scholarly journals Fishing in your backyard: otters that prey on urban resources

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesus Duarte ◽  
Diego Rodríguez ◽  
Miguel Ángel Farfán ◽  
Julia E. Fa
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Damage Control ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Survival Functions ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Urban Location ◽  
The Third ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Fish Survival

Abstract We monitored the incidence of predation behavior in Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra) from urban ponds in southern Spain, following reports of the mustelids’ presence in various urban locations. In one of the case studies, 30 small common carp and 35 Koi fish were released in May 2017 and April 2018, respectively, into two different ponds. Otters extensively predated on these fish over a period of 75–80 days. Only two small carp (6.6%) survived in one of the ponds and 10 Koi fish (28.5%) in the other. The surviving Koi were relocated. We determined that fish survival functions and mortality rates between these two years were not significantly different. At the second urban location, otters extensively predated on Iberian frogs over a period of 5–6 days in May 2018, left the area, and repeated this pattern in May 2019. Finally, at the third urban location, otters consumed 20 goldfish in 16 days in August 2018. Our results indicate that available food resources in urban settings can become a viable option for certain bold individuals of wildlife species and that otters appear to explore urban habitats when it suits them. Appropriate management and damage control strategies are therefore needed to ensure the survival of this protected species in case food resources in the wild become limited and urban raids become habitual.

Assisted colonisation trial of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) to a fox-free island

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (7) ◽  
pp. 484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Groenewegen ◽  
Dan Harley ◽  
Richard Hill ◽  
Graeme Coulson
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Predator Exclusion ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
Release Group ◽  
Small Sites

Context Assisted colonisation has the potential to protect species from intractable threats within their historical ranges. The Australian mainland subspecies of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) is extinct in the wild, with surviving populations restricted to small sites protected by predator–barrier fences. PVA modelling shows that a self-sustaining bandicoot population would require an area free of the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) of at least 2500ha. French Island is outside the historic range of the species, but is fox-free and contains around 9000ha of potentially suitable habitat. Aims This study will assess the suitability of French Island as a potential site for a self-sustaining eastern barred bandicoot population by conducting a 1-year assisted colonisation trial to assess habitat use, body condition and survival. Methods Between July and September 2012, 18 adult bandicoots were released. We radio-tracked bandicoots using intraperitoneal radio-transmitters for up to 122 days and trapped fortnightly. Key results The release group met the three measures of success: (1) appropriate habitat use; (2) recovery of post-release bodyweight; and (3) founder survival exceeding 100 days. Habitat use and body condition throughout the trial reflected that of mainland populations, and seven bandicoots survived longer than 100 days. Mortality was greatest in the first month, with veterinary investigations confirming two deaths due to cat predation, two deaths from toxoplasmosis and one unknown cause of death. Bandicoots that survived longer than 100 days occupied higher, drier ground than those that did not. Toxoplasmosis cases were associated with lower topographic position on the site. Conclusions Our results suggest that French Island provides suitable habitat for the establishment of a population of eastern barred bandicoots. On French Island, toxoplasmosis was identified as an important source of mortality in addition to cat predation, and warrants further investigation. Implications Given the costs and challenges of predator control and the maintenance of predator exclusion fences, assisted colonisation to one or more fox-free islands remains the most viable option to establish self-sustaining bandicoot populations. Our results highlight the value in conducting trial releases ahead of major translocations.

scholarly journals Evidence for a genetic basis of urogenital carcinoma in the wild California sea lion

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1796) ◽  
pp. 20140240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen M. Browning ◽  
Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse ◽  
Frances M. D. Gulland ◽  
Ailsa J. Hall ◽  
Jeanie Finlayson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
California Sea Lions ◽  
California Sea Lion ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Large Gene ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Urogenital Carcinoma ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Individual Locus

Although neoplasia is a major cause of mortality in humans and domestic animals, it has rarely been described in wildlife species. One of the few examples is a highly prevalent urogenital carcinoma in California sea lions (CSLs). Although the aetiology of this carcinoma is clearly multifactorial, inbreeding depression, as estimated using levels of microsatellite multilocus heterozygosity, is identified as predictive for this neoplasia. On further analysis, this relationship appears to be largely driven by one marker, suggesting that a single locus might be associated with the occurrence of this disease in CSLs. In a case–control study, carcinoma was significantly associated with homozygosity at the Pv11 microsatellite locus. Pv11 was mapped to intron 9 of the heparanase 2 gene ( HPSE2 ) locus, a very large gene encoding heparanase 2, which in humans is associated with multiple carcinomas. Correspondingly, immunohistochemical labelling in tissues was present in carcinoma cases within a single homozygous Pv11 genotype. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an individual locus being associated with cancer in any wildlife species. This adds emphasis to the study of HPSE2 in other species, including humans and will guide future studies on this sentinel species that shares much of its diet and environment with humans

scholarly journals Interferometer Sensing and Control for the Advanced Virgo Experiment in the O3 Scientific Run

Galaxies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Annalisa Allocca ◽  
Diego Bersanetti ◽  
Julia Casanueva Diaz ◽  
Camilla De Rossi ◽  
Maddalena Mantovani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gravitational Waves ◽  
Laser Interferometer ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
Binary Neutron Star ◽  
2Nd Generation ◽  
The Third ◽  
Binary Black Hole ◽  
One Year ◽  
And Control

Advanced Virgo is a 2nd-generation laser interferometer based in Cascina (Italy) aimed at the detection of gravitational waves (GW) from astrophysical sources. Together with the two USA-based LIGO interferometers they constitute a network which operates in coincidence. The three detectors observed the sky simultaneously during the last part of the second Observing Run (O2) in August 2017, and this led to two paramount discoveries: the first three-detector observation of gravitational waves emitted from the coalescence of a binary black hole system (GW170814), and the first detection ever of gravitational waves emitted from the coalescence of a binary neutron star system (GW170817). Coincident data taking was re-started for the third Observing Run (O3), which started on 1st April 2019 and lasted almost one year. This paper will describe the new techniques implemented for the longitudinal controls with respect to the ones already in use during O2. Then, it will present an extensive description of the full scheme of the angular controls of the interferometer, focusing on the different control strategies that are in place in the different stages of the lock acquisition procedure, which is the complex sequence of operations by which an uncontrolled, “free” laser interferometer is brought to the final working point, which allows the detector to reach the best sensitivity.

scholarly journals Demographic window to aging in the wild: constructing life tables and estimating survival functions from marked individuals of unknown age

Aging Cell ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 125-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Georg Muller ◽  
Jane-Ling Wang ◽  
James R. Carey ◽  
Edward P. Caswell-Chen ◽  
Carl Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Tables ◽  
Survival Functions ◽  
In The Wild

Unowned Free-Roaming Domestic Cats: Reflection of Animal Welfare and Ethical Aspects in Animal Laws in Six European Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugenia Natoli ◽  
Nadja Ziegler ◽  
Agnés Dufau ◽  
Maria Pinto Teixeira
Keyword(s):  
Human Population ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Zoonotic Diseases ◽  
Domestic Cat ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Ethical Aspects ◽  
Human Control ◽  
The Third ◽  
Animal Laws

Abstract Besides the population of pet cats, another feline population that has regular and frequent relationships with the human population, is represented by unowned, free-roaming domestic cats. It is incontestable that part of human beings is responsible for the growing number of unwanted cats. The problems raised by the existence of free-roaming cat population range from acoustic and hygienic nuisance (because of loud vocalizations during the breeding season and bad smell due to sprayed urine from tomcats) to public health threat (because of the potential spread of zoonotic diseases and of diseases to pet cats and other species), to predation of wildlife (it can cause disruption of ecosystems). Undoubtedly, unowned free-roaming cat population has to be managed but, in the third millennium, human control strategies have to have an ethical dimension. In this paper, we propose an analysis of the National Laws in France, Spain, UK, Austria, Portugal and Italy. Based on the knowledge of domestic cat behavior, we suggest that when the TNR strategy for controlling domestic cat populations is applied by law in the mentioned countries, the basic needs and welfare of the species are respected.

scholarly journals Single-cell derived tumor organoids display diversity in HLA class I peptide presentation

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura C. Demmers ◽  
Kai Kretzschmar ◽  
Arne Van Hoeck ◽  
Yotam E. Bar-Epraïm ◽  
Henk W. P. van den Toorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Damage Control ◽  
Colorectal Cancer Patient ◽  
Human Leukocyte ◽  
Hla Class I ◽  
Peptide Ligands ◽  
Class I ◽  
Viable Option ◽  
Leukocyte Antigen ◽  
Peptide Presentation ◽  
Tumor Mutational Burden

Abstract Tumor heterogeneity is a major cause of therapeutic resistance. Immunotherapy may exploit alternative vulnerabilities of drug-resistant cells, where tumor-specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) peptide ligands are promising leads to invoke targeted anti-tumor responses. Here, we investigate the variability in HLA class I peptide presentation between different clonal cells of the same colorectal cancer patient, using an organoid system. While clone-specific differences in HLA peptide presentation were observed, broad inter-clone variability was even more prevalent (15–25%). By coupling organoid proteomics and HLA peptide ligandomics, we also found that tumor-specific ligands from DNA damage control and tumor suppressor source proteins were prominently presented by tumor cells, coinciding likely with the silencing of such cytoprotective functions. Collectively, these data illustrate the heterogeneous HLA peptide presentation landscape even within one individual, and hint that a multi-peptide vaccination approach against highly conserved tumor suppressors may be a viable option in patients with low tumor-mutational burden.

The effect of wattle tannin drenches on gastrointestinal nematodes of tropical sheep and goats during experimental and natural infections

2009 ◽  
Vol 147 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. MAX ◽  
A. A. KASSUKU ◽  
A. E. KIMAMBO ◽  
L. A. MTENGA ◽  
D. WAKELIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Anthelmintic Activity ◽  
Treated Group ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
High Dose ◽  
East African ◽  
The Third ◽  
Animal Trials ◽  
High Doses ◽  
The Tropics

SUMMARYIn previous work, administration of a commercial tannin preparation, quebracho, as oral drench was shown to reduce significantly faecal egg counts (FEC) and worm burdens of temperate sheep with experimental Haemonchus contortus infection. In the current work carried out in Morogoro, Tanzania, three separate animal trials were carried out to investigate the effect of drenches of wattle tannin (WT), a similar tannin preparation that is readily available in the tropics, on nematodes of tropical goats and sheep. In the first trial, 36 young Small East African (SEA) goats were experimentally infected with a single dose of mixed nematode larvae and FEC were monitored regularly. On day 30 post-infection (p.i.), the animals were blocked on the basis of their FEC and randomly assigned into three equal groups (n=12). For 3 consecutive days, two groups received low and high doses of drench at a rate of 1·2 and 2·4 g WT/kg bodyweight, respectively, whereas the third group received a placebo drench (i.e. water). All goats were humanely slaughtered on day 42 p.i. and their worm burdens were assessed. Neither FEC nor worm burdens were significantly reduced by the administration of the low or high dose of WT. The second trial had an identical design but two groups (n=14) of growing Black Head Persian (BHP) sheep were used instead. One group received the drench at 1·5 g WT/kg body wt for 3 consecutive days, whereas the other group received a placebo. Unlike in goats, worm burdens and FEC were significantly reduced (P<0·001) by the drench administration. In the third trial, the effect of WT drench against a naturally acquired nematode infestation in a flock of 34 BHP sheep was determined. FEC were examined three times in a 2-week period and the egg counts were used to block the sheep before being randomly assigned into two groups (n=17). The treated group received the drench at 1·0 g WT/kg bodyweight for 3 consecutive days, while the remaining half was given a placebo. The two groups continued to graze together as FEC were being monitored. Results indicated a significant (P<0·001) reduction in egg counts, which remained low for at least 3 weeks after the drench. The current study demonstrated that the WT drench had significant anthelmintic activity against important nematodes in sheep but not in goats, suggesting an existence of species differences between the two hosts. It was concluded that WT drenches could be used in combination with other worm control strategies to reduce or control nematode infections, at least in sheep.

scholarly journals Spider-Ant Associations: An Updated Review of Myrmecomorphy, Myrmecophily, and Myrmecophagy in Spiders

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula E. Cushing
Keyword(s):  
Food Supply ◽  
Close Relationships ◽  
Empirical Work ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
The Third ◽  
Hunting Strategies ◽  
Abundant Food ◽  
Ant Association

This paper provides a summary of the extensive theoretical and empirical work that has been carried out in recent years testing the adaptational significance of various spider-ant associations. Hundreds of species of spiders have evolved close relationships with ants and can be classified as myrmecomorphs, myrmecophiles, or myrmecophages. Myrmecomorphs are Batesian mimics. Their close morphological and behavioral resemblance to ants confers strong survival advantages against visually hunting predators. Some species of spiders have become integrated into the ant society as myrmecophiles or symbionts. These spider myrmecophiles gain protection against their own predators, live in an environment with a stable climate, and are typically surrounded by abundant food resources. The adaptations by which this integration is made possible are poorly known, although it is hypothesized that most spider myrmecophiles are chemical mimics and some are even phoretic on their hosts. The third type of spider-ant association discussed is myrmecophagy—or predatory specialization on ants. A table of known spider myrmecophages is provided as is information on their biology and hunting strategies. Myrmecophagy provides these predators with an essentially unlimited food supply and may even confer other protections to the spiders.

scholarly journals Reproductive success in wild and hatchery male coho salmon

2015 ◽  
Vol 2 (8) ◽  
pp. 150161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan D. Neff ◽  
Shawn R. Garner ◽  
Ian A. Fleming ◽  
Mart R. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Coho Salmon ◽  
Female Mate Choice ◽  
Parentage Analysis ◽  
Offspring Survival ◽  
The Third ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Hierarchical Position ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Mixed Groups

Salmon produced by hatcheries have lower fitness in the wild than naturally produced salmon, but the factors underlying this difference remain an active area of research. We used genetic parentage analysis of alevins produced by experimentally mixed groups of wild and hatchery coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) to quantify male paternity in spawning hierarchies. We identify factors influencing paternity and revise previously published behavioural estimates of reproductive success for wild and hatchery males. We observed a strong effect of hierarchy size and hierarchy position on paternity: in two-male hierarchies, the first male sired 63% (±29%; s.d.) of the alevins and the second male 37% (±29%); in three-male hierarchies, the first male sired 64% (±26%), the second male 24% (±20%) and the third male 12% (±10%). As previously documented, hatchery males hold inferior positions in spawning hierarchies, but we also discovered that hatchery males had only 55–84% the paternity of wild males when occupying the same position within a spawning hierarchy. This paternity difference may result from inferior performance of hatchery males during sperm competition, female mate choice for wild males, or differential offspring survival. Regardless of its cause, the combination of inferior hierarchical position and inferior success at a position resulted in hatchery males having only half (51%) the reproductive success of wild males.

Identification of Coulomb Friction in Robot Drives and Other Mechanical Systems Through Observation of Third Harmonic Generation

1994 ◽  
Vol 208 (5) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Brookfield
Keyword(s):  
Coulomb Friction ◽  
Robot Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Harmonic Component ◽  
Experimental Tests ◽  
Third Harmonic ◽  
The Third ◽  
Drive Systems ◽  
Driving Torque ◽  
Frictional Behaviour

One of the main difficulties in introducing improved robot control strategies is a lack of knowledge of the frictional behaviour of robot drive systems. The aim of the present paper is to describe a technique for the identification of Coulomb friction based on the response of the robot drive to a sinusoidal driving torque The presence of a third harmonic component in the resulting velocity is a consequence of the Coulomb non-linearity and it is shown theoretically, through computer simulation and in experimental tests, that the coefficient of Coulomb friction can be estimated from the amplitude of the third harmonic component. The identification method is shown to be applicable to any mechanical system that can be subjected to a sinusoidal forcing torque or force.

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