Ungulate migrations of the western United States, volume 2

Kauffman, Matthew J.; Lowrey, Blake; Beck, Jeffrey; Berg, Jodi; Bergen, Scott; Berger, Joël; Cain, James W.; Dewey, Sarah R.; Diamond, Jennifer R.; Duvuvuei, Orrin; Fattebert, Julien; Gagnon, Jeff; García, Julia Alonso; Hall, Embere; Harper, Glenn; Harter, Stan; Hersey, Kent R.; Hnilicka, Pat; Hurley, Mark A.; Knox, Lee; Lawson, Art; Maichak, Eric J.; Meacham, James E.; Merkle, Jerod A.; Middleton, Arthur D.; Olson, Daniel G.; Olson, Luke C.; Reddell, Craig; Robb, Benjamin; Rozman, Gabe; Sawyer, Hall; Schroeder, Cody; Scurlock, Brandon M.; Short, Jeff; Sprague, Scott; Steingisser, Alethea; Tatman, Nicole M.

doi:10.3133/sir20225008

Cited by 9 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…Based on our analysis above, simulations of how speed, BMV and fix rate affect corridor width (Appendix S1), previous work with BBMM (Kauffman et al, 2022;Kauffman, Cagnacci, et al, 2021) and our expert judgement, we suggest functional corridor widths of 400-600 m (i.e. line buffers of 200-300 m) are reasonable starting points for individual mule deer and pronghorn migration corridors.…”

Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 74%

Conserving habitat for migratory ungulates: How wide is a migration corridor?

Merkle

Lowrey

Wallace

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Conserving migratory ungulates relies on the analysis of GPS collar data and associated maps of migration corridors to inform management and policy actions. Current methods for identifying migratory corridors use complex statistical models designed to account for movement uncertainty rather than estimating the amount of space required by animals to migrate. Furthermore, such methods can complicate conservation efforts by producing highly variable corridor widths and non‐contiguous corridors that do not fully connect seasonal ranges. To remedy, we propose an intuitive line buffer approach for delineating individual migration corridors that is simple to implement and focuses on the functional corridor widths needed by migratory ungulates. By buffering a line that connects successive GPS locations, we can delineate individual migration corridors with consistent widths that are robust to variable parameters (GPS fix rate, travel speed, tortuosity) and provide contiguous connection between seasonal ranges. Using a combination of expert knowledge, simulation and 10‐min GPS collar data collected from mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), we suggest 400–600 m are reasonable estimates of functional migration corridor widths for individuals of those species. Synthesis and applications. Our line buffer approach is intended to simplify migration corridor delineation, improve transparency and encourage a broader discussion of functional corridor widths. These considerations help advance efforts to conserve habitat within migration corridors and prioritize conservation efforts within a single corridor or across multiple corridors.

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Section: F I G U R Ementioning

confidence: 74%

Conserving habitat for migratory ungulates: How wide is a migration corridor?

Merkle

Lowrey

Wallace

et al. 2023

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Widespread use of GPS collars, through programs like those associated with the US Department of the Interior Secretarial Order 3362, has made ungulate migration routes and key seasonal ranges widely available. For example, the US Geological Survey is now collaborating with state wildlife agencies to collate and provide access to ungulate migration and winter range data for the western US (Kauffman et al 2020). Armed with these types of data, solar developers and regulators could improve USSE siting and design layouts to minimize impacts to ungulates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the US Geological Survey is now collaborating with state wildlife agencies to collate and provide access to ungulate migration and winter range data for the western US (Kauffman et al . 2020). Armed with these types of data, solar developers and regulators could improve USSE siting and design layouts to minimize impacts to ungulates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trade‐offs between utility‐scale solar development and ungulates on western rangelands

Sawyer¹,

Korfanta

Kauffman

et al. 2022

Frontiers in Ecol & Environ

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Utility-scale solar energy (USSE) has become an efficient and cost-effective form of renewable energy, with an expanding footprint into rangelands that provide important habitat for many wild ungulate populations. Using global positioning system data collected before and after construction, we documented the potential impacts of USSE on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana), including direct habitat loss, indirect habitat loss, and barrier effects to both resident and migratory population segments. Our case study highlights the challenges that USSE poses to ungulate conservation, including (1) impermeable security fencing that blocks access to and reduces connectivity between formerly available habitats, and (2) the lack of guidelines for minimizing USSE impacts on ungulates. Improved siting and ungulate-specific best management practices would help to minimize habitat loss and retain landscape connectivity. Ungulate biodiversity and ecosystem services (for example, services provided by long-distance migratory species) in arid rangelands are important considerations when balancing the global benefits of renewable energy with local wildlife impacts.

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“…Moreover, spatial memory of the migration route had an extraordinary influence on migration, affecting movements manifold stronger than tracking spring green-up or autumn snow depth [56], and was characterized by strong fidelity [13,44,58]. Such spatial memory along with resource tracking allowed deer to repeatedly use the same migratory routes of 820 km round-trip [56,59]. Consequentially, the loss of migratory traditions will thus expunge generations of knowledge about the locations of high-quality forage and likely suppress population abundance [10,12], and leave pockets of potential habitat unoccupied because of the lost memory of viable migratory routes [13].…”

Section: Processes Of Migration and Geographic Expansion To New Habit...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of Migratory Traditions Makes the Endangered Patagonian Huemul Deer a Year-Round Refugee in Its Summer Habitat

Flueck

Smith-Flueck

Escobar³

et al. 2022

Conservation

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The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is endangered, with 1500 deer split into >100 subpopulations along 2000 km of Andes. Currently occupied areas are claimed-erroneously, to be critical prime habitats. We analyzed historical spatiotemporal behavior since current patterns represent only a fraction of pre-Columbian ones. Given the limited knowledge, the first group (n = 6) in Argentina was radio-marked to examine spatial behavior. Historically, huemul resided year-round in winter ranges, while some migrated seasonally, some using grasslands >200 km east of their current presence, reaching the Atlantic. Moreover, huemul anatomy is adapted to open unforested habitats, also corroborated by spotless fawns. Extreme naivety towards humans resulted in early extirpation on many winter ranges—preferentially occupied by humans, resulting in refugee huemul on surrounding mountain summer ranges. Radio-marked huemul remained in small ranges with minimal altitudinal movements, as known from other subpopulations. However, these resident areas documented here are typical summer ranges as evidenced by past migrations, and current usage for livestock. The huemul is the only cervid known to use mountain summer ranges year-round in reaction to anthropogenic activities. Losing migratory traditions is a major threat, and may explain their presently prevalent skeletal diseases, reduced longevity, and lacking recolonizations for most remaining huemul subpopulations.

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Ungulate migrations of the western United States, volume 2

Cited by 9 publications

References 1 publication

Conserving habitat for migratory ungulates: How wide is a migration corridor?

Conserving habitat for migratory ungulates: How wide is a migration corridor?

Trade‐offs between utility‐scale solar development and ungulates on western rangelands

Loss of Migratory Traditions Makes the Endangered Patagonian Huemul Deer a Year-Round Refugee in Its Summer Habitat

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