scholarly journals Scent marking in wolves Canis lupus inhabiting managed lowland forests in Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 629-638
Author(s):  
Kinga M. Stępniak ◽  
Natalia Niedźwiecka ◽  
Maciej Szewczyk ◽  
Robert W. Mysłajek

Abstract In wolves Canis lupus, scent marking plays an important role in territory defence. In Europe, studies on patterns of scent marking in wolves have mostly been conducted in mountains or primeval forests, but since these areas are characterised by low human activity, the impact of people on this behaviour has been neglected. We conducted a study that combined genetic methods with an analysis of the spatial distribution of wolf territory markings in lowland managed forests with high human activity. We found that scent markings are deposited by all members of wolf family groups. Wolves most intensively marked crossroads and their vicinity, especially on roads only accessible for four-wheel drive cars. Our study provides further evidence that crossroads of forest roads play a crucial role in wolf scent marking. The results of our study may be useful during inventories of wolf populations based on collecting indirect signs of their presence or non-invasive genetic sampling.

Author(s):  
Abdulbari Bener ◽  
Mohammed G.A. Al Maadid ◽  
Türker Özkan ◽  
Daoud A.E. Al-Bast ◽  
Khaled N. Diyab ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Sandra Mitchell ◽  
Bruce Woodward

This research was designed to assess the impact of a hiking trail or a four wheel drive road on our three focal groups (plants, aquatic animals and small mammals). Analyses in 1990 revealed large differences in species abundances and some instances of presence/absence differences among the three focal groups. Differences occurred both between the road right of way per se and nonroaded sections of the canyon bottom and between roaded and nonroaded sections of the canyon bottom. In 1990 we sampled small mammals and plants for 2.4 km up and downstream of the road terminus. In May, June, and July 1991 we extended sampled areas to approximately 4.8 km up and downstream of the end of the four wheel drive road. We also sampled aquatic organisms at Natural Bridges and in Canyonlands. In addition, we performed an experiment in which we placed screen mesh enclosures into the creek above and below Bates Wilson Campground, Canyonlands. This experiment was designed to assess sand infiltration rates and aquatic animal densities in areas lacking or possessing a road. Four small mammal trap grids (70 traps/grid) were trapped in the area lacking a road and in an area containing a road up Salt Creek. Each trap grid was trapped for four successive nights. Eight plant grids (4 up and 4 downstream of the road terminus) were examined for species composition and plant coverages. Each upstream grid consisted of fifty 1 m2 plots, while the downstream grids consisted of the same 50 plots plus 10 plots randomly located in the road right of way.


2015 ◽  
Vol 130 (1) ◽  
pp. 371-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meghan R. Busse ◽  
Devin G. Pope ◽  
Jaren C. Pope ◽  
Jorge Silva-Risso

Abstract When buying durable goods, consumers must forecast how much utility they will derive from future consumption, including consumption in different states of the world. This can be complicated for consumers because making intertemporal evaluations may expose them to a variety of psychological biases such as present bias, projection bias, and salience effects. We investigate whether consumers are affected by such intertemporal biases when they purchase automobiles. Using data for more than 40 million vehicle transactions, we explore the impact of weather on purchasing decisions. We find that the choice to purchase a convertible or a four-wheel-drive is highly dependent on the weather at the time of purchase in a way that is inconsistent with classical utility theory. We consider a range of rational explanations for the empirical effects we find, but none can explain fully the effects we estimate. We then discuss and explore projection bias and salience as two primary psychological mechanisms that are consistent with our results.


2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Pieczarka ◽  
Mateusz Kierdal ◽  
Krzysztof Lejman ◽  
Zygmunt Owsiak

AbstractThe research concern selected traction properties of Massey Ferguson 7475 wheeled tractor, which were carried out on various deformable surfaces i.e. soil: after ploughing, sodded and with rye fore crop. The impact of driving speed on tractive power and force with 2WD and 4WD drive was investigated. Physical and chemical properties of soil during testing were characterised by moisture, compactness and maximum shearing stresses. Studies on traction properties were carried out with the use of two tractors: Massey Ferguson 7475 and New Holland 5040. During measurements, tractors were connected with a tow rod, where a strain force transducer was mounted. The stand enabled also measurement of theoretical speed. As a result of analyses of the obtained results, characteristics of tractive force and towing power as a function of slip were made. The tests confirmed that the use of four-wheel drive is unjustified because it improves these tractive parameters of a tractor. It was reported that the maximum force and towing power are generated for the lowest values of slip which is equal to 0.1 on the sodded surface. However, value of this power is the lowest in comparison to other surfaces. The highest value of the adhesion coefficient was reported on soil with rye fore crop.


1970 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-56
Author(s):  
Melodie Bat

This paper has a purpose and that purpose is to tell a story. An important story. A story that will sadden you and perhaps give rise to dismay. But it’s not a story about a princess. This story takes place, not in the glitz and glamour of Europe with fast cars, great shopping and an avid and enthusiastic paparazzi, but rather in the desert of Central Australia where you need a good four-wheel drive to get home on the dusty roads, where shopping is limited to the basics at the local store, but where people are still avidly following the life and times of the ‘Princess of our hearts’.This paper will tell this story and for many reading this, the story will be enough, for much of what I will say is self-evident, so much so that it seems almost ludicrous to have to analyse the impact of the events I will describe. However, in the interests of academic analysis and to further understand and appreciate the impact of these events, I will firstly frame the context of emergent literacy, give the background to the story and detail the findings of some research which I undertook within this community. Finally, I present the broader implications of these findings and make some recommendations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 637-638 ◽  
pp. 844-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong Men ◽  
Ruimin Liu ◽  
Qingrui Wang ◽  
Lijia Guo ◽  
Zhenyao Shen

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