Enclosure Utilization and Enrichment Structure Preferences of Captive Coyotes

Environmental enrichment improves well-being of captive animals using a variety of tools, including adding complexity to the physical environment. Designing enrichment structures requires an understanding of behavioral and biological responses to enrichment efforts. Captive coyotes (Canis latrans) utilize shelter structures to hide, rest, and display vigilant behavior. Because these simple structures are regularly used, new and more complex enrichment structures could enhance enclosure enrichment. This study examined the time captive coyotes spent at discrete, complex enclosure features to determine: (1) how coyotes utilize enclosure space and shelter structures; and (2) if coyotes have a preferred enrichment structure design. Three enrichment structure designs (ramp, closed, and neutral) were installed simultaneously in 0.6-ha enclosures during two breeding seasons (January – March). Additional coyote pairs were monitored in control enclosures with simple structures. GPS-collars and scan sampling were used throughout a 28-day testing period to record space use and behavior. Coyotes spent most of their time at perimeter and open areas, but also exhibited a preference for shelter structures. Coyotes utilized the complex enrichment structures in treatment enclosures more than simple structures in control enclosures. Although there was no statistical preference for one specific type of complex structure, composite evidence from GPS-collars and behavioral data suggested that coyotes were most frequently located at ramp structures. Coyotes utilized ramp structures more during the daytime and demonstrated higher rates of vigilance there. This study advances the knowledge of captive coyote spatial patterns while helping improve environmental enrichment planning for captive facilities through the exploration of adding complexity to animal enclosures.

Bayesian Reanalyses From Summary Statistics: A Guide for Academic Consumers

Across the social sciences, researchers have overwhelmingly used the classical statistical paradigm to draw conclusions from data, often focusing heavily on a single number: p. Recent years, however, have witnessed a surge of interest in an alternative statistical paradigm: Bayesian inference, in which probabilities are attached to parameters and models. We feel it is informative to provide statistical conclusions that go beyond a single number, and—regardless of one’s statistical preference—it can be prudent to report the results from both the classical and the Bayesian paradigms. In order to promote a more inclusive and insightful approach to statistical inference, we show how the Summary Stats module in the open-source software program JASP ( https://jasp-stats.org ) can provide comprehensive Bayesian reanalyses from just a few commonly reported summary statistics, such as t and N. These Bayesian reanalyses allow researchers—and also editors, reviewers, readers, and reporters—to (a) quantify evidence on a continuous scale using Bayes factors, (b) assess the robustness of that evidence to changes in the prior distribution, and (c) gauge which posterior parameter ranges are more credible than others by examining the posterior distribution of the effect size. The procedure is illustrated using Festinger and Carlsmith’s (1959) seminal study on cognitive dissonance.

Bayesian Reanalyses from Summary Statistics: A Guide for Academic Consumers

Across the social sciences, researchers have overwhelmingly used the classical statistical paradigm to draw conclusions from data, often focusing heavily on a single number: p. Recent years, however, have witnessed a surge of interest in an alternative statistical paradigm: Bayesian inference, in which probabilities are attached to parameters and models. We feel it is informative to provide statistical conclusions that go beyond a single number, and --regardless of one's statistical preference-- it can be prudent to report the results from both the classical and the Bayesian paradigm. In order to promote a more inclusive and insightful approach to statistical inference we show how the open-source software program JASP (jasp-stats.org) provides a set of comprehensive Bayesian reanalyses from just a few commonly-reported summary statistics such as t and N. These Bayesian reanalyses allow researchers --and also editors, reviewers, readers, and reporters-- to quantify evidence on a continuous scale, assess the robustness of that evidence to changes in the prior distribution, and gauge which posterior parameter ranges are more credible than others. The procedure is illustrated using the seminal Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) study on cognitive dissonance.

SEM and TEM Characterization of NiAl2O4 Spinel Phase in Al2O3 Matrix Ni Composite

The microstructure and crystallographic relationship development of spinel phase of the composite prepared by sintering of Al2O3 and Ni powders below the melting point of Ni was investigated. Spinel phase is distributed not uniformly and the outer region of sample contains Al2O3 and NiAl2O4 without Ni particles. The differences in the microstructure between the central and surface part of the sample was clearly demonstrated. In the central part of the sample this process was only initiated and start of this reaction can be observed at the Ni/Al2O3 interface. This distribution of spinel phase is connected with the process of its formation and stability. Analysis of the crystallographic relationship between the Ni and spinel (S) indicates that the most common is the crystallographic relationship [001] S || [001] Ni or [001] S || [111] Ni. Similarly there is some statistical preference of the crystallographic relationship between spinel and Al2O3. In this case more often observed relationship is [100] S || [111] Al2O3, however similarly as in the case of Ni some deviations of several degrees are also frequent.

Towards Optimization of Grain-Boundary Structures in Annealed Nickel

Many properties of materials are influenced by intergranular structure. Increasing the number of grain boundaries with favourable properties, or ‘special’, boundaries, can enhance the performance of a material in service. However, the criteria that must be satisfied for a boundary to be classified as special are not widely understood. For example, it has been shown that Σ3 coincidence site lattice (CSL) boundaries alone present a resistance to corrosion greater than for other boundary types in nickel (fee). In contrast, Rolim Lopes et al. observed no statistical preference for Σ3s in the grain boundary network of FeAl (bcc), and Bouchet and Priester discovered that in nickel there was a weak propensity for segregation to several boundary types, including Σ3, Σ1 1 and Σl9a CSLs.Commercially pure and superpure nickel specimens have been subjected to the strain annealing treatments detailed in the Table. Fig. 1 shows the results from an electron backscatter diffraction study of the commercial purity specimens (CI to C4). It is clear that the only boundary types that increase in frequency with increased thermal processing are Σ3n (n=l,2,3) CSLs. An abundance of annealing twins was observed for sample C4, and is unique to this sample, and this accounts for the very high proportions of Σ3s. Samples CI to C3 were annealed under vacuum, whereas C4 was treated in air, and it is proposed that the dominant energy minimization mechanism has changed from grain/grain boundary rotation for samples CI to C3, to annealing twin formation for sample C4. If the structure of a grain boundary evolves towards the exact misorientation of what is considered a special CSL type, the special properties of that boundary will, in general, become more marked. Σ3s have been shown to possess special properties. Fig. 2 shows the average deviation from exact misorientation for the Σ3s in each sample, normalised by the Brandon criterion for maximum permitted deviation. This clearly indicates that the Σ3s created by annealing twin formation can be considered more special than those produced via grain/grain boundary rotations.

Influence of Resource Abundance on Use of Tree-Fall Gaps by Birds in an Isolated Woodlot

The occurrence of birds in forest understory and tree-fall gaps during spring and fall migration periods was determined in an isolated woodlot. We used mist-net captures to test the hypothesis that birds are attracted to gaps because of higher resource levels. We captured 1,010 birds (74 species) in spring and 458 (44 species) in fall. Total captures and captures per net were higher (P < 0.001) in gaps during spring and fall. Mean number of species per net was higher in gaps (P < 0.001) during both seasons, but total species in gaps (69 spring, 43 fall) was not significantly higher than in forest understory (60 spring, 28 fall). Of 44 species represented by adequate sample sizes (n > 5) in spring, 9 were significantly (P < 0.05) more common in gaps and 2 were more common in forest understory. Nine of 17 species were captured more often (P < 0.05) in gaps during fall. During spring, flycatchers, ground insectivores, foliage insectivores, and granivore-omnivores were captured more frequently (P < 0.05) in gaps. Flycatchers showed no difference in fall, but other trophic groups, including frugivores, were captured more frequently (P < 0.05) in gaps than in forest understory sites. Bark foragers showed no statistical preference for gaps or forest understory in spring or fall. Total species per net and total captures per net correlated positively (P < 0.05) with density of foliage in the lower canopy and negatively with density of upper canopy foliage in both spring and fall. Total species and captures correlated positively (P < 0.05) with insect abundance in spring and with fruit abundance in fall. Foliage insectivores correlated positively with low canopy foliage and insect abundance in both spring and fall. Captures of frugivores correlated with fruit abundance in fall. These data support the hypothesis that birds are attracted to tree-fall gaps because of higher resource abundance and provide further evidence of the importance of habitat heterogeneity to the structure and composition of bird communities.