Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) following above-average rainfall in a semi-arid environment of Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 482-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Kampmann ◽  
BA Hampson ◽  
CC Pollitt
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Equus Caballus ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Feral Horses ◽  
Average Rainfall ◽  
Semi Arid

Population dynamics of feral horses (Equus caballus) in an exotic coniferous plantation in Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena A. Zabek ◽  
David M. Berman ◽  
Simon P. Blomberg ◽  
Christina W. Collins ◽  
John Wright
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Equus Caballus ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Feral Horses ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Coniferous Plantation ◽  
The Mean

Context Understanding population dynamics of invasive species is crucial for the development of management strategies. Feral horses (Equus caballus) are a growing problem in the Tuan–Toolara State Forest (TTSF), a coniferous plantation in south-eastern Queensland, Australia. Aim The population dynamics of the TTSF feral horses was not known. Therefore, the study was designed to characterise the major vital parameters of this population and, using these data, develop a long-term management plan. Methods The study was conducted over 3 years (2011–14) involving 522 individually identified horses. Foaling rates were used to calculate fecundity. Body fat distribution was estimated using body condition score (BCS), which reflects the nutritional, metabolic and general health of individual animals. Multi state mark–capture population models were used to estimate age-specific survival, and the Leslie age-structured projection matrix model was used to determine the annual rate at which the population increased. Key results The mean annual fecundity was low (0.23 ± 0.07 s.d.). The mean BCS of the population was mid-range (2.55 ± 0.51 s.d.) with adult females having lower scores than other age and gender groups. Survival estimates were consistently high (0.92–0.95) across all age groups. The average annual finite rate of population increase (λ) for the 3 years of the study was 1.09. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the population growth rate was almost seven times more sensitive to changes in adult survival compared with juvenile survival, and almost twice as sensitive to changes in fecundity. Key conclusions Population dynamics of the TTSF feral horses were comparable to other feral horse populations similarly challenged by environmental nutritional limitations. Implications Defining population dynamics of the TTSF feral horses permits the formulation of management goals that can be audited and adapted as required. The most effective strategy for controlling population growth in the TTSF would involve the continuing removal of substantial numbers of adult females or manipulation of survival and/or fecundity. As selective removal will likely alter the adult sex ratio and age structure of the population, ongoing assessment is necessary to minimise adverse welfare outcomes.

CASE STUDY: Evaluation of Different Cooling Systems in Lactating Heat-Stressed Dairy Cows in a Semi-Arid Environment

2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 546-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Burgos ◽  
L.J. Odens ◽  
R.J. Collier ◽  
L.H. Baumgard ◽  
M.J. VanBaale
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Study Evaluation ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Predicting the past, present and future distributions of an endangered marsupial in a semi‐arid environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Riley ◽  
M.R.K. Zeale ◽  
O. Razgour ◽  
J. Turpin ◽  
G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Arid Environment ◽  
The Past ◽  
Semi Arid

scholarly journals Climatic Zone and Soil Properties Determine the Biodiversity of the Soil Bacterial Communities Associated to Native Plants from Desert Areas of North-Central Algeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Elisa Bona ◽  
Nadia Massa ◽  
Omrane Toumatia ◽  
Giorgia Novello ◽  
Patrizia Cesaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Climatic Zone ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Desert Areas ◽  
Plant Microbiota ◽  
Semi Arid

Algeria is the largest country in Africa characterized by semi-arid and arid sites, located in the North, and hypersaline zones in the center and South of the country. Several autochthonous plants are well known as medicinal plants, having in common tolerance to aridity, drought and salinity. In their natural environment, they live with a great amount of microbial species that altogether are indicated as plant microbiota, while the plants are now viewed as a “holobiont”. In this work, the microbiota of the soil associated to the roots of fourteen economically relevant autochthonous plants from Algeria have been characterized by an innovative metagenomic approach with a dual purpose: (i) to deepen the knowledge of the arid and semi-arid environment and (ii) to characterize the composition of bacterial communities associated with indigenous plants with a strong economic/commercial interest, in order to make possible the improvement of their cultivation. The results presented in this work highlighted specific signatures which are mainly determined by climatic zone and soil properties more than by the plant species.

scholarly journals Sage‐Grouse Population Dynamics are Adversely Affected by Overabundant Feral Horses

2021 ◽  
Vol 85 (6) ◽  
pp. 1132-1149
Author(s):  
Peter S. Coates ◽  
Shawn T. O'neil ◽  
Diana A. MuÑoz ◽  
Ian A. Dwight ◽  
John C. Tull
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Sage Grouse ◽  
Feral Horses

Modelling groundwater evapotranspiration in a shallow aquifer in a semi-arid environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 587 ◽  
pp. 124967
Author(s):  
Ousmane Coly Diouf ◽  
Lutz Weihermüller ◽  
Mathias Diedhiou ◽  
Harry Vereecken ◽  
Seynabou Cissé Faye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Arid Environment ◽  
Shallow Aquifer ◽  
Groundwater Evapotranspiration ◽  
Semi Arid
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document