Scaling issues in the study of livestock depredation by carnivores

Context: Many studies have documented the magnitude and socioecological drivers of livestock depredation, yet few have assessed how observations of depredation might vary with spatiotemporal scale. Understanding scaling relationships may allow for more accurate aggregation of observations collected across diverse extents and resolutions to better inform management actions. Objectives: Herein we examine how reported metrics of livestock depredation varied by spatial and temporal scale (extent and resolution) after controlling for other drivers of differences among studies. Methods: From 213 published studies we extracted conflict metrics (i.e., number of animals killed, number of attack incidents, and percent annual loss of stock) and regressed each against spatiotemporal extent (i.e., size of study area, duration of study) and resolution (i.e., minimum mapping unit, frequency of observations) while controlling for potential biases. Results: The number of attacks or animals killed was positively related to spatial and temporal extent whereas percent annual loss of stock declined with extent. Further, the effects of scaling variables were modified through interactions with other factors (e.g., human density) known to influence human-carnivore conflict. The data available for spatiotemporal resolution were too sparse to draw conclusions. While scaling relationships were generally linear, they became increasingly noisy at broader extents. Conclusions: Consistent with other ecological investigations, the scale of observation influenced the observed outcomes in human-carnivore conflict metrics. Authors should report the spatiotemporal dimensions of their observations to improve robust inference in comparative studies. Enhanced understanding of scaling relationships in human-carnivore conflict metrics should improve strategic allocation of resources to better mitigate future conflict

The natural history and ecology of melanism in red wolf and coyote populations of the southeastern United States – evidence for Gloger’s rule

Background: Gloger’s rule postulates that animals should be darker colored in warm and humid regions where dense vegetation and dark environments are common. Although rare in Canis populations, melanism in wolves is more common in North America than other regions globally and is believed to follow Gloger’s rule. In the temperate forests of the southeastern United States, historical records of red wolf (Canis rufus) and coyote (Canis latrans) populations document a consistent presence of melanism. Today, the melanistic phenotype is extinct in red wolves while occurring in coyotes and red wolf-coyote hybrids who occupy the red wolf’s historical range. To assess if Gloger’s rule could explain the occurrence and maintenance of melanistic phenotypes in Canis taxa, we investigated differences in morphology, habitat selection, and survival associated with pelage color using body measurements, GPS tracking data, and long-term capture-mark-recapture and radio-telemetry data collected on coyotes and hybrids across the southeastern United States. Results: We found no correlation between morphometrics and pelage color for Canis taxa. However, we observed that melanistic coyotes and hybrids experienced greater annual survival than did their gray conspecifics. Furthermore, we observed that melanistic coyotes maintained larger home ranges and exhibited greater selection for areas with dense canopy cover and wetlands than did gray coyotes. Conclusions: In the southeastern United States, pelage color influenced habitat selection by coyotes and annual survival of coyotes and hybrids providing evidence that Gloger’s rule is applicable to canids inhabiting regions with dense canopy cover and wetlands. Greater annual survival rates observed in melanistic Canis may be attributed to better concealment in areas with dense canopy cover such as coastal bottomland forests. We suggest that the larger home range sizes of melanistic coyotes may reflect the trade-off of reduced foraging efficiency in lower quality wetland habitat for improved survival. Larger home ranges and differential use of land cover by melanistic coyotes may facilitate weak assortative mating in eastern coyote populations, in which melanistic animals may have lower success of finding compatible mates in comparison to gray conspecifics. We offer that our observations provide a partial explanation for why melanism is relatively low (\u3c 10%) but consistent within coyote populations throughout southeastern parts of their range

目次 : 『千葉医学雑誌 オープン・アクセス・ペーパー』 89E巻2号 2013年4月

Multivariate clustering. (DOCX 149 kb

Learning and animal movement

Authors acknowledge the following grants for supporting this research: NSERC Discovery (ML and MA-M), NSF DMS-1853465 (WF and EG), and Canada Research Chairs Program (ML and MA-M).Integrating diverse concepts from animal behavior, movement ecology, and machine learning, we develop an overview of the ecology of learning and animal movement. Learning-based movement is clearly relevant to ecological problems, but the subject is rooted firmly in psychology, including a distinct terminology. We contrast this psychological origin of learning with the task-oriented perspective on learning that has emerged from the field of machine learning. We review conceptual frameworks that characterize the role of learning in movement, discuss emerging trends, and summarize recent developments in the analysis of movement data. We also discuss the relative advantages of different modeling approaches for exploring the learning-movement interface. We explore in depth how individual and social modalities of learning can matter to the ecology of animal movement, and highlight how diverse kinds of field studies, ranging from translocation efforts to manipulative experiments, can provide critical insight into the learning process in animal movement.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Crossing Paths: Gray Wolves and Highways in the Minnesota-Wisconsin Border Region

Highways may threaten wolf (Canis lupus) habitat connectivity in the Great Lakes Region. Highways may further define the useable amount and arrangement of habitat within areas identified as suitable habitat. The two papers of this thesis explored wolf habitat with respect to roads by: (1) inferring wolf habitat connectivity across a major highway from predictions of crossing habitat, and (2) identifying how highways influenced suitable habitat choices and within-territory movements. Track searches, radio-telemetry, and observations identified 62 crossings of 4 major highways in northwestern Wisconsin between March 1991 and February 1999. Selected crossings (n=33) were visited to identify local crossing site characteristics. Compared to paired random sites wolves were equally likely to cross through forested and open landscapes (p = 0.192). In their immediate crossing environment, wolves favored factors related to visibility and ease of movement - less visual obscurity (p = 0.003) and less deciduous canopy cover (p = 0.038). Among the variables not significantly correlated with crossing sites were margin slope, maximum distance visible, shrub cover, and the presence/absence of trails or fences nearby. Satellite imagery data were used to map habitat composition and pattern within 25-400 ha of crossing sites. Patch density, an index to human-induced fragmentation, was the most significant and consistent indicator of crossing habitat across 5 landscape sampling resolutions (p < 0.005). Crossing landscapes had fewer patches, less open water, less developed land, and more forested or unforested wetlands than the available landscape matrix. Generally predictive ability increased with increased sampling area indicating that wolves perceived and reacted to landscape pattern at larger-spatial scales. Some differences between highways were noted, e.g., traffic volume and resident wolf activity in neighboring habitat, but the model captured elements of habitat selection specific to individual highways and common to all. Disperser and resident wolf crossings were equally represented by the model. Along U.S.H. 53 (a recently widened highway which bisects the primary wolf dispersal corridor in WI) the model mapped 68% of the road-adjacent habitat to have moderate-high crossing potential indicating a high degree of habitat connectivity. Highway crossing mitigations, e.g., widened medians and a highway underpass, were located where crossing potential was at least moderate. Only 20% (14 km) of the highway had high crossing potential of which 2 areas did not have any structural mitigations to aid crossings. The model was proved valid by 19 crossings reserved from analyses. Highway design may prove critical for continued connectivity as recreational and commercial use of the landscape increases in combination with increased traffic volume and vehicle speeds. Along the Minnesota-Wisconsin border, individual wolves from 4-12 wolf packs were radio-monitored between 1992-96. Resident wolf locations (n=3,448) were compared to unused locations (n=3,535)- outside of known wolf territories -with respect to the amount of major highways, minor highways, and non-highway public roads found within 200-ha of each location. Univariate logistic regression models indicated that highways did not strongly influence suitable habitat choices (less than 22% accuracy for unused habitats) but the density of non-highway public roads did (74% overall accuracy). Overall road density was still the best predictor of suitable habitat (77% overall accuracy). No improvement in classification accuracy was achieved by segregating highways from non-highway public roads. Males and pups demonstrated less tolerance for roads than females and older wolves (p < 0.001 ). All wolves combined demonstrated less tolerance for roads during the breeding and nomadic months (p < 0.001). These results indicated that not all habitats were equally available to wolves at all times - a critical consideration when estimating the total amount of useable wolf habitat in a given area. Sequential radio-locations (12-48 hours apart) were connected to investigate how often wolves crossed roads within their annual home ranges. Although highways were not a major factor in population-level habitat selection they strongly influenced within-territory movements (p < 0.001) which in tum affects the geographic arrangement of wolf territories in the landscape. All territories contained some nonhighway public roads, and wolves were either indifferent or attracted towards such roads. In contrast only one-half of the territories contained a major highway. Minor highways were strongly avoided in regular movements (p < 0.00 I). Potential highway tolerance limits for this population were identified as 0.09 km/km2 of major highways and 0.15 km/km2 of minor highways within territories. Considering the amount and arrangement of highways in the landscape could further help to define the subset of "suitable" wolf habitat (based on overall road densities) which is truly "useable" habitat to the population

BROWSE SELECTION BY MOOSE IN THE ADIRONDACK PARK, NEW YORK

Moose (Alces alces americana), a large-bodied and cold-adapted forest herbivore, may be vulnerable to environmental change especially along their southern range in the northeastern United States. Better understanding of moose foraging patterns and resource constraints in this region, which moose recolonized over the past several decades, is needed to anticipate factors that may influence the long-term viability of the regional moose population. We quantified browse selection, intensity and nutritional quality, and the impact of other vegetation potentially interfering with browse availability for moose within the Adirondack Park, New York. We backtracked GPS-collared female moose (n = 23) to assess the seasonal composition of selected browse from 2016 to 2017, compared browse selection to plant nutritional quality, and modeled local browsing intensity. Moose demonstrated a generalist feeding strategy in summer, but in winter selected browse species largely in order of digestible dry matter. Red maple (Acer rubrum) was the most heavily used species in both seasons. Areas having a high proportion of beech (Fagus grandifolia), which in this region regenerates in dense thickets in the aftermath of beech bark disease and thwarts timber regeneration, were associated with reduced browsing intensity by moose in both seasons. Given the limited amount of timber harvest within the Adirondack Park, thoughtful management of harvested stands may increase marketable timber while also benefitting moose and ensuring the longevity of the New York population

FORAGE AND HABITAT LIMITATIONS FOR MOOSE IN THE ADIRONDACK PARK, NEW YORK

We used browse availability models to estimate the number of reproductive female moose (Alces alces) that could be supported during summer and winter in the predominantly forested 23,000 km2 Adirondack Park and Forest Preserve (Park) in northern New York State, USA. We developed allometric equations to predict available browse biomass for individual plants and subsequent biomass estimates in 6 major cover types to estimate the moose carrying capacity within the Park. Our model incorporated the differential availability and nutritional quality of woody browse species within each cover type and changes in local browsing intensity due to competing vegetation under two different foraging constraints – protein and digestible energy. We estimated the carrying capacity as 8 (protein constraint) and 135 × (energy constraint) greater in winter than summer. Spatially-explicit estimates of summer range capacity (Animal Use Days, AUD) based on the protein constraint correlated best with variation in local moose density derived from winter aerial surveys (R2 = 0.75, P &lt; 0.01, n = 18). Protein availability was limiting in summer (AUD = 457 moose) with sparse patches of regenerating forest (&lt; 20 years old) on privately-managed lands estimated to support 86% more moose than the dominant matrix of wetlands and mature mixed-deciduous forest. The small and patchy moose population in the Park reflects the relative scarcity of regenerating forest and optimal foraging habitat. Given statutory constraints of timber harvest in the majority of the Park, active forest management on private inholdings will play an outsized role in managing the moose population

Mie aattelen niin, että siellä sitten neuvotaan, miten tässä toimitaan” ASIAKKAIDEN KOKEMUKSIA VANHUKSILLE TARKOITETUSTA PALVELUOHJAUKSESTA

Opinnäytetyön tarkoituksena oli selvittää Joensuun kaupungin seniorineuvonta Ankkurin asiakkaiden kokemuksia ikääntyneille tarkoitetusta palveluohjauksesta. Tavoitteena oli tuoda esiin asiakkaiden näkökulmia palveluohjauksesta. Palveluohjaus on sosiaalialan asiakaslähtöinen työskentelymenetelmä, jonka tarkoituksena on selvittää asiakkaan yksilölliset palveluntarpeet ja löytää hänen tarpeisiinsa sopivat palvelut. Tarve palveluohjaukselle on suuri, sillä vanhusten palvelujärjestelmä on laaja ja monitahoinen. Tämän vuoksi ikääntyneille voi olla vaikeaa hahmottaa omia oikeuksiaan ja heille kuuluvia palveluja. Opinnäytetyö on laadullinen tutkimus, jonka aineisto on kerätty teemahaastattelumenetelmää käyttäen. Yhteensä tutkimusta varten on haastateltu kuutta palveluohjausta saanutta asiakasta. Aineisto on analysoitu käyttäen aineistolähtöistä sisällönanalyysia. Tutkimuksessa ilmeni, että palveluohjauksen koettiin lisänneen tietoutta omista oikeuksista ja ikääntyneille palveluista. Tärkeänä koettiin se, että palveluohjaajilla olisi aikaa kuunnella asiakasta ja että asiakkaan tilanteen edistymistä seurattaisiin enemmän. Palveluohjaajilta kaivattaisiin myös ”asianajoa” eli tukea vaikuttamiseen yhteiskunnallisella ja yksilöllisellä tasolla. Opinnäytetyöprosessin aikana nousi esiin jatkotutkimusidea koskien vanhusten osallisuutta ja sitä, kuinka osallisuutta voisi edistää palveluohjauksen avulla.The aim of the thesis was to collect customers’ experiences about the case management aimed at the elderly people provided by the city of Joensuu. The purpose was to give a voice to the customers so they can express their own views in regard to the case management. Case management is a working method used in the social work. It is a customer-oriented method which is used to find out customer’s individual needs so they can be provided with appropriate services. The need for case management is high since the service system for elderly people is extensive and complex. Thus, it may be challenging for the elderly to find out the services they are entitled to. This research was done using qualitative methods. The data was gathered by using thematic interviews and altogether six customers were interviewed. The data was analyzed by using data-based content analysis. The results showed that the case management had increased the customers’ knowledge of their own rights and of the services for elderly people. It was considered important that the case management workers have enough time to listen and give attention to the customers. The results also show that the customers would like their situation to be followed more closely by the workers. Lastly, the customers hoped the case management workers would act as the customers’ advocate on societal and personal level. In the future, it would be interesting to research how the participation and engagement of elderly people could be supported

Hierarchical, memory-based movement models for translocated elk (cervus canadensis)

The use of spatial memory is well-documented in many animal species and has been shown to be critical for the emergence of spatial learning. Adaptive behaviors based on learning can emerge thanks to an interdependence between the acquisition of information over time and movement decisions. The study of how spatio-ecological knowledge is constructed throughout the life of an individual has not been carried out in a quantitative and comprehensive way, hindered by the lack of knowledge of the information an animal already has of its environment at the time monitoring begins. Identifying how animals use memory to make beneficial decisions is fundamental to developing a general theory of animal movement and space use. Here we propose several mobility models based on memory and perform hierarchical Bayesian inference on 11-month trajectories of 21 elk after they were released in a completely new environment. Almost all the observed animals exhibited preferential returns to previously visited patches, such that memory and random exploration phases occurred. Memory decay was mild or negligible over the study period. The fact that individual elk rapidly become used to a relatively small number of patches was consistent with the hypothesis that they seek places with predictable resources and reduced mortality risks such as predation