Building a synthesis of economic costs of biological invasions in New Zealand

Biological invasions are a major component of anthropogenic environmental change, incurring substantial economic costs across all sectors of society and ecosystems. However, the economic costs of invasions have been disparately reported, lacking synthesis across taxonomic and sectorial scales. Using the newly compiled InvaCost database, we analyse reported economic damage and management costs incurred by biological invasions in New Zealand — a country renowned for its approaches to invasive species management — from 1968 to 2020. In total, US$69 billion (NZ$97 billion) is currently reported over this ~50 year period, with approximately US$9 billion of this considered highly reliable, observed (c.f. projected) costs. Most (82%) of these observed economic costs are associated with damage, with comparatively little invested in management (18%). Reported costs are increasing over time, with damage averaging US$120 million per year and exceeding management expenditure in all decades. Where specified, most reported costs are from terrestrial plants and animals, with damages most often borne by primary industries such as agriculture and forestry. Management costs are associated more with interventions by authorities and stakeholders. However, some known ecologically (c.f. economically) impactful invasive species are notably absent from estimated damage costs, and management costs are not reported for a number of game animals and agricultural pathogens. Given these gaps for known and potentially damaging invaders, we urge improved cost reporting at the national scale, including improving public accessibility through increased access and digitisation of records, particularly in overlooked socioeconomic sectors and habitats. This also further highlights the importance of investment in management to curtail future damages across all sectors.

Promotion of cultural heritage — regional and traditional Polish meat products

The diverse culinary heritage of various countries in the European Union (EU) has been attracting attention for a very long time. This type of high-quality traditional food should be fully exploited and promoted as a common good that is part of the history of given countries. In order to distinguish individual products and their value (not only cultural, but also qualitative), the EU created special awarding signs (quality schemes) that conform to the quality of traditional products: Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), or Traditional Speciality Guaranteed (TSG). One of the first associations with Polish cuisine would undoubtedly be meat dishes, which play an important role in preserving the tradition. The most popular types of meat in Poland are pork, beef, and then poultry. In addition, game animals are very popular, including wild birds (black grouse and larks). This type of dishes is prepared according to traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation. Products typical of the region obtained from local crops and animal breeding are used in their preparation. Thanks to this, traditional dishes acquire specific taste values, which cannot be recreated in other parts of the country.

Use of the “Gifts” of the Animal World by the Population of the Northern Part of Bukovina in the 8th—13th Centuries

The article examines the ways of development and specialization of animal husbandry in a particular region, namely the northern part of Bukovina, over a fairly long period from the formation of East Slavic tribal reigns to the Ancient Rus state and the Mongol-Tatar invasion. The development of animal husbandry, the species composition of the herd of domestic animals, depending on the influence of the physical-geographical, natural-climatic and socio-economic conditions of the region is analyzed based on osteoarchaeological material. Such material from the settlements of the study area makes it possible to state the presence of several types of economic specialization of animal husbandry and conclude their quantitative ratio in the study area. So in the Middle Dniester, pig breeding prevailed, followed by sheep breeding and raising cattle (the first type of animal husbandry). On the left bank of the Prut River, with its turf-podzolic loams, preference was given to the breeding of big cattle — small ruminants — pigs (the second species). The third species is presented in the following sequence: cattle — pig breeding — sheep breeding. Hunting products played an important role in the diet of the local population. The species composition of wild game animals, hunting methods, and tools used in this process are analyzed. The study showed a fairly high level of development of animal husbandry and hunting among the local population.

Total virome characterizations of game animals in China reveals a spectrum of emerging viral pathogens

Game animals are wildlife species often traded and consumed as exotic food, and are potential reservoirs for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. We performed a meta-transcriptomic analysis of 1725 game animals, representing 16 species and five mammalian orders, sampled across China. From this we identified 71 mammalian viruses, with 45 described for the first time. Eighteen viruses were considered as potentially high risk to humans and domestic animals. Civets (Paguma larvata) carried the highest number of potentially high risk viruses. We identified the transmission of Bat coronavirus HKU8 from a bat to a civet, as well as cross-species jumps of coronaviruses from bats to hedgehogs and from birds to porcupines. We similarly identified avian Influenza A virus H9N2 in civets and Asian badgers, with the latter displaying respiratory symptoms, as well as cases of likely human-to-wildlife virus transmission. These data highlight the importance of game animals as potential drivers of disease emergence.

Properties of Two Broad Host Range Phages of Yersinia enterocolitica Isolated from Wild Animals

Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis are important zoonotic agents which can infect both humans and animals. To combat these pathogens, the application of strictly lytic phages may be a promising tool. Since only few Yersinia phages have been described yet, some of which demonstrated a high specificity for certain serotypes, we isolated two phages from game animals and characterized them in terms of their morphology, host specificity, lytic activity on two bio-/serotypes and genome composition. The T7-related podovirus vB_YenP_Rambo and the myovirus vB_YenM_P281, which is very similar to a previously described phage PY100, showed a broad host range. Together, they lysed all the 62 tested pathogenic Y. enterocolitica strains belonging to the most important bio-/serotypes in Europe. A cocktail containing these two phages strongly reduced cultures of a bio-/serotype B4/O:3 and a B2/O:9 strain, even at very low MOIs (multiplicity of infection) and different temperatures, though, lysis of bio-/serotype B2/O:9 by vB_YenM_P281 and also by the related phage PY100 only occurred at 37 °C. Both phages were additionally able to lyse various Y. pseudotuberculosis strains at 28 °C and 37 °C, but only when the growth medium was supplemented with calcium and magnesium cations.

The Lithics and Fauna from Heidenschmiede, a Middle Paleolithic Rockshelter in Heidenheim an der Brenz (Swabian Jura)

Heidenschmiede is a Middle Paleolithic rockshelter located in Heidenheim an der Brenz. The site was excavated in 1930 by Eduard Peters, but the archaeological remains were never completely analyzed. The lithic and faunal remains have recently been re-analyzed by the authors. The general features of the lithics are indicative of a Middle Paleolithic technology that includes a non-Levallois blade technology. The faunal remains reflect a Mammoth Steppe ecosystem and include mammoth, horse, woolly rhino and reindeer. Carnivore species play a minor role, although some carnivore gnawing is present. The archeological assemblage of this rockshelter demonstrates clear evidence of human activities, such as flint knapping, butchering of game animals, maintaining of hearths (burnt bones) and preparation of organic tools (retouchers).

Characteristics of limiting factors affecting the state of hunting resources of Ukraine

The abundance of game animals that are in a state of natural freedom, as a natural resource of national importance, is the result of a number of different factors, which are divided into three main groups according to their origin and functional role. The feeding potential and the quality of protective features of habitats of wild animals are the main biotic factors determining the category of value of a particular kind of land, which should theoretically form the quantitative state and structure of aboriginal populations of animals and birds. Although direct dependence between the quality of hunting grounds and the abundance of faunal components of the biocoenosis was not revealed. A comparative classification of hunting grounds was carried out in accordance with the class of bonitet within the natural zones. It is determined that the low actual level of efficiency of national hunting in the research area does not correspond to the high average indicators of value categories (creditworthiness) of lands. At the same time, a significant additional role of the professional hunting approach to hunting management is observed. The highest profitability of hunting is where the highest level of intensity and quality of hunting management measures, in particular protection and biotechnical measures, are applied. Own observations confirmed by the analysis of state statistical reporting indicate the potential for biotechnological improvement of the value category of lands. In farms where wildlife management measures are regularly performed, the abundance of predators is controlled, measures against illegal hunting are carried out, as well as other anthropogenic factors are controlled, in particular where chemicals and environmental management of agriculture and forestry are observed, additional feeding sources for game animals is provided. In such farms, hunting performance indicators (achieving optimal numbers and the degree of use of hunting resources) are higher than in other farms with a similar natural potential. It has been established that, in addition to the quality of land, the following influencing factors have a limiting effect on the quantitative and qualitative state of populations of the main game species: anthropogenic factors such as illegal hunting and low professional level of hunting; biotic factors such as predation by wolves. The effect of other factors having a negative impact is not limiting.

First record of Trichinella in Leopardus guigna (Carnivora, Felidae) and Galictis cuja (Carnivora, Mustelidae): new hosts in Chile

Background Trichinellosis is a zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. It is caused by several species of nematodes in the genus Trichinella. Trichinella spp. are transmitted through predation or carrion consumption and occur in domestic and sylvatic cycles. In humans trichinellosis occurs due to the consumption of raw or undercooked, infected meat and is mainly associated with the household slaughter of pigs or the consumption of game animals without veterinary inspection, a cultural practice that is difficult to resolve. Therefore, knowledge of this parasite’s reservoir is relevant for better implementing public health strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Trichinella sp. in several carnivore and omnivore vertebrates in central-southern Chile. Methods We collected muscle tissue from a total of 53 animals from 15 species and were digested to detect Trichinella larvae which were further identified to species level using molecular techniques. Results We detected Trichinella larvae in Leopardus guigna (Felidae) and Galictis cuja (Mustelidae). We identified the larvae collected from L. guigna as Trichinella spiralis, but we were unable to molecularly characterize the larvae from G. cuja. This is the first record of Trichinella in a native mustelid of South America and the first record of T. spiralis in L. guigna. This study identified two novel hosts; however, further work is needed to identify the role that these and other hosts play in the cycle of Trichinella in Chile.

HELMINTHOZOONOSES OF GAME ANIMALS OF CENTRAL RUSSIA

Helminthozoonosis pose particular danger to people, and cause economic and environmental damage. The purpose of the work was to identify the current epizootic situation of helminthozoonosis of game animals in the Central Region of Russia. The material for the study was helminthological collections from game animals. Studies were carried out throughout 2019-2021. Killed animals were brought from hunting farms in the Central Region of Russia. Animal carcasses or their fragments were subjected to complete or partial helminthological examination. The found helminths were differentiated according to conventional determinants. A total of 182 carcasses of animals and birds were studied. 108 animals of 13 species belonging to Carnivora were studied by helminthological methods. One species of the Omnivorae was studied: the wild boar. Among ruminants (Ruminantia), 35 artiodactyls were studied. Helminth fauna of rodents (Rodentia) was studied in 33 animals of 5 species. Two species of birds (Aves) were studied. We identified about 14 types of helminthozoonosis, of which pathogens of trichinellosis, dirofilariasis, toxocariasis and alveococcosis are particularly dangerous. The main hosts and reservoirs of zoonosis are carnivores.

Using Regurgitated Pellets From White-Tailed Sea-Eagles as Noninvasive Samples to Assess Lead Exposure Caused by Hunting in Germany

ABSTRACT Anthropogenic lead intoxication is the most frequent cause of death of White-tailed Sea-Eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Germany. Most lead fragments are ingested by eagles feeding on carcasses and viscera of game animals shot with lead-based ammunition left in the wild by hunters. We investigated how many regurgitated pellets contained metal fragments and hypothesized a correlation between the presence of metal fragments and (1) the hunting season, (2) the ban of lead in rifle ammunition, and (3) the frequency of specific prey animals in the pellets. We collected 273 regurgitated pellets, radiographed them for metal fragments, and analyzed the prey composition. The metal elements were identified using micro x-ray fluorescence. Metal particles were found in 9.2% of pellets; 24 fragments consisted of lead and one fragment was mostly copper. A higher proportion (14.3%) of contaminated pellets was detected during the hunting season from September through February. During the non-hunting season from March through August, 7.6% of the regurgitated pellets were contaminated. Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between the presence of mammalian remains in the pellets and metal contamination (general linear model, z = 2.16, P = 0.03). Our results indicate a correlation between the increased activity of hunters in winter and the occurrence of metal in regurgitated pellets of White-tailed Sea-Eagles.