scholarly journals Reproductive and Environmental Drivers of Time and Activity Budgets of Striped Skunks

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Y Zhang ◽  
C T Williams ◽  
T C Theimer ◽  
C Loren Buck
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Lactation Period ◽  
Investment In Reproduction ◽  
Mating Interval ◽  
Striped Skunks

Synopsis The regulation of daily and circannual activity patterns is an important mechanism by which animals may balance energetic requirements associated with both abiotic and biotic variables. Using collar-mounted accelerometers, we assess the relative importance of reproductive stage and environmental conditions on the overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA) of free-living striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis). We found that activity timing relative to photoperiod varied across seasonal stages for both sexes. Surprisingly, male skunks did not commence activity earlier than females during the mating interval. Moreover, while female skunks began activity before dusk and terminated activity after dawn during mid- through late summer (lactation period), the duration of activity bouts in females during this period was not different from other seasons. Both male and female skunks exhibited high variability and fragmentation in daily activity rhythms except during the lactation period, when females appear to switch to prolonged bouts of nocturnal activity. Overall, ODBA varied by season and sex, with changes in ODBA indicative of seasonal reproductive requirements such as conspecific competition for mates in males and lactation in females. Weather conditions had little effect on skunk activity levels except during the winter season, when snow cover and temperature negatively influenced daily ODBA. Taken together, the activity patterns of striped skunks appear to be primarily driven by seasonal investment in reproduction and secondarily by thermoregulatory constraints during the non-winter months. Our results highlight the importance of considering how environmental and reproductive drivers may interact to affect activity across both the daily and seasonal cycle.

Patterns of Acoustical Activity of Bats Prior to and Following White-Nose Syndrome Occurrence

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Mark Ford ◽  
Eric R. Britzke ◽  
Christopher A. Dobony ◽  
Jane L. Rodrigue ◽  
Joshua B. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Myotis Lucifugus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
White Nose Syndrome ◽  
Little Brown Bats

Abstract White-nose Syndrome (WNS), a wildlife health concern that has decimated cave-hibernating bat populations in eastern North America since 2006, began affecting source-caves for summer bat populations at Fort Drum, a U.S. Army installation in New York in the winter of 2007–2008. As regional die-offs of bats became evident, and Fort Drum's known populations began showing declines, we examined whether WNS-induced change in abundance patterns and seasonal timing of bat activity could be quantified using acoustical surveys, 2003–2010, at structurally uncluttered riparian–water habitats (i.e., streams, ponds, and wet meadows). As predicted, we observed significant declines in overall summer activity between pre-WNS and post-WNS years for little brown bats Myotis lucifugus, northern bats M. septentrionalis, and Indiana bats M. sodalis. We did not observe any significant change in activity patterns between pre-WNS and post-WNS years for big brown bats Eptesicus fuscus, eastern red bats Lasiurus borealis, or the small number of tri-colored bats Perimyotis subflavus. Activity of silver-haired bats Lasionycteris noctivagans increased from pre-WNS to post-WNS years. Activity levels of hoary bats Lasiurus cinereus significantly declined between pre- and post-WNS years. As a nonhibernating, migratory species, hoary bat declines might be correlated with wind-energy development impacts occurring in the same time frame rather than WNS. Intraseason activity patterns also were affected by WNS, though the results were highly variable among species. Little brown bats showed an overall increase in activity from early to late summer pre-WNS, presumably due to detections of newly volant young added to the local population. However, the opposite occurred post-WNS, indicating that reproduction among surviving little brown bats may be declining. Our data suggest that acoustical monitoring during the summer season can provide insights into species' relative abundance on the landscape as affected by the occurrence of WNS.

Seasonal changes in activity patterns and the adaptive value of haying in pikas (Ochotona princeps)

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Conner
Keyword(s):  
Surface Activity ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Vegetation Growth ◽  
Ochotona Princeps ◽  
Early Fall

Seasonal changes in the performance of four behaviors, perching, haying, feeding, and surface activity were studied in two populations of North American pikas (Ochotona princeps) living in Colorado. During late summer and early fall (July–September), haying, the gathering of meadow vegetation followed by storing it in their talus territories, made up almost 55% of the pikas' surface activity. After haying ceased, pikas continued to feed in the meadows until snowpack, cold temperatures, and the absence of surface vegetation made this impossible. Beginning in February, individuals remained under the snowpack feeding on vegetation from their hay piles and on lichens available below the snow. Surface activity was not seen again until May when spring vegetation began to appear. Haying appears to be an adaptive response to environmental unpredictability. Hay piles most likely become critical for survival when harsh weather prevents surface foraging and(or) delays the emergence of new vegetation growth in the spring or early summer. It is suggested that the evolution of territoriality in pikas is related to the need to gather sufficient vegetation to serve as a potential winter food supply during years when the winter season is unusually harsh or prolonged.

scholarly journals Novel approach to modeling high-frequency activity data to assess therapeutic effects of analgesics in chronic pain conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zekun Xu ◽  
Eric Laber ◽  
Ana-Maria Staicu ◽  
B. Duncan X. Lascelles
Keyword(s):  
High Frequency ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
High Frequency Activity ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Chronic Pain Conditions

AbstractOsteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic condition often associated with pain, affecting approximately fourteen percent of the population, and increasing in prevalence. A globally aging population have made treating OA-associated pain as well as maintaining mobility and activity a public health priority. OA affects all mammals, and the use of spontaneous animal models is one promising approach for improving translational pain research and the development of effective treatment strategies. Accelerometers are a common tool for collecting high-frequency activity data on animals to study the effects of treatment on pain related activity patterns. There has recently been increasing interest in their use to understand treatment effects in human pain conditions. However, activity patterns vary widely across subjects; furthermore, the effects of treatment may manifest in higher or lower activity counts or in subtler ways like changes in the frequency of certain types of activities. We use a zero inflated Poisson hidden semi-Markov model to characterize activity patterns and subsequently derive estimators of the treatment effect in terms of changes in activity levels or frequency of activity type. We demonstrate the application of our model, and its advance over traditional analysis methods, using data from a naturally occurring feline OA-associated pain model.

scholarly journals Activity patterns of the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus throughout the year in southern Norway

BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl Frafjord
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Active Season ◽  
Male Song ◽  
Oceanic Climate ◽  
Social Calls ◽  
Southern Norway ◽  
Winter Hibernation ◽  
Small Valley ◽  
Made In

Abstract Background Most temperate bats are regular hibernators in the winter. Knowledge about the length of their active season and how they adjust their nightly activity throughout the season, is critical to conservation. The characteristics of these are likely to vary with climate as well as latitude. This study investigated the flight activity of the soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus in Frafjord, a small valley in the south-western corner of Norway (58° 50′N 6° 18′E) with an oceanic climate. Results Activity was recorded with an ultrasound recorder throughout April 2018 to June 2019 at one site, with supplemental recordings in March to June 2020, i.e., covering all months of the year. Recordings at other nearby sites were made in the summers (June–August) of 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2020, as well as some of the last days in December 2019 to the first days of January 2020. Overall, soprano pipistrelles were recorded flying in all months of the year, but very few in December–March. Regular activity was recorded from late April or early May until late October, and some recordings were also made in November. The highest numbers of recordings were made in August and September. Social calls, i.e. male song flights, were recorded from April to November, with the vast majority in August and September. Nearly all recordings were made between sunset and sunrise. Conclusions The soprano pipistrelle in this region showed regular activity through 6–7 months of the year. It adjusted its activity to the changing night length throughout the year, closely following sunset and sunrise. It was rarely recorded flying before sunset and almost never after sunrise. Most activity was recorded in the middle of the night, and social calls also followed this trend closely. Harems in late summer and autumn were confirmed in a bat box, which was also used for winter hibernation.

Weather effects on intrahabitat movements of the western green lizard, Lacerta bilineata (Daudin, 1802), at its northern distribution range border: a radio-tracking study

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (10) ◽  
pp. 1831-1839 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Sound ◽  
M Veith
Keyword(s):  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Strong Dependence ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Distribution Range ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Northern Distribution ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Movement Parameters ◽  
Bad Weather

Daily activity patterns of male western green lizards, Lacerta bilineata (Daudin, 1802), at the edge of their northern distribution range in western Germany after the breeding season from June to October were recorded using implanted radio transmitters. Different activity indices discriminating between stimulation, duration, and length of movement were correlated with actual weather conditions (d0) and with weather conditions on the 2 previous days (d-1 and d-2). The lizards' dependence on weather showed two different phases throughout the study period. During the first period and in the period preceding a drastic change of weather in midsummer, weather had no significant influence on movement parameters. After that event, temperatures dropped and a strong dependence on weather of all movement parameters except those indicating displacements became apparent. Thresholds for 50% activity during this second phase were a maximum temperature of 17°C and a minimum humidity of 35%. Two days after periods of bad weather, the influence of weather conditions increased again. This can be explained by physiological deficits that require compensation during the period of marginal weather conditions prior to hibernation. Displacement movements were significantly longer than home-range movements and were neither triggered nor modulated by the weather. They must therefore represent activities such as patrolling territory boundaries.

Pedestrian Activity Among California Adults

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E. Mathews ◽  
Natalie Colabianchi ◽  
Brent Hutto ◽  
Delores M. Pluto ◽  
Steve P. Hooker
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Physical Activity Promotion ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Public Health Agencies ◽  
Activity Promotion ◽  
Health Agencies ◽  
Random Digit Dial

Background:The objectives of this study were to assess (1) pedestrian activity levels among adults, (2) where and why adults engage in pedestrian activity, and (3) what adults consider when deciding where to engage in pedestrian activity.Methods:Pedestrian activity was assessed in 12,036 California adults, ≥18 years, using a random digit-dial telephone survey.Results:Significant differences were identified by race, sex, age, and physical activity level in the type, location, and purpose of pedestrian activities. Men engage in pedestrian activity at work, and women engage in pedestrian activity while escorting children to school and running errands. Whites primarily engage in leisure-time pedestrian activity, and non-whites are more likely to engage in pedestrian activity for transportation. Older adults were less active than their younger counterparts.Conclusions:These findings should be considered by public health agencies and their partners as they continue to increase and promote opportunities for pedestrian activity. Additional research is needed to assess older adults’ physical activity patterns and preferences, barriers, and facilitators to effectively tailor physical activity promotion efforts to this at-risk group.

scholarly journals The Intricacies of Children’s Physical Activity

2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy A Brusseau
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Physical Activity Patterns ◽  
Change Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
School Recess ◽  
Physical Activity Programming ◽  
Children’S Physical Activity

AbstractUnderstanding the physical activity patterns of youth is an essential step in preparing programming and interventions needed to change behavior. To date, little is known about the intricacies of youth physical activity across various physical activity segments (i.e. in school, out of school, recess, classroom physical activity, physical education, weekends, etc.). Therefore, the purpose of the study was to examine the physical activity patterns of elementary school children across various segments and during two seasons. A total of 287 fourth and fifth graders from the Southwest US wore the Yamax Digiwalker SW-200 pedometer for 7 consecutive days during the Fall and Spring seasons. Children were prompted to record their step counts when arriving and leaving school, before and after physical education and recess, as well as on the weekends. Means and standard deviations were calculated and ANOVAs and t tests were utilized to examine difference by sex, season, and segment. Youth were more active outside of school and on weekdays (p<0.05). Boys were generally more active than girls and all youth were more active during the milder Spring season. There is a clear need for Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programming and weekend physical activity opportunities. Furthermore, greater emphasis is needed on PE and across other activity segments for girls to increase their physical activity levels.

scholarly journals QuikSCAT Impacts on Coastal Forecasts and Warnings: Operational Utility of Satellite Ocean Surface Vector Wind Data

2008 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 878-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralph F. Milliff ◽  
Peter A. Stamus
Keyword(s):  
Survey Design ◽  
Weather Prediction ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Weather Forecast ◽  
Ocean Surface ◽  
Site Visit ◽  
Island States ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Vector Wind

Abstract This study reports on the operational utility of ocean surface vector wind (SVW) data from Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) observations in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) covering the coastal United States, including island states and territories. Thirty-three U.S. coastal WFOs were surveyed, and 16 WFO site visits were conducted, from late summer 2005 to the 2005/06 winter season, in order to quantify the impact of QuikSCAT SVW data on forecasts and warnings, with a particular focus on operations affecting marine users. Details of the survey design and site visit strategies are described. Survey results are quantified and site visit impressions are discussed. Key findings include (i) QuikSCAT data supplement primary datasets and numerical weather prediction fields, in the manual production of local public (weather) and marine forecasts and warnings; (ii) operational utility of satellite SVW data would be enhanced by SVW retrievals of finer temporal resolution, closer to the coasts; and (iii) rain flags in the SVW data have little impact on utility for WFO operations.

scholarly journals Youth Physical Activity Patterns During School and Out-of-School Time

Children ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pedro Saint-Maurice ◽  
Yang Bai ◽  
Spyridoula Vazou ◽  
Gregory Welk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
After School ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
School Students ◽  
Time Periods ◽  
Out Of School

This study describes age, sex, and season patterns in children’s physical activity behaviors during discrete time periods, both in school and at home. Participants were 135 elementary, 67 middle, and 89 high-school students (128 boys and 163 girls) involved in a larger school activity monitoring project. We examined time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at recess, physical education (PE), lunch, commuting to/from school, before-school, after-school, evening, and weekend segments. Differences in MVPA by age, sex, and season were examined using a three-way analysis of variance and separately for each individual segment. Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels varied by context and were higher during recess (15.4 ± 8.5 min) while at school, and on Saturdays (97.4 ± 89.5 min) when youth were out-of-school. Elementary children were more active than their older counterparts only during lunch time, after-school, and Sunday (p < 0.05). Boys were consistently more active than girls at all segments. Participants were only more active during non-winter than winter months during PE (p = 0.006), after-school (p < 0.001), and Sunday (p = 0.008) segments. These findings showed that activity levels in youth vary during the day and season. The segments reflect discrete time periods that can potentially be targeted and evaluated to promote physical activity in this population.

scholarly journals Opportunities for winter prescribed burning in mixed conifer plantations of the Sierra Nevada

Fire Ecology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. York ◽  
Jacob Levine ◽  
Kane Russell ◽  
Joseph Restaino
Keyword(s):  
Sierra Nevada ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Winter Season ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Mixed Conifer ◽  
Planted Forests ◽  
Conifer Plantations

Abstract Background Young, planted forests are particularly vulnerable to wildfire. High severity effects in planted forests translate to the loss of previous reforestation investments and the loss of future ecosystem service gains. We conducted prescribed burns in three ~35-year-old mixed conifer plantations that had previously been masticated and thinned during February in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of winter burning, which is not common in the Sierra Nevada, California. Results On average, 59% of fine fuels were consumed and the fires reduced shrub cover by 94%. The average percent of crown volume that was damaged was 25%, with no mortality observed in overstory trees 1 year following the fires. A plot level analysis of the factors of fire effects did not find strong predictors of fuel consumption. Shrub cover was reduced dramatically, regardless of the specific structure that existed in plots. We found a positive relationship between crown damage and the two variables of Pinus ponderosa relative basal area and shrub cover. But these were not particularly strong predictors. An analysis of the weather conditions that have occurred at this site over the past 20 years indicated that there have consistently been opportunities to conduct winter burns. On average, 12 days per winter were feasible for burning using our criteria. Windows of time are short, typically 1 or 2 days, and may occur at any time during the winter season. Conclusions This study demonstrates that winter burning can be an important piece of broader strategies to reduce wildfire severity in the Sierra Nevada. Preparing forest structures so that they can be more feasible to burn and also preparing burn programs so that they can be nimble enough to burn opportunistically during short windows are key strategies. Both small landowners and large agencies may be able to explore winter burning opportunities to reduce wildfire severity.

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