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Olejarz A, Augustsson E, Kjellander P, Ježek M, Podgórski T. Experience shapes wild boar spatial response to drive hunts. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19930. [PMID: 39198665 PMCID: PMC11358132 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71098-8] [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: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Human-induced disturbances of the environment are rapid and often unpredictable in space and time, exposing wildlife to strong selection pressure favouring plasticity in specific traits. Measuring wildlife behavioural plasticity in response to human-induced disturbances such as hunting pressures is crucial in understanding population expansion in the highly plastic wild boar species. We collected GPS-based movement data from 55 wild boars during drive hunts over three hunting seasons (2019-2022) in the Czech Republic and Sweden to identify behavioural plasticity in space use and movement strategies over a range of experienced hunting disturbances. Daily distance, daily range, and daily range overlap with hunting area were not affected by hunting intensity but were clearly related to wild boar hunting experience. On average, the post-hunt flight distance was 1.80 km, and the flight duration lasted 25.8 h until they returned to their previous ranging area. We detected no relationship in flight behaviour to hunting intensity or wild boar experience. Wild boar monitored in our study showed two behavioural responses to drive hunts, "remain" or "leave". Wild boars tended to "leave" more often with increasing hunting experience. Overall, this study highlights the behavioural plasticity of wild boar in response to drive hunts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Olejarz
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Evelina Augustsson
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73993, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73993, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Miloš Ježek
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
| | - Tomasz Podgórski
- Department of Game Management and Wildlife Biology, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Kamýcká 129, Prague 6-Suchdol, 165 00, Czech Republic
- Mammal Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, Stoczek 1, 17-230, Białowieża, Poland
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Montero-De La Torre S, Jacobson SL, Chodorow M, Yindee M, Plotnik JM. Day and night camera trap videos are effective for identifying individual wild Asian elephants. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15130. [PMID: 37009152 PMCID: PMC10064994 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15130] [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: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Regular monitoring of wild animal populations through the collection of behavioral and demographic data is critical for the conservation of endangered species. Identifying individual Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), for example, can contribute to our understanding of their social dynamics and foraging behavior, as well as to human-elephant conflict mitigation strategies that account for the behavior of specific individuals involved in the conflict. Wild elephants can be distinguished using a variety of different morphological traits-e.g., variations in ear and tail morphology, body scars and tumors, and tusk presence, shape, and length-with previous studies identifying elephants via direct observation or photographs taken from vehicles. When elephants live in dense forests like in Thailand, remote sensing photography can be a productive approach to capturing anatomical and behavioral information about local elephant populations. While camera trapping has been used previously to identify elephants, here we present a detailed methodology for systematic, experimenter differentiation of individual elephants using data captured from remote sensing video camera traps. In this study, we used day and night video footage collected remotely in the Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary in Thailand and identified 24 morphological characteristics that can be used to recognize individual elephants. A total of 34 camera traps were installed within the sanctuary as well as crop fields along its periphery, and 107 Asian elephants were identified: 72 adults, 11 sub-adults, 20 juveniles, and four infants. We predicted that camera traps would provide enough information such that classified morphological traits would aid in reliably identifying the adult individuals with a low probability of misidentification. The results indicated that there were low probabilities of misidentification between adult elephants in the population using camera traps, similar to probabilities obtained by other researchers using handheld cameras. This study suggests that the use of day and night video camera trapping can be an important tool for the long-term monitoring of wild Asian elephant behavior, especially in habitats where direct observations may be difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sasha Montero-De La Torre
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
| | - Sarah L. Jacobson
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
| | - Martin Chodorow
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
| | - Marnoch Yindee
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College and One Health Research Centre, Walailak University, Thasala, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
| | - Joshua M. Plotnik
- Department of Psychology, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
- Department of Psychology, The Graduate Center, City University of New York, New York, New York, United States
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Potential impact of trophy hunting on vigilance and flight behaviour in Blue Sheep (Bharal: Pseudois nayaur). Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Brusgaard NØ, Dee MW, Dreshaj M, Erven J, van den Hurk Y, Raemaekers D, Çakırlar C. Hunting before herding: A zooarchaeological and stable isotopic study of suids (Sus sp.) at Hardinxveld-Giessendam, the Netherlands (5450-4250 cal BC). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0262557. [PMID: 35108285 PMCID: PMC8809594 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0262557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Suids (Sus sp.) played a crucial role in the transition to farming in northern Europe and, like in many regions, in the Netherlands pig husbandry became an important subsistence activity at Neolithic sites. Yet little is known about wild boar palaeoecology and hunting in the Late Mesolithic Netherlands with which to contextualize this transition. This paper presents the first multi-proxy analysis of archaeological suid remains in the Netherlands. It explores human-suid interactions at the Swifterbant culture sites of Hardinxveld-Giessendam Polderweg and De Bruin (5450-4250 BC) through biometric analysis, estimation of age-at-death, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis. The results reveal targeted hunting of adult wild boar in the Late Mesolithic (5450-4850 BC), with a possible shift over time towards more juveniles. The wild boar in this period are demonstrated to be of comparably large size to contemporary northern European populations and exhibiting a wide range of dietary regimes. In the final occupational period (4450-4250 BC), small suids are present, possibly domestic pigs, but there is no evidence of pig management. This study demonstrates that the nature of human-suid interactions varied over time, which may have been connected to changing environmental conditions, human mobility, and wild boar behaviour. This study also contributes the first biometric and dietary baseline for mid-Holocene wild boar in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Ø. Brusgaard
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Michael W. Dee
- Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Merita Dreshaj
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jolijn Erven
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Youri van den Hurk
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Daan Raemaekers
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Canan Çakırlar
- Groningen Institute of Archaeology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Oduor S, Brown J, Macharia GM, Boisseau N, Murray S, Obade P. Differing physiological and behavioral responses to anthropogenic factors between resident and non-resident African elephants at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia County, Kenya. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10010. [PMID: 33062433 PMCID: PMC7528812 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneous landscapes like those of Laikipia County, Kenya consist of a mosaic of land-use types, which may exert differential physiological effects on elephants that occupy and traverse them. Understanding behavioral and physiological states of wild African elephants in response to the challenges of living in human-dominated landscapes is therefore important for conservation managers to evaluate risks imposed by elephants to humans and vice versa. Several conservation physiology tools have been developed to assess how animals respond to both natural and anthropogenic changes, and determine biological impacts. This study investigated how migratory and avoidance behavioral to vehicle presence, and vegetation quality affected fecal glucocorticoid (GC) metabolite (FGM) concentrations in African elephants at Mpala Ranch, Laikipia County, Kenya. METHODS The study compared adrenal glucocorticoid activity of resident elephants that live within Mpala (n = 57) and non-resident elephants whose space use patterns overlap several ranches (n = 99) in Laikipia County, Kenya. Fecal samples were collected for a 4-month period between April and August for analysis of FGM concentrations. Behavioral reactions to research vehicles and body condition also were assessed. Satellite images from Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging (MODIS MOD13Q1) were downloaded and processed using Google Earth Engine to calculate a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a measure of vegetation quality. RESULTS As expected, there was a positive correlation between avoidance behavior to vehicle presence and FGM concentrations in both resident and non-resident elephants, whereas there was an inverse relationship between FGM concentrations and NDVI values. Our study also found a positive influence of age on the FGM concentrations, but there were no relationships between FGM and sex, social group type, herd size, and body condition. However, contrary to our expectations, resident elephants had higher FGM concentrations than non-residents. DISCUSSION Findings reveal elephants with stronger avoidance responses to research vehicles and resident elephants with relatively smaller home ranges exhibited higher FGM concentrations within the Mpala Ranch, Kenya and surrounding areas. Higher vegetative quality within the ranges occupied by non-resident elephants in Laikipia may be one reason for lower FGM, and an indication that the non-residents are tracking better forage quality to improve energy balance and reduce overall GC output. Additionally, our study found a positive influence of age, but no other demographic variables on FGM concentrations. Finally, adrenal glucocorticoid activity was inversely related to vegetative quality. Our findings can help conservation managers better understand how behavior and environment influences the physiological states of African elephants, and how management intervention might mitigate negative human-elephant interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Oduor
- Research, Mpala Research Centre, Nanyuki, Laikipia, Kenya
| | - Janine Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Geoffrey M. Macharia
- Department of Environmental Science, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nicole Boisseau
- Endocrine Lab, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, USA
| | - Suzan Murray
- Global Health Program, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Paul Obade
- Department of Environmental Science, Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
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Kiffner C, Kioko J, Baylis J, Beckwith C, Brunner C, Burns C, Chavez‐Molina V, Cotton S, Glazik L, Loftis E, Moran M, O'Neill C, Theisinger O, Kissui B. Long-term persistence of wildlife populations in a pastoral area. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:10000-10016. [PMID: 33005359 PMCID: PMC7520174 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 07/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Facilitating coexistence between people and wildlife is a major conservation challenge in East Africa. Some conservation models aim to balance the needs of people and wildlife, but the effectiveness of these models is rarely assessed. Using a case-study approach, we assessed the ecological performance of a pastoral area in northern Tanzania (Manyara Ranch) and established a long-term wildlife population monitoring program (carried out intermittently from 2003 to 2008 and regularly from 2011 to 2019) embedded in a distance sampling framework. By comparing density estimates of the road transect-based long-term monitoring to estimates derived from systematically distributed transects, we found that the bias associated with nonrandom placement of transects was nonsignificant. Overall, cattle and sheep and goat reached the greatest densities and several wildlife species occurred at densities similar (zebra, wildebeest, waterbuck, Kirk's dik-dik) or possibly even greater (giraffe, eland, lesser kudu, Grant's gazelle, Thomson's gazelle) than in adjacent national parks in the same ecosystem. Generalized linear mixed models suggested that most wildlife species (8 out of 14) reached greatest densities during the dry season, that wildlife population densities either remained constant or increased over the 17-year period, and that herbivorous livestock species remained constant, while domestic dog population decreased over time. Cross-species correlations did not provide evidence for interference competition between grazing or mixed livestock species and wildlife species but indicate possible negative relationships between domestic dog and warthog populations. Overall, wildlife and livestock populations in Manyara Ranch appear to coexist over the 17-year span. Most likely, this is facilitated by existing connectivity to adjacent protected areas, effective anti-poaching efforts, spatio-temporal grazing restrictions, favorable environmental conditions of the ranch, and spatial heterogeneity of surface water and habitats. This long-term case study illustrates the potential of rangelands to simultaneously support wildlife conservation and human livelihood goals if livestock grazing is restricted in space, time, and numbers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - John Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Jack Baylis
- Department of Environmental Studies and SciencesSanta Clara UniversitySanta ClaraCAUSA
| | | | - Craig Brunner
- Psychology DepartmentWhitman CollegeWalla WallaWAUSA
| | - Christine Burns
- Department of Environmental ScienceDickinson CollegeCarlislePAUSA
| | | | - Sara Cotton
- Neuroscience and Behavior DepartmentVassar CollegePoughkeepsieNYUSA
| | - Laura Glazik
- Department of Animal ScienceUniversity of Illinois, Urbana‐ChampaignChampaignILUSA
| | - Ellen Loftis
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural ResourcesUniversity of VermontBurlingtonVTUSA
| | - Megan Moran
- Biology DepartmentCollege of the Holy CrossWorcesterMAUSA
| | - Caitlin O'Neill
- Department of BiologySt. Mary's College of MarylandSt. Mary's CityMDUSA
| | - Ole Theisinger
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
| | - Bernard Kissui
- Center for Wildlife Management StudiesThe School For Field StudiesKaratuTanzania
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McGuire B, Fry K, Orantes D, Underkofler L, Parry S. Sex of Walker Influences Scent-marking Behavior of Shelter Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10040632. [PMID: 32272557 PMCID: PMC7222742 DOI: 10.3390/ani10040632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In diverse settings, human presence and handling influence the behavior and physiology of other animals, often causing increased vigilance and stress, especially if the human is unfamiliar. Domestic dogs are unusual in that human interaction often reduces stress and behavioral signs of stress. Nevertheless, there is some evidence that the sex of an unfamiliar person can influence canine behavior. To determine whether sex of an unfamiliar walker might influence the behavior of dogs at an animal shelter, we observed 100 dogs during leash walks and recorded all occurrences of scent-marking behaviors. Male dogs urinated at higher rates when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men. Female dogs urinated at similar rates when walked by unfamiliar men and unfamiliar women. Sex of walker also influenced urinary posture in male dogs. Both male and female dogs were more likely to defecate when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men. Based on our findings, and those of others, we suggest that the sex of all observers and handlers be reported in behavioral studies of dogs and considered in behavioral evaluations at animal shelters, where results can impact whether or not a dog is made available for adoption. Abstract Interactions with humans influence the behavior and physiology of other animals, and the response can vary with sex and familiarity. Dogs in animal shelters face challenging conditions and although contact with humans typically reduces stress and behaviors associated with stress, evidence indicates that shelter dogs react differently to unfamiliar men and women. Given that some aspects of canine scent-marking behavior change under fearful conditions, we examined whether sex of an unfamiliar walker would influence scent-marking behavior of 100 shelter dogs during leash walks. Male dogs urinated at higher rates when walked by unfamiliar women than when walked by unfamiliar men; female dogs urinated at similar rates when walked by unfamiliar women and unfamiliar men. Sex of walker influenced urinary posture in male dogs, but not in female dogs. Both male and female dogs were more likely to defecate when walked by unfamiliar women than by unfamiliar men. Based on our findings that shelter dogs behave differently in the presence of unfamiliar men and women, we suggest that researchers conducting behavioral studies of dogs record, consider in analyses, and report the sex of observers and handlers as standard practice. We also recommend recording the sex of shelter staff present at behavioral evaluations because the results of these evaluations can impact dog welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betty McGuire
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Kentner Fry
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
| | - Destiny Orantes
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; (K.F.); (D.O.)
| | | | - Stephen Parry
- Cornell Statistical Consulting Unit, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;
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Setsaas T, Hunninck L, Jackson C, May R, Røskaft E. The impacts of human disturbances on the behaviour and population structure of impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. Glob Ecol Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2018.e00467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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10
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Diplock N, Johnston K, Mellon A, Mitchell L, Moore M, Schneider D, Taylor A, Whitney J, Zegar K, Kioko J, Kiffner C. Large mammal declines and the incipient loss of mammal-bird mutualisms in an African savanna ecosystem. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0202536. [PMID: 30153277 PMCID: PMC6112642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past half-century, large mammal populations have declined substantially throughout East Africa, mainly due to habitat loss and unsustainable direct exploitation. While it has been acknowledged that the loss of large mammals can have direct and cascading effects on community composition and ecosystem characteristics, limited quantitative work has been done on how declines of large herbivore populations impacts the abundance of mutualistic symbionts. Using a space-for-time observational approach, we quantified the large mammal community alongside the densities, host preferences and behaviors of mutualistic red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus), and yellow-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus africanus) in northern Tanzania. At the landscape scale, mammal community composition was substantially less diverse in highly human-dominated areas when compared with more protected areas, with an observed complete loss of large wild mammal species in two study areas. Mirroring this trend, oxpecker densities were lowest in the least protected areas, and highest in fully protected areas. Using resource selection functions implemented via generalized linear models at different scales, we found that oxpeckers (1) were predominantly (67% of red-billed oxpeckers; 70% of yellow-billed oxpeckers) feeding on larger (between 500kg and 1500kg) ungulate host species within the mammal community, (2) usually preferred feeding on larger individuals (adults and males) within a specific host species population, and (3) preferred hosts that were more tolerant of their presence. In particular, cattle were especially intolerant of oxpecker presence and were relatively effective in displacing oxpeckers. We found little evidence that oxpecker feeding was parasitic across all host species; wound feeding was only observed on giraffe, comprising 6% and 4% of feeding behavior in red-billed and yellow-billed oxpeckers respectively. Thus, a loss of large-bodied and oxpecker tolerant host species is a likely explanation for declines of oxpecker populations in human dominated landscapes, which may have further cascading effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Diplock
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies, The School for Field Studies, Karatu, Tanzania
| | - Kate Johnston
- Department of Biology, Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Antoine Mellon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Laura Mitchell
- Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Madison Moore
- Department of Biological Foundations of Behavior, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Daniel Schneider
- Department of Environmental Science, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alyssa Taylor
- Department of Biology, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jess Whitney
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kera Zegar
- College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - John Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies, The School for Field Studies, Karatu, Tanzania
| | - Christian Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies, The School for Field Studies, Karatu, Tanzania
- * E-mail:
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Kiffner C, Rheault H, Miller E, Scheetz T, Enriquez V, Swafford R, Kioko J, Prins HHT. Long-term population dynamics in a multi-species assemblage of large herbivores in East Africa. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.2027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- Center For Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; PO Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
| | - Helena Rheault
- Westfield State University; 577 Western Avenue Westfield Massachusetts 01086 USA
| | | | - Tanner Scheetz
- Department of Biology; Miami University; 501 East High Street Oxford Ohio 45056 USA
| | - Vivien Enriquez
- Department of Anthropology; Beloit College; 700 College Street Beloit Wisconsin 53511 USA
| | - Rachelle Swafford
- Department of Animal Biotechnology and Conservation; Delaware Valley University; 700 East Butler Avenue Doylestown Pennsylvania 18901 USA
| | - John Kioko
- Center For Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; PO Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
| | - Herbert H. T. Prins
- Department of Environmental Sciences; Wageningen University; Wageningen The Netherlands
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Yamashita T, Gaynor KM, Kioko J, Brashares J, Kiffner C. Antipredator behaviour of African ungulates around human settlements. Afr J Ecol 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Yamashita
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management; University of California - Berkeley; Berkeley CA USA
| | - Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management; University of California - Berkeley; Berkeley CA USA
| | - John Kioko
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; Karatu Tanzania
| | - Justin Brashares
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management; University of California - Berkeley; Berkeley CA USA
| | - Christian Kiffner
- Center for Wildlife Management Studies; The School For Field Studies; Karatu Tanzania
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Anderson PA, Poe RB, Thompson LA, Weber N, Romano TA. Behavioral responses of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) to environmental variation in an Arctic estuary. Behav Processes 2017; 145:48-59. [PMID: 28927964 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Some Arctic estuaries serve as substrate rubbing sites for beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) in the summer, representing a specialized resource for the species. Understanding how environmental variation affects the species' behavior is essential to management of these habitats in coming years as the climate changes. Spatiotemporal and environmental variables were recorded for behavioral observations, during which focal groups of whales in an estuary were video-recorded for enumeration and behavioral analysis. Multiple polynomial linear regression models were optimized to identify the effects of spatiotemporal and environmental conditions on group size, composition, and the frequency of behaviors being performed. Results suggest that belugas take advantage of environmental variation to express behaviors that 1) protect young, e.g., bringing calves close to shore during cloudier days, obscuring visualization from terrestrial predators; 2) avoid predation, e.g., rubbing against substrates at higher Beaufort sea states to obscure visualization, and resting during low tides while swimming on outgoing tides to avoid stranding; and 3) optimize bioenergetic resources, e.g., swimming during lower Beaufort sea states and clearer days. Predictive models like the ones presented in this study can inform conservation management strategies as environmental conditions change in future years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Anderson
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Russell B Poe
- Birch Biopharmaceutical Consultants LLC, P.O. Box 3143, Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Laura A Thompson
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
| | - Nansen Weber
- Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge, 363 Pritchard Rd., Alcove QC J0X 1A0, Canada.
| | - Tracy A Romano
- Mystic Aquarium, A division of Sea Research Foundation, Inc., 55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, CT 06355, USA; Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut at Avery Point, 1084 Shennecossett Rd., Groton, CT 06340, USA.
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Duquette JF, Belant JL, Wilton CM, Fowler N, Waller BW, Beyer DE, Svoboda NJ, Simek SL, Beringer J. Black bear (Ursus americanus) functional resource selection relative to intraspecific competition and human risk. CAN J ZOOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2016-0031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The spatial scales at which animals make behavioral trade-offs is assumed to relate to the scales at which factors most limiting resources and increasing mortality risk occur. We used global positioning system collar locations of 29 reproductive-age female black bears (Ursus americanus Pallas, 1780) in three states to assess resource selection relative to bear population-specific density, an index of vegetation productivity, riparian corridors, or two road classes of and within home ranges during spring–summer of 2009–2013. Female resource selection was best explained by functional responses to vegetation productivity across nearly all populations and spatial scales, which appeared to be influenced by variation in bear density (i.e., intraspecific competition). Behavioral trade-offs were greatest at the landscape scale, but except for vegetation productivity, were consistent for populations across spatial scales. Females across populations selected locations nearer to tertiary roads, but females in Michigan and Mississippi selected main roads and avoided riparian corridors, whereas females in Missouri did the opposite, suggesting population-level trade-offs between resource (e.g., food) acquisition and mortality risks (e.g., vehicle collisions). Our study emphasizes that female bear population-level resource selection can be influenced by multiple spatially dependent factors, and that scale-dependent functional behavior should be identified for management of bears across their range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared F. Duquette
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Clay M. Wilton
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Nicholas Fowler
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Brittany W. Waller
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Dean E. Beyer
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Division, Marquette, MI 49855, USA
| | - Nathan J. Svoboda
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Stephanie L. Simek
- Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA
| | - Jeff Beringer
- Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
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15
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Kioko J, Taylor K, Milne HJ, Hayes KZ, Kiffner C. Temporal gland secretion in African elephants (Loxodonta africana). Mamm Biol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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Bencin H, Kioko J, Kiffner C. Local people’s perceptions of wildlife species in two distinct landscapes of Northern Tanzania. J Nat Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Goldenberg SZ, Douglas-Hamilton I, Daballen D, Wittemyer G. Challenges of using behavior to monitor anthropogenic impacts on wildlife: a case study on illegal killing of African elephants. Anim Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- S. Z. Goldenberg
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
- Save the Elephants; Nairobi Kenya
| | - I. Douglas-Hamilton
- Save the Elephants; Nairobi Kenya
- Department of Zoology; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | | | - G. Wittemyer
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
- Graduate Degree Program in Ecology; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
- Save the Elephants; Nairobi Kenya
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18
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Ripple WJ, Abernethy K, Betts MG, Chapron G, Dirzo R, Galetti M, Levi T, Lindsey PA, Macdonald DW, Machovina B, Newsome TM, Peres CA, Wallach AD, Wolf C, Young H. Bushmeat hunting and extinction risk to the world's mammals. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2016; 3:160498. [PMID: 27853564 PMCID: PMC5098989 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.160498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial mammals are experiencing a massive collapse in their population sizes and geographical ranges around the world, but many of the drivers, patterns and consequences of this decline remain poorly understood. Here we provide an analysis showing that bushmeat hunting for mostly food and medicinal products is driving a global crisis whereby 301 terrestrial mammal species are threatened with extinction. Nearly all of these threatened species occur in developing countries where major coexisting threats include deforestation, agricultural expansion, human encroachment and competition with livestock. The unrelenting decline of mammals suggests many vital ecological and socio-economic services that these species provide will be lost, potentially changing ecosystems irrevocably. We discuss options and current obstacles to achieving effective conservation, alongside consequences of failure to stem such anthropogenic mammalian extirpation. We propose a multi-pronged conservation strategy to help save threatened mammals from immediate extinction and avoid a collapse of food security for hundreds of millions of people.
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Affiliation(s)
- William J. Ripple
- GlobalTrophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Katharine Abernethy
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
- Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale, CENAREST, BP 842 Libreville, Gabon
| | - Matthew G. Betts
- GlobalTrophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Guillaume Chapron
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 73091 Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | - Rodolfo Dirzo
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mauro Galetti
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, 13506-900 Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil
- Department of Bioscience, Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Taal Levi
- GlobalTrophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Peter A. Lindsey
- Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018, USA
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, The Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Tubney House, Tubney, Abingdon OX13 5QL, UK
| | - Brian Machovina
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - Thomas M. Newsome
- GlobalTrophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Burwood campus, Geelong, Victoria 3125, Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Carlos A. Peres
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Arian D. Wallach
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123 Broadway, New South Wales 2007, Australia
| | - Christopher Wolf
- GlobalTrophic Cascades Program, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
- Forest Biodiversity Research Network, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Hillary Young
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
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19
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Muposhi VK, Gandiwa E, Makuza SM, Bartels P. Trophy hunting and perceived risk in closed ecosystems: Flight behaviour of three gregarious African ungulates in a semi-arid tropical savanna. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victor K. Muposhi
- School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation; Chinhoyi University of Technology; Chinhoyi Zimbabwe
| | - Edson Gandiwa
- School of Wildlife, Ecology and Conservation; Chinhoyi University of Technology; Chinhoyi Zimbabwe
| | - Stanley M. Makuza
- School of Agricultural Sciences and Technology; Chinhoyi University of Technology; Chinhoyi Zimbabwe
| | - Paul Bartels
- Department of Nature Conservation; Tshwane University of Technology; Pretoria South Africa
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20
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Kiffner C, Nagar S, Kollmar C, Kioko J. Wildlife species richness and densities in wildlife corridors of Northern Tanzania. J Nat Conserv 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Kiffner C, Hopper R, Kioko J. Trends in seasonal population densities of wildlife species in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- The School For Field Studies; Center For Wildlife Management Studies; P.O. Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
| | - Ryan Hopper
- Muhlenberg College; 2400 Chew St., Allentown PA 18104-5586 U.S.A
| | - John Kioko
- The School For Field Studies; Center For Wildlife Management Studies; P.O. Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
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22
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Kiffner C, Wenner C, LaViolet A, Yeh K, Kioko J. From savannah to farmland: effects of land-use on mammal communities in the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem, Tanzania. Afr J Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/aje.12160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Kiffner
- The School for Field Studies; Center for Wildlife Management Studies; P.O. Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
| | - Carolyn Wenner
- School of Environment and Natural Resources; Ohio State University; 2021 Coffey Rd Columbus OH 43210 U.S.A
| | - Adam LaViolet
- Colby College; 4000 Mayflower Hill Waterville ME 04901 U.S.A
| | - Karen Yeh
- Department of Biology; Amherst College; P.O. Box 5000 Amherst MA 01002-5000 U.S.A
| | - John Kioko
- The School for Field Studies; Center for Wildlife Management Studies; P.O. Box 304 Karatu Tanzania
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