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Colomer J, Massei G, Roos D, Rosell C, Rodríguez-Teijeiro JD. What drives wild boar density and population growth in Mediterranean environments? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 931:172739. [PMID: 38697537 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Accurate prediction of fluctuations of wildlife local number of individuals is crucial for effective population management to minimise human-wildlife conflicts. Climate, habitat, food availability, and density dependence are among the main factors influencing mammalian population dynamics. In southern Europe, precipitation and temperature, particularly during summer have been suggested as key factors affecting wild boar (Sus scrofa L.). However, there is uncertainty regarding the role of these factors and the mechanisms driving population fluctuations. This study utilized long-term data of wild boar populations from 14 study sites collected for 23 years in Catalonia, Spain, to analyse the factors that drive population density and growth rate. Generalized Additive Mixed Models (GAMM) explained respectively, 94 % and 65 % of the density and growth rate variability. Spring precipitation in both current and previous year, female weight, and forest cover (particularly above 60 %) were directly associated with higher wild boar densities and population growth rates. The interaction between crop cover and total annual precipitation also played a significant role in determining population density. Higher densities were linked to lower population growth in the following year, likely due to a density-dependent process. These results suggest that the expected decrease in rainfall linked with global warming may limit the availability of natural resources and potentially slow wild boar population growth. Nevertheless, wild boar can exploit alternative anthropogenic food sources, potentially leading to an increase of human-wildlife conflicts. Therefore, incorporating management policies aimed at restricting wild boar access to human food sources is key for controlling their reproductive output. Additionally, landscape management strategies targeted at diminishing refuge and resource availability in regions experiencing high wild boar impact are essential for contributing to sustainable coexistence between wild boars and human populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Colomer
- Minuartia, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain; IRBio, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - G Massei
- Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control Europe, UK; Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, 290 Wentworth Way, Heslington, York YO10 5NG, UK
| | - D Roos
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK
| | - C Rosell
- Minuartia, Barcelona, Spain; Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain; IRBio, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J D Rodríguez-Teijeiro
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain; IRBio, Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Evans TS, Ellison N, Boudreau MR, Strickland BK, Street GM, Iglay RB. What drives wild pig (Sus scrofa) movement in bottomland and upland forests? MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2024; 12:32. [PMID: 38664784 PMCID: PMC11044336 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-024-00472-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The wild pig (Sus scrofa) is an exotic species that has been present in the southeastern United States for centuries yet continues to expand into new areas dominated by bottomland and upland forests, the latter of which are less commonly associated with wild pigs. Here, we aimed to investigate wild pig movement and space use attributes typically used to guide wild pig management among multiple spatiotemporal scales. Our investigation focused on a newly invaded landscape dominated by bottomland and upland forests. METHODS We examined (1) core and total space use using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator; (2) resource selection patterns and hot spots of space use in relation to various landscape features using step-selection analysis; and (3) daily and hourly differences in movement patterns between non-hunting and hunting seasons using generalized additive mixed models. RESULTS Estimates of total space use among wild pigs (n = 9) were smaller at calculated core (1.2 ± 0.3 km2) and 90% (5.2 ± 1.5 km2) isopleths than estimates reported in other landscapes in the southeastern United States, suggesting that wild pigs were able to meet foraging, cover, and thermoregulatory needs within smaller areas. Generally, wild pigs selected areas closer to herbaceous, woody wetlands, fields, and perennial streams, creating corridors of use along these features. However, selection strength varied among individuals, reinforcing the generalist, adaptive nature of wild pigs. Wild pigs also showed a tendency to increase movement from fall to winter, possibly paralleling increases in hard mast availability. During this time, there were also increases in anthropogenic pressures (e.g. hunting), causing movements to become less diurnal as pressure increased. CONCLUSIONS Our work demonstrates that movement patterns by exotic generalists must be understood across individuals, the breadth of landscapes they can invade, and multiple spatiotemporal scales. This improved understanding will better inform management strategies focused on curbing emerging invasions in novel landscapes, while also protecting native natural resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler S Evans
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA.
| | - Natasha Ellison
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Melanie R Boudreau
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Bronson K Strickland
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Garrett M Street
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
| | - Raymond B Iglay
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, 775 Stone Boulevard, Mississippi State, Mississippi, 39762, USA
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Kilgo JC, Vukovich M, Cox KJ, Larsen M, Mims TT, Garabedian JE. Assessing whole-sounder removal versus traditional control for reducing invasive wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:3033-3042. [PMID: 36966457 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trapping is commonly used as the primary management tool in attempts to reduce invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), but traditional trapping techniques are often ineffective. However, recently developed traps permit the capture of entire social groups (sounders) of wild pigs, and the strategy of whole-sounder removal may achieve more effective control. Our objective was to experimentally compare traditional control (TC; primarily traditional trapping, but including hunting with dogs, and opportunistic shooting) and whole-sounder removal (WSR) strategies by assessing density reduction and removal rate after 1 and 2 years of treatment. RESULTS After 1 year of trapping, average wild pig density on WSR units declined 53% and remained stable after the second year, whereas on TC units, pig density did not differ after trapping, although it declined 33% and remained stable after the second year of trapping. The median removal rate (percentage of uniquely marked pigs present at the beginning of each year that were removed) was 42.5% for WSR units and 0.0% for TC units during 2018 and were 29.6% from WSR units and 5.3% from TC units during 2019. CONCLUSIONS WSR removal was more effective at reducing wild pig density than TC, but factors such as previous exposure of this population to traditional traps and the lack of barriers to recolonization from surrounding areas may have reduced WSR efficacy. WSR can effectively reduce wild pig density to a greater extent than TC, but managers should recognize the additional time and expense necessary for implementation. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Mark Vukovich
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Kyle J Cox
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Michael Larsen
- USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC, USA
| | - Thomas T Mims
- USDA Forest Service, Savannah River, New Ellenton, SC, USA
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Pedrosa F, Bercê W, Costa VE, Levi T, Galetti M. Diet of invasive wild pigs in a landscape dominated by sugar cane plantations. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms by which alien species become invasive can assure successful control programs and mitigate alien species’ impacts. The distribution of invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) has been sharply expanding throughout all regions of Brazil in the last few years. Here we demonstrate that large monocultural plantations provide the primary resource subsidies to invasive wild pigs in Brazil. We analyzed 106 stomach contents and carbon stable isotopes (δ13C) of 50 hair samples of wild pigs from a population immersed in a landscape dominated by sugar cane agriculture. Stomach contents were dominated by corn (41%), sugarcane (28.5%), vegetal matter (all other vegetation besides crops, 27%), and animal matter (vertebrates and invertebrates, 4%). Bayesian mixing model analysis of δ13C showed that food sources from C4 photosynthetic pathway (represented by corn and sugarcane) accounted for 94% of the long-term diet, while C3 food sources for only 6.2%. Our results indicate that corn and sugar cane are subsidizing the diet of wild pigs and can facilitate the population growth of this invasive species. Given that Brazil is a major agricultural producer and a hotspot of biodiversity, it is extremely concerning that extensive agriculture may accelerate the expansion of this invasive species, resulting in economic losses and cascading effects on natural habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Pedrosa
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
- Mão na Mata – Manejo e Soluções Ambientais, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - William Bercê
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Vladimir Eliodoro Costa
- Centro de Isótopos Estáveis, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - Taal Levi
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Mauro Galetti
- Departamento de Biodiversidade, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA
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Factors and costs associated with removal of a newly established population of invasive wild pigs in Northern U.S. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11528. [PMID: 32661318 PMCID: PMC7359029 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The human-mediated spread of exotic and invasive species often leads to unintentional and harmful consequences. Invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are one such species that have been repeatedly translocated throughout the United States and cause extensive damage to natural ecosystems, threatened and endangered species, agricultural resources, and private lands. In 2005, a newly established population of wild pigs was confirmed in Fulton County, Illinois, U.S. In 2011, a state-wide wild pig damage management program involving federal, state, and local government authorities directed a concerted effort to remove wild pigs from the county until the last wild pig (of 376 total) was successfully removed in 2016. We examined surveillance data from camera traps at bait sites and records of wild pig removals during this elimination program to identify environmental and anthropogenic factors that optimized removal of this population. Our results revealed that wild pigs used bait sites most during evening and nocturnal periods and on days with lower daily maximum temperatures. Increased removals of wild pigs coincided with periods of cold weather. We also identified that fidelity and time spent at bait sites by wild pigs was not influenced by increasing removals of wild pigs. Finally, the costs to remove wild pigs averaged $50 per wild pig (6.8 effort hours per wild pig) for removing the first 99% of the animals. Cost for removing the last 1% increased 84-fold, and averaged 122.8 effort hours per wild pig removed. Our results demonstrated that increased effort in removing wild pigs using bait sites should be focused during periods of environmental stress to maximize removal efficiency. These results inform elimination programs attempting to remove newly established populations of wild pigs, and ultimately prevent population and geographic expansion.
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Pepin KM, Davis AJ, Cunningham FL, VerCauteren KC, Eckery DC. Potential effects of incorporating fertility control into typical culling regimes in wild pig populations. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183441. [PMID: 28837610 PMCID: PMC5570275 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective management of widespread invasive species such as wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is limited by resources available to devote to the effort. Better insight of the effectiveness of different management strategies on population dynamics is important for guiding decisions of resource allocation over space and time. Using a dynamic population model, we quantified effects of culling intensities and time between culling events on population dynamics of wild pigs in the USA using empirical culling patterns and data-based demographic parameters. In simulated populations closed to immigration, substantial population declines (50-100%) occurred within 4 years when 20-60% of the population was culled annually, but when immigration from surrounding areas occurred, there was a maximum of 50% reduction, even with the maximum culling intensity of 60%. Incorporating hypothetical levels of fertility control with realistic culling intensities was most effective in reducing populations when they were closed to immigration and when intrinsic population growth rate was too high (> = 1.78) to be controlled by culling alone. However, substantial benefits from fertility control used in conjunction with culling may only occur over a narrow range of net population growth rates (i.e., where net is the result of intrinsic growth rates and culling) that varies depending on intrinsic population growth rate. The management implications are that the decision to use fertility control in conjunction with culling should rely on concurrent consideration of achievable culling intensity, underlying demographic parameters, and costs of culling and fertility control. The addition of fertility control reduced abundance substantially more than culling alone, however the effects of fertility control were weaker than in populations without immigration. Because these populations were not being reduced substantially by culling alone, fertility control could be an especially helpful enhancement to culling for reducing abundance to target levels in areas where immigration can't be prevented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M. Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Amy J. Davis
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Fred L. Cunningham
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Mississippi State, United States of America
| | - Kurt C. VerCauteren
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Doug C. Eckery
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, Colorado, United States of America
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Ditchkoff SS, Holtfreter RW, Williams BL. Effectiveness of a bounty program for reducing wild pig densities. WILDLIFE SOC B 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Brian L. Williams
- School of Forestry and Wildlife SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAL36849USA
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Pepin KM, VerCauteren KC. Disease-emergence dynamics and control in a socially-structured wildlife species. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25150. [PMID: 27114031 PMCID: PMC4844964 DOI: 10.1038/srep25150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Once a pathogen is introduced in a population, key factors governing rate of spread include contact structure, supply of susceptible individuals and pathogen life-history. We examined the interplay of these factors on emergence dynamics and efficacy of disease prevention and response. We contrasted transmission dynamics of livestock viruses with different life-histories in hypothetical populations of feral swine with different contact structures (homogenous, metapopulation, spatial and network). Persistence probability was near 0 for the FMDV-like case under a wide range of parameter values and contact structures, while persistence was probable for the CSFV-like case. There were no sets of conditions where the FMDV-like pathogen persisted in every stochastic simulation. Even when population growth rates were up to 300% annually, the FMDV-like pathogen persisted in <25% of simulations regardless of transmission probabilities and contact structure. For networks and spatial contact structure, persistence probability of the FMDV-like pathogen was always <10%. Because of its low persistence probability, even very early response to the FMDV-like pathogen in feral swine was unwarranted while response to the CSFV-like pathogen was generally effective. When pre-emergence culling of feral swine caused population declines, it was effective at decreasing outbreak size of both diseases by ≥80%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Pepin
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, 4101 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO, 80521
| | - Kurt C VerCauteren
- National Wildlife Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Wildlife Services, 4101 Laporte Ave., Fort Collins, CO, 80521
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Šprem N, Piria M, Prđun S, Novosel H, Treer T. Variation of wild boar reproductive performance in different habitat types: Implications for management. RUSS J ECOL+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s106741361506017x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Beasley J, Webster SC, Rhodes OE, Cunningham FL. Evaluation of Rhodamine B as a biomarker for assessing bait acceptance in wild pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Beasley
- Savannah River Ecology LaboratoryUniversity of GeorgiaP.O. Drawer EAikenSC29802USA
| | - Sarah C. Webster
- Savannah River Ecology LaboratoryUniversity of GeorgiaP.O. Drawer EAikenSC29802USA
| | - Olin E. Rhodes
- Savannah River Ecology LaboratoryUniversity of GeorgiaP.O. Drawer EAikenSC29802USA
| | - Fred L. Cunningham
- United States Department of AgricultureAnimal Plant Health Inspection ServiceWildlife ServicesNational Wildlife Research Center125 Stone BoulevardScales BuildingMississippi StateMS39762USA
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Mellish JM, Sumrall A, Campbell TA, Collier BA, Neill WH, Higginbotham B, Lopez RR. Simulating Potential Population Growth of Wild Pig, Sus scrofa, in Texas. SOUTHEAST NAT 2014. [DOI: 10.1656/058.013.0217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Janell M. Mellish
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Aaron Sumrall
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | | | - Bret A. Collier
- Institute of Renewable Natural Resources, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - William H. Neill
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Billy Higginbotham
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Roel R. Lopez
- Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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Smith TN, Smith MD, Johnson DK, Ditchkoff SS. Evaluation of continuous-catch doors for trapping wild pigs. WILDLIFE SOC B 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Trenton N. Smith
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; Auburn University; 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Mark D. Smith
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; Auburn University; 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Dana K. Johnson
- United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services-Alabama; Auburn University; 602 Duncan Drive Auburn AL 36849 USA
| | - Stephen S. Ditchkoff
- School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences; Auburn University; 3301 Forestry and Wildlife Sciences Building Auburn AL 36849 USA
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