scholarly journals Sett Use, Density and Breeding Phenology of Badgers in Mediterranean Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Systems

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2663
Author(s):  
Marcelo Silva ◽  
Luís Miguel Rosalino ◽  
Sandra Alcobia ◽  
Margarida Santos-Reis
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Variation ◽  
Group Composition ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Breeding Phenology ◽  
European Regions ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
European Badgers

Carnivores social organization varies widely, from strongly social to solitary predators. European badgers are facultative social carnivores that also shows a geographical variation in social structure. These patterns derive mainly from central/west European regions, with an under-representation of Mediterranean populations that face different conservation challenges, especially regarding group composition, sett use patterns and breeding phenology. We addressed these traits topics for a population inhabiting a Portuguese agro-silvo-pastoral system. Based on monthly monitoring of 34 setts and continuous camera-trapping surveys of 12, we showed that setts surrounded by diversified vegetation and located in sandy sites are more used, a pattern probably linked to food availability and ease of sett excavation and maintenance, respectively. Badgers followed a general pattern regarding group size (2–4 adults), but showed an intermediate population density (0.49–0.73 badgers/km2), with values higher than those estimated for other Mediterranean environments, but lower than for central-western populations. This, together with the breeding (November/January) and cub emergence (1.8 cubs/sett; March/April) periods, indicates an ecological adaptation to the landscape context, where human-related resources and mild environmental conditions allow badger to reach higher densities than in many southern populations, and to reproduce earlier than their northern counterparts.

scholarly journals Expected Changes to Alpine Pastures in Extent and Composition under Future Climate Conditions

Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 926
Author(s):  
Camilla Dibari ◽  
Sergi Costafreda-Aumedes ◽  
Giovanni Argenti ◽  
Marco Bindi ◽  
Federico Carotenuto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Future Climate ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Nardus Stricta ◽  
Livestock Feeding ◽  
The Alps ◽  
The Impact

As the basis of livestock feeding and related performances, pastures evolution and dynamics need to be carefully monitored and assessed, particularly in the Alps where the effects of land abandonment are further amplified by climate change. As such, increases in temperature associated with changes in precipitation patterns and quantity are leading to modifications of grassland extent and composition with consequences on the pastoral systems. This study applied a machine learning approach (Random Forest) and GIS techniques to map the suitability of seven pasture macro types most representative of the Italian Alps and simulated the impact of climate change on their dynamics according to two future scenarios (RCP4.5, 8.5), two time-slices (2011–2040, 2041–2070), and three RCMs (Aladin, CMCC, ICTP). Results indicated that (i) the methodology was robust to map the current suitability of pasture macro types (mean accuracy classification = 98.7%), so as to predict the expected alterations due to climate change; (ii) future climate will likely reduce current extend of suitable pasture (−30% on average) and composition, especially for most niche ecosystems (i.e., pastures dominated by Carex firma and Festuca gr. Rubra); (iii) areas suited to hardier but less palatable pastures (i.e., dominated by Nardus stricta and xeric species) will expand over the Alps in the near future. These impacts will likely determine risks for biodiversity loss and decreases of pastoral values for livestock feeding, both pivotal aspects for maintaining the viability and profitability of the Alpine pastoral system as a whole.

scholarly journals Assessing geographical variation on whistle acoustic structure of three Mediterranean populations of common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

Behaviour ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 154 (5) ◽  
pp. 583-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriella La Manna ◽  
Nikolina Rako Gospić ◽  
Michele Manghi ◽  
Marta Picciulin ◽  
Gianluca Sarà
Keyword(s):  
Social Interactions ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Geographical Variation ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Acoustic Signals ◽  
Geographical Isolation ◽  
Mediterranean Populations ◽  
Acoustic Environment ◽  
Common Bottlenose Dolphin ◽  
Sicilian Population

Whistles are acoustic signals produced particularly during social interactions. Here, we compare whistles by bottlenose dolphins from three Mediterranean areas (Croatia, Sicily and Sardinia) to investigate the presence of acoustic divergence and to discuss the possible causes of variability. Whistle parameters differ significantly between populations, but PCA highlights that the majority of variability is due to a limited number of frequency parameters. Cluster and DFA show that the Croatian population is acoustically divergent from the western populations of Sicily and Sardinia. This divergence could be consistent with geographical isolation, and a possible genetic differentiation between populations, and/or an adaptation to the acoustic environment. Moreover, in a comparison of whistle parameters of different Mediterranean populations with those of previously published Atlantic populations, it was revealed that the Sicilian population was acoustically closer to Atlantic populations. Our results represent a contribution to identifying acoustically differentiated populations of bottlenose dolphins in the Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Seasonal dry matter production of Lotus corniculatus in a dryland commercial sheep pastoral system

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 185-188
Author(s):  
C.A. Ramirez-Restrepo ◽  
P.D. Kemp ◽  
T.N. Barry ◽  
N. Lopezvillalobos
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
Lotus Corniculatus ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
The North

Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot trefoil, 'Grassland Goldie') may have a role in dryland pastoral systems in New Zealand, but there is little information available on its production under sheep grazing in these conditions. Dry matter (DM) production of L. corniculatus was measured monthly for 2 consecutive years in a systems approach experiment comparing it with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) pasture in the Wairarapa on the east coast of the North Island. The total DM produced for 2 years was 8.5 and 10.5 t /ha for L. corniculatus compared with 7.3 and 9.9 t /ha for pasture. Also, the moderate concentration of CT (18- 29 g/kg DM) in L. corniculatus has been shown to increase sheep productivity (Wang et al. 1996ab; Min et al. 1999, 2001). This production advantage, combined with improved sheep performance, supports the potential use of L. corniculatus as a specialist forage in dryland areas. Key words: condensed tannins, perennial ryegrass, Lolium perenne, white clover, Trifolium repens, pasture.

scholarly journals The importance of animal traction and defoliation of pearl millet in a Sahelian agro-pastoral system in the Seno-Bankass, Mali

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
E. Tielkes ◽  
B. Cisse ◽  
I. Yossi
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Yield Reduction ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Fodder Quality ◽  
Draught Animals

In the pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) based agro-pastoral systems in the south-eastern part of Mali weeding is either done by hand or using animal (donkeys, cattle) traction. To feed the draught animals farmers are harvesting fodder. One of these comprise stripped millet leaves. To evaluate these millet production systems including draught animals, and defoliation, qualitative interviews were conducted in eight villages in the Seno-Bankass area (1991) and day-to-day activities were monitored in one village (1992). The existing defoliation practice was compared with results obtained from on-station defoliation trials. These showed that the farmers practice of leaving the upper leaves from stalks with grains in milk stage, and defoliating only plants on manured fields, results in an optimal balance between grain yield reduction and fodder quality of the harvested biomass. It is concluded that the use of animal traction for weeding increases efficiency on manured fields only. Furthermore, a reduction in millet grain yield through partial defoliation can be compensated in at least average rainfall years by the benefits of the obtained good quality fodder by either selling the fodder or feeding it to selected animals.

Adapting Tropical Pasture Research to the Production System: from Australian Ranching to African Pastoralism

1989 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Bayer ◽  
Ann Waters-Bayer
Keyword(s):  
Resource Use ◽  
Production System ◽  
Applied Research ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Tropical Pasture ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Tropical Australia

SUMMARYThe questions and design of pasture research in tropical Australia and the resulting technologies address problems encountered in the prevailing extensive beef-production systems. In African pastoral systems, forage resource use is more intensive and complex, and production aims are manifold. An example of applied research in central Nigeria illustrates the usefulness of certain components of Australian pasture technology but the need to adapt them, particularly with respect to pasture utilization and management, within trials deliberately designed to address the differing problems in the local pastoral system.

scholarly journals Resilience in Retrospective: The Trajectory of Agro-Pastoral Systems in the Centro Region of Portugal

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5089
Author(s):  
Isabel Dinis ◽  
Orlando Simões
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Free Market ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Demographic Ageing ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
The Social ◽  
Local Actors ◽  
Serra Da Estrela ◽  
Serra Da Estrela Cheese

Agro-pastoral systems in southern European regions have been subjected to various disturbances in the past few decades. Still, a certain amount of resilience allowed to withstand its sharp decline. The Serra da Estrela cheese production, the most representative agro-pastoral system of the Portuguese Centro Region, is a demonstrative case study. The main objective of this research is to understand the trajectory of this system up to present, its adaptation to internal and external changes and evolution trends. We used the concepts of resilience and socio–ecological system as framework in a qualitative study. Participatory methods were applied using the perspectives of local actors, in order to identify and analyze the key factors. The main drivers are socio-demographic (ageing, depopulation, social perception of the profession), economic (free market, industrialization), political (lack of adequate of national and European policies) and environmental (climate change, forest fires). Our results are in line with other European cases. To cope with these trends, the system is irreversibly transforming, moving into a new trajectory characterized by different systemic architecture. In face of the ongoing changes, the interactions between the social and the ecological subsystems are blurring, whereas local communities and traditions are being excluded.

scholarly journals Applying conjoint analysis to match farmer's preferences for cattle traits with those conferred by the improved trypanotolerant Orma Boran cattle in coastal Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence Mugunieri ◽  
Kennedy Wanjala ◽  
Phyllis Alusi ◽  
Richard Kurgat
Keyword(s):  
Transaction Costs ◽  
Conjoint Analysis ◽  
Production System ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Pastoral Systems ◽  
Pastoral System ◽  
Coastal Kenya ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Medium Potential

Bovine trypanosomiasis is a key constraint to increased livestock production across all production systems of Kwale County in coastal Kenya. Genetically controlled trypanotolerance of cattle is regarded as one of the promising methods available to mitigate the impact of this disease, and the improved trypanonotolerant Orma Boran is one of the breeds available in Kenya for this purpose. Conjoint analysis was thus used to match farmer’s preference for cattle traits against those conferred by this breed in three production systems of Kwale County. The study also estimated the transaction costs (TC) that would influence access to breeding services while availing the breed. The aim was to identify production systems where the breed matches well with farmer preferences, as an initial step towards its dissemination. In order of importance, farmers preferred cattle that were resistant to trypanosomiasis, had large body size, exhibited resistance to tick-borne diseases (TBD), and had high milk output. However, there were inter-production system differences in trait preferences, where resistance to TBD was least valued in the agro-pastoral system, with more emphasis put on the size of animal and trypanotolerance respectively. On the other hand, in medium potential and marginal pastoral systems, more emphasis was placed on TBD resistance, followed by trypanosomiasis resistance. The agro-pastoral production system was therefore delineated as a potential area for disseminating the breed. Regarding transaction costs, the price of service was the most important transaction costs element. Furthermore, whereas bull service was preferred over artificial insemination (AI) services in marginal pastoral and medium potential systems, AI was given preference in an agro-pastoral system. It was thus concluded that the Orma Boran dissemination would be successful among agro-pastoral households system, and should be delivered using subsidized AI services.

Update: Behavioral Management of Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis and Paresis

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 474-482
Author(s):  
Sarah L. Schneider
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Fold ◽  
Treatment Plan ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Voice Therapy ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Behavioral Management ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Vocal Quality ◽  
And Function ◽  
Voice Use

PurposeVocal fold motion impairment (VFMI) can be the result of iatrogenic or traumatic injury or may be idiopathic in nature. It can result in glottic incompetence leading to changes in vocal quality and ease. Associated voice complaints may include breathiness, roughness, diplophonia, reduced vocal intensity, feeling out of breath with talking, and vocal fatigue with voice use. A comprehensive interprofessional voice evaluation includes auditory-perceptual voice evaluation, laryngeal examination including videostroboscopy, acoustic and aerodynamic voice measures. These components provide valuable insight into laryngeal structure and function and individual voice use patterns and, in conjunction with stimulability testing, help identify candidacy for voice therapy and choice of therapeutic techniques.ConclusionA comprehensive, interprofessional evaluation of patients with VFMI is necessary to assess the role of voice therapy and develop a treatment plan. Although there is no efficacy data to support specific voice therapy techniques for treating VFMI, considerations for various techniques are provided.

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