Understanding snow leopard (Panthera uncia) population structure, diet, and human-wildlife dimensions using noninvasive genetic approaches

Snow leopards (Panthera uncia) are a large cat endemic to the mountains of Central Asia. Despite their status as a flagship species, there are numerous knowledge gaps surrounding their population status, dietary ecology, and relationship with humans. Such knowledge gaps are prohibitive for effective conservation action for the species. Snow leopards are threatened by habitat loss, decreased prey availability, retaliatory killings, and large-scale negative impacts associated with climate change. In order to help bridge these gaps, noninvasive genetic methodologies were deployed in this work across several disciplines. Population genetic metrics were garnered at local, regional, and range-wide scales, data surrounding dietary ecology were acquired through the use of DNA metabarcoding, and information surrounding human-snow leopard dimensions was gained via structured interviews and assessments of frameworks for herder involvement in research efforts. Range-wide, snow leopards were found to vary in both their population status, genetics, and prey use. Analyses regarding snow leopards populations at local scales in China and Mongolia suggest that some populations are thriving, while others will require additional data to determine the need for potential conservation interventions. On a range-wide scale, genetic profiles broadly grouped into three clusters (Central, Northern, and Western) that may support subspecies status. The divergence between snow leopards belonging to the Northern and Central subspecies is particularly stark with very little evidence of gene flow across the Gobi Desert. Snow leopards possessed low levels of genetic diversity regardless of examination at range-wide, regional, or local scales. Across their range, snow leopards predominately consumed larger-bodied wild hoof stock species, though these varied based on availability. Livestock constituted anywhere from 0% to 33% of dietary repertoire, speaking to the need of herder support in reducing the potential for negative attitudes and retaliatory killings. In general, snow leopards displayed a wide breadth of prey items consumed, including within the realm of domestic animals. In China, snow leopards most overlapped in diet with Tibetan wolves (Canis lupus) regardless of location or time of year, with both species showing a high dependence on blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur) and pika (Ochotona spp.). Occurrences of livestock among the snow leopard and its sympatric counterparts were highest in the Tibetan wolf, which could contribute to the snow leopard being afforded more tolerance among herders. Herders in the Sanjiangyuan region of China had positive attitudes towards snow leopards overall, with religion and years of formal education playing an important role in shaping these attitudes. However, the role of livestock loss in shaping attitudes revealed itself to be much more complicated. One way of reducing livestock loss is through the deployment of non-lethal deterrents, such as flashing lights. The effectiveness of flashing lights at deterring predators from livestock was perceived by herders to be high, but functional effectiveness was limited in interpretation due to the majority of domestic animal attacks occurring during the day by wolves. Results from this indicate that herders approve of and will deploy user-friendly, small, and mobile devices with familiar characteristics, but that complications in designing research studies can limit further analytic assessments. Future snow leopard research should consider the value of tailored research efforts based on knowledge surrounding genetics, prey availability, and the factors that impact human attitudes towards the species within a particular area. However, the expansive distribution of the snow leopard also mandates that trans-boundary cooperation and communication is prioritized. Local communities within snow leopard habitat play a crucial role in the conservation success of the species, and can serve as allies in protection efforts. Greater incorporation of their local ecological knowledge and skillsets can provide the additional resources necessary to continue advancing current understanding of snow leopards

The Examination of Enrichment Using Space and Food for African Elephants (Loxodonta Africana) at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Concern for elephant welfare in zoological facilities has prompted a number of exhibit and management modifications, including those involving enrichment. Knowledge of how these changes impact measures of health and wellbeing, such as elephant movement and behavior, is crucial as the effects of multiple enrichment types and their interactions are largely understudied. The present study used observations and GPS unit collected data to determine the effects of space and food on the walking distance and behavior of thirteen African elephants, whose dominance structure was ascertained by the handlers at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park (SDZSP). This facility has two exhibits of approximately equal size. Three treatments were created to assess the effects of food and space enrichment: (1) access to half of the exhibit with food (Half); (2) access to both yards with food in one yard, or half the total exhibit space (Both/Half); and (3) access to both yards with food in both (Both). To account for mirrored effects, the reverse for Half and Both/Half were also completed. Significant differences across treatments were revealed for average total walking distances, which varied among elephants belonging to different dominance groups. Overall, treatment Both evoked the most diverse behavior. Walking and behavioral data were related, as were walking distances and elephant dominance rank. No such relationships were found between dominance and behavioral measures. The information obtained from this study has direct implications for the management of the SDZSP elephants and could be applicable for elephants at other facilities that consider the choices between increasing the size of exhibits and the use of other forms of enrichment

Gemeinsam und doch für sich

Die Qualität von Arbeitsergebnissen steht und fällt mit den Bedingungen am Arbeitsplatz. Das ist nicht nur im akademischen Bereich so. Um vor allem Promovierenden der geisteswissenschaftlichen Bereiche eine gute Basis zu bieten, hat die Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig eine besondere Art von Großraumbüro geschaffen

„Mehr“ Bibliothek durch weniger Handgriffe?: Von Selbstverbuchung und Serviceerweiterung

Längst wissen alle im Bibliotheksgeschäft Tätigen, dass Bibliotheken auch oder gerade in Zeiten von E-Books und Online-Journalen begehrte Arbeits- und Lernorte sind. Überfüllte Lesebereiche, Forderungen nach langen Öffnungszeiten und diversen Arbeitsplatzqualitäten sprechen eine deutliche Sprache. Diesen berechtigten Wünschen stehen jedoch meist knappe Mittel gegenüber und es stellt sich die Frage, wie wir zusätzlichen Service mit gleichbleibenden oder sinkenden Ressourcen leisten können. Was also liegt näher, als bestimmte Abläufe durch Automaten zu ersetzen? Damit könnten Kapazitäten frei werden, mit denen dieses besondere „Mehr“, das eine lebendige Bibliothek heute ausmacht, geboten werden kann

A KING’S COLLEGE LONDON UNDERGRADUATE PSYCHIATRY SOCIETY EVENT TO CHALLENGE THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS IN HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS

Background: There are higher levels of psychological distress in healthcare professionals and students compared to the general population. Yet, despite the availability of effective treatment, many in this group continue to suffer in silence. Fear of exposure to stigmatization has been identified to be a major barrier to accessing and using mental health services. King’s College London Undergraduate Psychiatry Society (KCL PsychSoc) organized an event entitled, \u27What does bipolar disorder even mean? Psychological distress: How can we challenge the stigma?\u27. Healthcare professionals who themselves recovered from psychological problems and a mental health advocate with first-hand experience of psychological distress were invited to deliver talks followed by an interactive question and answer session. Design: We conducted a single-arm pre-post comparison study. People who attended the KCL Psych Soc event were recruited to participate. Validated stigma scales on knowledge (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), attitudes (Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill) and behavior (Reported and Intended Behavior Scale (RIBS)) were administered on participants before and immediately after exposure to the event. Results: 44/44 of the participants recruited completed the study (100% response rate). There were statistically significant changes in the respondents’ scores for all 3 stigma scales (p value MAKS <0.0001, p value CAMI<0.0001, p value RIBS=0.0011). Discussion: As far as the authors are aware, this is the first study to date of an anti-stigma intervention comprised of healthcare professionals with first-hand experience of psychological distress. The KCL PsychSoc event was associated with statistically significant changes in the respondents\u27 scores in all three of the stigma scales. More robust research in this area is needed before scaling up similar anti-stigma initiatives

The transcription factor Zeb2 regulates development of conventional and plasmacytoid DCs by repressing Id2

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DCs [pDCs]) develop from pre-pDCs, whereas two lineages of conventional DCs (cDCs; cDC1s and cDC2s) develop from lineage-committed pre-cDCs. Several transcription factors (TFs) have been implicated in regulating the development of pDCs (E2-2 and Id2) and cDC1s (Irf8, Id2, and Batf3); however, those required for the early commitment of pre-cDCs toward the cDC2 lineage are unknown. Here, we identify the TF zinc finger E box-binding homeobox 2 (Zeb2) to play a crucial role in regulating DC development. Zeb2 was expressed from the pre-pDC and pre-cDC stage onward and highly expressed in mature pDCs and cDC2s. Mice conditionally lacking Zeb2 in CD11c(+) cells had a cell-intrinsic reduction in pDCs and cDC2s, coupled with an increase in cDC1s. Conversely, mice in which CD11c(+) cells overexpressed Zeb2 displayed a reduction in cDC1s. This was accompanied by altered expression of Id2, which was up-regulated in cDC2s and pDCs from conditional knock-out mice. Zeb2 chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed Id2 to be a direct target of Zeb2. Thus, we conclude that Zeb2 regulates commitment to both the cDC2 and pDC lineages through repression of Id2

Thermochronology of mineral grains in the Red and Mekong Rivers, Vietnam: Provenance and exhumation implications for Southeast Asia

Sand samples from the mouths of the Red and Mekong Rivers were analyzed to determine the provenance and exhumation history of their source regions. U-Pb dating of detrital zircon grains shows that the main sources comprise crust formed within the Yangtze Craton and during the Triassic Indosinian Orogeny. Indosinian grains in the Mekong are younger (210-240 Ma) than those in the Red River (230-290 Ma), suggesting preferential erosion of the Qiangtang Block of Tibet into the Mekong. The Red River has a higher proportion of 700-800 Ma grains originally derived from the Yangtze Craton. 40Ar/ 39Ar dating of muscovite grains demonstrates that rocks cooled during the Indosinian Orogeny are dominant in both rivers, although the Mekong also shows a grain population cooling at 150-200 Ma that is not seen in the Red River and which is probably of original Qiangtang Block origin. Conversely, the Red River contains a significant mica population (350-500 Ma) eroded from the Yangtze Craton. High-grade metamorphic rocks exposed in the Cenozoic shear zones of southeast Tibet-Yunnan are minority sources to the rivers. However, apatite and zircon fission track ages show evidence for the dominant sources, especially in the Red River, only being exhumed through the shallowest 5-3 km of the crust since ̃25 Ma. The thermochronology data are consistent with erosion of recycled sediment from the inverted Simao and Chuxiong Basins, from gorges that incise the eastern flank of the plateau. Average Neogene exhumation rates are 104-191 m/Myr in the Red River basin, which is within error of the 178 ± 35 m/Myr estimated from Pleistocene sediment volumes. Sparse fission track data from the Mekong River support the Ar-Ar and U-Pb ages in favoring tectonically driven rock uplift and gorge incision as the dominant control on erosion, with precipitation being an important secondary influence. © 2006 by the American Geophysical Union

Gemeinsam und doch für sich

Die Qualität von Arbeitsergebnissen steht und fällt mit den Bedingungen am Arbeitsplatz. Das ist nicht nur im akademischen Bereich so. Um vor allem Promovierenden der geisteswissenschaftlichen Bereiche eine gute Basis zu bieten, hat die Universitätsbibliothek Leipzig eine besondere Art von Großraumbüro geschaffen