A Permutation-based Combination of Sign Tests for Assessing Habitat Selection

The analysis of habitat use in radio-tagged animals is approached by comparing the portions of use vs the portions of availability observed for each habitat type. Since data are linearly dependent with singular variance-covariance matrices, standard multivariate statistical test cannot be applied. To overcome the problem, compositional data analysis is customary performed via log-ratio transform of sample observations. The procedure is criticized in this paper, emphasizing the many drawbacks which may arise from the use of compositional analysis. An alternative nonparametric solution is proposed in the framework of multiple testing. The habitat use is assessed separately for each habitat type by means of the sign test performed on the original observations. The resulting p-values are combined in an overall test statistic whose significance is determined permuting sample observations. The theoretical findings of the paper are checked by simulation studies. Applications to some case studies are considered.compositional data analysis, Johnson’s second order selection, Johnson’s third order selection, Monte Carlo studies, multiple testing, random habitat use.

Reintroductions of the Corsican Red Deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus): Conservation Projects and Sanitary Risk

Reintroductions are important tools to achieve the long-term conservation of endangered species; however, these projects are dangerous for translocated animals. Reintroduced animals face novel habitats where food availability and secure resting sites are unknown, and in this context, such animals likely engage in long exploratory movements. Furthermore, reintroductions can be dangerous for domestic and wild animals inhabiting the reintroduction site due to the potential risk of catching diseases carried by reintroduced animals. Our study aimed to evaluate the spatial behavior of reintroduced Corsican red deer in central-eastern Sardinia and, on the basis of the obtained results, build a species distribution model to forecast the expansion of reintroduced deer and plan future reintroduction projects. Furthermore, we evaluated the sanitary risk for domestic animals (sheep) linked to Bluetongue virus potentially carried by deer. Our results highlighted the great habitat suitability of central–eastern Sardinia for Corsican red deer. However, deer are healthy carriers of Bluetongue virus, as confirmed by health analyses we performed on captured animals in the source areas. Particular attention in reintroduction planning is needed to avoid any negative impacts on domestic or wild animals of conservation measures

Feeding Preferences of the Italian Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus Festa, 1925) in a Coastal Mediterranean Environment

The present study was aimed to deepen the knowledge on diet and on feeding preferences of the Italian roe deer. The research was carried on in the Castelporziano Presidential Estate, a protected area of Latium coast. Quadrat method was used to assess plant frequency, whereas diet composition was determined by fecal micro-histological analysis. A total of 143 plant species were identified in the site and 109 of them were found in the feces of the Capreolus capreolus italicus. All over the year, most of the taxa were ingested in low percentages (5%) and the most utilized plant species were Quercus suber, Prunus spinosa, Rubia peregrina, and Crateaegus monogyna. Fagaceae and Rosaceae plant families represented the bulk of the diet and were positively selected. In addition, a positive selection on Fabaceae and Oleaceae families was found in wet season but not in dry one. In both periods the Italian roe deer showed a positive selection for deciduous woody plants and evergreen woody plants, instead avoided wild forbs and wild graminoids. Our results confirmed that this subspecies behaved as a generalist highly selective feeder

Diet Selection by the Italian Hare (Lepus corsicanus de Winton,1898) in Two Protected Coastal Areas of Latium

Abstract: This study was focused on the diet and feeding behaviour of Lepus corsicanus in two protected coastal areas of Latium, Castelporziano Presidential Estate (CPE) and Circeo National Park (CNP). Plant frequency was assessed by the quadrat method, while diet composition was determined by microhistological analysis of faecal samples. Over the year, the Italian hare fed on 185 of the 229 plant species identified in vegetation, with most of them ingested in low percentages (1%). During the dry season (DS), in both areas, Brachypodium sylvaticum, Cynodon dactylon, and Avena fatua were among the most consumed species. In the wet season (WS) the most common plant species in diet were B. sylvaticum, Poa trivialis, and Carex distachya in CPE and Dactylis glomerata, Cynosurus echinatus, and Spartium junceum in CNP. In both sites, considering the annual selection of life forms, grasses and leguminous forbs were preferred, while non-leguminous forbs and shrubs were used less than expected according to their availability. ANOSIM analysis showed significant differences between sites in DS and WS diets. Our study evidenced that the Italian hare behaved as generalist, revealing its capability for exploiting several plant species and to adapt its diet preferences to space-time variation of food availability

Comportamento alimentare di Lepre italica nella Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano

The aim of this study was to investigate the Italian hare feeding habits and feeding selection in three sites of the Castelporziano Presidential Estate. Vegetation and faecal sampling took place in the period June-October. The most abundant families resulted Poaceae, Asteraceae, and Rosaceae. Among inventoried species the most representative were Avena fatua, Dasypyrum villosum, Achnatherum bromoides, and Briza maxima. Regarding to life forms, the most abundant were grasses followed by non-leguminous forbs, shrubs and leguminous forbs. The family of Poaceae was the most ingested followed by Asteraceae and Cyperaceae. The most consumed species resulted Brachypodium sylvaticum, Avena fatua, Cynodon dactylon and Poa trivialis. Grasses was the most utilized life form: plants of this life form represented more of 50% of the diet. The Italian hare showed a positive selection towards graminoids, while leguminous forbs and woody plants were avoided. Among plant families only Poaceae was preferred (p<0.001), while Apiacae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Fagaceae and Rosaceae were negatively selected (p<0.01)

Comportamento alimentare di Capreolus capreolus italicus nella Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano

In questa ricerca è stata studiata la composizione della dieta invernale di Capriolo italico in due siti compresi nella Tenuta Presidenziale di Castelporziano. La composizione della dieta è stata determinata mediante analisi microistologica dei pellet fecali. Per valutare le differenze nella composizione della dieta tra i siti sono state utilizzate misure univariate di alfa e beta diversità. Oltre il 60% delle specie vegetali identificate (90) è statoritrovato nella dieta e le specie legnose hanno rappresentato oltre un quarto della dieta. Le specie più consumate sono risultate Crataegus monogyna, Prunus spinosa, Pyrus communis, e Rubia peregrina. Gli indici di alfa diversità hanno evidenziato, in entrambi i siti, una composizione della dieta ricca e diversificata. L’indice di selezione di Manly ha mostrato in entrambi i siti: a) selezione positiva per gli alberi e cespugli sempreverdi e per gli alberi e cespugli caducifogli; b) selezione negativa per le erbacee spontanee a foglia larga e le graminoidi. Dall’analisi della similarità (ANOSIM) emergono differenze significative fra le diete dei due siti. I nostri risultati hanno confermato che questa sottospecie ha adeguato il suo comportamento alimentare, in relazione alle disponibilità di risorse alimentari. Per le specie endemiche, come il Capriolo italico, la conoscenza del comportamento alimentare può fornire indicazioni utili per la conservazione e la gestione delle popolazioni relitte

Consensus standards for acquisition, measurement, and reporting of intravascular optical coherence tomography studies

Objectives: The purpose of this document is to make the output of the International Working Group for Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography (IWG-IVOCT) Standardization and Validation available to medical and scientific communities, through a peer-reviewed publication, in the interest of improving the diagnosis and treatment of patients with atherosclerosis, including coronary artery disease. Background: Intravascular optical coherence tomography (IVOCT) is a catheter-based modality that acquires images at a resolution of ∼10 μm, enabling visualization of blood vessel wall microstructure in vivo at an unprecedented level of detail. IVOCT devices are now commercially available worldwide, there is an active user base, and the interest in using this technology is growing. Incorporation of IVOCT in research and daily clinical practice can be facilitated by the development of uniform terminology and consensus-based standards on use of the technology, interpretation of the images, and reporting of IVOCT results. Methods: The IWG-IVOCT, comprising more than 260 academic and industry members from Asia, Europe, and the United States, formed in 2008 and convened on the topic of IVOCT standardization through a series of 9 national and international meetings. Results: Knowledge and recommendations from this group on key areas within the IVOCT field were assembled to generate this consensus document, authored by the Writing Committee, composed of academicians who have participated in meetings and/or writing of the text. Conclusions: This document may be broadly used as a standard reference regarding the current state of the IVOCT imaging modality, intended for researchers and clinicians who use IVOCT and analyze IVOCT data