Biology subjects

McClure, C. J. W.

Publications and source records attributed to McClure, C. J. W..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Directing conservation action for the Critically Endangered Philippine Eagle to mitigate mining impacts and maximize indigenous land management

As habitat destruction intensifies due to expanding human infrastructure, balancing biodiversity conservation with resource extraction has become a global challenge. Thus, quantifying the extent and location of proposed mining operations is key to mitigating the impacts on threatened species. This issue is particularly acute in the biodiversity hotspots of southeast Asia, where rapid economic growth needs to be balanced with sustainable conservation management of the remaining tropical forest. The Philippine Eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi), a critically endangered tropical forest raptor endemic to the Philippines, faces increasing threats from mining activities that destroy and fragment its tropical forest habitat. Here, we integrate Species Distribution Modelling with gap and hotspot analysis to assess the spatial overlap between Philippine Eagle nest habitat and mining concessions across a protected area network on Mindanao, where the largest population remains. Using a landscape-scale SDM built with remote sensing covariates and eagle occurrence data, we identified high-suitability nest habitats and projected these into the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC). Hotspot analysis revealed that 41 % of the total mining concessions area contained high-suitability nest habitat, highlighting significant conservation risks. Additionally, 46 % of indigenous ancestral domains contain high-suitability nest habitat, emphasizing the importance of indigenous land management in safeguarding eagle habitats. Our gap analysis demonstrated that 35 % of the EMBC protects high-suitability nest habitat, which here represents the remaining montane tropical forest. To mitigate mining impacts, we propose targeted nest surveys in high-risk areas, implementation of mining moratoriums near critical nesting zones, and strengthening indigenous and protected area land management. By integrating SDMs with spatial analysis, we provide a framework for directing conservation efforts to balance resource extraction with the preservation of the Philippine Eagles habitat. Our findings offer crucial insights for policy development and land-use planning to protect this iconic species and its threatened habitat.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Disease and ectoparasite management improve nestling golden eagle health and survival: An effective mitigation strategy

Changes in the distribution and behavior of pathogens and parasites associated with climate change are creating emerging threats for wildlife. These threats have created an urgent need for conservation strategies to manage wildlife. Conservation strategies could provide reliable and cost-effective compensatory mitigation options for protected species affected by renewable energy production, such as golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos). We used nest camera data to assess survival and cause of death for golden eagle nestlings in southern Idaho, USA. Together, poultry bugs (Haematosiphon inodorus), a blood-sucking ectoparasite that lives in golden eagle nests, and trichomonosis, a fatal disease that is transmitted through the consumption of rock pigeons (Columba livia) caused [~] 27% of nestlings to die per year. From 2022--2023, we treated trichomonosis-infected nestlings with an anti-protozoan drug and developed a protocol for reducing poultry bug densities in eagle nests, then we projected the effects of disease and parasite treatments on population growth using simulation models. We collected pre-treatment information on nestling health and survival, and then, after young fledged, we applied 1 of 3 experimental parasite treatments to eagle nests: permethrin and diatomaceous earth, diatomaceous earth only, or water - a control, and measured effects on eagle health and survival the following year. Ten eagle nestlings with trichomonosis, that otherwise would have died, were successfully treated and lived to fledge from the nest. The permethrin and diatomaceous earth treatment significantly reduced poultry bug densities in eagle nests in the subsequent breeding season and created measurable improvements to nestling health and survival. Nestlings had significantly higher hematocrit, female nestlings had higher mass, and, on average, more nestlings (0.70) successfully survived to fledge compared with control- and diatomaceous earth-treated nests. Further, treatment of disease and parasites was projected to increase population growth rates by 4% and 8%, respectively. In total, we estimate saving 17.5 nestlings, which equates to 10.2 adult eagles, through disease and parasite treatments in two years. In areas with dense concentrations of poultry bugs or where eagles consume rock pigeons, disease and parasite treatments could be an effective compensatory mitigation option or management tool with population-level impacts on eagle populations.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Phenology effects on productivity and hatching-asynchrony of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) across a continent

Climate-driven advances in spring can result in phenological mismatch between brood rearing and prey availability and consequently cause decreased productivity in birds. How consequences of mismatch vary across species ranges, and how individual behavior can mitigate mismatch effects is less studied. We quantified the relationship between phenological mismatch, productivity, and behavioral adaptations of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) across their breeding range in the United States and southern Canada. We obtained phenology and productivity data using nest observations from long term nest box monitoring, remote trail cameras, and community-scientist based programs. We collected data on parental incubation behavior and hatch asynchrony using trail cameras in nest boxes. Kestrels that laid eggs after the start of spring had higher rates of nest failure and fewer nestlings than earlier nesters, and effects of mismatch on productivity were most severe in the Northeast. In contrast, kestrels in the Southwest experienced a more gradual decline in productivity with seasonal mismatch. We attribute the effect of location to the growing season and temporal nesting windows (duration of nesting season). Specifically, resource availability in the Northeast is narrow and highly peaked during the breeding season, potentially resulting in shorter nesting windows. Conversely, resource curves may be more prolonged and dampened in the Southwest, and growing seasons are becoming longer with climate change, potentially resulting in longer nesting windows. We found that the onset of male incubation was negatively associated with lay date. Males from breeding pairs that laid eggs after the start of spring began incubation sooner than males from breeding pairs that laid before the start of spring. Early-onset male incubation was positively associated with hatching asynchrony, creating increased age variation in developing young. In sum, we demonstrate that American kestrels are vulnerable to phenological mismatch, and that this vulnerability varies across space. Northeastern populations could be more vulnerable to mismatch consequences, which may be one factor contributing to declines of kestrels in this region. Also, we demonstrate early onset of incubation as a potential adaptive behavior to advance average hatch date and spread out offspring demands, but it is unknown how impactful this will be in mitigating the fitness consequences of phenology mismatch. HighlightsClimate-driven phenological mismatch is a growing conservation concern. We studied phenology and productivity of an avian predator across North America. American kestrels nesting after the start of spring had lower productivity. Later nesting kestrels altered incubation to create hatching asynchrony. Mismatch effects were strongest in the Northeast and may contribute to population declines.

ecology↗