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Smith BJ, MacNulty DR, Stahler DR, Smith DW, Avgar T. Density-dependent habitat selection alters drivers of population distribution in northern Yellowstone elk. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:245-256. [PMID: 36573288 PMCID: PMC10107875 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Although it is well established that density dependence drives changes in organismal abundance over time, relatively little is known about how density dependence affects variation in abundance over space. We tested the hypothesis that spatial trade-offs between food and safety can change the drivers of population distribution, caused by opposing patterns of density-dependent habitat selection (DDHS) that are predicted by the multidimensional ideal free distribution. We addressed this using winter aerial survey data of northern Yellowstone elk (Cervus canadensis) spanning four decades. Supporting our hypothesis, we found positive DDHS for food (herbaceous biomass) and negative DDHS for safety (openness and roughness), such that the primary driver of habitat selection switched from food to safety as elk density decreased from 9.3 to 2.0 elk/km2 . Our results demonstrate how population density can drive landscape-level shifts in population distribution, confounding habitat selection inference and prediction and potentially affecting community-level interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Smith
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel R MacNulty
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
| | - Daniel R Stahler
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
| | - Douglas W Smith
- Yellowstone Center for Resources, National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA
| | - Tal Avgar
- Department of Wildland Resources and Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA.,Biodiversity Pathways Ltd., British Columbia, Canada
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2
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Normandeau J, Cassady St. Clair C, Kutz SJ, Hebblewhite M, Merrill EH. What makes elk tick: winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) grooming behavior in wild elk (Cervus canadensis). J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Ungulates groom to remove ectoparasites but grooming may interfere with foraging, vigilance, and rumination, and it is possible that these effects differ among migratory tactics due to differences in parasite infestations. We compared the effects of grooming for winter ticks (Dermacentor albipictus) on winter foraging behavior by migrating and resident elk (Cervus canadensis) in the partially migratory population at the Ya Ha Tinda, adjacent to Banff National Park, Canada. We used hair loss on the dorsal shoulder area (“withers”) measured from photographic images as an index of tick infestation of individual elk. We conducted 594 focal observations on 48 radio-collared and 18 uncollared individuals that were uniquely identifiable from ear-tags (N = 66) in 2019 to assess whether grooming for ticks in winter reduced time spent foraging, ruminating, or being vigilant. Because rubbing or hair loss from radio-collars may influence tick infestations and behavior, we controlled for whether elk were collared or uncollared in our analyses. Neck hair loss was 3−5% greater in collared elk than uncollared elk, but neither withers hair loss nor time spent grooming differed. Grooming occurred during 42% of the observations but grooming comprised only ~1% of observation time. Nevertheless, 40% of all grooming was observed during resting, and grooming interrupted vigilance behavior ~8 times more than foraging. We found no differences among elk following different migratory tactics in time spent grooming or in other behaviors, but one of the two groups of migrant elk had higher withers hair loss. Our results suggest winter ticks may have slight effects on elk relative to other ungulates, particularly moose (Alces alces), in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacalyn Normandeau
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Colleen Cassady St. Clair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Susan J Kutz
- Department of Ecosystem and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
| | - Mark Hebblewhite
- Wildlife Biology Program, Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, Franke College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA
| | - Evelyn H Merrill
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
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3
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Janousek WM, Graves TA, Berman EE, Chong GW, Cole EK, Dewey SR, Johnston AN, Cross PC. Human activities and weather drive contact rates of wintering elk. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- William M. Janousek
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center West Glacier MT USA
| | - Tabitha A. Graves
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center West Glacier MT USA
| | - Ethan E. Berman
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center West Glacier MT USA
| | - Geneva W. Chong
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman MT USA
| | - Eric K. Cole
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service Jackson WY USA
| | - Sarah R. Dewey
- National Park Service Grand Teton National Park Moose WY USA
| | - Aaron N. Johnston
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman MT USA
| | - Paul C. Cross
- United States Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman MT USA
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4
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Investigating local concerns regarding large mammal restoration: group size in a growing population of reintroduced bison (Bison bison). Glob Ecol Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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5
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Merrill E, Killeen J, Pettit J, Trottier M, Martin H, Berg J, Bohm H, Eggeman S, Hebblewhite M. Density-Dependent Foraging Behaviors on Sympatric Winter Ranges in a Partially Migratory Elk Population. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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6
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Weckerly FW. Frequency and Density Associated Grouping Patterns of Male Roosevelt Elk. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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7
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Johnson BK, Jackson DH, Cook RC, Clark DA, Coe PK, Cook JG, Rearden SN, Findholt SL, Noyes JH. Roles of maternal condition and predation in survival of juvenile Elk in Oregon. WILDLIFE MONOGRAPHS 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wmon.1039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruce K. Johnson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Dewaine H. Jackson
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 4192 N. Umpqua Highway Roseburg OR 97470 USA
| | - Rachel C. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Darren A. Clark
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Priscilla K. Coe
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - John G. Cook
- National Council for Air and Stream Improvement; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - Spencer N. Rearden
- Oregon Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit; Oregon State University; Corvallis OR 97331 USA
| | - Scott L. Findholt
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
| | - James H. Noyes
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; 1401 Gekeler Lane La Grande OR 97850 USA
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Rayl ND, Proffitt KM, Almberg ES, Jones JD, Merkle JA, Gude JA, Cross PC. Modeling elk‐to‐livestock transmission risk to predict hotspots of brucellosis spillover. J Wildl Manage 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel D. Rayl
- U.S. Geological SurveyNorthern Rocky Mountain Science CenterBozemanMT59715USA
| | | | | | | | - Jerod A. Merkle
- Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitDepartment of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWY82071USA
| | | | - Paul C. Cross
- U.S. Geological SurveyNorthern Rocky Mountain Science CenterBozemanMT59715USA
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9
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Moll RJ, Redilla KM, Mudumba T, Muneza AB, Gray SM, Abade L, Hayward MW, Millspaugh JJ, Montgomery RA. The many faces of fear: a synthesis of the methodological variation in characterizing predation risk. J Anim Ecol 2017; 86:749-765. [PMID: 28390066 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Predators affect prey by killing them directly (lethal effects) and by inducing costly antipredator behaviours in living prey (risk effects). Risk effects can strongly influence prey populations and cascade through trophic systems. A prerequisite for assessing risk effects is characterizing the spatiotemporal variation in predation risk. Risk effects research has experienced rapid growth in the last several decades. However, preliminary assessments of the resultant literature suggest that researchers characterize predation risk using a variety of techniques. The implications of this methodological variation for inference and comparability among studies have not been well recognized or formally synthesized. We couple a literature survey with a hierarchical framework, developed from established theory, to quantify the methodological variation in characterizing risk using carnivore-ungulate systems as a case study. Via this process, we documented 244 metrics of risk from 141 studies falling into at least 13 distinct subcategories within three broader categories. Both empirical and theoretical work suggest risk and its effects on prey constitute a complex, multi-dimensional process with expressions varying by spatiotemporal scale. Our survey suggests this multi-scale complexity is reflected in the literature as a whole but often underappreciated in any given study, which complicates comparability among studies and leads to an overemphasis on documenting the presence of risk effects rather than their mechanisms or scale of influence. We suggest risk metrics be placed in a more concrete conceptual framework to clarify inference surrounding risk effects and their cascading effects throughout ecosystems. We recommend studies (i) take a multi-scale approach to characterizing risk; (ii) explicitly consider 'true' predation risk (probability of predation per unit time); and (iii) use risk metrics that facilitate comparison among studies and the evaluation of multiple competing hypotheses. Addressing the pressing questions in risk effects research, including how, to what extent and on what scale they occur, requires leveraging the advantages of the many methods available to characterize risk while minimizing the confusion caused by variability in their application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remington J Moll
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kyle M Redilla
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Tutilo Mudumba
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Arthur B Muneza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Giraffe Conservation Foundation, P.O. Box 51061 GPO, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya
| | - Steven M Gray
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Leandro Abade
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire, OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Matt W Hayward
- School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK.,Centre for African Conservation Ecology, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, 6031, South Africa.,Centre for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, X001, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Joshua J Millspaugh
- Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Robert A Montgomery
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources Building, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
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10
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Brennan A, Cross PC, Creel S. Managing more than the mean: using quantile regression to identify factors related to large elk groups. J Appl Ecol 2015; 52:1656-1664. [PMID: 27660373 PMCID: PMC5016784 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Animal group size distributions are often right-skewed, whereby most groups are small, but most individuals occur in larger groups that may also disproportionately affect ecology and policy. In this case, examining covariates associated with upper quantiles of the group size distribution could facilitate better understanding and management of large animal groups.We studied wintering elk groups in Wyoming, where group sizes span several orders of magnitude, and issues of disease, predation and property damage are affected by larger group sizes. We used quantile regression to evaluate relationships between the group size distribution and variables of land use, habitat, elk density and wolf abundance to identify conditions important to larger elk groups.We recorded 1263 groups ranging from 1 to 1952 elk and found that across all quantiles of group size, group sizes were larger in open habitat and on private land, but the largest effect occurred between irrigated and non-irrigated land [e.g. the 90th quantile group size increased by 135 elk (95% CI = 42, 227) on irrigation].Only upper quantile group sizes were positively related to broad-scale measures of elk density and wolf abundance. For wolf abundance, this effect was greater on elk groups found in open habitats and private land than those in closed habitats or public land. If we had limited our analysis to mean or median group sizes, we would not have detected these effects. Synthesis and applications. Our analysis of elk group size distributions using quantile regression suggests that private land, irrigation, open habitat, elk density and wolf abundance can affect large elk group sizes. Thus, to manage larger groups by removal or dispersal of individuals, we recommend incentivizing hunting on private land (particularly if irrigated) during the regular and late hunting seasons, promoting tolerance of wolves on private land (if elk aggregate in these areas to avoid wolves) and creating more winter range and varied habitats. Relationships to the variables of interest also differed by quantile, highlighting the importance of using quantile regression to examine response variables more completely to uncover relationships important to conservation and management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Brennan
- Institute on Ecosystems Montana State University Bozeman MT 59717 USA
| | - Paul C Cross
- U.S. Geological Survey Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center Bozeman MT 59715 USA
| | - Scott Creel
- Department of Ecology Montana State University Bozeman MT 59717 USA
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11
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Body G, Weladji RB, Holand Ø, Nieminen M. Measuring variation in the frequency of group fission and fusion from continuous monitoring of group sizes. J Mammal 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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12
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Proffitt KM, Anderson N, Lukacs P, Riordan MM, Gude JA, Shamhart J. Effects of elk density on elk aggregation patterns and exposure to brucellosis. J Wildl Manage 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Proffitt
- Montana Department of Fish; Wildlife and Parks; Bozeman MT 59718 USA
| | - Neil Anderson
- Montana Department of Fish; Wildlife and Parks; Bozeman MT 59718 USA
| | - Paul Lukacs
- Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences; Wildlife Biology Program; College of Forestry and Conservation; University of Montana; Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | - Margaret M. Riordan
- Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit; University of Montana; Missoula MT 59812 USA
| | | | - Julee Shamhart
- Montana Department of Fish; Wildlife and Parks; Bozeman MT 59718 USA
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13
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Brennan A, Cross PC, Higgs MD, Edwards WH, Scurlock BM, Creel S. A multi-scale assessment of animal aggregation patterns to understand increasing pathogen seroprevalence. Ecosphere 2014. [DOI: 10.1890/es14-00181.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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14
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Body G, Weladji RB, Holand Ø, Nieminen M. Fission-fusion group dynamics in reindeer reveal an increase of cohesiveness at the beginning of the peak rut. Acta Ethol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10211-014-0190-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Vander Wal E, van Beest FM, Brook RK. Density-dependent effects on group size are sex-specific in a gregarious ungulate. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53777. [PMID: 23326502 PMCID: PMC3541182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Density dependence can have marked effects on social behaviors such as group size. We tested whether changes in population density of a large herbivore (elk, Cervus canadensis) affected sex-specific group size and whether the response was density- or frequency-dependent. We quantified the probability and strength of changes in group sizes and dispersion as population density changed for each sex. We used group size data from a population of elk in Manitoba, Canada, that was experimentally reduced from 1.20 to 0.67 elk/km2 between 2002 and 2009. Our results indicated that functional responses of group size to population density are sex-specific. Females showed a positive density-dependent response in group size at population densities ≥0.70 elk/km2 and we found evidence for a minimum group size at population density ≤0.70 elk/km2. Changes in male group size were also density-dependent; however, the strength of the relationship was lower than for females. Density dependence in male group size was predominantly a result of fusion of solitary males into larger groups, rather than fusion among existing groups. Our study revealed that density affects group size of a large herbivore differently between males and females, which has important implications for the benefits e.g., alleviating predation risk, and costs of social behaviors e.g., competition for resources and mates, and intra-specific pathogen transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Vander Wal
- Department of Animal and Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
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