Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33042548›Full record

ArticleMovement ecology2020

Using movement to inform conservation corridor design for Mojave desert tortoise.

Steven J Hromada, Todd C Esque, Amy G Vandergast, Kirsten E Dutcher, Corey I Mitchell, Miranda E Gray, Tony Chang, Brett G Dickson, Kenneth E Nussear

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Movement ecology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed
2.6field-weighted citation impact, top 11% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 26 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Steven J HromadaProgram in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557 USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5556-2444
Todd C EsqueU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, 160 N Stephanie St, Henderson, NV 89074 USA.
Amy G VandergastU.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, 4165 Spruance Road Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92101 USA.
Kirsten E DutcherDepartment of Geography, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557 USA.
Corey I MitchellDepartment of Geography, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557 USA.
Miranda E GrayConservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
Tony ChangConservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
Brett G DicksonConservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
Kenneth E NussearDepartment of Geography, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV 89557 USA.
University of Nevada, Reno · USPioneer (United States) · USUnited States Geological Survey · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPreserving corridors for movement and gene flow among populations can assist in the recovery of threatened and endangered species. As human activity continues to fragment habitats, characterizing natural corridors is important in establishing and maintaining connectivity corridors within the anthropogenic development matrix. The Mojave desert tortoise (

methodsTo elucidate how tortoises traverse available habitat and interact with potentially inhospitable terrain and human infrastructure, we used GPS dataloggers to document fine-scale movement of individuals and estimate home ranges at ten study sites along the California/Nevada border. Our sites encompass a variety of habitats, including mountain passes that serve as important natural corridors connecting neighboring valleys, and are impacted by a variety of linear anthropogenic features. We used path selection functions to quantify tortoise movements and develop resistance surfaces based on landscape characteristics including natural features, anthropogenic alterations, and estimated home ranges with autocorrelated kernel density methods. Using the best supported path selection models and estimated home ranges, we determined characteristics of known natural corridors and compared them to mitigation corridors (remnant habitat patches) that have been integrated into land management decisions in the Ivanpah Valley.

resultsTortoises avoided areas of high slope and low perennial vegetation cover, avoided moving near low-density roads, and traveled along linear barriers (fences and flood control berms).

conclusionsWe found that mitigation corridors designated between solar facilities should be wide enough to retain home ranges and maintain function. Differences in home range size and movement resistance between our two natural mountain pass corridors align with differences in genetic connectivity, suggesting that not all natural corridors provide the same functionality. Furthermore, creation of mitigation corridors with fences may have unintended consequences and may function differently than natural corridors. Understanding characteristics of corridors with different functionality will help future managers ensure that connectivity is maintained among Mojave desert tortoise populations.

Indexed as

ConnectivityHome rangePath-selectionUtility-scale solar

Identifiers

PMID33042548
PMCPMC7541175
OpenAlexW3092054337

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.