Assessing the umbrella value of a range-wide conservation network for Jaguars (Panthera onca)

Umbrella species are employed as conservation short-cuts for the design of reserves or reserve networks. However, empirical data on the effectiveness of umbrellas is equivocal, which has prevented more widespread application of this conservation strategy. We perform a novel, large-scale evaluation of umbrella species by assessing the potential umbrella value of a jaguar (Panthera onca) conservation network (consisting of viable populations and corridors) that extends from Mexico to Argentina. Using species richness, habitat quality, and fragmentation indices of similar to 1500 co-occurring mammal species, we show that jaguar populations and corridors overlap a substantial amount and percentage of high-quality habitat for co-occurring mammals and that the jaguar network performs better than random networks in protecting high-quality, interior habitat. Significantly, the effectiveness of the jaguar network as an umbrella would not have been noticeable had we focused on species richness as our sole metric of umbrella utility. Substantial inter-order variability existed, indicating the need for complementary conservation strategies for certain groups of mammals. We offer several reasons for the positive result we document, including the large spatial scale of our analysis and our focus on multiple metrics of umbrella effectiveness. Taken together, our results demonstrate that a regional, single-species conservation strategy can serve as an effective umbrella for the larger community and should help conserve viable populations and connectivity for a suite of co-occurring mammals. Current and future range-wide planning exercises for other large predators may therefore have important umbrella benefits

eGLU-Box Mobile:A Smartphone App for Usability Testing by Italian Public Administration Webmasters

Smartphones and tablets now offer consumers unique advantages such as portability and accessibility. Developers are also working with a mobile-first approach, and are prioritizing mobile applications over desktop versions. This study introduces eGLU-box Mobile, an application for performing a drive usability test directly from a smartphone. An experimental study was conducted in which the participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group, which used the new mobile application from a smartphone, and a control group, which used the desktop application from a computer. The participants’ behavior was assessed using explicit (self-report questionnaires) and implicit measures (eye movement data). The results were encouraging, and showed that both the mobile and desktop versions of eGLU-box enabled participants to test the usability with a similar level of UX, despite some minimal (although significant) differences in terms of satisfaction of use

Biologie et génétique des populations d'une espèce invasive: le cas du vison d'amérique (Mustela vison Schreber, 1777) en bretagne

Invasive species represent a major threat to biodiversity and are significant component of human-caused global environmental change. The rate of introduction of exotic species dramatically increases during the last decades. The American mink (Mustela vison) was introduced in Europe in the 1920s for the purpose of fur farming. Escapes from farms, or deliberately released animals, have lead to the establishment of feral populations in many areas, and represent a major threat to native fauna. The aim of this thesis was to understand the population dynamics of feral mink populations in Brittany, Western France, in order to draw better control strategies. Firstly, we investigated the population distribution and density, and demographic data to improve our understanding of the population functionment. We concluded than the mink population of Brittany was an invasive population. Then, we implement an experimental design to assess the impact of feral mink on native fauna. This study highlighted that the effects of alien predators could be difficult to measure in the short term. Finally, we investigated the genetic variability and population structure of feral and farmed mink from Brittany as well as mink from other European countries and from North America. A strong genetic structure and the presence of admixture areas were detected in Brittany. The insights of those results for the understanding of the population dynamics of feral American mink are discussed, as well as their consequences for control strategiesLes invasions biologiques représentent la deuxième cause de perte de la biodiversité et participent aux changements environnementaux globaux. Parmi les espèces exotiques présentes sur le continent européen, le Vison d'Amérique (Mustela vison) a été introduit dans les années 1920 pour l'élevage pelletier. Des individus échappés d'élevage ou délibérément relâchés ont fondé des populations férales dans divers pays européens, représentant une sérieuse menace pour la faune autochtone. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'appréhender le fonctionnement de la population férale de Vison d'Amérique installée en Bretagne. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à la répartition, aux densités de population ainsi qu'aux paramètres démographiques de la population. Nous avons déterminé que la population férale de Vison d'Amérique en Bretagne manifeste toutes les caractéristiques d'une espèce invasive. Une étude expérimentale a ensuite été menée pour tenter de quantifier l'impact de la présence de M. vison sur la faune autochtone. Cette étude a permis de souligner que les effets d'un prédateur introduit à court terme peuvent être moins évidents que présupposés. Enfin, nous nous sommes intéressés à la structuration génétique de la population et avons comparé la variabilité présente en Bretagne à celle d'autres populations férales européennes et des populations d'origine en Amérique du Nord. Une forte structuration génétique a été observée en Bretagne, et la présence de zones de contact et de mélange entre pools génétiques différenciés a été détectée. Ces résultats sont discutés dans une perspective de gestion à long terme des populations invasives de Vison d'Amériqu

Assessment of the Russian strategy to contrast terrorism and jihadist propaganda in the North Caucasus

Terrorism, violent attacks and political Islam have affected the North Caucasus since the disintegration of the Soviet Union. If in the past the Caucasus Emirate was the leading terrorist organisation in the region since 2014 the Islamic State gained popularity and established the Vilayat Kavkaz (Caucasus Province) as part of the Caliphate exploiting the local critical socioeconomic condition and promoting the jihadist propaganda in the Russian language (i.e. the magazine ‘Istok’) also thanks to the considerable presence of North Caucasian foreign fighters among the ranks of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Although currently the international coalition forces mainly defeated the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq, this organisation still jeopardises the North Caucasus often identified as the most volatile and impoverished area of the Russian Federation characterised by ethnic conflicts, the rise of Salafism, stagnation, and corruption. This study aims at stressing that the Russian government has elaborated a strategy mostly based on special military operations and massive investments in tourism and logistics which can exacerbate more the precarious status quo of the region favouring the dissemination of jihadist propaganda because it does not consider the historical, sociocultural, ethnic, and religious background. The region is not exempt to jihadist propaganda and terrorism and, if the Russian government cannot financially and economically support the regional leaders or will not change its approach, terrorism and political Islam could critically influence the North Caucasus posing a dangerous menace to the stability and security of the Russian Federation and entire Eurasia

Biologie et génétique des populations d'une espèce invasive (le cas du vison d'Amérique (mustela vison Schreber, 1777) en Bretagne)

Les invasions biologiques représentent la deuxième cause de perte de la biodiversité et participent aux changements environnementaux globaux. Parmi les espèces exotiques présentes sur le continent européen, le Vison d'Amérique (Mustela vison) a été introduit dans les années 1920 pour l'élevage pelletier. Des individus échappés d'élevage ou délibérément relâchés ont fondé des populations férales dans divers pays européens, représentant une sérieuse menace pour la faune autochtone. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'appréhender le fonctionnement de la population férale de Vison d'Amérique installée en Bretagne. Dans un premier temps, nous nous sommes intéressés à la répartition, aux densités de population ainsi qu'aux paramètres démographiques de la population. Nous avons déterminé que la population férale de Vison d'Amérique en Bretagne manifeste toutes les caractéristiques d'une espèce invasive. Une étude expérimentale a ensuite été menée pour tenter de quantifier l'impact de la présence de M. vison sur la faune autochtone. Cette étude a permis de souligner que les effets d'un prédateur introduit à court terme peuvent être moins évidents que présupposés. Enfin, nous nous sommes intéressés à la structuration génétique de la population et avons comparé la variabilité présente en Bretagne à celle d'autres populations férales européennes et des populations d'origine en Amérique du Nord. Une forte structuration génétique a été observée en Bretagne, et la présence de zones de contact et de mélange entre pools génétiques différenciés a été détectée. Ces résultats sont discutés dans une perspective de gestion à long terme des populations invasives de Vison d'AmériqueInvasive species represent a major threat to biodiversity and are significant component of human-caused global environmental change. The rate of introduction of exotic species dramatically increases during the last decades. The American mink (Mustela vison) was introduced in Europe in the 1920s for the purpose of fur farming. Escapes from farms, or deliberately released animals, have lead to the establishment of feral populations in many areas, and represent a major threat to native fauna. The aim of this thesis was to understand the population dynamics of feral mink populations in Brittany, Western France, in order to draw better control strategies. Firstly, we investigated the population distribution and density, and demographic data to improve our understanding of the population functionment. We concluded than the mink population of Brittany was an invasive population. Then, we implement an experimental design to assess the impact of feral mink on native fauna. This study highlighted that the effects of alien predators could be difficult to measure in the short term. Finally, we investigated the genetic variability and population structure of feral and farmed mink from Brittany as well as mink from other European countries and from North America. A strong genetic structure and the presence of admixture areas were detected in Brittany. The insights of those results for the understanding of the population dynamics of feral American mink are discussed, as well as their consequences for control strategiesANGERS-BU Lettres et Sciences (490072106) / SudocSudocFranceF