| Swift Fox Conservation Team: Agency / Partner Documents | Swift Fox Conservation Team: Agency / Partner Documents | Text | |
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| Swift Fox Conservation Team Newsletters (occasional, 1997-2016) | Swift Fox Conservation Team Newsletters (occasional, 1997-2016) | Text | |
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| Swift Fox Conservation Team Annual and Biennial Reports (1995- present) | Swift Fox Conservation Team Annual and Biennial Reports (1995- present) | Text | |
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| Survivorship and mortality patterns of double-crested cormorants at Spider Island, Wisconsin, 1988–2006 | Survivorship and mortality patterns of double-crested cormorants at Spider Island, Wisconsin, 1988–2006 | Article | Bird banding
Double-crested Cormorant
Lake Michigan
Mark-recapture
Mortality
Survival |
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Type:Article Subject:Bird banding
Double-crested Cormorant
Lake Michigan
Mark-recapture
Mortality
Survival |
Description:Banding records were examined to identify changes in mortality causes and locations of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in Door County, Wisconsin. In 14 out of 18 years between 1988 and 2005, a total of 22,469 birds were banded (300 to 5,462; average 1,605 per active banding year). Of 649 usable band returns (36.1 ± 5.4 per year), 33% were banding-year recoveries (before 1 May of the first year of life). The yearly rate of banding-year recoveries increased from 0.7% per year before 1996 to 2.2% per year after 1999. The yearly proportion of all band recoveries attributed to animal damage control operations also increased over time. The yearly proportion of band returns from Mississippi Delta states increased over time. Mortality rates, both natural and anthropogenic, of cormorants from these colonies appear to have risen as the population has grown and control activities in southern states have increased. Apparent survival rates were estimated by mark-recapture methods during 2001 to 2006. Birds color-banded as adults had a model-averaged annual survival rate of 0.696. For birds banded as nestlings, the model-averaged survival rates were: 0.305 (first year), 0.774 (second and third year), and 0.633 (adults). Simulations of these measured survival rates combined with previously estimated reproductive rates demonstrated that emigration and immigration rates complicate interpretation of these results. Also, simulations demonstrate the potential efficacy of reproductive controls in reducing local breeding populations. [show more]
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| Survival, fidelity, and dispersal of Double-crested Cormorants on two Lake Michigan islands | Survival, fidelity, and dispersal of Double-crested Cormorants on two Lake Michigan islands | Article | Colonial waterbird
Dispersal
Fidelity
Lake Michigan
Multistate model
Phalacrocorax auritus
Survival
Temporary emigration |
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Type:Article Subject:Colonial waterbird
Dispersal
Fidelity
Lake Michigan
Multistate model
Phalacrocorax auritus
Survival
Temporary emigration |
Description:Colony fidelity and dispersal can have important consequences on the population dynamics of colonial-nesting birds. We studied survival and inter-colony movements of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; cormorants) nesting at Spider and Pilot islands, located 9 km apart in western Lake Michigan, during 2008–2014. We used live resighting and dead recovery data from both colonies, plus dead recoveries from throughout North America, in a multistate live and dead encounter model to estimate annual survival, inter-colony movements, plus temporary and permanent emigration to unmonitored sites. Annual survival averaged 0.37 (annual process variation, σ⌢=0.07σ⌢=0.07) for hatch-year, 0.78 (σ⌢=0.08σ⌢=0.08 ) for second-year, and 0.89 (σ⌢=0.04σ⌢=0.04 ) for after-second year birds. The best approximating model recognized only 2 age classes for transition probabilities, indicating little difference in fidelity and movement probabilities after the natal year. Annual fidelity to Spider and Pilot islands averaged 0.53 (σ⌢=0.17σ⌢=0.17 ) and 0.48 (σ⌢=0.24σ⌢=0.24) for second-year and 0.55 (σ⌢=0.23σ⌢=0.23 ) and 0.62 (σ⌢=0.16σ⌢=0.16 ) for after-second year cormorants, respectively, indicating substantial emigration for both age classes. For birds that dispersed, emigration was approximately equally divided among neighboring colonies, temporary emigration sites from which surviving birds subsequently returned, or permanent emigration sites from which birds never returned (but were still encountered through dead recoveries). Our results indicate that Double-crested Cormorants in the Great Lakes have tremendous potential to disperse, which may help to explain their rapid recolonization following historically low populations in the early 1970s.La fidélité à la colonie et la dispersion peuvent avoir des conséquences importantes sur la dynamique des populations d’oiseaux coloniaux. Nous avons étudié la survie et les déplacements inter-colonies de Phalacrocorax auritus (cormorans) nichant sur les îles Spider et Pilot, situées à 9 km l’une de l’autre dans la partie ouest du lac Michigan, en 2008–2014. Nous avons utilisé des données de réobservations d’individus vivants et de récupération d’individus morts des deux colonies, en plus des récupérations d’individus morts provenant de l’ensemble de l’Amérique du Nord, dans un modèle multi-états de rencontres d’individus vivants et morts afin d’estimer la survie annuelle, les déplacements inter-colonies, de même que l’émigration temporaire et permanente vers les sites non suivis. La survie annuelle atteignait en moyenne 0,7 (variation annuelle, σ⌢=0,7σ⌢=0,7 ) pour les jeunes de l’année (HY), 0,8 (σ⌢=0,8σ⌢=0,8 ) pour les jeunes de deuxième année (SY) et 0,9 (σ⌢=0,4σ⌢=0,4 ) pour les oiseaux de plus de deux ans (ASY). Le meilleur modèle d’approximation reconnaissait seulement deux classes d’âge pour les probabilités de transition, indiquant peu de différences dans la fidélité et les probabilités de déplacement après l’année de naissance. La fidélité annuelle envers les îles Spider et Pilot était en moyenne de 0,3 (σ⌢=0,7σ⌢=0,7 ) et 0,8 (σ⌢=0,4σ⌢=0,4 ) pour les SY et 0,5 (σ⌢=0,3σ⌢=0,3 ) et 0,2 (σ⌢=0,6σ⌢=0,6 ) pour les cormorans ASY, respectivement, indiquant une émigration substantielle pour les deux classes d’âge. Pour les oiseaux qui se sont dispersés, l’émigration était approximativement divisée de façon égale entre les colonies voisines, les sites d’émigration temporaires vers lesquels les oiseaux survivants retournaient subséquemment, ou les sites d’émigration permanents où les oiseaux ne sont jamais retournés (mais étaient encore rencontrés via les oiseaux morts retrouvés). Nos résultats indiquent que P. aursitus dans les Grands Lacs possède un potentiel de dispersion considérable, ce qui peut contribuer à expliquer la recolonisation rapide après les niveaux de population historiquement bas au début des années 1970. [show more]
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| Superfund sites, gold mining to Gold Medal water | Superfund sites, gold mining to Gold Medal water | Sound | Upper Arkansas River
Colorado
Fishing
Superfund site cleanup
Superfund sites in Colorado
Wildlife management
Wildlife conservation |
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Type:Sound Subject:Upper Arkansas River
Colorado
Fishing
Superfund site cleanup
Superfund sites in Colorado
Wildlife management
Wildlife conservation |
Description:Some terms naturally go together like "Colorado Parks and Wildlife" and "world-class fishing."
Few would ever add to that list the term “Superfund sites.”
That's because Colorado Parks and Wildlife's 42 parks are recreation meccas. Its 350 wildlife areas boast some of the finest wildlife and aquatic habitat in the state. And even in the United States.
But they weren’t always so pristine. In fact, CPW's aquatic biologists and research scientists have played a key role in transforming rivers and wetlands dangerously polluted by decades of mining and milling into prime fish habitat by restoring the waterways to their historic unspoiled conditions.
They are erasing the dark legacy of gold mining and restoring gold medal fisheries that are known by anglers worldwide and home to threatened or endangered species.
And here to talk about the work that took place along the Upper Arkansas River is Eric Richer, Aquatic Research Scientist and Paul Foutz, Senior Aquatic Biologist for CPW’s Southeast Region. [show more]
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| Student's guide Colorado snowmobile training course | Student's guide Colorado snowmobile training course | Text | Snowmobile training |
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Type:Text Subject:Snowmobile training |
Description:Outdoor sports have always been a way of life to Coloradans. So it will be, in the future, if every participant of every outdoor sport strives to enjoy his liking in a responsible manner. One of the best ways to insure our right to the nonrestricted use of Colorado's outdoor wonderlands for any purpose, is the education of all sportsmen toward responsible recreation, conservation and safety. [show more]
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| Stop the spread of invasive species | Stop the spread of invasive species | Text | Aquatic nuisance species
ANS
Fishing |
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Type:Text Subject:Aquatic nuisance species
ANS
Fishing |
Description:Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) are a significant and rapidly growing threat to Colorado’s water supply and to boating and fishing recreation. ANS are invasive animals, plants, and disease-causing pathogens that are “out of place” in Colorado’s rivers, lakes, streams, and wetlands. They are introduced accidentally or intentionally outside of their native range. Because they are not native to Colorado habitats, they have no natural competitors and predators. Without these checks and balances, the invaders are able to reproduce rapidly and out-compete native species for space and nutrients. ANS have harmful effects on natural resources, water supply systems and recreational opportunities. Once introduced, most invasive species cannot be eradicated and cost millions of dollars to manage. Preventing the introduction and spread of ANS is critical! [show more]
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| Status and trends of moose populations and hunting opportunity in the western United States | Status and trends of moose populations and hunting opportunity in the western United States | Article | Alces alces shirasi
Colorado
Hunter harvest
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Population trends
Range
Shiras moose
Utah
Washington
Wyoming |
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Type:Article Subject:Alces alces shirasi
Colorado
Hunter harvest
Idaho
Montana
Nevada
Oregon
Population trends
Range
Shiras moose
Utah
Washington
Wyoming |
Description:We review the state of knowledge of moose (Alces alces shirasi) in the western US with respect to the species’ range, population monitoring and management, vegetative associations, licensed hunting opportunity and hunter harvest success, and hypothesized limiting factors. Most moose monitoring programs in this region rely on a mixture of aerial surveys of various formats and hunter harvest statistics. However, given the many challenges of funding and collecting rigorous aerial survey data for small and widespread moose populations, biologists in many western states are currently exploring other potential avenues for future population monitoring. In 2015, a total of 2,263 hunting permits were offered among 6 states, with 1,811 moose harvested and an average success rate per permit-holder of 80%. The spatial distribution of permits across the region shows an uneven gradient of hunting opportunity, with some local concentrations of opportunity appearing consistent across state boundaries. On average, hunting opportunity has decreased across 56% of the western US, remained stable across 17%, and increased across 27% during 2005–2015. Generally, declines in hunting opportunity for moose are evident across large portions (62–89%) of the “stronghold” states where moose have been hunted for the longest period of time (e.g., Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming). In contrast, increases in opportunity appear more common at peripheries of the range where populations have expanded, including most of Colorado, northeastern Washington, southern Idaho, and eastern Montana. There are many factors of potential importance to moose in this region, including parasites, predators, climate, forage quality, forage quantity, and humans. State wildlife agencies are currently conducting a variety of research focused on population vital rates, the development of monitoring techniques, forage quality, trace mineral levels, and evaluation of relative impacts among potential limiting factors. [show more]
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| Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in prey abundance and vulnerability shapes the foraging tactics of an omnivore | Spatiotemporal heterogeneity in prey abundance and vulnerability shapes the foraging tactics of an omnivore | Article | Black bear (Ursus americanus)
Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) calves
Cause-specific survival analysis
Foraging tactics
Kill rates
Predation risk
Trophic interaction
Ungulate |
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Type:Article Subject:Black bear (Ursus americanus)
Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) calves
Cause-specific survival analysis
Foraging tactics
Kill rates
Predation risk
Trophic interaction
Ungulate |
Description:
- Prey abundance and prey vulnerability vary across space and time, but we know little about how they mediate predator–prey interactions and predator foraging tactics. To evaluate the interplay between prey abundance, prey vulnerability and predator space use, we examined patterns of black bear (Ursus americanus) predation of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) neonates in Newfoundland, Canada using data from 317 collared individuals (9 bears, 34 adult female caribou, 274 caribou calves).
- During the caribou calving season, we predicted that landscape features would influence calf vulnerability to bear predation, and that bears would actively hunt calves by selecting areas associated with increased calf vulnerability. Further, we hypothesized that bears would dynamically adjust their foraging tactics in response to spatiotemporal changes in calf abundance and vulnerability (collectively, calf availability). Accordingly, we expected bears to actively hunt calves when they were most abundant and vulnerable, but switch to foraging on other resources as calf availability declined.
- As predicted, landscape heterogeneity influenced risk of mortality, and bears displayed the strongest selection for areas where they were most likely to kill calves, which suggested they were actively hunting caribou. Initially, the per-capita rate at which bears killed calves followed a type-I functional response, but as the calving season progressed and calf vulnerability declined, kill rates dissociated from calf abundance. In support of our hypothesis, bears adjusted their foraging tactics when they were less efficient at catching calves, highlighting the influence that predation phenology may have on predator space use. Contrary to our expectations, however, bears appeared to continue to hunt caribou as calf availability declined, but switched from a tactic of selecting areas of increased calf vulnerability to a tactic that maximized encounter rates with calves.
- Our results reveal that generalist predators can dynamically adjust their foraging tactics over short time-scales in response to changing prey abundance and vulnerability. Further, they demonstrate the utility of integrating temporal dynamics of prey availability into investigations of predator–prey interactions, and move towards a mechanistic understanding of the dynamic foraging tactics of a large omnivore.
[show more]
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