Data from: Climate change and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) population in Baja California, Mexico

The Earth′s climate is warming, especially in the mid- and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) breeds and haul-outs on islands and the mainland of Baja California, Mexico, and California, U.S.A. At the beginning of the 21st century, numbers of elephant seals in California are increasing, but the status of Baja California populations is unknown, and some data suggest they may be decreasing. We hypothesize that the elephant seal population of Baja California is experiencing a decline because the animals are not migrating as far south due to warming sea and air temperatures. Here we assessed population trends of the Baja California population, and climate change in the region. The numbers of northern elephant seals in Baja California colonies have been decreasing since the 1990s, and both the surface waters off Baja California and the local air temperatures have warmed during the last three decades. We propose that declining population sizes may be attributable to decreased migration towards the southern portions of the range in response to the observed temperature increases. Further research is needed to confirm our hypothesis; however, if true, it would imply that elephant seal colonies of Baja California and California are not demographically isolated which would pose challenges to environmental and management policies between Mexico and the United States

Data from: Climate change and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) population in Baja California, Mexico

The Earth′s climate is warming, especially in the mid- and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) breeds and haul-outs on islands and the mainland of Baja California, Mexico, and California, U.S.A. At the beginning of the 21st century, numbers of elephant seals in California are increasing, but the status of Baja California populations is unknown, and some data suggest they may be decreasing. We hypothesize that the elephant seal population of Baja California is experiencing a decline because the animals are not migrating as far south due to warming sea and air temperatures. Here we assessed population trends of the Baja California population, and climate change in the region. The numbers of northern elephant seals in Baja California colonies have been decreasing since the 1990s, and both the surface waters off Baja California and the local air temperatures have warmed during the last three decades. We propose that declining population sizes may be attributable to decreased migration towards the southern portions of the range in response to the observed temperature increases. Further research is needed to confirm our hypothesis; however, if true, it would imply that elephant seal colonies of Baja California and California are not demographically isolated which would pose challenges to environmental and management policies between Mexico and the United States

females estimate

estimation of the total number of females from a single count using the expected proportion of females on land obtained with the RMM mode

Heat waves IC

heat waves on Cedros Island, 1957-199

Climate change and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) population in Baja California, Mexico.

The Earth's climate is warming, especially in the mid- and high latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) breeds and haul-outs on islands and the mainland of Baja California, Mexico, and California, U.S.A. At the beginning of the 21st century, numbers of elephant seals in California are increasing, but the status of Baja California populations is unknown, and some data suggest they may be decreasing. We hypothesize that the elephant seal population of Baja California is experiencing a decline because the animals are not migrating as far south due to warming sea and air temperatures. Here we assessed population trends of the Baja California population, and climate change in the region. The numbers of northern elephant seals in Baja California colonies have been decreasing since the 1990s, and both the surface waters off Baja California and the local air temperatures have warmed during the last three decades. We propose that declining population sizes may be attributable to decreased migration towards the southern portions of the range in response to the observed temperature increases. Further research is needed to confirm our hypothesis; however, if true, it would imply that elephant seal colonies of Baja California and California are not demographically isolated which would pose challenges to environmental and management policies between Mexico and the United States

mean air temperature (month)

monthly average mean air temperature on Cedros Island, 1957-199

Comparative analysis of the in vitro M fermentation of wasted cladodes (Opuntia spp.), lucerne and oat hays

Wasted cladodes from the cactus pear (Opuntia ficus spp.) are an environmental nuisance, and alternative measures are required to utilize this product, such as utilizing it as a ruminant feedstuff. By simulating ruminal fermentation through in vitro gas production, the fermentation characteristics of dried cladodes were compared with that of lucerne hay and oat hay. A completely randomized design with six replications was used to assess the kinetic parameters of gas production (lag time, rate of gas production and maximum volume of gas (V-max)), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) production during an incubation period of 96 h. Cladodes were collected from containers for organic wastes at large food stores in Mexico. The Vmax was similar between the substrates but the rate of gas production and IVDMD was higher for dried cladodes than for lucerne and oat hays, though the lag time of the cladodes was longer (9.5 vs. 6.5 and 6.7 h, respectively). Acetic and total VFA concentrations were similar during fermentation of dried cladodes and lucerne hay. These results suggested that ruminal microorganism fermented dried cladodes as well as when lucerne hay or oat hay were used as substrates in an in vitro fermentation system.Keywords: Feedstuffs, gas production, prickly pear, ruminants, spineless cactu

Social touch during development: Long-term effects on brain and behavior.

In this paper, our goal is to explore what is known about the role of social touch during development. We first address the neural substrates of social touch and the role of tactile experience in neural development. We discuss natural variation in early exposure to social touch, followed by a discussion on experimental manipulations of social touch during development and "natural experiments", such as early institutionalization. We then consider the role of other developmental and experiential variables that predict social touch in adults. Throughout, we propose and consider new theoretical models of the role of social touch during development on later behavior and neurobiology

Comparative analysis of the in vitro fermentation of wasted cladodes (Opuntia spp.), lucerne and oat hays

Abstract Wasted cladodes from the cactus pear (Opuntia ficus spp.) are an environmental nuisance, and alternative measures are required to utilize this product, such as utilizing it as a ruminant feedstuff. By simulating ruminal fermentation through in vitro gas production, the fermentation characteristics of dried cladodes were compared with that of lucerne hay and oat hay. A completely randomized design with six replications was used to assess the kinetic parameters of gas production (lag time, rate of gas production and maximum volume of gas (V-max)), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH 3 ) production during an incubation period of 96 h. Cladodes were collected from containers for organic wastes at large food stores in Mexico. The Vmax was similar between the substrates but the rate of gas production and IVDMD was higher for dried cladodes than for lucerne and oat hays, though the lag time of the cladodes was longer (9.5 vs. 6.5 and 6.7 h, respectively). Acetic and total VFA concentrations were similar during fermentation of dried cladodes and lucerne hay. These results suggested that ruminal microorganism fermented dried cladodes as well as when lucerne hay or oat hay were used as substrates in an in vitro fermentation system