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Vanderduys EP, Caley P, McKeown A, Martin JM, Pavey C, Westcott D. Population trends in the vulnerable Grey-headed flying-fox, Pteropus poliocephalus; results from a long-term, range-wide study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298530. [PMID: 38512935 PMCID: PMC10956843 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298530] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Monitoring is necessary for the management of any threatened species if its predicament and status are to improve. Monitoring establishes baseline data for tracking trends in distribution and abundance and is a key tool for informing threatened species management. Across much of the Old World, bats in the genus Pteropus (Pteropodidae, Chiroptera) face significant threats from habitat loss, conflict with humans, and hunting. Despite conflict with humans and their threatened status, few Pteropus are being monitored. Often, this is because of difficulties associated with their high mobility, large and easily disturbed aggregations, and their use of unknown or remote habitat. Here we describe 10 years of results from the National Flying-fox Monitoring Program (NFFMP) for the grey-headed flying-fox, (Pteropus poliocephalus) in Australia. Range-wide quarterly surveys were conducted over a three-day period since November 2012 using standardized methods appropriate to conditions encountered at each roost. For our analysis of the population and its trend, we used a state-space model to account for the ecology of the grey-headed flying-fox and the errors associated with the surveying process. Despite the general perception that the species is in decline, our raw data and the modelled population trend suggest the grey-headed flying-fox population has remained stable during the NFFMP period, with the range also stable. These results indicate that the species' extreme mobility and broad diet bestow it with a high level of resilience to various disturbance events. Long-term, range-wide studies such as this one, are crucial for understanding relatively long-lived and highly nomadic species such as the grey-headed flying-fox. The outcomes of this study highlight the need for such systematic population monitoring of all threatened Pteropus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Peter Vanderduys
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter Caley
- Data61, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - John M. Martin
- Wildlife Services, Ecosure, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Chris Pavey
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David Westcott
- Environment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Atherton, Queensland, Australia
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Atkinson S, McKeown A, Caveney D, West E, Kennedy PJ, Macinnes S. The SECURE STAIRS Framework: Preliminary Evaluation of Trauma Informed Training Developments Within the Children and Young People's Secure Estate. Community Ment Health J 2023; 59:1129-1135. [PMID: 36749491 PMCID: PMC9903271 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-023-01092-3] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The SECURE STAIRS framework promotes trauma informed understanding and training across the workforce to inform work with children and young people. A component of the framework is the 'Trauma Informed Practice with Children and Young People in Secure Settings' (TIPSS) training programme for multidisciplinary staff. Between November 2020 and May 2021, a total of 123 members of multidisciplinary staff from a Secure Children's Home (SCH) in the North East of England attended five-day TIPSS training. A pre-post repeated measures design was adopted. Paired samples t-tests were used to analyse pre- and post- questionnaires regarding self-reported levels of (i) knowledge, (ii) understanding and (iii) confidence across Attachment and Developmental Trauma, Understanding Complex Behaviour and Trauma Informed Care training modules. Staff reported significant (p ≤ .001) post-training improvements in knowledge, understanding, and confidence across all three training modules. Implications of findings are discussed, and further developments outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Atkinson
- The Kolvin Service, Specialist Children & Young People’s Services CBU, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas House, St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE33XT UK
| | - A. McKeown
- The Kolvin Service, Specialist Children & Young People’s Services CBU, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas House, St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE33XT UK
| | - D. Caveney
- The Kolvin Service, Specialist Children & Young People’s Services CBU, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas House, St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE33XT UK
| | - E. West
- The Kolvin Service, Specialist Children & Young People’s Services CBU, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas House, St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE33XT UK
| | - P. J. Kennedy
- The Kolvin Service, Specialist Children & Young People’s Services CBU, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, St Nicholas House, St Nicholas Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE33XT UK
| | - S. Macinnes
- Aycliffe Secure Centre, Newton Aycliffe, DL56JB UK
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3
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Sánchez CA, Penrose MT, Kessler MK, Becker DJ, McKeown A, Hannappel M, Boyd V, Camus MS, Padgett-Stewart T, Hunt BE, Graves AF, Peel AJ, Westcott DA, Rainwater TR, Chumchal MM, Cobb GP, Altizer S, Plowright RK, Boardman WSJ. Land use, season, and parasitism predict metal concentrations in Australian flying fox fur. Sci Total Environ 2022; 841:156699. [PMID: 35710009 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban-living wildlife can be exposed to metal contaminants dispersed into the environment through industrial, residential, and agricultural applications. Metal exposure carries lethal and sublethal consequences for animals; in particular, heavy metals (e.g. arsenic, lead, mercury) can damage organs and act as carcinogens. Many bat species reside and forage in human-modified habitats and could be exposed to contaminants in air, water, and food. We quantified metal concentrations in fur samples from three flying fox species (Pteropus fruit bats) captured at eight sites in eastern Australia. For subsets of bats, we assessed ectoparasite burden, haemoparasite infection, and viral infection, and performed white blood cell differential counts. We examined relationships among metal concentrations, environmental predictors (season, land use surrounding capture site), and individual predictors (species, sex, age, body condition, parasitism, neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio). As expected, bats captured at sites with greater human impact had higher metal loads. At one site with seasonal sampling, bats had higher metal concentrations in winter than in summer, possibly owing to changes in food availability and foraging. Relationships between ectoparasites and metal concentrations were mixed, suggesting multiple causal mechanisms. There was no association between overall metal load and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio, but mercury concentrations were positively correlated with this ratio, which is associated with stress in other vertebrate taxa. Comparison of our findings to those of previous flying fox studies revealed potentially harmful levels of several metals; in particular, endangered spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) exhibited high concentrations of cadmium and lead. Because some bats harbor pathogens transmissible to humans and animals, future research should explore interactions between metal exposure, immunity, and infection to assess consequences for bat and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia A Sánchez
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
| | - Michael T Penrose
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | | | - Daniel J Becker
- Department of Biology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
| | | | | | - Victoria Boyd
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP), Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Melinda S Camus
- Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ticha Padgett-Stewart
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Brooklin E Hunt
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Amelia F Graves
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Alison J Peel
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Thomas R Rainwater
- Tom Yawkey Wildlife Center and Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC, USA
| | | | - George P Cobb
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Sonia Altizer
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA; Center for the Ecology of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Raina K Plowright
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Wayne S J Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA, Australia
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4
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Balaskas K, Glinton S, Keenan TDL, Faes L, Liefers B, Zhang G, Pontikos N, Struyven R, Wagner SK, McKeown A, Patel PJ, Keane PA, Fu DJ. Prediction of visual function from automatically quantified optical coherence tomography biomarkers in patients with geographic atrophy using machine learning. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15565. [PMID: 36114218 PMCID: PMC9481631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19413-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Geographic atrophy (GA) is a vision-threatening manifestation of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness globally. Objective, rapid, reliable, and scalable quantification of GA from optical coherence tomography (OCT) retinal scans is necessary for disease monitoring, prognostic research, and clinical endpoints for therapy development. Such automatically quantified biomarkers on OCT are likely to further elucidate structure-function correlation in GA and thus the pathophysiological mechanisms of disease development and progression. In this work, we aimed to predict visual function with machine-learning applied to automatically acquired quantitative imaging biomarkers in GA. A post-hoc analysis of data from a clinical trial and routine clinical care was conducted. A deep-learning automated segmentation model was applied on OCT scans from 476 eyes (325 patients) with GA. A separate machine learning prediction model (Random Forest) used the resultant quantitative OCT (qOCT) biomarkers to predict cross-sectional visual acuity under standard (VA) and low luminance (LLVA). The primary outcome was regression coefficient (r2) and mean absolute error (MAE) for cross-sectional VA and LLVA in Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letters. OCT parameters were predictive of VA (r2 0.40 MAE 11.7 ETDRS letters) and LLVA (r2 0.25 MAE 12.1). Normalised random forest feature importance, as a measure of the predictive value of the three constituent features of GA; retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-loss, photoreceptor degeneration (PDR), hypertransmission and their locations, was reported both on voxel-level heatmaps and ETDRS-grid subfields. The foveal region (46.5%) and RPE-loss (31.1%) had greatest predictive importance for VA. For LLVA, however, non-foveal regions (74.5%) and PDR (38.9%) were most important. In conclusion, automated qOCT biomarkers demonstrate predictive significance for VA and LLVA in GA. LLVA is itself predictive of GA progression, implying that the predictive qOCT biomarkers provided by our model are also prognostic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Balaskas
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK.
| | - S Glinton
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - T D L Keenan
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - L Faes
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - B Liefers
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
- Department of Ophthalmology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Zhang
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - N Pontikos
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - R Struyven
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - S K Wagner
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - A McKeown
- Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - P J Patel
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - P A Keane
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
| | - D J Fu
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, Moorfields Reading Centre and Clinical AI Hub, 162 City Rd, London, EC1V 2PD, UK
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Ramshaw G, McKeown A, Lee R, Conlon A, Brown D, Kennedy PJ. Introduction of Technology to Support Young People’s Care and Mental Health—A Rapid Evidence Review. Child Youth Care Forum 2022; 52:509-531. [PMID: 35966643 PMCID: PMC9362215 DOI: 10.1007/s10566-022-09700-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Technology and its use within mental health services has advanced dramatically over recent years. Opportunities for mental health services to utilise technology to introduce novel, effective, and more efficient means of delivering assessment, and treatment are increasing. Objective The current rapid-evidence paper reviews evidence regarding the introduction of novel technology to support young people’s mental health and psychological well-being. Methods A rapid evidence review was conducted. PSYCHINFO and CINAHL were searched for research articles between 2016 and 2021 that were specific to young people, mental health, and technology developments within this domain. N = 27 studies which explored the introduction, feasibility, and value of technology for mental health purposes were included in a narrative synthesis. Quality or risk of bias analyses were not completed. Results Overall, technological advancements in young people’s care were considered positive and engaging for young people. Factors including resources, efficiency of care, engagement, therapeutic effectiveness, ethical considerations, therapeutic alliance, and flexibility were considered within this review. Nevertheless, potential barriers include clinician concerns, socioeconomic factors, and motivation. Conclusion Effective and sustained use of technology within young people’s mental health services will depend on the technology’s usability, efficiency, and ability to engage young people. This paper expands on existing research by reviewing a broader range of technology proposed to support young people’s mental health and well-being. This will assist in the application of novel technological advancements by indicating effectiveness, preferences, potential barriers, and recommendations for the feasibility and efficacy of introducing technology into young people’s services.
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Barr J, Boyd V, Todd S, Smith I, Prada D, O'Dea M, Jackson B, Pearce L, Adams TE, Vanderduys E, Westcott D, McKeown A, Baker ML, Marsh GA. Detection of filovirus-reactive antibodies in Australian bat species. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35972225 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001785] [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] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Bats have been implicated as the reservoir hosts of filoviruses in Africa, with serological evidence of filoviruses in various bat species identified in other countries. Here, serum samples from 190 bats, comprising 12 different species, collected in Australia were evaluated for filovirus antibodies. An in-house indirect microsphere assay to detect antibodies that cross-react with Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus; EBOV) nucleoprotein (NP) followed by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) were used to confirm immunoreactivity to EBOV and Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus; RESTV). We found 27 of 102 Yinpterochiroptera and 19 of 88 Yangochiroptera samples were positive to EBOV NP in the microsphere assay. Further testing of these NP positive samples by IFA revealed nine bat sera that showed binding to ebolavirus-infected cells. This is the first report of filovirus-reactive antibodies detected in Australian bat species and suggests that novel filoviruses may be circulating in Australian bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Barr
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Australia
| | - Victoria Boyd
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Australia
| | - Shawn Todd
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Australia
| | - Ina Smith
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Canberra, Australia
| | - Diana Prada
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Western Australia
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Western Australia
| | - Mark O'Dea
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Western Australia
| | - Bethany Jackson
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Western Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Michelle L Baker
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Australia
| | - Glenn A Marsh
- CSIRO, Health and Biosecurity, Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, Australia
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7
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Todd CM, Westcott DA, Martin JM, Rose K, McKeown A, Hall J, Welbergen JA. Body-size dependent foraging strategies in the Christmas Island flying-fox: implications for seed and pollen dispersal within a threatened island ecosystem. Mov Ecol 2022; 10:19. [PMID: 35410304 PMCID: PMC8996557 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00315-8] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animals are important vectors for the dispersal of a wide variety of plant species, and thus play a key role in maintaining the health and biodiversity of natural ecosystems. On oceanic islands, flying-foxes are often the only seed dispersers or pollinators. However, many flying-fox populations are currently in decline, particularly those of insular species, and this has consequences for the ecological services they provide. Knowledge of the drivers and the scale of flying-fox movements is important in determining the ecological roles that flying-foxes play on islands. This information is also useful for understanding the potential long-term consequences for forest dynamics resulting from population declines or extinction, and so can aid in the development of evidence-based ecological management strategies. To these ends, we examined the foraging movements, floral resource use, and social interactions of the Critically Endangered Christmas Island flying-fox (Pteropus natalis). METHODS Utilization distributions, using movement-based kernel estimates (MBKE) were generated to determine nightly foraging movements of GPS-tracked P. natalis (n = 24). Generalized linear models (GLMs), linear mixed-effect models (LMMs), and Generalized linear mixed-effects model (GLMMs) were constructed to explain how intrinsic factors (body mass, skeletal size, and sex) affected the extent of foraging movements. In addition, we identified pollen collected from facial and body swabs of P. natalis (n = 216) to determine foraging resource use. Direct observations (n = 272) of foraging P. natalis enabled us to assess the various behaviors used to defend foraging resources. RESULTS Larger P. natalis individuals spent more time foraging and less time traveling between foraging patches, traveled shorter nightly distances, and had smaller overall foraging ranges than smaller conspecifics. Additionally, larger individuals visited a lower diversity of floral resources. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that smaller P. natalis individuals are the primary vectors of long-distance dispersal of pollen and digested seeds in this species, providing a vital mechanism for maintaining the flow of plant genetic diversity across Christmas Island. Overall, our study highlights the need for more holistic research approaches that incorporate population demographics when assessing a species' ecological services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Todd
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753 Australia
| | - David A. Westcott
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 47-67 Maunds St, Atherton, QLD 4883 Australia
- Atherton, Australia
| | - John M. Martin
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088 Australia
| | - Karrie Rose
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088 Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Waite Rd, Urrbrae, SA 5064 Australia
| | - Jane Hall
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman, NSW 2088 Australia
| | - Justin A. Welbergen
- The Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753 Australia
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Bradford M, Venz M, Bell KL, Hogan L, Smith GC, Eby P, Eyre TJ, McKeown A, Vanderduys E, MacDonald S, Westcott D. The diet of a specialist nectarivore in Australia: The little red flying‐fox (
Pteropus scapulatus
, Pteropodidae). AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13143] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melanie Venz
- QLD Herbarium QLD Department of Environment and Science Toowong Queensland 4066 Australia
| | - Karen L. Bell
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity Floreat Western Australia Australia
- School of Biological Sciences University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - Luke Hogan
- QLD Herbarium QLD Department of Environment and Science Toowong Queensland 4066 Australia
| | - Geoffrey C. Smith
- QLD Herbarium QLD Department of Environment and Science Toowong Queensland 4066 Australia
| | - Peggy Eby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Teresa J. Eyre
- QLD Herbarium QLD Department of Environment and Science Toowong Queensland 4066 Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Land and Water Waite South Australia Australia
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Boardman WSJ, Roshier D, Reardon T, Burbidge K, McKeown A, Westcott DA, Caraguel CGB, Prowse TAA. Spring foraging movements of an urban population of grey-headed flying foxes ( Pteropus poliocephalus). Journal of Urban Ecology 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jue/juaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Flying foxes provide ecologically and economically important ecosystem services but extensive clearing and modification of habitat and drought combined with the planting of commercial and non-commercial trees across various landscapes, has meant flying foxes in Australia are increasingly seeking foraging resources in new areas. In 2011, grey-headed flying foxes formed a camp in Adelaide, South Australia, outside their previously recorded range. We used global positioning system telemetry to study the movements and foraging behaviour of this species in Adelaide in spring (September to November) 2015. High-frequency location data were used to determine the foraging range and the most frequently visited foraging sites used by each bat which were ground-truthed to identify forage plants. A total of 7239 valid locations were collected over 170 nights from four collars. Despite being a highly mobile species, the mean core foraging range estimate was only 7.30 km2 (range 3.3–11.2 km2). Maximum foraging distance from the camp in the Botanic Park was 9.5 km but most foraging occurred within a 4-km radius. The most common foraging sites occurred within the residential area of Adelaide and included introduced forage plant species, Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora) and Port Jackson fig (Ficus rubiginosa). Other observed movement activities included dipping behaviour on inland and marine waters and travel across flight paths around Adelaide airport. Our findings suggest that urban habitats in Adelaide provide sufficient foraging resources for grey-headed flying foxes to use these areas exclusively, at least in spring. This creates substantial opportunities for bats to interact with humans and their infrastructure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne S J Boardman
- Department of Pathobiology, Infectious Disease and Public Health, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - David Roshier
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Subiaco, WA 6008, Australia
| | - Terry Reardon
- South Australia Museum, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Kathryn Burbidge
- Department of Pathobiology, Infectious Disease and Public Health, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Land and Water, Atherton, QLD 4883, Australia
| | | | - Charles G B Caraguel
- Department of Pathobiology, Infectious Disease and Public Health, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, SA 5371, Australia
| | - Thomas A A Prowse
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- K. Watts
- Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC
| | - A. McKeown
- Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC
| | - J. Denholm
- Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, ,
| | - A. M. Baker
- Victorian Tuberculosis Program, Melbourne Health at The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC
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11
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Timmiss LA, Martin JM, Murray NJ, Welbergen JA, Westcott D, McKeown A, Kingsford RT. Threatened but not conserved: flying-fox roosting and foraging habitat in Australia. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo20086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Conservation relies upon a primary understanding of changes in a species’ population size, distribution, and habitat use. Bats represent about one in five mammal species in the world, but understanding for most species is poor. For flying-foxes, specifically the 66 Pteropus species globally, 31 are classified as threatened (Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered) on the IUCN Red List. Flying-foxes typically aggregate in colonies of thousands to hundreds of thousands of individuals at their roost sites, dispersing at sunset to forage on floral resources (pollen, nectar, and fruit) in nearby environments. However, understanding of flying-fox roosting habitat preferences is poor, hindering conservation efforts in many countries. In this study, we used a database of 654 known roost sites of the four flying-fox species that occur across mainland Australia to determine the land-use categories and vegetation types in which roost sites were found. In addition, we determined the land-use categories and vegetation types found within the surrounding 25 km radius of each roost, representing primary foraging habitat. Surprisingly, for the four species most roosts occurred in urban areas (42–59%, n = 4 species) followed by agricultural areas (21–31%). Critically, for the two nationally listed species, only 5.2% of grey-headed and 13.9% of spectacled flying-fox roosts occurred in habitat within protected areas. Roosts have previously been reported to predominantly occur in rainforest, mangrove, wetland, and dry sclerophyll vegetation types. However, we found that only 20–35% of roosts for each of the four species occurred in these habitats. This study shows that flying-fox roosts overwhelmingly occurred within human-modified landscapes across eastern Australia, and that conservation reserves inadequately protect essential habitat of roosting and foraging flying-foxes.
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Bell KL, Batchelor KL, Bradford M, McKeown A, Macdonald SL, Westcott D. Optimisation of a pollen DNA metabarcoding method for diet analysis of flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.). AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo20085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Determining the diet of flying-foxes can increase understanding of how they function as pollinators and seed dispersers, as well as managing any negative impacts of large roosts. Traditional methods for diet analysis are time consuming, and not feasible to conduct for hundreds of animals. In this study, we optimised a method for diet analysis, based on DNA metabarcoding of environmental DNA (eDNA) from pollen and other plant parts in the faeces. We found that existing eDNA metabarcoding protocols are suitable, with the most useful results being obtained using a commercial food DNA extraction kit, and sequencing 350–450 base pairs of a DNA barcode from the internally transcribed spacer region (ITS2), with ~550 base pairs of the chloroplast rubisco large subunit (rbcL) as a secondary DNA barcode. A list of forage plants was generated for the little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus), the black flying-fox (Pteropus alecto) and the spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) from our collection sites across Queensland. The diets were determined to comprise predominantly Myrtaceae species, particularly those in the genera Eucalyptus, Melaleuca and Corymbia. With more plant genomes becoming publicly available in the future, there are likely to be further applications of eDNA methods in understanding the role of flying-foxes as pollinators and seed dispersers.
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Macdonald SL, Bradford M, McKeown A, Vanderduys E, Hoskins A, Westcott D. Camp site habitat preferences of the little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus) in Queensland. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo20079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Urban flying-fox camps are a major source of human–wildlife conflict, producing noise, odour, vegetation damage, property damage, and concerns about disease. Although there is a significant demand in many communities for bat camps to be dispersed, there is limited information on how such dispersal can be conducted effectively. Determining the habitat characteristics flying-foxes use when selecting a camp site is key to understanding why they establish camps where they do and to where they might move if dispersed. We characterised little red flying-fox (LRFF) camp habitat at two spatial scales: floristics and vegetation structure at the local scale, and climatic and landscape characteristics at the broad scale. We found weak associations with local-scale tree and shrub height and cover, and stronger associations with increased Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (a measure of ‘greenness’) and decreased distance to nearest watercourse. These relationships were not strong enough to explain all variation in the model, suggesting that there are other factors, such as social cues, that could also influence camp site selection. Our results suggest that minor modifications to existing or proposed camp sites will be unlikely to repel or attract LRFFs, as other factors are likely to play key roles in the formation of camp sites for this species.
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14
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Denholm JT, Leontiou C, McKeown A, Watts KN, Pereira D. Speaking up: language services, tuberculosis and human rights. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2019; 23:1336. [DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.19.0400] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. T. Denholm
- Victorian Tuberculosis Programme, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - C. Leontiou
- Transcultural and Interpreter Service, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia, ,
| | - A. McKeown
- Victorian Tuberculosis Programme, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - K. N. Watts
- Victorian Tuberculosis Programme, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - D. Pereira
- Victorian Tuberculosis Programme, Melbourne Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Schaer J, Boardman WSJ, McKeown A, Westcott DA, Matuschewski K, Power M. Molecular investigation of Hepatocystis parasites in the Australian flying fox Pteropus poliocephalus across its distribution range. Infect Genet Evol 2019; 75:103978. [PMID: 31352147 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2019.103978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Phylogenetic inference of Hepatocystis, a haemosporidian parasite of diverse primate and bat hosts, revealed that the parasites from Australasian Pteropus bat species form a distinct clade to all other Hepatocystis parasites from Africa and Asia. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic placement of Hepatocystis in the Australian bat Pteropus poliocephalus for the first time and examine parasite morphology and prevalence from selected points across its range. Hepatocystis infections were detected in low prevalences in P. poliocephalus in contrast to high numbers in P. alecto and P. scapulatus. The prevalence in P. poliocephalus varied across its distribution range with 15% in the central biogeographic areas (central Queensland and New South Wales) and 1% in the southern-most edge (South Australia) of its range. Sequencing of five genes revealed high genetic similarity in Hepatocystis of P. poliocephalus independent of sampling location. Phylogenetic analysis placed these parasites with Hepatocystis from other Pteropus species from Australia and Asia. While numerous haplotypes were identified among sequences from the Pteropus hosts, no patterns of host specificity were recovered within the Pteropus-specific parasite group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane Schaer
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia; Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Research on Evolution, Berlin, Germany; Dept. of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Wayne S J Boardman
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Land & Water, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | | | - Kai Matuschewski
- Dept. of Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michelle Power
- Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
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16
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Planchard D, Boyer M, Lee JS, Dechaphunkul A, Cheema P, Takahashi T, Todd A, McKeown A, Rukazenkov Y, Ohe Y. Osimertinib vs standard of care (SoC) EGFR-TKI as first-line therapy in patients (pts) with untreated EGFRm advanced NSCLC: FLAURA post-progression outcomes. Ann Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdy425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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17
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Soria JC, Fülöp A, Maciel C, Fischer JR, Girotto G, Lago S, Smit E, Ostoros G, Eberhardt WEE, Lishkovska P, Lovick S, Mariani G, McKeown A, Kilgour E, Smith P, Bowen K, Kohlmann A, Carlile DJ, Jänne PA. SELECT-2: a phase II, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy of selumetinib plus docetaxel as a second-line treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. Ann Oncol 2018; 28:3028-3036. [PMID: 29045535 PMCID: PMC5834012 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Combination of selumetinib plus docetaxel provided clinical benefit in a previous phase II trial for patients with KRAS-mutant advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The phase II SELECT-2 trial investigated safety and efficacy of selumetinib plus docetaxel for patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC. Patients and methods Patients who had disease progression after first-line anti-cancer therapy were randomized (2 : 2 : 1) to selumetinib 75 mg b.i.d. plus docetaxel 60 or 75 mg/m2 (SEL + DOC 60; SEL + DOC 75), or placebo plus docetaxel 75 mg/m2 (PBO + DOC 75). Patients were initially enrolled independently of KRAS mutation status, but the protocol was amended to include only patients with centrally confirmed KRAS wild-type NSCLC. Primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS; RECIST 1.1); statistical analyses compared each selumetinib group with PBO + DOC 75 for KRAS wild-type and overall (KRAS mutant or wild-type) populations. Results A total of 212 patients were randomized; 69% were KRAS wild-type. There were no statistically significant improvements in PFS or overall survival for overall or KRAS wild-type populations in either selumetinib group compared with PBO + DOC 75. Overall population median PFS for SEL + DOC 60, SEL + DOC 75 compared with PBO + DOC 75 was 3.0, 4.2, and 4.3 months, HRs: 1.12 (90% CI: 0.8, 1.61) and 0.92 (90% CI: 0.65, 1.31), respectively. In the overall population, a higher objective response rate (ORR; investigator assessed) was observed for SEL + DOC 75 (33%) compared with PBO + DOC 75 (14%); odds ratio: 3.26 (90% CI: 1.47, 7.95). Overall the tolerability profile of SEL + DOC was consistent with historical data, without new or unexpected safety concerns identified. Conclusion The primary end point (PFS) was not met. The higher ORR with SEL + DOC 75 did not translate into prolonged PFS for the overall or KRAS wild-type patient populations. No clinical benefit was observed with SEL + DOC in KRAS wild-type patients compared with docetaxel alone. No unexpected safety concerns were reported. Trial identifier Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01750281.
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Affiliation(s)
- J-C Soria
- Department of Medical Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - A Fülöp
- Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, Airway Research Center North, German Center of Lung Research, Grosshansdorf (M.R.), Germany
| | - C Maciel
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - J R Fischer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Lungenklinik Löwenstein GmbH, Löwenstein, Germany
| | - G Girotto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centro Integrado de Pesquisa, Fundação Faculdade Regional de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São José do Rio Preto
| | - S Lago
- Department of Oncology, Serviço de Oncologia do Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - E Smit
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - G Ostoros
- Department of Tumor Biology, National Koranyi Institute of Pulmonology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - W E E Eberhardt
- Department of Medical Oncology, West German Cancer Center, University Hospital Essen, Ruhrlandklinik, University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - P Lishkovska
- Department of Medical Oncology, Individualna Praktika Za Spetsializirana Meditsinska Pomosht, Vratsa, Bulgaria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - P A Jänne
- Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology and The Belfer Institute for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA
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Westcott DA, Caley P, Heersink DK, McKeown A. A state-space modelling approach to wildlife monitoring with application to flying-fox abundance. Sci Rep 2018; 8:4038. [PMID: 29511249 PMCID: PMC5840426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22294-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring flying-foxes is challenging as their extreme mobility produces highly dynamic population processes, considerable logistic difficulty, and variability in estimated population size. We report on methods for inferring population trend for the population of the spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Australia. Monthly monitoring is conducted at all known roost sites across the species’ range in the Wet Tropics Region. The proportion of animals in camps varies seasonally and stochastic environmental events appear to be influential. We develop a state-space model that incorporates these processes and enables inference on total population trends and uses early warning analysis to identify the causes of population dynamics. The model suggests that population growth rate is stable in the absence of cyclones, however, cyclones appear to impact on both survival and reproduction. The population recovered after two cyclones but declined after a third. The modelling estimates a population decline over 15 years of c. 75% (mean r = − 0.12yr−1 and belief of negative trend is c. 83%) suggesting that conservation action is warranted. Our work shows that a state-space modelling approach is a significant improvement on inference from raw counts from surveys and demonstrates that this approach is a workable alternative to other methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Westcott
- CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 780, Atherton, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Peter Caley
- CSIRO Data61, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
| | | | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Land and Water, PO Box 12139, Earlville BC, Qld, 4870, Australia
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Higgins A, McFallan S, McKeown A, Bruce C, Chilcott C. Informing major government programs for rural transport infrastructure in northern Australia. Rangel J 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/rj18008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
New or expanded agricultural industries in northern Australia require efficient and reliable supply chains and transport to domestic and international markets. A major challenge in the north is long transport distances of over 1000km between production and markets, along a sparse rural road/rail network that is largely unsealed and disrupted by seasonal flooding. To provide a comprehensive view of transport logistics costs and benefits due to infrastructure investments and regulatory changes in agriculture supply chains, the Australian Government commissioned CSIRO to develop the Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool (TraNSIT). TraNSIT optimises transport routes for up to hundreds of thousands of enterprises and millions of vehicle trips between farms and their markets, providing modelled input into operational and investment decisions. As part of a major Australian Government initiative, TraNSIT was used to directly inform the A$100 million 2016 Beef Roads Program targeting transport infrastructure investments across northern Australia. It was used to evaluate the transport savings for 60 road upgrade submissions, where the total construction cost exceeded A$3 billion. This paper highlights the innovations and experiences of using TraNSIT to inform the Beef Roads Program.
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20
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Vansteenkiste J, Reungwetwattana T, Nakagawa K, Cho B, Dols M, Cho E, Bertolini A, Bohnet S, Zhou C, Lee K, Nogami N, Okamoto I, Leighl N, Hodge R, McKeown A, Brown A, Rukazenkov Y, Ramalingam S. CNS response to osimertinib vs standard of care (SoC) EGFR-TKI as first-line therapy in patients (pts) with EGFR-TKI sensitising mutation (EGFRm)-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Data from the FLAURA study. Ann Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdx782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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21
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Phiphatsuwannachai S, Westcott DA, McKeown A, Savini T. Inter-group variability in seed dispersal by white-handed gibbons in mosaic forest. Biotropica 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Suchada Phiphatsuwannachai
- Conservation Ecology Program; School of Bioresourses and Technology; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi; Bangkok Thailand
| | | | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Land and Water; PO Box 780 Atherton 4883 Queensland Australia
| | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program; School of Bioresourses and Technology; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi; Bangkok Thailand
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22
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Hook SE, Kroon FJ, Metcalfe S, Greenfield PA, Moncuquet P, McGrath A, Smith R, Warne MSJ, Turner RD, McKeown A, Westcott DA. Global transcriptomic profiling in barramundi (Lates calcarifer) from rivers impacted by differing agricultural land uses. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017; 36:103-112. [PMID: 27219023 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Most catchments discharging into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon have elevated loads of suspended sediment, nutrients, and pesticides, including photosystem II inhibiting herbicides, associated with upstream agricultural land use. To investigate potential impacts of declining water quality on fish physiology, RNA sequencing (RNASeq) was used to characterize and compare the hepatic transcriptomes of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) captured from 2 of these tropical river catchments in Queensland, Australia. The Daintree and Tully Rivers differ in upstream land uses, as well as sediment, nutrient, and pesticide loads, with the area of agricultural land use and contaminant loads lower in the Daintree. In fish collected from the Tully River, transcripts involved in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and citrate cycling were also more abundant, suggesting elevated circulating cortisol concentrations, whereas transcripts involved in immune responses were less abundant. Fish from the Tully also had an increased abundance of transcripts associated with xenobiotic metabolism. Previous laboratory-based studies observed similar patterns in fish and amphibians exposed to the agricultural herbicide atrazine. If these transcriptomic patterns are manifested at the whole organism level, the differences in water quality between the 2 rivers may alter fish growth and fitness. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:103-112. © 2016 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon E Hook
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Kirrawee, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Frederieke J Kroon
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul A Greenfield
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philippe Moncuquet
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Annette McGrath
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Rachael Smith
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, and Innovation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael St J Warne
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, and Innovation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ryan D Turner
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, and Innovation, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
| | - David A Westcott
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Atherton, Queensland, Australia
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Bagnall AM, South J, Trigwell J, Kinsella K, Harden A, McKeown A, Dan-Ogosi I. Community engagement in practice in the UK: a systematic mapping review. Eur J Public Health 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckw174.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Abstract
We present a simple model to study Lévy-flight foraging with a power-law step-size distribution [P(l) ∞ l-μ] in a finite landscape with countable targets. We find that different optimal foraging strategies characterized by a wide range of power-law exponent μopt, from ballistic motion (μopt → 1) to Lévy flight (1 < μopt < 3) to Brownian motion (μopt ≥ 3), may arise in adaptation to the interplay between the termination of foraging, which is regulated by the number of foraging steps, and the environmental context of the landscape, namely the landscape size and number of targets. We further demonstrate that stochastic returning can be another significant factor that affects the foraging efficiency and optimality of foraging strategy. Our study provides a new perspective on Lévy-flight foraging, opens new avenues for investigating the interaction between foraging dynamics and the environment and offers a realistic framework for analysing animal movement patterns from empirical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhao
- CSIRO, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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25
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Kroon FJ, Hook SE, Jones D, Metcalfe S, Henderson B, Smith R, Warne MSJ, Turner RD, McKeown A, Westcott DA. Altered transcription levels of endocrine associated genes in two fisheries species collected from the Great Barrier Reef catchment and lagoon. Mar Environ Res 2015; 104:51-61. [PMID: 25617679 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 10/24/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is chronically exposed to agricultural run-off containing pesticides, many of which are known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Here, we measure mRNA transcript abundance of two EDC biomarkers in wild populations of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) and coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus and Plectropomus maculatus). Transcription levels of liver vitellogenin (vtg) differed significantly in both species amongst sites with different exposures to agricultural run-off; brain aromatase (cyp19a1b) revealed some differences for barramundi only. Exposure to run-off from sugarcane that contains pesticides is a likely pathway given (i) significant associations between barramundi vtg transcription levels, catchment sugarcane land use, and river pesticide concentrations, and (ii) consistency between patterns of coral trout vtg transcription levels and pesticide distribution in the GBR lagoon. Given the potential consequences of such exposure for reproductive fitness and population dynamics, these results are cause for concern for the sustainability of fisheries resources downstream from agricultural land uses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sharon E Hook
- CSIRO Land and Water, Kirrawee, New South Wales 2232, Australia
| | - Dean Jones
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Atherton, Queensland 4883, Australia
| | | | - Brent Henderson
- CSIRO Computational Informatics, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Rachael Smith
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and The Arts, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Michael St J Warne
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and The Arts, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Ryan D Turner
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and The Arts, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Smithfield, Queensland 4870, Australia
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Tait J, Perotto-Baldivieso HL, McKeown A, Westcott DA. Are flying-foxes coming to town? Urbanisation of the spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) in Australia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e109810. [PMID: 25295724 PMCID: PMC4190360 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 09/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Urbanisation of wildlife populations is a process with significant conservation and management implications. While urban areas can provide habitat for wildlife, some urbanised species eventually come into conflict with humans. Understanding the process and drivers of wildlife urbanisation is fundamental to developing effective management responses to this phenomenon. In Australia, flying-foxes (Pteropodidae) are a common feature of urban environments, sometimes roosting in groups of tens of thousands of individuals. Flying-foxes appear to be becoming increasingly urbanised and are coming into increased contact and conflict with humans. Flying-fox management is now a highly contentious issue. In this study we used monitoring data collected over a 15 year period (1998-2012) to examine the spatial and temporal patterns of association of spectacled flying-fox (Pteropus conspicillatus) roost sites (camps) with urban areas. We asked whether spectacled flying-foxes are becoming more urbanised and test the hypothesis that such changes are associated with anthropogenic changes to landscape structure. Our results indicate that spectacled flying-foxes were more likely to roost near humans than might be expected by chance, that over the period of the study the proportion of the flying-foxes in urban-associated camps increased, as did the number of urban camps. Increased urbanisation of spectacled flying-foxes was not related to changes in landscape structure or to the encroachment of urban areas on camps. Overall, camps tended to be found in areas that were more fragmented, closer to human habitation and with more urban land cover than the surrounding landscape. This suggests that urbanisation is a behavioural response rather than driven by habitat loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Tait
- School of Energy, Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom
- CSIRO Sustainable Land and Water, Atherton, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Sustainable Land and Water, Smithfield, QLD, Australia
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27
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Khamcha D, Savini T, Westcott DA, McKeown A, Brockelman WY, Chimchome V, Gale GA. Behavioral and Social Structure Effects on Seed Dispersal Curves of a Forest-Interior Bulbul (Pycnonotidae) in a Tropical Evergreen Forest. Biotropica 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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)
- Daphawan Khamcha
- Conservation Ecology Program; School of Bioresources and Technology; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi; 49 Bangkhuntien-Chaithalay Road Thakham, Bangkhuntien Bangkok 10150 Thailand
| | - Tommaso Savini
- Conservation Ecology Program; School of Bioresources and Technology; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi; 49 Bangkhuntien-Chaithalay Road Thakham, Bangkhuntien Bangkok 10150 Thailand
| | - David A. Westcott
- CSIRO Ecosystem Science Atherton; 780 Maunds Road Atherton Qld 4883 Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Ecosystem Science Atherton; 780 Maunds Road Atherton Qld 4883 Australia
| | - Warren Y. Brockelman
- Ecology Laboratory; Bioresources Technology Unit; 113 Thailand Science Park Paholyothin Road Khlongluang Pathum Thani 12120 Thailand
| | - Vijak Chimchome
- Department of Forest Biology; Faculty of Forestry; Kasetsart University; 50 Ngamwongwan Road Chatuchak Bangkok 10900 Thailand
| | - George A. Gale
- Conservation Ecology Program; School of Bioresources and Technology; King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi; 49 Bangkhuntien-Chaithalay Road Thakham, Bangkhuntien Bangkok 10150 Thailand
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Buettner PG, Westcott DA, Maclean J, Brown L, McKeown A, Johnson A, Wilson K, Blair D, Luly J, Skerratt L, Muller R, Speare R. Tick paralysis in spectacled flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) in North Queensland, Australia: impact of a ground-dwelling ectoparasite finding an arboreal host. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73078. [PMID: 24066028 PMCID: PMC3774714 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 07/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
When a parasite finds a new wildlife host, impacts can be significant. In the late 1980s populations of Spectacled Flying-foxes (SFF) (Pteropus conspicillatus), a species confined, in Australia, to north Queensland became infected by paralysis tick (Ixodes holocyclus), resulting in mortality. This Pteropus-tick relationship was new to Australia. Curiously, the relationship was confined to several camps on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland. It was hypothesised that an introduced plant, wild tobacco (Solanum mauritianum), had facilitated this new host-tick interaction. This study quantifies the impact of tick paralysis on SFF and investigates the relationship with climate. Retrospective analysis was carried out on records from the Tolga Bat Hospital for 1998–2010. Juvenile mortality rates were correlated to climate data using vector auto-regression. Mortality rates due to tick paralysis ranged between 11.6 per 10,000 bats in 2003 and 102.5 in 2009; more female than male adult bats were affected. Juvenile mortality rates were negatively correlated with the total rainfall in January to March and July to September of the same year while a positive correlation of these quarterly total rainfalls existed with the total population. All tick affected camps of SFF were located in the 80% core range of S. mauritianum. This initial analysis justifies further exploration of how an exotic plant might alter the relationship between a formerly ground-dwelling parasite and an arboreal host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra G. Buettner
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Tropical Health Solutions Pty Ltd, Idalia, Townsville, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - David A. Westcott
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Atherton, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Cairns, Australia
| | | | - Lawrence Brown
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Adam McKeown
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Atherton, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Karen Wilson
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - David Blair
- School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Jonathan Luly
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Lee Skerratt
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Reinhold Muller
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Tropical Health Solutions Pty Ltd, Idalia, Townsville, Australia
| | - Richard Speare
- School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
- Tropical Health Solutions Pty Ltd, Idalia, Townsville, Australia
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Sultan MJ, McKeown A, McLaughlin I, Kurdy N, McCollum CN. Elastic stockings or Tubigrip for ankle sprain: a randomised clinical trial. Injury 2012; 43:1079-83. [PMID: 22365595 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2012.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Revised: 01/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ankle sprains are common and generally believed to be benign and self-limiting. However, a significant proportion of patients with ankle sprains have persistent symptoms for months or even years. AIMS The study aimed to evaluate whether elastic stockings improve recovery following ankle sprain. METHODOLOGY All patients within 72 h of ankle sprain were identified in Accident & Emergency or the Fracture Clinic. Consenting patients, stratified for sex, were randomised to either: (i) Tubigrip or (ii) class II below knee elastic stockings (ESs, Medi UK Ltd.) which were fitted immediately and worn until the patient was pain-free and fully mobile. The deep veins of the injured legs were imaged by duplex Doppler for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) at 4 weeks. Outcome was compared using the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Score (AOFAS) and SF12v2 for quality of life. RESULTS In the 36 randomised patients, the mean (95% confidence interval (CI)) circumference of the injured ankle treated by ES was 23.5 (23-24)cm initially and 22 (22-23) and 22 (21-22.5)cm at 4 and 8 weeks (p<0.001) compared with 24 (23-25) cm initially and 24 (23-25) and 24 (23-24.5) cm using Tubigrip (p<0.001). By 8 weeks, the mean AOFAS and SF12v2 scores were significantly improved by ES at 99 (8.1) and 119 (118-121) compared with 88 (11) and 102 (99-107) with Tubigrip (p<0.001). Of the 34 duplex images at 4 weeks, none had a DVT. CONCLUSION Elastic compression improves recovery following ankle sprain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad J Sultan
- Academic Surgery Unit, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
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Campbell HA, Dwyer RG, Fitzgibbons S, Klein CJ, Lauridsen G, McKeown A, Olsson A, Sullivan S, Watts ME, Westcott DA. Prioritising the protection of habitat utilised by southern cassowaries Casuarius casuarius johnsonii. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2012. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Abstract
Monitoring of population trends is a critical component of conservation management, and development of practical methods remains a priority, particularly for species that challenge more standard approaches. We used field-parameterized simulation models to examine the effects of different errors on monitoring power and compared alternative methods used with two species of threatened pteropodids (flying-foxes), Pteropus conspicillatus and P. poliocephalus, whose mobility violates assumptions of closure on short and long timescales. The influence of three errors on time to 80% statistical power was assessed using a Monte Carlo approach. The errors were: (1) failure to count all animals at a roost, (2) errors associated with enumeration, and (3) variability in the proportion of the population counted due to the movement of individuals between roosts. Even with perfect accuracy and precision for these errors only marginal improvements in power accrued (-1%), with one exception. Improving certainty in the proportion of the population being counted reduced time to detection of a decline by over 6 yr (43%) for fly-out counts and almost 10 yr (71%) for walk-through counts. This error derives from the movement of animals between known and unknown roost sites, violating assumptions of population closure, and because it applies to the entire population, it dominates all other sources of error. Similar errors will accrue in monitoring of a wide variety of highly mobile species and will also result from population redistribution under climate change. The greatest improvements in monitoring performance of highly mobile species accrue through an improved understanding of the proportion of the population being counted, and consequently monitoring of such species must be done at the scale of the species or population range, not at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Westcott
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, P.O. Box 780, Atherton, Queensland 4883, Australia.
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Sultan MJ, McKeown A, McLaughlin I, McCollum C. Elastic stockings or tubigrip for ankle sprain: A randomised controlled clinical trial. Int J Surg 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2012.06.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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McKeown A, Strachan L, Keeley P, Booth MG, Calder A, Panicker A. Unsuitable for ICU: what happens next? Crit Care 2010. [PMCID: PMC2934394 DOI: 10.1186/cc8647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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35
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Affiliation(s)
- A McKeown
- Strathcarron Hospice, Stirlingshire, UK
| | - A Bentley
- Strathcarron Hospice, Stirlingshire, UK
| | | | - F Downs
- Strathcarron Hospice, Stirlingshire, UK
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Westcott DA, Setter M, Bradford MG, McKeown A, Setter S. Cassowary dispersal of the invasive pond apple in a tropical rainforest: the contribution of subordinate dispersal modes in invasion. DIVERS DISTRIB 2007. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-4642.2007.00416.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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Paun C, Barklie J, Goodrich P, Gunaratne H, McKeown A, Pârvulescu V, Hardacre C. Supported and liquid phase task specific ionic liquids for base catalysed Knoevenagel reactions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molcata.2007.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Westcott DA, Bentrupperbäumer J, Bradford MG, McKeown A. Incorporating patterns of disperser behaviour into models of seed dispersal and its effects on estimated dispersal curves. Oecologia 2005; 146:57-67. [PMID: 16032438 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-005-0178-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2004] [Accepted: 06/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The processes determining where seeds fall relative to their parent plant influence the spatial structure and dynamics of plant populations and communities. For animal dispersed species the factors influencing seed shadows are poorly understood. In this paper we test the hypothesis that the daily temporal distribution of disperser behaviours, for example, foraging and movement, influences dispersal outcomes, in particular the shape and scale of dispersal curves. To do this, we describe frugivory and the dispersal curves produced by the southern cassowary, Casuarius casuarius, the only large-bodied disperser in Australia's rainforests. We found C. casuarius consumed fruits of 238 species and of all fleshy-fruit types. In feeding trials, seeds of 11 species were retained on average for 309 min (+/-256 SD). Sampling radio-telemetry data randomly, that is, assuming foraging occurs at random times during the day, gives an estimated average dispersal distance of 239 m (+/-207 SD) for seeds consumed by C. casuarius. Approximately 4% of seeds were dispersed further than 1,000 m. However, observation of wild birds indicated that foraging and movement occur more frequently early and late in the day. Seeds consumed early in the day were estimated to receive dispersal distances 1.4 times the 'random' average estimate, while afternoon consumed seeds received estimated mean dispersal distances of 0.46 times the 'random' estimate. Sampling movement data according to the daily distribution of C. casuarius foraging gives an estimated mean dispersal distance of 337 m (+/-194 SD). Most animals' behaviour has a non-random temporal distribution. Consequently such effects should be common and need to be incorporated into seed shadow estimation. Our results point to dispersal curves being an emergent property of the plant-disperser interaction rather than being a property of a plant or species.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Westcott
- CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems & the Rainforest CRC, PO Box 780, Atherton Q, 4883, Australia.
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Abstract
Population estimation and monitoring is a fundamental component in the conservation management of any species. For species such as flying-foxes (Pteropus spp.) population estimation is complicated by the large number of animals involved, their mobility and the conditions under which counts are conducted. Because count results are used in the determination of management requirements, they are the focus of much critical attention. Despite this, while measures of the precision of fly-out counts of Pteropus spp. have been published, measures of their accuracy have not. In this paper we present an assessment of the accuracy and precision of observer counts of dusk fly-outs by comparing recordings of observers’ counts with a video of the same fly-out. Observer’s counts were significantly related to the video-count (rs = 0.69, P < 0.0001), with the average observer’s count underestimating the video-count by 14.7% (± 25, s.d.) of the video-count. Observers’ errors increased with the rate at which flying-foxes left the camp and with the width of the fly-out stream. These results suggest that while observers’ errors are inherent in dusk fly-out counts, these errors are manageable and relatively predictable. Other sources of error are likely to have a greater impact on the final population estimate at both camp and regional scales.
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O'Connor JM, Bonham MP, Turley E, McKeown A, McKelvey-Martin VJ, Gilmore WS, Strain JJ. Copper supplementation has no effect on markers of DNA damage and liver function in healthy adults (FOODCUE project). Ann Nutr Metab 2003; 47:201-6. [PMID: 12748413 DOI: 10.1159/000070486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2002] [Accepted: 01/07/2003] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS Copper is routinely used in the laboratory to promote oxidation in vitro. However, copper concentrations are million-fold higher than physiological concentrations and, in contrast, accumulating evidence suggests that copper may have an antioxidant role in vivo. The aim of this study was to provide data on how increased intake of copper affected mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage and liver function in healthy young free-living men and women. METHODS The study design was a double-blind repeated crossover trial with treatment and intervening placebo periods, each of 6 weeks' duration. The following supplementations were given orally in sequence: CuSO(4) at a dose of 3 mg copper/day and copper amino acid chelates at doses of 3 and 6 mg copper/day. Oxidative DNA damage was assessed using a modification of the alkaline Comet assay incorporating an endonuclease III digestion step. The assessment of liver function was by measurement of the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase and L-gamma-glutamyltransferase. RESULTS There was no significant alteration in mononuclear leukocyte DNA damage or on liver function after 6 weeks of copper supplementation at two doses (3 and 6 mg/day). CONCLUSIONS Copper supplementation (giving total copper intake at the highest level of 7 mg/day) did not induce DNA damage or adversely affect liver function in healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M O'Connor
- Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
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Arthur AD, Pech RP, Drew A, Gifford E, Henry S, McKeown A. The effect of increased ground-level habitat complexity on mouse population dynamics. Wildl Res 2003. [DOI: 10.1071/wr02071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
We investigated experimentally the influence of habitat structure on the population dynamics of house mice. Three habitat types were used. In one, dense stands of regenerating cypress pine were felled and left in situ to cover at least 40% of experimental plots, providing high complexity at ground level; in another, dense stands of regenerating pine were left intact, providing low complexity at ground level; in the third, open grassland adjacent to dense stands of regenerating pine also provided low complexity at ground level. Mouse populations occurred at higher densities in felled pine plots compared with both the standing pine and grassland plots, consistent with the hypothesis that the presence of increased habitat complexity at ground level reduced the impact of predation. Even though populations responded to the felled pine, they dropped to very low densities over winter, suggesting that the habitat was still marginal for the persistence of mice, probably due to a lack of food. The results are discussed with reference to their implications for the influence that habitat structure may have on the impact of introduced predators on native species.
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Shaughnessy PD, McKeown A. Trends in abundance of New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, at the Neptune Islands, South Australia. Wildl Res 2002. [DOI: 10.1071/wr01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
At the Neptune Islands in early February 2000 at the end of the 1999–2000 pupping season, the abundance of New Zealand fur seal pups was determined using a mark–recapture technique in large colonies and by direct counting in small ones. Pups (n = 2355) were marked by clipping hair on the head to reveal light-coloured underfur. At the North Neptune group, there were 4221 pups and at the South Neptune group 1767 pups, making a total of 5988 pups for the Neptune Island group as a whole. At the North Neptune Islands, pup numbers increased by 53% since February 1993, from 2756 to 4221. For the South Neptune group, pup numbers decreased by 6.7%, from 1893 to 1767. The decrease was spread over most colonies on the island. The large increase in pup numbers at the North Neptune group indicates that the population there is in the recolonisation phase of growth; at the South Neptune group, the fur seal population is likely to be in the maturity phase, with fluctuations in size expected in the future. The Neptune Island group supports the largest aggregation of pinnipeds in Australia.
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Turley E, McKeown A, Bonham MP, O'Connor JM, Chopra M, Harvey LJ, Majsak-Newman G, Fairweather-Tait SJ, Bügel S, Sandström B, Rock E, Mazur A, Rayssiguier Y, Strain JJ. Copper supplementation in humans does not affect the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein to in vitro induced oxidation (FOODCUE project). Free Radic Biol Med 2000; 29:1129-34. [PMID: 11121720 DOI: 10.1016/s0891-5849(00)00409-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Copper (Cu) is essential for antioxidant enzymes in vivo and animal studies show that Cu deficiency is accompanied by increased atherogenesis and LDL susceptibility to oxidation. Nevertheless, Cu has been proposed as a pro-oxidant in vivo and is routinely used to induce lipid peroxidation in vitro. Given the dual role of Cu as an in vivo antioxidant and an in vitro pro-oxidant, a multicenter European study (FOODCUE) was instigated to provide data on the biological effects of increased dietary Cu. Four centers, Northern Ireland (coordinator), England, Denmark, and France, using different experimental protocols, examined the effect of Cu supplementation (3 or 6 mg/d) on top of normal Cu dietary intakes or Cu-controlled diets (0.7/1.6/6.0 mg/d), on Cu-mediated and peroxynitrite-initiated LDL oxidation in apparently healthy volunteers. Each center coordinated its own supplementation regimen and all samples were subsequently transported to Northern Ireland where lipid peroxidation analysis was completed. The results from all centers showed that dietary Cu supplementation had no effect on Cu- or peroxynitrite-induced LDL susceptibility to oxidation. These data show that high intakes (up to 6 mg Cu) for extended periods do not promote LDL susceptibility to in vitro-induced oxidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Turley
- NICHE, University of Ulster, Northern, Coleraine, Ireland
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Kehoe CA, Turley E, Bonham MP, O'Connor JM, McKeown A, Faughnan MS, Coulter JS, Gilmore WS, Howard AN, Strain JJ. Response of putative indices of copper status to copper supplementation in human subjects. Br J Nutr 2000; 84:151-6. [PMID: 11029965] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
No sensitive functional index is currently available to assess Cu status in healthy human populations. This study evaluated the effect of Cu supplementation on putative indices of Cu status in twelve women and twelve men, aged between 22 and 45 years, who participated in a double-blind placebo controlled crossover study. The study consisted of three 6-week supplementation regimens of 3 mg CuSO4, 3 mg Cu-glycine chelate and 6 mg Cu-glycine chelate, each separated by placebo periods of equal length. Women had significantly higher caeruloplasmin oxidase activity (P < 0.001), caeruloplasmin protein concentration (P < 0.05), and serum diamine oxidase activity (P < 0.01) at baseline than men. Erythrocyte and leucocyte superoxide dismutase activity, leucocyte cytochrome c oxidase activity, and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activity did not respond to Cu supplementation. Platelet cytochrome c oxidase activity was significantly higher (P < 0.01), after supplementation with 6 mg Cu-glycine chelate in the total group and in women but did not change in men. Caeruloplasmin oxidase activity was significantly higher (P < 0.05), in men after supplementation with 3 mg Cu-glycine chelate, while caeruloplasmin protein concentration was significantly lower in men after supplementation with 6 mg Cu-glycine chelate (P < 0.05). Serum diamine oxidase activity was significantly higher after all supplementation regimens in the total group and in both men and women (P < 0.01). These results indicate that serum diamine oxidase activity is sensitive to changes in dietary Cu intakes and may also have the potential to evaluate changes in Cu status in healthy adult human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A Kehoe
- Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health (NICHE), University of Ulster, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
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McKeown A. Pulsed-dye laser treatment of vascular lesions. Dermatol Nurs 1991; 3:330-4. [PMID: 1834140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Pulsed-dye laser therapy can effectively treat port-wine stains and telangiectases. Nursing considerations include pre- and post-operative assessment and care, contraindications, and special concerns for the pediatric patient.
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Abstract
The development of larvae of Baylisascaris tasmaniensis to the adult stage is described, using laboratory mice and the Tasmanian devil as experimental hosts. The first moult occurred in the egg, the second moult occurred in mouse tissues at 1–2 weeks after ingestion of embryonated eggs. Larvae migrated to liver, lungs, brain, eyes and kidneys, but most larvae were found in the mesenteric tissues and wall of the intestine. Larvae grew to a length of 0·5–1·0 mm in mice, although some attained a length of 2 mm or more in infections over a year in duration.
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Abstract
A marked difference in the rate and extent of growth of the third-stage larvae of Amplicaecum robertsi was observed in the liver of indigenous Australian rats, as compared with non-indigenous rats. This difference was not correlated with the number of larvae recovered. The suggestion is made that the greater growth in indigenous rodents might be due to the availability or accessibility of a growth factor in the former group, or a manifestation of ‘adaptation tolerance’, an immunological unresponsiveness arising from adaptation in a geographically isolated host-parasite association. Observations on incidence of natural infection supported the hypothesis in relation to Rattus assimilis but not to Melomys cervinipes.Thanks are due to Dr C. Dobson for help with the presentation of results.
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Griffith RO, McKeown A, Taylor RP. Kinetics of the reaction of iodine with hypophosphorous acid and with hypophosphites. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1940. [DOI: 10.1039/tf9403600752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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