Fence Ecology is a growing discipline due to the increased awareness of the effects of fences on wildlife and ecosystem processes. Fence Ecology is the interaction between fences, organisms, ecosystems, and societal needs. While fences were once “invisible” to the wildlife conservation field, recent publications are shedding light on their global effects. The attention now being garnered illuminates the need to mitigate the effects of fences to maintain ecosystem processes, such as nutrient flow, movement, and migration. While fences are still ubiquitous and expanding across the world, the opportunity to study, understand, and mitigate their effects on wildlife and ecosystems has never been greater. Further, identifying opportunities for global societies to use and construct fences which benefit human livelihood while retaining ecological integrity are needed.
The goal of this Research Topic is to enhance our understanding of the effects, whether negative or positive, of fences on organisms and ecosystems throughout the world. In addition to enhancing our understanding we aim to gain knowledge on effective modifications that can be made to fences to reduce the effects. As fences continue to spread across the landscape globally, there is also a need for us to understand how best to mitigate their effects and construct wildlife and ecosystem-friendly fences to the extent possible. Gaining an understanding of the complex interactions of fences with organisms and ecosystems across spatial and ecological scales is an important step in advancing the field of Fence Ecology. Lastly, understanding the societal needs for fences will drive our ability to modify fences to reduce the effects on organisms and ecosystems while maintaining functional working landscapes.
This Research Topic aims to continue to build on recent advances and further explore the ecological role fences play on wildlife and ecosystems. Central to this will be original research that examines the impacts of fences on wildlife movement, migration, foraging, and reproductive strategies, as well as fence impacts on ecosystem processes more broadly. Reviews or editorials on the role of fences on wildlife and ecosystems on a regional or global scale will be accepted. Manuscripts that address the social, economic, and management actions are encouraged.
Manuscripts dealing with the following fence ecology topics will be accepted for review:
• Effects (positive or negative) of fences on wildlife
• Effects (positive or negative) of fences on ecosystem function and processes
• Social and economic need for and histories of fences
• Methods to spatially map fences
• Stewardship approaches to mitigating the effects of fences
• Compounding effects of fences and other linear anthropogenic features
• Review of policy and practice of fencing standards
Fence Ecology is a growing discipline due to the increased awareness of the effects of fences on wildlife and ecosystem processes. Fence Ecology is the interaction between fences, organisms, ecosystems, and societal needs. While fences were once “invisible” to the wildlife conservation field, recent publications are shedding light on their global effects. The attention now being garnered illuminates the need to mitigate the effects of fences to maintain ecosystem processes, such as nutrient flow, movement, and migration. While fences are still ubiquitous and expanding across the world, the opportunity to study, understand, and mitigate their effects on wildlife and ecosystems has never been greater. Further, identifying opportunities for global societies to use and construct fences which benefit human livelihood while retaining ecological integrity are needed.
The goal of this Research Topic is to enhance our understanding of the effects, whether negative or positive, of fences on organisms and ecosystems throughout the world. In addition to enhancing our understanding we aim to gain knowledge on effective modifications that can be made to fences to reduce the effects. As fences continue to spread across the landscape globally, there is also a need for us to understand how best to mitigate their effects and construct wildlife and ecosystem-friendly fences to the extent possible. Gaining an understanding of the complex interactions of fences with organisms and ecosystems across spatial and ecological scales is an important step in advancing the field of Fence Ecology. Lastly, understanding the societal needs for fences will drive our ability to modify fences to reduce the effects on organisms and ecosystems while maintaining functional working landscapes.
This Research Topic aims to continue to build on recent advances and further explore the ecological role fences play on wildlife and ecosystems. Central to this will be original research that examines the impacts of fences on wildlife movement, migration, foraging, and reproductive strategies, as well as fence impacts on ecosystem processes more broadly. Reviews or editorials on the role of fences on wildlife and ecosystems on a regional or global scale will be accepted. Manuscripts that address the social, economic, and management actions are encouraged.
Manuscripts dealing with the following fence ecology topics will be accepted for review:
• Effects (positive or negative) of fences on wildlife
• Effects (positive or negative) of fences on ecosystem function and processes
• Social and economic need for and histories of fences
• Methods to spatially map fences
• Stewardship approaches to mitigating the effects of fences
• Compounding effects of fences and other linear anthropogenic features
• Review of policy and practice of fencing standards
