Mapping risk: quantifying and predicting the risk of deer-vehicle collisions on major roads in England

Wildlife-vehicle collisions are increasing across both Europe and North America, with considerable implications for animal populations themselves, for human safety and in terms of economic cost. Deer are generally the primary species involved in wildlife-vehicle collisions. Common mitigation measures, such as warning signs, chemical repellent, wildlife underpasses and overpasses and roadside fencing, have however proven to have a limited efficacy. The development of tools aimed at predicting the real-time risk of hitting deer on a particular stretch of road can improve both human and wildlife safety, particularly if such tools can be adopted on a large scale. We analysed data on deer-vehicle collisions (DVCs) occurring on the major roads in England between 2008-2014, collected on behalf of Highways England agency. Using zero-inflated regression models, we analysed the relationships between DVCs and data on environmental, bioclimatic and traffic-related factors, on different spatial scales and for different seasons. Traffic flow, average precipitation, and a combination of suburban areas and broadleaved forest were generally associated with increased frequency of DVCs. We used the results of these models to draw seasonal risk maps, which could potentially be used to target appropriate mitigation or measures aimed at increasing driver awareness

Cantor and band spectra for periodic quantum graphs with magnetic fields

We provide an exhaustive spectral analysis of the two-dimensional periodic square graph lattice with a magnetic field. We show that the spectrum consists of the Dirichlet eigenvalues of the edges and of the preimage of the spectrum of a certain discrete operator under the discriminant (Lyapunov function) of a suitable Kronig-Penney Hamiltonian. In particular, between any two Dirichlet eigenvalues the spectrum is a Cantor set for an irrational flux, and is absolutely continuous and has a band structure for a rational flux. The Dirichlet eigenvalues can be isolated or embedded, subject to the choice of parameters. Conditions for both possibilities are given. We show that generically there are infinitely many gaps in the spectrum, and the Bethe-Sommerfeld conjecture fails in this case.Comment: Misprints correcte

Pedogenic carbonates as a proxy for palaeo-CO2 in the Palaeozoic atmosphere

According to a model by Cerling (1991, 1999), the carbon isotope composition of calcretes should depend on the soil type and the CO2-concentration in the atmosphere. We have tested Cerling’s model by investigating 14 Palaeozoic sections with soil profiles. A large number of carbonate types of different genetic origin exist in the localities examined. Comparing the Palaeozoic samples with recent and subrecent calcretes, it can be demonstrated that anhedral, cryptocrystalline (<10 μm) and subhedral microcrystalline (10 - 40 μm) carbonates are clearly of pedogenic origin. Crystals of larger size with a poikilotopic texture are of groundwater or burial diagenetic origin. Macro- and micromorphological features, typical of recent calcretes, occur in several soil profiles, but thin section microscopy reveals a strong diagenetic overprint of most pedogenic carbonates. Time equivalent sections with comparable soil types (protosols, calcisols and vertisols) show large variations in carbon isotope composition. On the other hand, different carbonate generations at one site do not differ much. Therefore Palaeozoic calcretes appear to be unsuitable for a deduction of the Palaeozoic CO2-concentration.German Research Foundation (DFG)researc

Effects of density and age on body condition, reproductive performance behaviour and survival of fallow deer

This thesis investigates the effects of various population parameters, together with other factors such as climate and management intervention, on performance and behaviour of fallow deer, Dama dama. British deer parks were chosen for study as they provide a wide range of accurately measurable population densities, and animals within them can be observed and caught relatively easily in comparison to wild deer. The populations present fully mixed-sex herds which are entirely free-ranging within the boundaries of each park throughout the year, and thus offer a model system where population processes may be studied. Live capture of fallow deer in 15 parks enabled collection of data on body weights and skeletal size in relation to age and sex on 3740 individuals, many of these being recaptured in a number of years. Intensive field observations focused on marked individuals in 9 populations, to determine fawning success, birth dates and weights, and variation in maternal and mating behaviour. Additional data on natural mortalities, culled carcases, food availability, climate and habitat characteristics were collected over the extended set of parks. Wide variation occurred between parks in winter live weights, population means ranging from, for example 19.5 to 32.3 kg for male fawns, and 32.1 to 42.6 kg for yearling females. In contrast, such variation within sites between years rarely exceeded 10&#37;. Within some populations changes in mean body weights between years could be explained directly by changes in stocking density, associations being strongest with density measured in the year of birth. Variation in body weights and skeletal sizes between populations showed density-independent associations with summer pasture productivity and winter climate; after accounting for these factors, density-dependent effects, acting through forage availability and supplementary feed obtained per deer in winter, were also apparent. Reproductive rates of adult does (&ge;2 years old at rut) were very high in all the sites where age-specific data were collected. Fecundity of younger does (&#60; 2 years at rut) was consistently lower than that of adults, with differences greater in parks offering most restricted resources. The winter body-weight threshold for yearlings, at which 50&#37; produced fawns the next summer, was determined as 32 kg. Yearlings produced lighter offspring than adults, and mated and fawned an average of 11 days later. Near maximum reproduction was attained even in parks holding up to 6 deer/ha, as long as at high densities adequate supplementary feeding and shelter were offered. Marked differences in mating behaviour occurred during the rut. High territorial systems ranging from single rutting stands to leks occurred in some parks, while non-territorial systems based on defense of mobile female groups by dominant males were observed in others. Variation in the systems observed is fully described, and was found to relate in particular to buck density, total number of bucks, and doe density. Individual male mating success was highly skewed in all systems. Costs and benefits of variation and timing of mating behaviour are discussed. Juvenile mortality in summer, as well as other natural mortality was very low in the most parks and years. Higher mortality was associated with low body weights in years of cold late winter temperatures. Survival rates were highest where supplementary winter feeding was extensive and commenced before December.</p

COVID-19 related travel restrictions prevented numerous wildlife deaths on roads: A comparative analysis of results from 11 countries

Millions of wild animals are killed annually on roads worldwide. During spring 2020, the volume of road traffic was reduced globally as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We gathered data on wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) from Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and for Scotland and England within the United Kingdom. In all studied countries WVC statistics tend to be dominated by large mammals (various deer species and wild boar), while information on smaller mammals as well as birds are less well recorded. The expected number of WVC for 2020 was predicted on the basis of 2015–2019 WVC time series representing expected WVC numbers under normal traffic conditions. Then, the forecasted and reported WVC data were compared. The results indicate varying levels of WVC decrease between countries during the COVID-19 related traffic flow reduction (CRTR). While no significant change was determined in Sweden, where the state-wide response to COVID-19 was the least intensive, a decrease as marked as 37.4% was identified in Estonia. The greatest WVC decrease, more than 40%, was determined during the first weeks of CRTR for Estonia, Spain, Israel, and Czechia. Measures taken during spring 2020 allowed the survival of large numbers of wild animals which would have been killed under normal traffic conditions. The significant effects of even just a few weeks of reduced traffic, help to highlight the negative impacts of roads on wildlife mortality and the need to boost global efforts of wildlife conservation, including systematic gathering of roadkill data

COVID-19 related travel restrictions prevented numerous wildlife deaths on roads: A comparative analysis of results from 11 countries

Millions of wild animals are killed annually on roads worldwide. During spring 2020, the volume of road traffic was reduced globally as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We gathered data on wildlife-vehicle collisions (WVC) from Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and for Scotland and England within the United Kingdom. In all studied countries WVC statistics tend to be dominated by large mammals (various deer species and wild boar), while information on smaller mammals as well as birds are less well recorded. The expected number of WVC for 2020 was predicted on the basis of 2015–2019 WVC time series representing expected WVC numbers under normal traffic conditions. Then, the forecasted and reported WVC data were compared. The results indicate varying levels of WVC decrease between countries during the COVID-19 related traffic flow reduction (CRTR). While no significant change was determined in Sweden, where the state-wide response to COVID-19 was the least intensive, a decrease as marked as 37.4% was identified in Estonia. The greatest WVC decrease, more than 40%, was determined during the first weeks of CRTR for Estonia, Spain, Israel, and Czechia. Measures taken during spring 2020 allowed the survival of large numbers of wild animals which would have been killed under normal traffic conditions. The significant effects of even just a few weeks of reduced traffic, help to highlight the negative impacts of roads on wildlife mortality and the need to boost global efforts of wildlife conservation, including systematic gathering of roadkill data

Characterization of Metastasis Formation and Virotherapy in the Human C33A Cervical Cancer Model

More than 90% of cancer mortalities are due to cancer that has metastasized. Therefore, it is crucial to intensify research on metastasis formation and therapy. Here, we describe for the first time the metastasizing ability of the human cervical cancer cell line C33A in athymic nude mice after subcutaneous implantation of tumor cells. In this model, we demonstrated a steady progression of lumbar and renal lymph node metastases during tumor development. Besides predominantly occurring lymphatic metastases, we visualized the formation of hematogenous metastases utilizing red fluorescent protein (RFP) expressing C33A-RFP cells. RFP positive cancer cells were found migrating in blood vessels and forming micrometastases in lungs of tumor-bearing mice. Next, we set out to analyze the influence of oncolytic virotherapy in the C33A-RFP model and demonstrated an efficient virus-mediated reduction of tumor size and metastatic burden. These results suggest the C33A-RFP cervical cancer model as a new platform to analyze cancer metastases as well as to test novel treatment options to combat metastases

COVID-19 related travel restrictions prevented numerous wildlife deaths on roads: A comparative analysis of results from 11 countries

Millions of wild animals are killed annually on roads worldwide. During spring 2020, the volume of road traffic was reduced globally as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. We gathered data on wildlife-vehicle colli-sions (WVC) from Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Israel, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and for Scotland and England within the United Kingdom. In all studied countries WVC statistics tend to be dominated by large mammals (various deer species and wild boar), while information on smaller mammals as well as birds are less well recorded. The expected number of WVC for 2020 was predicted on the basis of 2015–2019 WVC time series representing expected WVC numbers under normal traffic conditions. Then, the forecasted and reported WVC data were compared. The results indicate varying levels of WVC decrease between countries during the COVID-19 related traffic flow reduction (CRTR). While no significant change was determined in Sweden, where the state-wide response to COVID-19 was the least intensive, a decrease as marked as 37.4% was identified in Estonia. The greatest WVC decrease, more than 40%, was determined during the first weeks of CRTR for Estonia, Spain, Israel, and Czechia. Measures taken during spring 2020 allowed the survival of large numbers of wild animals which would have been killed under normal traffic conditions. The significant effects of even just a few weeks of reduced traffic, help to highlight the negative impacts of roads on wildlife mortality and the need to boost global efforts of wildlife conservation, including systematic gathering of roadkill data. Wildlife-vehicle collisions Wildlife crash reporting systems Traffic flow Ungulates Mesocarnivores COVID-19 lockdow

Metastatic migration of the C33A-RFP cells in tumor-bearing nude mice.

<p><b>a</b> Migration of C33A-RFP cells in a lymph vessel connecting LN1 and RN1 42 dpti. Scale bars represent 2 mm. <b>b</b> LYVE-1 staining of 100 µm cross sections of the part between LN1 and RN1. Scale bars represent 200 µm. <b>c</b> Migration of C33A-RFP cells in a lymph (filled arrowhead) and in an erythrocyte containing blood vessel (open arrowhead) 32 dpti. Scale bars represent 2 mm (left) and 500 µm (right). <b>d</b> RFP signals in lungs of C33A-RFP tumor-bearing mice. Above: representative image of a lung 42 dpti. Scale bar represents 2 mm. Below: percentage of lungs tested positive for RFP spots over time. Lungs of six to seven mice per time point were examined (7 and 21 dpti: n = 7; 14, 28, 35 and 49 dpti: n = 6).</p

RFP signals in kidneys of C33A-RFP tumor-bearing mice 7, 14, 21, 28 and 35 dpti.

<p>Six to seven mice were analyzed per time point (7 and 21 dpti: n = 7; 14, 28 and 35 dpti: n = 6). <b>a</b> Representative images of RFP signal in kidneys. Upper row: overlay of bright field and RFP images. Lower row: images of RFP signal. Scale bars represent 2 mm. <b>b</b> Mean fluorescence intensity of the RFP signal in kidneys of C33A-RFP tumor-bearing mice over time.</p