Fear of the human ‘super predator’ reduces feeding time in large carnivores

Large carnivores’ fear of the human ‘super predator’ has the potential to alter their feeding behaviour and result in human-induced trophic cascades. However, it has yet to be experimentally tested if large carnivores perceive humans as predators and react strongly enough to have cascading effects on their prey. We conducted a predator playback experiment exposing pumas to predator (human) and non-predator control (frog) sounds at puma feeding sites to measure immediate fear responses to humans and the subsequent impacts on feeding. We found that pumas fled more frequently, took longer to return, and reduced their overall feeding time by more than half in response to hearing the human ‘super predator’. Combined with our previous work showing higher kill rates of deer in more urbanized landscapes, this study reveals that fear is the mechanism driving an ecological cascade from humans to increased puma predation on deer. By demonstrating that the fear of humans can cause a strong reduction in feeding by pumas, our results support that non-consumptive forms of human disturbance may alter the ecological role of large carnivores

Empowering for the Future: Using Blogging as an Agency to bring Awareness

Typically when you are passionate about social, civil, or political issues in our country, you want to promote change and encourage others to be agents of change/advocates as well! Many use social media as an outlet to state their opinions, share stories, and examine research on the issues they are passionate about. Blogging, vlogging, and using other social media networking sites are recent popular ways of sharing and discussing these issues. My blog, Empowering for the Future, not only addresses the issues of race and women in which I\u27m passionate, but also critics and analyzes current media stories that may covertly discriminate or degrade persons in our society. Using social media as an outlet to discuss these serious topics open the door for continuous discussions that will educate others about the social problems they may not notice is directly affecting them or conflicting with their values

Can Social Media Deliver An Intersectional Message?

Please click the links below to view more information about each presentation. “#AllLivesMatter, #NotAllMen: Backlash against Social Justice Movement” Melissa Peters, North Carolina State University at Raleigh “An Ode to Mya Hall: TRANSpassing the Boundaries of Social Media” Aji Bakare, Towson UniversityGraziele Ribeiro Grilo, Towson University “Empowering for the Future: Using Blogging as an Agency to bring Awareness” Ayana Crawford, Winthrop Universit

Puma responses to playback experiment: sounds of humans and frogs

We report puma behavioral responses to a playback experiment that exposed pumas to a control sound (frogs) and a treatment sound (conversational human speech) at puma kill sites. Behavioral responses reported include fleeing, abandonment, latency to return, and feeding over a 24-hour period. Other information provided includes puma ID, playback trial ID, and experimental treatment

International Consensus on Global Surgery Learning Objectives and Competencies

Objective: This project aimed to achieve international consensus on core learning objectives for global surgery education. Background: As global surgery emerges as an academic field, there is a growing need for consensus-driven learning objectives to guide education and training. Existing curricula vary widely and lack multidisciplinary input. Methods: A modified Delphi consensus was conducted with an international panel of global surgery experts. A scoping review informed an initial list of learning objectives, categorized into 14 domains based on the Consortium of Universities for Global Health framework. Panelists rated objectives over three iterative survey rounds, with consensus defined as ≥80% agreement within ±1 Likert point of the median. Results: Sixty-one experts from 26 countries across all World Health Organization (WHO) regions participated, representing surgery (40.1%), anesthesia (14.8%), obstetrics and gynecology (14.8%), general practitioners with and without enhanced surgical skills (16.4%), and allied health fields (6.6%). The majority (57.4%) had over 10 years of experience in global surgery. Across three Delphi rounds, 120 learning objectives reached consensus, covering key domains such as the global burden of surgical disease, surgical system strengthening, ethics and equity, health policy, and sustainable development. A total of 25 (20.8%) objectives were designated for introductory learners, 55 (45.8%) for advanced learners, and 40 (33.3%) for both levels. Conclusion: This Delphi consensus provides a structured, globally relevant framework for global surgery education, supporting curriculum development and competency-based training. These findings underscore the importance of aligning global surgery education with evolving healthcare priorities while ensuring adaptability across diverse surgical contexts