Conservation success often hinges on our ability to link demography with implementable management actions to influence population growth (λ). Nest success is demonstrated to be important to λ in greater sage-grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, an imperiled species in the North American sagebrush-steppe. Enhancing this vital rate through management represents an opportunity to increase bird numbers inside population strongholds. We identified management for grass height as an action that can improve nest success in an analysis of sage-grouse nests (n = 529) from a long-term study (2003–2007) in the Powder River Basin, southeast Montana and northeast Wyoming, USA. Average grass height by study area and year varied (11.4–29.2 cm) but its positive effects on nest survival were consistent among study years and study areas that differed in absolute rates of nest success. We tested the predictive ability of models by grouping output from log-link analyses (2004–2006) into two bins with nest success probabilities < 0.45 and > 0.55, and validated the relationship with additional data from 2003 and 2007. Nests with probabilities > 0.55 were 1.64 (2004–2006) to 3.11 (2007) times more likely to hatch than those < 0.45, except in 2003 when an early wet spring resulted in universally high grass height at nest sites (29.2 cm) and high predicted nest success (64%). The high predictive power of grass height illustrates its utility as a management tool to increase nest success within priority landscapes. Relationships suggest that managing grass height during drought may benefit sage-grouse populations.

Winter supplementary feeding is widespread in large game management. As it is very expensive, it is important to know how essential this feeding may be for populations of game like red deer Cervus elaphus. Game managers typically observe only the disappearance of feed, but do not measure the consumption from the perspective of the animal, so the importance of feeding programs is often uncertain. During the winter of 2007–2008 we determined the consumption by red deer of two feed types (maize silage and apple pomace which is the residue from pressing apples) commonly offered at feeding plots in Hungary in two study areas. We simultaneously utilised two complementary methods: microhistological analysis of faeces and rumen content, and macroscopic observation of natural and artificially mixed food markers. Based on our analyses, 20 to 90% of the red deer (among different dates and measures) had eaten the supplementary food. However, the proportion of supplementary food in the red deer droppings collected in the immediate surroundings of the feeding plots was always very low (< 10%). This indicates that not every individual of the red deer population visits the feeders, or if does, eats a rather small amount of the provided food. Our data strongly suggests that supplementary food did not play a large role in the diet of the red deer individuals regularly visiting these sites. We emphasise that the mere observation that supplementary food regularly vanishes from the feeder does not necessarily mean that even one individual red deer has gained a significant biological advantage which would result in additional financial profit for the game manager later. Managers considering supplementary feeding should evaluate the quality of the forest area because the natural food supply can greatly influence the use of the feeding plots.

The objective of this study is to inventory the current genetic diversity of the bison quarantine feasibility study (BQFS) herd originating from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) using previously described microsatellite, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers with the aim to determine the degree, if any, of cattle DNA introgression in this herd. This work can provide an important tool in monitoring and managing bison genetic diversity as brucellosis-free reintroduced herds are re-established throughout the US for conservation purposes. The BQFS composed of 89 Bison bison from YNP that were quarantined and tested to qualify as free of brucellosis in 2006–2007. Understanding genetic diversity of the herd is important to determine if any genetic characteristics such as cattle DNA introgression or low genetic diversity may threaten the herd's protected status. We evaluated genetic diversity at 42 microsatellite loci representing each of the nuclear chromosomes in the bison genome. We found no detectable evidence of cattle DNA introgression in this herd through nuclear markers and mitochondrial DNA analysis. Parentage analysis of the BQFS herd indicated that the majority of mature adults were actively breeding and contributing offspring. Genetic diversity levels in the quarantined herd were high and comparable to the YNP parent herd, suggesting a low risk of genetic loss in the near future. Based on these findings, the genetic diversity currently available within the BQFS herd will provide a strong foundation for bison reintroduced herds and for the preservation of the species.

Population size estimates must be comparable through time to interpret trends in threatened carnivore populations. Because prey distribution and dynamics drive carnivore distribution, and sampling methods often utilise behavioural responses to attractants, habitat variability among sampling occasions may confound such estimates. We explored whether a marked and unexpected reduction in lion Panthera leo population size estimates in Kruger National Park, was real or represented changes in behavioural responses to call-up stations given reduced rainfall between sampling periods. Rainfall drives savannah landscape heterogeneity, surface water and lion prey food availability. Hence landscape factors should more strongly influence lion behaviour during dryer conditions. We compared proportion of stations visited and mean numbers visiting stations, among three sampling years (2005, 2006 and 2008) belonging to the two sampling periods 2005/2006 and 2008. We then modelled the influence of landscape factors and spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta presence on visits and numbers. We distinguished behavioural from real changes by simulating pseudo-absences of cubs (these are observations of females which do have cubs but did not show up with them at calling stations) and comparing observed with predicted population estimates. Adult males responded similarly among sampling years. However, in 2008 the driest year, adult females and those with cubs visited a lower proportion of stations, and landscape influences on these groups was stronger. A switch from rainfall explaining adult females with cubs visiting stations during wetter sampling years, to distance to rivers in 2008 confirmed landscape driven changes in lion responses consistent with prey distribution in dry conditions. However, simulations indicated that while behavioural responses accounted for some population reduction, some was real. Reduced rainfall induced behavioural effects were difficult to unravel from real population size changes. We advocate caution when interpreting trends from lion population estimates reliant on behavioural responses subject to variability in landscape factors. Particularly, for estimators sensitive to behavioural changes in females with cubs — the demographic component most affected by variable conditions.

We compared the diet and the spatial distribution of the Tibetan fox Vulpes ferrilata and the red fox Vulpes vulpes in the Tibetan plateau, to elucidate mechanisms of coexistence for these two sympatric canids and to clarify their roles as definitive hosts for zoonotic Echinococcus parasites. Diet and fine-scale distribution patterns were assessed by fecal DNA analysis. A total of 45 fecal samples (15 belonging to Tibetan fox, 30 belonging to red fox were collected from 15 sites into three of which contained only Tibetan fox feces, six only red fox feces, and six contained feces of both species. The abundance of pika burrows, a key prey item for both species, did not differ among the sites. Food composition analysis, estimated using a point-frame method, revealed slight but insignificant differences between the two species. Tibetan foxes consumed primarily mammals, whereas red foxes consumed primarily insects. The dietary range of the Tibetan fox was narrower than that of the red fox but there was little dietary overlap between the two species. These findings suggest that the weak partitioning of food resources between Tibetan and red foxes can facilitate their coexistence even within the same habitat where they share the same key prey items, i.e. small mammals such as pikas. These dietary differences between the two fox species also suggest that the Tibetan fox is a more important definitive host for Echinococcus on the Tibetan plateau than is the red fox.

Effective management of any population involves decisions based on the levels of abundance at particular points in time. Hence the choice of an appropriate method to estimate abundance is critical. Deer are not native to Australia and are a declared pest in some states where their numbers must be controlled in environmentally sensitive areas. The aim of this research was to help Australian land managers choose between widely used methods to count deer. We compared population estimates or indices from: distance sampling, aerial surveys, spotlight counts, and faecal pellet counts. For each we estimated the labour input, cost, and precision. The coefficient of variation varied with method and time of year from 8.7 to 36.6%. Total labour input per sampling event varied from 11 to 136 h. Total costs of vehicles and equipment per sampling event varied from AU$913 to $2966. Overall, the spotlight method performed the best at our study site when comparing labour input, total cost and precision. However, choice of the most precise, cost effective method will be site specific and rely on information collected from a pilot study, We provide recommendations to help land managers choose between possible methods in various circumstances.