Is conservation based on best available science creating an ecological trap for an imperiled lagomorph?

Area of Science:

• Wildlife Ecology
• Conservation Biology
• Population Dynamics

Background:

• Habitat quality is crucial for species conservation, influencing fitness and population density.
• Inferred habitat quality from habitat selection studies is common but can be inaccurate.
• The imperiled New England cottontail faces threats from habitat loss and competition with eastern cottontails.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate habitat quality for New England and eastern cottontails using survival and density.
• To investigate the relationship between habitat selection, survival, and population density in cottontails.
• To identify factors limiting New England cottontail recovery and inform conservation strategies.

Main Methods:

• Assessed survival and density as indicators of habitat quality for both species.
• Analyzed habitat selection patterns in relation to survival and density.
• Examined the impact of habitat fragmentation and tick burden on cottontail populations.

Main Results:

• Selected habitats were associated with lower survival and density, contrary to ideal free distribution predictions.
• Movement distance was inversely correlated with survival, indicating habitat fragmentation impacts distribution.
• Tick burden negatively affected juvenile New England cottontails in poor body condition.

Conclusions:

• Habitat management based solely on selection can lead to ecological traps and maladaptive strategies.
• Complex interactions among species and environmental factors must be considered for effective conservation.
• Directly assessing and managing factors limiting habitat quality is vital for New England cottontail recovery.