Wolf monitoring in Scandinavia: evaluating counts of packs and reproduction events

Large carnivores are elusive and use large areas, which causes monitoring to be challenging and costly. Moreover, management to reduce conflicts and simultaneously ensure long‐term population viability require precise population estimates. In Scandinavia, the monitoring of wolves (Canis lupus) is primarily based on counting packs, identifying reproduction, and genetically identifying territorial wolves from noninvasive DNA samples. We assessed the reliability of wolf monitoring in Scandinavia by estimating the detectability of territorial pairs, packs, and reproduction. Our data, comprising snow‐tracking data and DNA‐identified individuals from 2005–2016, covered 11 consecutive winter monitoring seasons (Oct–Mar). Among 343 cases where we identified a wolf pack, territorial wolves were also detected in the same area during the previous season in 323 (94.2%) cases. In only 6 of the remaining 20 cases, there was no prior knowledge of territorial wolves in the area. Among the 328 detected reproduction events (litter born to a pack), we detected 97% during the monitoring period and identified the rest ≥1 year later from kinship assessments of all DNA‐detected individuals. These results suggest that we failed to detect only few packs with reproduction events during the monitoring season that followed breeding. Yearly monitoring of territorial individuals and continuous updates of the pedigree allowed us to retrospectively identify reproduction events and packs that were not identified earlier.publishedVersio

Estimating snow leopard density using fecal DNA in a large landscape in north-central Nepal

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Context-dependent demographic and genetic effects of translocation from a captive breeding project

Translocations are a widespread approach to conserve threatened populations. Given the rapid decline and genetic deterioration of many natural populations, translocations are expected to become even more common in the future. The success of translocations is, however, dependent on multiple context-dependent factors, such as demographic and genetic status, habitat quality and animal behaviour. The Scandinavian arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) exists in a small, fragmented population that is demographically vulnerable and exposed to inbreeding depression. In the early 2000 s, releases of arctic foxes from the Norwegian Captive Breeding Programme were initiated with the purpose of reintroducing populations to formerly inhabited areas and promoting connectivity. Since 2008/2009, 61 foxes have been released in Junkeren, Norway to re-establish an unoccupied area. We used a combination of field observations and microsatellite genotyping from the release site and two neighbouring subpopulations to investigate (i) the probability of establishment and reproduction for released foxes at the release site and in neighbouring subpopulations, and (ii) the impact on litter size and genetic composition in the recipient populations. Results showed that 18% of the released foxes were established at the release site, or in neighbouring subpopulations and 11.5% reproduced successfully. The extent of post-release dispersal into neighbouring subpopulations was also relatively high (11.5%). During the study period, the number of litters more than doubled in the subpopulations with released foxes contributing 29.5% to this increase, but no clear effect of immigration on litter size was found. There was a slight increase in genetic variation in one of the subpopulations, and a significant decline in genetic divergence between subpopulations. We conclude that despite extensive releases, demographic and genetic effects were highly context-dependent. This study highlights the challenges of reinforcement programmes in small populations and reintroductions to unoccupied sites, especially for highly mobile species in a fragmented landscape. conservation; immigration; translocation; genetic variation; demography; arctic fox; Vulpes lagopus; captive breeding; conservation breeding.publishedVersio

Whole-genome resequencing of temporally stratified samples reveals substantial loss of haplotype diversity in the highly inbred Scandinavian wolf population

Genetic drift can dramatically change allele frequencies in small populations and lead to reduced levels of genetic diversity, including loss of segregating variants. However, there is a shortage of quantitative studies of how genetic diversity changes over time in natural populations, especially on genome-wide scales. Here, we analyzed whole-genome sequences from 76 wolves of a highly inbred Scandinavian population, founded by only one female and two males, sampled over a period of 30 yr. We obtained chromosome-level haplotypes of all three founders and found that 10%–24% of their diploid genomes had become lost after about 20 yr of inbreeding (which approximately corresponds to five generations). Lost haplotypes spanned large genomic regions, as expected from the amount of recombination during this limited time period. Altogether, 160,000 SNP alleles became lost from the population, which may include adaptive variants as well as wild-type alleles masking recessively deleterious alleles. Although not sampled, we could indirectly infer that the two male founders had megabase-sized runs of homozygosity and that all three founders showed significant haplotype sharing, meaning that there were on average only 4.2 unique haplotypes in the six copies of each autosome that the founders brought into the population. This violates the assumption of unrelated founder haplotypes often made in conservation and management of endangered species. Our study provides a novel view of how whole-genome resequencing of temporally stratified samples can be used to visualize and directly quantify the consequences of genetic drift in a small inbred population.Whole-genome resequencing of temporally stratified samples reveals substantial loss of haplotype diversity in the highly inbred Scandinavian wolf populationpublishedVersio

Status and conservation goals for the critically endangered Arctic fox in Scandinavia. Is the mission completed?

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ACCELERATED LEARNING BERBANTUAN SOFTWARE MAPLE SEBAGAI UPAYA MENINGKATKAN KEMAMPUAN KOMUNIKASI MATEMATIS DAN MINAT BELAJAR SISWA SMA

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh pentingnya kemampuan komunikasi matematis dan minat belajar. Namun kenyataan di lapangan menunjukkan bahwa kemampuan komunikasi matematisdan minat belajarsiswa masih rendah. Agar permasalahan tersebut dapat diatasi, diperlukan sebuah model pembelajaran yang dapatmeningkatkankemampuan komunikasi matematis dan minat belajarsiswa.Olehkarenaitu, dipilih modelAccelerated Learning Berbantuan Software Maple. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menelaahpeningkatan kemampuan komunikasi matematis dan minat belajarsiswa, danmenelaahhubunganantara kemampuan komunikasi dan minat belajar.Penelitianinimerupakanpenelitiankuasieksperimendenganpretest-postest control group design. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas X pada salah satu SMA Negeri di Kota Purwokerto. Sampel terdiri dari dua kelas yang dipilih secara purposive sampling.Instrumen yang digunakan berupa tes kemampuan komunikasi matematis dan angket minat belajar, lembar observasi, serta pedoman wawancara. Analisis data dilakukan secara kuantitatif.Analisis data tersebutmenggunakanMann-Whitney U Testdan uji asosiasi Chi Square. Berdasarkan analisis data, ditemukan bahwa: (1)pencapaian kemampuan komunikasi matematis siswa yang memperoleh Accelerated LearningBerbantuanSoftware Maplelebih baik daripada siswa yang memperoleh pembelajaran biasa;(2) peningkatan kemampuan komunikasi matematis siswa yang memperoleh Accelerated LearningBerbantuanSoftware Maplelebih baik daripada siswa yang memperoleh pembelajaran biasa, (3) pencapaian kemampuan minat belajar siswa yang memperoleh Accelerated LearningBerbantuanSoftware Maplelebih baik daripada siswa yang memperoleh pembelajaran biasa; (4) peningkatan kemampuan minat belajar siswa yang memperoleh Accelerated LearningBerbantuanSoftware Maplelebih baik daripada siswa yang memperoleh pembelajaran biasa; dan(5) terdapat asosiasi antara kemampuan komunikasi dan minat belajarsiswadengan kategori rendah. ---------- This research was motivated by the importance of mathematical communication learning interest of students. Mathematical communication ability and learning interest of students is still low. In order that this problemscan be solved, alearning modelthatcan enhancemathematical communication and learning interest ofstudents is required.In this research, Maple-Assisted Accelerated Learning was selected. This studyaims to analyzetheenhancement of mathematical communication learning interest of students, and to analyzetheassociationbetween mathematical communication ability andlearning interest of students. This research was aquasi-experimentalwithpretest-posttest control group design. The population was students at tenth gradein one of senior high schools in Purwokerto, Central Java. The sample consisted oftwoclasses which wasselected bypurposivesampling. This research used fourinstruments: testof mathematicalcommunication ability, learning interestquestionnaire, observation sheets, and interview guide.Data analyzed was done quantitatively. The data were analyzed by usingMann-Whitney U TestandChi Squaren test. Based on the data analyze, it is found that: (1) the achievement of mathematical communication ability of students who receivedthe Maple-Assisted Accelerated Learning is betterthan the achievement of students who receivedconventionallearning;(2) The enhancement of mathematical communication ability of students who receivedthe Maple-Assisted Accelerated Learning is betterthan the enhancement of students who receivedconventionallearning; (3)the achievement oflearning interestability of students who receivedthe Maple-Assisted Accelerated Learning is betterthan the achievement of students who receivedconventionallearning; (4)the enhancement oflearning interestof students who receivedthe Maple-Assisted Accelerated Learning is betterthan the enhancement of students who receivedconventionallearning; and(5) there is anassociation between students’ mathematical communication ability and learning interest of student

Conservation of the endangered Arctic fox in Norway - are successful reintroductions enough?

Translocation of captive-bred animals has become a widespread conservation practice to counteract species extinctions. We analyse and discuss the apparent success and shortcomings of Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) reintroductions in alpine tundra areas of Norway. We followed the fate of 915 foxes between 2007 and 2020 and estimated the apparent survival and reproductive success of captive-bred and released Arctic foxes, compared to wild-born descendants. Relationship to abundance of small rodents, population size, and age were explored. Overall, apparent survival and probability of breeding were similar between captive-bred and wild-born foxes, positively linked to rodent abundance. For wild-born foxes, both breeding propensity and litter size declined with increasing fox population size. This could be a first sign of the limited capacity of single tundra patches to house self-subsistent populations. Thus, facilitating and maintaining connectivity among remnant and re-established Arctic fox populations, creating functional metapopulations, is essential for further improvement and longterm survival. Relying on the combined measures of supplementary feeding and red-fox (Vulpes vulpes) control, the Arctic fox captive-breeding and reintroduction programme has so far been highly successful. However, anthropogenic drivers facilitating red fox invasion into the Arctic fox habitat, along with climate driven irregularities and dampened small rodent cycles, could inhibit the establishment of a self-sustained population. A more holistic ecosystem approach and conservation measures to restore alpine fauna should be considered.publishedVersio

Predation of endangered Arctic foxes by Golden eagles: What do we know?

Dedicated conservation efforts spanning the past two decades have saved the Fennoscandian Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus) population from local extinction, and ex-tensive resources continue to be invested in the species' conservation and manage-ment. Although increasing, populations remain isolated, small and are not yet viable in the longer term. An understanding of causes of mortality are consequently impor-tant to optimize ongoing conservation actions. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) are a predator of Arctic foxes, yet little information on this interaction is available in the literature. We document and detail six confirmed cases of Golden eagle depredation of Arctic foxes at the Norwegian captive breeding facility (2019–2022), where foxes are housed in large open-air enclosures in the species' natural habitat. Here, timely detection of missing/dead foxes was challenging, and new insights have been gained following recently improved enclosure monitoring. Golden eagle predation peaked during the winter months, with no cases reported from June to November. This find-ing contrasts with that which is reported from the field, both for Arctic and other fox species, where eagle depredation peaked at dens with young (summer). While the seasonality of depredation may be ecosystem specific, documented cases from the field may be biased by higher survey efforts associated with the monitoring of repro-ductive success during the summer. Both white and blue color morphs were housed at the breeding station, yet only white foxes were preyed upon, and mortality was male biased. Mitigation measures and their effectiveness implemented at the facility are presented. Findings are discussed in the broader Arctic fox population ecology and conservation context. avian predators, carnivores, interspecific competition, intraguild predation, raptors Behavioural ecology, Biodiversity ecology, Conservation ecology, Ecosystem ecology, Evolutionary ecology, ZoologypublishedVersio

Estimating red fox density using non-invasive genetic sampling and spatial capture–recapture modelling

Spatial capture–recapture modelling (SCR) is a powerful tool for estimating density, population size, and space use of elusive animals. Here, we applied SCR modelling to non-invasive genetic sampling (NGS) data to estimate red fox (Vulpes vulpes) densities in two areas of boreal forest in central (2016–2018) and southern Norway (2017–2018). Estimated densities were overall lower in the central study area (mean=0.04 foxes per km2 in 2016, 0.10 in 2017, and 0.06 in 2018) compared to the southern study area (0.16 in 2017 and 0.09 in 2018). We found a positive efect of forest cover on density in the central, but not the southern study area. The absence of an efect in the southern area may refect a paucity of evidence caused by low variation in forest cover. Estimated mean home-range size in the central study area was 45 km2 [95%CI 34–60] for females and 88 km2 [69–113] for males. Mean home-range sizes were smaller in the southern study area (26 km2 [16–42] for females and 56 km2 [35–91] for males). In both study areas, detection probability was session-dependent and afected by sampling efort. This study highlights how SCR modelling in combination with NGS can be used to efciently monitor red fox populations, and simultaneously incorporate ecological factors and estimate their efects on population density and space use. Red fox · Density · Spatial capture–recapture · Non-invasive genetic samplingpublishedVersio