A large-scale automated radio telemetry network for monitoring movements of terrestrial wildlife in Australia

Technologies for remotely observing animal movements have advanced rapidly in the past decade. In recent years, Australia has invested in an Integrated Marine Ocean Tracking (IMOS) system, a land ecosystem observatory (TERN), and an Australian Acoustic Observatory (A2O), but has not established movement tracking systems for individual terrestrial animals across land and along coastlines. Here, we make the case that the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, an open-source, rapidly expanding cooperative automated radio-tracking global network (Motus, https://motus.org) provides an unprecedented opportunity to build an affordable and proven infrastructure that will boost wildlife biology research and connect Australian researchers domestically and with international wildlife research. We briefly describe the system conceptually and technologically, then present the unique strengths of Motus, how Motus can complement and expand existing and emerging animal tracking systems, and how the Motus framework provides a much-needed central repository and impetus for archiving and sharing animal telemetry data. We propose ways to overcome the unique challenges posed by Australia’s ecological attributes and the size of its scientific community. Open source, inherently cooperative and flexible, Motus provides a unique opportunity to leverage individual research effort into a larger collaborative achievement, thereby expanding the scale and scope of individual projects, while maximising the outcomes of scant research and conservation funding

A risk-adjusted and anatomically stratified cohort comparison study of open surgery, endovascular techniques and medical management for juxtarenal aortic aneurysms-the UK COMPlex AneurySm Study (UK-COMPASS): a study protocol.

Funder: Health Technology Assessment Programme; Grant(s): Award ID: 15/153/02INTRODUCTION: In one-third of all abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the aneurysm neck is short (juxtarenal) or shows other adverse anatomical features rendering operations more complex, hazardous and expensive. Surgical options include open surgical repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) techniques including fenestrated EVAR, EVAR with adjuncts (chimneys/endoanchors) and off-label standard EVAR. The aim of the UK COMPlex AneurySm Study (UK-COMPASS) is to answer the research question identified by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR HTA) Programme: 'What is the clinical and cost-effectiveness of strategies for the management of juxtarenal AAA, including fenestrated endovascular repair?' METHODS AND ANALYSIS: UK-COMPASS is a cohort study comparing clinical and cost-effectiveness of different strategies used to manage complex AAAs with stratification of physiological fitness and anatomical complexity, with statistical correction for baseline risk and indication biases. There are two data streams. First, a stream of routinely collected data from Hospital Episode Statistics and National Vascular Registry (NVR). Preoperative CT scans of all patients who underwent elective AAA repair in England between 1 November 2017 and 31 October 2019 are subjected to Corelab analysis to accurately identify and include every complex aneurysm treated. Second, a site-reported data stream regarding quality of life and treatment costs from prospectively recruited patients across England. Site recruitment also includes patients with complex aneurysms larger than 55 mm diameter in whom an operation is deferred (medical management). The primary outcome measure is perioperative all-cause mortality. Follow-up will be to a median of 5 years. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received full regulatory approvals from a Research Ethics Committee, the Confidentiality Advisory Group and the Health Research Authority. Data sharing agreements are in place with National Health Service Digital and the NVR. Dissemination will be via NIHR HTA reporting, peer-reviewed journals and conferences. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN85731188

Genomic comparisons reveal biogeographic and anthropogenic impacts in the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus): a dietary-specialist species distributed across heterogeneous environments

The Australian koala is an iconic marsupial with highly specific dietary requirements distributed across heterogeneous environments, over a large geographic range. The distribution and genetic structure of koala populations has been heavily influenced by human actions, specifically habitat modification, hunting and translocation of koalas. There is currently limited information on population diversity and gene flow at a species-wide scale, or with consideration to the potential impacts of local adaptation. Using species-wide sampling across heterogeneous environments, and high-density genome-wide markers (SNPs and PAVs), we show that most koala populations display levels of diversity comparable to other outbred species, except for those populations impacted by population reductions. Genetic clustering analysis and phylogenetic reconstruction reveals a lack of support for current taxonomic classification of three koala subspecies, with only a single evolutionary significant unit supported. Furthermore, similar to 70% of genetic variance is accounted for at the individual level. The Sydney Basin region is highlighted as a unique reservoir of genetic diversity, having higher diversity levels (i.e., Blue Mountains region; AvHe(corr)-0.20, PL% = 68.6). Broad-scale population differentiation is primarily driven by an isolation by distance genetic structure model (49% of genetic variance), with clinal local adaptation corresponding to habitat bioregions. Signatures of selection were detected between bioregions, with no single region returning evidence of strong selection. The results of this study show that although the koala is widely considered to be a dietary-specialist species, this apparent specialisation has not limited the koala's ability to maintain gene flow and adapt across divergent environments as long as the required food source is available

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Search for eccentric black hole coalescences during the third observing run of LIGO and Virgo

Despite the growing number of confident binary black hole coalescences observed through gravitational waves so far, the astrophysical origin of these binaries remains uncertain. Orbital eccentricity is one of the clearest tracers of binary formation channels. Identifying binary eccentricity, however, remains challenging due to the limited availability of gravitational waveforms that include effects of eccentricity. Here, we present observational results for a waveform-independent search sensitive to eccentric black hole coalescences, covering the third observing run (O3) of the LIGO and Virgo detectors. We identified no new high-significance candidates beyond those that were already identified with searches focusing on quasi-circular binaries. We determine the sensitivity of our search to high-mass (total mass M>70 M⊙) binaries covering eccentricities up to 0.3 at 15 Hz orbital frequency, and use this to compare model predictions to search results. Assuming all detections are indeed quasi-circular, for our fiducial population model, we place an upper limit for the merger rate density of high-mass binaries with eccentricities 0<e≤0.3 at 0.33 Gpc−3 yr−1 at 90\% confidence level

Ultralight vector dark matter search using data from the KAGRA O3GK run

Among the various candidates for dark matter (DM), ultralight vector DM can be probed by laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors through the measurement of oscillating length changes in the arm cavities. In this context, KAGRA has a unique feature due to differing compositions of its mirrors, enhancing the signal of vector DM in the length change in the auxiliary channels. Here we present the result of a search for U(1)B−L gauge boson DM using the KAGRA data from auxiliary length channels during the first joint observation run together with GEO600. By applying our search pipeline, which takes into account the stochastic nature of ultralight DM, upper bounds on the coupling strength between the U(1)B−L gauge boson and ordinary matter are obtained for a range of DM masses. While our constraints are less stringent than those derived from previous experiments, this study demonstrates the applicability of our method to the lower-mass vector DM search, which is made difficult in this measurement by the short observation time compared to the auto-correlation time scale of DM

The ecology and conservation biology of the endangered African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in the Lower Zambezi, Zambia

The African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores. Previous research into this species has focussed on the largest extant populations in Africa. However, there are a large number of relatively small populations (20 to 50 dogs) distributed across Africa, which represent an important component of the diversity of the species and its remaining habitat. This study investigated the status of a small population of wild dogs in the Lower Zambezi area in Zambia. Objectives focussed on assessing population dynamics and identifying causes of decline. Research was carried out over a broad range of topics in an effort to provide comprehensive information for conservation management of the population. The scope of the project was divided into five sections: 1) Demography and pack dynamics were assessed to identify the structure and status of the population, and the main causes of mortality. 2) An assessment of habitat types and related ecological factors was carried out to determine wild dog habitat utilisation in relation to vegetation type, prey densities and hunting success in each area. 3) The effects of interpredator competition on wild dog population dynamics was investigated, specifically, the effects of lions (Panthera leo) and spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta). 4) Genetic analyses were carried out to assess the historic and contemporary genetic variability of the population, and to define patterns of geographic structuring and population differentiation. 5) Results were combined to assess the viability of the population and recommend conservation management strategies. Snaring was identified as the most important cause of adult mortality, and a threat to wild dog population persistence. Inbreeding avoidance led to the emigration of adult males and females from the area and appeared to be a substantial contributor to population decline. Limited mate selection corresponded with neither sex displaying philopatry and large dispersal distances effectively removed adults from the population. This result has important implications for the management of small populations, whereby lack of mate choice may increase dispersal distances and thereby increase edge effects on populations, regardless of home range sizes. Home range sizes were related to den locations in remote areas of the Zambian Escarpment, which was used as a breeding refuge area. The Zambezi River and Zambian Escarpment appeared to be effective barriers to wild dog home range movements. The study area contained a diversity of habitats on the alluvial terraces of the river valley floor. There was a high density of impala (Aeypceros melampus), which formed the main prey base for the wild dog population. Studies of other populations have found that wild dogs often avoided areas with high competing predator densities, which corresponded with high prey density areas. In contrast to those findings, the Lower Zambezi wild dog population showed a strong preference for high prey density areas. This population also showed only temporal avoidance of high lion density areas. Low lion density areas were preferred during breeding periods, while moderate to high lion density areas were preferred during non-breeding periods. Direct predation of adult wild dogs by lion and spotted hyaenas was rare. Kleptoparasitism of wild dog kills by either competing predator species was also rare. Predator competition was not considered to be an important determinant of population decline. The Lower Zambezi population suffered from a loss of heterozygosity, low allelic richness, and there was significant evidence of a recent population bottleneck. The population did not contain any new mtDNA haplotypes, nor any unique alleles on the commonly used microsatellite loci, but was differentiated from African wild dog populations in other regions. There was evidence of historical and recent gene flow between the Lower Zambezi and the neighbouring southern African populations of Hwange and Okavango. This was the first study to show a loss of genetic variability in a free-ranging African wild dog population. Although more immediate anthropogenic and demographic factors were the critical determinants of population decline, the loss of genetic variability has important implications for the conservation of the remaining small and fragmented wild dog populations in Africa. Results showed that due to its small size the population is likely to have suffered from inverse density dependence and Allee effects on dispersal and reproductive success. Management recommendations focussed on mitigating anthropogenic causes of mortality, and improving connectivity with a larger, potential source population to increase the probability of successful dispersal and to restore genetic diversity. The high density prey base, small home range sizes and low levels of interpredator competition detected in this study suggest that the area has the capacity to support a large and potentially viable population of wild dogs if appropriate management strategies are implemented

the effect of habitat structure on scat detection dog performance

<p>The data provides descriptions of a range of the conditions and appearance of scats used in training, as welll as environmental conditions, to inform further studies. The full dataset may be used with additional data for a separate publication and will be available in 12 months.</p

the effect of habitat on scat detection dog performance - manuscript data

<p>This dataset contains the data used in analysis for the manuscript  "An assessment of the effects of habitat structure on the scat finding performance of a wildlife detection dog" published in Methods in Ecology and Evolution.</p