ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5574-1653
Current Organisation
The University of Newcastle
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Population Ecology | Environmental communication | Wildlife and Habitat Management | Environmental Science and Management | Conservation and Biodiversity | Conservation and biodiversity | Communication and media studies |
Remnant Vegetation and Protected Conservation Areas in Forest and Woodlands Environments | Natural Hazards in Forest and Woodlands Environments | Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2018
Abstract: Ecosystem engineers have been widely studied for terrestrial systems, but global trends in research encompassing the range of taxa and functions have not previously been synthesised. We reviewed contemporary understanding of engineer fauna in terrestrial habitats and assessed the methods used to document patterns and processes, asking: (a) which species act as ecosystem engineers and with whom do they interact? (b) What are the impacts of ecosystem engineers in terrestrial habitats and how are they distributed? (c) What are the primary methods used to examine engineer effects and how have these developed over time? We considered the strengths, weaknesses and gaps in knowledge related to each of these questions and suggested a conceptual framework to delineate "significant impacts" of engineering interactions for all terrestrial animals. We collected peer-reviewed publications examining ecosystem engineer impacts and created a database of engineer species to assess experimental approaches and any additional covariates that influenced the magnitude of engineer impacts. One hundred and twenty-two species from 28 orders were identified as ecosystem engineers, performing five ecological functions. Burrowing mammals were the most researched group (27%). Half of all studies occurred in dry/arid habitats. Mensurative studies comparing sites with and without engineers (80%) were more common than manipulative studies (20%). These provided a broad framework for predicting engineer impacts upon abundance and species ersity. However, the roles of confounding factors, processes driving these patterns and the consequences of experimentally adjusting variables, such as engineer density, have been neglected. True spatial and temporal replication has also been limited, particularly for emerging studies of engineer reintroductions. Climate change and habitat modification will challenge the roles that engineers play in regulating ecosystems, and these will become important avenues for future research. We recommend future studies include simulation of engineer effects and experimental manipulation of engineer densities to determine the potential for ecological cascades through trophic and engineering pathways due to functional decline. We also recommend improving knowledge of long-term engineering effects and replication of engineer reintroductions across landscapes to better understand how large-scale ecological gradients alter the magnitude of engineering impacts.
Publisher: Southern African Wildlife Management Association
Date: 10-2008
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1071/WR04111
Abstract: The potential for the quokka (Setonix brachyurus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)), a threatened macropodid marsupial, to increase in abundance following the initiation of predator control was investigated by determining the cause of deaths of radio-collared in iduals. Predation was identified as a major cause of death followed by road kills. The non-parametric Kaplan–Meier method modified for staggered entry of in iduals was used to estimate survivorship. Although males and females were affected differently by each cause of mortality, their overall survivorship did not differ significantly. In iduals alive at the beginning of the 25-month study had a 61% chance of surviving to the end. This represented an 81% chance of surviving for 1 year. There was no significant difference in survivorship between adults and juveniles. Current rates of adult and juvenile survivorship should allow population recovery, although none has been evident. Pouch young mortality is hypothesised to have inhibited the anticipated quokka population increase since the initiation of predator control. The observed expulsion of pouch young by females when threatened may be a primary predator avoidance strategy.
Publisher: Asociacion Mexicana de Mastozoologia
Date: 30-01-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-02-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-04-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JBI.14372
Abstract: Ongoing global changes can lead to the expansion of species' geographical range. Exploring the drivers of the successful ongoing expansion of the golden jackal across Europe is essential to understand the species' trophic ecology. We analysed which climatic and environmental factors affected the dietary composition of golden jackals and compared these drivers in the species' historic and recently colonized distribution ranges. Eurasia. Golden jackal ( Canis aureus ). Using 40 published datasets, we modelled jackal diet composition using 13 food categories based on the relative frequency of occurrence of food items and trophic niche breadth ( B A) against climatic and environmental factors from throughout the jackals' recently colonized (22 studies) and historic range (18 studies) using general additive models. The proportion of small mammals in golden jackal diet decreased with annual mean temperature, whereas the consumption of wild ungulates increased with environmental productivity. Increasing temperature and environmental productivity positively influenced niche breadth, while increasing precipitation negatively affected it. The recently colonized distribution range of golden jackals in Europe had a lower mean temperature but higher environmental productivity compared to the species' historic range in Eurasia. In the recently colonized range, jackals consumed small mammals and/or wild ungulates (mostly from scavenging) more frequently, and fewer plants and/or domestic animals (again, mostly from scavenging). The golden jackal is an opportunistic, omnivorous carnivore with high dietary flexibility and biogeographical variation. Climatic and environmental factors shape the species' diet composition, which, in a changing environment, greatly enhances the opportunities for golden jackals to colonize new areas successfully. Golden jackals will likely continue to expand their range in the foreseeable future. The species' trophic niche is expected to broaden with predictions of overall increasing temperatures and reduced precipitation.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-05-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-08-2006
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2018
DOI: 10.1111/AJE.12511
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-02-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-10-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-09-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 31-07-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.29.551074
Abstract: The threatened fishing cat ( Prionailurus viverrinus ) is an elusive and medium-sized cat that is adapted to mangroves, sw s, wetlands, and riverine habitats. A close look at the literature indicates that fishing cats are piscivorous, however this is based on very few studies. Understanding the patterns of resource utilisation by species is crucial for assessing their role in ecosystems and in ensuring their conservation. Therefore, our study presents insights into fishing cat feeding patterns from mangroves of the Godavari delta, Andhra Pradesh, India. We collected 303 putative fishing cat scats and conducted analysis using 120 genetically identified scats. Our analysis revealed that fish was the most important prey by fishing cats in the study area, followed by crabs and rodents. The prey composition did not vary significantly between the three seasons but there were differences between the survey years. The niche breadth also varied across the three seasons, from being a generalist in winters to a specialist in summers. Our results suggest that long term conservation and survival of the fishing cats depends on fish populations, which are the main prey of the species and thus recommend the need to protect the fish populations in the Godavari delta and the surrounding riverine habitats. Given the importance of fish to the diet of the fishing cat, the health of waterways throughout their distribution must be one of the focal strategies of conservation action.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-07-2008
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-12-2018
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.12564
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-2007
DOI: 10.1017/S0030605307001767
Abstract: Recently, conservation estate in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province has increased 10-fold resulting in large predators being increasingly reintroduced to restore ecological integrity and maximize tourism. We describe the reintroductions of large carnivores ( kg) that have occurred in the Eastern Cape and use various criteria to assess their success. Lion Panthera leo reintroduction has been highly successful with a population of 56 currently extant in the region and problems of overpopulation arising. The African wild dog Lycaon pictus population has increased to 24 from a founder population of 11. Preliminary results for spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta also indicate success. Wild populations of leopards Panthera pardus exist on several reserves and have been supplemented by translocated in iduals, although deaths of known in iduals have occurred and no estimate of reproduction is available. Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus reintroduction has also been less successful with 36 in iduals reintroduced and 23 cubs being born but only 41 in iduals surviving in 2005. Criteria for assessing the success of reintroductions of species that naturally occur in low densities, such as top predators, generally have limited value. Carrying capacity for large predators is unknown and continued monitoring and intensive management will be necessary in enclosed, and possibly all, conservation areas in the Eastern Cape to ensure conservation success.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-08-2014
DOI: 10.1038/512253A
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-07-2014
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 02-03-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-07-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12488
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-01-2015
DOI: 10.1007/S00442-014-3189-Y
Abstract: Species loss can result in changes in assemblage structure and ecosystem function through ecological cascades. Australian vertebrate assemblages changed significantly following European colonisation, which resulted in the establishment of invasive vertebrates and the loss of native marsupials, many of which consume invertebrates. Conservation focusses on the removal of invasive carnivores and the reintroduction of regionally extinct species to fenced sites, resulting in what could be considered a reconstruction of pre-European vertebrate assemblages. In semi-arid Australian spinifex mallee ecosystems, we asked: (1) what is the effect of reconstructed pre-European vertebrate assemblages on native arachnid assemblages? and (2) what direct or indirect mechanisms (predation, disturbance and/or competition) could plausibly be responsible for these effects? We compared sites with reconstructed vertebrate assemblages with paired control sites. Arachnids were s led using pitfall trapping and direct searching. Hypotheses regarding mechanisms were tested using scat analysis (predation) and by comparing burrow depth (disturbance) and scorpion mass (competition) between control and reconstructed sites. The dominant dune scorpion, Urodacus yaschenkoi, was less abundant and a wolf spider (Lycosa gibsoni species group) more abundant in reconstructed sites. Differences in spider assemblage composition were marginally non-significant. Scat analysis confirmed native vertebrate predation on scorpions and we found no evidence that competition or disturbance affected scorpions. We, thus, suggest that changes in spider assemblages may have resulted from ecological cascades via decreases in dune scorpions. The loss of omnivorous mammals and other changes associated with the invasion of carnivores may, therefore, have had broad-reaching consequences for native arachnid assemblages in Australian ecosystems.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Date: 05-01-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-07-2018
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 12-2006
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1071/WR03046
Abstract: A study was conducted to determine the validity of using transect counts of faecal pellet groups to estimate population densities of a threatened, macropodid marsupial – the quokka (Setonix brachyurus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1830)). Mark–recapture estimates of population density were regressed against counts of faecal pellet groups at six sites with and three sites without fox control within the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia. Significant linear relationships were found between population density and pellet counts for all sites (r2 = 0.56, P 0.02) and when all unbaited sites were excluded (r2 = 0.98, P 0.01). We suggest that this method could be used for broad-scale monitoring of this threatened species.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1039/C9RA04729H
Abstract: Dye wastewater has caused severe environmental and health problems. In this work, we have fabricated a novel low-cost membrane with good methylene blue dye adsorption and antibacterial property from naturally sustainable lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus ).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/ZO11007
Abstract: Competition for food is predicted to influence faunal movement patterns as animals have to range further to satisfy their nutrient requirements. Research between 1979 and 1984 found that yellow-footed rock-wallabies, Petrogale xanthopus, in Middle Gorge, Buckaringa Sanctuary, had home ranges (134–169 ha in winter) that were much larger than predicted, which was attributed to competing livestock and cropping. We studied the ranging behaviour of this population using GPS telemetry after the cessation of farming and following several years of fox, Vulpes vulpes, and goat, Capra hircus, control to determine whether the reduction in competition and predation pressure has affected movement patterns of this endangered species. Mean winter range size of the four GPS-collared rock-wallabies was 4.3 ha (kernel or 5.5-ha MCP), which is a much smaller area than the rock-wallabies used before farming ceased and fox and goat control was implemented. The rock-wallabies primarily used the mid- to lower slopes of the gorge country and preferred redgum creeks and gorge habitats. The rock-wallabies exhibited a crepuscular activity pattern. We hypothesise that the difference in movements has arisen because the rock-wallabies are no longer competing for resources with introduced herbivores, and are able to meet their forage requirements from a smaller area.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 31-08-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S003060531000150X
Abstract: In South Africa there are efforts to manage reintroduced subpopulations of the Vulnerable cheetah Acinonyx jubatus in small reserves (10–1,000 km 2 ) as a managed metapopulation. We estimated areas required to support cheetahs given varying prey densities, prey profiles and presence/absence of competing predators. A recent population and habitat viability assessment indicated that 20 subpopulations of 10 cheetahs or 10 subpopulations of 15 cheetahs are required to retain 90% of the heterozygosity of free-ranging cheetahs and to overcome stochastic events in the absence or presence of lions Panthera leo , respectively. We estimate that 203 ± SE 42 km 2 (range 48–466 km 2 ) is required to support 10 cheetahs in the absence of lions, whereas 703 ± SE 311 km 2 (166–2,806 km 2 ) is required to support 15 cheetahs given equal numbers of lions, and 2,424 ± SE 890 km 2 (727–3,739 km 2 ) given equal numbers of leopards Panthera pardus , spotted hyaenas Crocuta crocuta , wild dogs Lycaon pictus and lions. Existing subpopulations of cheetahs generally occur at densities higher than our mean predicted densities but usually within the range of predicted densities. The large area requirements of cheetahs have implications for the development of the managed metapopulation. Sourcing reintroduction sites of the sizes required to support recommended subpopulation sizes will be difficult. Consequently, innovative measures to increase the carrying capacity of reserves for cheetahs and/or to enlarge reserves will be required. Managers may be forced to stock cheetahs close to or beyond the carrying capacity of their reserves. Consequently, careful management of reintroduced subpopulations will be required to prevent declines in prey populations.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 17-08-2023
Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) through material extrusion (MEX) is becoming increasingly popular worldwide due to its simple, sustainable and safe technique of material preparation, with minimal waste generation. This user-friendly technique is currently extensively used in erse industries and household applications. Recently, there has been increasing attention on polycaprolactone (PCL)-based composites in MEX due to their improved biodegradability. These composites can be printed at a lower temperature, making them more energy efficient compared to commercial filaments such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA). Although wool is the leading protein fibre in the world and can be more compatible with PCL due to its inherent hydrophobicity, the suitability of MEX using a wool/PCL combination has not been reported previously. In the current study, waste wool/PCL composite parts were printed using the MEX technique, and rheology, thermal and tensile properties, and morphology were analysed. The impact of wool loading (10% and 20%) was investigated in relation to different filling patterns (concentric, rectilinear and gyroid). Furthermore, the impact of fibre fineness on the final material produced through MEX was investigated for the first time using two types of wool fibres with diameters of 16 µm and 24 µm. The yield strength and modulus of PCL increased with the inclusion of 10% wool, although the elongation was reduced. The crystallinity of the composites was found to be reduced with wool inclusion, though the melting point of PCL remained mostly unchanged with 10% wool inclusion, indicating better compatibility. Good miscibility and uniform structure were observed with the inclusion of 10% wool, as evidenced by rheology and morphology analysis. The impact of fibre fineness was mostly minor, though wool/PCL composites showed improved thermal stability with finer diameter of wool fibres. The printed specimens exhibited an increasing rate of biodegradation in marine water, which was correlated to the amount of wool present. Overall, the results demonstrate the practical applicability of the wool/PCL composition in MEX for the preparation of varied objects, such as containers, toys and other household and industrial items. Using wool/PCL combinations as regular plastics would provide a significant environmental advantage over the non-degradable polymers that are currently used for these purposes.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-05-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2004
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-03-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ACV.12269
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-07-2006
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-06-2017
DOI: 10.1002/RSE2.48
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-10-2017
DOI: 10.1111/CONL.12313
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 18-12-2015
Abstract: U.S. wolf-hunting policies do not align with ecological theory or data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-07-2015
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 22-06-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-04-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S10592-023-01522-5
Abstract: The status of many hibian populations remains unclear due to undetected declines driven by disease and difficulties in obtaining accurate population estimates. Here, we used genome complexity reduction-based sequencing technology to study the poorly understood Littlejohn’s treefrog , Litoria littlejohni across its fragmented distribution in eastern Australia. We detected five identifiable genetic clusters, with moderate to strong genetic isolation. At a regional scale, population isolation was likely driven by population crashes, resulting in small populations impacted by founder effects. Moderate genetic isolation was detected among populations on the Woronora Plateau despite short distances between population clusters. Evidence of recent declines was apparent in three populations that had very small effective population size, reduced genetic ersity and high inbreeding values. The rates of inbreeding detected in these populations combined with their small size leave these populations at elevated risk of extinction. The Cordeaux Cluster was identified as the most robust population as it was the largest and most genetically erse. This study exemplifies the value of employing genetic methods to study rare, cryptic species. Despite low recapture rates using traditional capture-recapture demographic methods, we were able to derive population estimates, describe patterns of gene flow, and demonstrate the need for urgent conservation management.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-08-2016
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.12757
Abstract: Conservation actions, such as habitat protection, attempt to halt the loss of threatened species and help their populations recover. The efficiency and the effectiveness of actions have been examined in idually. However, conservation actions generally occur simultaneously, so the full suite of implemented conservation actions should be assessed. We used the conservation actions underway for all threatened and near-threatened birds of the world (International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species) to assess which biological (related to taxonomy and ecology) and anthropogenic (related to geoeconomics) factors were associated with the implementation of different classes of conservation actions. We also assessed which conservation actions were associated with population increases in the species targeted. Extinction-risk category was the strongest single predictor of the type of conservation actions implemented, followed by landmass type (continent, oceanic island, etc.) and generation length. Species targeted by invasive nonnative species control or eradication programs, ex situ conservation, international legislation, reintroduction, or education, and awareness-raising activities were more likely to have increasing populations. These results illustrate the importance of developing a predictive science of conservation actions and the relative benefits of each class of implemented conservation action for threatened and near-threatened birds worldwide.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-09-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU141912267
Abstract: Natural wastes are widely used as composts for plant growth. However, wool waste has received little attention in this regard, despite its nitrogen-rich chemical structure owing to amide groups. A few studies have been conducted for soil amendment using wool, mostly in raw or pellet form. However, despite the possible consistent mixing and more uniform effect of powders inside soil, wool has never been implemented in powder form in soil for improving moisture. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using wool as a powder, facilitating better mixing and spreading in soil. Results show that wool powders are more effective in retaining soil moisture compared to wool pellets and are comparable to commercial fertiliser. The findings further indicate that a balanced amount of wool is required to maintain a proper moisture level (not too wet or dry) to promote actual plant growth.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2016
DOI: 10.1038/534475B
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-11-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12746
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 10-08-2015
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 18-01-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-09-2008
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-2010
DOI: 10.1007/BF03193233
Publisher: Southern African Wildlife Management Association
Date: 10-2009
DOI: 10.3957/056.039.0207
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-04-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-04-2020
DOI: 10.3390/ANI10040692
Abstract: Lion predation on cattle causes severe human–wildlife conflict that results in retaliatory persecution throughout the lion’s geographic range. Cattle closely resemble the body size, shape, and herding patterns of preferred lion prey species. We studied cattle depredation patterns in Botswana’s Okavango Delta and tested whether lions exhibited specific preferences based on cattle demographic characteristics (sex and age), as well as morphological traits (body mass, horn length, and pelage patterns). We also tested whether human disturbance of kills influenced lion energy intake and whether depredation circumstances influenced loss levels. Lions predominantly killed cattle at night (87.1%) and exhibited no preference for either sex. Overall, bulls and calves were most preferred, whereas heifers were significantly avoided, as were cattle with uniform colour patterns. Cattle with mottled pelage patterns were most preferred, especially among free-roaming herds. Preferences were context-specific, with lions preferring inexperienced calves during enclosure attacks (including multiple cases of surplus killing) and free-roaming bulls and oxen. About 13% of adult cattle had no horns, and these were preferentially targeted by lions, while cattle with short horns were killed in accordance with their availability and long horned cattle were highly avoided. The contemporary morphology of Tswana cattle that resulted from unnatural selective pressures during domestication does not offer effective antipredatory protection. Human disturbance of feeding soon after kills occurred reduced cattle carcass consumption by % (or about 30 kg per carcass per lion). Lions killed significantly more cattle in nonfortified enclosures than in the veldt, although this was influenced by surplus killing. Our results suggest that cattle predation by lions is driven by availability and cavalier husbandry practices, coupled with morphological features associated with facilitating easy husbandry. Cattle no longer exhibit the key features that enabled their ancestors to coexist with large predators and are now reliant upon humans to perform critical antipredator activities. Hence, the responsibility for mitigating human–wildlife conflict involving lions and cattle lies with people in either breeding traits that minimise predation or adequately protecting their cattle.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-07-2018
DOI: 10.1111/ACV.12432
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2015
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-05-2023
DOI: 10.3390/ANI13101634
Abstract: The unprecedented rate of global hibian decline is attributed to The Anthropocene, with human actions triggering the Sixth Mass Extinction Event. Amphibians have suffered some of the most extreme declines, and their lack of response to conservation actions may reflect challenges faced by taxa that exhibit biphasic life histories. There is an urgent need to ensure that conservation measures are cost-effective and yield positive outcomes. Many conservation actions have failed to meet their intended goals of bolstering populations to ensure the persistence of species into the future. We suggest that past conservation efforts have not considered how different threats influence multiple life stages of hibians, potentially leading to suboptimal outcomes for their conservation. Our review highlights the multitude of threats hibians face at each life stage and the conservation actions used to mitigate these threats. We also draw attention to the paucity of studies that have employed multiple actions across more than one life stage. Conservation programs for biphasic hibians, and the research that guides them, lack a multi-pronged approach to deal with multiple threats across the lifecycle. Conservation management programs must recognise the changing threat landscape for biphasic hibians to reduce their notoriety as the most threatened vertebrate taxa globally.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-02-2012
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 05-01-2018
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-04-2022
DOI: 10.3390/SU14084622
Abstract: Planet Earth is undergoing unprecedented levels of environmental degradation and destruction at a global scale. Incentivizing people to adopt behaviors that are compatible with a sustainable future will help address the current ecological crisis. However, it is first necessary to understand the psychological drivers of pro-environmental behavior. Here, we examined whether greater levels of environmental knowledge and empathy predicted higher levels of pro-environmental behavior in an Australian population s le. We aimed to advance our understanding of the psychological variables that motivate people to act in pro-environmental ways, while also advancing the ongoing debate amongst conservation scientists regarding the relative importance of fostering empathy. Correlational analyses revealed that objective, verifiable knowledge was a strong predictor of pro-environmental attitudes and behavior. Empathy also correlated positively with pro-environmental attitudes and behavior, but with a dissociation with respect to its cognitive and affective components. Multivariate analyses revealed that knowledge was a stronger predictor of both pro-environmental attitudes and behavior after controlling for in idual variation in cognitive and affective empathy. This finding casts doubt on the claim by compassionate conservationists that fostering empathy is the key to solving the current environmental conservation crisis. Future research should aim to extend the present findings by testing whether a more exhaustive test of participants’ environmental knowledge and other measures of empathy, including empathic competencies and the recently developed Emotional and Cognitive Scale of the Human–Nature Relationship (ECS-HNR), yield the same dominance of knowledge over empathy.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-08-2018
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-02-2014
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-06-2017
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1071/ZO15028
Abstract: Despite a vigorous reintroduction program between 1985 and 2010, numbat populations in Western Australia are either static or declining. This study aimed to document the population ecology of numbats at two sites that are going against this trend: Scotia Sanctuary in far western New South Wales and Yookamurra Sanctuary in the riverland of South Australia. Scotia (64 659 ha) and Yookamurra (5026 ha) are conservation reserves owned and managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and where numbats were reintroduced in 1999 and 1993 respectively. Both sites have large conservation-fence-protected introduced-species-free areas where there are no cats (Felis catus) or red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Numbats were sourced from both wild and captive populations. From small founder populations, the Scotia numbats are now estimated to number 169 (113–225) with 44 at Yookamurra. Radio-collared in iduals at Scotia were active between 13 and 31°C. Females had home ranges of 28.3 ± 6.8 ha and males 96.6 ± 18.2 ha, which leads to an estimated sustainable population or carrying capacity of 413–502 at Scotia. Captive-bred animals from Perth Zoo had a high mortality rate upon reintroduction at Scotia due to predation by raptors and starvation. The habitat preferences for mallee with a shrub understorey appear to be driven by availability of termites, and other reintroduced ecosystem engineers appear to have been facilitators by creating new refuge burrows for numbats. This study shows that numbats can be successfully reintroduced into areas of their former range if protected from introduced predators, and illustrates the difficulties in monitoring such cryptic species.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-12-2018
Publisher: Bangladesh Journals Online (JOL)
Date: 2007
Abstract: A comparative account of the productive and reproductive performance of crossbred and indigenous dairy cows at some selected areas of Comilla district. The survey was conducted on 50 dairy cows for a period of four months from June to September, 2004. Out of 50 cows 25 were crossbred and 25 were indigenous. Results showed that the average daily milk production of Local, Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local dairy cows was 2.26±0.19, 4.9±0.95, 6.0±1.0 and 5.71±0.87 liter respectively. The average age of calving interval and lactation length of the crossbred and indigenous cows did not differ significantly (P .05). However, the average age at puberty of Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local was significantly (P .01) lower than the local breed. The crossbred cows had significantly (P .01) lower pubertal age than local. The postpartum heat period and service per conception of different crossbred and local cows did not differ significantly (P .05). The average gestation length of Local, Shahiwal x Local, Friesian x Local and Jersey x Local was 289.88±1.44, 285.0±0.0, 285.0±4.18, and 282.08±2.42 days respectively. The productive and reproductive performance of Friesian x Local cows was superior to the rest of the breeds under study. Key words: Dairy cows, indigenous, crossbred, production, reproduction and performance Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 26, 2007. pp. 67-70
Publisher: Southern African Wildlife Management Association
Date: 10-2012
DOI: 10.3957/056.042.0209
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-2005
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-11-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ACV.12326
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2003
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-09-2014
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12171
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-11-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1523-1739.2009.01260.X
Abstract: Thorough evaluation has made the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List the most widely used and accepted authority on the conservation status of bio ersity. Although the system used to determine risk of extinction is rigorously and objectively applied, the list of threatening processes affecting a species is far more subjectively determined and has not had adequate review. I reviewed the threats listed in the IUCN Red List for randomly selected groups within the three most threatened orders of mammals: Artiodactyla, Carnivora, and Primates. These groups are taxonomically related and often ecologically similar, so I expected they would suffer relatively similar threats. Hominoid primates and all other terrestrial fauna faced similar threats, except for bovine artiodactyls and large, predatory carnivores, which faced significantly different threats. Although the status of bovines and hominoids and the number of threats affecting them were correlated, this was not the case for large carnivores. Most notable, however, was the great variation in the threats affecting in idual members of each group. For ex le, the endangered European bison (Bison bonasus) has no threatening processes listed for it, and the lion (Panthera leo) is the only large predator listed as threatened with extinction by civil war. Some threatening processes appear spurious for the conservation of the species, whereas other seemingly important factors are not recorded as threats. The subjective nature of listing threatening processes, via expert opinion, results in substantial biases that may be allayed by independent peer review, use of technical manuals, consensus among multiple assessors, incorporation of probability modeling via decision-tree analysis, and adequate coordination among evaluators. The primary focus should be on species-level threats rather than population-level threats because the IUCN Red List is a global assessment and smaller-scale threats are more appropriate for national status assessments. Until conservationists agree on the threats affecting species and their relative importance, conservation action and success will be h ered by scattering scarce resources too widely and often by implementing conflicting strategies.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-07-2006
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1071/WR03051
Abstract: The diet of the quokka in the northern jarrah forest of Western Australia was investigated by microscopic examination of faecal pellets of known in iduals and comparison with a reference collection of plant epidermal tissue. Twenty-nine plant species were identified from the 97 faecal pellet groups collected from 53 in iduals, confirming that the quokka is a browsing herbivore that favours leaves and stems. Of those 29 species, 11 made up over 90% of the diet and five species accounted for 71%. Thomasia species were the most common in the diet and the most preferred D iera hederacea was also preferred and these species, along with Bossiaea aquifolia, Mirbelia dilatata and Agonis linearifolia, were the five most important food items. The seasonal variation in the diet of the quokka, and that between sites, can be attributed to increases in nutrient content associated with fresh growth associated with season or vegetation seral stage after fire. The reduced dietary ersity at sites with younger seral stages ( years after fire) and the importance of certain species that are more common in these younger ages explains the cause of the species’ habitat preference for sites with a mosaic of young and old ( years after fire) age classes. The relatively short availability of sufficient, high-quality, succulent plants in the seral succession of sw s occupied by quokkas is likely to drive a regular pattern of local extinction and recolonisation.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-06-2020
DOI: 10.1111/MAM.12197
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-09-2018
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/WR06161
Abstract: The quokka, Setonix brachyurus, is a medium-sized, macropodid marsupial that is endemic to south-western Australia. It has declined markedly in its distribution and abundance since the early 1930s and is listed as vulnerable under IUCN criteria. The presence or absence of quokka populations at 66 sites in the northern jarrah forest of Australia was investigated using generalised linear models (GLM). We hypothesised that fox control and the presence of a mosaic of post-fire seral stages within Agonis linearifolia sw vegetation were important in predicting the presence of quokkas. The number of poison meat baits delivered per hectare, the average number of years since the sw s burnt and the number of post-fire age classes within the sw s (mosaic value) were used as explanatory variables. Two models had substantial support (ΔAICc 2), with the best approximating model including the variables ‘baiting’ and ‘sw age’, and the second-best model including the additional variable ‘sw mosaic value’. The two best models had Akaike weights (weight of evidence as being the best model of the data) of 0.465 and 0.308 respectively. We used an information-theoretic approach and multimodel inference to determine the best approximating model of baiting, sw age and sw mosaic, and Akaike weights to assess model fit and to rank variable importance. Baiting had a model average parameter estimate of 98, sw age 79 and a mosaic of sw age classes 42, implying that baiting was more than twice as important as the number of sw ages classes at a site in predicting the occurrence of quokkas. Evidence from our analysis therefore supports previous studies that concluded that continued fox control and the maintenance of a mosaic of early seral stage ( years since fire) and long unburnt habitat ( years since fire) are essential for its conservation.
Publisher: Southern African Wildlife Management Association
Date: 10-2012
DOI: 10.3957/056.042.0207
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-12-2020
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.13665
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2006
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-05-2023
Abstract: Predators can induce behavioral changes in prey that influence vigilance, grouping patterns, and space use, and these can ultimately affect prey demography and trophic interactions. Consequently, prey must respond to the risk of predation, but little is known about the features that drive the spatial responses of prey species to predators. We tested what factors affected the proximity of prey to the lions reintroduced to Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. We also tested whether prey species that are preferentially killed by lions revealed greater responsiveness than those that are not, and whether prey respond to predator behavioral states and hunger. From 1588 observations of potential prey locations in relation to lions under varying wind directions, lion behaviors, and hunger states throughout the day and night, we found no evidence of wind‐driven odor responses affecting prey proximity to lions. Prey species that were not preferentially preyed upon by lions occurred closer to lions than those species that lions prefer to hunt. Prey were closer to lions performing noisy behaviors compared to those performing quiet behaviors. Prey were more likely to be closer to covertly behaving lions and further from stationary lions. Our results, compared to the published literature and accepted dogma of the primacy of odor in predator detection, suggest large vertebrate prey responses to predators in intact, multi‐species assemblages are context dependent.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-11-2006
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 07-2007
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2007
DOI: 10.2193/2006-264
Publisher: Southern African Wildlife Management Association
Date: 04-2009
DOI: 10.3957/056.039.0108
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-02-2019
DOI: 10.1111/CONL.12627
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-03-2009
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-2005
Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 07-10-2011
Publisher: Springer New York
Date: 07-10-2011
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-09-2011
Publisher: Brill
Date: 2010
Abstract: Optimality theory suggests that territorial scent marks are under selective pressure through the information they provide about competitive quality/reproductive status and so should be situated to maximize their detection to alert conspecifics that they are intruding upon the territory of a resident. Factors that increase mark detectability are consequently beneficial to both resident and intruder by allowing tactical withdrawal by intruders and, thus, reducing the costs of conflict. We tested whether black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) preferentially deposited territory marks on substrates (rocks or faeces) in two separate sites in South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park. Elephant (Loxodonta africana) dung piles were preferentially defecated upon by jackals in both sites. Where black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) was present at relatively high density, rhino middens were also preferentially marked by jackals however, jackals resorted to defecating on elevated surfaces, such as rocks, where rhinos were scarce. We hypothesize that the odour of elephant and rhino dung may increase the detectability of jackal markings while providing an additional olfactory signal component, while rocks and elephant dung provide visual lification. Manipulative experimentation will be necessary to confirm our multimodal lification hypothesis.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-04-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 26-10-2016
Abstract: At very high densities, populations of the largest herbivores, such as elephants, have devastating effects on the environment. What prevented widespread habitat destruction in the Pleistocene, when the ecosystem sustained many species of huge herbivores? We use data on predator–prey body mass relationships to predict the prey size ranges of large extinct mammalian carnivores, which were more erse and much larger than living species. We then compare these prey size ranges with estimates of young mammoth sizes and show that juvenile mammoths and mastodons were within predicted prey size ranges of many of the Pleistocene carnivores. From this and other fossil evidence we argue that, by limiting population sizes of megaherbivores, large carnivores had a major impact on Pleistocene ecosystems.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-05-2017
Abstract: Predators affect prey by killing them directly (lethal effects) and by inducing costly antipredator behaviours in living prey (risk effects). Risk effects can strongly influence prey populations and cascade through trophic systems. A prerequisite for assessing risk effects is characterizing the spatiotemporal variation in predation risk. Risk effects research has experienced rapid growth in the last several decades. However, preliminary assessments of the resultant literature suggest that researchers characterize predation risk using a variety of techniques. The implications of this methodological variation for inference and comparability among studies have not been well recognized or formally synthesized. We couple a literature survey with a hierarchical framework, developed from established theory, to quantify the methodological variation in characterizing risk using carnivore-ungulate systems as a case study. Via this process, we documented 244 metrics of risk from 141 studies falling into at least 13 distinct subcategories within three broader categories. Both empirical and theoretical work suggest risk and its effects on prey constitute a complex, multi-dimensional process with expressions varying by spatiotemporal scale. Our survey suggests this multi-scale complexity is reflected in the literature as a whole but often underappreciated in any given study, which complicates comparability among studies and leads to an overemphasis on documenting the presence of risk effects rather than their mechanisms or scale of influence. We suggest risk metrics be placed in a more concrete conceptual framework to clarify inference surrounding risk effects and their cascading effects throughout ecosystems. We recommend studies (i) take a multi-scale approach to characterizing risk (ii) explicitly consider 'true' predation risk (probability of predation per unit time) and (iii) use risk metrics that facilitate comparison among studies and the evaluation of multiple competing hypotheses. Addressing the pressing questions in risk effects research, including how, to what extent and on what scale they occur, requires leveraging the advantages of the many methods available to characterize risk while minimizing the confusion caused by variability in their application.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-04-2022
DOI: 10.3390/NANO12081320
Abstract: Lignin is a natural source of UV-shielding materials, though its recalcitrant and heterogeneous structure makes the extraction and purification processes complex. However, lignin’s functionality can be directly utilised when it stays as native with cellulose and hemicellulose in plant biomass, rather than being separated. The fabrication process of this native lignin is sustainable, as it consumes less energy and chemicals compared to purified lignin thus, it is an economic and more straightforward approach. In this study, the properties of native and purified lignin–cellulose nanocrystals (L–CNCs) sourced from hemp hurd waste were compared to explore the differences in their morphology, UV-shielding properties and chemical structure affected by their distinct fabrication process. These two kinds of L–CNCs were further added into polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to evaluate their reinforcement characteristics. The resulting native L–CNCs/PVA film showed stronger UV-shielding ability than purified L–CNCs. Moreover, the native L–CNCs showed better compatibility with PVA, while the purified L–CNCs/PVA interfaces showed phase separation. The phase separation in purified L–CNCs/PVA films reduced the films’ tensile strength and Young’s modulus and increased the water vapour transmission. The laboratory-scale cost of native L–CNCs production (~AUD 80/kg) was only 10% of purified L–CNCs (~AUD 850/kg), resulting in a comparatively lower cost for preparing native L–CNCs/PVA composite films. Overall, this study shows that the proposed method of production and use of native L–CNCs can be an economic approach to deliver UV-shielding properties for potential applications, such as food packaging.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Publisher: American Astronomical Society
Date: 09-05-2017
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 26-09-2020
DOI: 10.3390/ANI10101748
Abstract: Conservation translocations, including reintroductions, are practices that are vital to restoring bio ersity and ecosystem function within conservation schemes globally. Sadly, population translocations have had a poor success rate historically. At a time where bio ersity is constantly decreasing, improving translocation success is vital for future conservation schemes. Often, to improve success, the selection of in iduals is based on genetic characteristics and behaviours linked directly to survival. Further development to improve selection is proposed within this paper using animal personality. The study took place opportunistically to test how personality, in particular an animal’s boldness/timidness, may influence a population restoration of red squirrels into the Ogwen Valley, North Wales. Despite frequent translocations, data on how boldness and timidness may affect the establishment of this species are low. Testing was performed on key survival behaviours and boldness/timidness pre-release. This was performed via video data collection and identification of key behaviours that could be used to identify boldness or behaviours that could be linked to reduced fitness once released. Encounters at different distance intervals were monitored post-release via camera trapping to identify if boldness/timidness may change the furthest encounter distance of focal animals away from their release site. Relationships between the period for an in idual to reappear post-threat was significantly linked to boldness, with other behavioural results and the encounter distance also showing trends of a potential relationship. Our results indicate that bolder in iduals have a higher chance of expressing behavioural traits that will increase exposure to risks and, therefore, reduce the likelihood of successfully establishing populations. However, the small s le size of this study means that further research is needed. We suggest that during early stages of conservation translocation programmes, personality testing for boldness should become common practice, and we recommend selecting timid in iduals for an initial release to improve population establishment, with bolder in iduals utilised later to expand population distribution.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-09-2021
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12930
Abstract: Rates at which predators encounter, hunt and kill prey are influenced by, among other things, the intrinsic condition of prey. Diseases can considerably compromise body condition, potentially weakening ability of afflicted prey to avoid predation. Understanding predator–prey dynamics is particularly important when both species are threatened, as is the case with lions ( Panthera leo ) and giraffes ( Giraffa camelopardalis ). Importantly, an emergent disease called giraffe skin disease (GSD) may affect predatory interactions of lions and giraffes. Hypotheses suggest that GSD may negatively affect the likelihood of giraffes surviving lion attacks. We evaluated giraffe–lion interactions in Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, where 85% of the giraffe population has GSD. We monitored lion hunting behaviour and estimated proportion of the giraffe population with GSD and evidence of ‘lion marks’ from assumed previous lion predation attempts (i.e. claw marks, bite marks and missing tails). Although we recorded lions hunting and feeding on 16 different prey species, giraffes represented the largest prey category (27% n = 171 of 641). For age and sex cohorts combined, 26% ( n = 140 of 548) of encountered giraffes displayed evidence of previous lion predation attempts. Occurrence of lion marks was higher for adults and males in the giraffe population, suggesting that these in iduals were more likely to survive lion attacks. We also found marginal evidence of a positive relationship between giraffes with severe GSD and occurrence of lion marks. Our results identify giraffes as important prey species for lions in Ruaha National Park and suggest that GSD severity plays a minor role in likelihood of surviving a lion attack. This is the first study to explore connections between lion predation and GSD. We explore the ecological implications of disease ecology on predator–prey interactions and consider opportunities for future research on causal links between GSD and giraffe vulnerability to lion predation.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 27-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-06-0011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-09-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12499
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-07-2017
Abstract: Niche conservatism, i.e. the retention of a species' fundamental niche through evolutionary time, is cornerstone for biological invasion assessments. The fact that species tend to maintain their original climate niche allows predictive maps of invasion risk to anticipate potential invadable areas. Unravelling the mechanisms driving niche shifts can shed light on the management of invasive species. Here, we assessed niche shifts in one of the world's worst invasive species: the wild boar Sus scrofa. We also predicted potential invadable areas based on an ensemble of three ecological niche modelling methods, and evaluated the performance of models calibrated with native vs. pooled (native plus invaded) species records. By disentangling the drivers of change on the exotic wild boar population's niches, we found strong evidence for niche conservatism during biological invasion. Ecological niche models calibrated with both native and pooled range records predicted convergent areas. Also, observed niche shifts are mostly explained by niche unfilling, i.e. there are unoccupied areas in the exotic range where climate is analogous to the native range. Niche unfilling is expected as result of recent colonization and ongoing dispersal, and was potentially stronger for the Neotropics, where a recent wave of introductions for pig-farming and game-hunting has led to high wild boar population growth rates. The invasive potential of wild boar in the Neotropics is probably higher than in other regions, which has profound management implications if we are to prevent their invasion into species-rich areas, such as Amazonia, coupled with expansion of African swine fever and possibly great economic losses. Although the originally Eurasian-wide distribution suggests a pre-adaptation to a wide array of climates, the wild boar world-wide invasion does not exhibit evidence of niche evolution. The invasive potential of the wild boar therefore probably lies on the reproductive, dietary and morphological characteristics of this species, coupled with behavioural thermoregulation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2017
Publisher: Coleopterists Society
Date: 03-2010
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-07-2019
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.13366
Abstract: Compassionate conservation focuses on 4 tenets: first, do no harm in iduals matter inclusivity of in idual animals and peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. Recently, compassionate conservation has been promoted as an alternative to conventional conservation philosophy. We believe ex les presented by compassionate conservationists are deliberately or arbitrarily chosen to focus on mammals inherently not compassionate and offer ineffective conservation solutions. Compassionate conservation arbitrarily focuses on charismatic species, notably large predators and megaherbivores. The philosophy is not compassionate when it leaves invasive predators in the environment to cause harm to vastly more in iduals of native species or uses the fear of harm by apex predators to terrorize mesopredators. Hindering the control of exotic species (megafauna, predators) in situ will not improve the conservation condition of the majority of bio ersity. The positions taken by so-called compassionate conservationists on particular species and on conservation actions could be extended to hinder other forms of conservation, including translocations, conservation fencing, and fertility control. Animal welfare is incredibly important to conservation, but ironically compassionate conservation does not offer the best welfare outcomes to animals and is often ineffective in achieving conservation goals. Consequently, compassionate conservation may threaten public and governmental support for conservation because of the limited understanding of conservation problems by the general public.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-06-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-02-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-10-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 17-12-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-03-2009
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 05-2015
Abstract: The collapsing populations of large herbivores will have extensive ecological and social consequences.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-03-2009
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-03-2009
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 26-01-2023
DOI: 10.1017/S003060532200062X
Abstract: Unsustainable hunting, both illegal and legal, has led to the extirpation of many species. In the last 35 years giraffe Giraffa spp. populations have declined precipitously, with extinctions documented in seven African countries. Amongst the various reasons for these population declines, poaching is believed to play an important role in some areas. Giraffes are primarily hunted for consumption and for the use of their body parts as trophies and in traditional medicine. However, the socio-economic factors that correlate with the use of giraffe body parts are not well understood. We conducted our study in Tsavo Conservation Area, Kenya, which experiences high levels of poaching. We used semi-structured surveys amongst 331 households to document how giraffe body parts are typically acquired and their intended use (i.e. trophy, medicinal or consumptive). We then used logistic regression models to assess the correlations between nine socio-economic factors and the use of giraffe body parts. We found that giraffe body parts had mostly consumptive and trophy uses. One-time suppliers, opportunistic access and widely known markets were the most common means of acquiring giraffe body parts. Results from our models showed that three variables (gender: men, occupation: tourism worker, and land ownership) were correlated significantly and positively with the use of giraffe body parts. We describe the complex links between socio-economic factors and the use of giraffe body parts and highlight the importance of implementing mitigation measures adapted to local contexts to combat a challenge that many species of conservation concern are facing.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-03-2017
DOI: 10.1111/CONL.12354
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-04-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JZO.12781
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-05-2021
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.7644
Abstract: The squirrel glider ( Petaurus norfolcensis ) is a threatened, gliding marsupial that persists in fragmented landscapes despite its restricted capacity to cross large gaps. As measures to maintain and/or restore suitable habitat depend on knowledge about the species' ecological requirements, we investigated the area used by squirrel gliders in an urban area near Newcastle, Australia. Using GPS telemetry data and the autocorrelated kernel density estimator, we estimated area used to average 10.8 ha and varied from 4.6 to 15 ha, which is equal to or greater than found in previous studies that spanned longer time periods. This has implications when identifying the minimum patch size necessary for ensuring the long‐term conservation of a squirrel glider population.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2010
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Start Date: 06-2021
End Date: 06-2024
Amount: $234,427.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 07-2023
End Date: 06-2026
Amount: $506,031.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity