Distinctions in sound patterns of calls by killer whales (Orcinus Orca) from analysis of computer sound features

Calls of killer whales, Orcinus orca, were analyzed using computed sound features to classify sound patterns and identify call similarties. Calls were classified and separated according to the podfamily group within clans identified previously by John Ford (U. BC) in the Vancouver whale populations. Acoustic characteristics of the same call type from different individuals were extremely similar, so that discriminating these different sounds was the goal. The WHOI AcouStat program and associated database systems were used to define numerical statistics for each call, and then, these were compared to sort and classify the sounds. The results were in agreement with Ford's descriptions of the calls derived from visual inspection of sound spectrograms of calls. The classification analyses demonstrated that although specific shared calls from different killer whales were much alike, they could be sorted by the pod/subpod of the whales producing the calls. A typical analysis, for example, of the N4 call from Clan A (Vancouver, BC), classified 97% of the calls correctly according to the pod/family of the whales producing the calls. Remaining calls were variant, and likely a result of individual differences in call sounds. Similar classification analysis were tested on unsorted, unalyzed recordings from different populations of whales, and these too could be distinguished, with 98.5% correct separation of the calls

Analizando los esfuerzos para la conservación de carnívoros terrestres en Argentina

Because of the great diversity (28 species) and fragile conservation status (57.1% of species are in threat of extinction) of the terrestrial carnivores of Argentina, we aimed to collect information about the conservation efforts in this country and identify tools to improve their effectiveness through expert opinion. Lack of interest by governmental agencies was the major obstacle for the development of conservation projects in Argentina. However, this factor appears to have evolved positively in the last 5 years. The limited participation of local communities and lack of funds were recognized as additional impediments, which showed variable temporal trends. The inadequacies of the education system and the lack of interdisciplinary approaches represented less important diffi culties. Twenty-nine current carnivore conservation projects were recorded in 19 of the 23 Argentinean provinces, with a concentration in Neuquén and some northern provinces. Although 78.6% of the species of native carnivores forms part of at least one project, less than half of them are the focal species of a project. The number of projects per species ranges from 16 (for Puma concolor) to cero (for Pteronura brasiliensis, Lontra felina, Lyncodon patagonicus, Conepatus humboldtii, and Leopardus guigna). Whereas the number of projects/species was not related to a species’ conservation status, we found a positive association between this indicator of conservation effort and body size. We provide suggestions to reduce biases and identify taxonomic and geographic priorities that will enable to improve the use of the limited resources available for the conservation of carnivores in Argentina.Debido a la gran diversidad (28 especies) y el delicado estado de conservación (57,1% de especies con amenaza de extinción) de los carnívoros terrestres en Argentina, nos propusimos recopilar información sobre los esfuerzos actuales de conservación en este país y, mediante consulta a expertos, identifi car medidas para mejorar su efi cacia. El principal obstáculo encontrado para la implementación de proyectos de conservación en Argentina fue la falta de interés por parte de entes gubernamentales, aunque este factor habría evolucionado positivamente en los últimos 5 años. La limitada participación de las comunidades locales y la escasez de fondos fueron otros problemas importantes y con tendencia variable entre proyectos. Las carencias en el sistema educativo y de enfoques interdisciplinarios representarían obstáculos menos relevantes. Se registraron 29 proyectos de conservación de los carnívoros en desarrollo en 19 de las 23 provincias argentinas, con mayor concentración en Neuquén y provincias del norte del país. El 78,6% de las especies de carnívoros nativos es objeto de uno o más proyectos, pero menos de la mitad son el foco de un proyecto. El número de proyectos por especie varía entre 16 (para Puma concolor) y cero (para Pteronura brasiliensis, Lontra felina, Lyncodon patagonicus, Conepatus humboldtii y Leopardus guigna). La cantidad de proyectos por especie no resultó relacionada con su estado de conservación, pero sí con su tamaño corporal. Se brindan pautas para corregir sesgos y establecer prioridades taxonómicas y geográfi cas y así mejorar el uso de los limitados recursos disponibles para la conservación de los carnívoros argentinos

How Does Spatial Study Design Influence Density Estimates from Spatial Capture-Recapture Models?

When estimating population density from data collected on non-invasive detector arrays, recently developed spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models present an advance over non-spatial models by accounting for individual movement. While these models should be more robust to changes in trapping designs, they have not been well tested. Here we investigate how the spatial arrangement and size of the trapping array influence parameter estimates for SCR models. We analysed black bear data collected with 123 hair snares with an SCR model accounting for differences in detection and movement between sexes and across the trapping occasions. To see how the size of the trap array and trap dispersion influence parameter estimates, we repeated analysis for data from subsets of traps: 50% chosen at random, 50% in the centre of the array and 20% in the South of the array. Additionally, we simulated and analysed data under a suite of trap designs and home range sizes. In the black bear study, we found that results were similar across trap arrays, except when only 20% of the array was used. Black bear density was approximately 10 individuals per 100 km2. Our simulation study showed that SCR models performed well as long as the extent of the trap array was similar to or larger than the extent of individual movement during the study period, and movement was at least half the distance between traps. SCR models performed well across a range of spatial trap setups and animal movements. Contrary to non-spatial capture-recapture models, they do not require the trapping grid to cover an area several times the average home range of the studied species. This renders SCR models more appropriate for the study of wide-ranging mammals and more flexible to design studies targeting multiple species

Police Strategies and Suspect Responses in Real-Life Serious Crime Interviews

This research focuses exclusively on real-life taped interviews with serious crime suspects and examines the strategies used and types of questions asked by police, and suspects’ responses to these. The information source was audio-tape-recorded interviews with 56 suspects. These recordings were obtained from 11 police services across England and Wales and were analysed using a specially designed coding frame. It was found that interviewers employed a range of strategies with presentation of evidence and challenge the most frequently observed. Closed questions were by far the most frequently used, and open questions, although less frequent, were found to occur more during the opening phases of the interviews. The frequency of ineffective question types (e.g. negative, repetitive, multiple) was low. A number of significant associations were observed between interviewer strategies and suspect responses. Rapport/empathy and open-type questions were associated with an increased likelihood of suspects admitting the offence whilst describing trauma, and negative questions were associated with a decreased likelihood

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Romantic Relationships Matter for Girls’ Criminal Trajectories: Recommendations for Juvenile Justice

Ideally, contact with the juvenile justice system provides high-risk girls with an opportunity to receive intervention services, which will instigate their desistance from crime and promote competence in important adult developmental tasks, such as work, marriage, and parenting. Emerging research provides strong evidence that romantic relationships play an important and complex role in girls’ criminal trajectories, and interventions designed with a clear understanding of the associations between relationship outcomes, partner characteristics, and offending will be the most likely to reduce criminal activity and promote self-sufficiency in adulthood. Indeed, involvement in delinquency and/or crime in adolescence is a consistent and robust predictor of negative outcomes —including victimization and violence—within girls’ future romantic relationships. This is not too surprising, given that most youth begin to form partnerships with only the training they have acquired through prior interpersonal relationships, and many girls who resort to crime possess long histories of conflict and aggression within the context of peer and family relationships. In turn, poor-quality partnerships are known to have negative and long-term effects on girls’ health, general functioning, and, of foremost importance to juvenile justice professionals, criminal trajectories. Until recently, romantic partners’ effects on antisocial behavior received little attention, probably because the focus has largely been on male juvenile offenders, and male peers were assumed to have a stronger influence than romantic partners on boys’ antisocial behavior. However, relationships are very important to girls’ sense of self and well-being, and existing research has demonstrated a consistent pattern of findings, which illustrate that romantic relationships play an important role in whether girls will offend in adolescence and adulthood. This article provides a summary of empirical research on the associations between romantic relationship characteristics and involvement in antisocial behavior. In addition, we present findings from the Gender and Aggression Project—Virginia Site to illustrate the level of violence within romantic relationships among incarcerated girls, theoretically the most atrisk girls in the juvenile justice system