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Tilley HB, Murphy D, Wierucka K, Wong TC, Surreault-Châble A, Mumby HS. Physical activity and temperature changes of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) participating in eco-tourism activities and elephant polo. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300373. [PMID: 38696403 PMCID: PMC11065253 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Captive and domestic animals are often required to engage in physical activity initiated or organised by humans, which may impact their body temperature, with consequences for their health and welfare. This is a particular concern for animals such as elephants that face thermoregulatory challenges because of their body size and physiology. Using infrared thermography, we measured changes in skin temperature associated with two types of physical activity in ten female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) at an eco-tourism lodge in Nepal. Six elephants took part in an activity relatively unfamiliar to the elephants-a polo tournament-and four participated in more familiar ecotourism activities. We recorded skin temperatures for four body regions affected by the activities, as well as an average skin temperature. Temperature change was used as the response variable in the analysis and calculated as the difference in elephant temperature before and after activity. We found no significant differences in temperature change between the elephants in the polo-playing group and those from the non-polo playing group. However, for both groups, when comparing the average skin body temperature and several different body regions, we found significant differences in skin temperature change before and after activity. The ear pinna was the most impacted region and was significantly different to all other body regions. This result highlights the importance of this region in thermoregulation for elephants during physical activity. However, as we found no differences between the average body temperatures of the polo and non-polo playing groups, we suggest that thermoregulatory mechanisms can counteract the effects of both physical activities the elephants engaged in.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah B. Tilley
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Lab, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Derek Murphy
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Lab, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- German Primate Centre—Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Cognitive Ethology Laboratory, Göttingen, Germany
- Department for Primate Cognition, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kaja Wierucka
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Lab, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
- German Primate Center–Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tsz Ching Wong
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Lab, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
| | - Annaëlle Surreault-Châble
- Laboratoire Ethologie Cognition Développement, Université Paris Nanterre, Paris, France
- Le PAL, Saint-Pourçain-sur-Besbre, Allier, France
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Lab, Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR
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2
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Wang Y, Tilley HB, Phalke S, Andersson AA, Dingle C, Hatten CER, Leung EYM, Murphy D, Wierucka K, Mumby HS. Discussion of wildlife trade before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in professional opinion pieces and scientific articles. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022; 38:e02270. [PMID: 36043198 PMCID: PMC9411019 DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildlife trade is a multi-billion-dollar sector that impacts a wide range of species, and thus is of significant research and conservation interest. Wildlife trade has also become a prominent topic in the public-facing media, where coverage has intensified following the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic due to the potential connection between wildlife trade and the origin of the SARS Cov2 virus. Given the importance of the media in shaping public understanding and discourse of complex topics such as wildlife trade, this could impact the implementation of and public support for policy decisions. In this study, we followed a standardised protocol to extract wildlife trade-related discussion from 285 professional opinion pieces (NGO reports or articles in conservation-themed forums) and 107 scientific articles published in two time periods: "pre-COVID" (June 1-December 31, 2019) and "during-COVID" (January 1-May 31, 2020). We compared opinion pieces and scientific articles across the two time periods and to each other to investigate potential differences in the presentation of wildlife trade and associated speakers. We found a shift in the way that wildlife trade was discussed in professional opinion pieces between the periods, in that the discussion became less specific in terms of defining the legality and purpose of trade, and the animal groups involved in the "during-COVID" period. The generalised framing of wildlife trade in our dataset also coincided with an increased discussion of highly generalised management strategies, such as blanket bans on wildlife trade. We also found that publications included more quotes from researchers in the "during-COVID" period. In both professional opinion pieces and scientific articles, we found that quotations or research were often from speakers whose affiliation region was different to the geographic range of the trade they were speaking about. This highlights the importance of incorporating local knowledge and considering the diversity of speakers and interviewees in both research and the public-facing media about the wildlife trade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifu Wang
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Hannah B Tilley
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Sagarika Phalke
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Astrid A Andersson
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Caroline Dingle
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Chloe E R Hatten
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Even Y M Leung
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Derek Murphy
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Kaja Wierucka
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Area of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Department of Politics and Public Administration, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
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3
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Mumby HS, Chapman SN, Crawley JAH, Mar KU, Htut W, Soe AT, Aung HH, Lummaa V. Correction to: Distinguishing between determinate and indeterminate growth in a long-lived mammal. BMC Ecol Evol 2021; 21:217. [PMID: 34872496 PMCID: PMC8647441 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-021-01951-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Simon N Chapman
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jennie A H Crawley
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Khyne U Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Win Htut
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Aung Thura Soe
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Htoo Htoo Aung
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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4
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Jucker T, Amano T, Bell A, Garnett EE, Geffert JL, Guth MK, Hacket-Pain A, Luke SH, Mumby HS, Nunes M, Rademacher T, Rose DC, Schleicher J, Simmons BI, Zabala A, Mukherjee N. Steps to diversify priority-setting research in conservation: reflections on de Gracia 2021. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:1324-1326. [PMID: 34129717 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Jucker
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Tatsuya Amano
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexandra Bell
- Department of Remote Sensing, Institute of Geography and Geology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Emma E Garnett
- Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Conservation Science Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Miriam K Guth
- United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew Hacket-Pain
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Sarah H Luke
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Division of Ecology and Biodiversity, School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Matheus Nunes
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tim Rademacher
- Harvard Forest, Harvard University, Petersham, Massachusetts, USA
- Center for Ecosystem Science and Society and School of Informatics, Computing and Cyber Systems, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
| | - David C Rose
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley, Reading, UK
| | | | - Benno I Simmons
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK
| | - Aiora Zabala
- Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nibedita Mukherjee
- Global Challenges, Department of Social and Political Sciences, College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
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5
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Wierucka K, Henley MD, Mumby HS. Acoustic cues to individuality in wild male adult African savannah elephants ( Loxodonta africana). PeerJ 2021; 9:e10736. [PMID: 33552734 PMCID: PMC7831363 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability to recognize conspecifics plays a pivotal role in animal communication systems. It is especially important for establishing and maintaining associations among individuals of social, long-lived species, such as elephants. While research on female elephant sociality and communication is prevalent, until recently male elephants have been considered far less social than females. This resulted in a dearth of information about their communication and recognition abilities. With new knowledge about the intricacies of the male elephant social structure come questions regarding the communication basis that allows for social bonds to be established and maintained. By analyzing the acoustic parameters of social rumbles recorded over 1.5 years from wild, mature, male African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) we expand current knowledge about the information encoded within these vocalizations and their potential to facilitate individual recognition. We showed that social rumbles are individually distinct and stable over time and therefore provide an acoustic basis for individual recognition. Furthermore, our results revealed that different frequency parameters contribute to individual differences of these vocalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Wierucka
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Michelle D Henley
- Applied Ecosystem and Conservation Research Unit, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Elephants Alive, Hoedspruit, South Africa
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.,Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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6
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Santos TL, Fernandes C, Henley MD, Dawson DA, Mumby HS. Conservation Genetic Assessment of Savannah Elephants ( Loxodonta africana) in the Greater Kruger Biosphere, South Africa. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:E779. [PMID: 31590388 PMCID: PMC6826889 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Savannah elephant populations have been severely reduced and fragmented throughout its remaining range. In general, however, there is limited information regarding their genetic status, which is essential knowledge for conservation. We investigated patterns of genetic variation in savannah elephants from the Greater Kruger Biosphere, with a focus on those in previously unstudied nature reserves adjacent to Kruger National Park, using dung samples from 294 individuals and 18 microsatellites. The results of genetic structure analyses using several different methods of ordination and Bayesian clustering strongly suggest that elephants throughout the Greater Kruger National Park (GKNP) constitute a single population. No evidence of a recent genetic bottleneck was detected using three moment-based approaches and two coalescent likelihood methods. The apparent absence of a recent genetic bottleneck associated with the known early 1900s demographic bottleneck may result from a combination of rapid post-bottleneck population growth, immigration and long generation time. Point estimates of contemporary effective population size (Ne) for the GKNP were ~ 500-700, that is, at the low end of the range of Ne values that have been proposed for maintaining evolutionary potential and the current ratio of Ne to census population size (Nc) may be quite low (<0.1). This study illustrates the difficulties in assessing the impacts on Ne in populations that have suffered demographic crashes but have recovered rapidly and received gene flow, particularly in species with long generation times in which genetic time lags are longer. This work provides a starting point and baseline information for genetic monitoring of the GKNP elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa L Santos
- Bull Elephant Network Project, Conservation Science Group, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke St, Cambridge CB2 3QY, UK.
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK.
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1749-016, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Fernandes
- cE3c - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon 1749-016, Portugal.
| | - Michelle D Henley
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, University of South Africa, Florida Campus, Private Bag X6, Florida 1710, Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Elephants Alive, P.O. Box 960. Hoedspruit 1380, South Africa.
| | - Deborah A Dawson
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Bull Elephant Network Project, Conservation Science Group, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke St, Cambridge CB2 3QY, UK.
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa.
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Wallotstraße 19, Berlin 14193, Germany.
- School of Biological Sciences and Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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7
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Abstract
Abstract
Social animals live in complex and variable socio-ecological environments where individuals adapt their behavior to local conditions. Recently, there have been calls for studies of animal social networks to take account of temporal dynamics in social relationships as these have implications for the spread of information and disease, group cohesion, and the drivers of sociality, and there is evidence that maintaining stable social relationships has fitness benefits. It has recently been recognized that male elephants form strong social bonds with other males. The nature of these relationships, and thus network structure, may vary over time in response to varying environmental conditions and as individuals age. Using social network analysis, we examine the stability of relationships and network centrality in a population of male African elephants. Our results suggest that males may maintain stable social relationships with others over time. Older males show greater stability in network centrality than younger males, suggesting younger males face uncertainty in transitioning to adult society. For elephants, where older individuals function as social repositories of knowledge, maintaining a social network underpinned by older males could be of particular importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek Murphy
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- College for Life Sciences, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Wallotstraße, Berlin, Germany
- Centre for African Ecology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Wits, South Africa
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Michelle D Henley
- Elephants Alive, Hoedspruit, South Africa
- Applied Ecosystem and Conservation Research Unit, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
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8
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Abstract
Background Researchers often document wildlife surveys using images. These images contain data that can be used to understand alterative research objectives, even years after they were originally captured. We have developed a method to measure age and morphology (body size measurements and tusk size) from survey image databases and future surveys, without the availability of a known subject distance or a scale in each image. African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) serve as an ideal model species to develop a non-invasive, image-based morphometric methodology: as handling these animals is particularly invasive and expensive, involving anaesthesia and because of their IUCN ‘vulnerable’ status. We compare in situ measurements, taken during collaring events, to tusk-to-body-size ratios, measured from the images. Results We provide evidence that relative morphological measurements, musth timing, and age of male African savanna elephants can accurately be obtained from a survey image database of over 30,000 images, taken over an 18-year period. Of the 11 tusk to body size ratios calculated, we recommend the use of two in particular for future measurement in African elephants to determine size and age: 1) tusk length to tusk diameter and 2) tusk length to body height. Conclusions We present a practical, non-invasive measure to estimate morphometrics, including both age and tusk size from photographs, which has conservation applications to the protection of elephants and is relevant to a range of other taxa. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12983-019-0309-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Black
- Bull Elephant Network Project, UCCRI, Department of Zoology, David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK.,6Present address: Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Bull Elephant Network Project, UCCRI, Department of Zoology, David Attenborough Building, Cambridge, UK.,2Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,3Centre for African Ecology, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,4Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Florida Campus, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.,7School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Michelle D Henley
- 4Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Florida Campus, University of South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Elephants Alive, Hoedspruit, South Africa
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9
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Jucker T, Wintle B, Shackelford G, Bocquillon P, Geffert JL, Kasoar T, Kovacs E, Mumby HS, Orland C, Schleicher J, Tew ER, Zabala A, Amano T, Bell A, Bongalov B, Chambers JM, Corrigan C, Durán AP, Duvic-Paoli LA, Emilson C, Emilson EJS, da Silva JF, Garnett EE, Green EJ, Guth MK, Hacket-Pain A, Hinsley A, Igea J, Kunz M, Luke SH, Lynam W, Martin PA, Nunes MH, Ockendon N, Pavitt A, Payne CLR, Plutshack V, Rademacher TT, Robertson RJ, Rose DC, Serban A, Simmons BI, Tayleur C, Wordley CFR, Mukherjee N. Ten-year assessment of the 100 priority questions for global biodiversity conservation. Conserv Biol 2018; 32:1457-1463. [PMID: 29923638 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In 2008, a group of conservation scientists compiled a list of 100 priority questions for the conservation of the world's biodiversity. However, now almost a decade later, no one has yet published a study gauging how much progress has been made in addressing these 100 high-priority questions in the peer-reviewed literature. We took a first step toward reexamining the 100 questions to identify key knowledge gaps that remain. Through a combination of a questionnaire and a literature review, we evaluated each question on the basis of 2 criteria: relevance and effort. We defined highly relevant questions as those that - if answered - would have the greatest impact on global biodiversity conservation and quantified effort based on the number of review publications addressing a particular question, which we used as a proxy for research effort. Using this approach, we identified a set of questions that, despite being perceived as highly relevant, have been the focus of relatively few review publications over the past 10 years. These questions covered a broad range of topics but predominantly tackled 3 major themes: conservation and management of freshwater ecosystems, role of societal structures in shaping interactions between people and the environment, and impacts of conservation interventions. We believe these questions represent important knowledge gaps that have received insufficient attention and may need to be prioritized in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Jucker
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
- CSIRO Land & Water, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, WA 6014, Australia
| | - Bonnie Wintle
- Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, Cambridge, U.K
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Gorm Shackelford
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Pierre Bocquillon
- School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K
- Department of Land Economy, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, 16-21 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP, U.K
| | - Jan Laurens Geffert
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
| | - Tim Kasoar
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Eszter Kovacs
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
- Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8, Budapest, 1093, Hungary
| | - Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Wallotstraße 19, 14193 Berlin, Germany
| | - Chloé Orland
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
| | - Judith Schleicher
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
| | - Eleanor R Tew
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Aiora Zabala
- Department of Land Economy, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, 16-21 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP, U.K
| | - Tatsuya Amano
- Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, Cambridge, U.K
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Alexandra Bell
- Ministerium für Umwelt, Energie, Ernährung und Forsten, Rheinland Pfalz, Kaiser-Friedrich-Straße 1, 55116 Mainz, Germany
| | - Boris Bongalov
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
| | - Josephine M Chambers
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
| | - Colleen Corrigan
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - América P Durán
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
- Luc Hoffmann Institute, c/o WWF International, Avenue du Mont Blanc, 1196 Gland, Switzerland
| | - Leslie-Anne Duvic-Paoli
- Department of Land Economy, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, 16-21 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP, U.K
| | - Caroline Emilson
- Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | - Erik J S Emilson
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
- Natural Resources Canada, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 2E5, Canada
| | | | - Emma E Garnett
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Elizabeth J Green
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
| | - Miriam K Guth
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
| | - Andrew Hacket-Pain
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Science, University of Liverpool, 4 Brownlow Street, Liverpool Merseyside, L69 3GP, U.K
| | - Amy Hinsley
- Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford, OX1 3SZ, U.K
| | - Javier Igea
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
| | - Martina Kunz
- Department of Land Economy, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, 16-21 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP, U.K
| | - Sarah H Luke
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, The University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NR, U.K
| | - William Lynam
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
| | - Philip A Martin
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Matheus H Nunes
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EA, U.K
| | - Nancy Ockendon
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Aly Pavitt
- UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, U.K
| | - Charlotte L R Payne
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Victoria Plutshack
- Department of Land Economy, Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance, University of Cambridge, 16-21 Silver Street, Cambridge, CB3 9EP, U.K
| | - Tim T Rademacher
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A
- School of Informatics and Cyber Security and Centre for Ecosystem Science and Society, Northern Arizona University, 1295 Knoles Drive, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, U.S.A
| | - Rebecca J Robertson
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - David C Rose
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, U.K
| | - Anca Serban
- Department of Geography, University of Cambridge, 20 Downing Place, Cambridge, CB2 1QB, U.K
| | - Benno I Simmons
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Catherine Tayleur
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- RSPB Centre for Conservation Science, The Lodge, Potton Road, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL, U.K
| | - Claire F R Wordley
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
| | - Nibedita Mukherjee
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Treliever Road, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, U.K
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Mumby HS, Plotnik JM. Taking the Elephants' Perspective: Remembering Elephant Behavior, Cognition and Ecology in Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation. Front Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2018.00122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Young JC, Rose DC, Mumby HS, Benitez‐Capistros F, Derrick CJ, Finch T, Garcia C, Home C, Marwaha E, Morgans C, Parkinson S, Shah J, Wilson KA, Mukherjee N. A methodological guide to using and reporting on interviews in conservation science research. Methods Ecol Evol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/2041-210x.12828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - David C. Rose
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Cambridge Downing Place UK
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research UnitUniversity of South Africa Private Bag X6 Florida 1710 Johannesburg South Africa
| | - Francisco Benitez‐Capistros
- Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management (APNA)Department of BiologyFree University of Brussels (VUB) Pleinlaan 2 B1050 Brussels Belgium
- Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management (SERM)Department of Organism BiologyFree University of Brussels (ULB) Av. F.D Roosevelt 50 B1050 Brussels Belgium
- Faculty of Biological SciencesCentral University of Ecuador (UCE) Yaguachi and Sordido Street 170136 Quito Ecuador
| | - Christina J. Derrick
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationCollege of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Exeter Cornwall Campus Penryn Cornwall UK
| | - Tom Finch
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds CambridgeUK
| | - Carolina Garcia
- Discipline of Geography and Spatial ScienceSchool of Land and FoodUniversity of Tasmania Private Bag 78 Hobart Tas 7001 Australia
| | - Chandrima Home
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the EnvironmentRoyal Enclave Sriramapura Bengaluru India
| | - Esha Marwaha
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Cambridge Downing Place UK
- Gonville and Caius College Cambridge UK
| | - Courtney Morgans
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental DecisionsSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Stephen Parkinson
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Cambridge Downing Place UK
- Gonville and Caius College Cambridge UK
| | - Jay Shah
- Department of GeographyUniversity of Cambridge Downing Place UK
- Gonville and Caius College Cambridge UK
| | - Kerrie A. Wilson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental DecisionsSchool of Biological SciencesUniversity of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Nibedita Mukherjee
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of Cambridge Cambridge UK
- Faculty of Biological SciencesCentral University of Ecuador (UCE) Yaguachi and Sordido Street 170136 Quito Ecuador
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12
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Lynsdale CL, Mumby HS, Hayward AD, Mar KU, Lummaa V. Parasite-associated mortality in a long-lived mammal: Variation with host age, sex, and reproduction. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10904-10915. [PMID: 29299268 PMCID: PMC5743535 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Parasites can cause severe host morbidity and threaten survival. As parasites are generally aggregated within certain host demographics, they are likely to affect a small proportion of the entire population, with specific hosts being at particular risk. However, little is known as to whether increased host mortality from parasitic causes is experienced by specific host demographics. Outside of theoretical studies, there is a paucity of literature concerning dynamics of parasite-associated host mortality. Empirical evidence mainly focuses on short-lived hosts or model systems, with data lacking from long-lived wild or semi-wild vertebrate populations. We investigated parasite-associated mortality utilizing a multigenerational database of mortality, health, and reproductive data for over 4,000 semi-captive timber elephants (Elephas maximus), with known causes of death for mortality events. We determined variation in mortality according to a number of host traits that are commonly associated with variation in parasitism within mammals: age, sex, and reproductive investment in females. We found that potentially parasite-associated mortality varied significantly across elephant ages, with individuals at extremes of lifespan (young and old) at highest risk. Mortality probability was significantly higher for males across all ages. Female reproducers experienced a lower probability of potentially parasite-associated mortality than females who did not reproduce at any investigated time frame. Our results demonstrate increased potentially parasite-associated mortality within particular demographic groups. These groups (males, juveniles, elderly adults) have been identified in other studies as susceptible to parasitism, stressing the need for further work investigating links between infection and mortality. Furthermore, we show variation between reproductive and non-reproductive females, with mothers being less at risk of potentially parasite mortality than nonreproducers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carly L. Lynsdale
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of Environmental SciencesApplied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research UnitUniversity of South AfricaJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Adam D. Hayward
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesUniversity of StirlingStirlingUK
| | - Khyne U. Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant SciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of BiologyUniversity of TurkuTurkuFinland
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Morris-Drake
- Conservation Science Group; Department of Zoology, University of
Cambridge; David Attenborough Building; Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QY UK
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Conservation Science Group; Department of Zoology, University of
Cambridge; David Attenborough Building; Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QY UK
- Applied Behavioural Ecology and Ecosystem Research Unit, Department of Environmental Sciences; University of South Africa; Johannesburg South Africa
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14
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Chapman SN, Mumby HS, Crawley JAH, Mar KU, Htut W, Thura Soe A, Aung HH, Lummaa V. How Big Is It Really? Assessing the Efficacy of Indirect Estimates of Body Size in Asian Elephants. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150533. [PMID: 26938085 PMCID: PMC4777392 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Information on an organism’s body size is pivotal in understanding its life history and fitness, as well as helping inform conservation measures. However, for many species, particularly large-bodied wild animals, taking accurate body size measurements can be a challenge. Various means to estimate body size have been employed, from more direct methods such as using photogrammetry to obtain height or length measurements, to indirect prediction of weight using other body morphometrics or even the size of dung boli. It is often unclear how accurate these measures are because they cannot be compared to objective measures. Here, we investigate how well existing estimation equations predict the actual body weight of Asian elephants Elephas maximus, using body measurements (height, chest girth, length, foot circumference and neck circumference) taken directly from a large population of semi-captive animals in Myanmar (n = 404). We then define new and better fitting formulas to predict body weight in Myanmar elephants from these readily available measures. We also investigate whether the important parameters height and chest girth can be estimated from photographs (n = 151). Our results show considerable variation in the ability of existing estimation equations to predict weight, and that the equations proposed in this paper predict weight better in almost all circumstances. We also find that measurements from standardised photographs reflect body height and chest girth after applying minor adjustments. Our results have implications for size estimation of large wild animals in the field, as well as for management in captive settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon N. Chapman
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah S. Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Jennie A. H. Crawley
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Khyne U. Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Win Htut
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Extraction Department, Ministry for Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Aung Thura Soe
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Extraction Department, Ministry for Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Htoo Htoo Aung
- Myanma Timber Enterprise, Extraction Department, Ministry for Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Biology, University of Turku, FIN-20014, Turku, Finland
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15
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Mumby HS, Chapman SN, Crawley JAH, Mar KU, Htut W, Thura Soe A, Aung HH, Lummaa V. Distinguishing between determinate and indeterminate growth in a long-lived mammal. BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:214. [PMID: 26464339 PMCID: PMC4604763 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0487-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The growth strategy of a species influences many key aspects of its life-history. Animals can either grow indeterminately (throughout life), or grow determinately, ceasing at maturity. In mammals, continued weight gain after maturity is clearly distinguishable from continued skeletal growth (indeterminate growth). Elephants represent an interesting candidate for studying growth because of their large size, long life and sexual dimorphism. Objective measures of their weight, height and age, however, are rare. RESULTS We investigate evidence for indeterminate growth in the Asian elephant Elephas maximus using a longitudinal dataset from a semi-captive population. We fit growth curves to weight and height measurements, assess sex differences in growth, and test for indeterminate growth by comparing the asymptotes for height and weight curves. Our results show no evidence for indeterminate growth in the Asian elephant; neither sex increases in height throughout life, with the majority of height growth completed by the age of 15 years in females and 21 years in males. Females show a similar pattern with weight, whereas males continue to gain weight until over age 50. Neither sex shows any declines in weight with age. CONCLUSIONS These results have implications for understanding mammalian life-history, which could include sex-specific differences in trade-offs between size and reproductive investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Simon N Chapman
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Jennie A H Crawley
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Khyne U Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
| | - Win Htut
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Aung Thura Soe
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Htoo Htoo Aung
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar.
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Mumby HS, Mar KU, Hayward AD, Htut W, Htut-Aung Y, Lummaa V. Elephants born in the high stress season have faster reproductive ageing. Sci Rep 2015; 5:13946. [PMID: 26365592 PMCID: PMC4568471 DOI: 10.1038/srep13946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescent declines in reproduction and survival are found across the tree of life, but little is known of the factors causing individual variation in reproductive ageing rates. One contributor may be variation in early developmental conditions, but only a few studies quantify the effects of early environment on reproductive ageing and none concern comparably long-lived species to humans. We determine the effects of ‘stressful’ birth conditions on lifetime reproduction in a large semi-captive population of Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). We categorise birth month into stressful vs. not-stressful periods based on longitudinal measures of glucocorticoid metabolites in reproductive-aged females, which peak during heavy workload and the start of the monsoon in June-August. Females born in these months exhibit faster reproductive senescence in adulthood and have significantly reduced lifetime reproductive success than their counterparts born at other times of year. Improving developmental conditions could therefore delay reproductive ageing in species as long-lived as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Khyne U Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Adam D Hayward
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom.,Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3JT, United Kingdom
| | - Win Htut
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Ye Htut-Aung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yezin University, Myanmar
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
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Mumby HS, Mar KU, Thitaram C, Courtiol A, Towiboon P, Min-Oo Z, Htut-Aung Y, Brown JL, Lummaa V. Stress and body condition are associated with climate and demography in Asian elephants. Conserv Physiol 2015; 3:cov030. [PMID: 27293715 PMCID: PMC4778474 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cov030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Establishing links between ecological variation, physiological markers of stress and demography is crucial for understanding how and why changes in environmental conditions affect population dynamics, and may also play a key role for conservation efforts of endangered species. However, detailed longitudinal studies of long-lived species are rarely available. We test how two markers of stress and body condition vary through the year and are associated with climatic conditions and large-scale mortality and fertility variation in the world's largest semi-captive population of Asian elephants employed in the timber industry in Myanmar. Glucocorticoid metabolites (used as a proxy for stress levels in 75 elephants) and body weight (used as a proxy for condition in 116 elephants) were monitored monthly across a typical monsoon cycle and compared with birth and death patterns of the entire elephant population over half a century (n = 2350). Our results show seasonal variation in both markers of stress and condition. In addition, this variation is correlated with population-level demographic variables. Weight is inversely correlated with population mortality rates 1 month later, and glucocorticoid metabolites are negatively associated with birth rates. Weight shows a highly positive correlation with rainfall 1 month earlier. Determining the factors associated with demography may be key to species conservation by providing information about the correlates of mortality and fertility patterns. The unsustainability of the studied captive population has meant that wild elephants have been captured and tamed for work. By elucidating the correlates of demography in captive elephants, our results offer management solutions that could reduce the pressure on the wild elephant population in Myanmar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Khyne U Mar
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Chatchote Thitaram
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
| | - Alexandre Courtiol
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17 10315 Berlin, Germany
| | - Patcharapa Towiboon
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
| | - Zaw Min-Oo
- Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Myanma Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Ye Htut-Aung
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Yezin University, Myanmar
| | - Janine L Brown
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - Virpi Lummaa
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
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Mumby HS, Courtiol A, Mar KU, Lummaa V. Birth seasonality and calf mortality in a large population of Asian elephants. Ecol Evol 2013; 3:3794-803. [PMID: 24198940 PMCID: PMC3810875 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In seasonal environments, many species concentrate their reproduction in the time of year most likely to maximize offspring survival. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) inhabit regions with seasonal climate, but females can still experience 16-week reproductive cycles throughout the year. Whether female elephants nevertheless concentrate births on periods with maximum offspring survival prospects remains unknown. We investigated the seasonal timing of births, and effects of birth month on short- and long-term mortality of Asian elephants, using a unique demographic data set of 2350 semicaptive, longitudinally monitored logging elephants from Myanmar experiencing seasonal variation in both workload and environmental conditions. Our results show variation in birth rate across the year, with 41% of births occurring between December and March. This corresponds to the cool, dry period and the beginning of the hot season, and to conceptions occurring during the resting, nonlogging period between February and June. Giving birth during the peak December to March period improves offspring survival, as the odds for survival between age 1 and 5 years are 44% higher for individuals born during the high birth rate period than those conceived during working months. Our results suggest that seasonal conditions, most likely maternal workload and/or climate, limit conception rate and calf survival in this population through effects on maternal stress, estrus cycles, or access to mates. This has implications for improving the birth rate and infant survival in captive populations by limiting workload of females of reproductive age. As working populations are currently unsustainable and supplemented through the capture of wild elephants, it is imperative to the conservation of Asian elephants to understand and alleviate the effects of seasonal conditions on vital rates in the working population in order to reduce the pressure for further capture from the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S Mumby
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield Alfred Denny Building, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, U.K
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Vinicius L, Mumby HS. Comparative analysis of animal growth: a primate continuum revealed by a new dimensionless growth rate coefficient. Evolution 2013; 67:1485-92. [PMID: 23617923 DOI: 10.1111/evo.12043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2012] [Accepted: 12/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The comparative analysis of animal growth still awaits full integration into life-history studies, partially due to the difficulty of defining a comparable measure of growth rate across species. Using growth data from 50 primate species, we introduce a modified "general growth model" and a dimensionless growth rate coefficient β that controls for size scaling and phylogenetic effects in the distribution of growth rates. Our results contradict the prevailing idea that slow growth characterizes primates as a group: the observed range of β values shows that not all primates grow slowly, with galago species exhibiting growth rates similar or above the mammalian average, while other strepsirrhines and most New World monkeys show limited reduction in growth rates. Low growth rate characterizes apes and some papionines. Phylogenetic regressions reveal associations between β and life-history variables, providing tests for theories of primate growth evolution. We also show that primate slow growth is an exclusively postnatal phenomenon. Our study exemplifies how the dimensionless approach promotes the integration of growth rate data into comparative life-history analysis, and demonstrates its potential applicability to other cases of adaptive diversification of animal growth patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Vinicius
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Konrad-Zuse St. 1, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
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Mumby HS, Elks CE, Li S, Sharp SJ, Khaw KT, Luben RN, Wareham NJ, Loos RJF, Ong KK. Mendelian Randomisation Study of Childhood BMI and Early Menarche. J Obes 2011; 2011:180729. [PMID: 21773002 PMCID: PMC3136158 DOI: 10.1155/2011/180729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 04/04/2011] [Accepted: 04/07/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
To infer the causal association between childhood BMI and age at menarche, we performed a mendelian randomisation analysis using twelve established "BMI-increasing" genetic variants as an instrumental variable (IV) for higher BMI. In 8,156 women of European descent from the EPIC-Norfolk cohort, height was measured at age 39-77 years; age at menarche was self-recalled, as was body weight at age 20 years, and BMI at 20 was calculated as a proxy for childhood BMI. DNA was genotyped for twelve BMI-associated common variants (in/near FTO, MC4R, TMEM18, GNPDA2, KCTD15, NEGR1, BDNF, ETV5, MTCH2, SEC16B, FAIM2 and SH2B1), and for each individual a "BMI-increasing-allele-score" was calculated by summing the number of BMI-increasing alleles across all 12 loci. Using this BMI-increasing-allele-score as an instrumental variable for BMI, each 1 kg/m(2) increase in childhood BMI was predicted to result in a 6.5% (95% CI: 4.6-8.5%) higher absolute risk of early menarche (before age 12 years). While mendelian randomisation analysis is dependent on a number of assumptions, our findings support a causal effect of BMI on early menarche and suggests that increasing prevalence of childhood obesity will lead to similar trends in the prevalence of early menarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah S. Mumby
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Cathy E. Elks
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Shengxu Li
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Stephen J. Sharp
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Kay-Tee Khaw
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Robert N. Luben
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Nicholas J. Wareham
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Ruth J. F. Loos
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Ken K. Ong
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Addenbrooke's Hospital, P.O. Box 285, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- *Ken K. Ong:
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