoring in tropical river systems and demonstrate its potential for early detection of invasive species. This pioneering baseline study provides essential data to guide conservation strategies, inform management policies, and contribute to broader efforts addressing freshwater biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04070"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146024323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Status assessment and recovery potential of Denmark´s only freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) population in the Varde River system","authors":"Juergen Geist ,&nbsp;Rebecca Hoess ,&nbsp;Andreas H. Dobler ,&nbsp;Michael Deacon ,&nbsp;Flemming Sørensen ,&nbsp;Michaela Tille ,&nbsp;Ralph Kuehn ,&nbsp;Jes Jessen Rasmussen","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The freshwater pearl mussel (<em>Margaritifera margaritifera</em>) is a strongly declining target species for conservation. In Denmark, its conservation status is unclear, as the last living specimen was found in the Varde River in 1995. This study assessed the current status and the recovery potential of <em>M. margaritifera</em> in the Varde River system by: (i) dive monitoring searching for living mussels, (ii) assessing habitat quality in the Varde River and its tributaries, (iii) assessing the host fish population status and trends, and (iv) identifying potential donor populations based on genetic analyses of DNA from dead shells. Dive monitoring detected only empty shells, confirming the historic presence of the species. Habitat assessment revealed that most sites were unsuitable for juvenile pearl mussels due to mobile sand, low interstitial oxygen levels, or a lack of medium grain sizes, but few suitable spots were identified within two tributaries (a restored stretch of Holme stream and Linding stream). Host fish population sizes have declined in recent years, despite removal of migration barriers. The historic populations of <em>M. margaritifera</em> in Varde River were closely related to their conspecifics from Estonia and Southern Sweden, and not to the nearest population from Northern Germany. Knowledge on potential donor populations and increasing stream restoration activities provide recovery potential for <em>M. margaritifera</em> in the Varde River system, but existing habitat quality needs substantial improvement to sufficiently support the return of viable populations of this flagship species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04081"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A model-based decision support framework for siting communication tower infrastructure to reduce adverse effects on a sagebrush-obligate species","authors":"Sarah C. Webster ,&nbsp;Shawn T. O’Neil ,&nbsp;Shawn Szabo ,&nbsp;Jacqueline B. Cupples ,&nbsp;Jonathan B. Dinkins ,&nbsp;Steve Abele ,&nbsp;Jennifer M. Hill ,&nbsp;John C. Tull ,&nbsp;Peter S. Coates","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ongoing expansion of human enterprise into remote environments has contributed to degradation and fragmentation of ecosystems globally, reducing plant and animal species’ habitats and viability. Western North America’s sagebrush ecosystems have been reduced to half the area of their historical range, largely driven by anthropogenic activities. A relatively recent advancement has been the rapid construction of wireless communication infrastructure. While modern communication technology is essential for economic progress and critical to rural communities, its associated infrastructure may have undesired influences on sagebrush ecosystems and associated wildlife. These influences, along with their potential remediation to benefit species conservation, are poorly understood. We investigated the effects of communication tower infrastructure over 25 years (1996–2020) on the greater sage-grouse (<em>Centrocercus urophasianus</em>; hereafter, sage-grouse), a species of conservation concern often considered to be an indicator for the health of sagebrush ecosystems. We used hierarchical population state-space models coupled with male lek counts to investigate spatiotemporal effects of towers on sage-grouse annual rate of change (<span><math><mover><mrow><mi>λ</mi></mrow><mo>ˆ</mo></mover></math></span>) in apparent abundance while considering influences of other anthropogenic infrastructure and environmental characteristics at multiple spatial scales. Both tower density and proximity were negatively related to <span><math><mover><mrow><mi>λ</mi></mrow><mo>ˆ</mo></mover></math></span> at distances up to 12.5 km away from tower sites. Higher elevation and sagebrush cover positively influenced <span><math><mover><mrow><mi>λ</mi></mrow><mo>ˆ</mo></mover></math></span> while tree cover and annual grass cover exhibited negative associations. We used model results to inform a decision support framework that could guide location siting of future communication infrastructure based on minimization of effects to sage-grouse populations. Increases in communication tower infrastructure was one of the factors contributing to a ∼1.6 % overall decrease in expected <span><math><mover><mrow><mi>λ</mi></mrow><mo>ˆ</mo></mover></math></span> during the study, but simulations demonstrated how placing infrastructure away from sage-grouse breeding areas could minimize negative effects. Our findings, coupled with decision support analyses, can help inform local, regional, and national conservation strategies that seek to minimize or mitigate undesired effects of communication infrastructure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04078"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Varying responses of co-occurring endangered rodents to forest age, human disturbance, and invasive competitors in the Florida Keys","authors":"Shauna Sayers ,&nbsp;Brent S. Pease ,&nbsp;Isabella Collamati ,&nbsp;Jeremy D. Dixon ,&nbsp;Michael V. Cove","doi":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Disturbances frequently modify habitat structure, leading to changes in resource availability and species interactions. The Key Largo woodrat (<em>Neotoma floridana smalli</em>) and Key Largo cotton mouse (<em>Peromyscus gossypinus allapaticola</em>) are two endangered subspecies, endemic to the tropical hardwood hammock found in Key Largo, Florida, USA. Both species face a high risk of extinction due to human-induced factors such as habitat loss and introduced invasive species. Following recent anthropogenic and natural disturbances, we sought to examine potential shifts in the interaction between the local abundance of woodrats and cotton mice and differences in habitat use. Using hierarchical N-mixture co-abundance models, we developed three competing models testing varying, constant, or no effects of woodrats on cotton mice while examining environmental drivers that may influence population variation, as well as the effect of invasive black rats (<em>Rattus rattus</em>). We found no interactive effect of woodrats on cotton mice with regression coefficients that had 95 % credible intervals spanning zero, suggesting coexistence with no competitive suppression. In contrast, invasive black rats had a significant negative effect on cotton mice but did not impact woodrats. Habitat associations differed between species as woodrats were positively associated with younger forests, while cotton mice responded positively to various forest age classes, indicating a broader habitat preference than previously suggested. Both cotton mice and woodrats exhibited a positive response with increasing distance from major development, likely reflecting the negative impact of habitat degradation and increasing pressure from invasive species near urban borders. Importantly, our N-mixture co-abundance models performed well with high correlations (r &gt; 0.95) of estimates derived from unmarked data compared to minimum number known alive counts of marked individuals. Together, these results further our knowledge on the interactions and habitat use of woodrats and cotton mice that enable managers to assess both species’ current population status to inform future management strategies that promote species persistence as invasive species continue to shape Key Largo’s landscape.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54264,"journal":{"name":"Global Ecology and Conservation","volume":"66 ","pages":"Article e04113"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147385180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}