ORTEGA: An object-oriented time-geographic analytical approach to trace space-time contact patterns in movement data

This paper uses movement as a marker to study interactions in humans and animals to better understand their collective behaviors. Interaction is an important driving force in social and ecological systems. It can also play a significant role in the transmission of infectious diseases and viruses as witnessed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although a number of approaches have been developed to analyze interaction using movement data sets, these methods mainly capture concurrent and dyadic interaction (i.e. when two individuals have direct contact or move synchronously in the spatial proximity of each other). Less work has been done on tracing interaction between multiple individuals, especially when the interaction occurs with a delay or via indirect contact (i.e. when individuals visit the same location asynchronously). This paper introduces a new Object-oRiented Time-Geographic Analytical approach (ORTEGA) to extract concurrent and delayed interaction patterns between individuals in space and time. The method leverages the time-geography framework to incorporate the effects of uncertainty and gaps in movement data in the analysis of interaction and tracing contact patterns. Using two different case studies and real GPS tracking data, the method is evaluated in (1) detecting patterns of dyadic, intra and interspecific interactions between two apex predators, tigers and leopards in Thailand; and (2) tracing potential contacts between a large group of individuals of the same and different households in San Jose, California. The results indicate that tigers and leopards have an awareness of each other and their interaction is mainly indirect and delayed. In the human context, the results show that while individuals of the same household have more concurrent interaction, members of different households follow similar patterns asynchronously exhibiting delayed interaction. The delayed interactions and potential asynchronous contacts are often underestimated by the common digital contact tracing technologies. With this study we show how a generic method can be used to identify interesting movement patterns across the human and animal divide

ORTEGA: An object-oriented time-geographic analytical approach to trace space-time contact patterns in movement data

This paper uses movement as a marker to study interactions in humans and animals to better understand their collective behaviors. Interaction is an important driving force in social and ecological systems. It can also play a significant role in the transmission of infectious diseases and viruses as witnessed during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Although a number of approaches have been developed to analyze interaction using movement data sets, these methods mainly capture concurrent and dyadic interaction (i.e. when two individuals have direct contact or move synchronously in the spatial proximity of each other). Less work has been done on tracing interaction between multiple individuals, especially when the interaction occurs with a delay or via indirect contact (i.e. when individuals visit the same location asynchronously). This paper introduces a new Object-oRiented Time-Geographic Analytical approach (ORTEGA) to extract concurrent and delayed interaction patterns between individuals in space and time. The method leverages the time-geography framework to incorporate the effects of uncertainty and gaps in movement data in the analysis of interaction and tracing contact patterns. Using two different case studies and real GPS tracking data, the method is evaluated in (1) detecting patterns of dyadic, intra and interspecific interactions between two apex predators, tigers and leopards in Thailand; and (2) tracing potential contacts between a large group of individuals of the same and different households in San Jose, California. The results indicate that tigers and leopards have an awareness of each other and their interaction is mainly indirect and delayed. In the human context, the results show that while individuals of the same household have more concurrent interaction, members of different households follow similar patterns asynchronously exhibiting delayed interaction. The delayed interactions and potential asynchronous contacts are often underestimated by the common digital contact tracing technologies. With this study we show how a generic method can be used to identify interesting movement patterns across the human and animal divide

Top predator ecology and conservation: Lesson from jaguars in southeastern Mexico

Our research is the most comprehensive study of jaguar behavior ecology in Mexico. By analyzing and describing the movements and use of the space, as well as the interactions among individual jaguars, we can better understand their behavioral differences, habitat use, and home range. This type of information is critical for the development and implementation of effective and appropriate conservation strategies. We identified home range size for 14 jaguars in a 13‐year period and described the interspecific relations and use of space by the percentages of overlap of the territories between individuals. Collectively, the average home range size was larger than 200 km2, ranging from 48 to 633 km2 and averaging 296 km2 for males varied and 37–435 km2, with an average of 148 km2, for females. However, home range sizes did not differ significantly among males or females. Male territory overlapped about 3.3% on average (range 2.5–15.5%), suggesting that most of the time males avoid each other. Average overlap of female territory was 12%, ranging from 7 to 100%. Males share an average of 18% (range 2–56%) of its territory and with up to five females, suggesting that a given male may be related to all of them at certain periods of time. There were no seasonal changes (dry and rainy seasons) in home range sizes for both male and females. Our research is an important contribution to the ecological information essential for landscape‐level conservation plans for the protection of the jaguars and the biological diversity of the wider Yucatan Peninsula in which they inhabit. Our research is the most comprehensive study of jaguar behavior ecology in Mexico. By analyzing and describing the movements and use of the space, as well as the interactions among individual jaguars, we can better understand their behavioral differences, habitat use, and home range. This type of information is critical for the development and implementation of effective and appropriate conservation strategies. We identified home range size for 14 jaguars in a 13‐year period and described the interspecific relations and use of space by the percentages of overlap of the territories between individuals. Collectively, the average home range size was larger than 200 km2, ranging from 48 to 633 km2 and averaging 296 km2 for males varied and 37–435 km2, with an average of 148 km2, for females. However, home range sizes did not differ significantly among males or females. Male territory overlapped about 3.3% on average (range 2.5–15.5%), suggesting that most of the time males avoid each other. Average overlap of female territory was 12%, ranging from 7 to 100%. Males share an average of 18% (range 2–56%) of its territory and with up to five females, suggesting that a given male may be related to all of them at certain periods of time. There were no seasonal changes (dry and rainy seasons) in home range sizes for both male and females. Our research is an important contribution to the ecological information essential for landscape‐level conservation plans for the protection of the jaguars and the biological diversity of the wider Yucatan Peninsula in which they inhabit.The authors would like to thank the Alianza WWF – Fundacion Telmex/Telcel, the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (project DGAPA, PAPIT IN208017), Amigos de Calakmul A.C., and the BBVA Foundation Award for the Conservation of Biodiversity (2017) for funding and support for this project

Problematic Internet Use and Loneliness: How Complex Is the Relationship? A Short Literature Review

Purpose The Internet has become embedded into the life of billions of people worldwide. In some individuals, excessive Internet use impacts negatively on psychological and social functioning. Several studies over the last decades have focused on the relationship between Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and loneliness. The present review aims to provide an overview of the recent literature in this field and to suggest some critical questions. Recent Findings A small-medium positive association between loneliness and PIU has been reported in several cross-sectional studies. However, the association becomes weaker when other variables are controlled for. Longitudinal studies suggest a dynamic relationship between PIU and loneliness. Summary There is ample evidence that PIU and loneliness are positively associated, but care should be taken to control for other related variables (e.g., depression). Over time, PIU and loneliness seem to be linked in a vicious cycle, with PIU as a possible starting point

Predator, prey and humans in a mountainous area: loss of biological diversity leads to trouble

Large carnivore-human coexistence is a challenging issue in wildlife conservation worldwide. An adequate and diverse prey spectrum favours carnivore persistence. Prey depletion and habitat loss elicit conflict with humans and require sound conservation measures. We evaluated the conflict between common leopards and humans in a densely populated Himalayan forest area of Pakistan. In two decades, the local forests decreased at an average rate of 65.5 ha/year (6.6%), with a concomitant increase in areas covered by human settlements (81.5%) and agricultural lands (15.4%). Ranging movements of a GPS/GSM-radiotagged male leopard over 16 months encompassed an area inhabited by c. 124,000 people. Livestock dominated the leopard’s diet (absolute frequency of occurrence: 80%), while wild ungulates were rarely eaten (absolute occurrence: 22%). Domestic goats were the most frequent diet item (61%), followed by domestic dogs (12%) and Bos spp. (6%). Wild prey included canids, small carnivores, rhesus monkeys, small mammals and gallinaceous birds. Socioeconomic implications of human-leopard coexistence were investigated: 18.5% of the households interviewed (N = 1016) suffered livestock depredation by leopards, with an overall loss of 123 USD/km2/year, in an area of 328 km2. In the first c. 15 years of this century, about 2 attacks to humans/year were recorded, half of which were lethal, whereas c. 6 leopards/year were killed in retaliation. The common leopard is ‘critically endangered’ in Pakistan mainly because of habitat loss and concurrent prey depletion. To increase the long-term survival of leopards and mitigate human-carnivore conflicts, priority should be given to restoration of a diverse natural prey assembly and protection of forest habitats, together with improved livestock management practices and livestock compensation. The latter will require a sustainable financial mechanism