The impact of fox control on the relative abundance of forest mammals in East Gippsland, Victoria

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Dexter ◽  
Andy Murray
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Ecological Trap ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Significant Treatment ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Treatment Site ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fox Control

Predation by European red foxes is believed to be the major cause of the extinction and decline of a large number of native medium-sized terrestrial mammals in Australia. We examined the impact of poisoning of foxes on the relative abundance of a group of medium-sized mammals in an experiment conducted in three large forest blocks in south-eastern Australia. The blocks consisted of paired sites, as follows: one site where poison baiting was used to control foxes (treatment site) and one where foxes were not controlled (non-treatment site). At all six sites, the population responses of a range of mammals were measured, and compared between treatment and non-treatment sites. The relative fox abundance, as indexed by bait-take, declined during the course of the study at treatment sites and to a lesser extent at non-treatment sites. The decline in bait-take at non-treatment sites was most likely due to treatment sites acting as ecological traps, so that reduced intra-specific competition attracted foxes from non-treatment to treatment sites, where they were subsequently poisoned. There was a significant treatment effect for the abundances of total mammals, long-nosed potoroos, southern brown bandicoots and common brushtail possums, with higher abundances at treatment sites than at non-treatment sites. Common ringtail possums increased in abundance during the course of the study, with no significant difference between treatment and non-treatment sites. There was no significant effect of time or treatment on the abundance of long-nosed bandicoots. The increase in the abundance of native mammals at treatment sites was most likely due to a lower predation pressure by foxes brought about by fox control, and the smaller increase in abundance in non-treatment blocks was likely due to the ecological-trap effect because of fox baiting at treatment sites. The present study demonstrated that broad-scale fox control can lead to increases in the abundance of native mammals in forested habitats, without recourse to aerial baiting or fences. The study also demonstrated that the influence of fox control on the fox abundance can extend well beyond the perimeter of the area baited.

Living with the enemy: a threatened prey species coexisting with feral cats on a fox-free island

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 (8) ◽  
pp. 633
Author(s):  
Vivianna Miritis ◽  
Anthony R. Rendall ◽  
Tim S. Doherty ◽  
Amy L. Coetsee ◽  
Euan G. Ritchie
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Occupancy Models ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Invasive Predators ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Conservation Actions ◽  
Temporal Interactions ◽  
The Impact

Abstract ContextFeral domestic cats (Felis catus) have contributed to substantial loss of Australian wildlife, particularly small- and medium-sized terrestrial mammals. However, mitigating cat impacts remains challenging. Understanding the factors that facilitate coexistence between native prey and their alien predators could aid better pest management and conservation actions. AimsWe estimated feral cat density, examined the impact of habitat cover on long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus tridactylus), and assessed the spatial and temporal interactions between cats and potoroos in the ‘Bluegums’ area of French Island, south-eastern Australia. Materials and methodsWe operated 31 camera stations across Bluegums for 99 consecutive nights in each of winter 2018 and summer 2018/19. We used a spatially explicit capture–recapture model to estimate cat density, and two-species single-season occupancy models to assess spatial co-occurrence of cats and potoroos. We assessed the influence of vegetation cover and cat activity on potoroo activity by using a dynamic occupancy model. We also used image timestamps to describe and compare the temporal activities of the two species. Key resultsBluegums had a density of 0.77 cats per km2 across both seasons, although this is a conservative estimate because of the presence of unidentified cats. Cats and long-nosed potoroos were detected at 94% and 77% of camera stations, respectively. Long-nosed potoroo detectability was higher in denser vegetation and this pattern was stronger at sites with high cat activity. Cats and potoroos overlapped in their temporal activity, but their peak activity times differed. Conclusions Feral cat density at Bluegums, French Island, is higher than has been reported for mainland Australian sites, but generally lower than in other islands. Long-nosed potoroos were positively associated with cats, potentially indicating cats tracking potoroos as prey or other prey species that co-occur with potoroos. Temporal activity of each species differed, and potoroos sought more complex habitat, highlighting possible mechanisms potoroos may use to reduce their predation risk when co-occurring with cats. ImplicationsOur study highlighted how predator and prey spatial and temporal interactions, and habitat cover and complexity (ecological refuges), may influence the ability for native prey to coexist with invasive predators. We encourage more consideration and investigation of these factors, with the aim of facilitating more native species to persist with invasive predators or be reintroduced outside of predator-free sanctuaries, exclosures and island safe havens.

scholarly journals Dynamics And Impact Of Flowering Insects On Sesamum Indicum L. (Pedaliaceae) Production In Maroua (Far-North, Cameroon)

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (25) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Michelson Azo’o Ela ◽  
Tyotouing Ndouwe ◽  
Cathérine Firitawada ◽  
Stéphanie Beaudelaine Kengni ◽  
Jackson Djakbe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Similarity Index ◽  
Mosquito Net ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Flower Visiting ◽  
Net Cages ◽  
Seed Yields ◽  
The Impact

The study of the variability of the flower visiting entomofauna between Palar and Djarengol-Kodek (Maroua, Cameroon) and the influence of the pollination type were carried out in 2020 for assessing their impact on sesame production. Three treatments of 50 plants each were used according to whether the flowers were open-pollinated (TA) or protected using mosquito net cages (TB) and plastic cages (TC) for analysis. The diversity and composition of the entomofauna were compared between localities from TA as well as the resulting pod and seed yields of the crop. 21 and 12 insect species were found foraging on sesame flowers in Palar and Djarengol-Kodek respectively. Hymenoptera had a high relative abundance ˃ 92% at both sites and played a key role in pollinating the flowers of the host plant species. The diversity index was higher in Palar (H’ = 3.10) than in Djarengol-Kodek (H’ = 2.64). The Jaccard similarity index between both sites was J = 0.43. During their floral activity, these bees promoted autogamy, geitonogamy and xenogamy on S. indicum flowers. The impact of the floral activity of bees on sesame pod and seed yields was in the range of 17.92% - 29.27% and 12.97% - 18.39% in Djarengol-Kodek and Palar respectively with a significant difference between these values (X2 = 156.20; df = 1; P ˂ 0.001 and X2 = 69.74; df = 1; P ˂ 0.001). These differences showed the important role of the variability of the composition and the relative abundance of pollinators on sesame production between sites. Moreover, bee pollination (TA) highly increased anemophily (TB) and cleistogamy (TC) in sesame. Encourage producers to adopt more environmental friendly management methods to help preserve the habitat of sesame pollinator species for better productivity is an important practice.

Factors associated with fox (Vulpes vulpes) predation of lambs in Britain

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca L. Moberly ◽  
Piran C. L. White ◽  
Charlotte C. Webbon ◽  
Philip J. Baker ◽  
Stephen Harris
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Large Range ◽  
Preventive Measure ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Regional Location ◽  
Management Recommendations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Fox Control

Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are believed to have an economic impact on farming through predation on lambs, poultry and game. Investigation of the causes behind variation in the impact of predation between farms is required to improve management of these problems. A questionnaire survey of sheep farmers was combined with field data on relative fox population abundance to investigate some of the factors associated with both the occurrence and scale of perceived fox predation in Britain. Reported lamb losses to foxes were generally low but there was a large range in perceived levels of predation, from 0.0008 to 0.26 lambs per ewe, with 59% of respondents reporting that they had lost at least one lamb to a fox at their most recent lambing. Flock size was an important factor determining perceived fox predation. Fox predation was more likely to have occurred on larger farms, but, when it did, fewer lambs were perceived lost per ewe. Various other non-management characteristics, including regional location, had an influence on fox predation. Fox abundance was positively associated with perceived predation. Indoor lambing was an important preventive measure against fox predation. However, the effect of fox control on livestock predation was difficult to determine because of potential reactive behaviour by farmers to lamb losses. The analyses indicate that multivariate rather than univariate techniques should be used in the assessment of predator impacts and in making management recommendations. The identification of farm characteristics associated with fox predation, such as location and indoor lambing, enables the potential identification of problem farms where preventive management should be targeted.

scholarly journals Comparing Fecal, Saliva, and Chicha Microbiomes Between Mothers and Children in an Indigenous Ecuadorian Cohort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Adams ◽  
Andrew Oliver ◽  
Alexandria Gille ◽  
Nadia Alaniz ◽  
Carolina Jamie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Sequence Data ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Oral Microbiome ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Fecal Samples ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Α Diversity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

ABSTRACTRecent research has elucidated many factors which play a role in the development and composition of human microbiomes. In this study we briefly examine the microbiomes of saliva and fecal samples from 71 indigenous individuals, and chicha samples from 28 single family households in a remote community in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Fecal and saliva samples were collected at two separate time points whereas chicha samples were collected at four time points, once each day of the fermentation process. In total 324 samples were collected: 113 saliva, 108 chicha, and 103 fecal. Microbial composition and diversity were assessed using shotgun metagenome sequence data. Chicha samples were found to be nearly entirely composed of the order Lactobacillales, accounting for 90.1% of the relative abundance. Saliva samples also contained a high relative abundance of Lactobacillales (31.9%) as well as being composed of Neisseriales (12.8%), Actinomycineae (8.7%), Bacteroidales (7.0%), Clostridiales (6.8%), Micrococcineae (6.5%), and Pasteurellales (6.0%). Fecal samples were largely composed of the three orders Clostridiales (33.7%), Bacteroidales (21.9%), and Bifidobacteriales (16.5%). Comparison of α-diversity, as calculated by Shannon’s Diversity Index, in mothers and their offspring showed no significant difference between the two groups in either fecal or saliva samples. Comparison of β-diversity in fecal and saliva samples, as calculated by the Bray-Curtis Dissimilarity measure, within household units and between differing households showed that members of the same household were significantly less dissimilar to each other than to members of other households in the community. Average microbiome composition for individuals within fecal and saliva samples was assessed to determine the impact of an individual’s household on the composition of their microbiome. Household was determined to have a significant impact on both fecal and oral microbiome compositions.

scholarly journals Investigation of the impact of commonly used medications on the oral microbiome of individuals living without major chronic conditions

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261032
Author(s):  
Vanessa DeClercq ◽  
Jacob T. Nearing ◽  
Morgan G. I. Langille
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Chronic Conditions ◽  
Oral Microbiome ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Oral Microbiota ◽  
Shannon Diversity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Background Commonly used medications produce changes in the gut microbiota, however, the impact of these medications on the composition of the oral microbiota is understudied. Methods Saliva samples were obtained from 846 females and 368 males aged 35–69 years from a Canadian population cohort, the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH). Samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and differences in microbial community compositions between nonusers, single-, and multi-drug users as well as the 3 most commonly used medications (thyroid hormones, statins, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI)) were examined. Results Twenty-six percent of participants were taking 1 medication and 21% were reported taking 2 or more medications. Alpha diversity indices of Shannon diversity, Evenness, Richness, and Faith’s phylogenetic diversity were similar among groups, likewise beta diversity as measured by Bray-Curtis dissimilarity (R2 = 0.0029, P = 0.053) and weighted UniFrac distances (R2 = 0.0028, P = 0.161) were non-significant although close to our alpha value threshold (P = 0.05). After controlling for covariates (sex, age, BMI), six genera (Saprospiraceae uncultured, Bacillus, Johnsonella, Actinobacillus, Stenotrophomonas, and Mycoplasma) were significantly different from non-medication users. Thyroid hormones, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) and PPI were the most reported medications. Shannon diversity differed significantly among those taking no medication and those taking only thyroid hormones, however, there were no significant difference in other measures of alpha- or beta diversity with single thyroid hormone, statin, or PPI use. Compared to participants taking no medications, the relative abundance of eight genera differed significantly in participants taking thyroid hormones, six genera differed in participants taking statins, and no significant differences were observed with participants taking PPI. Conclusion The results from this study show negligible effect of commonly used medications on microbial diversity and small differences in the relative abundance of specific taxa, suggesting a minimal influence of commonly used medication on the salivary microbiome of individuals living without major chronic conditions.

Measuring Impact of Stress in Sandwich Generation Caring for Demented Parents

GeroPsych ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence M. Solberg ◽  
Lauren B. Solberg ◽  
Emily N. Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Factor Analysis ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Resource Availability ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Sandwich Generation ◽  
Item Questionnaire ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Adult Caregivers ◽  
The Impact

Stress in caregivers may affect the healthcare recipients receive. We examined the impact of stress experienced by 45 adult caregivers of their elderly demented parents. The participants completed a 32-item questionnaire about the impact of experienced stress. The questionnaire also asked about interventions that might help to reduce the impact of stress. After exploratory factor analysis, we reduced the 32-item questionnaire to 13 items. Results indicated that caregivers experienced stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, emotional, but not financial or professional, well-being was significantly impacted. There was no significant difference between the impact of caregiver stress on members from the sandwich generation and those from the nonsandwich generation. Meeting with a social worker for resource availability was identified most frequently as a potentially helpful intervention for coping with the impact of stress.

Implicit and explicit corrective feedback and feedback exposure conditions

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-48
Author(s):  
Takehiro Iizuka ◽  
Kimi Nakatsukasa
Keyword(s):  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Corrective Feedback ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Oral Corrective Feedback ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Picture Description ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Implicit And Explicit ◽  
Instructional Settings ◽  
The Impact

This exploratory study examined the impact of implicit and explicit oral corrective feedback (CF) on the development of implicit and explicit knowledge of Japanese locative particles (activity de, movement ni and location ni) for those who directly received CF and those who observed CF in the classroom. Thirty-six college students in a beginning Japanese language course received either recast (implicit), metalinguistic (explicit) or no feedback during an information-gap picture description activity, and completed a timed picture description test (implicit knowledge) and an untimed grammaticality judgement test (explicit knowledge) in a pre-test, immediate post-test and delayed post-test. The results showed that overall there was no significant difference between CF types, and that CF benefited direct and indirect recipients similarly. Potential factors that might influence the effectiveness of CF, such as instructional settings, complexity of target structures and pedagogy styles, are discussed.

Reducing the Social Stigma Associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Controlled Trial of an Intervention Program in a Turkish Community Sample

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-120
Author(s):  
Ayça Aktaç Gürbüz ◽  
Orçun YORULMAZ ◽  
Gülşah DURNA
Keyword(s):  
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Intervention Program ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Compulsive Disorder ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Scientific research into the reduction of stigmatization, particularly related to specific problems such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), is scarce. In the present study, we examine the impact of a video-based antistigma intervention program for OCD in a pretest-posttest control group research. After being randomly assigned to either an intervention (n= 101) or control group (n= 96), the participants reported their attitudes on a hypothetical case vignette before and after OCD vs. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) videos, and again six months later as a follow up assessment. The mixed design analyses for the group comparisons indicated that although there was no significant difference in the measures of the control group, the participants watching the anti-stigma OCD video, in which the focus was psychoeducation and interaction strategies, reported significantly lower scores on social distances and negative beliefs for the case vignettes they read, and this difference was maintained six months later. Then, the present results indicate the effectiveness of our anti-stigma intervention program for OCD. Interventions to reduce stigmatization can also be viewed as effective tools for changing the attitudes of people toward OCD, although further research and applications are needed related to specific disorders if a longlasting impact is to be achieved.

Antecedents And Outcomes Of Qwl Among Employees In Banks

2019 ◽  
Vol 118 (7) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Geethanjali N ◽  
Parveen Roja M ◽  
Lavanya D
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Work Life ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Quality Of Work Life ◽  
Quality Of Work ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Service Productivity ◽  
The Impact

Quality of work life is the major factor to be considered in working environment of any organization. The performance of employees and the organization lies on the ability of the employees based on working environment. The QWL leads to better working environment which improves the performance of organization. The present study has made an attempt to find the level of factors causing QWL and the impact of outcome of QWL in banks. Since the profile of the banks may be associated with the level of outcomes of QWL, the present study has made an attempt to examine it with the help of one way analysis of variance and t-test. The included outcomes of QWL are job satisfaction, job stress, organizational climate, organizational commitment, employees retention behaviour, service quality employees and service productivity of employees. The highly associated determinants of QWL and the significant difference among the PUSBs and PRSBs have been noticed. The significantly associating important profiles of the banks regarding the existence of outcome of QWL are identified.

Оrganic Meat Production of Broiler Chickens Hubbard Redbro Cross

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Broiler Chickens ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
Poultry Meat ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Environmentally Safe ◽  
The Impact

This article presents the results of studying the impact of housing and feeding conditions on broiler chickens of Hubbard RedBro cross, as well as the quality of products obtained when using floor and cage content, in a farm. It established that when receiving a mixed feed of own production using feed raw materials grown on a farm without the use of pesticides, a statistically significant decrease in potentially dangerous substances for animal health is recorded. Compared with factory feed, it has reduced the content of pesticides by 14 times, and mercury and arsenic by 24 times, cadmium by five times, and lead by ten times. The results of the study of economic indicators of growing Hubbard RedBro cross broiler chickens, as well as the chemical composition and quality of carcasses, indicated that there was no significant difference between the floor and cell conditions of keeping. Still, the use of a diet based on eco-feeds contributed to a statistically significant decrease in the concentration of toxic metals in the muscles of the poultry of the experimental groups. As a result, it found that the use of the studied compound feed in the diets of broiler chickens increased the indicators of Biosafety and ensured the production of environmentally safe ("organic") poultry meat products.

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