Lessons from long-term predator control: a case study with the red fox

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger Kirkwood ◽  
Duncan R. Sutherland ◽  
Stuart Murphy ◽  
Peter Dann
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Prey Species ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Control Period ◽  
Control Technique ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Predator Control ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
The Impact

Context Predator-control aims to reduce an impact on prey species, but efficacy of long-term control is rarely assessed and the reductions achieved are rarely quantified. Aims We evaluated the changing efficacy of a 58-year-long campaign against red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) on Phillip Island, a 100-km2 inhabited island connected to the Australian mainland via a bridge. The campaign aimed to eliminate the impact of foxes on ground-nesting birds, particularly little penguins (Eudyptula minor). Methods We monitored the success rate of each fox-control technique employed, the level of effort invested if available, demographics of killed foxes, the numbers of penguins killed by foxes and penguin population size. Key results The campaign began as a bounty system that ran for 30 years and was ineffective. It transitioned into a coordinated, although localised, control program from 1980 to 2005 that invested considerable effort, but relied on subjective assessments of success. Early during the control period, baiting was abandoned for less effective methods that were thought to pose fewer risks, were more enjoyable and produced carcasses, a tangible result. Control was aided by a high level of public awareness, by restricted fox immigration, and by a clear, achievable and measurable target, namely, to prevent little penguin predation by foxes. Carcasses did prove valuable for research, revealing the genetic structure and shifts in fox demographics. The failure of the program was evident after scientific evaluation of fox population size and ongoing fox impacts. In 2006, the campaign evolved into an eradication attempt, adopting regular island-wide baiting, and since then, has achieved effective knock-down of foxes and negligible predation on penguins. Conclusions Effective predator control was achieved only after employing a dedicated team and implementing broad-scale baiting. Abandoning widespread baiting potentially delayed effective control for 25 years. Furthermore, both predator and prey populations should be monitored concurrently because the relationship between predator abundance and impact on prey species is not necessarily density dependent. Implications Critical to adopting the best management strategy is evaluating the efficacy of different methods independently of personal and public biases and having personnel dedicated solely to the task.

Introduction to pertussis transmission and epidemiological dynamics

Pertussis ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 6-25
Author(s):  
Pejman Rohani ◽  
Samuel V. Scarpino
Keyword(s):  
Control Strategies ◽  
Age Distribution ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Vaccine Uptake ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Epidemic Period ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Pertussis Epidemiology

Resolving the long-term, population-level consequences of changes in pertussis epidemiology, arising from bacterial evolution, shifts in vaccine-induced immunity, or changes in surveillance, are key challenges for devising effective control strategies. This chapter reviews some of the key features of pertussis epidemiology, together with the underlying epidemiological principles that set the context for their interpretation. These include the relationship between the age distribution of cases and pertussis transmission potential, the impact of vaccine uptake on incidence, periodicity and age incidence, as well as spatially explicit recurrent pertussis epidemics and associated extinction frequency. This review highlights some of the predictable and consistent aspects of pertussis epidemiology (e.g. the systematic increase in the inter-epidemic period with the introduction of whole-cell vaccines) and a number of important heterogeneities, including variations in contemporary patterns of incidence and geographic spread.

Impact of the Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card: A 10-Year Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (s1) ◽  
pp. S3-S20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark S. Tremblay ◽  
Joel D. Barnes ◽  
Jennifer Cowie Bonne
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Knowledge Translation ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Report Card ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Synthesis Mechanism ◽  
Intermediate Outcomes ◽  
Stakeholder Needs ◽  
The Impact

For 20 years Active Healthy Kids Canada (AHKC) has worked to inspire the country to engage all children and youth in physical activity (PA). The primary vehicle to achieve this is the AHKC Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth, which has been released annually since 2005. Using 10 years of experience with this knowledge translation and synthesis mechanism, this paper aggregates and consolidates diverse evidence demonstrating the impact of the Report Card and related knowledge translation activities. Over the years many evaluations, consultations, assessments, and surveys have helped inform changes in the Report Card to improve its impact. Guided by a logic model, the various assessments have traversed areas related to distribution and reach, meeting stakeholder needs, use of the Report Card, its influence on policy, and advancing the mission of AHKC. In the past 10 years, the Report Card has achieved > 1 billion media impressions, distributed > 120,000 printed copies and > 200,000 electronic copies, and benefited from a collective ad value > $10 million. The Report Card has been replicated in 14 countries, 2 provinces, 1 state and 1 city. AHKC has received consistent positive feedback from stakeholders and endusers, who reported that the Report Card has been used for public awareness/education campaigns and advocacy strategies, to strengthen partnerships, to inform research and program design, and to advance and adjust policies and strategies. Collectively, the evidence suggests that the Report Card has been successful at powering the movement to get kids moving, and in achieving demonstrable success on immediate and intermediate outcomes, although the long-term goal of improving the PA of Canadian children and youth remains to be realized.

Fire and its impact on avian population dynamics

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 206 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Barry Baker ◽  
E. Belinda Dettmann ◽  
Stephen J. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Long Term Study ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Avian Populations ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Probability Of Capture

Survival rate, population size, recruitment and probability of capture, derived from a long-term study of 20 passerine species in wet sclerophyll forest near Canberra, were used to measure the impact of a high intensity wildfire which burnt 70% of the study area. The wildfire significantly affected the population size of 13 species for a period of up to six years following the fire. Survival and recruitment were the least sensitive measures of impact and indicated a significant response to fire for only 2 of 10 species. We detected measurable effects of the fire for 17 of the 20 species studied. Many of these species had returned to prefire levels within three years, but for nine species the effects were still apparent six years later. Mark-recapture methodology provides an effective way of measuring the impact of fire regimes in forest environments. Long-term monitoring programmes should be established in fire-prone forest environments to contribute toward our understanding of fire, and its effect on avian populations. Such programmes have resource implications and researchers are urged to encourage the participation of the amateur bird banding community to contribute to such projects.

scholarly journals A management plan for a declining population of the Souss valley tortoise in an arid steppe-land of west-central Morocco

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hichami Nawal ◽  
MOHAMMED ZNARI
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Extinction Risk ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Habitat Destruction ◽  
North West ◽  
West Central ◽  
Arid Steppe ◽  
The Impact

The endangered Moorish tortoise Testudo graeca is the unique terrestrial chelonian species in North-west Africa. In west-central Morocco, the endemic subspecies, the Souss valley tortoise T. g. soussensis, occupies semi-arid to arid low-quality habitats, and is subject to serious threats. A long-term mark-recapture programme from 2001 to 2012 allowed estimating population size and structure, sex ratio, and survivorship in one of the well-known populations in a degraded and overgrazed arid steppe-land of west-central Morocco. Spring population size considerably decreased to more than half in less than 10 years, with a mean density lower than 3 ind.ha-1 in 2012 compared to its last known density estimat-ed in 2003. In spring 2012, the population structure exhibited an unbalanced male-biased sex ratio (61:39) and a scarcity of juveniles (<5%). We identified five major conservation problems in the study area: (i) habitat destruction and overgrazing; (ii) over-collecting of tortoises for pet trade , iii) direct dis-turbance; iv) tortoise handling mostly for field research, and v) increased extinction risk due to the small population size. We carried out a population viability analysis using the VORTEX software based on published and obtained data on population and life history parameters. With no management action, the population will go extinct during the forthcoming 40 years after the last estimate. The most efficient management option for a long-term persistence of the population would be reducing the nest and neo-nate mortality by 90%. To attenuate the impact of the threatening factors, we developed a management plan that includes population reinforcement and habitat restoration options. 

scholarly journals Universal access to ambulance does not increase overall demand for ambulance services in Queensland, Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivienne C. Tippett ◽  
Ghasem (Sam) Toloo ◽  
David Eeles ◽  
Joseph Y. S. Ting ◽  
Peter J. Aitken ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Services ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Funding Policy ◽  
Service Demand ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Emergency Health Services

Objective. To determine the impact of the introduction of universal access to ambulance services via the implementation of the Community Ambulance Cover (CAC) program in Queensland in 2003–04. Method. The study involved a 10-year (2000–01 to 2009–10) retrospective analysis of routinely collected data reported by the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and by the Council of Ambulance Authorities. The data were analysed for the impact of policy changes that resulted in universal access to ambulance services in Queensland. Results. QAS is a statewide, publically funded ambulance service. In Queensland, ambulance utilisation rate (AUR) per 1000 persons grew by 41% over the decade or 3.9% per annum (10-year mean = 149.8, 95% CI: 137.3–162.3). The AUR mean after CAC was significantly higher for urgent incidents than for non-urgent ones. However projection modelling demonstrates that URs after the introduction of CAC were significantly lower than the projected utilisation for the same period. Conclusions. The introduction of universal access under the Community Ambulance Cover program in Queensland has not had any significant independent long-term impact on demand overall. There has been a reduction in the long-term growth rate, which may have been contributed to by an ‘appropriate use’ public awareness program. What is known about the topic? It is generally well accepted that the demand for emergency health services is increasing however the drivers for demand are poorly understood. In Queensland in particular, growth in demand for services exceeds that seen in other states and territories. Some commentators have pointed at service funding policy and costs to end users as potential reasons for excess demand for services. What does this paper add? The assumption that forced subsidisation creates a perception of entitlement amongst consumers is challenged in this paper. We are able to demonstrate that demand for emergency health services did not increase beyond what would have been expected under a mandatory subscription system known as Community Ambulance Cover (CAC). This paper contributes to the developing body of knowledge about drivers for emergency health service demand. What are the implications for practitioners? There is a need to continue analysis of the system to determine drivers for demand and develop an evidence base on which to formulate emergency health policy, including funding models, for the future. Purely economic drivers for service demand seem unlikely to hold up and policy makers need to understand the complex relationships between service systems; end user perceptions and health literacy; and the costs of services in order to effect policy reform.

Chipped or Whole? Listening to Survivors’ Experiences With Disclosure Following Sexual Violence

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052096774
Author(s):  
Arielle A. J. Scoglio ◽  
Alisa Lincoln ◽  
Shane W. Kraus ◽  
Beth E. Molnar
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Social Responses ◽  
Perceived Impact ◽  
Constant Comparative Analysis ◽  
Difficult Times ◽  
The Impact

Sexual violence is a prevalent crime but vastly underreported and with serious long-term health consequences for survivors. Disclosure of sexual violence represents a social experience that may offer support towards healing or further traumatization depending on the response received. Although current research suggests that process of disclosure itself is important, as are social responses, there is a dearth of research examining the perceived impact of initial responses to disclosure on healing and relationships, particularly over time. The current study used data from nine focus groups with 45 survivors to explore the impact of initial disclosure reactions on recovery, from the survivors’ perspectives. Constant comparative analysis identified several themes, including subtypes of positive and negative responses to disclosure and long-term impacts on healing and relationships. Survivors disclosed to informal and formal support persons and although many identified responses as positive or negative, some also experienced mixed responses. Survivors identified perceived long-term impacts on healing, interpersonal relationships, and social justice. Our findings suggest disclosures are a critical point for potential intervention after sexual violence. It is through the disclosure process that survivors can be supported and empowered to connect with others and move further along in their journey towards healing and recovery. Public awareness and promotion of positive responses could be designed to reach children and youth, so that the next generation is equipped with the tools to support each other in difficult times, particularly in the aftermath of sexual violence.

Predation by feral cats key to the failure of a long-term reintroduction of the western barred bandicoot (Perameles bougainville)

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Short
Keyword(s):  
Prey Species ◽  
Local Extinction ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Feral Cats ◽  
European Rabbits ◽  
Threatening Processes ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Methods Of Control

Context Reintroduction of endangered species potentially places them back in contact with putative factors of historical decline, inadvertently providing the opportunity to evaluate their impact. Aims To monitor the long-term progress of a population of western barred bandicoot reintroduced to mainland Australia and to assess factors involved in its eventual local extinction. Methods Bandicoots were reintroduced from offshore Dorre Island to the nearby mainland peninsula of Heirisson Prong in 1995. The narrow neck of the peninsula was fenced to exclude foxes and feral cats from a 1200 ha area, but the area was subject to periodic incursions. There was parallel management of a confined but unsupported population in an in situ 17-ha predator refuge. Bandicoots were assessed for abundance, body condition and reproduction two to four times annually between 1995 and 2010. In addition, perceived threatening processes (drought, disease and the abundance of cats, foxes and rabbits) were monitored. Key results Bandicoots became well established at the site, spreading to all available habitat. Numbers fluctuated strongly, peaking at ~250 in 1999 and then declining to apparent local extinction (with subsequent re-establishment from the refuge), and at ~470 animals in 2006, followed again by extinction. Conclusions Predation by feral cats was implicated as the primary cause of both free-range extinctions and the eventual elimination of all bandicoots from the predator refuge. Other contributing factors in one or more of the declines were a reduction in reproduction and recruitment in bandicoots during a one-in-100-year drought, the impact of overabundant European rabbits on vegetation used by bandicoots for nesting shelter and brief fox incursions at key times. Implications Existing methods of control of feral cats are rendered ineffective in the presence of abundant and diverse native fauna and abundant exotic species (particularly European rabbits). In addition, episodic drought in arid Australia intensifies the impact of predation by restricting reproduction of prey species. These factors hamper the attempts of conservation managers to re-establish vulnerable species at sites other than those with the infrastructure and/or management intensity to largely exclude exotic predators (and preferably European rabbits) over the long-term.

Centre de la Manche Institutional Control Period: After the First Safety Review

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Dutzer ◽  
Jean Pierre Vervialle ◽  
Alain Andre´ ◽  
Albert Marchiol
Keyword(s):  
Control Period ◽  
Infiltration Rate ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Institutional Control ◽  
Safety Review ◽  
Rainwater Infiltration ◽  
Disposal Facility ◽  
The Impact

Centre de la Manche disposal facility is the first French surface disposal facility dedicated to low and intermediate level short lived radioactive waste. It started up in 1969. After a continuous improvement, in the design of disposal vaults, in operational modes, in the whole process of waste management, in the safety approach, the last packages were received in 1994. 527,000 m3 of waste packages have been disposed during the 25 years of operation. The facility was licensed for the institutional control period in 2003. The disposal vaults are covered with a multilayer capping system that includes a bituminous membrane to provide protection against rainwater infiltration. Water that might infiltrate through the membrane is collected by the bottom slab of the vaults to a pipe network implemented in an underground gallery. Measurements show an overall infiltration rate of about 3 l/m2/year that complies with the objective of Andra of a few liters per square meter and per year. Investigations are performed in order to assess the behavior of the membrane in the long term. For this purpose periodically samples of the bituminous membrane are taken and measurements are performed. As at the beginning of the operational period waste packages were not conditioned in accordance with the specifications that are presently prescribed to waste generators, some settlements can be observed on the ancient part or the facilities. At the end of 2009 some excavation works were performed in an area where a settlement of few tens of centimeters was observed. The integrity of the membrane could be observed and the adequacy of the selection of this option for the watertightness of the capping system was so confirmed. Environmental monitoring includes radiological and chemical measurements for discharge, underground water and surface water. In the particular framework of Centre de la Manche, a contamination of groundwater by tritiated wastes occurred in 1976. Theses wastes were removed in 1977 and 1978 but tritium can still be detected under the facility. However the impact to a hypothetical critical group, using only local water, is presently about 0,4 μSv per year (2009). A safety review of the facility was performed in 2009 by the regulatory body. It was noticed that the behavior of the facility was consistent with predictions. The progressive strategy proposed by Andra to improve the capping system, in particular to achieve long term stability of the slopes, was assessed. The process implemented by Andra to maintain memory of the facility was discussed. In this way the periodical safety reviews are part of the dynamic process through which the monitoring of the facility will become progressively more and more passive.

YIELD TRENDS ON LONG-TERM DRYLAND WHEAT ROTATIONS AT LETHBRIDGE

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 609-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. FREYMAN ◽  
C. J. PALMER ◽  
E. H. HOBBS ◽  
J. F. DORMAAR ◽  
G. B. SCHAALJE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Effective Control ◽  
Wild Oat ◽  
Technological Changes ◽  
Upward Trend ◽  
Large Fluctuations ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
Increase In Productivity ◽  
Yield Trends ◽  
The Impact

Yield trends on fields of dryland wheat rotations established in 1912 at Lethbridge, Alberta were examined to assess the impact on productivity of climatic, genetic, edaphic, and technological changes. Yields and moisture use efficiency have increased since 1963. This increase was more pronounced for crops grown on fallow than on stubble and occurred without the use of fertilizer. Applied N and P enhanced the upward trend particularly when applied to the crop grown on stubble. Yields varied widely from year to year, mainly due to large fluctuations in precipitation; however, no climatic changes were detected that could account for the increase in productivity. Improved cultivars accounted for a small portion of the yield increases. Soil N declined while pH increased over the years. The organic carbon has, after an initial loss, increased steadily. Broadleaf weeds were a serious problem until 1950, but, with the advent of 2,4-D, there was a shift to an increasing problem with wild oat for which there was no effective control until 1961 when triallate became available. This coincided roughly with the beginning of the upward trend in yield. Therefore, we suggest that chemical weed control was the main contributing factor to the yield increases. This control has resulted not only in reduced competition from weeds, but also in better seedbed moisture because fewer cultivations are needed in the spring.

The Whittier Narrows, California Earthquake of October 1, 1987—Social Aspects

1988 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Tierney
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Earthquake Hazard ◽  
Seismic Safety ◽  
Local Residents ◽  
Long Term Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
And Training ◽  
Experience Difficulty

There were a relatively small number of fatalities and casualties in the Whittier Narrows, but social disruption was extensive. An estimated 10,000 households and thousands of businesses were affected. The earthquake also resulted in an increase in the need for mental health services. Due both to extensive mitigation and preparedness programs and to the moderate size of the event, the emergency response was, in general, well-managed. Nevertheless, important insights were gained on potential weaknesses in areas such as communication co-ordination. The response by local residents was generally positive and adaptive, but the need for improved public awareness and training was also evident. The earthquake demonstrated the importance of ethnicity as a factor that influences the public's response to the earthquake hazard. Although the long-term impact of the earthquake on the Southern California will likely be imperceptable, some segments of the population, such as low-income earthquake victims and businesses that were marginal before the earthquake, my experience difficulty recovering. The impact of the earthquake on seismic safety programs in the affected communities is an important topic warranting further research.

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