Effects of fertility control on the movement ecology of white-tailed deer

This doctoral thesis explores the effects of fertility control on the movement ecology of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann). Deer populations may become abundant in humandominated landscapes, taking advantage of anthropogenic resources and the lack of natural predators. This abundance poses increasing ecological, economic, and social challenges globally. As human activities expand, conflicts between deer populations and human interests intensify, manifesting in issues such as deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs), the spread of tick-borne illnesses, and habitat degradation. While traditional population control methods, such as controlled hunting, have proven effective, they are often impractical in suburban and urban settings. Non-lethal fertility control methods, including vasectomy, ovariectomy, and immunocontraceptive vaccines, present alternative solutions that may circumvent the need for lethal management. However, these methods induce physiological changes that may alter movement behavior. This thesis aims to bridge the knowledge gap concerning how fertility control interventions impact the movement behavior of white-tailed deer. Chapter 2 lays the groundwork by addressing a critical methodological issue often overlooked in studies of ecological movement responses — specifically, the relationship between mean speeds and diffusion rates using continuous-time speed and distance estimation techniques. Accurate modeling of an animal’s speed and distance traveled can be critical for interpreting behavior, yet ecological data often are too coarse, or the location error is too great to resolve these measures. Diffusion rates, in contrast, can be estimated using continuous-time models at even coarser sampling intervals. To examine this relationship, a regression analysis was conducted to estimate the correlation between mean speed and diffusion rate, accounting for uncertainties in both variables. Results indicated a strong, sublinear correlation between mean speed and diffusion rate, with a 1% increase in diffusion rate in my focal species predicting a 0.40% increase in mean speed (99% CI: 0.38–0.42%). Sampling intervals were progressively coarsened to assess the robustness of these estimates, and simulations were run using known true values to further evaluate the relationships. Across all sampling intervals, diffusion rates consistently remained substantially more accurate and precise than mean speed estimates, even when speed estimation was not possible. These findings establish diffusion rates as a more reliable and robust metric for linking movement to behavior across a wider range of datasets, thereby providing a foundation for the subsequent analyses of fertility control effects on deer movement in Chapters 3 and 4. Chapter 3 evaluates the effects of a large-scale vasectomy program on the movement behavior and activity of free-ranging white-tailed deer. This study leverages an existing fertility control program implemented on Staten Island, New York, USA, where vasectomies were performed on over 97% of antlered males, resulting in a dramatic reduction in fawning (approximately 95%). This intervention effectively left most female deer unbred, leading to multiple estrous cycles throughout the breeding season. Concerns have been raised that the additional estrus periods may extend breeding activity, potentially leading to decreased body condition and increased incidence of DVCs. To investigate these potential consequences, biologging devices were deployed on a total of 158 deer, across two sites: the treatment site on Staten Island and a control site at Rockefeller State Park Preserve in Pleasantville, NY, USA. The dataset included global positioning system (GPS) and accelerometry data from 84 females and 40 males. Advanced analytical methods, including continuous-time movement models and Hierarchical Generalized Additive Models (HGAMs), were applied to assess deviations in space use, movement patterns, and activity levels between treated and untreated groups. The results indicate that, contrary to initial concerns, the vasectomy program did not induce behavioral or social changes likely to negatively affect population health or safety during the study period. Chapter 4 investigates the effects of ovariectomy, an alternative fertility control method, on female white-tailed deer movement behavior. Ovariectomy induces anestrus, thereby preventing treated females from entering estrus, and eliminating estrous cycles and associated behaviors. Concerns have been raised that the absence of reproductive behavior could lead to altered movement patterns that might negatively impact body condition or increase the likelihood of DVCs. This chapter employs a treatment-control design using IoT-based telemetry data from 20 free-ranging female deer who were part of a management program in South Euclid, Ohio, USA. Ten individuals had undergone ovariectomy, while the remaining ten served as untreated controls. To assess the impact of ovariectomy on movement ecology, a 7-day moving window approach was applied to analyze diffusion rates, home-range size, and excursivity. Consistent with the findings from Chapter 3, the analysis revealed no significant differences in movement behavior between the treated and control groups, suggesting that ovariectomy does not introduce behavioral risks that would exacerbate management concerns. The findings from this thesis provide substantial evidence that fertility control methods, specifically vasectomy and ovariectomy, do not induce significant changes in the movement behavior of whitetailed deer at the time scales investigated. These results support the viability of non-lethal fertility control as a management strategy for addressing abundant deer populations in urban and suburban environments. By ensuring that such methods do not lead to unintended behavioral consequences, this work contributes to the development of new approaches to wildlife management in human dominated landscape

Profiling and visualization of organic acids in grape plants by desorption electrospray ionization imaging

Organic acids play a crucial role in determining the quality of grapes and their derived products, such as wine and juice. Despite their critical role in grapevine physiology and fruit quality, limited research has investigated the distribution of these acids within grape plants. This study employed desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) imaging to rapidly profile and image key organic acids across various grape tissues. By analyzing the ratios of tartaric and malic acids in different tissues, we leveraged DESI's semi-quantitative capabilities. The results not only align with previous quantitative findings but also reveal distinct spatial distributions of these acids. Malic acid was predominantly localized in the cortex and epidermis, while tartaric acid was concentrated in the pith region of stems, stem junctions, and near veins in leaf blades. These patterns suggest tissue-specific biosynthetic activities and provide spatial evidence for multiple active pathways in tartaric acid synthesis within grape plants. Overall, this study advances our understanding of organic acid metabolism in grapes and highlights DESI as a powerful and high throughput tool for obtaining semi-quantitative chemical data with high spatial resolution in plant scienc

RNA-seq and WGBS analyses during fruit ripening and in response to ABA in sweet cherry (Prunus avium) reveal genetic and epigenetic modulation of auxin and cytokinin genes

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a key role in the ripening process of non-climacteric fruits, triggering pigment production, fruit softening, and sugar accumulation. Transcriptional studies show that ABA modifies the expression of several ripening-related genes, but epigenetic effects of ABA during this process are lacking. Therefore, this work aimed to perform transcriptomic and DNA methylation analyses of fruit samples treated with ABA during the fruit ripening process in the non-climacteric sweet cherry model. RNA-seq analyses revealed an overrepresentation of transcripts annotated in functional categories related to ABA response, secondary metabolism, and sugar synthesis during fruit ripening. In contrast, Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) analyses revealed DNA hypomethylation in the 5′UTR region of genes related to carotene catabolism. Transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of genes encoding xyloglucan enzymes, associated with cell wall modifications, were also detected. ABA treatment enhanced fruit color development and the accumulation of ripening markers, including carotenoids and several anthocyanins. Gene Ontology analysis in the RNA-seq of ABA-treated fruits revealed expression variations in genes encoding members of the Aux/IAA and ARF families. In the WGBS analysis, genes encoding enzymes for cytokinin biosynthesis had differential DNA methylation after the ABA treatment. Our work identified ABA-modulated factors at the genetic and epigenetic levels, suggesting complex hormone networks controlling non-climacteric sweet cherry fruit ripenin

Recent spread of Raphidiopsis raciborskii in the lake district south of the Alps

In recent years, there has been a rise in cyanobacterial blooms, and climate warming is believed to be a key driver sustaining these changes. Climate change may affect the geographic distribution of potentially toxigenic species and cyanobacteria, leading to the appearance of new threats in previously unexposed areas. Recently, the potentially toxic cyanobacterium Raphidiopsis (Cylindrospermopsis) raciborskii, known for forming blooms, has increased its presence, particularly in temperate regions. In this work, we expanded the knowledge about the distribution of R. raciborskii in Northern Italy. Specifically, we reported new observations recorded during the last decade based on investigations carried out in the framework of scientific and government monitoring and large biogeographical surveys carried out on the whole Alpine Space area. The detection of R. raciborskii in Northern Italy highlights the importance of closely monitoring freshwater quality and implementing measures to prevent the spread of harmful organism

Influence of egg sacs on the swimming performance of freshwater cyclopoid copepods

Female cyclopoid copepods carry their embryos in egg sacs that impact swimming performance until nauplii hatch. We studied kinematic parameters and mechanical energy of small routine jumps and large escape jumps of non-egg-carrying (NEC) and egg-carrying (EC) females of Mesocyclops leuckarti and Macrocyclops albidus. The drag and body acceleration costs for EC females of M. leuckarti and M. albidus during routine jumps were 28 and 40%, respectively, higher than those for NEC females moving at the same speed. Maintaining position in the water column by small jumps was more costly for EC females, requiring 2.2–2.3 times more jumps and energy. Consequently, the persistence of EC females was limited in the open water. In M. leuckarti and M. albidus, the average speed and distances of jumps were 5–6 and 1.5–2.2 times higher, respectively, and the duration of jumps was 2.2–2.5 times shorter during escape than routine swimming. The maximum jumping speeds of NEC females, 40.6 and 50.5 cm s−1, respectively, were 12–14% higher than those of EC females, whereas their power and cost of transport were 16 and 23% lower, respectively. These results clearly indicated that egg sacs impair swimming and increase energetic costs of movemen

Collegare la Biotremologia e la Chimica Ecologica: la proposta di un nuovo lessico per la comunicazione vibrazionale tra organismi

Biotremology, the study of vibrational communication through solid substrates, has gained recognition as a distinct scientific discipline. This article explores how biotremology parallels chemical ecology in studying inter- and intraspecific interactions mediated by physical or chemical signals. A new lexicon is proposed, introducing the terms “pherodones” for intraspecific vibrational signals and “allelodones” for interspecific signals, categorized into “kairodones,” “allodones,” and “synodones” based on their effects on emitter and receiver. These definitions align with established ecological chemical concepts, enhancing interdisciplinary communication. The potential applications of this framework are discussed, including sustainable pest control strategies combining vibrational and chemical signal