Social Services Will Not Touch us with a Barge Pole’: Social Care Provision for Older Prisoners

Older prisoners are the fastest growing subgroup in the English and Welsh prison estate. Older prisoners have high levels of health and social care needs. This mixed method study involved the distribution of a questionnaire examining the availability of health and social care services for older prisoners to all prisons housing adult males in England and Wales, followed by qualitative telephone interviews with representatives from eight prisons. Over half of establishments had some contact with external social care services but reported significant difficulties in arranging care for individuals. A professional lead for older prisoners had been identified in 81% of establishments; however the value of this role to positively affect practice appeared questionable. Statutory social care was often non-existent in prison due to the lack of understanding of what it constituted and who was responsible for its provision

Secondary forest is utilized by Great Curassows (Crax rubra) and Great Tinamous (Tinamus major) in the absence of hunting

Deforestation and hunting are the leading human-driven disturbances causing population declines of the vulnerable Great Curassow (Crax rubra) and the near threatened Great Tinamou (Tinamus major). These threats typically co-occur, with synergistic effects. We investigated habitat use of Great Curassows and Great Tinamous in the Matapalo corridor of the Osa Peninsula, southwest Costa Rica, where they are not hunted, to understand whether disturbed habitats can be suitable for these species. We analyzed camera trap data from 56 locations and 5579 trapping days using occupancy modeling. We obtained 195 independent captures of Great Curassows at 33 of 56 locations (59%) and 429 independent captures of Great Tinamous at 37 of 56 locations (66%). Great Curassow occupancy did not vary with habitat type but was negatively influenced by distance from roads and by elevation; detection probability varied with habitat type. Great Tinamou occupancy probability was principally related to habitat type; primary, secondary and plantation forest areas all displayed high occupancy probabilities, but occupancy of agricultural land was low. Our work suggests that secondary-growth forests can offer valuable complementary habitat to assist in the recovery of these declining species, at least when hunting is controlled and intact forests are nearby

COMPARACION DE LA COMPOSICION Y RIQUEZA DE ESPECIES DE ESCARABAJOS COPROFAGOS (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE) EN REMANENTES DE BOSQUE DE LA ORINOQUIA COLOMBIANA

A study in the Colombian Orinoquia comparing the composition and species richness of dung beetles in two types of forest remnants (a forest corridor vs three isolated patches, different in shape but similar in size), was accomplished. In total 32 species and 14 genera were captured, 30 of them were collected in the forest corridor and 29 in the patches. There was no significative difference for richness and diversity values between the two types of remnants (H'corredor=2.302, H'parches=2.531), although these values are low for the Orinoquia region. The equitability values are high for both remnants, showing a homogeneous distribution of the abundance that adjust to a lognormal curve for this dung beetle community. The similarity values are also high (Morisita-Horn = 0.877) with a 87.5% of the species shared between the two types of remnants. For this region it is possible that is more important the size than the shape of the remnant, and that the species composition of these remnants is highly similar for both of the compared areas, because these are species with wide physiological ranges tolerant to the fragmentation effects.En este estudio se presentan los resultados de la comparación de la composición y riqueza de especies de escarabajos coprófagos en dos tipos de remanentes con formas diferentes pero igual tamaño, un corredor de bosque vs. tres parches aislados en una zona de la Orinoquia Colombiana. En total se capturaron 32 especies y 14 géneros, de las cuales 30 se capturaron en corredor y 29 en parches. No se observó diferencia significativa en los valores de riqueza o de diversidad para los dos tipos de remanentes (H'corredor=2.302, H'parches=2.531) aunque los valores encontrados son bajos para la región de la Orinoquia. Los valores de equitabilidad son altos para los dos remanentes lo que indica una distribución relativamente homogénea de la abundancia, que se ajusta a la curva lognormal para esta comunidad de escarabajos. Así mismo los valores de similitud son altos (Morisita-Horn = 0.877) con un 87.5% de las especies compartidas entre los dos tipos de remanentes. Es posible que para esta región sea más importante el tamaño que la forma del remanente, y que la composición de especies que aún se encuentra en estas manchas de bosque sea igual para las dos áreas comparadas al ser especies con amplios rangos fisiológicos de tolerancia frente a los efectos de la fragmentación

Recovery of dung beetle biodiversity and traits in a regenerating rainforest; a case study from Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula

Dung beetles are frequently used to assess tropical biodiversity patterns and recovery in human‐modified forests. We conducted a comprehensive dung beetle survey (coprophagous and necrophagous communities) within five habitat types, across a land‐use gradient, in the ecologically biodiverse Osa Peninsula, located in Costa Rica's south Pacific. In addition to assessing species richness, abundance, and biomass, we also assessed community level traits and species‐specific responses using a generalised joint attribute modelling approach. We found that under favourable conditions (40–50 years of regeneration, close proximity to contiguous old‐growth forest and control of poaching), secondary rainforest recovered similar levels of species richness, and key traits of old‐growth forest dung beetle communities. However, at the community‐level, dung beetle abundance, richness, biomass, and diversity varied between habitat types of different anthropogenic disturbance and land‐use. Generally, the carrion beetle community did not recover as well as the dung beetle community and the abundance of dung beetles was a third lower in naturally regenerating secondary forest compared with old growth. Regenerating secondary growth and plantation forests showed community compositions similar to old growth forests, while open and fragmented habitats had degraded and impoverished levels of dung beetle biodiversity. Overall, the levels of dung‐beetle biodiversity detected are encouraging for naturally regenerating secondary forest, suggesting a high potential value of these areas to buffer the pressure of deforestation and habitat alteration on remaining old‐growth tropical forests

Disappearance of an ecosystem engineer, the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), leads to density compensation and ecological release

Given the rate of biodiversity loss, there is an urgent need to understand community-level responses to extirpation events, with two prevailing hypotheses. On one hand, the loss of an apex predator leads to an increase in primary prey species, triggering a trophic cascade of other changes within the community, while density compensation and ecological release can occur because of reduced competition for resources and absence of direct aggression. White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari—WLP), a species that typically co-occurs with collared peccary (Pecari tajacu), undergo major population crashes—often taking 20 to 30-years for populations to recover. Using a temporally replicated camera trapping dataset, in both a pre- and post- WLP crash, we explore how WLP disappearance alters the structure of a Neotropical vertebrate community with findings indicative of density compensation. White-lipped peccary were the most frequently detected terrestrial mammal in the 2006–2007 pre-population crash period but were undetected during the 2019 post-crash survey. Panthera onca (jaguar) camera trap encounter rates declined by 63% following the WLP crash, while collared peccary, puma (Puma concolor), red-brocket deer (Mazama americana) and short-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis) all displayed greater encounter rates (490%, 150%, 280%, and 500% respectively), and increased in rank-abundance. Absence of WLP was correlated with ecological release changes in habitat-use for six species, with the greatest increase in use in the preferred floodplain habitat of the WLP. Surprisingly, community-weighted mean trait distributions (body size, feeding guild and nocturnality) did not change, suggesting functional redundancy in diverse tropical mammal assemblages

A Cluster-Randomised Intervention Trial against Schistosoma japonicum in the Peoples' Republic of China: Bovine and Human Transmission

Background Zoonotic schistosomiasis japonica is a major public health problem in China. Bovines, particularly water buffaloes, are thought to play a major role in the transmission of schistosomiasis to humans in China. Preliminary results (1998–2003) of a praziquantel (PZQ)-based pilot intervention study we undertook provided proof of principle that water buffaloes are major reservoir hosts for S. japonicum in the Poyang Lake region, Jiangxi Province. Methods and Findings Here we present the results of a cluster-randomised intervention trial (2004–2007) undertaken in Hunan and Jiangxi Provinces, with increased power and more general applicability to the lake and marshlands regions of southern China. The trial involved four matched pairs of villages with one village within each pair randomly selected as a control (human PZQ treatment only), leaving the other as the intervention (human and bovine PZQ treatment). A sentinel cohort of people to be monitored for new infections for the duration of the study was selected from each village. Results showed that combined human and bovine chemotherapy with PZQ had a greater effect on human incidence than human PZQ treatment alone. Conclusions The results from this study, supported by previous experimental evidence, confirms that bovines are the major reservoir host of human schistosomiasis in the lake and marshland regions of southern China, and reinforce the rationale for the development and deployment of a transmission blocking anti-S. japonicum vaccine targeting bovines

Spider monkeys rule the roost: Ateline sleeping sites influence rainforest heterogeneity

: The sleeping site behavior of Ateline primates has been of interest since the 1980s, yet limited focus has been given to their influence upon other rainforest species. Here, we use a combination of arboreal and terrestrial camera traps, and dung beetle pitfall traps, to characterize spider monkey sleeping site use and quantify the impact of their associated latrines on terrestrial vertebrate and dung beetle activity. We also characterize the physical characteristics of the sleeping sites and the floristic and soil composition of latrines beneath them. Spider monkey activity at sleeping sites peaked at dawn and dusk and group composition varied by sex of the adults detected. The habitat-use of terrestrial fauna (vertebrates and dung beetles) differed between latrine sites and non-latrine controls, underpinned by species-specific changes in the relative abundance of several seed-dispersing species (such as paca and great curassow). Seedling density was higher in latrines than in non-latrine controls. Although most soil properties were similar between latrines and controls, potassium and manganese concentrations were different. These results suggest that spider monkey sleeping site fidelity leads to a hotspot of ecological activity in latrines and downstream impacts on rainforest floristic composition and diversity

The older prisoner health and social care assessment and plan (OHSCAP) versus treatment as usual: a randomised controlled trial

From Springer Nature via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: received 2020-09-09, accepted 2021-10-11, registration 2021-10-12, pub-electronic 2021-11-10, online 2021-11-10, collection 2021-12Publication status: PublishedFunder: Service Delivery and Organisation Programme (GB); Grant(s): 12/5001Abstract: Background: Older people are the fastest-growing demographic group among prisoners in England and Wales and they have complex health and social care needs. Their care is frequently ad hoc and uncoordinated. No previous research has explored how to identify and appropriately address the needs of older adults in prison. We hypothesised that the Older prisoner Health and Social Care Assessment and Plan (OHSCAP) would significantly increase the proportion of met health and social care needs 3 months after prison entry, compared to treatment as usual (TAU). Methods: The study was a parallel randomised controlled trial (RCT) recruiting male prisoners aged 50 and over from 10 prisons in northern England. Participants received the OHSCAP or TAU. A clinical trials unit used minimisation with a random element as the allocation procedure. Data analysis was conducted blind to allocation status. The intervention group had their needs assessed using the OHSCAP tool and care plans were devised; processes that lasted approximately 30 min in total per prisoner. TAU included the standard prison health assessment and care. The intention to treat principle was followed. The trial was registered with the UK Clinical Research Network Portfolio (ISRCTN ID: 11841493) and was closed on 30 November 2016. Results: Data were collected between 28 January 2014 and 06 April 2016. Two hundred and forty nine older prisoners were assigned TAU of which 32 transferred prison; 12 were released; 2 withdrew and 1 was deemed unsafe to interview. Two hundred and fifty three 3 prisoners were assigned the OHSCAP of which 33 transferred prison; 11 were released; 6 withdrew and 1 was deemed unsafe to interview. Consequently, data from 202 participants were analysed in each of the two groups. There were no significant differences in the number of unmet needs as measured by the Camberwell Assessment of Needs – Forensic Short Version (CANFOR-S). The mean number of unmet needs for the OHSCAP group at follow-up was 2.03 (SD = 2.07) and 2.06 (SD = 2.11) for the TAU group (mean difference = 0.088; 95% CI − 0.276 to 0.449, p = 0.621). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The OHSCAP was fundamentally not implemented as planned, partly due to the national prison staffing crisis that ensued during the study period. Therefore, those receiving the OHSCAP did not experience improved outcomes compared to those who received TAU. Trial registration: Current Controlled Trials: ISRCTN11841493, 25/10/2012