Editorial: Ecology, impact, and management of squirrel invasions

aburnett93 — Wed, 16 Aug 2023 17:36:58 +0000

Authors

Valentina La Morgia

Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto

Tim Adriaens

Additional Information

Frontiers in Ecology & Evolution

Date of publication:

2023

Topics

population management

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Invasive Species

McDonald, L. L., T. R. Stanley, D. L. Otis, D. E. Biggins, P. D. Stevens, J. L. Koprowski, W. Ballard. 2011. Recommended methods for range-wide monitoring of prairie dogs in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report. 2011–

thackerk1 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:44:01 +0000

Authors

Lyman L. McDonald

Thomas R. Stanley

David L. Otis

Dean E. Biggins

Patricia D. Stevens

John L. Koprowski

Warren Ballard

One of the greatest challenges for conserving grassland, prairie scrub, and shrub-steppe ecosystems is maintaining prairie dog populations across the landscape. Of the four species of prairie dogs found in the United States, the Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) is listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as threatened, the Gunnison's prairie dog (C. gunnisoni) is a candidate for listing in a portion of its range, and the black-tailed prairie dog (C. ludovicianus) and white-tailed prairie dog (C. leucurus) have each been petitioned for listing at least once in recent history. Although the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) determined listing is not warranted for either the black-tailed prairie dog or white-tailed prairie dog, the petitions and associated reviews demonstrated the need for the States to monitor and manage for self-sustaining populations. In response to these findings, a multi-State conservation effort was initiated for the nonlisted species which included the following proposed actions: (1) completing an assessment of each prairie dog species in each State, (2) developing a range-wide monitoring protocol for each species using a statistically valid sampling procedure that would allow comparable analyses across States, and (3) monitoring prairie dog status every 3-5 years depending upon the species. To date, each State has completed an assessment and currently is monitoring prairie dog status; however, for some species, the inconsistency in survey methodology has made it difficult to compare data year-to-year or State-to-State. At the Prairie Dog Conservation Team meeting held in November 2008, there was discussion regarding the use of different methods to survey prairie dogs. A recommendation from this meeting was to convene a panel in a workshop-type forum and have the panel review the different methods being used and provide recommendations for range-wide monitoring protocols for each species of prairie dog. Consequently, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA), in coordination with USFWS and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), hosted a prairie dog species survey methodology workshop January 25-28, 2010 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The workshop provided all WAFWA partners and interested parties the opportunity to present their survey methodology to a review panel made up of experts in the fields of quantitative biology, population biology, species biology, and biostatistics. This report presents the panel's survey methodology recommendations for each of the four species of prairie dogs found in the United States and, for the black-tailed prairie dog, a list of action items to facilitate implementation of the recommended methodology.

Additional Information

Date of publication:

2011

Topics

population management

Utah prairie dog

Gunnison's prairie dog

black-tailed prairie dog

white-tailed prairie dog

monitor

Lurz, P. W. W., J. L. Koprowski, and D. J. Wood. 2008. The use of GIS and modelling approaches in squirrel population management and conservation: a review. Current Science 95(7): 918-922.

thackerk1 — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 22:38:01 +0000

Authors

P. W. W. Lurz

John L. Koprowski

D. J. A. Wood

We review modelling approaches in relation to three key areas of sciurid ecology: management, disease risk assessments and conservation. Models enable us to explore different scenarios to develop effective management and conservation strategies. They may also assist in identifying and targeting research needs for tree and flying squirrels. However, there is a need to refine techniques and assure that data used are applicable at the appropriate scale. Models allow managers to make informed decisions to help conserve species, but success requires that the utility of the tool be evaluated as new empirical data become available and models re- fined to more accurately meet the needs of current conservation scenarios.