Effects of Artificial Enrichment for Captive Western Lowland Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) Activity Budgets

The benefits of enrichment and proper husbandry protocols and their applicability in wildlife research have been important topics of zoological research. Examining activity budgets of various species throughout zoological facilities reap biological, educational and conservation benefits. We collected data on the behavioral responses of five western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) (1 adult male, 2 adult females, 2 infants/juveniles) to a novel climbing structure in the outdoor enclosure at the Philadelphia Zoo. Over a period of 53 nonconsecutive months, we conducted 30-minute focals with 2-minute scan samples on the gorillas (488 total observation hours). We recorded frequency of behaviors for each gorilla (e.g., playing, foraging, traveling, resting), variations of those behaviors between indoor and outdoor, and general outdoor use. Our results suggest that, on average, the troop increased general outdoor usage by 37%, indoor foraging by 11%, and outdoor regurgitation and reingestion by 19%. The troop also decreased outdoor foraging by 17% and sedentary behaviors by 12%. Zoological facilities invest in enrichment, with the hope of satisfying captive species’ biological needs. Our data suggest that the novel climbing structure at the Philadelphia Zoo provided an important enrichment opportunity for specific gorillas, while it may not have been particularly useful for other gorillas, suggesting there are individual differences. Additional comparisons at other zoos would expand this research and further offer critical insight into the enrichment needs of captive gorilla populations

Limitations in Predicting the Space Radiation Health Risk for Exploration Astronauts

Despite years of research, understanding of the space radiation environment and the risk it poses to long-duration astronauts remains limited. There is a disparity between research results and observed empirical effects seen in human astronaut crews, likely due to the numerous factors that limit terrestrial simulation of the complex space environment and extrapolation of human clinical consequences from varied animal models. Given the intended future of human spaceflight, with efforts now to rapidly expand capabilities for human missions to the moon and Mars, there is a pressing need to improve upon the understanding of the space radiation risk, predict likely clinical outcomes of interplanetary radiation exposure, and develop appropriate and effective mitigation strategies for future missions. To achieve this goal, the space radiation and aerospace community must recognize the historical limitations of radiation research and how such limitations could be addressed in future research endeavors. We have sought to highlight the numerous factors that limit understanding of the risk of space radiation for human crews and to identify ways in which these limitations could be addressed for improved understanding and appropriate risk posture regarding future human spaceflight.Comment: Accepted for publication by Nature Microgravity (2018

Limitations in Predicting Radiation-Induced Pharmaceutical Instability during Long-Duration Spaceflight

As human spaceflight seeks to expand beyond low-Earth orbit, NASA and its international partners face numerous challenges related to ensuring the safety of their astronauts, including the need to provide a safe and effective pharmacy for long-duration spaceflight. Historical missions have relied upon frequent resupply of onboard pharmaceuticals; as a result, there has been little study into the effects of long-term exposure of pharmaceuticals to the space environment. Of particular concern are the long-term effects of space radiation on drug stability, especially as missions venture away from the protective proximity of the Earth. Here we highlight the risk of space radiation to pharmaceuticals during exploration spaceflight, identifying the limitations of current understanding. We further seek to identify ways in which these limitations could be addressed through dedicated research efforts aimed towards the rapid development of an effective pharmacy for future spaceflight endeavors.Comment: in press, Nature Microgravit

A Method for Estimating the Current and Future Carbon Content of Standing Biomass Applied to Gishwati Forest Reserve, Rwanda

The carbon content of standing tree biomass was determined in the Gishwati Forest Reserve in north-western Rwanda and growth potential of the forest was estimated using a straightforward, generalisable model of natural forest regeneration. A survey was conducted on 2289 trees in plots throughout the reserve. Wood density data were obtained from literature and tree biomass was estimated using a recent pan-tropical allometric equation. A survey on United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects showed that current methods of growth rate projection for mixed, non-plantation forests might significantly overestimate the amount of carbon sequestered. The current study identified an alternative potential method for the estimation of sequestration rates that did not depend upon compiling single-species growth rates and reduced the risk that error would lead to significant over- or underestimation of total biomass sequestration potential. This method used remote-sensing data to estimate total biomass potential in a mature forest based upon local samples and assumes a standard growth trajectory based upon literature values. The benefits in terms of accuracy and ease of model construction are likely to be high. It was found that tree biomass in Gishwati forest contained 53.9 ± 10 CO2 equivalent(e) ha-1 and was expected to sequester an average of 1.01 (0.80–1.38) Mg CO2e ha-1 per annum over the next 30 years

Sharing Resources with Rwanda: Multidisciplinary Engagement with the Forest of Hope Association in Gishwati-Mukura National Park

Sharing Resources with Rwanda: Multidisciplinary Engagement with the Forest of Hope Association in Gishwati-Mukura National ParkThierry Amiable, Forest of Hope Association (Rwanda, Rutsiro District) Rebecca Chancellor, Associate Professor of Anthropology & Sociology and Psychology (WCU) Trachanda Garcia, Associate Director of Education Abroad Programs (WCU) Aaron Rundus, Professor of Psychology (WCU) Jordan Schugar, Professor of English (WCU

Challenges in Clinical Management of Radiation-Induced Illnesses in Exploration Spaceflight

Historical solar particle events (SPEs) provide context for some understanding of acute radiation exposure risk to astronauts traveling outside of low Earth orbit. Modeling of potential doses delivered to exploration crewmembers anticipates limited radiation-induced health impacts, including prodromal symptoms of nausea, emesis, and fatigue, but suggests that more severe clinical manifestations are unlikely. Recent large animal-model research in space-analogs closely mimicking SPEs has identified coagulopathic events independent of the hematopoietic sequelae of higher radiation doses, similar in manifestation to disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). We explored the challenges of clinical management of radiation-related clinical manifestations, using currently accepted modeling techniques and anticipated physiological sequelae, to identify medical capabilities needed to successfully manage SPE-induced radiation illnesses during exploration spaceflight

Funder-Initiated Communities of Practice as a Means for Sharing and Creating Knowledge in Order to Strengthen the Adaptive Capacity of Systems

Planned communities of practice can be an effective means to spread and create knowledge. This article explores the degree to which communities of practice can be initiated by funders, and presents the lessons learned and outcomes achieved from the long-term commitment to this concept by the McKnight Foundation\u27s Collaborative Crop Research Program. This article provides a novel contribution to the literature by showing that a funder can initiate, support, and participate in a community of practice comprised of its grantees, which can succeed in sharing and creating knowledge. Factors that organizations should consider when investigating this concept include long-term investment in convenings and facilitation, as well as relinquishing some control over outcomes. Research shows that the McKnight program\u27s communities of practice have provided a space for various actors in Africa and the Andes region to develop adaptive capacity related to food system research and action through social learning. As funders increasingly look outside of the traditional logic of projects to explore how they can contribute to enabling long-term conditions and capacity for change and adaptation, well-supported and facilitated communities of practice offer a promising approach

Protected Areas in Tropical Africa: Assessing Threats and Conservation Activities

Numerous protected areas (PAs) have been created in Africa to safeguard wildlife and other natural resources. However, significant threats from anthropogenic activities and decline of wildlife populations persist, while conservation efforts in most PAs are still minimal. We assessed the impact level of the most common threats to wildlife within PAs in tropical Africa and the relationship of conservation activities with threat impact level. We collated data on 98 PAs with tropical forest cover from 15 countries across West, Central and East Africa. For this, we assembled information about local threats as well as conservation activities from published and unpublished literature, and questionnaires sent to long-term field workers. We constructed general linear models to test the significance of specific conservation activities in relation to the threat impact level. Subsistence and commercial hunting were identified as the most common direct threats to wildlife and found to be most prevalent in West and Central Africa. Agriculture and logging represented the most common indirect threats, and were most prevalent in West Africa. We found that the long-term presence of conservation activities (such as law enforcement, research and tourism) was associated with lower threat impact levels. Our results highlight deficiencies in the management effectiveness of several PAs across tropical Africa, and conclude that PA management should invest more into conservation activities with long-term duration.Additional co-authors: Jef Dupain, Atanga Ekobo, Manasseh Eno-Nku, Gilles Etoga, Takeshi Furuichi, Sylvain Gatti, Andrea Ghiurghi, Chie Hashimoto, John A. Hart, Josephine Head, Martin Hega, Ilka Herbinger, Thurston C. Hicks, Lars H. Holbech, Bas Huijbregts, Hjalmar S. Kühl, Inaoyom Imong, Stephane Le-Duc Yeno, Joshua Linder, Phil Marshall, Peter Minasoma Lero, David Morgan, Leonard Mubalama, Paul K. N'Goran, Aaron Nicholas, Stuart Nixon, Emmanuelle Normand, Leonidas Nziguyimpa, Zacharie Nzooh-Dongmo, Richard Ofori-Amanfo, Babafemi G. Ogunjemite, Charles-Albert Petre, Hugo J. Rainey, Sebastien Regnaut, Orume Robinson, Aaron Rundus, Crickette M. Sanz, David Tiku Okon, Angelique Todd, Ymke Warren, Volker Somme

The ecology and epidemiology of malaria parasitism in wild chimpanzee reservoirs

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health R01AI091595, R01AI120810, R01AI050529, and P30AI045008 (B.H.H.); R01HL139337 (M.T.D.), the National Geographic Society (E.J.S.), the International Primatological Society (E.J.S.), and the American Society of Primatologists (E.J.S.), as well as fellowships from Harvard University (E.J.S.) and the National Science Foundation (E.J.S.).Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) harbor rich assemblages of malaria parasites, including three species closely related to P. falciparum (sub-genus Laverania), the most malignant human malaria parasite. Here, we characterize the ecology and epidemiology of malaria infection in wild chimpanzee reservoirs. We used molecular assays to screen chimpanzee fecal samples, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally from wild populations, for malaria parasite mitochondrial DNA. We found that chimpanzee malaria parasitism has an early age of onset and varies seasonally in prevalence. A subset of samples revealed Hepatocystis mitochondrial DNA, with phylogenetic analyses suggesting that Hepatocystis appears to cross species barriers more easily than Laverania. Longitudinal and cross-sectional sampling independently support the hypothesis that mean ambient temperature drives spatiotemporal variation in chimpanzee Laverania infection. Infection probability peaked at ~24.5 °C, consistent with the empirical transmission optimum of P. falciparum in humans. Forest cover was also positively correlated with spatial variation in Laverania prevalence, consistent with the observation that forest-dwelling Anophelines are the primary vectors. Extrapolating these relationships across equatorial Africa, we map spatiotemporal variation in the suitability of chimpanzee habitat for Laverania transmission, offering a hypothetical baseline indicator of human exposure risk.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

The ecology and epidemiology of malaria parasitism in wild chimpanzee reservoirs

Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) harbor rich assemblages of malaria parasites, including three species closely related to P. falciparum (sub-genus Laverania), the most malignant human malaria parasite. Here, we characterize the ecology and epidemiology of malaria infection in wild chimpanzee reservoirs. We used molecular assays to screen chimpanzee fecal samples, collected longitudinally and cross-sectionally from wild populations, for malaria parasite mitochondrial DNA. We found that chimpanzee malaria parasitism has an early age of onset and varies seasonally in prevalence. A subset of samples revealed Hepatocystis mitochondrial DNA, with phylogenetic analyses suggesting that Hepatocystis appears to cross species barriers more easily than Laverania. Longitudinal and cross-sectional sampling independently support the hypothesis that mean ambient temperature drives spatiotemporal variation in chimpanzee Laverania infection. Infection probability peaked at similar to 24.5 degrees C, consistent with the empirical transmission optimum of P. falciparum in humans. Forest cover was also positively correlated with spatial variation in Laverania prevalence, consistent with the observation that forest-dwelling Anophelines are the primary vectors. Extrapolating these relationships across equatorial Africa, we map spatiotemporal variation in the suitability of chimpanzee habitat for Laverania transmission, offering a hypothetical baseline indicator of human exposure risk