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Salvidio S. Expanding the human-wildlife interaction framework of Galindo-González (2023). CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024:e14374. [PMID: 39230005 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Salvidio
- Department of Earth Environment and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genova, Genova, Italy
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2
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Escobar-González M, López-Martín JM, Mentaberre G, Valldeperes M, Estruch J, Tampach S, Castillo-Contreras R, Conejero C, Roldán J, Lavín S, Serrano E, López-Olvera JR. Evaluating hunting and capture methods for urban wild boar population management. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173463. [PMID: 38802001 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Wild ungulates are expanding in range and number worldwide leading to an urgent need to manage their populations to minimize conflicts and promote coexistence with humans. In the metropolitan area of Barcelona (MAB), wild boar is the main wildlife species causing a nuisance, from traffic accidents to health risks. Selective harvesting of specific sex and age classes and reducing anthropogenic food resources would be the most efficient approach to dealing with overpopulation. Nonetheless, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the age and sex selectivity of the capture methods currently applied in the MAB for wild boar population control. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the performance and age and sex bias of different hunting and capture methods and the seasonal patterns in their performance (number of captured individuals per event). From February 2014 to August 2022, 1454 wild boars were captured in the MAB using drop net, teleanaesthesia, cage traps, night stalks, and drive hunting. We applied generalized linear models (GLM) to compare the performance of these methods for the total number of wild boars, the wild boars belonging to each age category (i.e., adult, yearling, and juvenile), and for each season. The studied capture methods showed age-class bias and sex bias in adults (>2 years). Drive hunting and drop net removed mainly adult females and yearlings (1-2 years), with drive hunting having the highest performance for adult males. Instead, cage traps and drop net were the best methods to capture juveniles (<1 year). Overall, global performance was higher in summer, decreasingly followed by autumn and spring, winter being the worst performing season. Wildlife managers and researchers should consider the different performance and sex and age bias of each hunting and capture method, as well as the associated public cost, to improve efficiency and achieve the best results in wild boar population management.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Escobar-González
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Josep-Maria López-Martín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Departament d'Acció Climàtica, Alimentació i Agenda Rural, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agraria (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Valldeperes
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep Estruch
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stefania Tampach
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Fundación Artemisan, Avda. Rey Santo 8, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Carles Conejero
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Roldán
- Forestal Catalana SA, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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3
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Conejero C, González-Crespo C, Fatjó J, Castillo-Contreras R, Serrano E, Lavín S, Mentaberre G, López-Olvera JR. Between conflict and reciprocal habituation: Human-wild boar coexistence in urban areas. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 936:173258. [PMID: 38761929 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Urbanization is an ongoing global environmental change. Wildlife may respond using anthropized environments and resources, which is known as synurbization, creating human-wildlife interactions. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations have become common in urban areas, including the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Humans respond to wild boars in urban environments either habituating, with lower conflict perception and higher wild boar acceptance, or sensitizing, with reduced tolerance towards wild boars. Since citizen response influences conflict management, this study analysed the drivers of human responses, which should allow adopting socially-accepted measures to manage synurbic wild boar populations. Interviews to 1956 Barcelona citizens were performed, grouping the response variables to score citizen and urban characteristics, as well as citizen lay-knowledge, emotions, experiences, and perception of wild boar. Five citizen clusters were identified: cluster 1 (3.3 %), highly habituated and active wild boar feeder; cluster 2 (11.3 %), habituated to wild boars with positive feelings; cluster 3 (19.8 %), not habituated nor sensitized, willing to maintain urban wild boar populations; cluster 4 (29.1 %), sensitized and concerned, defending to reduce wild boar; and cluster 5 (40.1 %), highly sensitized and proposing to reduce or even eliminate wild boar. Positive attitudes associated wild boar to aesthetic value, closeness to nature and sympathy, and were more frequent in young citizens with urban background and high education, animal lovers habituated to wild boar through contact without negative experiences. Conversely, negative attitudes were concerned about city fouling, safety or health, accepted lethal management measures, and were more frequent in older citizens with rural background, lower education, low contact with wild boar or sensitized through negative experiences. We document for the first time the sensitization and reciprocal habituation of humans to wild boar in urban areas. The identification of the drivers of citizen attitudes towards urban wildlife should be useful to design socially-accepted management measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carles Conejero
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos González-Crespo
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Fatjó
- Department of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine (Affinity Foundation Chair for Animals and Health), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Serrano
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agroalimentària i Forestal i de Veterinària (ETSEAFIV) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Lleida, Spain
| | - Jorge R López-Olvera
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS) and Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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4
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Danel S, Rebout N, Belle S, Caro SP, Bonadonna F, Biro D. Remote islands as natural laboratories: human-food association increases attraction to humans and novelty exploration in a seabird. Biol Lett 2024; 20:20240135. [PMID: 39106948 PMCID: PMC11303034 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2024.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Increased attraction to humans and their objects often arises after repeated and positive human-wildlife encounters (e.g. food provided in tourist settings). The causes of this 'over-attraction', which may result from a learned association between humans and food, are still poorly studied in wild animals. Understanding the influence of humans on animals' responses is yet crucial to prevent negative effects (e.g. aggression). We presented three novel objects to two groups of free-ranging brown skuas (Catharacta antarctica ssp. lonnbergi) in the remote sub-Antarctic, where their habitats show no or minimal human disturbance. Skuas in one group (Verte) had previously participated in repeated food-rewarded behavioural and cognitive tasks with a human experimenter; skuas in the other group (Ratmanoff) had never done so. Objects consisted of (i) one natural-food-resembling object (plastic fish), (ii) one anthropogenic food object (real cake slice), and (iii) one anthropogenic non-food object (yellow glove). Verte group skuas approached the human experimenter and pecked significantly more and sooner at novel objects. Human-food association may have thus resulted in increased attraction to humans and novelty exploration in previously naive brown skuas, making this species a useful model for investigating the consequences of experience with humans on wildlife behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara Danel
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627, USA
| | - Nancy Rebout
- Université Clermont Auvergne, INRAE VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Saint-Genès-ChampanelleF-63122, France
| | - Solenne Belle
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Samuel P. Caro
- CEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Dora Biro
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY14627, USA
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5
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Inzani E, Kelley L, Thomas R, Boogert NJ. Early-life diet does not affect preference for fish in herring gulls ( Larus argentatus). PeerJ 2024; 12:e17565. [PMID: 39006022 PMCID: PMC11246621 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Urban populations of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) are increasing and causing human-wildlife conflict by exploiting anthropogenic resources. Gulls that breed in urban areas rely on varying amounts of terrestrial anthropogenic foods (e.g., domestic refuse, agricultural and commercial waste) to feed themselves. However, with the onset of hatching, many parent gulls switch to sourcing more marine than anthropogenic or terrestrial foods to provision their chicks. Although anthropogenic foods may meet chick calorific requirements for growth and development, some such foods (e.g., bread) may have lower levels of protein and other key nutrients compared to marine foods. However, whether this parental switch in chick diet is driven by chicks' preference for marine foods, or whether chicks' food preferences are shaped by the food types provisioned by their parents, remains untested. This study tests whether chick food preferences can be influenced by their provisioned diet by experimentally manipulating the ratio of time for which anthropogenic and marine foods were available (80:20 and vice versa) in the rearing diets of two treatment groups of rescued herring gull chicks. Each diet was randomly assigned to each of the 27 captive-reared chicks for the duration of the study. We tested chicks' individual food preferences throughout their development in captivity using food arrays with four food choices (fish, cat food, mussels and brown bread). Regardless of the dietary treatment group, we found that all chicks preferred fish and almost all refused to eat most of the bread offered. Our findings suggest that early-life diet, manipulated by the ratio of time the different foods were available, did not influence gull chicks' food preferences. Instead, chicks developed a strong and persistent preference for marine foods, which appears to match adult gulls' dietary switch to marine foods upon chick hatching and may reinforce the provisioning of marine foods during chick development. However, whether chicks in the wild would refuse provisioned foods, and to a sufficient extent to influence parental provisioning, requires further study. Longitudinal studies of urban animal populations that track wild individuals' food preferences and foraging specialisations throughout life are required to shed light on the development and use of anthropogenic resource exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Inzani
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Kelley
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Thomas
- Organisms and Environment Division, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Neeltje J. Boogert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, United Kingdom
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Scammell K, Cooke R, Yokochi K, Carter N, Nguyen H, White JG. The missing toxic link: Exposure of non-target native marsupials to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) suggest a potential route of transfer into apex predators. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 933:173191. [PMID: 38740216 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Anticoagulant rodenticides (ARs) are used globally to control rodent pests. Second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) persist in the liver and pose a significant risk of bioaccumulation and secondary poisoning in predators, including species that do not generally consume rodents. As such, there is a clear need to understand the consumption of ARs, particularly SGARs, by non-target consumers to determine the movement of these anticoagulants through ecosystems. We collected and analysed the livers from deceased common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), native Australian marsupials that constitute the main diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), an Australian apex predator significantly exposed to SGAR poisoning. ARs were detected in 91 % of brushtail possums and 40 % of ringtail possums. Most of the detections were attributed to SGARs, while first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) were rarely detected. SGAR concentrations were likely lethal or toxic in 42 % of brushtail possums and 4 % of ringtail possums with no effect of age, sex, or weight detected in either species. There was also no effect of the landscape type possums were from, suggesting SGAR exposure is ubiquitous across landscapes. The rate of exposure detected in these possums provides insight into the pathway through which ARs are transferred to one of their key predators, the powerful owl. With SGARs entering food-webs through non-target species, the potential for bioaccumulation and broader secondary poisoning of predators is significantly greater and highlights an urgent need for routine rodenticide testing in non-target consumers that present as ill or found deceased. To limit their impact on ecosystem stability the use of SGARs should be significantly regulated by governing agencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kieran Scammell
- Deakin University, Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Raylene Cooke
- Deakin University, Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia.
| | - Kaori Yokochi
- Deakin University, Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Nicholas Carter
- Deakin University, Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
| | - Hao Nguyen
- National Measurement Institute, 1/153 Bertie Street, Port Melbourne 3207, Vic., Australia
| | - John G White
- Deakin University, Geelong School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and the Built Environment, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood 3125, Vic., Australia
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Ridley AR, Speechley EM. Problem-solving ability: a link between cognition and conservation? Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:609-611. [PMID: 38821782 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2024.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Traditionally, conservation and cognition have been disparate research disciplines. However, Audet et al.'s recent research contributes to an increasing body of evidence that innovative behaviours may determine the ability of species to respond to rapid environmental change, identifying an opportunity for cognition research to directly contribute to conservation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Ridley
- Centre of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia.
| | - Elizabeth M Speechley
- Centre of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
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8
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Hunter ST, Checkley SL, Cork S, Weese JS, Rothenburger JL. Disease and Mortality in Free-Ranging Leporids in Canada, 1990-2019: A Retrospective Study. J Wildl Dis 2024; 60:691-702. [PMID: 38772554 DOI: 10.7589/jwd-d-23-00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Passive surveillance of wildlife disease is a valuable tool for the identification of emerging and changing disease patterns. Free-ranging leporids play an important role in their ecosystem and in the culture and diet of Canadians; however, little is known about their health status and the zoonotic pathogens they may carry. We summarized major causes of mortality and morbidity, as well as incidental infections and lesions, of free-ranging leporids submitted to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) between 1990 and 2019. We identified Canadian leporids as competent hosts for several zoonotic pathogens, most notably Francisella tularensis (20/569; 3.5%). Trauma was the most frequent cause of mortality or morbidity among leporids, accounting for 46.0% of cases submitted to the CWHC, followed by bacterial infections (13.7%) and emaciation (5.1%). Human-mediated mortalities, such as those involving machines (23.7%), were the most common trauma case type, with apparently healthy individuals overrepresented within this mortality group. Harvesters proved to be a valuable resource for the monitoring of diseased and infected animals, as more than half (69.6%) of the animals submitted by this group had an incidental infection or lesion. The results from this study provide a scientific understanding the cause of mortality in free-ranging leporids in Canada with relevance to public health, wildlife biologists, veterinarians, and potential future surveillance programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer T Hunter
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Sylvia L Checkley
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Susan Cork
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - J Scott Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road East, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jamie L Rothenburger
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3280 Hospital Dr. NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4Z6, Canada
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Lazzaroni M, Brogi R, Napolitano V, Apollonio M, Range F, Marshall-Pescini S. Urbanization does not affect red foxes' interest in anthropogenic food, but increases their initial cautiousness. Curr Zool 2024; 70:394-405. [PMID: 39035755 PMCID: PMC11255992 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Human presence and activities have profoundly altered animals' habitats, exposing them to greater risks but also providing new opportunities and resources. The animals' capacity to effectively navigate and strike a balance between risks and benefits is crucial for their survival in the Anthropocene era. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), adept urban dwellers, exhibit behavioral plasticity in human-altered environments. We investigated variations in detection frequency on trail cameras and the behavioral responses (explorative, bold, and fearful) of wild red foxes living along an urbanization gradient when exposed to a metal bin initially presented clean and then filled with anthropogenic food. All fox populations displayed an increased interest and similar explorative behavioral responses toward the anthropogenic food source, irrespective of the urbanization gradient. Despite no impact on explorative behaviors, foxes in more urbanized areas initially showed heightened fear toward the empty bin, indicating increased apprehension toward novel objects. However, this fear diminished over time, and in the presence of food, urban foxes displayed slightly reduced fear compared with their less urban counterparts. Our results highlight foxes' potential for adaptability to human landscapes, additionally underscoring the nuanced interplay of fear and explorative behavioral response of populations living along the urbanization gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Lazzaroni
- Domestication Laboratory, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna A-1160, Austria
| | - Rudy Brogi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Valentina Napolitano
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Marco Apollonio
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, via Vienna 2, I-07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Friederike Range
- Domestication Laboratory, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna A-1160, Austria
| | - Sarah Marshall-Pescini
- Domestication Laboratory, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna A-1160, Austria
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10
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Conteddu K, English HM, Byrne AW, Amin B, Griffin LL, Kaur P, Morera-Pujol V, Murphy KJ, Salter-Townshend M, Smith AF, Ciuti S. A scoping review on bovine tuberculosis highlights the need for novel data streams and analytical approaches to curb zoonotic diseases. Vet Res 2024; 55:64. [PMID: 38773649 PMCID: PMC11110237 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-024-01314-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Zoonotic diseases represent a significant societal challenge in terms of their health and economic impacts. One Health approaches to managing zoonotic diseases are becoming more prevalent, but require novel thinking, tools and cross-disciplinary collaboration. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one example of a costly One Health challenge with a complex epidemiology involving humans, domestic animals, wildlife and environmental factors, which require sophisticated collaborative approaches. We undertook a scoping review of multi-host bTB epidemiology to identify trends in species publication focus, methodologies, and One Health approaches. We aimed to identify knowledge gaps where novel research could provide insights to inform control policy, for bTB and other zoonoses. The review included 532 articles. We found different levels of research attention across episystems, with a significant proportion of the literature focusing on the badger-cattle-TB episystem, with far less attention given to tropical multi-host episystems. We found a limited number of studies focusing on management solutions and their efficacy, with very few studies looking at modelling exit strategies. Only a small number of studies looked at the effect of human disturbances on the spread of bTB involving wildlife hosts. Most of the studies we reviewed focused on the effect of badger vaccination and culling on bTB dynamics with few looking at how roads, human perturbations and habitat change may affect wildlife movement and disease spread. Finally, we observed a lack of studies considering the effect of weather variables on bTB spread, which is particularly relevant when studying zoonoses under climate change scenarios. Significant technological and methodological advances have been applied to bTB episystems, providing explicit insights into its spread and maintenance across populations. We identified a prominent bias towards certain species and locations. Generating more high-quality empirical data on wildlife host distribution and abundance, high-resolution individual behaviours and greater use of mathematical models and simulations are key areas for future research. Integrating data sources across disciplines, and a "virtuous cycle" of well-designed empirical data collection linked with mathematical and simulation modelling could provide additional gains for policy-makers and managers, enabling optimised bTB management with broader insights for other zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Conteddu
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Holly M English
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Andrew W Byrne
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, One Health Scientific Support Unit, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Bawan Amin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Laura L Griffin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Prabhleen Kaur
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Virginia Morera-Pujol
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Kilian J Murphy
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Adam F Smith
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- The Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of National Park Monitoring and Animal Management, Bavarian Forest National Park, Grafenau, Germany
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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11
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Pyott ML, Norris DR, Mitchell GW, Custode L, Gow EA. Home range size and habitat selection of owned outdoor domestic cats ( Felis catus) in urban southwestern Ontario. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17159. [PMID: 38562997 PMCID: PMC10984174 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Domestic cats (Felis catus) play a dual role in society as both companion animals and predators. When provided with unsupervised outdoor access, cats can negatively impact native wildlife and create public health and animal welfare challenges. The effective implementation of management strategies, such as buffer zones or curfews, requires an understanding of home range size, the factors that influence their movement, and the types of habitats they use. Here, we used a community/citizen scientist approach to collect movement and habitat use data using GPS collars on owned outdoor cats in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge-Guelph region, southwestern Ontario, Canada. Mean (± SD) 100% minimum convex polygon home range size was 8 ± 8 ha (range: 0.34-38 ha) and was positively associated with road density but not with intrinsic factors such as boldness, sex, or age. With regards to habitat selection, cats used greenspaces, roads, and agricultural land less often than predicted but strongly selected for impervious surfaces (urban areas other than greenspaces or roads). Our results suggest that wildlife near buildings and residential areas are likely at the greatest risk of cat predation and that a buffer size of 840 m would be needed to restrict cats from entering areas of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlee L. Pyott
- Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - D. Ryan Norris
- Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Greg W. Mitchell
- Department of Integrative Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leonardo Custode
- Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Elizabeth A. Gow
- Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific Wildlife Research Centre, Delta, British Columbia, Canada
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12
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Filazzola A, Johnson MTJ, Barrett K, Hayes S, Shrestha N, Timms L, MacIvor JS. The great urban shift: Climate change is predicted to drive mass species turnover in cities. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299217. [PMID: 38536797 PMCID: PMC10971775 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Human experiences with nature are important for our culture, economy, and health. Anthropogenically-driven climate change is causing widespread shifts in biodiversity and resident urban wildlife are no exception. We modelled over 2,000 animal species to predict how climate change will impact terrestrial wildlife within 60 Canadian and American cities. We found evidence of an impending great urban shift where thousands of species will disappear across the selected cities, being replaced by new species, or not replaced at all. Effects were largely species-specific, with the most negatively impacted taxa being amphibians, canines, and loons. These predicted shifts were consistent across scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions, but our results show that the severity of change will be defined by our action or inaction to mitigate climate change. An impending massive shift in urban wildlife will impact the cultural experiences of human residents, the delivery of ecosystem services, and our relationship with nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Filazzola
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Apex Resource Management Solutions, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc T. J. Johnson
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Sue Hayes
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Concord, ON, Canada
| | | | - Laura Timms
- Department of Watershed Knowledge, Credit Valley Conservation, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | - James Scott MacIvor
- Centre for Urban Environments, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario Canada
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13
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Alberti M. Cities of the Anthropocene: urban sustainability in an eco-evolutionary perspective. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2024; 379:20220264. [PMID: 37952615 PMCID: PMC10645089 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cities across the globe are driving systemic change in social and ecological systems by accelerating the rates of interactions and intensifying the links between human activities and Earth's ecosystems, thereby expanding the scale and influence of human activities on fundamental processes that sustain life. Increasing evidence shows that cities not only alter biodiversity, they change the genetic makeup of many populations, including animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms. Urban-driven rapid evolution in species traits might have significant effects on socially relevant ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, pollination, water and air purification and food production. Despite increasing evidence that cities are causing rapid evolutionary change, current urban sustainability strategies often overlook these dynamics. The dominant perspectives that guide these strategies are essentially static, focusing on preserving biodiversity in its present state or restoring it to pre-urban conditions. This paper provides a systemic overview of the socio-eco-evolutionary transition associated with global urbanization. Using examples of observed changes in species traits that play a significant role in maintaining ecosystem function and resilience, I propose that these evolutionary changes significantly impact urban sustainability. Incorporating an eco-evolutionary perspective into urban sustainability science and planning is crucial for effectively reimagining the cities of the Anthropocene. This article is part of the theme issue 'Evolution and sustainability: gathering the strands for an Anthropocene synthesis'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Alberti
- Department of Urban Design and Planning, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
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14
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El Ghassem A, Abdoullah B, Deida J, Ould Lemrabott MA, Ouldabdallahi Moukah M, Ould Ahmedou Salem MS, Briolant S, Basco LK, Ould Brahim K, Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary A. Arthropod-Borne Viruses in Mauritania: A Literature Review. Pathogens 2023; 12:1370. [PMID: 38003834 PMCID: PMC10675338 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111370] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past four decades, recurrent outbreaks of various arthropod-borne viruses have been reported in Mauritania. This review aims to consolidate the current knowledge on the epidemiology of the major arboviruses circulating in Mauritania. Online databases including PubMed and Web of Science were used to retrieve relevant published studies. The results showed that numerous arboviral outbreaks of variable magnitude occurred in almost all 13 regions of Mauritania, with Rift Valley fever (RVF), Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and dengue (DEN) being the most common infections. Other arboviruses causing yellow fever (YF), chikungunya (CHIK), o'nyong-nyong (ONN), Semliki Forest (SF), West Nile fever (WNF), Bagaza (BAG), Wesselsbron (WSL), and Ngari (NRI) diseases have also been found circulating in humans and/or livestock in Mauritania. The average case fatality rates of CCHF and RVF were 28.7% and 21.1%, respectively. RVF outbreaks have often occurred after unusually heavy rainfalls, while CCHF epidemics have mostly been reported during the dry season. The central and southeastern regions of the country have carried the highest burden of RVF and CCHF. Sheep, cattle, and camels are the main animal reservoirs for the RVF and CCHF viruses. Culex antennatus and Cx. poicilipes mosquitoes and Hyalomma dromedarii, H. rufipes, and Rhipicephalus everesti ticks are the main vectors of these viruses. DEN outbreaks occurred mainly in the urban settings, including in Nouakchott, the capital city, and Aedes aegypti is likely the main mosquito vector. Therefore, there is a need to implement an integrated management strategy for the prevention and control of arboviral diseases based on sensitizing the high-risk occupational groups, such as slaughterhouse workers, shepherds, and butchers for zoonotic diseases, reinforcing vector surveillance and control, introducing rapid point-of-care diagnosis of arboviruses in high-risk areas, and improving the capacities to respond rapidly when the first signs of disease outbreak are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdallahi El Ghassem
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Bedia Abdoullah
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Jemila Deida
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Mohamed Aly Ould Lemrabott
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Mohamed Ouldabdallahi Moukah
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Mohamed Salem Ould Ahmedou Salem
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Sébastien Briolant
- Unité de Parasitologie Entomologie, Département de Microbiologie et Maladies Infectieuses, Institut de Recherche Biomédicale des Armées (IRBA), 13005 Marseille, France;
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Service de Santé des Armées (SSA), Vecteurs—Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France;
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Leonardo K. Basco
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Service de Santé des Armées (SSA), Vecteurs—Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France;
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire (IHU)-Méditerranée Infection, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Khyarhoum Ould Brahim
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
| | - Ali Ould Mohamed Salem Boukhary
- Unité de Recherche Génomes et Milieux, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Nouakchott, Nouakchott BP 880, Mauritania; (A.E.G.); (B.A.); (J.D.); (M.A.O.L.); (M.O.M.); (M.S.O.A.S.); (K.O.B.)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM), Service de Santé des Armées (SSA), Vecteurs—Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéennes (VITROME), Aix Marseille Université, 13005 Marseille, France;
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15
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Chen J, Wang Y, Sun J, Wang Y, Li W, Zhang J, Huo H, Liang E. Mitigating the effects of human activities to promote human-wildlife coexistence in urban ecosystems. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2023; 68:2295-2297. [PMID: 37598061 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2023.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Junhe Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yafeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Jian Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yingxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wencheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jianxiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Earth and Environment Science, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Huangyu Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Eryuan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Earth System, Environment and Resources (TPESER), Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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16
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Cosentino BJ, Vanek JP, Gibbs JP. Rural selection drives the evolution of an urban-rural cline in coat color in gray squirrels. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10544. [PMID: 37829180 PMCID: PMC10565125 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic differences between urban and rural populations are well-documented, but the evolutionary processes driving trait variation along urbanization gradients are often unclear. We combined spatial data on abundance, trait variation, and measurements of fitness to understand cline structure and test for natural selection on heritable coat color morphs (melanic, gray) of eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) along an urbanization gradient. Population surveys using remote cameras and visual counts at 76 sites along the urbanization gradient revealed a significant cline in melanism, decreasing from 48% in the city center to <5% in rural woodlands. Among 76 squirrels translocated to test for phenotypic selection, survival was lower for the melanic than gray morph in rural woodlands, whereas there was no difference in survival between color morphs in the city. These results suggest the urban-rural cline in melanism is explained by natural selection favoring the gray morph in rural woodlands combined with relaxed selection in the city. Our study illustrates how trait variation between urban and rural populations can emerge from selection primarily in rural populations rather than adaptation to novel features of the urban environment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - John P. Vanek
- Department of BiologyHobart and William Smith CollegesGenevaNew YorkUSA
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
- Present address:
New York Natural Heritage ProgramAlbanyNew YorkUSA
| | - James P. Gibbs
- Department of Environmental BiologyState University of New York College of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNew YorkUSA
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17
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Schug F, Bar-Massada A, Carlson AR, Cox H, Hawbaker TJ, Helmers D, Hostert P, Kaim D, Kasraee NK, Martinuzzi S, Mockrin MH, Pfoch KA, Radeloff VC. The global wildland-urban interface. Nature 2023; 621:94-99. [PMID: 37468636 PMCID: PMC10482693 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06320-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) is where buildings and wildland vegetation meet or intermingle1,2. It is where human-environmental conflicts and risks can be concentrated, including the loss of houses and lives to wildfire, habitat loss and fragmentation and the spread of zoonotic diseases3. However, a global analysis of the WUI has been lacking. Here, we present a global map of the 2020 WUI at 10 m resolution using a globally consistent and validated approach based on remote sensing-derived datasets of building area4 and wildland vegetation5. We show that the WUI is a global phenomenon, identify many previously undocumented WUI hotspots and highlight the wide range of population density, land cover types and biomass levels in different parts of the global WUI. The WUI covers only 4.7% of the land surface but is home to nearly half its population (3.5 billion). The WUI is especially widespread in Europe (15% of the land area) and the temperate broadleaf and mixed forests biome (18%). Of all people living near 2003-2020 wildfires (0.4 billion), two thirds have their home in the WUI, most of them in Africa (150 million). Given that wildfire activity is predicted to increase because of climate change in many regions6, there is a need to understand housing growth and vegetation patterns as drivers of WUI change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franz Schug
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Avi Bar-Massada
- Department of Biology and Environment, University of Haifa at Oranim, Kiryat Tivon, Israel
| | - Amanda R Carlson
- US Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - Heather Cox
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Todd J Hawbaker
- US Geological Survey, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center, Lakewood, CO, USA
| | - David Helmers
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Patrick Hostert
- Geography Department, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Integrative Research Institute on Transformations of Human-Environment Systems, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dominik Kaim
- Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Neda K Kasraee
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sebastián Martinuzzi
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Miranda H Mockrin
- Northern Research Station, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kira A Pfoch
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Volker C Radeloff
- SILVIS Lab, Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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18
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Schulz AK, Shriver C, Stathatos S, Seleb B, Weigel EG, Chang YH, Saad Bhamla M, Hu DL, Mendelson JR. Conservation tools: the next generation of engineering-biology collaborations. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230232. [PMID: 37582407 PMCID: PMC10427197 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent increase in public and academic interest in preserving biodiversity has led to the growth of the field of conservation technology. This field involves designing and constructing tools that use technology to aid in the conservation of wildlife. In this review, we present five case studies and infer a framework for designing conservation tools (CT) based on human-wildlife interaction. Successful CT range in complexity from cat collars to machine learning and game theory methodologies and do not require technological expertise to contribute to conservation tool creation. Our goal is to introduce researchers to the field of conservation technology and provide references for guiding the next generation of conservation technologists. Conservation technology not only has the potential to benefit biodiversity but also has broader impacts on fields such as sustainability and environmental protection. By using innovative technologies to address conservation challenges, we can find more effective and efficient solutions to protect and preserve our planet's resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K. Schulz
- Haptic Ingelligence Department, Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems, Stuttgart 70569, Germany
- Schools of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Cassie Shriver
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Suzanne Stathatos
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Benjamin Seleb
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Emily G. Weigel
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Young-Hui Chang
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - M. Saad Bhamla
- Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David L. Hu
- Schools of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - Joseph R. Mendelson
- Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
- Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30315, USA
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19
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Makovska I, Dhaka P, Chantziaras I, Pessoa J, Dewulf J. The Role of Wildlife and Pests in the Transmission of Pathogenic Agents to Domestic Pigs: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1830. [PMID: 37889698 PMCID: PMC10251848 DOI: 10.3390/ani13111830] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Wild animals and pests are important reservoirs and vectors of pathogenic agents that can affect domestic pigs. Rapid globalization, anthropogenic factors, and increasing trends toward outdoor pig production facilitate the contact between domestic pigs and wildlife. However, knowledge on the transmission pathways between domestic pigs and the aforementioned target groups is limited. The present systematic review aims to collect and analyze information on the roles of different wild animal species and pests in the spread of pathogens to domesticated pigs. Overall, 1250 peer-reviewed manuscripts published in English between 2010 and 2022 were screened through the PRISMA framework using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. A total of 84 studies reporting possible transmission routes of different pathogenic agents were included. A majority of the studies (80%) focused on the role of wild boars in the transmission of pathogenic agents to pig farms. Studies involving the role of rodents (7%), and deer (6%) were the next most frequent, whereas the role of insects (5%), wild carnivores (5%), wild birds (4%), cats (2%), and badgers (1%) were less available. Only 3.5% of studies presented evidence-based transmission routes from wildlife to domestic pigs. Approximately 65.5% of the included studies described possible risks/risk factors for pathogens' transmission based on quantitative data, whereas 31% of the articles only presented a hypothesis or qualitative analysis of possible transmission routes or risk factors and/or contact rates. Risk factors identified include outdoor farms or extensive systems and farms with a low level of biosecurity as well as wildlife behavior; environmental conditions; human activities and movements; fomites, feed (swill feeding), water, carcasses, and bedding materials. We recommend the strengthening of farm biosecurity frameworks with special attention to wildlife-associated parameters, especially in extensive rearing systems and high-risk zones as it was repeatedly found to be an important measure to prevent pathogen transmission to domestic pigs. In addition, there is a need to focus on effective risk-based wildlife surveillance mechanisms and to raise awareness among farmers about existing wildlife-associated risk factors for disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iryna Makovska
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (P.D.); (I.C.); (J.P.); (J.D.)
| | - Pankaj Dhaka
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (P.D.); (I.C.); (J.P.); (J.D.)
- Centre for One Health, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana 141004, India
| | - Ilias Chantziaras
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (P.D.); (I.C.); (J.P.); (J.D.)
| | - Joana Pessoa
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (P.D.); (I.C.); (J.P.); (J.D.)
| | - Jeroen Dewulf
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; (P.D.); (I.C.); (J.P.); (J.D.)
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20
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Bracken AM, Christensen C, O'Riain MJ, Fürtbauer I, King AJ. Postpartum cessation of urban space use by a female baboon living at the edge of the City of Cape Town. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9963. [PMID: 37200910 PMCID: PMC10186196 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Species with slow life history strategies that invest in few offspring with extended parental care need to adapt their behavior to cope with anthropogenic changes that occur within their lifetime. Here we show that a female chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) that commonly ranges within urban space in the City of Cape Town, South Africa, stops using urban space after giving birth. This change of space use occurs without any significant change in daily distance traveled or social interactions that would be expected with general risk-sensitive behavior after birth. Instead, we suggest this change occurs because of the specific and greater risks the baboons experience within the urban space compared to natural space, and because leaving the troop (to enter urban space) may increase infanticide risk. This case study can inform methods used to manage the baboons' urban space use in Cape Town and provides insight into how life history events alter individuals' use of anthropogenic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna M. Bracken
- School of BiodiversityOne Health and Veterinary MedicineGraham Kerr BuildingGlasgowG12 8QQUK
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySA2 8PPSwanseaUK
| | - Charlotte Christensen
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySA2 8PPSwanseaUK
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental StudiesUniversity of ZürichWinterthurerstrasse 1908057ZürichSwitzerland
| | - M. Justin O'Riain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Communities and Wildlife in AfricaUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | - Ines Fürtbauer
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySA2 8PPSwanseaUK
| | - Andrew J. King
- Biosciences, School of Biosciences, Geography and Physics, Faculty of Science and EngineeringSwansea UniversitySA2 8PPSwanseaUK
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21
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Le Roux G, Guillon M, Bernard L, de Haro L, Lourdais O, Descatha A. What drives the risk of being bitten by a viper? A fine spatial scale study in western France. Toxicon 2023; 228:107130. [PMID: 37080341 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107130] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies on viper bites in France have focused on clinical consequences of envenomation, efficacy of antivenom and epidemiology of bites. Herein, we wanted to clarify temporal and spatial patterns in bite incidence using a fine spatial scale (municipality level). We focused on viper bites recorded over the last 10 years in 4 regions of western France. We addressed the determinants of bite occurrence and number of bites considering the following variables: predicted probability of viper presence, species (V. aspis or V. berus), climatic data, tourism function rate, soil transformation and landscape use. 703 bite cases were retained with significant disparities between areas. Bites occurred either during a garden-related activity (339 cases, 51.2%) or during an activity in the countryside (300 cases, 45.3%). The probability of presence of a viper at the municipality level positively influenced the risk of being bitten (multiplied by 3 for a variation in probability of 0.25 from 0.5) but varied between species (lower in V. berus than V. aspis). Artificial land development had a positive effect on bite risks. Finally, a tourism function rate above 50 beds/100 inhabitants was strongly associated with an increase in the risk of occurrence and frequency of bites. Overall, viper bites recorded in our study were concentrated on the south coastline of Pays de la Loire region. The coastal towns are significant areas of tourist attraction and are located close to preserved semi-natural landscapes that provide favorable habitats for vipers. This convergence may favor human/wildlife encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Le Roux
- Poison Control Center, Academic Hospital CHU Angers, F-49000, Angers, France; University of Angers, Academic Hospital CHU Angers CHU Angers, University of Rennes, INSERM, École des Hautes études en Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset) UMR_S 1085, F-49000, Angers, France.
| | - Michaël Guillon
- Centre D'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372- Université de La Rochelle, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France; Cistude Nature, Chemin Du Moulinat, 33185, Le Haillan, France
| | - Lise Bernard
- Poison Control Center, Academic Hospital CHU Angers, F-49000, Angers, France
| | - Luc de Haro
- Poison Control Center, Academic Hospital APHM, F-13000, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Lourdais
- Centre D'Etudes Biologiques de Chizé, CNRS UMR 7372- Université de La Rochelle, 79360, Villiers-en-Bois, France
| | - Alexis Descatha
- Poison Control Center, Academic Hospital CHU Angers, F-49000, Angers, France; University of Angers, Academic Hospital CHU Angers CHU Angers, University of Rennes, INSERM, École des Hautes études en Santé Publique, Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail (Irset) UMR_S 1085, F-49000, Angers, France
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22
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Vez-Garzón M, Giménez J, Sánchez-Márquez A, Montalvo T, Navarro J. Changes in the feeding ecology of an opportunistic predator inhabiting urban environments in response to COVID-19 lockdown. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:221639. [PMID: 37063991 PMCID: PMC10090867 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.221639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Urban-dwelling species present feeding and behavioural innovation that enable them to adjust to anthropogenic food subsidies available in cities. In 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak resulted in unprecedented reduction in the human activity worldwide associated with the human lockdown. This situation opened an excellent opportunity to investigate the capability of urban wildlife to cope with this anthropopause event. Here, we investigated the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the feeding strategies of the urban yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) population inhabiting the highly dense city of Barcelona (NE Spain). We compared the diet of chicks (through stomach content and stable isotope analyses) sampled randomly around the city of Barcelona before (2018 and 2019), during (2020) and after (2021) the COVID-19 lockdown. The results revealed that the anthropopause associated with the lockdown had an effect on the diet of this urban-dwelling predator. The diversity of prey consumed during the lockdown was lower, and consumption of urban birds (pigeons and parakeets) and marine prey (fishery discards and natural prey) decreased during the year of lockdown. Although it was not analysed, these diet changes probably were associated with variations in the availability of these resources due to the decrease in human activity during the lockdown. These results demonstrate the trophic flexibility of urban-dwelling species to cope with the changes in the availability of human-related anthropogenic resources in urban marine ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Vez-Garzón
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Giménez
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antoni Sánchez-Márquez
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Tomás Montalvo
- Servei de Vigilància i Control de Plagues Urbanes, Agencia de Salud Pública de Barcelona, Pl. Lesseps, 1, 08023 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joan Navarro
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM), CSIC, Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Ben‐Moshe N, Rosensaft M, Iwamura T. Land‐use changes interact with geology to facilitate dispersal of the rock hyrax ( Procavia capensis) and leishmaniasis across Israel and the West Bank. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e9915. [PMID: 36960239 PMCID: PMC10030234 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9915] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Geology plays a fundamental role in establishing species' habitats, determining both physical (e.g., landscape morphology, soil texture) and chemical (e.g., mineral composition, water availability) properties. In the current Anthropocene epoch, human activity is transforming Earth's geology and ecosystems. Yet to date, there have been almost no studies incorporating geology when examining the effect of such land‐use changes on species distribution. This study seeks to uncover how specific land‐use changes interact with geology, in order to explain the recent and rapid expansion of the rock hyrax (Procavia capensis) across the mountains of central Israel and the West Bank. Hyraxes are dependent on rock mounds for their habitat, and their expansion seems to be correlated with increasing infrastructure construction. However, their expansion patterns differ among locations, even when the human land‐use is similar. To explain the patterns of hyrax distribution observed over the past 46 years, we converted geological data into ecological data, which present the probability of the local bedrock breaking into boulders, whether due to either natural or anthropogenic weathering processes. We applied species distribution models (SDMs) and found that the expansion of rock hyrax populations was facilitated by means of the interaction of specific geological units with land‐use practices (e.g., roads and construction), which resulted in the accumulation of large boulders, creating novel habitats and stepping stones in previously unsuitable areas for hyraxes. Since rock hyraxes are major hosts of the leishmaniasis pathogen, the findings from this study offer important insights into the progression and potential outbreaks of the disease in human populations. Understanding the role that geology plays in shaping a species' niche is expected to prove useful in studying the distribution of other wildlife species and is fundamental in studies seeking to predict the potential ecological impacts on local biodiversity associated with land‐use change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Takuya Iwamura
- Department F.‐A. Forel for Aquatic and Environmental Sciences and Institute for Environmental SciencesUniversity of GenevaGenevaSwitzerland
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24
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Elephant Scar Prevalence in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor, Kenya: Echoes of Human-Elephant Conflict. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040605. [PMID: 36830392 PMCID: PMC9951691 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Human-elephant conflict (HEC) compromises crop security and threatens elephant conservation. Most commonly, HEC manifests as crop-foraging as elephants modify natural foraging strategies to incorporate crops. Farmers may retaliate by frightening or harming elephants, leaving scars from inflicted wounds. We assessed the prevalence and distribution of scars on the bodies of African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) observed in the Kasigau Wildlife Corridor (KWC), part of the Greater Tsavo Ecosystem of Kenya, where conflict is prevalent. We surmised that scars on the body are largely a result of HEC as opposed to scars on the rump or head, which we attributed primarily to elephant-elephant conflict. We hypothesized that: (1) male elephants would have more scars than females; (2) older males would be more likely to have scars than younger males; and (3) most scars would be located on the bodies of elephants. We assessed scars from a photographic catalogue of elephants from the KWC. In line with our hypotheses, male elephants were more likely to have scars than females (32% of males compared to 6% of females); older males had significantly more scars than younger males (61% compared to 24%); and the majority of scars (89%) were located on the body. Scar presence may be useful as an animal-centered indicator to estimate the prevalence and demographic patterns of HEC.
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25
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Emergency‐line calls as an indicator to assess human–wildlife interaction in urban areas. Ecosphere 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
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26
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Attitude Index of Local Communities toward Wildlife and Their Management Methods in Malaysia. DIVERSITY 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/d15020202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife have an important role in the lives of local people and conservation practitioners in Malaysia because of their rare and elusive status, socioeconomic impacts, and management conflicts. However, few studies have evaluated the local attitudes toward wildlife and their management methods in Malaysia. In this study, we used indices to measure attitudes toward wildlife and their management methods in Malaysia. The iterative item reliability analysis was executed on online questionnaire data from a random sample of 585 local respondents using Cronbach’s alpha. The result yielded two indices of locals’ attitudes; (i) Wildlife Attitude Index (WAI); and (ii) Wildlife Management Method Attitude Index (WMMAI). The WAI had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.71 and the WMMAI had a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.73. The following variables had significant determinants of WAI and WMMAI in Malaysia: (i) gender; (ii) age; (iii) level of education; (iv) residential area; (v) familiarity (experience); and (vi) nature engagement. These attitude indices could be significant in assisting conservation practitioners and decision-makers in understanding locals’ attitudes to prioritize wildlife management practices and showing the relationship between management and local demographics with the assumption that high-scoring individuals are more likely to favor wildlife conservation initiatives and activities.
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27
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Taylor AC, Wirsing AJ. turns 50. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.1071/wr22191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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28
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Raymond S, St. Clair CC. Urban coyotes select cryptic den sites near human development where conflict rates increase. J Wildl Manage 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sage Raymond
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta 77 University Campus Edmonton AB T6G 2R3 Canada
| | - Colleen Cassady St. Clair
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Alberta 77 University Campus Edmonton AB T6G 2R3 Canada
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29
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Fidino M, Lehrer EW, Kay CAM, Yarmey NT, Murray MH, Fake K, Adams HC, Magle SB. Integrated species distribution models reveal spatiotemporal patterns of human-wildlife conflict. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2647. [PMID: 35535608 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate human-wildlife conflict it is imperative to know where and when conflict occurs. However, standard methods used to predict the occurrence of human-wildlife conflict often fail to recognize how a species distribution likely limits where and when conflict may happen. As such, methods that predict human-wildlife conflict could be improved if they could identify where conflict will occur relative to species' underlying distribution. To this end, we used an integrated species distribution model that combined presence-only wildlife complaints with data from a systematic camera trapping survey throughout Chicago, Illinois. This model draws upon both data sources to estimate a latent distribution of species; in addition, the model can estimate where conflict is most likely to occur within that distribution. We modeled the occupancy and conflict potential of coyote (Canis latrans), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), and raccoon (Procyon lotor) as a function of urban intensity, per capita income, and home vacancy rates throughout Chicago. Overall, the distribution of each species constrained the spatiotemporal patterns of conflict throughout the city of Chicago. Within each species distribution, we found that human-wildlife conflict was most likely to occur where humans and wildlife habitat overlap (e.g., featuring higher-than-average canopy cover and housing density). Furthermore, human-wildlife conflict was most likely to occur in high-income neighborhoods for Virginia opossum and raccoon, despite the fact that those two species have higher occupancy in low-income neighborhoods. As such, knowing where species are distributed can inform guidelines on where wildlife management should be focused, especially if it overlaps with human habitats. Finally, because this integrated model can incorporate data that have already been collected by wildlife managers or city officials, this approach could be used to develop stronger collaborations with wildlife management agencies and conduct applied research that will inform landscape-scale wildlife management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason Fidino
- Conservation and Science Department, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Cria A M Kay
- Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Nicholas T Yarmey
- Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economy, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Kimberly Fake
- Conservation and Science Department, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Henry C Adams
- Conservation and Science Department, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Seth B Magle
- Conservation and Science Department, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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30
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Di Giovanni J, Fawcett TW, Templeton CN, Raghav S, Boogert NJ. Urban gulls show similar thermographic and behavioral responses to human shouting and conspecific alarm calls. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.891985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid population growth and the urbanization of modern environments are markedly increasing human-wildlife conflict. Wild animals in urban landscapes can benefit from exploiting human resources, but are also exposed to increased risk of human-caused injury, which should favor the ability to perceive and respond to human cues. Although it is well known that domesticated animals use human cues that may indicate threats, less is known about wild animals living in urban environments. Herring gulls (Larus argentatus) in urban landscapes have adapted kleptoparasitic behaviors to obtain human food, often resulting in negative interactions with humans. Here we quantified both the behavioral and physiological responses of free-living urban herring gulls to human shouting. We presented urban gulls with a fake human food item and played back recordings of either a man shouting, a natural stressor (i.e., conspecific alarm call), or a neutral stimulus (i.e., robin song). We recorded behavioral responses and used non-invasive infrared thermography to measure eye-region surface temperature changes associated with the avian physiological stress response. We found that gulls exposed to shouting and to conspecific alarm calls showed similar changes in behavior (indicating high levels of vigilance) and eye-region surface temperature (indicating physiological stress). Both responses were significantly stronger than the responses to robin song. Additionally, the behavioral and physiological responses were positively correlated across individuals. Our results demonstrate that urban-dwelling gulls respond to human shouting and conspecific alarm calls in a similar way, and suggest that infrared thermography is a viable technique to monitor stress responses in free-living birds.
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31
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Yabsley SH, Meade J, Hibburt TD, Martin JM, Boardman WSJ, Nicolle D, Walker MJ, Turbill C, Welbergen JA. Variety is the spice of life: Flying-foxes exploit a variety of native and exotic food plants in an urban landscape mosaic. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.907966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Generally, urbanization is a major threat to biodiversity; however, urban areas also provide habitats that some species can exploit. Flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) are becoming increasingly urbanized; which is thought to be a result of increased availability and temporal stability of urban food resources, diminished natural food resources, or both. Previous research has shown that urban-roosting grey-headed flying-foxes (Pteropus poliocephalus) preferentially forage in human-modified landscapes. However, which land-use areas and food plants support its presence in urban areas is unknown. We tracked nine P. poliocephalus roosting in Adelaide, South Australia, between December 2019 and May 2020, using global positioning systems (GPS), to investigate how individuals used the urban landscape mosaic for feeding. The most frequently visited land-use category was “residential” (40% of fixes) followed by “road-side,” “reserves” and “primary production” (13–14% each). However, “reserves” were visited four times more frequently than expected from their areal availability, followed by the “residential” and “road-side” categories that were visited approximately twice more than expected each; in contrast, the “primary production” category was visited approximately five times less than expected. These results suggest that while residential areas provide most foraging resources supporting Adelaide’s flying-fox population, reserves contain foraging resources that are particularly attractive to P. poliocephalus. Primary production land was relatively less utilized, presumably because it contains few food resources. Throughout, flying-foxes visited an eclectic mixture of diet plants (49 unique species), with a majority of feeding fixes (63%) to locally indigenous Australian native species; however, in residential areas 53% of feeding visits were to non-locally indigenous species, vs only 13% in reserves. Flowering and fruiting phenology records of the food plants visited further indicated that non-locally indigenous species increase the temporal availability of foraging resources for P. poliocephalus in urban Adelaide. Our findings demonstrate the importance of residential areas for urban-roosting P. poliocephalus, and suggest that the anthropogenic mixture of food resources available in the urban landscape mosaic supports the species’ year-round presence in urban areas. Our results further highlight the importance of conserving natural habitats within the urban landscape mosaic, and stress the need for accounting for wildlife responses to urban greening initiatives.
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32
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Basak SM, Hossain MS, O'Mahony DT, Okarma H, Widera E, Wierzbowska IA. Public perceptions and attitudes toward urban wildlife encounters - A decade of change. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 834:155603. [PMID: 35523348 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Europe is currently undergoing dynamic land use changes causing the expansion of urban habitat, which is driving wildlife species to colonise conurbations, resulting in an increased likelihood of human-wildlife conflict (HWC). Understanding people's attitudes toward wildlife is essential to manage these conflicts. This study assessed people's attitudes toward urban wildlife, the types of conflicts that existed, preferences for managing conflict situations, and determined any changes in perceptions of urban wildlife over a decade. A questionnaire survey of residents of Krakow, the second-largest city in Poland, was conducted in 2010 (n = 721) and repeated in 2020 (n = 887). We found that encounters with certain urban wildlife such as wild boars, red squirrels, roe deer, brown hares, and red foxes had increased significantly in 2020 compared to 2010. Respondents reported that wild boar and beavers did not show fear when encountering humans. Stone martens were considered the most nuisance wildlife species in 2010, while in 2020 wild boar were the most conflictual wildlife species. There were additional reports of conflicts with roe deer and red foxes. The most frequent HWC responses were personal anxiety, intrusion into property and destruction of crops, which increased significantly over the decade, independent of respondents' gender. Respondents preferred nonlethal methods to mitigate conflicts. The study provides valuable information and knowledge on changes in people's attitudes toward urban wildlife that can help with wildlife management in urban areas. Incorporating perception and attitude data from the public, along with a multi-stakeholder approach that includes wildlife professionals, in the planning and design of future urban environments is critical to minimise HWC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayantani M Basak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Md Sarwar Hossain
- Environmental Science and Sustainability, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow, Dumfries, UK
| | - Declan T O'Mahony
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, 18a Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, UK
| | - Henryk Okarma
- Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Mickiewicza 33, 31-120 Krakow, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Widera
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Izabela A Wierzbowska
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.
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33
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Hagemann J, Conejero C, Stillfried M, Mentaberre G, Castillo-Contreras R, Fickel J, López-Olvera JR. Genetic population structure defines wild boar as an urban exploiter species in Barcelona, Spain. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 833:155126. [PMID: 35405223 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Urban wildlife ecology is gaining relevance as metropolitan areas grow throughout the world, reducing natural habitats and creating new ecological niches. However, knowledge is still scarce about the colonisation processes of such urban niches, the establishment of new communities, populations and/or species, and the related changes in behaviour and life histories of urban wildlife. Wild boar (Sus scrofa) has successfully colonised urban niches throughout Europe. The aim of this study is to unveil the processes driving the establishment and maintenance of an urban wild boar population by analysing its genetic structure. A set of 19 microsatellite loci was used to test whether urban wild boars in Barcelona, Spain, are an isolated population or if gene flow prevents genetic differentiation between rural and urban wild boars. This knowledge will contribute to the understanding of the effects of synurbisation and the associated management measures on the genetic change of large mammals in urban ecosystems. Despite the unidirectional gene flow from rural to urban areas, the urban wild boars in Barcelona form an island population genotypically differentiated from the surrounding rural ones. The comparison with previous genetic studies of urban wild boar populations suggests that forest patches act as suitable islands for wild boar genetic differentiation. Previous results and the genetic structure of the urban wild boar population in Barcelona classify wild boar as an urban exploiter species. These wild boar peri-urban island populations are responsible for conflict with humans and thus should be managed by reducing the attractiveness of urban areas. The management of peri-urban wild boar populations should aim at reducing migration into urban areas and preventing phenotypic changes (either genetic or plastic) causing habituation of wild boars to humans and urban environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justus Hagemann
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; University of Potsdam, Evolutionary Adaptive Genomics, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Carles Conejero
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Milena Stillfried
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agraria (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), 25098 Lleida, Spain
| | - Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jörns Fickel
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany; University of Potsdam, Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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34
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Soga M, Gaston KJ. The dark side of nature experience: Typology, dynamics and implications of negative sensory interactions with nature. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Bunkyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Kevin J. Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute University of Exeter Penryn UK
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35
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Mwasi S, Dheer A. Habitat degradation, vegetation damage, and wildlife‐livestock interactions in Amboseli ecosystem wildlife sanctuaries, Kenya. Afr J Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.13048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shem Mwasi
- Department of Environmental Biology and Health University of Eldoret Eldoret Kenya
| | - Arjun Dheer
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research Berlin Germany
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Ostermann‐Miyashita E, König HJ, Pernat N, Bellingrath‐Kimura SD, Hibler S, Kiffner C. Knowledge of returning wildlife species and willingness to participate in citizen science projects among wildlife park visitors in Germany. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Emu‐Felicitas Ostermann‐Miyashita
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Thaer‐Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
| | - Hannes J. König
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
| | - Nadja Pernat
- Research Area 2: Land Use and Governance Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
- Institute of Landscape Ecology, Animal Ecology Research Group University of Münster Münster Germany
| | - Sonoko Dorothea Bellingrath‐Kimura
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Thaer‐Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences Humboldt Universität zu Berlin Berlin Germany
- Research Area 2: Land Use and Governance Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
| | - Sophia Hibler
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
- Department of Plant Ecology and Nature Conservation University of Potsdam Potsdam Germany
| | - Christian Kiffner
- Junior Research Group Human‐Wildlife Conflict and Coexistence Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) Müncheberg Germany
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Sawyer SJ, Eubanks MD, Beasley JC, Barton BT, Puckett RT, Tomeček JM, Tomberlin JK. Vertebrate and invertebrate competition for carrion in human‐impacted environments depends on abiotic factors. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Micky D. Eubanks
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - James C. Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory University of Georgia Aiken South Carolina USA
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | - Brandon T. Barton
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Manitoba Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
| | - Robert T. Puckett
- Department of Entomology Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
| | - John M. Tomeček
- Department of Rangeland, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management Texas A&M University College Station Texas USA
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Patterns of Human–Brown Bear Conflict in the Urban Area of Brașov, Romania. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human–bear conflicts are increasing in number due to deforestation, urban expansion, tourism, and habitat invasion by humans. Our study was conducted in Brașov, a picturesque city in central Romania. Brașov is surrounded by forests and has significant tourist traffic, but also much uncollected garbage and many garbage containers, which attract brown bears. We recorded human–bear conflicts in four districts (Răcădău, the Historic Centre, Noua, and Gară) between 2004 and 2018, finding 55 cases in total, of which in 19 cases involving people, 4 people were killed and 32 were injured. In 36 cases, there were no human victims. We mapped the locations of human–bear conflicts and garbage containers, then analysed their space–time location and human victims in terms of behavioural factors. The altitudes at which brown bears were identified ranged from 580 to 790 m, whereas bears were found in the city at distances of between 100 and 2600 m from the forest. The highest frequency of human–bear conflicts occurred during summer and autumn, and the most common behavioural factor was human outdoor activities. This study provides an important background for understanding human–bear conflicts and will help local authorities develop effective strategies to reduce human–bear conflicts and mitigate risk.
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Michalska-Smith M, VanderWaal K, Craft ME. Asymmetric host movement reshapes local disease dynamics in metapopulations. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9365. [PMID: 35672422 PMCID: PMC9171740 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12774-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how the movement of individuals affects disease dynamics is critical to accurately predicting and responding to the spread of disease in an increasingly interconnected world. In particular, it is not yet known how movement between patches affects local disease dynamics (e.g., whether pathogen prevalence remains steady or oscillates through time). Considering a set of small, archetypal metapopulations, we find three surprisingly simple patterns emerge in local disease dynamics following the introduction of movement between patches: (1) movement between identical patches with cyclical pathogen prevalence dampens oscillations in the destination while increasing synchrony between patches; (2) when patches differ from one another in the absence of movement, adding movement allows dynamics to propagate between patches, alternatively stabilizing or destabilizing dynamics in the destination based on the dynamics at the origin; and (3) it is easier for movement to induce cyclical dynamics than to induce a steady-state. Considering these archetypal networks (and the patterns they exemplify) as building blocks of larger, more realistically complex metapopulations provides an avenue for novel insights into the role of host movement on disease dynamics. Moreover, this work demonstrates a framework for future predictive modelling of disease spread in real populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Michalska-Smith
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA. .,Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
| | - Kimberly VanderWaal
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Meggan E Craft
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.,Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
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40
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Poh KC, Evans JR, Skvarla MJ, Machtinger ET. All for One Health and One Health for All: Considerations for Successful Citizen Science Projects Conducting Vector Surveillance from Animal Hosts. INSECTS 2022; 13:492. [PMID: 35735829 PMCID: PMC9225105 DOI: 10.3390/insects13060492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Many vector-borne diseases that affect humans are zoonotic, often involving some animal host amplifying the pathogen and infecting an arthropod vector, followed by pathogen spillover into the human population via the bite of the infected vector. As urbanization, globalization, travel, and trade continue to increase, so does the risk posed by vector-borne diseases and spillover events. With the introduction of new vectors and potential pathogens as well as range expansions of native vectors, it is vital to conduct vector and vector-borne disease surveillance. Traditional surveillance methods can be time-consuming and labor-intensive, especially when surveillance involves sampling from animals. In order to monitor for potential vector-borne disease threats, researchers have turned to the public to help with data collection. To address vector-borne disease and animal conservation needs, we conducted a literature review of studies from the United States and Canada utilizing citizen science efforts to collect arthropods of public health and veterinary interest from animals. We identified common stakeholder groups, the types of surveillance that are common with each group, and the literature gaps on understudied vectors and populations. From this review, we synthesized considerations for future research projects involving citizen scientist collection of arthropods that affect humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen C. Poh
- Department of Entomology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (J.R.E.); (M.J.S.); (E.T.M.)
- USDA-ARS Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Jesse R. Evans
- Department of Entomology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (J.R.E.); (M.J.S.); (E.T.M.)
| | - Michael J. Skvarla
- Department of Entomology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (J.R.E.); (M.J.S.); (E.T.M.)
| | - Erika T. Machtinger
- Department of Entomology, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; (J.R.E.); (M.J.S.); (E.T.M.)
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41
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Castillo-Contreras R, Marín M, López-Olvera JR, Ayats T, Fernandez Aguilar X, Lavín S, Mentaberre G, Cerdà-Cuéllar M. Zoonotic Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. carried by wild boars in a metropolitan area: occurrence, antimicrobial susceptibility and public health relevance. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 822:153444. [PMID: 35092769 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. are the most reported zoonotic agents in Europe. They can be transmitted from wildlife to humans, and wild boars (Sus scrofa) can harbour them. In the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (MAB, NE Spain) wild boars are found in urbanized areas. To assess the potential public health risk of this increasing wild boar population, we collected stool samples from 130 wild boars from the MAB (June 2015 - February 2016), to determine the Campylobacter and Salmonella occurrence and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates. We also investigated the genetic diversity and virulence potential of Campylobacter. Campylobacter prevalence in wild boars was 61%. Forty six percent of wild boars carried Campylobacter lanienae, 16% carried Campylobacter coli, and 1% carried Campylobacter hyointestinalis; 4% carried both C. lanienae and C. coli, and 1% carried both C. lanienae and C. hyointestinalis. This is the first report of C. hyointestinalis in wildlife in Spain. Using pulse-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing, we observed a high genetic diversity of Campylobacter and identified new sequence types. Thirty-three percent of C. coli and 14% of C. lanienae isolates showed a high virulence potential. All of the Campylobacter isolates analysed were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. Multidrug resistance was only detected in C. coli (67%). Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica was detected in four wild boars (3%) and included a S. Enteritidis serovar (1/4 wild boars) and a multidrug-resistant (ASSuT) monophasic S. Typhimurium serovar (1/4 wild boars) which is associated with human infections and pig meat in Europe. The characteristics of some of the Campylobacter and Salmonella isolates recovered suggest an anthropogenic origin. Wild boars are a reservoir of Campylobacter and have the potential to spread antimicrobial resistant Campylobacter and Salmonella in urbanized areas in the MAB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Castillo-Contreras
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Marín
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Ayats
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xavier Fernandez Aguilar
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology and Health group (WE&H) and Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge (SEFaS), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Serra Húnter fellow; Wildlife Ecology & Health group (WE&H) and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior d'Enginyeria Agrària (ETSEA), Universitat de Lleida (UdL), Av. Rovira Roure 191, E-25098 Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Cerdà-Cuéllar
- IRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; OIE Collaborating Centre for the Research and Control of Emerging and Re-Emerging Swine Diseases in Europe (IRTA-CReSA), 08193, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
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42
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Griffin LL, Haigh A, Conteddu K, Andaloc M, McDonnell P, Ciuti S. Reducing risky interactions: Identifying barriers to the successful management of human–wildlife conflict in an urban parkland. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Laura L. Griffin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Amy Haigh
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Kimberly Conteddu
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | - Maverick Andaloc
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
| | | | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES University College Dublin Dublin Ireland
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43
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Animal-vehicle collisions during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020 in the Krakow metropolitan region, Poland. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7572. [PMID: 35534651 PMCID: PMC9082987 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11526-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The interrelations between human activity and animal populations are of increasing interest due to the emergence of the novel COVID-19 and the consequent pandemic across the world. Anthropogenic impacts of the pandemic on animals in urban-suburban environments are largely unknown. In this study, the temporal and spatial patterns of urban animal response to the COVID-19 lockdown were assessed using animal-vehicle collisions (AVC) data. We collected AVC data over two 6-month periods in 2019 and 2020 (January to June) from the largest metropolis in southern Poland, which included lockdown months. Furthermore, we used traffic data to understand the impact of lockdown on AVC in the urban area. Our analysis of 1063 AVC incidents revealed that COVID-19 related lockdown decreased AVC rates in suburban areas. However, in the urban area, even though traffic volume had significantly reduced, AVC did not decrease significantly, suggesting that lockdown did not influence the collision rates in the urban area. Our results suggest that there is a need to focus on understanding the effects of changes in traffic volume on both human behaviour and wildlife space use on the resulting impacts on AVC in the urban area.
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44
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Fine-scale habitat selection of a small mammalian urban adapter: the West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus). Mamm Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00251-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding patterns of habitat selection and factors affecting space use is fundamental in animal conservation. In urban landscapes, such knowledge can be used to advise householders on how best to manage their gardens for wildlife. In this study, we tracked 28 West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus), a species of conservation concern in the UK, in an area of high-density housing using radio and GPS tags to quantify patterns of habitat use and identify factors associated with the proportion of time spent in individual gardens. Both males and females exhibited a preference for residential gardens, but there were subtle differences between the sexes in relation to house type and front versus back gardens. Hedgehogs spent significantly more time in gardens where artificial food was provided, where a compost heap was present, if foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were infrequent visitors, if it rained overnight and as daylength increased (i.e., shorter nights); garden use was not significantly associated with variables potentially likely to reflect invertebrate prey abundance. These data suggest that the primary positive action that householders can undertake for urban hedgehogs is providing supplementary food. However, householders often feed hedgehogs after they know they are already visiting their garden. Consequently, the presence of artificial food may make it difficult to identify other important influences affecting garden use. Finally, we report that a GPS fix acquisition rate < 60% likely had no major effect on the results of our analyses, but should be a consideration in future studies using this technique on this species and in this habitat.
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45
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Jalihal S, Rana S, Sharma S. Systematic mapping on the importance of vultures in the Indian public health discourse. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY (SINGAPORE) 2022; 5:135-143. [PMID: 37521585 PMCID: PMC9004616 DOI: 10.1007/s42398-022-00224-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Vultures are of immense ecological significance to forest and urban ecosystems. These birds play a major role in curbing environmental contamination through scavenging on carcasses. Prevention of spread of diseases is pivotal for public health and is an inexorable economic burden for any country. We present the crucial role vultures can play in disease mitigation and public health by regulating or decreasing the spread of zoonotic diseases. We elaborate examples from three zoonotic diseases; rabies, brucellosis and tuberculosis, which spread among dogs and cattle as well as human population. We establish the viable links in the transmission of these diseases from the infected dead and alive animals to humans and their possible exacerbation in the absence of vultures. These indirect links help formulate the case for increased interventions for disease spread and control along with conservation of these scavengers. Their role as natural and effective cleaners of the environment in the Indian health discourse is of importance because they can reduce the expenses of the government in waste management and maintenance of public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smriti Jalihal
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune, 412115 India
| | - Shweta Rana
- Department of Physical and Natural Sciences, FLAME University, Pune, 412115 India
| | - Shailja Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, Jodhpur, 342005 India
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46
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Jimenez YG, Aráoz E, Fernandez RD, Nanni S, Ovejero R, Paolini L, Grau HR. Counterurbanization: A neglected pathway of forest transition. AMBIO 2022; 51:823-835. [PMID: 34677811 PMCID: PMC8532091 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01632-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Human settlement into rural areas (counterurbanization) is generating new patterns of reforestation, with distinctive features compared to the previously considered pathways of forest transition through "economic development" and "forest scarcity". Here, we discuss the specific features of this neglected pathway of forest recovery and describe the process with the support of study cases around the world. This pathway includes specific motivations (e.g., natural amenities, outdoor recreation), particular socio-economic processes, conflicts between newcomers and locals, and specific ecological outcomes (e.g., a larger proportion of non-native species in the new forests). Although this pathway locally affects small areas, as a widespread and expanding process around the world, counterurbanization could have a growing global effect, with the potential to modify biodiversity, ecosystem services, and cultural values. These novel characteristics should be further explored to better understand the patterns and processes of forest transitions in a context of a globally connected world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohana G. Jimenez
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Ezequiel Aráoz
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), 4000 San Miguel, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Romina D. Fernandez
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Sofia Nanni
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Ramiro Ovejero
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
| | - Leonardo Paolini
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Science Centre 302 - Bldg 302, 23 Symonds St, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - H. Ricardo Grau
- Instituto de Ecología Regional (IER), Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), CC. 34, 4107 Yerba Buena, Tucumán Argentina
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), 4000 San Miguel, Tucumán Argentina
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47
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Delcourt J, Brochier B, Delvaux D, Vangeluwe D, Poncin P. Fox
Vulpes vulpes
population trends in Western Europe during and after the eradication of rabies. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johann Delcourt
- Service of Behavioural Biology Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution Institut de Zoologie University of Liège 22 quai van Beneden Liège Belgium
- High Fens Scientific Station (SSHF) Faculty of Sciences University of Liège Route de Botrange 137 4950 SourbrodtBelgium
| | - Bernard Brochier
- Former Head of the National Reference Center for Rabies Service of Viral Diseases, Sciensano 14 Rue Juliette Wytsman 1050 BrusselsBelgium
| | - Dylan Delvaux
- Service of Behavioural Biology Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution Institut de Zoologie University of Liège 22 quai van Beneden Liège Belgium
- High Fens Scientific Station (SSHF) Faculty of Sciences University of Liège Route de Botrange 137 4950 SourbrodtBelgium
| | - Didier Vangeluwe
- Belgian Ringing Scheme BeBirds Operational Directorate Natural Environment Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences 29 rue Vautier 1000 BruxellesBelgium
| | - Pascal Poncin
- Service of Behavioural Biology Department of Biology, Ecology and Evolution Institut de Zoologie University of Liège 22 quai van Beneden Liège Belgium
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48
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Combs MA, Kache PA, VanAcker MC, Gregory N, Plimpton LD, Tufts DM, Fernandez MP, Diuk-Wasser MA. Socio-ecological drivers of multiple zoonotic hazards in highly urbanized cities. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:1705-1724. [PMID: 34889003 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of pathogen spillover from wildlife to human hosts, particularly in densely populated urban centers. Prevention of future zoonotic disease is contingent on informed surveillance for known and novel threats across diverse human-wildlife interfaces. Cities are a key venue for potential spillover events because of the presence of zoonotic pathogens transmitted by hosts and vectors living in close proximity to dense human settlements. Effectively identifying and managing zoonotic hazards requires understanding the socio-ecological processes driving hazard distribution and pathogen prevalence in dynamic and heterogeneous urban landscapes. Despite increasing awareness of the human health impacts of zoonotic hazards, the integration of an eco-epidemiological perspective into public health management plans remains limited. Here we discuss how landscape patterns, abiotic conditions, and biotic interactions influence zoonotic hazards across highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in temperate climates to promote their efficient and effective management by a multi-sectoral coalition of public health stakeholders. We describe how to interpret both direct and indirect ecological processes, incorporate spatial scale, and evaluate networks of connectivity specific to different zoonotic hazards to promote biologically-informed and targeted decision-making. Using New York City, USA as a case study, we identify major zoonotic threats, apply knowledge of relevant ecological factors, and highlight opportunities and challenges for research and intervention. We aim to broaden the toolbox of urban public health stakeholders by providing ecologically-informed, practical guidance for the evaluation and management of zoonotic hazards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Combs
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pallavi A Kache
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Meredith C VanAcker
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nichar Gregory
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Laura D Plimpton
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Danielle M Tufts
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Department, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Maria P Fernandez
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
| | - Maria A Diuk-Wasser
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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49
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Jerger AD, Acker M, Gibson S, Young AM. Impact of animal programming on children's attitudes toward local wildlife. Zoo Biol 2022; 41:469-478. [PMID: 35607914 PMCID: PMC9790351 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Attitudes toward wildlife can have direct implications on children's interest in conservation behaviors. Animal programs are an example of interactive, educational experiences that have the potential to change attitudes by providing individuals the opportunity to get close to animal ambassadors and participate in engaging conversations about them. We conducted an animal program assessment with summer camps at the Ohio Wildlife Center to quantify changes in children's affiliation with local wildlife and their willingness to live near local wildlife. Campers showed an overall increase in affiliation and willingness scores from before to after an animal program, although with a small effect size. Overall willingness scores were lower than affiliation scores, but there was a significantly larger increase in willingness following the program. We found a strong correlation between affiliation and willingness scores. Overall, the study found that these animal programs positively influenced children's attitudes toward local wildlife and increased their willingness to live near them, suggesting animal programming could be used to decrease human-wildlife conflict. Visually seeing animals in the programs improved attitude scores, even for those not seen in this study, which suggests that program animals can act as an ambassador for other species. This opens the potential for utilizing animal ambassadors as powerful tools in conservation education about threatened and endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashton D. Jerger
- Department of Biology and Earth ScienceOtterbein UniversityWestervilleOhioUSA
| | - Michele Acker
- Department of Biology and Earth ScienceOtterbein UniversityWestervilleOhioUSA
| | | | - Anna M. Young
- Department of Biology and Earth ScienceOtterbein UniversityWestervilleOhioUSA,The Living Desert Zoo and GardensPalm DesertCaliforniaUSA
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Josiah KK, Downs CT. Human-wildlife interactions: presence of the ground-nesting Spotted Thick-knee across a South African mosaic urban landscape. Urban Ecosyst 2022; 25:1631-1641. [PMID: 35754656 PMCID: PMC9207825 DOI: 10.1007/s11252-022-01254-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Urbanisation has increasingly encroached on numerous bird species' natural habitats, generally negatively affecting their persistence. Furthermore, increased human-wildlife interactions may benefit or be detrimental to the long term persistence of these species. The Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis), a ground-nesting species, persists in some mosaic urban landscapes in South Africa. We, therefore, assessed the presence of Spotted Thick-knees and their interactions with humans in the fragmented natural and human-modified landscape of Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. We conducted presence-only surveys at 52 locations between July 2019 and December 2020. 'Presence' locations for Spotted Thick-knee were identified via active surveying and public participation. Newspaper articles were distributed in June 2019, requesting information on Spotted Thick-knee sightings. Questionnaires were also sent to respondents to collect qualitative information regarding their perceptions and observations of this species in Pietermaritzburg. We established that the presence of Spotted Thick-knee's at known locations was not random. They were present at 30 out of 52 sites for 75% of this study's duration. Fewer sites had Spotted Thick-knees present during non-breeding months than breeding months. Respondents' feedback highlighted the pressures associated with Spotted Thick-knees persistence in human-modified mosaic landscapes, particularly predation and disturbance by domestic pets. Our study highlights that some ground-nesting birds, such as Spotted Thick-knees, persist in mosaic urban landscapes, despite the anthropogenic pressures. This study highlights the need to address the paucity of studies on ground-nesting birds in mosaic urban landscapes to determine general trends. Supplementary information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11252-022-01254-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyrone K. Josiah
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
| | - Colleen T. Downs
- Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg, 3209 South Africa
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