Fishing for drifts : detecting buoyancy changes of a top marine predator using a step-wise filtering method

This research was partly funded by a Natural Environment Research Council grant [NE/E018289/1]. Further, a PhD studentship in Marine Biology partially funded by the Natural Environment Research Council [NE/L501852/1] and the University of St Andrews 600th Scholarship supported this work.In southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), fasting and foraging related fluctuations in body composition are reflected by buoyancy changes which can be monitored by changes in drift rate. Here, we present an improved knowledge-based method for detecting buoyancy changes from compressed and abstracted dive profiles received through telemetry. We applied this step-wise filtering method to the dive records of 11 southern elephant seals, which identified 0.8% to 2.2% of all dives as drift dives. At the beginning of the migration, all individuals were strongly negatively buoyant. Over the following 75 to 150 days, the buoyancy reached a peak close to or at neutral buoyancy, indicative of a seal’s foraging success. Ground-truthing confirmed that this new knowledge-based method is capable to reliably detect buoyancy changes in the dive records of drift diving species using abstracted dive profiles. This affirms that the abstraction algorithm conveys sufficient detail of the geometric shape of drift dives for them to be identified. It also suggest that using this step-wise filtering method, buoyancy changes could be detected even in old datasets with compressed dive information, for which conventional drift dive classification previously failed.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Potential of Wide Crosses to Improve the Resistance to Vomitoxin Accumulation in Wheat Following Infection by Fusarium Head Blight

Deoxynivalenol (DON) levels were determined in landraces of rye from Brazil, in a collection of triticales and a series of triticale amphiploids. Two of three rye landraces showed a resistant reaction to DON. Seven triticale accessions of the 371 score showed lower levels of incidence, severity and DON content. A total of eight Tritordeum (Triticum durum × Hordeum chilense amphiploids) were scored and showed lower DON levels. Stable lines with lower Fusarium head blight (FHB) and DON levels were selected in progenies from crosses of wheat to preselected accessions of Triticum monococcum and Aegilops speltoides. Both selections compared favourably to the check cultivars in term of agronomic traits indicating minimal linkage drag. One stable resistant line with lower DON levels was isolated in the F7 generation of progenies from crosses to Tritium timopheevii. Lower DON levels were observed in field trials of advanced generation progeny from crosses of wheat to Aegilops cylindrica and Triticum miguschovae. The findings indicate that the alien species accessions or segregating populations from the inter‐specific or inter‐generic hybridization can provide material with variability for DON content

Correlation analysis of indicators of physical condition, health and physical fitness of soldiers involved in peacekeeping operations

Purpose: to identify the main physical qualities, which positively influence the physical state, health and military - professional career peacekeepers when performing tasks in different climatic conditions. Material : the study involved 98 military service under the contract the first age group (men). Analyzed contingent divided into groups according to climatic conditions of service: in the highlands - 37 person, in hot climates - 35 person, in towns and areas with limited space - 26 person. A correlation analysis between the results of running 100 meters, pulling, running 3 kilometre and indicators of the health and physical condition of the soldiers. Results : It was determined that the participation in peacekeeping missions in mountainous areas and in areas with a hot climate is the quality of the underlying physical endurance. With the participation in peacekeeping missions in populated areas and in areas with limited space - this is the strength and speed. Conclusions : on improving these physical qualities should focus during lessons in physical training of peacekeepers in the centers of immediate preparation for missions

Marine animals as platforms for oceanographic sampling: a "win/win" situation for biology and operational oceanography

The development and deployment of logging and telemetry equipment on wide ranging marine animals has provided a wealth of data on their movements and behaviour. We can now predict, within reasonable limits, where many species go, which parts of the water column they will visit and when they will go there. But we also need to know more about the environment through which they move in order to understand their biology and the potential risks to their population status. Additionally, there is a need for near real-time monitoring of ocean processes for long-term weather and climate analyses and forecasting. Developments in sampling and data retrieval devices have made it possible to create a synergy between the biological studies of marine vertebrates and oceanographic studies used to describe and predict changes in the ocean atmosphere system. We can use larger marine species as platforms of opportunity to gather detailed oceanographic information. Animals can collect information from logistically difficult areas, at fine temporal and spatial resolution at relatively low cost. I will discuss some technological opportunities that are currently available, the results of ongoing projects and one "proof of concept" study with the hope of stimulating interest across the technical, oceanographic and biological communities for such an approach. It seems certain that the need for timely, high resolution oceanographic information required for understanding the distribution of marine animals and for the development of increasingly fine resolution physical models will grow more rapidly than the funding available to collect that data. By using animals as platforms, we can close the gap between resources and requirements

Veterinary Medicine and the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International, Interdisciplinary Study of a GlobalWicked Problem

Building on field research in Costa Rica and Belize, this study analyzes environmental and endangered animal protection policies, rights, and practices in Central America, and assesses impacts of veterinary science and conservation biology on animal welfare concerns. Informed by the recent surge in awareness regarding the spread of zoonotic diseases, given COVID-19, the study analyzes Manis javanica and the impact of illegal trafficking of this critically endangered animal. The project theorizes if awareness of zoonotic disease transmission, especially during a global pandemic, could be key to reducing sales, legal or illegal, of wild animals in order to mitigate zoonotic infection spread. Given nearly sixty percent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature, and seventy-one percent of those zoonotic diseases originate in wildlife, the project argues the current global pandemic could be instrumental in raising awareness of and encouraging policy development on reduction of illegal trafficking of critically endangered species

Impact of Endangered Animal Protection Rights, Policies, and Practices on Zoonotic Disease Spread

Building on field research in Costa Rica and Belize, this honors project analyzes environmental and endangered animal protection policies, rights, and practices in Central America and the Caribbean, and assesses the impact of veterinary science and biological research and practice, particularly conservation biology, on animal welfare concerns. Informed by the recent surge in awareness regarding zoonoses and zoonotic disease transmission, prevention and control, resulting from the current global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, the project assesses the need for new and innovative types of collaboration, particularly involving conservation biologists, environmental scientists, public health experts, law and policy makers, and global trade and technology experts, is needed to save endangered and critically endangered species, not only in Central America and the Caribbean region, but worldwide. Given the attention to the COVID-19 pandemic, the honors project includes a case study on the Manis javanica (Sunda, Javan, or Malayan pangolin) and the impact of illegal trafficking of this critically endangered animal. Building on this case study, the project theorizes that awareness of zoonosis transmission, prevention and control, especially during a global pandemic, could be key to reducing the sale, either legal or illegal, of wild animals in order to mitigate zoonotic infection spread. Given that nearly sixty percent of all emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in nature, and seventy-one percent of those zoonotic diseases originate in wildlife, this honors project argues that the COVID-19 pandemic could be instrumental in new awareness and policy development that can reduce illegal trafficking of endangered and critically endangered species

Davis v. Page, 442 F. Supp. 258 (S.D. Fla. 1977)

Constitutional Law-JUVENILE DEPENDENCE PROCEEDINGS-CRITICAL STAGES ANALYSIS USED IN CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS GOVERNS TIMING OF RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN CHILD DEPENDENCY HEARING