Model predicts golden eagle
density across Western United States
Date: August 24, 2016
Source: PLOS
Golden eagles may be more
abundant in elevated, undeveloped landscapes with high wind speeds, according
to a study published August 24, 2016 in the open-access journal PLOS
ONE by Ryan Nielson from Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc., USA, and
colleagues.
Better understanding of golden
eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) abundance and distribution across the developing
western United States is needed to help identify and conserve their habitats in
the face of anthropogenic threats. The authors of the present study monitored
golden eagle abundance across four major Bird Conservation Regions, comprising
~2 million-km2, in the western United States. They used existing data from
aerial surveys and distance sampling during late summer in 2006-2013. The
authors then modelled counts of golden eagle observations based on land cover
and other environmental factors.
The authors' model revealed the
golden eagles were less abundant in developed and forested areas and more
abundant in open, elevated areas with high wind speeds. They used this model to
construct a map of predicted land use by golden eagles during late summer
across the study area.
The authors speculate that golden
eagles preferred elevated, open landscapes with high wind speeds since these
factors may help them hunt for prey and fly more efficiently, whereas more
developed and forested landscapes provided fewer foraging opportunities. While
the golden eagles' habitat preferences may differ in other regions and seasons,
the authors suggest that their map could help prioritize landscapes for
conservation efforts and identify regions for additional research and
monitoring.
Story Source:
The above post is reprinted
from materials provided by PLOS. Note:
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Journal Reference:
Ryan M. Nielson, Robert K.
Murphy, Brian A. Millsap, William H. Howe, Grant Gardner. Modeling
Late-Summer Distribution of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) in the Western
United States. PLOS ONE, 2016; 11 (8): e0159271 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159271
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