scholarly journals Patterns of Feeding by Householders Affect Activity of Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) during the Hibernation Period

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abigail Gazzard ◽  
Philip J. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Food Sources ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Hibernation Period ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Anthropogenic Food Sources ◽  
The Town

West European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are likely to encounter unusual ecological features in urban habitats, such as anthropogenic food sources and artificial refugia. Quantifying how these affect hedgehog behaviour is vital for informing conservation guidelines for householders. We monitored hedgehog presence/absence in gardens in the town of Reading, UK, over the winter of 2017–2018 using a volunteer-based footprint tunnel survey, and collected data on garden characteristics, supplementary feeding (SF) habits, and local environmental conditions. Over a 20-week survey period, hedgehog presence was lowest between January and March. Occupancy analysis indicated that SF significantly affected hedgehog presence/absence before, during, and after hibernation. The number of nesting opportunities available in gardens, average temperatures, and daylength were also supported as important factors at different stages. In particular, our results suggest that SF could act to increase levels of activity during the winter when hedgehogs should be hibernating. Stimulating increased activity at this sensitive time could push hedgehogs into a net energy deficit or, conversely, help some individuals survive which might not otherwise do so. Therefore, further research is necessary to determine whether patterns of feeding by householders have a positive or negative effect on hedgehog populations during the hibernation period.

Swan grazing on seagrass: abundance but not grazing pressure varies over an annual cycle in a temperate estuary

2014 ◽  
Vol 65 (8) ◽  
pp. 738 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary E. Choney ◽  
Kathryn McMahon ◽  
Paul S. Lavery ◽  
Neil Collier
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Human Disturbances ◽  
Black Swans ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Cycle Maximum ◽  
Negative Effect

Herbivorous waterfowl such as black swans are significant grazers in temperate waterbodies; their abundance, distribution and grazing rates vary over seasonal cycles. The present study examined spatial and temporal variation in the abundance and grazing rates of black swans in the Lower Swan River estuary, Western Australia, using visual surveys over 1 year (2009), and potential drivers of this variation, food sources and disturbance factors were assessed. We predicted that swan abundance and grazing pressure would be greater in summer and autumn when seasonal wetlands dry and the abundance of food sources would positively influence their distribution, whereas the level of disturbance would have a negative effect. Plant–grazer interactions are dynamic and complex; the present study revealed new findings on the seasonality of this relationship, where swan abundance but not grazing pressure varied over an annual cycle. Maximum swan abundance occurred in autumn (185) with minima in spring (53) but the swan grazing pressure did not vary between seasons, ranging from 6% to 25% of seagrass production consumed. Swan abundance was a function of season and the cover of seagrass. Key hot spots for swan abundance were identified where management efforts could be targeted by minimising human disturbances and protecting seagrass.

scholarly journals Over-Winter Survival and Nest Site Selection of the West-European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) in Arable Dominated Landscapes

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy E. Bearman-Brown ◽  
Philip J. Baker ◽  
Dawn Scott ◽  
Antonio Uzal ◽  
Luke Evans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Mass Change ◽  
The West ◽  
Erinaceus Europaeus ◽  
Hibernation Period ◽  
Anthropogenic Habitat ◽  
European Hedgehog ◽  
West European

The West-European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has declined markedly in the UK. The winter hibernation period may make hedgehogs vulnerable to anthropogenic habitat and climate changes. Therefore, we studied two contrasting populations in England to examine patterns of winter nest use, body mass changes and survival during hibernation. No between-site differences were evident in body mass prior to hibernation nor the number of winter nests used, but significant differences in overwinter mass change and survival were observed. Mass change did not, however, affect survival rates; all deaths occurred prior to or after the hibernation period, mainly from predation or vehicle collisions. Hedgehogs consistently nested in proximity to hedgerows, roads and woodlands, but avoided pasture fields; differences between sites were evident for the selection for or avoidance of arable fields, amenity grassland and buildings. Collectively, these data indicate that hibernation was not a period of significant mortality for individuals that had attained sufficient weight (>600 g) pre-hibernation. Conversely, habitat composition did significantly affect the positioning of winter nests, such that different land management practices (historic and current) might potentially influence hibernation success. The limitations of this study and suggestions for future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Estimating digestible energy values of feeds and diets and integrating those values into net energy systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 953-961 ◽  
Author(s):  
William P Weiss ◽  
Alexander W Tebbe
Keyword(s):  
Energy System ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Nutrient Analysis ◽  
Digestible Energy ◽  
Important Variation ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Gross Energy

Abstract The California Net Energy System (CNES) used a combination of measured and tabular metabolizable energy (ME) values and changes in body composition gain to determine net energy requirements for maintenance and gain and their corresponding dietary concentrations. The accuracy of the CNES depends on the accuracy of the feed ME values. Feed or diet ME values can be measured directly but are expensive and require specialized facilities; therefore, most ME values are estimated from digestible energy (DE) values, which are often estimated from the concentration of total digestible nutrients (TDN). Both DE and TDN values are often from tables and not based on actual nutrient analysis. The use of tabular values eliminates important within-feed variation in composition and digestibility. Furthermore, the use of TDN to estimate DE does not account for important variation in the gross energy value of feeds. A better approach would be to estimate DE concentration directly from nutrient composition or in vitro (or in situ) digestibility measurements. This approach incorporates within-feed variation into the energy system and eliminates the issues of using TDN. A widely used summative equation based on the commonly measured feed fractions (ash, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and fat) has been shown to accurately estimate DE concentrations of many diets for cattle; however, deficiencies in that equation have been identified and include an overestimation of DE provided by fat and an exaggerated negative effect of intake on digestibility. Replacing the nonfiber carbohydrate term (which included everything that was not measured) in the equation with measured starch concentration and residual organic matter (i.e., nonfiber carbohydrate minus starch) should improve accuracy by accounting for more variation in starch digestibility. More accurate estimates of DE will improve the accuracy of ME values, which will ultimately lead to more accurate NE values.

EFFECT OF COLD EXPOSURE ON MILK PRODUCTION AND ENERGY BALANCE IN THE LACTATING EWE

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. McBRIDE ◽  
R. J. CHRISTOPHERSON
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Milk Composition ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Lactational Performance ◽  
Daily Milk Production

The lactational performances of shorn ewes chronically exposed to a thermoneutral (21 ± 1 °C) or cold (0 ± 1 °C) environment were compared in two experiments. Heat production measured after 1, 21 and 41 days of cold exposure was increased by 20% (P < 0.05), 43% (P < 0.01) and 55% (P < 0.001), respectively, over thermoneutral control values. In both experiments, cold exposure increased milk fat concentration (P < 0.05). Milk protein and lactose concentrations were maintained in exp. 1 but tended to be increased in exp. 2 as a result of cold exposure. Milk obtained from the cold-exposed ewes was characterized by a relative decrease in short-chain fatty acid secretion (P < 0.01). Although milk composition was affected by cold stress, daily milk production was not significantly altered; as a consequence, total energy lost in the milk tended to be slightly higher for the cold-stressed ewes. The increased energy lost as heat and in the milk during cold exposure resulted in a net energy deficit throughout most of the experimental period. The present data suggest that the lactational performance of a ewe nursing a single lamb is not impaired by chronic exposure to an ambient temperature of 0 °C. Key words: Cold, milk production, milk composition, ewes, energy balance

How to catch red foxes red handed: identifying predation of freshwater turtles and nests

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart J. Dawson ◽  
Heather M. Crawford ◽  
Robert M. Huston ◽  
Peter J. Adams ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Freshwater Turtles ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Scat Analysis ◽  
Artificial Nests ◽  
Egg Shell ◽  
Anthropogenic Food Sources

Context Predation is one of the key contributors to mortality in freshwater turtles. Confirming the identity of predators is an important step towards conservation management action. Throughout Australia, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) is suspected to apply significant and unsustainable predation pressure to turtle populations, killing adults and depredating nests; however methods for confirming this are limited. Aims The present study used a range of methods to confirm predation of oblong turtle (Chelodina colliei) nests and adults by the introduced red fox. Methods First, depredated adult carapaces, and turtle egg-shell fragments from excavated nests were swabbed and analysed for trace DNA. Second, we used artificial turtle nests, monitored by camera traps, to analyse seasonal changes in the behaviour of foxes around sites where turtle nests are present, including over the nesting season. Last, we used scat analysis to identify the prevalence of turtle remains in fox diet. Key results Predominantly fox DNA was recovered from both adult carapaces and depredated eggs. In addition, camera traps recorded only foxes depredating artificial nests. Despite this evidence that foxes kill adults and excavated nests, we found that turtle remains were only a small part of the diet of foxes at this study site (hatchling or turtle egg shell were present in only 4% of 230 scats sampled). The diet of these foxes was largely anthropogenic-sourced foods, such as fruit (e.g. figs, grapes, melons; 81% of scats), sheep carrion (41%) and rodents (36%). Conclusions We conclude that DNA analysis, camera trapping and scat analysis are effective methods of identifying foxes as predators of adult turtle, and their nests. Furthermore, we found that anthropogenic foods (orchard crops, livestock or synanthropic species) may subsidise greater fox population size than might occur in their absence, thereby increasing potential pressure on these freshwater turtles. Implications Our findings give credence to the argument that foxes are effective predators of turtle adults and nests. In addition, the high proportion of anthropogenic food sources in the diet of foxes, and potential subsidisation, is an important consideration for land managers.

Contribution of altitude and Alpine origin of forage to the influence of Alpine sojourn of cows on intake, nitrogen conversion, metabolic stress and milk synthesis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 451-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Leiber ◽  
M. Kreuzer ◽  
B. Jörg ◽  
H. Leuenberger ◽  
H. -R. Wettstein
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Protein ◽  
Metabolic Stress ◽  
Energy Deficit ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Net Energy ◽  
Glucose Levels

AbstractA two-factorial experiment was conducted in order to quantify and distinguish the influences of altitude and forage origin on metabolism and milk synthesis of dairy cows kept at Alpine locations. Each of four experimental groups comprised six dairy cows in early to mid lactation which were kept tethered in barns at altitudes of either 2000 (Alpine) or 400 m above sea level (a.s.l.) (lowland). Two groups (Alpine and lowland) received hay ad libitum, a third group kept in the lowlands was pair-fed to the Alpine group and a control group was offered silages and concentrates according to milk yield. Two hay types, with origin either from 2000 or 400 m a.s.l., were offered to all hay-alone groups following a change-over design over three 21-day periods. Transferring cows to high altitude triggered a complex adaptation process, which resulted in depressions of food intake at the beginning of the experiment and changed plasma levels of metabolic traits indicating an energy deficit. On average over the entire experiment, high altitude sojourn elevated plasma β-hydroxybutyrate and decreased plasma glucose levels. Yields of milk and of main milk constituents were not significantly affected, but milk protein content was reduced in both the Alpine and in the pair-fed group. No generally elevated maintenance requirements as a consequence of hypoxia were found. Hay-alone feeding caused a co-limitation of net energy and absorbable protein in both hay types which was almost completely compensated by a reduction of milk yield. The hay of Alpine origin had a lower digestibility and crude protein content than the lowland hay which resulted in changes in blood plasma traits and a further suppression of milk yield and milk protein and lactose contents. Due to the low N content of the Alpine hay, N utilization for milk protein synthesis remained similar to that found with lowland hay, and manure N of these cows contained the lowest proportion of easily-volatile urine N. In conclusion, forage origin in conjunction with diet type seems to explain the major part of the adverse effects that the Alpine sojourn exerts on lactating dairy cows while the effects of hypoxia appear to be of lesser importance.

scholarly journals Visitation rate and behavior of urban mesocarnivores differs in the presence of two common anthropogenic food sources

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 895-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tad C. Theimer ◽  
Anthony C. Clayton ◽  
Alexa Martinez ◽  
Damon L. Peterson ◽  
David L. Bergman
Keyword(s):  
Food Sources ◽  
Visitation Rate ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Anthropogenic Food Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Food

Locality and circulation in the Habsburg Empire: disputing the Carlsbad medical salt, 1763–1784

2010 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 589-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAKOB VOGEL
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Water ◽  
Habsburg Empire ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Local Doctor ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Geographies Of Knowledge ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Circulation Of Knowledge ◽  
The City ◽  
The Town

AbstractBy looking at the fierce debates in the city of Carlsbad in Bohemia around the fabrication of medical salt by a local doctor, David Becher, from 1763 to 1784, the paper examines the interactions between different spheres or levels of circulation of knowledge in the Habsburg Empire. The dispute crystallized around the definition of the product, about its medical qualities and its relation with the water of the local mineral spring. The city's inhabitants contested the vision of the medical experts, fearing that the extraction of the medical salt from the spring water and its sale outside the town would have a negative effect on the number of visitors to the spa. Their vision implied a more or less ‘popularized’ form of alchemical thinking as it identified the mineral water with the extracted ‘salt’, conceived as the ‘essence’ of the water, produced by evaporation. The Carlsbad salt dispute highlights the complex interactions among the different networks in which knowledge circulated through the Habsburg Empire in the eighteenth century. The different actors relied on specific networks with different logics of discourse and different modes of circulation. In each case the relation between the local, the regional and the imperial had to be negotiated. The paper thus sketches out the different geographies of knowledge in the Habsburg Empire but also its localization in and around Carlsbad.

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