scholarly journals Roadkills as a Method to Monitor Raccoon Dog Populations

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3147
Author(s):  
Linas Balčiauskas ◽  
Jos Stratford ◽  
Laima Balčiauskienė ◽  
Andrius Kučas
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Hunting Bag

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is one of the most frequently killed species on Lithuanian roads. As an invasive species, up-to-date knowledge of population size, trends and spatial distribution is critically important both for species assessment and for the planning of control measures. In Lithuania, however, raccoon dog surveys have not been carried out since 1997. We investigated, therefore, whether roadkill counts on predefined routes could be used as a proxy for a survey. Our dataset includes survey numbers for the period 1956–1997, hunting bag sizes for 1965–2020 (including the spatial distribution of the hunting bag in 2018–2020) and roadkill data relating to 1551 individuals between 2002–2020. At the most local scale, that of the hunting areas of hunting clubs, correlations between the numbers of hunted and roadkilled individuals were negative and insignificant or absent. At the country scale, however, we found significant correlation both between the numbers surveyed and hunted in 1965–1997 (r = 0.88), and between those hunted and the number of roadkills in 2002–2020 (r = 0.56–0.69). Therefore, we consider that roadkill counts on predefined and stable routes may be used as a proxy for a survey at the country scale. Practical implementation of the method is proposed.

scholarly journals Alien predation in wetlands – the Raccoon Dog and water birds breeding success

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 228-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petri Nummi ◽  
Veli-Matti Vaananen ◽  
Antti-Juhani Pekkarinen ◽  
Visa Eronen ◽  
Markku Mikkola-Roos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breeding Success ◽  
Nest Predation ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Predation Experiment ◽  
Hunting Bag ◽  
Fulica Atra ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Raccoon Dogs

Alien predators are known to potentially strongly affect their prey populations. We studied the impact of raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) on waterbird breeding success in eight semi-urban wetlands in Finland. We manipulated raccoon dog density in two wetlands by removing individuals (2002 protection year, 2003 and 2004 removal years). We additionally performed nest predation experiments. We monitored raccoon dog density, estimated hunting bag size and observed waterbird breeding success. Our hypothesis predicts that the omnivorous raccoon dog plays a role in waterbird breeding success by depredating nests. Our experiments shown that the raccoon dog hunting bag in eutrophic wetlands may be large, as we removed 8.6–20.0 animals per km2. Both our nest predation experiment and field data indicated that raccoon dogs affect the breeding success of waterbirds. We found a significant relationship between raccoon dog density index and predation rate of the artificial nests, but not between red fox (Vulpes vulpes) density and predation on artificial nests. We did not find an association between raccoon dog abundance and the breeding success of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) and great crested grebes (Podiceps cristatus). However, our study shows that birds species with different breeding strategies – e.g. great crested grebe, mute swan (Cygnus olor), mallard, Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope), coot (Fulica atra), lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) – when considered together showed higher breeding success both in 2003 and 2004 when compared to breeding success before removal. There was, however, variation in how strongly the species responded to raccoon dog removal. Our results indicate that the removal of alien raccoon dogs can be an important tool in wetland management.                                   Keywords: ducks, invasive species, lapwing, nest predation experiment, Nyctereutes procyonoides, predator removal

scholarly journals Species diversity and spatial distribution of CL/VL vectors: assessing bioclimatic effect on expression plasticity of genes possessing vaccine properties isolated from wild-collected sand flies in endemic areas of Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Bordbar ◽  
Parviz Parvizi
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Interpolation Method ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Fold Change ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Physiological Status ◽  
Sand Flies ◽  
Risk Maps

Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is one of the ten most important neglected tropical diseases worldwide. Understanding the distribution of vectors of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis (VL/CL) is one of the significant strategic frameworks to control leishmaniasis. In this study, the extent of the bioclimatic variability was investigated to recognize a rigorous cartographic of the spatial distribution of VL/CL vectors as risk-maps using ArcGIS modeling system. Moreover, the effect of bioclimatic diversity on the fold change expression of genes possessing vaccine traits (SP15 and LeIF) was evaluated in each bioclimatic region using real-time PCR analysis. Methods The Inverse Distance Weighting interpolation method was used to obtain accurate geography map in closely-related distances. Bioclimatic indices were computed and vectors spatial distribution was analyzed in ArcGIS10.3.1 system. Species biodiversity was calculated based on Shannon diversity index using Rv.3.5.3. Expression fold change of SP15 and LeIF genes was evaluated using cDNA synthesis and RT-qPCR analysis. Results Frequency of Phlebotomus papatasi was predominant in plains areas of Mountainous bioclimate covering the CL hot spots. Mediterranean region was recognized as an important bioclimate harboring prevalent patterns of VL vectors. Semi-arid bioclimate was identified as a major contributing factor to up-regulate salivary-SP15 gene expression (P = 0.0050, P < 0.05). Also, Mediterranean bioclimate had considerable effect on up-regulation of Leishmania-LeIF gene in gravid and semi-gravid P. papatasi population (P = 0.0109, P < 0.05). Conclusions The diversity and spatial distribution of CL/VL vectors associated with bioclimatic regionalization obtained in our research provide epidemiological risk maps and establish more effectively control measures against leishmaniasis. Oscillations in gene expression indicate that each gene has its own features, which are profoundly affected by bioclimatic characteristics and physiological status of sand flies. Given the efficacy of species-specific antigens for vaccine production, it is essential to consider bioclimatic factors that have a fundamental role in affecting the regulatory regions of environmentally responsive loci for genes used in vaccine design.

Spatial Distribution of Dissolved Oxygen at Rapid Hydraulic Structures as an Indicator of Local-Scale Processes

2018 ◽  
pp. 377-387
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Rajwa-Kuligiewicz ◽  
Karol Plesiński ◽  
J. Russell Manson ◽  
Artur Radecki-Pawlik ◽  
Paweł M. Rowiński
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Hydraulic Structures

Winter Diet of the Raccoon Dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Urban Parks, Central Tokyo

Mammal Study ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takaaki Enomoto ◽  
Masayuki U. Saito ◽  
Masato Yoshikawa ◽  
Yayoi Kaneko
Keyword(s):  
Urban Parks ◽  
Nyctereutes Procyonoides ◽  
Raccoon Dog ◽  
Winter Diet

scholarly journals Insight into Invasive Species (Mikania micrantha), Its Control Measures and Programmes in Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 115-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajan P Paudel
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Mikania Micrantha ◽  
Biodiversity Crisis ◽  
Chitwan National Park ◽  
Biological Methods ◽  
Life On Earth ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Methods Of Control

Invasive species adversely affects the ecology and habitat of the species existing in a particular region. They are one of the top threats to the biodiversity of life on Earth. Mikania micrantha is spreading like a wildfire in Nepal whose effect on Rhino habitat is being studied in Chitwan National Park. Various mechanical, chemical and biological methods of control for Mikania are available. It's likely to be more cost effective to prevent the spread of invasive species in the first place than to tackle the biodiversity crisis once they have become established.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/init.v4i0.5544The Initiation Vol.4 2011 115-119

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