Alligator conservation and hunting efficiency

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. e12155 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kahui ◽  
B. Moyle ◽  
A. M. Brunell
Keyword(s):  
1973 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 336 ◽  
Author(s):  
William N. Holsworth

Human Ecology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 307-315
Author(s):  
André Valle Nunes ◽  
Luiz Gustavo R. Oliveira-Santos ◽  
Bráulio A. Santos ◽  
Carlos A. Peres ◽  
Erich Fischer

Author(s):  
PJ Lyons ◽  
CE Benkwitt ◽  
H Scheuffele ◽  
J Shaffer

1982 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Saffirio ◽  
Richard Scaglion
Keyword(s):  

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 20210116
Author(s):  
Michelle Vrettos ◽  
Chevonne Reynolds ◽  
Arjun Amar

Many falcons ( Falco spp.) exhibit a distinct dark plumage patch below the eye, termed the malar stripe. This stripe is hypothesized to reduce the amount of solar glare reflected into the eyes while foraging, thereby increasing hunting efficiency in bright conditions. Here, we use a novel, global-scale correlative approach to test this ‘solar glare hypothesis' in peregrine falcons ( Falco peregrinus ), the most widespread falcon species, using web-sourced photographs from across the species' global range. We found that the size and prominence of the malar stripe were positively associated with average annual solar radiation, but not with other environmental variables, such as temperature and rainfall. Our results provide the first published evidence for the hypothesis that this plumage feature functions to reduce the amount of solar glare reflected into the falcon's eyes, thereby improving the ability to pinpoint and target agile prey in bright conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 613-617 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krzysztof Miler ◽  
Karolina Kuszewska ◽  
Gabriela Zuber ◽  
Michal Woyciechowski

2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 1573-1580 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricarda Modarressie ◽  
Theo C.M Bakker

Any trait of predatory species that enhances hunting efficiency should be favoured by natural selection. Foraging in threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is mainly visually mediated. The visual system of sticklebacks is extended into the ultraviolet (UV) range of the spectrum. We tested, in four different experimental setups, the influence of different spectral compositions, in particular the presence and absence of ultraviolet wavelengths, on the feeding performance of threespine sticklebacks while foraging on live Daphnia magna, which absorb UV. In the three experiments with similar background reflections, the foraging behaviour of sticklebacks was unaffected by removing UV wavelengths. But in the fourth experiment, sticklebacks showed a significant difference between the rate of detecting prey against a UV-reflecting or UV-absorbing background. Sticklebacks significantly attacked prey faster when the background lacked UV reflections. Thus, the interaction of prey with its background in UV wavelengths influenced sticklebacks' prey detection. Removing long wavelengths impaired foraging rate, suggesting that long wavelengths may be more important in foraging tasks than UV wavelengths.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sonia M. Hernandez ◽  
Kerrie Anne T. Loyd ◽  
Alexandra N. Newton ◽  
Benjamin L. Carswell ◽  
Kyler J. Abernathy

Context Domestic cats (Felis catus) are efficient and abundant non-native predators, recently labelled as primary contributors to global biodiversity loss. Aims Specific research goals included determining the proportion of hunters, estimating hunting efficiency, identifying primary prey and examining predictors of kill rate and efficacy. Methods We investigated hunting of wildlife by stray cats living in managed outdoor colonies on a barrier island in the southeastern USA, and monitored 29 stray cats seasonally in 2014 and 2015 using Kittycam video cameras. Key results In total, 24 cats exhibited hunting behaviour and 18 captured prey. The estimated average daily predation rate from these successful hunters was 6.15 kills per 24-h period. Hunting effectiveness (percentage of capture attempts that translate to a kill) was an average of 44%. The most common type of prey captured was invertebrate (primarily Orthopteran and Hemipteran insects), followed by amphibians and reptiles. Eighty-three percent of kills occurred between dusk and dawn. Conclusions Colony location (near undeveloped island habitat) was related to higher kill rates. Cat sex and nocturnal hunting activity were related to greater hunting efficiency. Implications These results address the significant gap in knowledge about stray cat hunting activities, and raise conservation concerns for some groups of organisms (reptiles and amphibians) that have not been widely identified as vulnerable to cat predation.


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