In search of a critical habitat concept for woodland caribou, boreal population

A hierarchical approach to critical habitat identification has been proposed in the draft National Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou), Boreal Population. This approach proposes that critical habitat for boreal caribou be identified as equivalent with caribou ranges and their composite range components, and that it be consistent with the biological needs of a wild, self-sustaining local population of woodland caribou. These components include seasonal ranges, high use areas and calving sites, each of which provide for important ecological functions and are subject to specific risks from human development activities. Protection of critical habitat is accomplished through management of the amount and type of human developments and potential natural disturbances, not by prohibiting all activity. This approach to critical habitat sets the stage for management and monitoring of habitat at spatial and temporal scales appropriate for conservation of a wide ranging species such as woodland caribou

The Aversive Effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Foraging Bats—A Possible Means of Discouraging Bats from Approaching Wind Turbines

Large numbers of bats are killed by collisions with wind turbines and there is at present no accepted method of reducing or preventing this mortality. Following our demonstration that bat activity is reduced in the vicinity of large air traffic control and weather radars, we tested the hypothesis that an electromagnetic signal from a small portable radar can act as a deterrent to foraging bats. From June to September 2007 bat activity was compared at 20 foraging sites in northeast Scotland during experimental trials (radar switched on) and control trials (no radar signal). Starting 45 minutes after sunset, bat activity was recorded for a period of 30 minutes during each trial and the order of trials were alternated between nights. From July to September 2008 aerial insects at 16 of these sites were sampled using two miniature light-suction traps. At each site one of the traps was exposed to a radar signal and the other functioned as a control. Bat activity and foraging effort per unit time were significantly reduced during experimental trials when the radar antenna was fixed to produce a unidirectional signal therefore maximising exposure of foraging bats to the radar beam. However, although bat activity was significantly reduced during such trials, the radar had no significant effect on the abundance of insects captured by the traps

A comparative study of prenatal development in Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, Hipposideros armiger and H. pratti

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bats comprise the second largest order of mammals. However, there are far fewer morphological studies of post-implantation embryonic development than early embryonic development in bats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We studied three species of bats (<it>Miniopterus schreibersii fuliginosus, Hipposideros armiger </it>and <it>H. pratti</it>), representing the two suborders Yangochiroptera and Yinpterochiroptera. Using an established embryonic staging system, we identified the embryonic stages for <it>M. schreibersii fuliginosus, H. armiger </it>and <it>H. pratti </it>and described the morphological changes in each species, including the development of the complex and distinctive nose-leaves in <it>H. armiger </it>and <it>H. pratti</it>. Finally, we compared embryonic and fetal morphology of the three species in the present study with five other species for which information is available.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>As a whole, the organogenetic sequence of bat embryos is uniform and the embryos appear homoplastic before Stage 16. Morphological differentiation between species occurs mainly after embryonic Stage 16. Our study provides three new bat species for interspecific comparison of post-implantation embryonic development within the order Chiroptera and detailed data on the development of nose-leaves for bats in the superfamily Rhinolophoidea.</p

Reproductive ecology of wrinkle-lipped free-tailed bats Chaerephon plicatus (Buchannan, 1800) in Rrelation to Guano Production in Cambodia

Wildlife populations in Southeast Asia are subject to increasing pressure from climate change, habitat loss and human disturbance. Cave-roosting bats are particularly vulnerable to all three factors. Because of the ecological services they provide, it is important to assess specific vulnerabilities to inform their conservation management. We evaluated the reproductive phenology and body condition of Chaerephon plicatus for 14 months in 2015–2016 and quantified guano harvesting at the largest colony in Cambodia in 2011–2016. As in Thailand and Myanmar, two annual breeding cycles were recorded, characterized as continuous bimodal polyoestry, with parturition primarily occurring in April and October. Significant declines occurred in body condition between the late wet season and the late dry season, suggesting that bats experience increasing energetic stress as the dry season progresses. Annual guano harvests increased over the study period but could not be used as a proxy for monitoring population size due to the loss of unknown amounts during the wet season and unquantified movements of bats between C. plicatus colonies in the region. We recommend studies to determine the scale and drivers of such movements and creation of sustainable guano harvesting and population monitoring initiatives to ensure the conservation of C. plicatus colonies in Cambodia

Bats as bushmeat in Madagascar

Bats are eaten by people throughout Madagascar and although the larger species like Pteropus rufus, Eidolon dupreanum, Rousettus madagascariensis and Hipposideros commersoni are preferred, small insectivorous bats are also eaten. The national hunting season for bats is widely ignored and both unsuitable hunting practices and high offtake represent a serious threat to bat populations in some areas. Bat bushmeat may be an important source of protein for Malagasy people during periods of food shortage but in general there are few data on the socioeconomic and cultural importance of bats. Fruit bats produce a single offspring per year and are therefore susceptible to over-hunting. Nevertheless, large roosts offer the possibility of community managed harvests to secure the colony and provide a source of meat but further research is needed before this can be considered. Roost sites also present the best focus for conservation and greater effort is needed to control hunting using existing legislation and flexible community-based solutions that are sensitive to the local context. The threat of pathogen transfer from bats to people is of growing concern as more bat species are identified as vectors of emergent viral diseases.RÉSUMÉLes gens consomment des chauves-souris partout à Madagascar et s’ils préfèrent les plus grandes espèces comme Pteropus rufus, Eidolon dupreanum, Rousettus madagascariensis et Hipposideros commersoni, les petites chauves-souris insectivores sont également consommées. La période d’ouverture nationale de la chasse n’est généralement pas respectée et l’on assiste aussi bien à de mauvaises pratiques cynégétiques qu’à des prélèvements importants qui représentent une menace sérieuse pour les populations de chauves-souris dans certaines régions. Les chauves-souris peuvent constituer une source de protéines importante pour les populations villageoises pendant les périodes de soudure alimentaire mais en règle générale, il existe peu de données sur les valeurs socio-économiques ou culturelles des chauves - souris. Les chauves-souris frugivores ne produisent qu’un seul jeune par an, de sorte qu’elles sont sensibles à la pression de chasse bien que les grands dortoirs pourraient offrir l’occasion d’une exploitation gérée par la communauté pour assurer la sécurité des colonies et fournir une source de protéines mais de plus amples recherches sont nécessaires avant que cette alternative ne puisse être retenue. Les dortoirs constituent également les meilleures cibles des actions de protection de la nature et des efforts plus importants sont nécessaires pour contrôler la chasse en s’appuyant sur la législation nationale ainsi que sur des solutions locales plus souples et adaptées, basées sur la communauté. Les chauves-souris peuvent aussi transmettre des agents pathogènes et cette menace est une source d’inquiétude grandissante car de plus en plus d’espèces de chauves-souris ont été identifiées en tant que vecteurs de maladies virales émergentes.

A conservation assessment of Rousettus madagascariensis (G. Grandidier, 1928, Pteropodidae) roosts in eastern Madagascar

We visited four cave roosts of the near threatened, and endemic, fruit bat Rousettus madagascariensis over a five year period and found major threats to the bats from hunting and deforestation. The conservation of this species is particularly challenging because it is legally hunted inside its cave roosts. Although provisional protected area status was obtained for two sites with community support, hunting continued. R. madagascariensis roosts were associated with humid forest and the loss of vegetation around caves rendered them unsuitable for the bats at two abandoned sites. A few individual hunters can have a rapid and destructive impact on R. madagascariensis roosts and future initiatives in this area should involve working with hunters to develop realistic solutions to reduce hunting. These efforts need to be supported by habitat protection measures.R&Eacute;SUM&Eacute;L&rsquo;esp&egrave;ce de chauve - souris frugivore Quasi Menac&eacute;e Rousettus madagascariensis est end&eacute;mique &agrave; Madagascar. Nous avons &eacute;tudi&eacute; quatre g&icirc;tes dans des grottes o&ugrave; cette esp&egrave;ce a &eacute;tabli des dortoirs diurnes en proc&eacute;dant &agrave; des visites multiples au cours d&rsquo;une p&eacute;riode de cinq ans et avons trouv&eacute; que la chasse et la d&eacute;forestation constituaient les principales menaces pesant sur R. madagascariensis. La conservation de cette esp&egrave;ce est particuli&egrave;rement difficile dans la mesure o&ugrave; la chasse dans ses dortoirs ou g&icirc;tes est permise. Bien que les deux sites abritant l&rsquo;esp&egrave;ce b&eacute;n&eacute;ficient du statut de Nouvelle Aire Prot&eacute;g&eacute;e avec le soutien de la communaut&eacute; locale, la chasse ne cesse de s&rsquo;intensifier. Les g&icirc;tes de R. madagascariensis sont associ&eacute;s &agrave; la for&ecirc;t humide, de sorte que la disparition de la v&eacute;g&eacute;tation arbor&eacute;e autour de deux de ces g&icirc;tes les a rendus impropres &agrave; h&eacute;berger R. madagascariensis qui a fini par les abandonner. La disparition de la v&eacute;g&eacute;tation arbor&eacute;e autour du g&icirc;te pourrait &ecirc;tre &agrave; l&rsquo;origine d&rsquo;un changement de microclimat &agrave; l&rsquo;int&eacute;rieur de la grotte qui constitue le g&icirc;te diurne. Les activit&eacute;s de certains chasseurs peuvent aussi avoir un impact destructif rapide sur les g&icirc;tes de R. madagascariensis et des initiatives &agrave; mener conjointement avec les chasseurs sont n&eacute;cessaires pour &eacute;laborer des mesures r&eacute;alistes afin de r&eacute;duire la chasse. De tels efforts doivent &ecirc;tre &eacute;tendus et appuy&eacute;s par des mesures de protection de l&rsquo;habitat car plusieurs autres g&icirc;tes pourraient exister dans les for&ecirc;ts du versant est de Madagascar et subir les m&ecirc;mes pressions anthropiques. Des recherches r&eacute;centes ont &eacute;galement montr&eacute; que l&rsquo;histoire naturelle de R. madagascariensis est &eacute;troitement li&eacute;e &agrave; la for&ecirc;t naturelle, de sorte que la perte de la biodiversit&eacute; de la for&ecirc;t naturelle malgache menace les plantes dont se nourrit cette esp&egrave;ce ainsi que l&rsquo;&eacute;quilibre de l&rsquo;ensemble de l&rsquo;&eacute;cosyst&egrave;me dont elle d&eacute;pend

Mindfulness based cognitive therapy for young people and their carers: A mixed-methods feasibility study

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record.We aimed to evaluate whether Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) was feasible and acceptable for young people, their parents and the clinicians working with them; whether a parallel course for parents was a useful addition; and whether attendance at MBCT was associated with improved outcomes. The design was a mixed methods service evaluation of an eight session MBCT programme for young people who were recovering from depression. The course was a manualised eight session group intervention. Both young people (n=18) and parents (n=21) completed validated measures before and after the course. Semi-structured interviews were completed with some group participants and clinical staff working in the service. Care records were searched for additional contact following the intervention. Qualitative data from young people, parents and clinicians suggested that MBCT was acceptable and feasible, and provided strategies to cope. The parent course was reported to provide personal support to parents and helped them cope with their child’s depression while also impacting the family, promoted shared understanding of depression and strategies to combat it, and addressed intergenerational aspects of depression. 84% of participants attended at least 6/8 sessions and 48% required no further intervention within the following year. Young people had statistically significant improvements across all outcome measures, while parents had statistically significant improvements in rumination, self-compassion and decentering.Daniel Racey completed this work whilst supported by an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellowship while Kelly Blockley and Vashti Berry are supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula

A conservation assessment of Rousettus madagascariensis (Grandidier, 1929, Pteropodidae) roosts in eastern Madagascar

We visited four cave roosts of the near threatened, and endemic, fruit bat Rousettus madagascariensis over a five year period and found major threats to the bats from hunting and deforestation. The conservation of this species is particularly challenging because it is legally hunted inside its cave roosts. Although provisional protected area status was obtained for two sites with community support, hunting continued. R. madagascariensis roosts were associated with humid forest and the loss of vegetation around caves rendered them unsuitable for the bats at two abandoned sites. A few individual hunters can have a rapid and destructive impact on R. madagascariensis roosts and future initiatives in this area should involve working with hunters to develop realistic solutions to reduce hunting. These efforts need to be supported by habitat protection measures.  RÉSUMÉ L’espèce de chauve-souris frugivore Quasi Menacée Rousettus madagascariensis est endémique à Madagascar. Nous avons étudié quatre gîtes dans des grottes où cette espèce a établi des dortoirs diurnes en procédant à des visites multiples au cours d’une période de cinq ans et avons trouvé que la chasse et la déforestation constituaient les principales menaces pesant sur R. madagascariensis. La conservation de cette espèce est particulièrement difficile dans la mesure où la chasse dans ses dortoirs ou gîtes est permise. Bien que les deux sites abritant l’espèce bénéficient du statut de Nouvelle Aire Protégée avec le soutien de la communauté locale, la chasse ne cesse de s’intensifier. Les gîtes de R. madagascariensis sont associés à la forêt humide, de sorte que la disparition de la végétation arborée autour de deux de ces gîtes les a rendus impropres à héberger R. madagascariensis qui a fini par les abandonner. La disparition de la végétation arborée autour du gîte pourrait être à l’origine d’un changement de microclimat à l’intérieur de la grotte qui constitue le gîte diurne. Les activités de certains chasseurs peuvent aussi avoir un impact destructif rapide sur les gîtes de R. madagascariensis et des initiatives à mener conjointement avec les chasseurs sont nécessaires pour élaborer des mesures réalistes afin de réduire la chasse. De tels efforts doivent être étendus et appuyés par des mesures de protection de l'habitat car plusieurs autres gîtes pourraient exister dans les forêts du versant est de Madagascar et subir les mêmes pressions anthropiques. Des recherches récentes ont également montré que l’histoire naturelle de R. madagascariensis est étroitement liée à la forêt naturelle, de sorte que la perte de la biodiversité de la forêt naturelle malgache menace les plantes dont se nourrit cette espèce ainsi que l’équilibre de l’ensemble de l’écosystème dont elle dépend.

Recent changes in summer distribution and numbers of migratory caribou on the southern Hudson Bay coast

The status of migratory woodland caribou inhabiting the coastal region in southern Hudson Bay is dynamic. The Pen Islands Herd within that region was defined in the 1990s, but opportunistic observations between 1999 and 2007 suggested that its status had significantly changed since the late 1980s and early 1990s. We undertook systematic surveys from the Hayes River, MB, to the Lakitusaki River, ON, in 2008 and 2009 to determine current distribution and minimum numbers of woodland caribou on the southern Hudson Bay coast from the Hayes River, Manitoba, to the Lakitusaki River, Ontario. We documented a significant change in summer distribution during the historical peak aggregation period (7-15 July) compared to the 1990s. In 2008 and 2009, respectively, we tallied 3529 and 3304 animals; however, fewer than 180 caribou were observed each year in the Pen Islands Herd&rsquo;s former summer range where over 10 798 caribou were observed during a systematic survey in 1994. Over 80% of caribou were in the Cape Henrietta Maria area of Ontario. Calf proportions in herds varied from 8% of animals in the west to 20% in the east. Our 2008 and 2009 systematic surveys were focused on the immediate coast, but one exploratory flight inland suggested that more caribou may be inland than had been observed in the 1980s-1990s. The causes of change in the numbers and distribution in the coastal Hudson Bay Lowlands and the association of current caribou with the formerly large Pen Islands Herd may be difficult to determine because of gaps in monitoring, but satellite telemetry, genetic sampling, remote sensing, habitat analysis, and aboriginal knowledge are all being used to pursue answers