Macmillan’s Post

Have you ever noticed that we often keep our lights on at night, especially in large, urbanized areas?💡While this is essential for our safety and security, some nocturnal species that coexist with us may not appreciate it.👿 Bats, for example, are major nocturnal pollinators, and their daily behaviors can be adversely impacted by artificial light at night (ALAN). This includes avoiding well-lit trees and becoming inactive due to ALAN exposure. Despite this, there is no well-developed method to map the exposure of ALAN to bat habitats over time. Check out one of our recent brief communications in Landscape Ecology of Springer Nature, where we present a novel spatial-temporal approach to map the likelihood of nighttime light exposure to bat habitats across multiple decades in the contiguous United States. 🗺️ This work received the Mike Miller Memorial Award from Mississippi Association for Geospatial Technologies (MAST) and third place in the Mississippi State University - The Graduate School Spring 2024 Research Symposium poster presentation competition. A heartfelt thank you to Sk Nafiz Rahaman for leading this incredible contribution to geospatial and ecological science. Special thanks to Narcisa Pricope, PhD and Dr. David Lopez-Carr for their exceptional mentorship and guidance. Give the full article a read: https://lnkd.in/eXjhtjgd

Through the work I do capturing, collaring, and tracking fishers in Minnesota, as part of a team based out of the Natural Resources Research Institute at University of Minnesota Duluth, I'm generally not permitted to share photos or video of our target species. However, on this occasion, while we trapped in the University's Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve back in Dec, the University posted this video that I took of us releasing a collared fisher. Enjoy a glimpse at these beautiful and elusive denisons of the forest. I can't believe this video of mine went viral. This is a perfect example of how I would like to accompany my skills as a photographer with my work as a wildlife researcher. I hope this video gives people an opportunity to see these majestic and sorely misunderstood beings. I want to take a minute to dispel some rumors. Fishers, also referred to as fisher cats in New England - to my chagrin - , are commonly blamed for terrorizing the nocturnal woodland world with their shrieks. This is completely misplaced. The vocalizations people associate with fishers are actually those of a red fox. Having now handled and been around about 20 fishers, and having now worked with experts who have studied fishers for years, I can say that fishers are one of the most quiet creatures I've seen. The most common sound I've heard them make is a very low pitched gurlging. Secondly, fishers are not a threat to people, children, or cats. There is a huge misunderstanding that fishers are one of the leading predators of outdoor domestic cats. This was shown to be false by a study of over 226 fisher scats and stomachs in Massachusetts. That same study did note two instances of fishers eating a cat. Fishers only weigh, on average, 5-14 pounds. It doesn't make sense for fishers to pursue a prey item that is as large as themselves and as well armed as a cat. For their own self-preservation, fishers focus their attention on rodents (mice to squirrels to porcupines), lagomorphs (rabbits and hares), carrion, fruits, and seeds (the proportion of which depends on the region and season). If you're ever lucky enough to see one of these magnificent critters, savor the moment. https://lnkd.in/dezs6x8z

Our PhD student, Shengjie (April) Zhou is presenting her research on 29th May on a webinar for The OR Society. There is still time to register, just use the link below. #operationalresearch #dataanalytics #research

For her PhD, Deja Perkins is studying datasets generated by the public, also known as participatory science projects. These projects include eBird, a site where anyone can upload bird observations. And they’re essential to conservation efforts. But Deja says that not every area is well represented in eBird, because right now the participants are predominantly white and affluent, leading to a gap in what we know about the diversity of birds in many low-income and minority areas. Involving a wide variety of people in reporting bird observations where they live could help close the data gaps and reveal where to put new green spaces for both birds and people. https://lnkd.in/guGMNS9g

Check out this new research led by Pennsylvania State University, published in Fire Ecology, where focus groups with fire managers across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland shed light on the barriers and opportunities for prescribed fire in the mid-Atlantic region. Interestingly, the study—supported by Guild staff—found that despite differing ecological and sociopolitical histories, there were few state-to-state differences. Fire managers consistently emphasized the need for landscape-level planning and relationship building. This reinforces the Guild's role as a connector across regions, a role that continues to be vital for effective land management nationwide. Read the full paper: https://lnkd.in/gJwuTzuP #ForestStewardsGuild #FireEcology #PrescribedFire #EcologicalManagement

The slow silencing of spring. #ecology #ecologist #birds #orinthology #nature #soundsofnature #environment #environmentalscience #climatechange #climatecrisis

Most owls that I have come to know live on trees but this one lives in burrows. They take advantage of the burrows excavated by a prairie dog or ground squirrel Native to the Americas, this small yet long-legged owl is found throughout open landscapes such as grasslands, rangelands, agricultural areas, deserts, etc. Unlike other owls, this bird is most active during the day but they avoid the midday sun. When threatened, this owl retreats to its burrow and produces a rattling and hissing sound, mimicking the rattlesnakes. This strategy is referred to as Acoustic Batesian Minicry. Though it is enlisted as a bird that is Least Concern, it is endangered in Canada and threatened in Mexico. Formally described in 1782 by a Spanish naturalist, this is Burrowing Owl, scientifically called Athene cunicularia. ChiOmæ 📷Tom Vezo | Nature Picture Library

Basic science is not easy. In this paper we demonstrate the link between bill morphology and foraging strategies in shorebirds...Great effort from the team. Led by KM Aarif. https://lnkd.in/dtg4W4-g

Announcing the release of a new book that will be of interest to anyone involved with nature and natural resource management. Lessons from Leopold is primarily about man's relationship to the land and provides current day relevant commentary and application of the timeless land philosophies of Aldo Leopold. The book is concise, not exhaustive; practical, not theoretical; and hopefully thought-provoking. It will be of interest, to landowners, ranchers, birders, hunters, environmentalists, students, teachers, natural resource professionals and anyone who loves nature and cares for the land. https://lnkd.in/gmMxDvhB

Sophia Perdikaris, MERC client, Director of SGIS, and an environmental archaeologist, has spent two decades studying the fallow deer population on Barbuda, highlighting their cultural significance and the threats they face. Her research, featured in Nebraska Today, underscores the importance of protecting vulnerable species like the fallow deer amidst changing environmental landscapes. Click on the link below to read the whole article. https://lnkd.in/g7whMsfV