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
2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena A. Zabek ◽  
David M. Berman ◽  
Simon P. Blomberg ◽  
Christina W. Collins ◽  
John Wright

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.


2007 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 546-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Burgos ◽  
L.J. Odens ◽  
R.J. Collier ◽  
L.H. Baumgard ◽  
M.J. VanBaale

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

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Elisa Bona ◽  
Nadia Massa ◽  
Omrane Toumatia ◽  
Giorgia Novello ◽  
Patrizia Cesaro ◽  
...  

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.


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

2020 ◽  
Vol 587 ◽  
pp. 124967
Author(s):  
Ousmane Coly Diouf ◽  
Lutz Weihermüller ◽  
Mathias Diedhiou ◽  
Harry Vereecken ◽  
Seynabou Cissé Faye ◽  
...  

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