Wildlife Biology

"This chapter discusses how models, combined with modern data sources and statistical methods, can be used to test different hypotheses about the causes of migration. Mathematical formalisms for migration are presented. The ecological mechanisms that could spontaneously have given rise to migration-like patterns of space use from the interaction within and between groups of animals and their environment are discussed, showing that migration is best seen as to lie on a continuum from sedentary to nomadic movement patterns and not as a clearly distinct movement behaviour. Given the multitude of potential processes leading to migration, and the constraints imposed by data collection methods, it may be difficult to observe and identify the original cause. With this caveat in mind, the use of inferential methods to detect, quantify and identify the underlying mechanisms of migration is discussed and the links between models, data and inference are illustrated using three case studies.
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BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

The European beaver Castor fiber is well-known as an ecosystem engineer that greatly affects landscape structure, biodiversity as well as physical and chemical properties of surface water bodies. Beaver ponds alter surface water bodies by raising water elevation, decreasing flow velocity and altering the morphology of streams or drainage ditches, which can reduce the concentrations of organic carbon (OC) and nutrients (N, P). Recent studies indicated that mercury transforms into hazardous and neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) in beaver impoundments by biological processes in anaerobic conditions. However, the knowledge about nutrients and MeHg levels in impounded forest waterbodies is scarce in Lithuania. We aimed to ascertain the alteration in concentrations and stocks of OC, nutrients and MeHg in water and sediments from upstream and downstream, as well as within beaver dams and ponds during the growing seasons of 2016–2018. Results showed higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nutrients (P and N) in upstream water samples compared to those of downstream from beaver dams. Meanwhile, in sediments mean stocks of OC, P and N were the highest in the middle part of the ponds and in beaver dams. Moreover, the concentrations and stocks of MeHg in sediments were higher in beaver dams than in any other parts of beaver impoundments (upstream, mid-pond, pond periphery and downstream). We conclude that dam bottom sediments were rich in OC, N and P, and at the same time, contained toxic MeHg. Therefore, beaver dams could act as a trickle filter by improving water quality, in our case, DOC, N and P leaching, from riparian forests and soils, but may also act as hotspots of mercury methylation.

The coronavirus pandemic seemed to throw everyone off their path, but by the time spring arrived, I had begun two projects that moved along similar paths and gradually opened in directions I had never anticipated. One was reading and studying Thoreau's Journal, focusing on his studies in botany. The other was hiking in the Valles Caldera National Preserve, twenty miles north of our new home in northern New Mexico. The two paths weren't exactly parallel. Readers of the Journal know that Thoreau was a committed and disciplined traveler, rambling over the neighborhood of Concord several times a week, in daylight and moonlight, by foot, by boat, and by skates. As he comments in the 4 December 1856 Journal entry, he found himself "observing when plants first blossomed and leafed, and I followed it up early and late, far and near, several years in succession, running to different sides of the town and into the neighboring towns, often between twenty and thirty miles in a day. I often visited a particular plant four or five miles distant, half a dozen times within a fortnight, that I might know exactly when it opened, beside attending to a great many others in different directions and some of them equally distant, at the same time. At the same time I had an eye for birds and whatever else might offer" (Journal IX: 158). The Journal from 1850 to 1861 abundantly shows that Thoreau went "running" all over in search of flowering plants, sometimes in company with Ellery Channing, but most often alone. He called these travels "excursions," and I have come to think of them as botanical excursions. In my reading, that is, plants dominate Thoreau's journal entries, and the plants often lead him to larger reflections on science, literature, and writing.

During 1997–1999, 32 Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) were translocated from the Sustut Herd to the Telkwa Mountains in westcentral British Columbia to augment recovery of the Telkwa Caribou Herd. The animals were fitted with radiocollars and located during 1997–2000 to determine selection of habitat features and terrain variables. Six Caribou calves were also collared to determine causes and timing of calf mortality during summer 1999. Defining available habitat for newly translocated animals is often arbitrary and subjective, and we based the analyses on ranks for habitat use and availability as this is less sensitive to the inclusion or exclusion of a questionable resource. This method represents some loss of information but provides indications of the relative importance of various habitat types without classifying any as avoided. High elevation habitat (> 1700 masl) on moderate slopes (16 – 45°) received the highest ranks, as did “warm” (136 – 315°) aspects and f...

Early frontier expeditions in North America often relied on hunting of wild game to supplement carried food stocks. Typically, journals of these expeditions provided little to no information on the game species harvested or the numbers of animals taken. In September 1750, frontiersman Christopher Gist was contracted by the Ohio Company to “search out and discover the lands of the River Ohio…and to take an exact and particular journal of all your proceedings”. Gist’s journal was detailed on the lands, peoples, and resources he saw, including the species and numbers of wild game harvested to support the expedition. Five game species were harvested: bear, deer, “buffaloe”, elk, and turkey. I compare and contrast the value of each of these species in providing sustenance to the expedition and suggest that black bear provided the greatest food resource in quantity, quality (fat and protein), and potential portability once processed (e.g., “bear bacon”).

Page 1. Chapter 8 Structure of an Arid Tropical Bird Community, Rajasthan C. Sivaperuman, S. Dookia, PL Kankane, and QH Baqri Abstract The diversity and abundance of avifauna in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan were studied from May 2000 to May 2003. ...

We studied diet composition of red deer Cervus elaphus in the Bohemian Forest by micro-histological analysis of 207 samples of red deer faeces obtained on the Czech and the Bavarian side of the border. We carried out the research from October 2006 to February 2008, and collected samples every two months at nine monitoring plots that were situated at different altitudes (i.e. from 600 to 1,250 m a.s.l.). Our results confirmed the classification of red deer among intermediate feeders with a mixed diet of graminoids (29.4%) and concentrate food items (60.6%). Concentrate food items were dominant in their diet all year round; however, the diet composition during the winter season differed from the diet composition during the vegetation season. This change was mainly represented by the strong increase in consumption of coniferous trees (from 5.7 to 26.4%) during winter. The amount of graminoids in the diet was higher during the vegetation season, which was caused by the intensive consumption of graminoids at two top-hill plots (up to 90% per sample). Likewise bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus, with ripe berries was identified as an important food source only at the mountain ridge (up to 33% per sample). In agreement with our prediction, the diet composition of red deer at windthrow gaps (Blatny´vrch Hill and Schachtenau) differed from the diet composition at undisturbed forest sites. At the gaps, ferns were an intensively consumed food source (up to 80% per sample). Contrary to other mountain areas, ferns made up a much larger share of the diet not only during autumn and winter but also during spring and summer. At Schachtenau, red deer also fed extensively on bramble Rubus sp., which intensively proliferates at the gaps. Diet composition of red deer in the Bohemian Forest differed between seasons, between plots at the mountain ridge and plots situated at lower altitudes as well as between windthrow gaps and undisturbed forest sites. However, further research of diet selectivity is necessary to explain in detail the observed feeding patterns.

1. Recent national and international policy initiatives have aimed to reduce the exposure of humans and wildlife to lead from ammunition. Despite restrictions, in the UK, lead ammunition remains the most widespread source of environmental lead contamination to which wildlife may be exposed. 2. The risks arising from the use of lead ammunition and the measures taken to mitigate these have prompted intense and sometimes acrimonious discussion between stakeholder groups, including those advancing the interests of shooting, wildlife conservation, public health and animal welfare. 3. However, relatively little is known of the perspectives of individual ammunition users, despite their role in adding lead to the environment and their pivotal place in any potential changes to practice. Using Q-methodology, we identified the perspectives of ammunition users in the UK on lead ammunition in an effort to bring forward evidence from these key stakeholders. 4. Views were characterised by two stat...

The eighth international census of Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus wintering in Britain, Ireland and Iceland (also including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands) took place in January 2020, to update the estimates of the size, midwinter distribution, habitat use and breeding success of the Icelandic Whooper Swan population. The total of 43,255 swans counted represented a 27.2% increase in numbers since the previous census in 2015. Overall, 36.8% of the population (15,927 birds) was recorded in England, 33.4% (14,467) in the Republic of Ireland, 11.7% (5,052) in Scotland, 10.7% (4,644) in Northern Ireland and 6.8% (2,923) in Iceland, with < 1% (242) in Wales, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands combined. Despite numbers increasing in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland since 2015, the proportion of the total population in the Republic of Ireland was significantly lower in 2020 and no significant difference was detected for Northern Ireland, whereas proportions in England and Scotland were significantly higher in 2020 and lower in Iceland. Breeding success was not associated with temperatures on either the breeding or wintering grounds. It also showed no clear trend over time, suggesting that increased survival may be the demographic driver of the population growth.

Dung beetles are a functionally important group of species, and the effects of large wild herbivores on these species are not well understood. Management of wild herbivores could, therefore, have considerable consequences for dung beetle assemblages and the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we analysed how species richness, biomass, abundance, and composition of dung beetle assemblages were affected by different dung availability as a consequence of different red deer (Cervus elaphus) densities under field conditions. This was done in spring and autumn over four independent study regions in Central Europe where red deer are the most important providers of dung in forests. Our results show that forest sites with high dung availability support higher species richness of dung beetles than sites with low availability. This effect is independent of season and could be explained by the different colonisation patterns of beetle species which vary in their competitiveness. As aggregated dung resources increase opportunities for low-competitive species, those species establish small populations and do not necessarily increase the abundance of the whole assemblage. Our results show that the current policies to limit deer populations also limit higher levels of species diversity of this functionally important arthropod taxon. We highlight the importance of hunting-free areas for the conservation of insect diversity associated with large herbivores. In strictly protected areas with low herbivore densities we suggest to reduce control of ungulate numbers to provide sufficient resources for maintaining dung beetle diversity. Keywords Trophic interactions • protected areas • dung availability • bottom-up effects • hunting • Cervus elaphus Communicated by Andreas Schuldt.

The American mink (Neovison vison) is a semi-aquatic, generalist carnivore released onto Tierra del Fuego (TDF) Island in the 1940s, subsequently spreading to adjacent islands in the archipelago with potential effects on native prey populations. Knowledge of this new predator’s trophic ecology is essential to identify threats, plan control strategies and conserve native fauna. We studied seasonal mink diet in TDF in different habitats. We identified undigested remains from 493 scats collected between May 2005 and March 2009 along marine coasts and freshwater shores (rivers and lakes). Small mammals and fish were the main mink prey in TDF (over 65% of diet items). Seasonal variations were not detected, but diet did vary significantly between marine and freshwater habitats, where more terrestrial items were consumed. Among mammals, mink consumed more small native rodents than exotic species. Native fish consumption was also important with greater representation of species from the families Nototheniidae and Galaxiidae in marine and freshwater habitats respectively. Birds were the third item in importance, but did not constitute a particularly large part of the mink’s diet on TDF. Overall, differences found in mink diet between habitats reflected their generalist/opportunistic feeding behaviour and did not differ greatly from observations in its native range or in other areas where it has been introduced. Our results establish the interactions between this novel predator and its prey and also illustrate the need to continue research on native prey populations to quantify mink impact on them and understand the ecological context of this biotic assemblage.

Manu National Park was founded in 1973 on a profound contradiction: the “untouchable” core area is in fact the homeland of a large Amerindian population, including the Matsigenka (Machiguenga). Some view the Westernization of native communities living in protected areas as a threat to biodiversity conservation and suggest that such populations should be enticed to resettle outside parks. Here, we present an overview of the indigenous populations of Manu, outline the history of the park and its anthropological policies, and discuss evolving park-Matsigenka conflicts as well as areas of common interest. Analysis reveals that resettlement has no political, legal, or practical viability. Thus, given the options available, we propose that long-term biodiversity conservation can best be achieved through a ‘tenure for defense’ trade: indigenous communities receive explicit benefits (direct and indirect) in exchange for helping to defend the park against incursion and managing vulnerable resources such as game animals.

Ian Redmond reports from his former study site on Mt Elgon, Kenya, then attended the Brazzaville ivory burn, and asks how the latter can help protect the former. Ian Redmond, Obe is a wildlife biologist and conservationist, known for his work with great apes and elephants. For nearly 40 years he has been associated with mountain gorillas, and served as Ambassador for the UN Year of the Gorilla 2009 and subsequently for the UNEP Convention on Migratory Species since 2010. He co-founded the ELEFRIENDS campaign, which helped achieve the 1989 ban on international ivory trade, and in 1996 established the Ape Alliance www.4apes.com which he still chairs.

Giraffe skin disease (GSD) is a disorder of undetermined etiology that causes lesions on the forelimbs of Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi). We estimated occurrence and prevalence of GSD in six wildlife conservation areas of Tanzania. The disjunct spatial pattern of occurrence implies that environmental factors may influence GSD.

Over the last decade, wildlife professionals in the New York City (NY, USA) metropolitan area
have increasingly turned to controlled archery hunts to reduce overabundant suburban deer populations. The
success of these deer management programs (DMPs) depends on a willing pool of hunters motivated to meet
harvest goals. This requires maintaining hunter satisfaction both now, and in the future when successful herd
reduction will result in fewer opportunities for deer harvest. With the goal of providing local deer managers
with feedback from hunters partaking in DMPs, we used surveys designed to evaluate why members hunted,
why they joined DMPs, members’ views on deer management, and ultimately, their satisfaction with
controlled hunts. Members were primarily motivated to hunt by the chance to see wildlife, opportunities
for recreation, and a passion for archery. Most (71%) reported that their enjoyment had increased since first
joining a DMP and satisfaction was not linked to harvest opportunity or success. Nevertheless, we
documented several trends that threaten the long-term sustainability of DMPs. First, 78.2% of survey
respondents were over the age of 40, possibly suggesting fewer younger recruits into DMPs. Second, the
opportunity to hunt previously unhunted land, a transitory incentive, was the most common reason for
participating in DMPs. Third, respondents whose DMP doe harvest was limited by choosing to spend time
on private, non-DMP land were also more likely to have seen fewer deer on DMP lands (G-test ¼ 13.2,
df ¼ 4, P ¼ 0.01). This suggests that effort will decline as deer herds decline.

Effective anti-predator defence mechanisms depend on ef®cient recognition of possible predators. However, nocturnal aerial predators, such as owls, present very few stimuli to enable their detection by potential prey. The most prominent of these are their territorial calls which are believed to provide suffcient stimuli to activate anti-predator defence mechanisms in species heavily predated upon by owls.To test this hypothesis, the behaviour of voles (Microtus socialis), dormice (Eliomys melanurus), jerboas (Jaculus jaculus), and spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) was analysed during and following exposure to playback of tape recorded calls of the tawny owl (Strix aluco). In response, voles crouched, and retreated to a small burrow present in the test arena; dormice also reduced the distances they travelled in the arena, and spent an increased amount of time around the burrow; jerboas crouched and froze during the playback of the owl call but not thereafter; spiny mice, however, displayed enigmatic behaviour in apparently ignoring the owl calls. The results, which demonstrate an induction of defensive behaviours to recorded
owl calls, support the results of others who have examined the effects of exposing wild rodents to live owls.

Effective conservation planning for endangered species depends on an understanding of space use patterns. Blackfooted ferrets Mustela nigripes depend on prairie dogs Cynomys sp. as prey and use their burrow systems for shelter. The availability of areas with high densities of active prairie dog burrows is the major factor thought to affect their selection of sites and resources. However, we have little knowledge about how the spatial distribution of active prairie dog burrows might influence the spatial organization and home-range size of ferrets. We monitored the movements of black-footed ferrets on a black-tailed prairie dog C. ludovicianus colony in South Dakota to document ferret space use patterns. Home ranges of female ferrets were 22.9 -95.6 ha in size (x¼56.3 ha, SE¼19.7, N¼6), while male ferret home ranges were on average more than twice as large as those of females (x¼128.3 ha, SE¼68.5, N¼3). The home-range size of female ferrets was correlated with mean active prairie dog burrow utilization distribution (UD) value within ferret home ranges, where home-range size decreased as active prairie dog burrow UD value increased (r 2 ¼ 0.974, P , 0.001, N ¼ 6). Ferret space use overlapped more extensively than previously reported, with up to 43% UD overlap between a ferret and the nearest adjacent ferret of the same sex. Areas of overlap tended to have higher active prairie dog burrow UD values, suggesting that the spatial distribution of active prairie dog burrows influenced both home-range size and the amount of space use overlap between ferrets. These findings emphasize the potential influence of resource distribution on carnivore sociobiology and the importance of considering that distribution in assessing habitat for the reintroduction of specialized species.

BioOne Complete (complete.BioOne.org) is a full-text database of 200 subscribed and open-access titles in the biological, ecological, and environmental sciences published by nonprofit societies, associations, museums, institutions, and presses.

We report the first record of jungle babbler Argya striata feeding on house gecko Hemidactylus sp. in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. On the morning of 09 th October 2018, a small group of jungle babblers consisting of six adults and two fledglings were observed in and around plants pots and compost bins on the roof of author's residence. A juvenile house gecko Hemidactylus sp. appeared to have incidentally flushed out of a crevice by the foraging birds. It was immediately attacked by two adults and was killed quickly by heavy pecking on gecko's body. The gecko's tail was quickly fed upon by one of the two attacking birds after tail autotomy. Once the gecko stopped moving, the two attacking birds tried consuming the gecko whole but soon dropped it as it appeared to be too big to swallow the whole body. They started pecking out small pieces from the head and stomach area. At one point, the two birds held the gecko from two places, one from the head and the other held a front limb and started to tug. Other members of the group were uninterested in the entire event and did not participate. The two attacking birds continued pecking out small pieces until they weren't hungry anymore. They left the remaining body and joined the resting members of the group.

The consequences of climate change for bird populations have received much attention in recent decades, especially amongst cavity-nesting songbirds, yet little has been written on ducks (Anatidae) despite these being major elements of wetland diversity and important quarry species. This paper reviews the major known consequences of climate change for birds in general, and relates these to the limited information available specifically for ducks. Climate change can influence migration distance and phenology, potentially affecting patterns of mortality, as well as distribution and reproductive success in ducks. Studies addressing effects of climate change are, however, restricted to very few duck species, including mallard Anas platyrhynchos and common eider Somateria mollissima. Shifts in winter duck distributions have been observed, whereas the mismatch hypothesis (mistiming between the periods of peak energy requirements for young and the peak of seasonal food availability) has received limited support with regard to ducks. We propose a range of monitoring initiatives, including population surveys, breeding success monitoring schemes and individual duck marking, which should later be integrated through population modelling and adaptive management to fill these gaps.

We have studied the relation between three riparian bird species with different chemical-physical and environmental parameters in the Bayas river (Alava, northern Spain). The gray waigtail appears all over the river basin, but is related to the existence of superficial waters microareas between zones of speedy watercourses, moderated slope and intermediate wide. Dipper revealed as the most biondicator specie, because its distribution keep sclose and significative relation with the altitude, number of rapids per kilometre, pH and slope. Kingfisher seems to appear in less slope, wide and slow water sections, and low and average water flows areas, corresponding to the lowest elevations, with non significant relationship with other parameters as pH.

This study investigated the effect of crude oil pollution and remediation on the fungi and bacteria communities of M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres using three sites - Unpolluted Site (UPS), Polluted and Treated Site (PTS), and Polluted and Untreated Site (PUS). Population of fungi in both M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres was highest in UPS while the bacteria population was highest in PUS and UPS in M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres, respectively. The highest similarity in fungi species was observed between UPS/PTS (67%) and PTS/PUS (87%) in M. indica and E. guineensis rhizospheres, respectively. Similarity in bacteria species was highest between UPS/PTS (50%) in M. indica rhizosphere while it was highest between UPS/PUS (60%) and PTS/PUS (60%) in E. guineensis rhizosphere. The diversity of fungi was highest at UPS in both M. indica (H ꞊ 1.04; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.63) and E. guineensis (H ꞊ 1.17; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.67) rhizospheres. Bacteria diversity in M. indica rhizosphere was highest in PUS (H ꞊ 0.70) when Shannon-Wiener index was used but highest in PTS (Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.42) when Simpson index was used; and highest in PTS (H ꞊ 039; Simpson 1-D ꞊ 0.20) for E. guineensis rhizosphere. Most of the evaluated attributes compared better in UPS; however, bacteria population and diversity in M. indica rhizosphere was highest in PUS and PTS, respectively. Get more articles at: http://www.innspub.net/volume-6-number-4-april-2015-jbes/

To save the apes we must save their habitat - the tropical rainforests and woodlands of Africa and South-east Asia, two of the planet's 'green lungs'.  Apes are keystone species in their ecosystems, which in turn are key to global efforts to prevent dangerous climate change.  As carbon markets develop, this will bring new financial resources and job opportunities in the management of ape habitat for the benefit of local communities, biodiversity conservation and the planet.

BACKGROUND:
In spite of its indusrial usefulness and varied daily uses, lead (Pb) pollution is a widespread ecological problem that faces the humans in the 21th century. Pb was found to produces a wide range of toxic effects including neurotoxicity especially to the developing and young offspring. Recently, the utilization of herbal plants has received a significant attention where there has been rising awareness in their therapeutic use; among these is the garlic.
AIM OF THE WORK:
In light of the above, the current study is designed experimentally in female pregnant rats in order to investigate the beneficial role of garlic extract in the protection from the maternal and fetal cerebellar damage that produced by administration of different doses of Pb during pregnancy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Positively pregnant female rats were divided into five groups; one control group, two Pb-treated groups (exposed to 160 and 320 mg/kg b.wt. of Pb, respectively) and two groups treated with both Pb and garlic (exposed to Pb as previous groups together with 250 mg/ kg b.wt. /day of garlic extract). Treatments started from day 1 till day 20 of pregnancy, where the mother rats of different experimental groups were sacrified to obtain the fetuses. Pb level in the maternal nd fetal blood and cerebellum was estimated by spectrophotometry. Specimens of the cerebellum of different mother and fetal groups were processed to histological and immunohistochemical staining for microscopic examination.
RESULTS:
The results showed that administration of Pb to pregnant rats resulted in a dose-dependent toxicity for both mothers and fetuses in the form of decrease of maternal weight gain, placental and fetal weights, brain weight and diminished fetal growth parameters, which were prominent in rat's group treated with larger dose of Pb. In Pb-treated rats, Pb level in blood and cerebellum was high when compared to the control. The histopathological examination of the cerebellum of treated dams and fetuses showed marked alterations mainly in the form of Purkinje cell degeneration and lack of deveopmet of fetal cerebellum. Co-treatment of garlic extract along with Pb resulted in a significant decrease in Pb levels as compared with those treated with Pb alone with improvement of the histopathological changes.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study was useful in evaluating the hazardous effects of uncontrolled use of Pb in general and in assessing the developmental and neurotoxicity of fetuses due to exposure during pregnancy in particular. Co-administration of garlic has beneficial effects in amelioration of Pb-induced neurotoxicity and reversing the histopathological changes of the cerebellum of mother rats and fetuses.
KEYWORDS:
garlic; glial fibrillary acidic protein; lead; purkinje cells

In the last two decades the Hungarian red fox (Vulpes vulpes) population (POP) has grown significantly. The growing trend was broken in 2002. We tested two hypotheses: (1) the POP falling due to a fox POP size that is above the carrying capacity (CC) that initiates internal control mechanisms (H1); or (2) a fall in the POP due to competition from the expanding golden jackal POP (H2)

Un total de 291 animales fueron hallados muertos en la vía, durante los 142 monitoreos realizados desde el 1 de enero al 1 de Julio. La frecuencia de aparición de un animal atropellado es 1 animal cada 1,5 kms recorridos. De estos 291 animales el 13% son aves, 24% mamíferos, 30% reptiles y 33% anfibios. En la zona del RVS Hacienda Barú, T14 donde se han observado abundantes medidas de mitigación en forma de túneles bajo la calle y pasos aéreos de fauna, la tasa de atropellos es de 0,3 animales/monitoreo, mientras que la zona aledaña al HN Térraba Sierpe es de 4.0 y la media para todo el área de estudio es 2.0.

The fragmentation of forests is a dominant human impact worldwide with major implications for the conservation and management of ecosystems. Although many studies have assessed the effects of fragmentation on biodiversity at local scales, our understanding of the ecological implications for different functional groups of organisms remains limited, particularly at global scales. Here, we use linear mixed models to explore patterns of occurrence and ecological function of 2844 bird species at 293 localities spanning five continents. We show that sensitivity to fragmentation varies according to functional group and body mass, with the prevalence of insectivores and large frugivores declining in relation to fragment size, particularly under 100 ha. However, the most severe effects were restricted to the tropics, whereas fragmentation had no significant impact on the basic ecological structure of temperate bird communities. We conclude that land-use change in tropical systems is likely to disrupt biotic processes, including seed dispersal and the control of insect herbivores. Our findings highlight the importance of latitude in mediating the impacts of habitat loss, and offer general guidelines for the minimum size of fragments required to prevent the collapse of key ecosystem processes in sensitive regions.

Across the globe, forests are being treated as convertible, rather than renewable resources. The consequences of the bushmeat trade for endangered species, biodiversity and people are no longer in doubt-unless a concerted, multifaceted effort, equal in gravity to the severity of the crisis is initiated, the 'empty forest syndrome' will be realised in the foreseeable future.

Using patient data from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton, we assessed reasons for admission, overall success of rehabilitation, and compared temporal trends with human population growth in the region. Over the survey period 13,375 individuals from 271 species were admitted. These included 11,637 birds (87%), 1,727 mammals (13%), and 11 herptiles (<0.1%). Outcome data were not reliably collected from 1990 through 2007 so it is not possible to provide a valid rate of
the rehabilitated animal release for those years. However, starting in 2008 outcome data was collected for the majority of
animals with the average  release rate of 45.7% from 2008 through 2012. There was a strong relationship between Edmonton’s population growth and the annual intake of wildlife (R² = 0.84, F = 104.6, P = 0.001). This study provides an overview of wildlife intake trends from 1990 through 2012 and is the first known published retrospective of wildlife intake in Alberta.

Crows are passerine birds of genus corvus in family Corvidae. Current study was carried out on three species of crow, jungle crow (Corvus macrorhynchos), house crow (C. splendens) and jackdaw (C. monedula) present in district Mansehra, Pakistan. Crows were trapped for blood sampling. The total genomic DNA was isolated from the blood of each species. The RAPD -PCR analysis of isolated DNA was performed for genetic diversity estimation. All the amplification profiles were observed and genetic distances were estimated. Results of RAPD analysis revealed high level of genetic polymorphism among the three species. The average genetic distance estimates ranged from 50-90%. Phylogenetic relationship was elaborated through dendrogram which supports the genetics distances. The dendrogram showed that house crow and jungle crow share much genetic affinities to each other than to jackdaw. The results also revealed the RAPD markers as effective for such types of studies where an overall picture of genome is required.

Forest is the most need for the wildlife that live in. Forest provide foods, shelter, and place to breed for animals. In the food chain producer is the important actor to fulfill the food need for the consumer (Herbivore), in orfer ot survie in ecosystem.The purpose of this research is to know the types of diet potential and distribution of Crested Fireback (Lophura ignita ignita) in Wain River Protected Forest area using Plot method and recording of presence by using camera traps. From the results of the vegetation analysis that have been done on the habitat of Lophura ignita ignita is successfully recorded 23 species of vegetation consisting of 13 families: Anonaceae,

Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) are widespread in U.S. eastern deciduous forests, yet many populations are experiencing dramatic declines. Herein, we present an assessment of annual survival for adult eastern box turtles that were radio-tracked over a period of 2 y. Using a known fates Kaplan-Meier estimator, the baseline annual survival estimate for adult eastern box turtles in Indiana’s south-central region is 96.2%. Annual survival rates varied slightly between the hibernal period (95.6%) and the active period (96.7%). These initial data provide wildlife managers with a baseline from which a recovery period can be calculated. In areas where road mortality and human interface are high, this estimate should be adjusted to ensure the time for recovery is adequate. Further research is recommended over generations and age-classes to better inform management of this protected species.

This work describes the workings of modern zoos and considers the core ethical challenges which face those who choose to hold and display animals in zoos, aquariums or sanctuaries. Using a number of normative ethical frameworks this thesis explores impacts of modern zoos. The impact of zoos include the costs to animals in terms of animal welfare, the loss of liberty and even impact on the value of animal life. On the positive side of the argument are the welfare and health outcomes for many of the animals held in zoos, increased attention and protection for their species in the wild and the enjoyment and education for the people who visit zoos. This paper concludes that zoos and aquariums are ethically defensible when they align conservation outcomes with the interests of individual animals and the interests of zoo operations. The impending extinction crisis requires large scale interventions which address human values and facilitate consideration of wildlife in decision making. Considering the long term relationship zoos have with animals, their extensive reach within communities and their reliance on animals to deliver positive experiences for people, it is appropriate that zoos pay back some of humanity's debt to wildlife by making a meaningful contribution to wildlife conservation.

El jaguar es una especie clave en todos los ecosistemas del continente americano donde habita, no obstante, su rango de distribución se ha visto disminuido, incluso siendo extirpado de algunos países. Su conservación adquiere una mayor relevancia cuando se pone en contexto con el panorama mundial, donde actualmente existe una pérdida de la biodiversidad a una velocidad insostenible. Es por esto que hoy más que nunca es ineludible nuestra responsabilidad para proteger y hacer uso razonable de los recursos naturales con los que aún contamos. La Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra del Abra Tanchipa es hogar de una población residente de jaguares, la cual subsiste en unos de los últimos relictos de vegetación Neotropical en el noreste de México. Esta reserva, al igual que muchas otras, enfrenta constantemente amenazas que ponen en vilo su delicado equilibrio ecológico, como fragmentación del hábitat, expansión de la frontera agropecuaria e incendios forestales. Este volumen es el resultado de la compilación de poco más de una década de esfuerzos de investigación, manejo y conservación en torno al tercer felino más grande del mundo y depredador ápice de las selvas de América.

Purple sunbird Cinnyris asiaticus is an active species frequenting urban garden for drinking nectar from various flowers. The species is also commonly documented to be nesting in backyard gardens where the nest is often vulnerable to attack by feral cats. Nestlings as well as fledglings are rescued by members of public and taken to wildlife rehabilitation centers. Local rescue centres are often not equipped to provide optimum care for such small and delicate baby birds. This is especially true when staff and volunteers are not trained in proper protocols and guidelines. Lack of published literature on caring for many local, native species makes the task even more difficult. In this case study, we present methods of housing, care, diet plan, behavioral conditioning, and release techniques that were used to successfully rehabilitate an orphan purple sunbird. These methods can be used as guidelines for other biologically and behaviorally similar nectarine species in India.

Gajah Sumatera (diwakili gajah jantan yang terpasang GPS Collar) di DAS Peusangan memiliki karakter pola sebaran yang agregat dan hal ini memiliki kesamaan tipe sebaran dan luas jangkauan jelajah dengan Gajah Sumatera lainnya di Riau dan Lampung (Sitompul 2011; Sukmantoro et. al. 2013). Populasi gajah ini mengikuti riparian sungai dan menggunakan riparian sungai dan kebun campur secara lebih intensif dibandingkan sumber daya lainnya.

Secara status, populasi gajah di DAS Peusangan adalah dalam kondisi yang optimal, diperkirakan telah mengembangkan partisi relung dengan masyarakat khususnya dalam penggunaan sumber daya yang spesifik tetapi secara faktual, masih spesifik dalam memilih sumber daya. Untuk itu, sumber daya – sumber daya yang tidak spesifik dipilih misalnya hutan, lahan terbuka dan semak, perlu diintervensi habitatnya untuk peningkatan dayadukung dari kebutuhan gajah. Dari pola dan keberhasilan intervensi habitat ini diharapkan gajah akan lebih intensif pula menggunakan sumber daya sumber daya lain.

Dalam konteks koridor atau stepping stone bagi Gajah Sumatera, lokasi – lokasi yang diidentifikasi adalah di dalam Kernel 10 - >50% sebagai zona inti dimana kawasan ini membentuk stepping stone menuju ke arah koridor DAS Peusangan – Jambo Aye dan wilayah optimal tertinggi di bagian barat MCP. Koridor DAS Peusangan – Jambo Aye
memiliki ruang optimal tetapi tidak layak untuk pergerakan gajah karena resiko konflik tinggi dan banyak barrier geografi yang mempersulit akses. Pergerakan gajah jantan saja yang melintasi koridor ini tanpa perlu pergerakan kolompok betina ke lokasi ini sebanrnya sudah membantu dalam meningkatkan performa ketahanan populasi gajah dalam jangka panjang. Dalam konteks zonasi, zonasi dibagi menjadi dua bagian yaitu zona inti dan zona penyangga.

Katagori atau kriteria dan lingkup pengelolaan telah diidentifikasi untyuk tujuan penurunan konflik gajah – manusia dan peningkatan populasi dan habitat Gajah Sumatera di masa datang. Zona tidak perlu dibangun dalam kerangka membangun kawasan konservasi baru, tetapi rekomendasi sebagai kawasan ekosistem esensial atau pengelolaan bersama Gajah Sumatera dengan stakeholder terkait sebenarnya telah menjadikan strategi pengelolaan Gajah Sumatera di wilayah ini memiliki peluang kemajuan yang berarti.

We combined GPS data-loggers, VHF transmitters and DVR video-monitoring to measure fine-scale movement patterns during daily incubation recesses by female Sage Grouse Centrocercus urophasianus, a species with uniparental incubation that has experienced widespread population decline and distributional contraction. Most (69.6%) Sage Grouse recess activity was highly localized within a core recess area averaging 2.58 AE 0.64 ha, and females remained within 242.3 AE 30.0 m from the nest during recesses (total recess areas were 11.06 AE 2.27 ha). Visually conspicuous Sage Grouse movements near nests at the start and end of recesses and consistent occupation of core recess areas point to a mechanism for newly abundant predators such as the Northern Raven Corvus corax to detect and depredate Sage Grouse nests. Our methods apply to other avian species of scientific interest and conservation concern.