Identifying mismatches between conservation area networks and vulnerable populations using spatial randomization.

ABSTRACT: Grassland birds are among the most globally threatened bird groups due to substantial degradation of native grassland habitats. However, the current network of grassland conservation areas may not be adequate for halting population declines and biodiversity loss. Here, we evaluate a network of grassland conservation areas within Wisconsin, U.S.A., that includes both large Focal Landscapes and smaller targeted conservation areas (e.g., Grassland Bird Conservation Areas, GBCAs) established within them. To date, this conservation network has lacked baseline information to assess whether the current placement of these conservation areas aligns with population hot spots of grassland-dependent taxa. To do so, we fitted data from thousands of avian point-count surveys collected by citizen scienti

SUBMITTER: Nunes LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8601911 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature