scholarly journals Abiotic and Biotic Influences on the Movement of Reintroduced Chinese Giant Salamanders (Andrias davidianus) in Two Montane Rivers

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1480
Author(s):  
Qijun Wang ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Hu Zhao ◽  
Qing Zhao ◽  
Jie Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Movement Ecology ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Central China ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Andrias Davidianus ◽  
Movement Tendency

Understanding animal movement is a key question in ecology and biodiversity conservation, which is particularly important for the success of reintroduction projects. The movement of critically endangered Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) remains poorly understood due to the rareness of wild individuals of this species. We lack movement details about the full annual cycle after reintroduction, especially the abiotic and biotic influences that affect its movement. We utilized pilot reintroduction projects as opportunities to fill in some knowledge gaps on their movement ecology. We released 31 juvenile captive-reared Chinese giant salamanders of two age groups in two rivers in the Qinling Mountains of central China and monitored their daily movements for 16 months using surgically implanted radio transmitters. We examined the impacts of individual traits (body mass, body condition) and environmental conditions (temperature, precipitation, and moon phase) on their daily movement patterns. Data were analyzed using a mixed-effects logistic regression model to understand the drivers of their movement tendency (i.e., whether they move or not) and a linear mixed-effects model was used to understand the drivers of their movement distance. We found that movement tendency of the older salamander cohort was positively affected by the moon phase, increasing near the Full Moon, whereas the younger cohort of animals were not impacted by the moon phase. For daily distance moved, we found temperature had a strong positive effect on both cohorts, whereas precipitation had moderate but opposite effects on the two cohorts Body mass and body condition did not have any significant impacts on either age classes’ movement tendency or distance. This study provides insight into the abiotic factors that impact the temporal and spatial movement ecology of reintroduced giant salamander, which will in turn help with designing best practices for future releases and conservation of this iconic montane aquatic predator.

Mondbezogene Traditionen in der Forstwirtschaft und Phänomene in der Baumbiologie | Moon-Related Traditions in Forestry and Corresponding Phenomena in Tree Biology

2000 ◽  
Vol 151 (11) ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernst Zürcher
Keyword(s):  
Moon Phase ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Insect Infestation ◽  
Ancient Forest ◽  
Germination Behaviour ◽  
Forest Utilization

Ancient forest utilization regulations regarding felling dates and wood use are compared to the moon cycles. Furthermore, moon-phase related investigations with regard to germination behaviour, insect infestation and durability of the wood are presented.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic inequalities in children’s weight, height and BMI trajectories in Norway

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Teferi Mekonnen ◽  
Eleni Papadopoulou ◽  
Onyebuchi A. Arah ◽  
Anne Lise Brantsæter ◽  
Nanna Lien ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass Index ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Parental Income ◽  
Educational Differences ◽  
Bmi Trajectories ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Weight Velocity

AbstractStudies exploring when social inequalities in body mass index (BMI) and its composites emerge and how these evolve with age are limited. Thus, this study explored parental income and education related inequalities in children’s weight, height, weight velocity and body mass index among Norwegian children from 1 month to 8 years. The study population included 59,927 family/children pairs participating in the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. Growth was modelled using the Jenss–Bayley model and linear mixed effects analyses were conducted. Maternal and paternal educational differences in children’s weight and BMI trajectories emerged during infancy, continuing to age 8 years. Parental income-related inequalities in children’s weight were observed from the age of 1 month to 4 years for maternal and up to 1 year for paternal income-related differences but then disappeared. Parental income-related inequalities in child’s BMI were observed from 18 months to 8 years for maternal income, and from 9 months to 8 years for paternal income-related differences. These results suggest that social inequalities in children’s BMI present early in infancy and continue to 8 years of age. The inequalities sometimes differed by indicator of socioeconomic position used. Interventions to combat these inequalities early in life are, thus needed.

scholarly journals Association of body condition with lameness in dairy cattle: a single-farm longitudinal study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Michaela Kranepuhl ◽  
Detlef May ◽  
Edna Hillmann ◽  
Lorenz Gygax
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Mixed Effects ◽  
Mixed Effects Models ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects Models ◽  
Linear Mixed Effects ◽  
Confounding Variables ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract This research communication describes the relationship between the occurrence of lameness and body condition score (BCS) in a sample of 288 cows from a single farm that were repeatedly scored in the course of 9 months while controlling for confounding variables. The relationship between BCS and lameness was evaluated using generalised linear mixed-effects models. It was found that the proportion of lame cows was higher with decreasing but also with increasing BCS, increased with lactation number and decreased with time since the last claw trimming. This is likely to reflect the importance of sufficient body condition in the prevention of lameness but also raises the question of the impact of overcondition on lameness and the influence of claw trimming events on the assessment of lameness. A stronger focus on BCS might allow improved management of lameness that is still one of the major problems in housed cows.

Are roads and traffic sources of physiological stress for the Florida scrub-jay?

2012 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gina M. Morgan ◽  
Travis E. Wilcoxen ◽  
Michelle A. Rensel ◽  
Stephan J. Schoech
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Physiological Stress ◽  
Condition Index ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Florida Scrub ◽  
The Road ◽  
Threatened And Endangered Species ◽  
Chronic Stressor

Context Anthropogenic disturbances induce physiological and behavioural responses in numerous species. The negative effects of human disturbance are of special concern to threatened and endangered species. Aims The present study aims to compare physiological stress measures and reproductive success of Florida scrub-jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens) living near roads with jays that live away from roads. Specifically, it aims to test whether roads are stressful. Methods We assessed physiological measures that can serve as indicators of ‘stress’ to determine whether a highway that bisects our study site had physiological effects on adult male Florida scrub-jays. We captured male breeders from three territory types, including scrub habitat that (1) bordered a highway with a grassy shoulder that created an ‘edge’ habitat (roadside), (2) bordered human-maintained habitat (a plowed firebreak of sand with adjacent pasture) that served as a control for the edge-effect of the road (pasture) and (3) contained only natural scrub habitat (interior). We measured baseline concentrations of the stress hormone corticosterone (CORT), body mass, and a suite of longitudinal body measures to generate a body condition index in males from each territory type over three breeding seasons. Key results Roadside jays had greater body mass than did interior and pasture jays, although there were no differences in overall baseline CORT concentrations or body condition among territory classes. There was no difference in clutch initiation date or size and nestling and independent-young survival. Conclusions Our results suggest that the road through our study site has physiological effects on Florida scrub-jays; however, there is mixed evidence as to whether it acts as a chronic stressor. Implications Our findings provide evidence that roads and road-associated disturbance has neutral or potentially beneficial physiological effects of roads on Florida scrub-jays. Knowledge of these effects of roads and disturbance on jays will hopefully provide additional opportunities to improve conservation of this species.

scholarly journals What drives interaction strengths in complex food webs? A test with feeding rates of a generalist stream predator

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel L. Preston ◽  
Jeremy S. Henderson ◽  
Landon P. Falke ◽  
Leah M. Segui ◽  
Tamara J. Layden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Webs ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Prey Density ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Interaction Strength ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Mass Ratios

AbstractDescribing the mechanisms that drive variation in species interaction strengths is central to understanding, predicting, and managing community dynamics. Multiple factors have been linked to trophic interaction strength variation, including species densities, species traits, and abiotic factors. Yet most empirical tests of the relative roles of multiple mechanisms that drive variation have been limited to simplified experiments that may diverge from the dynamics of natural food webs. Here, we used a field-based observational approach to quantify the roles of prey density, predator density, predator-prey body-mass ratios, prey identity, and abiotic factors in driving variation in feeding rates of reticulate sculpin (Cottus perplexus). We combined data on over 6,000 predator-prey observations with prey identification time functions to estimate 289 prey-specific feeding rates at nine stream sites in Oregon. Feeding rates on 57 prey types showed an approximately log-normal distribution, with few strong and many weak interactions. Model selection indicated that prey density, followed by prey identity, were the two most important predictors of prey-specific sculpin feeding rates. Feeding rates showed a positive, accelerating relationship with prey density that was inconsistent with predator saturation predicted by current functional response models. Feeding rates also exhibited four orders-of-magnitude in variation across prey taxonomic orders, with the lowest feeding rates observed on prey with significant anti-predator defenses. Body-mass ratios were the third most important predictor variable, showing a hump-shaped relationship with the highest feeding rates at intermediate ratios. Sculpin density was negatively correlated with feeding rates, consistent with the presence of intraspecific predator interference. Our results highlight how multiple co-occurring drivers shape trophic interactions in nature and underscore ways in which simplified experiments or reliance on scaling laws alone may lead to biased inferences about the structure and dynamics of species-rich food webs.

scholarly journals Nutrient Reserves of Lesser Scaup (Aythya Affinis) During Spring Migration in the Mississippi Flyway: A Test of the Spring Condition Hypothesis

The Auk ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 121 (3) ◽  
pp. 917-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Anteau ◽  
Alan D. Afton
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Female Body ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Spring Migration ◽  
Aythya Affinis ◽  
Lesser Scaup ◽  
Nutrient Reserves ◽  
Mineral Reserves

AbstractThe continental scaup population (Lesser [Aythya affinis] and Greater [A. marila] combined) has declined markedly since 1978. One hypothesis for the population decline states that reproductive success has decreased because female scaup are arriving on breeding areas in poorer body condition than they did historically (i.e. spring condition hypothesis). We tested one aspect of that hypothesis by comparing body mass and nutrient reserves (lipid, protein, and mineral) of Lesser Scaup at four locations (Louisiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Manitoba) between the 1980s and 2000s. We found that mean body mass and lipid and mineral reserves of females were 80.0, 52.5, and 3.0 g higher, respectively, in the 2000s than in the 1980s in Louisiana; similarly, body mass and lipid and mineral reserves of males were 108.8, 72.5, and 2.5 g higher, respectively. In Illinois, mean body mass and lipid reserves of females were 88.6 and 56.5 g higher, respectively, in the 2000s than in the 1980s; similarly, body mass and lipid and mineral reserves of males were 80.6, 76.0, and 2.7 g higher, respectively. Mean body mass of females were 58.5 and 58.9 g lower in the 2000s than in the 1980s in Minnesota and Manitoba, respectively; mean body mass of males, similarly, were 40.7 g lower in Minnesota. Mean lipid reserves of females in the 2000s were 28.8 and 27.8 g lower than those in the 1980s in Minnesota and Manitoba, respectively. Mean mineral reserves of females in the 2000s were 3.2 g lower than those in the 1980s in Manitoba. Consequently, females arriving to breed in Manitoba in the 2000s had accumulated lipid reserves for 4.1 fewer eggs and mineral reserves for 0.8 fewer eggs than those arriving to breed there in the 1980s. Accordingly, our results are consistent with the spring condition hypothesis and suggest that female body condition has declined, as reflected by decreases in body mass, lipids, and mineral reserves that could cause reductions in reproductive success and ultimately a population decline.

Effects of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) on body condition and activity of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans)

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1042-1051 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin N Sacks ◽  
Karen M Blejwas
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Infected Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Canine Heartworm ◽  
Average Body Mass ◽  
Free Ranging ◽  
Average Body

We used radiotelemetry to study relationships among canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) infection, body condition, and activity of free-ranging coyotes (Canis latrans). Average body mass at death was lower for 17 coyotes in a high-intensity infected group (mean = 33.6 heartworms) than for 18 coyotes in a control group (mean = 3.6 heartworms; p < 0.01). Coyotes in the infected group lost body mass at an average rate of 20% per year relative to the control group (p < 0.01). Bone marrow fat was negatively correlated with heartworm burden (R2 = 0.27; p < 0.01). Average body mass of coyotes at initial capture (i.e., potentially before infection) did not differ between infected and control groups (p = 0.90; 1–β = 0.70). Activity was negatively correlated with heartworm burden during the last 2 months of life (R2 = 0.30; p < 0.01), but no correlation was found 2–4 months before death. Activity of the infected group (n = 13) declined over time (p = 0.01), whereas no difference in activity was observed in the control group (n = 13; p = 0.50). Our findings indicate that heartworm infection reduced body condition and activity of coyotes but that nutritional status did not significantly affect susceptibility to infection.

Contrasted influences of moon phases on the reproduction and movement patterns of four amphibian species inhabiting different habitats in central Italy

2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Vignoli ◽  
Manuela D’Amen ◽  
Francesca Della Rocca ◽  
Marco A. Bologna ◽  
Luca Luiselli
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Moon Phase ◽  
The Moon ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Moon Phases ◽  
Fitness Effects ◽  
Open Habitat

Many studies have provided evidence that prey adjust their behaviour to adaptively balance the fitness effects of reproduction and predation risk. Nocturnal terrestrial animals should deal with a range of environmental conditions during the reproductive season at the breeding sites, including a variable amount of natural ambient light. High degrees of illumination are expected to minimize those behaviours that might increase the animal detection by predators. Therefore, under habitat variable brightness conditions and in different ecosystems, the above mentioned behaviours are expected to depend on the variation in predation risk. Although moon effects on amphibian biology have been recognized, the direction of this influence is rather controversial with evidences of both increased and depressed activity under full moon. We tested in four nocturnal amphibian species (Hyla intermedia, Rana dalmatina, Rana italica, Salamandrina perspicillata) the effects of different (i) light conditions and (ii) habitats (open land vs. dense forest) on the reproductive phenology. Our results showed that the effects of the lunar cycle on the study species are associated with the change in luminosity, and there is no evidence of an endogenous rhythm controlled by biological clocks. The habitat type conditioned the amphibian reproductive strategy in relation to moon phases. Open habitat breeders (e.g., ponds with no canopy cover) strongly avoided conditions with high brightness, whereas forest habitat breeders were apparently unaffected by the different moon phases. Indeed, for all the studied species no effects of the moon phase itself on the considered metrics were found. Rather, the considered amphibian species seem to be conditioned mainly by moonlight irrespective of the moon phase. The two anurans spawning in open habitat apparently adjust their oviposition timing by balancing the fitness effects of the risk to be detected by predators and the reproduction.

scholarly journals Philopatry to Stopover Site and Body Condition of Transient Reed Warblers During Autumn Migration Through Israel

The Condor ◽  
2000 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kobi Merom ◽  
Yoram Yom-Tov ◽  
Robin McClery
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Wing Length ◽  
First Year ◽  
Sahara Desert ◽  
Stopover Site ◽  
Acrocephalus Scirpaceus ◽  
The Mean ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Mass Increase

Abstract Philopatry to stopover site and changes in body condition of migrating Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus were studied in Bet Shean Valley, Israel, where warblers were netted throughout the year. Although the majority of birds were seen only once, the proportion of transients seen twice or more in different years is comparable to the figure for summer residents returning between years, indicating a high degree of philopatry among transients. Transients get heavier with longer duration of stay, up to about 15 days, after which body mass increase appears to level off at about 3 g. Change in body condition, taken to be body mass divided by wing length, also was noted, albeit of less significance. The mean date of arrival in the autumn of birds in their first year was about 20 days later than that of older birds. Reed Warblers use their time effectively to replenish their body mass and improve their condition before starting the dangerous crossing of the Sahara Desert.

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