Wildlife Ecology and Conservation

Time in the city: Long-term urban exposure predicts greater exploration and problem-solving in wild red foxes

This study finds that long-term urban exposure in red foxes is associated with greater exploration and problem-solving behaviors, while recent urban colonization does not significantly predict these traits.

Sequential predictive e-diagnostics for hidden Markov models of animal movement

The paper introduces sequential predictive e-diagnostics for evaluating hidden Markov models of animal movement, showing their calibration and sensitivity to model misspecifications in simulations and a case study.

Rethinking the movement ecology of Andean bears: temperature-driven cathemerality and seasonal space-use cycles

This paper presents the largest telemetry dataset for Andean bears, revealing temperature-driven cathemerality and seasonal space-use patterns through advanced analytical methods.

Should I stay or should I go? Modelling the decision-making process behind ungulate partial migration

The paper models individual decision-making in ungulate migration, showing that resident numbers depend on environmental cues, social cues, and individual traits, with migration likelihood varying annually.

Continent-wide calibration of camera-trap metrics reveals low population densities in the European wildcat

The paper evaluates alternative metrics for estimating wildlife population density using camera-trap data and finds that Space to Event (STE) provides reliable estimates in data-poor populations, while other metrics show weaker relationships.

'Who Goes There?' Quantifying Scavenger-Carcass Activity at Mass Mortality Events

The paper develops a framework to quantify scavenger-carcass activity using camera-trap data at mass mortality events, finding that mass mortality plots have longer visitation durations and higher contact probabilities than single carcasses.

Diversity and spatiotemporal activity patterns of medium and large mammals in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

The paper analyzes camera-trap data to assess diversity and spatiotemporal activity patterns of medium and large mammals in Niokolo-Koba National Park, finding higher evenness in savannahs and higher sighting rates in forests.

Three-dimensional correlated random walks for animal movement and habitat selection

This paper introduces a three-dimensional step selection function to analyze animal movement and habitat selection, demonstrating its application with Antarctic petrel data.

Evaluating camera trap methods for monitoring population trends in ungulates: insights from simulation

This study evaluates camera trap methods for detecting population trends in ungulates using simulations, finding that both REM and IS methods struggle to detect population declines despite ideal conditions.

Indistinct changes in the mammal fauna between 1986-2017 at Judbarra-Gregory National Park, Northern Territory

The paper examines mammal fauna changes in Judbarra-Gregory National Park from 1986-2017, finding no substantial changes in composition or abundance, but noting some species trends and correlations with fire and vegetation metrics.

Including fitness and health proxies can alter our understanding of habitat selection

This paper shows that incorporating fitness and health proxies in habitat selection analyses can change conclusions about habitat use and conservation priorities.

Latitudinal effects on weight and age-dependent survival of red fox Vulpes vulpes

The paper examines latitudinal effects on body mass and age-dependent survival of red foxes, finding no survival gradient despite a strong weight gradient.

What do fishermen think? Local perspectives on human crocodile co-existence in Lake Nasser

The paper assesses local fishermen's perceptions of Nile crocodiles in Lake Nasser, revealing varied attitudes and the importance of integrating local perspectives in conservation strategies.

Multi-trophic risk from human superpredators may alter predator-prey coexistence and population dynamics.

This study uses agent-based modeling to show human superpredators have a greater impact on mesopredator-prey dynamics than apex predators, especially when lethal interactions are involved.

Automated Parameter Estimation for Camera Trap Density Models Using Computer Vision-Enhanced Distance Sampling

This paper develops an AI-driven pipeline to estimate animal density from camera traps by automatically extracting key parameters using computer vision and a hierarchical distance function.

Drivers of space use in a large semi-urban feral ungulate under seasonally fluctuating resource conditions

This study examines how feral water buffalo adjust their space use in response to seasonal resource changes and human factors in Hong Kong.

Diversity of Mammal Fauna in a Remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the Middle of a Megalopolis

This study documents mammal diversity in an Atlantic Forest fragment within a Brazilian megacity, showing six species persist despite urban pressures.

Combining artificial intelligence and local ecological knowledge to document the largest ever-counted Cape buffalo mega-herd

The paper combines AI and local knowledge to count a large Cape buffalo herd, identifying it as the largest ever documented.

Comparative efficiency of eDNA, camera traps and scat surveys to detect a semi-aquatic mammal across multiple catchments

The paper compares the efficiency of eDNA, camera traps, and scat surveys for detecting Eurasian otters across four catchments in southern France, finding scat surveys most effective and highlighting method complementarity.

Too few, too many, or just right? Optimizing sample sizes for population-level inferences in animal tracking projects

This paper develops a workflow and tool to optimize sample sizes in animal tracking projects for robust population-level inferences.

Megaherbivore mortality risk from temperature extremes is buffered by vegetation productivity but amplified by rainfall

This study shows that megaherbivore mortality risk from temperature extremes is reduced by high vegetation productivity but increased by high rainfall.

Distribution and diet of Central American Clouded Tiger Cat Leopardus pardinoides oncilla via noninvasive genetics

This study defines the geographical and elevational distribution of L. pardinoides oncilla in Central America and provides its first diet analysis using noninvasive genetic methods.

Passive Acoustic Monitoring within the Northwest Forest Plan Area: 2025 Annual Report

The paper reports on the 2025 Passive Acoustic Monitoring program under the Northwest Forest Plan, using machine learning to track owl and murrelet populations across federal lands.

Population-specific drivers of reproductive phenology in a widespread large carnivore, the gray wolf

The paper investigates environmental drivers of reproductive timing in gray wolves across their range, finding daylength and precipitation variability as key factors.

Monitoring data indicates some annual change in the mammal fauna at Nitmiluk National Park between 2005 and 2018 but a reduction in effort confounds any interpretation

The paper re-examines mammal survey data from Nitmiluk National Park between 2005 and 2018, finding little correlation with fire regime but highlighting reduced survey effort as a confounding factor.

Evidence for optimal behavior of predators from parallel field investigations in two distinct wolf-prey systems

The paper investigates wolf foraging behavior in two systems with different prey availability, finding that wolves in less abundant systems increase niche breadth, territory size, and time spent at kills, supporting optimal foraging theory.

Home range size and population density are negatively correlated in wild felids globally

This study finds a negative correlation between home range size and population density in wild felids at both interspecific and intraspecific levels.

Analyzing how habitat degradation drives extinction dynamics using physiologically-structured population models

This study uses physiologically-structured population models to analyze how habitat degradation affects extinction dynamics in a spectacled caiman population.

Segmentation and profile-based classification of movement strategies from animal tracking data

This paper introduces a profile-based framework for classifying animal movement strategies from GPS tracking data, achieving high accuracy with limited training data and providing uncertainty estimates.

Camera trap monitoring of unmarked animals: a map of the relationships between population size estimators

The paper maps mathematical relationships between camera trap density estimators under simplifying assumptions to clarify their interconnections and guide method selection.