Migratory nectarivorous bats provide important ecological services throughout their ranges, particularly for their food plants. These services include pollinating food plants, dispersing seeds, and reducing genetic isolation in plant populations. However, many important food plants occur in imperiled ecosystems, particularly in tropical dry forests. We assessed the conservation status of lands containing high richness of food plants for three migratory nectarivores—the Mexican long-tongued bat (Choeronycteris mexicana), the Mexican long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris nivalis), and the lesser long-nosed bat (Leptonycteris yerbabuenae)—throughout their ranges including migratory, transition, and resident habitat zones. We found low to moderate levels of land protection in regions with high chiropterophilic plant diversity, but this may be offset by sustainable agroforestry, cultivation, and in-situ management. The models we used are available as an ArcGIS map package to help allocate conservation and restoration efforts on the ground. Our results support the need for greater land protection throughout the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental to increase contiguity of protected lands and potential stopover habitat for migratory nectarivorous bats. Additionally, our data show the need for greater land protection in southern resident zones to enhance year-round habitat for nectarivorous bats in the face of rapid deforestation.

The majority of tallgrass prairie has been converted to agriculture over the past two centuries. Restoration projects have sought to increase the quality and size of prairie fragments, with the potential to increase grassland breeding bird habitat. American bison (Bison bison) are being reintroduced to prairie restoration sites and the immediate impacts of these reintroductions are unclear. Our goal was to understand how bison reintroduction influences grassland bird nests and the potential mechanisms behind any change. We measured nest density, nest success, and brood parasitism with a before-after-control-impact (BACI) design to determine if bison influenced pooled nesting success of breeding passerines and field sparrows (Spizella pusilla), the most common nester. In addition, we measured visual obstruction and avian species composition to determine if they changed after the reintroduction. Bison did not influence nest density, brood parasitism, or visual obstruction. Pooled nest success was higher during the first 2 y in bison sites after the reintroduction but decreased the following 2 y. Bird species composition differed slightly between areas with and without bison, but this was not due to the reintroduction and was likely due to other site characteristics. Field sparrow nest success was higher before and after reintroduction in bison sites and drove the pooled nest success results in bison sites. Caution should be taken when interpreting pooled nest data, but these results suggest that bison did not negatively impact nest success of grassland nesting birds immediately following their reintroduction (<5 y).

Prescribed fire has increasingly been used to manage and restore eastern oak (Quercus spp.) forests. Fire has the potential to influence habitat use by forest-dwelling small mammals, including species of conservation concern such as the Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister). Thus, an understanding of how Allegheny woodrats respond to habitat changes caused by fire is of increasing importance. We investigated the effects of prescribed fire on a population of Allegheny woodrats in a mixed-oak forest in south-central Pennsylvania. We surveyed 18 rock outcrops for Allegheny woodrats using remote game cameras in September–October 2019. We fit single-season occupancy models in Program PRESENCE to examine the effects of site covariates related to burn history (burned or unburned) and burn frequency (number of burns), topography, and vegetation structure and composition on occupancy (Ψ) of Allegheny woodrats while accounting for imperfect detection (p). In 252 camera trap-nights, we recorded 356 detections of Allegheny woodrats at 50% of sites surveyed. Top-ranked occupancy models (ΔAIC_c ≤ 2) indicated that Allegheny woodrat occupancy was positively related to burn frequency, overstory tree species richness, and elevation; however, the effects of these covariates were not significant. Our results suggest that low-intensity prescribed fire implemented at moderate (3–5 y) return intervals in oak forests is unlikely to impact Allegheny woodrat populations, but the effects of more frequent and intense fires remain unknown. Additional studies are needed to determine how Allegheny woodrats respond to post-fire vegetation regrowth and recovery over time.

Overabundance of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) constitutes a threat to the biological diversity and ecosystem function of forested natural areas. Managers of Eagle Creek Park, a large forested park in Marion County, Indiana, that is surrounded by densely populated residential housing, implemented a deer population reduction program in 2014 to reduce negative impacts to park ecosystems. Starting in 2013, we instituted a monitoring program within two nature preserves imbedded within Eagle Creek Park to track the response of vegetation communities to population reductions. We found positive response in the heights of two published indicator species, Arisaema triphyllum (jack-in-the-pulpit) and Actaea pachypoda (white baneberry). We also observed increased richness and density of native woody species and an overall reduction in the proportion of twigs browsed at both preserves. The reduction efforts coincided with heavy mortality of overstory Fraxinus (ash) trees from emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Consequently, while we observed recovery of native woody species at both sites, one of the preserves also experienced a large increase in the abundance of nonnative woody plants in response to increased light availability and reduced browse pressure. Overall, our monitoring showed that deer population reductions have allowed the recovery of vegetation communities in the park. However, continued monitoring is needed to track vegetation community response to continued management of the deer population in conjunction with other human pressures on biological communities in the park.

Ecosystem services (ES) have been well studied in most biomes, but the Arctic tundra has received little attention, despite covering over 10% of terrestrial Earth. Using established ES methodologies, we calculated values (in 2016 USD) for the United States Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a region virtually undisturbed by humans, but slated for future oil and gas drilling. We estimated the Refuge is worth about 1957 USD/hectare/year, equal to over 15 billion USD annually. Globally important services, such as climate regulation (e.g., carbon storage) and non-use services (e.g., aesthetic information), contributed the most value and were similar to valuations from more productive ecosystems. Local services made smaller contributions to the total, but they remain vitally important to local indigenous cultures. Strikingly, a contingent valuation survey of US residents found that, after neutral educational information, willingness-to-pay to maintain the Refuge in its current state exceeded estimated values of the oil and gas deposits. Our study shows that citizens may value Arctic habitats beyond their traditional economic development potential. Our comprehensive ecosystem services valuation suggests that maintaining the Refuge in its current condition (i.e., de facto wilderness) with its full range of ES is more valuable to humanity compared to development for oil and gas.

Tradescantia fluminensis (small-leaf spiderwort; SLSW) is a fast-growing herbaceous groundcover and one of the most problematic invasive plants in Florida. The objective of this research was to determine the efficacy of selected postemergence herbicides for SLSW control in greenhouse and field experiments in Florida. An additional objective was to determine if pre-cutting plants would increase herbicidal efficacy. In greenhouse experiments, cutting mature SLSW plants increased the control of most herbicides evaluated. Overall, triclopyr ester provided the highest level of control along with triclopyr amine, triclopyr choline, and glufosinate, all of which were similar. Few differences were observed between 2,4-D, aminopyralid, metsulfuron-methyl, sulfentrazone, and glyphosate and all provided ≤66% control as evidenced by shoot weight reduction. In field experiments, pre-cutting SLSW had no effect on herbicide efficacy. Triclopyr was again generally the most efficacious treatment, outperforming glyphosate, aminopyralid, glufosinate, and fluroxypyr on most evaluation dates, especially as trials progressed past 5 mo. Overall, data suggest that triclopyr would be the most effective option for SLSW management. However, as efficacy was noted with fluroxypyr, glyphosate, and glufosinate depending upon location, other options exist. Further research is needed to determine reapplication intervals and effects on nontarget native plants in order to develop comprehensive management plans.

Mojave Desert shrublands are home to unique plants and wildlife and are experiencing rapid habitat change due to unprecedented large-scale disturbances; yet, established practices to effectively restore disturbed landscapes are not well developed. A priority species list of native plant taxa was developed to guide seed collectors, commercial growers, resource managers, and restoration practitioners in support of the Bureau of Land Management's Mojave Desert Native Plant Program. We identify focal plant taxa that are important for habitats of the threatened Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a widely distributed herbivore in low and middle elevations, and pollinator taxa, including mostly Lepidopterans and Apoidean bees, some of whose populations are in decline. We identified 201 unique plant taxa in the diets of tortoises, and 49 taxa that provide thermal cover for tortoises with some overlapping taxa that provide both diet and cover. We discuss 134 native pollinators associated with plants used for nectaring, larval hosts, or cover and nesting materials. Detailed plant species accounts describing the status-of-knowledge for 57 plant taxonomic groups including detailed information on life history, ecology, and pollinator syndrome relevant to restoration success, methods of seed harvesting, propagation, and historical use in restoration. Our approach for developing a priority plant species list for the Mojave Desert provides a data-guided listing of species for restoration practitioners and identifies knowledge gaps for future investigation.

Outdoor recreation in natural areas is a popular activity among people of various backgrounds. However, how recreationists use natural spaces has implications on the well-being of life in these spaces. Nonconformist behaviors, or actions that go against the rules or expectations of an area, are of special interest due to the higher potential for these types of behaviors to have harmful impacts on the ecosystem. Understanding the environmental characteristics that are predictive of nonconformist behavior can be especially valuable to land managers interested in curbing such behaviors in a targeted way. In this study, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin was surveyed with the objective of locating signs of nonconformist behaviors. Such instances were recorded using a GPS unit and analyzed using MaxEnt software to determine the extent to which environmental predictors influenced where these behaviors occurred, and to predict where in the refuge nonconformist behaviors are likely to occur in the future. Close proximity to trails and parking lots, along with the elevation in a given area, proved to be the factors that had the greatest influence on locations of nonconformist behavior. By determining the factors most associated with where people break refuge rules, these results can contribute to proper management strategies at Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge and other wildlife refuges.