Biolinks Alliance’s Post

Read the latest peer-reviewed article on our website, Assessing Ecological and Socio-Political Factors in Site Selection for Ocelot Reintroduction in Texas. The authors describe an assessment to identify potential sites for reintroducing the endangered ocelot in Texas, where 97% of land is privately owned. Their assessment incorporates ecological factors like vegetation cover and threats as well as socio-political factors related to land ownership patterns and potential landowner support. Click the link below to see how a geospatial analysis evaluated sites based on habitat size, ocelot ecological requirements, possible threats, and socio-political factors like land ownership fragmentation. #eastfoundation #ckwri #nri #peerreviewed #privateland #southtexas #ocelot #habitat #ranchland #wildlife #management #conservation #stewardship Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute-Texas A&M University Kingsville Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute https://lnkd.in/gEit-6PX Martinez, L., J.V. Lombardi, G. Powers, A.D. Anderson, T.A. Campbell and R.R. Lopez. 2024. Assessing ecological and socio-political factors in site selection for ocelot reintroductions in Texas. Conservation Science and Practice e13113. https://lnkd.in/gnTRBqeR (East Foundation Manuscript 099)

It's officially spring and the remarkable spectacle of bird migration is happening all around us as migratory waterfowl and other bird species return north to breed. As more species begin to appear, we're excited to share another DUC Migration Tracker featured observation with you. This pair of tree swallows was observed by iNaturalist user johndreynolds in Burnaby, BC. Tree swallows belong to a group of birds called aerial insectivores—this means they mostly eat insects while flying. Aerial insectivores have experienced some of the steepest declines in their populations of any group of birds in Canada. The good news? DUC-funded research, conducted by our partners at the University of Saskatchewan, suggests that conserving wetlands within agricultural landscapes is part of the conservation solution. Observations such as this play a vital role in gathering data that informs our conservation efforts. We invite you to join our #DUCMigrationTracker project on #iNaturalist today at: https://loom.ly/VAdQQVE #DucksUnlimitedCanada #SpringMigration #BirdMigration #CommunityScience #Science #Research #Habitat #Conservation

The plight of gliders, from the cat-sized Greater Glider to the miniscule Feathertail Glider, capture the hearts and minds of many people. Don't miss the chance to learn more about these adorable creatures (many of which are threatened) and the initiatives to protect them at our upcoming webinar, Glideways in Central Victoria. This is the second webinar in our 2024 monthly series (note, the first webinar booked out quickly, so best to register now!). Date: Monday 29 April Time: 6pm to 6.45pm Register now (spaces are limited): https://lnkd.in/gCdg6t7A Glideways in Central Victoria is an ambitious, collaborative program that looks to protect and restore habitat for gliders and phascogales in our region. At this upcoming webinar, learn about this initiative, along with some of the great work being done to understand where threatened gliders live in our landscape and what can be done to protect their future. The webinar includes a Q&A with our expert presenters. 🌳 Ecologist, Dr. Chris Pocknee (Biolinks Alliance) Chris will offer an overview of Glideways in Central Victoria as a whole and introduce one of Victoria’s threatened glider species - the Squirrel Glider. Chris will also touch on projects that Biolinks Alliance is partnering on to understand the distribution of Squirrel Gliders in Central Victoria and how local communities can work to ensure these populations persist. 🌳 Ecologist, Bertram Lobert (Strathbogies Ranges Conservation) Bert is an experienced ecologist with particular expertise on the arboreal mammals of the region. Bert will talk about two Greater Glider monitoring projects in the Strathbogies region with contrasting results and discuss some of the reasons for their different findings. Image: Krefft's (Sugar) Glider sticking its head out of a nest box. Image credit: Cameron O'Mara, Biolinks Alliance Heathcote Local to Landscape Facilitator. #Webinar #Gliders #NaturePositive #ProtectBiodiversity #ProtectNature #BiolinksAlliance

Winter Spotlight: Habitat Management 🍃   As we embrace the colder (and wetter) months, our dedicated teams are busy out in the field, delivering crucial habitat management services:   • De-vegetation and ecology clearance • Landscaping and site preparation • Mechanised tree removal • British Standard tree protection • Installation of reptile fencing   Winter is the ideal time for these activities, minimising ecological disruption and setting the stage for spring growth.   #SustainableConstruction #AmetGroup #HabitatManagement  

The Rafael Kuusakoski Memorial Fund has awarded grants totaling €48,300 to support young researchers and projects focused on Baltic Sea birds, marine ecology, climate, and landscape conservation. 🕊️ The awarded projects explore topics such as forest integrity and corridors on wildlife species, the impact of climate change on wildlife habitats, the effects of wetland management on bird biodiversity, the changing environment of the Baltic Sea, the role of standing dead wood in nature conservation, the effects of drainage and restoration on beetles as well as the incubation behavior of long-lived seabirds under ecological stressors. Each project contributes valuable insights into the challenges facing our environment and underscores the importance of conservation efforts. 🌱 Find out more about the grant winners from the link in the comments. #Kuusakoski #KuusakoskiRecycling #ResearchGrants #RafaelKuusakoskiMemorialFund #BalticSea #YoungScientists

Yew Hill Reservoir is set to spread its wings and become a haven for rare fauna and butterflies🦋 Having carried out improvements at the site over the past five years, we’re working closely with Butterfly Conservation to restore the site to its former glory, which has so far involved sowing over 80kg of local wildflower seed🌼🌷 Ben, an Ecologist here at Southern Water working on the project said: “The wildflower seed collection we have done here is the ‘gold standard’ approach for restoring grassland habitats, and creates a precedent that can be followed by Southern Water in future projects. “We’re committed to protecting the landscape around our sites and we believe our approach of using high-quality local seed will deliver the best results for the ecology of this area”. Read more on the project here👉 https://ow.ly/yfSq50UpIQC #SouthernWater #SWSnaps

Did you know that driving to Banff takes you through Canada's greatest conservation success story? Once dismissed as Parks Canada's half-baked scheme, the largest highway mitigation complex in the world is now a triumph of environmental engineering. Hidden from passing motorists, a grassy oasis sprawls atop the overpasses. @Parks.Canada proved the skeptics wrong, and now Alberta boasts the most wildlife overpasses in one localized area and nearly half of all the overpasses in North America. Parks Canada research shows that among large carnivores, mortality rates are 50 to 100 percent lower in sections with overpasses and underpasses. Elk-vehicle collisions have plummeted to nearly zero from 100 per year in the mid-1990s. Research reveals that 11 species of large mammals have used these structures over 200,000 times, in addition to other more surprising species like red fox, hoary marmot, boreal toads, wolverines, lynx, garter snakes, and beavers making use of the structures. Photo by Adam Ford/Courtesy-Parks Canada/Calgary Herald archives #AJMEnvironmental #SustainableDevelopment #ResponsibleDevelopment #WildlifeCrossing #ParksCanada

A comprehensive approach to site management that considers all wildlife can have unexpected benefits. For example, antelope ground squirrels, zebra-tail lizards, and other such species may not be at the forefront of conservation efforts, but their presence in construction areas warrants attention. A thorough environmental sweep by a skilled biologist can also ensure the safe removal of species that can be dangerous to humans if disturbed, like rattlesnakes. A well-organized team will relocate those creatures safely when necessary, mitigating construction's adverse impact on their populations. This is just one example of how a good team will care for problems before they become problems. #Bestpractices #Construction #NevadaDesert #BioLogicalConsulting #BioLogical

Our Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program Inventory Ecologist Pete Woods really gets around. Well, he gets around the woods, the meadows, the wetlands.... Here's Pete in the center of the frame with WPC's PNHP Invasive Plant Ecologist Brian Daggs to the right. Pete admits (rather grudgingly, as he is exceedingly modest) that for about 10 years, he was a top iNaturalist observer in Pennsylvania. iNaturalist is an app that anyone can use to record observations of organisms to help scientists understand when and where the organisms occur. Others started posting and “left me in the dust,” Pete points out. “They are significant contributors of data to the PNHP, and we are glad to have them around.” (Pete is way too modest to admit that he has, by a slim margin, the most iNaturalist observations at our Bear Run Nature Reserve.) “But personal totals really don't mean anything,” Pete insists. “The value of the observations is the sheer mass of everyone's data put together, and its usefulness for conservation and science.” Indeed, more than 100,000 people have contributed 2.9 million observations of 22,000 species in Pennsylvania! One example of how the data is used, Pete says, is “A number of biologists in WPC and in the state government are calculating conservation ranks for a couple thousand species for the 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan. iNaturalist observations are one of the largest sources of data for that process.” Thank you Pete, PNHP scientists and ALL observers who contribute to iNaturalist for the understanding and conservation of PA’s species. Interested in becoming a community scientist and contributing to iNaturalist? Check it out: https://lnkd.in/dviGHqd

The Ecosystem Management: Flora and Fauna course explores the relationships between plants and animals within ecosystems, focusing on conservation and sustainable management. It covers the structure and function of ecosystems, the importance of biodiversity, and the conservation of plant and animal species. Participants will learn about assessing plant diversity, strategies for conserving flora, and addressing challenges like habitat loss, poaching, and invasive species for fauna conservation. The course also teaches practical management techniques such as habitat restoration, invasive species control, and wildlife monitoring. Through case studies of successful global initiatives, participants will identify effective strategies and lessons learned. The course integrates principles of ecology, conservation biology, and resource management, providing the tools for effective ecosystem stewardship. Courses are self-paced and FREE for a limited time only. Sign up for any of our courses at www.e-biome.com/courses #STEM #StemEducation #EcosystemManagement #FloraandFauna #StemCourses #eBiome