Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada
The wolverine is a wide-ranging and frequently at-risk or data-deficient species with dramatic range contractions across the northern hemisphere. Recent reports of low population densities inside and outside protected areas in western North America highlight the need for better conservation practice...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:df15687e123f4e2db31d5dba72bacf9d 2023-10-29T02:36:50+01:00 Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada Gabriel Schepens Karine Pigeon Anne Loosen Anne Forshner Aerin L. Jacob 2023-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 https://doaj.org/article/df15687e123f4e2db31d5dba72bacf9d EN eng Elsevier http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423001750 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 https://doaj.org/article/df15687e123f4e2db31d5dba72bacf9d Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 46, Iss , Pp e02540- (2023) Carnivore Climate change Large landscape conservation Species at risk Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 2023-10-01T00:42:41Z The wolverine is a wide-ranging and frequently at-risk or data-deficient species with dramatic range contractions across the northern hemisphere. Recent reports of low population densities inside and outside protected areas in western North America highlight the need for better conservation practice, policy, and planning across large landscapes. To assess broad habitat needs, we synthesized available wolverine habitat models in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains (63,000 km2), Canada. We used coefficients from four existing models to create spatial predictions over environmental datasets including snow, landcover, and roads. We averaged predictions using the distance-weighted mean of equal-area percentile habitat values and validated the output by comparison to independent data. Because persistent spring snow is tightly correlated with high-quality habitat, we assessed 2080 spring snow cover forecasts (under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 high emissions scenario) to identify potential habitat refugia in British Columbia. Our synthesized habitat model identified high-quality habitat along mountain ranges, notably in the Purcell Mountains and the Columbia Icefield in the Rocky Mountains. Mean habitat value was 0.70 (SD: 0.19) inside protected areas and 0.55 (SD: 0.28) outside protected areas. The British Columbia side of the study area is forecasted to lose 44% of persistent spring snow cover by 2080, with declines identified inside many protected areas. By synthesizing existing habitat research and climate forecasts, we provided new insights at the broad spatial scale needed to conserve wide-ranging species like wolverine and to inform land-use planning for recreational access and the establishment and management of protected and conserved areas. Article in Journal/Newspaper Gulo gulo Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Global Ecology and Conservation 46 e02540 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Carnivore Climate change Large landscape conservation Species at risk Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Carnivore Climate change Large landscape conservation Species at risk Ecology QH540-549.5 Gabriel Schepens Karine Pigeon Anne Loosen Anne Forshner Aerin L. Jacob Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
topic_facet |
Carnivore Climate change Large landscape conservation Species at risk Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
The wolverine is a wide-ranging and frequently at-risk or data-deficient species with dramatic range contractions across the northern hemisphere. Recent reports of low population densities inside and outside protected areas in western North America highlight the need for better conservation practice, policy, and planning across large landscapes. To assess broad habitat needs, we synthesized available wolverine habitat models in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains (63,000 km2), Canada. We used coefficients from four existing models to create spatial predictions over environmental datasets including snow, landcover, and roads. We averaged predictions using the distance-weighted mean of equal-area percentile habitat values and validated the output by comparison to independent data. Because persistent spring snow is tightly correlated with high-quality habitat, we assessed 2080 spring snow cover forecasts (under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 high emissions scenario) to identify potential habitat refugia in British Columbia. Our synthesized habitat model identified high-quality habitat along mountain ranges, notably in the Purcell Mountains and the Columbia Icefield in the Rocky Mountains. Mean habitat value was 0.70 (SD: 0.19) inside protected areas and 0.55 (SD: 0.28) outside protected areas. The British Columbia side of the study area is forecasted to lose 44% of persistent spring snow cover by 2080, with declines identified inside many protected areas. By synthesizing existing habitat research and climate forecasts, we provided new insights at the broad spatial scale needed to conserve wide-ranging species like wolverine and to inform land-use planning for recreational access and the establishment and management of protected and conserved areas. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Gabriel Schepens Karine Pigeon Anne Loosen Anne Forshner Aerin L. Jacob |
author_facet |
Gabriel Schepens Karine Pigeon Anne Loosen Anne Forshner Aerin L. Jacob |
author_sort |
Gabriel Schepens |
title |
Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
title_short |
Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
title_full |
Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
title_fullStr |
Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (Gulo gulo): Identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada |
title_sort |
synthesis of habitat models for management of wolverine (gulo gulo): identifying key habitat and snow refugia in the columbia and rocky mountains, canada |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 https://doaj.org/article/df15687e123f4e2db31d5dba72bacf9d |
genre |
Gulo gulo |
genre_facet |
Gulo gulo |
op_source |
Global Ecology and Conservation, Vol 46, Iss , Pp e02540- (2023) |
op_relation |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423001750 https://doaj.org/toc/2351-9894 2351-9894 doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 https://doaj.org/article/df15687e123f4e2db31d5dba72bacf9d |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02540 |
container_title |
Global Ecology and Conservation |
container_volume |
46 |
container_start_page |
e02540 |
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1781061020322627584 |