MORPHOMETRY OF MOOSE ANTLERS IN CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA

We analyzed the morphometry of 1,965 sets of antlers from hunter-harvested moose (Alces alces andersoni) taken in the central interior of British Columbia. We describe the variation and age-related changes in antler and brow palm form, number of points on both main and brow palms, maximum spread, height and width of palmations, distance between innermost points on the brow palms, and shaft circumference. Architecturally 25% were cervicorn pole type (PT); 75% were palmicorn with 67% split palm (SP) and 8% full palm (FP). Palmicorn antlers were most common in all age classes. Cervicorn antlers were most common in younger moose (1.5-3.5 years), and rare in moose >4.5 years. Of all antlers collected, 30% had forked brows and 12% had palmated brows. Forked brow palms increased with age; they occurred in 10% of moose 1.5 years old and 40-50% of moose >4.5 years old. The frequency of palmated brow palms increased quickly from 1.5 (2.5%) to 5.5 years (25%), peaked at 13.5 years (40%), before declining in later years. The number of points generally increased from 1.5-7.5 years, and remained stable thereafter. Maximum spread and shaft circumference generally increased from 1.5-13.5 years and decreased thereafter. Maximum antler height and width of main palms increased from 1.5-9.5 years; the first remained stable and the latter declined thereafter. Distance between the inner most points on the brow palms narrowed from 1.5-4.5 years, remained constant to 11.5 years, and then widened thereafter. Antler point counts were the most variable, whereas shaft circumference was the least variable form

YOUTUBE (TM) INSIGHTS INTO MOOSE-TRAIN INTERACTIONS

To gain a better understanding of the behavioral aspects of moose-train encounters, we reviewed videos of ungulate-train interactions available on YouTubetmand from train operators. Video footage consisted of 21 animal-train encounters including moose (Alces alces; 47.4%), cattle (Bos taurus; 15.8%), deer (Odocoileus spp.; 10.5%), elk (Cervus elaphus; 10.5%), camels (Camelus dromedarius; 10.5%), and sheep (Ovis aries; 5.3%). Footage was recorded predominantly in snow-free conditions, but most moose-train interactions were in winter when moose appeared to be trapped by deep snow banks along rail beds. Moose, elk, and deer all ran along the rail bed primarily inside of the tracks and nearer the rails than track center. Collision mortality generally occurred on straight stretches of track. Escapes occurred where a discontinuity in the habitat/setting occurred and/or when train speed was reduced. We suggest that videos can provide a valuable resource for interpreting ungulate reactions to trains and that videos gathered purposefully on railways and posted on open source databases will be useful for studying the dynamics of moose-train collisions for mitigation planning

POTENTIAL VULNERABILITY OF BULL MOOSE IN CENTRAL BRITISH COLUMBIA TO THREE ANTLER-BASED HUNTING REGULATIONS

Antlers from bull moose (Alces alces andersoni) harvested in the Omineca sub-region of central British Columbia were submitted by hunters for inspection, measurement, and comparison by age in 1982-1989. After correcting for non-reporting bias, we examined the potential vulnerability of these moose (n = 1,886) to 3 antler-based hunting regulations currently advertised in British Columbia: spike/fork (S/F), tripalm (TP), and 10 point (10PT). The S/F regulation put 15.9% of bulls at risk, and the TP and 10PT regulations put 11.1% and 12.0% at risk, respectively. Bulls with cervicorn antlers were at higher risk (41.3%) to the S/F regulation than the TP (1.4%) or 10PT (<1%) regulations. By contrast, bulls with palmicorn antlers were at low risk (5.4%) to the S/F regulation, but were at high risk to the TP (19.0%) and 10PT (17.1%) regulations. The S/F regulation focused harvest on yearlings, potentially exposing 46% of yearlings to harvest. The TP and 10PT regulations targeted prime and senior bulls, potentially exposing 40-60% of those >4.5 years old to harvest. Maximum spread and shaft circumferences of antlers were significantly smaller for yearlings at risk to the S/F regula­tion than for their same aged counterparts not at risk. Distance between the innermost points on the brow palm was significantly larger for yearlings at risk to the S/F regulation than for yearlings not at risk. Maximum spread, shaft circumference, palm height, and width were all significantly greater for bulls at risk to the TP and 10PT regulations than for those not at risk. Distance between the innermost points on the brow palms was significantly smaller for bulls at risk to TP and 10PT regulations than for those not at risk. These findings suggest that yearling bulls with smallest antlers are most at risk to harvest by the S/F regulation, whereas largest antlered bulls are most at risk to harvest by the TP and 10 PT regulations. The consequences of this directed selection of bull moose by antler-based hunting regulations on the breeding biology, population genetics, and fitness of moose requires further study

Electrification of granular systems of identical insulators

Insulating particles can become highly electrified during powder handling, volcanic eruptions, and the wind-blown transport of dust, sand, and snow. Measurements in these granular systems have found that smaller particles generally charge negatively, while larger particles charge positively. These observations are puzzling, since particles in these systems are generally chemically identical, and thus have no contact potential difference. We show here that simple geometry leads to a net transfer of electrons from larger to smaller particles, in agreement with these observations. We integrate this charging mechanism into the first quantitative charging scheme for a granular system of identical insulators, and show that its predictions are in agreement with measurements. Our theory thus seems to provide an explanation for the hitherto puzzling phenomenon of the size-dependent charging of granular systems of identical insulators.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, published in Physical Review

'The terrible twos': Gaining control in the nursery?

'The terrible twos' are often described as a time of 'gaining control', usually thought of as adults asserting control over children, who learn to control themselves. However, toddlerhood is as much about children learning to take control for themselves. This paper is an attempt to detail something of the social geography in the toddler room of a Scottish nursery, considering both styles of adult control and the ways in which toddlers attempt to appropriate and reconfigure space and time for themselves. That is, the ways in which space and time are negotiated in the course of day-to-day nursery life

Investigation of Chlamydophila spp. in dairy cows with reproductive disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reports worldwide indicate high prevalence of <it>Chlamydophila </it>spp. infection in cattle. To assess the prevalence in Sweden, 525 cows in 70 dairy herds with reproductive disorders was investigated.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To detect antibodies two commercially available kits were used. Moreover, 107 specimens, including vaginal swabs, organ tissues and milk were analysed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two (0.4%) cows were seropositive in the Pourquier <it>Cp. abortus </it>ELISA. The seroprevalence with the Chekit ELISA was 28% with no difference between cases and controls. Five specimens were positive in real-time PCR and further analysed by nested PCR. <it>Cp. pecorum </it>was confirmed by partial <it>omp1 </it>DNA sequencing of the nested PCR product of vaginal swabs from control cows.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results suggest that <it>Cp. abortus </it>infection is absent or rare in Swedish cows whereas <it>Cp. pecorum </it>is probably more spread. They also suggest that <it>Chlamydophila </it>spp. are not related to reproduction disorders in Swedish cattle.</p

Reply to Comment on "The UK consensus position on the treatment of pancreatic cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic".

Funder: DH | National Institute for Health Research (NIHR); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000272Funder: Cancer Research UK (CRUK); doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/50110000028