I smell a rat! Estimating effective sweep width for searches using wildlife-detector dogs

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
pp. 500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alistair S. Glen ◽  
James C. Russell ◽  
Clare J. Veltman ◽  
Rachel M. Fewster
Keyword(s):  
Field Trials ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Search Pattern ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Search Path ◽  
Laboratory Rat ◽  
Sweep Width

Context Dogs are often used to find rare or cryptic species, but search methods are not standardised, making it difficult to interpret and compare results. Standardised approaches are needed to optimise search effectiveness and/or efficiency. Designing an optimal search strategy requires knowledge of the effective sweep width, which is related to the probability of detection (POD) at various distances between the searcher and the search object. Aims Our primary aim was to estimate effective sweep width for wildlife-detector dogs searching for rodents. We also tested whether dogs differed in their reaction on encountering a laboratory rat (Rattus norvegicus) or a wild-caught Norway rat (wild-type R. norvegicus). Methods We conducted field trials using trained rodent-detector dogs to locate dead laboratory rats. We used the numbers of detections and non-detections at distances of 0–100 m to estimate detection probability and effective sweep width. Key results Dog teams located 100% of rats (regardless of strain) placed directly in their search path. POD declined rapidly with an increasing distance, yielding an observed detection rate of 33% at 10 m, and close to zero at ≥20 m. The data were best described by an exponential decay function. Effective sweep width was estimated to be 16.8 m (95% confidence interval 12.3–21.4 m), corresponding to a strip extending 8.4 m on either side of a walked track. Handlers could not consistently judge whether a dog had encountered a laboratory rat or a wild rat. Conclusions Our results suggest that when dogs are >10 m from a source of rat odour, POD declines sharply. We estimate that the effective distance explored when searching for a stationary rodent is 8.4 m either side of the search path. Implications This information will allow users to optimise the search pattern that dog teams should follow for a given search scenario.

Warsaw Wild Captive Pisula Stryjek rats (WWCPS) - Establishing a breeding colony of Norway Rat in captivity

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafał Stryjek ◽  
Wojciech Pisula
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Approach ◽  
Breeding Colony ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Laboratory Rat ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
History Of ◽  
Wild Rats ◽  
Laboratory Line ◽  
Insight Into

Warsaw Wild Captive Pisula Stryjek rats (WWCPS) - Establishing a breeding colony of Norway Rat in captivity It is believed that the history of laboratory rat dates back to 1820-ies, which is about 300 generations. This relatively short evolutionary distance, drastically different environment and selective breeding could have caused differences in behaviour between the laboratory rat and his wild counterpart - Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus). The vast majority of research concerning differences between wild and laboratory rats was conducted over 30 years ago. The knowledge acquired as a result of that research seems far from being complete. Over a quarter of a century could have deepened the described differences. Nowadays the change in experimental approach, in favour of low stress conditions, can give a new insight into this problem. This article describes process of establishing a laboratory line of wild Norway rat, which will take part in a broad series of comparative studies. 16 wild rats were trapped in 5 distant parts of Warsaw. Most of wild rats successfully adapted to captive conditions, mating successfully and producing litters, which have survived to adolescence.

scholarly journals Field trials of flocoumafen against warfarin-resistant infestations of the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk)

1986 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 467-473 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. P. Buckle
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Anticoagulant Rodenticide ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Norway Rats ◽  
Farm Buildings

SUMMARYThe anticoagulant rodenticide flocoumafen was tested against warfarin-resistant Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) infesting farm buildings. Complete control was obtained in 10–21 days (mean 14·2 days) in six treatments in which baits poisoned with 0·005% flocoumafen were maintained, in surplus, until rats ceased to feed from them. A further six treatments, in which the application of poisoned bait was restricted to periodic placements of 50 g, were also completely successful in 15–30 days (mean 21·0 days). Less poisoned bait was used in the restricted flocoumafen treatments than in the unrestricted treatments but the time taken to control the rat infestations was significantly longer.

scholarly journals Rice NIN-LIKE PROTEIN 4 is a master regulator of nitrogen use efficiency

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Wu ◽  
Zi-Sheng Zhang ◽  
Jing-Qiu Xia ◽  
Alamin Alfatih ◽  
Ying Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
N Uptake ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Growth And Yield ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Inorganic N ◽  
Master Regulator ◽  
Nitrogen Use ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
N Use

AbstractNitrogen (N) is one of the key essential macronutrients that affects rice growth and yield. Inorganic N fertilizers are excessively used to boost yield and generate serious collateral environmental pollution. Therefore, improving crop N use efficiency (NUE) is highly desirable and has been a major endeavor in crop improvement. However, only a few regulators have been identified that can be used to improve NUE in rice to date. Here we show that the NIN-like protein OsNLP4 significantly improves the rice NUE and yield. Field trials consistently showed that loss-of-OsNLP4 dramatically reduced yield and NUE compared with wild type under different N regimes. In contrast, the OsNLP4 overexpression lines remarkably increased yield by 30% and NUE by 47% under moderate N level compared with wild type. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that OsNLP4 orchestrates the expression of a majority of known N uptake, assimilation and signaling genes by directly binding to the nitrate-responsive cis-element in their promoters to regulate their expression. Moreover, overexpression of OsNLP4 can recover the phenotype of Arabidopsis nlp7 mutant and enhance its biomass. Our results demonstrate that OsNLP4 is a master regulator of NUE in rice and sheds light on crop NUE improvement.

scholarly journals Field trials of second-generation anticoagulants against difenacoum-resistant Norway rat populations

1982 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. Greaves ◽  
D. S. Shepherd ◽  
R. Quy
Keyword(s):  
Resistant Strain ◽  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
The Other ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Complete Control ◽  
Norway Rat ◽  
Left Behind

SUMMARYTrials of rodenticidal baits containing 50 p.p.m. difenacoum, 50 p.p.m. bromadiolone or 20 p.p.m. brodifacoum were carried out on farmsteads against populations of Rattus norvegicus containing difenacoum-resistant individuals. Six difenacoum treatments failed in 14–42 days of baiting. Two treatments with bromadiolone succeeded in 23 and 33 days, but four further treatments lasting 35–56 days failed to eradicate the populations. Brodifacoum gave virtually complete control of six populations in 21–73 days and of the ten residual populations left behind by the other two compounds, after baiting for a further 11–85 days. The performance of both bromadiolone and brodifacoum was well below that reported by previous investigators, indicating the possibility of low-grade resistance to these compounds in the difenacoum-resistant strain.

PCR SURVEILLANCE OF FOUR PROTOTYPIC RAT PARVOVIRUSES IN LABORATORY RAT COLONIES IN TAIWAN

2020 ◽  
Vol 46 (01) ◽  
pp. 29-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yung-Hui Chang ◽  
Yi-Chun Liao ◽  
Ko-Wei Wang ◽  
Ming-Hseng Wang ◽  
Ber-Hsiung Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Dual Infection ◽  
Virus Species ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Specific Pcr ◽  
Laboratory Rat ◽  
Minute Virus ◽  
Pcr Assays ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Infectious Condition

Prototypic rat parvoviruses are among the most common infectious agents in laboratory rats worldwide. It is important to determine the infectious condition of rat parvoviruses in research colonies in Taiwan. In this study, virus species-specific PCR assays were applied to screen Kilham rat virus (KRV), Toolan’s H-1 virus (H-1 virus), rat parvovirus (RPV) and rat minute virus (RMV) in 203 rats from five different research colonies in Taiwan. In this survey, the infection rate of rat parvoviruses was 19.2% (39/203), including KRV (12.3%; 25/203), RMV (8.9%; 18/203) and RPV (1.0%; 2/203). Dual infection of KRV and RMV were detected in 3.0% (6/203) of samples. No rats were positive for H-1 virus. The infectious rates of KRV and RMV detected in this study are much higher than those reported in USA and in Europe. Rat parvovirus PCR assays reported in this paper could be a useful tool for routine rat health monitoring program applied in laboratory rat facilities. [Chang YH, Liao YC, Wang KW, Hsieh SC, Wang MH, Fang BH, Chang CY, Chueh LL, Wan CH, PCR Surveillance of four prototypic rat parvoviruses in laboratory rat colonies in Taiwan, Taiwan Vet J 46(1): 1–7, 2020]

scholarly journals Model of septic shock induced by live E. coli (O18) in a laboratory rat

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 153-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Dembovska ◽  
P. Svoboda ◽  
P. Scheer ◽  
I. Kantorova ◽  
J. Tomenendalova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Septic Shock ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Jugular Vein ◽  
Blood Collection ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Laboratory Rat

This study was concerned with the development of induced septic shock in a laboratory rat using a series of measurements including body temperature, heart and respiratory rates, haematocrit value, red and white blood cell counts, differential leukocyte count, haemoglobin value, glycaemia, analysis of arterial blood gases, and serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) during the first five hours. A total of 12 specific pathogen free (SPF) laboratory rats were used for the study. Septic shock was induced under general anaesthesia by introducing live <I>E. coli</I> (O18) into the jugular vein in the dose of 1 × 10<sup>9</sup> per 100 g of body weight (group SESH). Clinical measurements and blood collection from <I>a. carotis</I> were performed just prior to, and then 1.5 and 5 h after the administration of <I>E. coli.</I> The control group (C) contained 9 SPF laboratory rats which received physiological saline only, at the same volume into the jugular vein, and blood collection followed according to the same scheme as above described for group SESH. The results of the experiment showed that changes in clinical, haematological and biochemical parameters could be detected as early as 1.5 hours after induction. These changes correspond with the activation of an inflammatory reaction and the development of metabolic acidosis. They are accompanied by a considerable rise in IL-6 already 1.5 h after the application of live <I>E. coli</I> and after 5 h the levels exceeded 2 000 pg/ml in all experimental animals. Our results clearly document the importance of IL-6 for the early detection of developing septic shock and of some less specific but routinely determined parameters such as white blood cell count and base excess.

scholarly journals Drinking water ivermectin treatment for eradication of pinworm infections from laboratory rat colonies

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Lytvynets ◽  
I. Langrová ◽  
J. Lachout ◽  
J. Vadlejch ◽  
A. Fučíková ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Ivermectin Treatment ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Laboratory Rat ◽  
Syphacia Muris ◽  
Cellophane Tape ◽  
Tape Test ◽  
Experimental Group

AbstractThe effects of ivermectin were studied in laboratory rats naturally infected with the pinworm Syphacia muris. Ivermectin was administered over four 5-days periods in drinking water; the ivermectin dose was 2.5 mg/kg of body weight per day. All the rats were weighed every five days and their ova production was monitored by a cellophane — tape test. Every fifth day six males and six females from the experimental group were euthanized and examined for adult pinworms and larvae. The rats’ health condition, behaviour and consumption of food and water were monitored every day. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of orally administered ivermectin as a treatment against adult pinworms and their larvae in laboratory rat colonies.

Altruistic Behavior in the Laboratory Rat?

1967 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 633-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald E. Mihalick ◽  
James L. Bruning
Keyword(s):  
Altruistic Behavior ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Laboratory Rat

Altruistic behavior in 60 laboratory rats was not observed in the feeding situation.

scholarly journals A Slow-Motility Phenotype Caused by Substitutions at Residue Asp31 in the PomA Channel Component of a Sodium-Driven Flagellar Motor

2000 ◽  
Vol 182 (11) ◽  
pp. 3314-3318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seiji Kojima ◽  
Tomokazu Shoji ◽  
Yukako Asai ◽  
Ikuro Kawagishi ◽  
Michio Homma
Keyword(s):  
Negative Charge ◽  
Dark Field ◽  
Sodium Ion ◽  
Flagellar Motor ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Or Efficiency ◽  
Motor Complex ◽  
Dark Field Microscopy ◽  
Nacl Concentration ◽  
High Concentrations

ABSTRACT PomA is thought to be a component of the ion channel in the sodium-driven polar-flagellar motor of Vibrio alginolyticus. We have found that some cysteine substitutions in the periplasmic region of PomA result in a slow-motility phenotype, in which swarming and swimming speeds are reduced even in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl. Most of the mutants showed a sodium ion dependence similar to that of the wild type but with significantly reduced motility at all sodium ion concentrations. By contrast, motility of the D31C mutant showed a sharp dependence on NaCl concentration, with a threshold at 38 mM. The motor of the D31C mutant rotates stably, as monitored by laser dark-field microscopy, suggesting that the mutant PomA protein is assembled normally into the motor complex. Mutational studies of Asp31 suggest that, although this residue is not essential for motor rotation, a negative charge at this position contributes to optimal speed and/or efficiency of the motor.

scholarly journals Using CRISPR-Cas9 to generate semi-dwarf rice lines in elite landraces

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xingming Hu ◽  
Yongtao Cui ◽  
Guojun Dong ◽  
Anhui Feng ◽  
Danying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Editing ◽  
Agronomic Traits ◽  
Genetic Erosion ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Stresses ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Broad Spectrum Resistance ◽  
Mutant Lines ◽  
Better Than

AbstractGenetic erosion refers to the loss of genetic variation in a crop. In China, only a few original landraces of rice (Oryza sativa) were used in breeding and these became the primary genetic background of modern varieties. Expanding the genetic diversity among Chinese rice varieties and cultivating high-yielding and high-quality varieties with resistance to different biotic and abiotic stresses is critical. Here, we used the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein9(Cas9) genome editing system to edit Semi-Dwarf1 (SD1) in the elite landraces Kasalath and TeTePu (TTP), which contain many desired agronomic traits such as tolerance to low phosphorous and broad-spectrum resistance to several diseases and insects. Mutations of SD1 confer shorter plant height for better resistance to lodging. Field trials demonstrated that the yield of the new Kasalath and TTP mutant lines was better than that of the wild type under modern cultivation and that the lines maintained the same desirable agronomic characteristics as their wild-type progenitors. Our results showed that breeding using available landraces in combination with genomic data of different landraces and gene-editing techniques is an effective way to relieve genetic erosion in modern rice varieties.

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