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Mullineaux ST, McKinley JM, Marks NJ, Doherty R, Scantlebury DM. A nose for trouble: ecotoxicological implications for climate change and disease in Saiga antelope (S. t. tatarica). Environ Geochem Health 2024; 46:93. [PMID: 38367154 PMCID: PMC10874336 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01874-y] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, Saiga antelope (Saiga t. tatarica) mass die-offs have become more common. The mass die-off of 2015 in central Kazakhstan, recorded 140,000 individual deaths across multiple herds. Previously, research has shown atmospheric humidity, the bacterium Pasteurella multocida serotype B, and resultant haemorrhagic septicaemia, were the primary cause. However, other synergistic factors may have impacted this process. Here we use a multivariate compositional data analysis (CoDA) approach to assess what other factors may have been involved. We show a pollutant linkage mechanism where relative humidity and dewpoint temperature combine with environmental pollutants, potentially toxic elements (e.g., Hg, As), complex carbon compounds (e.g., Acetone, Toluene), and inorganic compounds (e.g., CHx, SO2) which affected the Saiga during the calving season (start and peak) and at the onset of the mass die-off. We suggest a mechanism for this process. Upon arrival at their carving grounds, the Saiga experienced a sudden precipitation event, a spike in temperatures, and resultant high humidity occurs. The infectious bacterium P. multocida serotype B then spreads. Further, environmental pollutants contained within steppe soils are released to the air, forming localised smog events, these synergistically combine, and mass die-off occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Mullineaux
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - J M McKinley
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - N J Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - R Doherty
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - D M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
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Hart DW, Bennett NC, Oosthuizen MK, Waterman JM, Hambly C, Scantlebury DM. Energetics and Water Flux in the Subterranean Rodent Family Bathyergidae. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.867350] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The doubly labeled water (DLW) technique and indirect calorimetry enable measurement of an animal’s daily energy expenditure (DEE, kJ/day), resting metabolic rate (RMR, kJ/d), sustained metabolic scope (SusMS), body fat content (BF, %) as well as water turnover (WTO, ml/day), and water economy index (ml/kJ). Small mammals have been the primary focus of many of the DLW studies to date. From large multi-species analyses of the energetics and water flux of aboveground small mammals, well-defined trends have been observed. These trends mainly refer to an adaptive advantage for lower RMR, DEE, SusMS, WTO and WEI in more ariddwelling animals to increase water and energy savings under low and unpredictable resource availability. The study of the subterranean rodent family Bathyergidae (African mole-rats) has been of particular interest with regards to field metabolic rate and metabolic studies. Although a great deal of research has been conducted on the Bathyergidae, a complete overview and multi-species analysis of the energetics and water flux of this family is lacking. Consequently, we assessed DEE, RMR, SusMS, BF, WTO and WEI across several different species of bathyergids from various climatic regions, and compared these to the established patterns of energetics and water flux for aboveground rodents. There was notable variation across the Bathyergidae inhabiting areas with different aridities, often contrary to the variations observed in above-ground species. These include increased DEE and WEI in arid-dwelling bathyergid species. While the climate was not a clear factor when predicting the SusMS of a bathyergid species, rather the degree of group living was a strong driver of SusMS, with solitary species possessing the highest SusMS compared to the socially living species. We conclude that the constraints of the underground lifestyle and the consequent spectrum of social behaviors possessed by the family Bathyergidae are most likely to be more crucial to their energetics and water flux than their habitat; however other important unstudied factors may still be at play. More so, this study provides evidence that often unreported parameters, measured through use of the DLW technique (such as BF and WEI) can enable species to be identified that might be at particular risk to climate change.
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McGowan NE, Marks NJ, Maule AG, Schmidt-Küntzel A, Marker LL, Scantlebury DM. Categorising cheetah behaviour using tri-axial accelerometer data loggers: a comparison of model resolution and data logger performance. Mov Ecol 2022; 10:7. [PMID: 35123592 PMCID: PMC8818224 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00305-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extinction is one of the greatest threats to the living world, endangering organisms globally, advancing conservation to the forefront of species research. To maximise the efficacy of conservation efforts, understanding the ecological, physiological, and behavioural requirements of vulnerable species is vital. Technological advances, particularly in remote sensing, enable researchers to continuously monitor movement and behaviours of multiple individuals simultaneously with minimal human intervention. Cheetahs, Acinonyx jubatus, constitute a "vulnerable" species for which only coarse behaviours have been elucidated. The aims of this study were to use animal-attached accelerometers to (1) determine fine-scale behaviours in cheetahs, (2) compare the performances of different devices in behaviour categorisation, and (3) provide a behavioural categorisation framework. METHODS Two different accelerometer devices (CEFAS, frequency: 30 Hz, maximum capacity: ~ 2 g; GCDC, frequency: 50 Hz, maximum capacity: ~ 8 g) were mounted onto collars, fitted to five individual captive cheetahs. The cheetahs chased a lure around a track, during which time their behaviours were videoed. Accelerometer data were temporally aligned with corresponding video footage and labelled with one of 17 behaviours. Six separate random forest models were run (three per device type) to determine the categorisation accuracy for behaviours at a fine, medium, and coarse resolution. RESULTS Fine- and medium-scale models had an overall categorisation accuracy of 83-86% and 84-88% respectively. Non-locomotory behaviours were best categorised on both loggers with GCDC outperforming CEFAS devices overall. On a coarse scale, both devices performed well when categorising activity (86.9% (CEFAS) vs. 89.3% (GCDC) accuracy) and inactivity (95.5% (CEFAS) vs. 95.0% (GCDC) accuracy). This study defined cheetah behaviour beyond three categories and accurately determined stalking behaviours by remote sensing. We also show that device specification and configuration may affect categorisation accuracy, so we recommend deploying several different loggers simultaneously on the same individual. CONCLUSION The results of this study will be useful in determining wild cheetah behaviour. The methods used here allowed broad-scale (active/inactive) as well as fine-scale (e.g. stalking) behaviours to be categorised remotely. These findings and methodological approaches will be useful in monitoring the behaviour of wild cheetahs and other species of conservation interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha E McGowan
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Nikki J Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | - Aaron G Maule
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK
| | | | - Laurie L Marker
- Cheetah Conservation Fund, PO Box 1755, Otjiwarongo, Namibia
| | - David M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, UK.
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Gunner RM, Holton MD, Scantlebury DM, Hopkins P, Shepard ELC, Fell AJ, Garde B, Quintana F, Gómez-Laich A, Yoda K, Yamamoto T, English H, Ferreira S, Govender D, Viljoen P, Bruns A, van Schalkwyk OL, Cole NC, Tatayah V, Börger L, Redcliffe J, Bell SH, Marks NJ, Bennett NC, Tonini MH, Williams HJ, Duarte CM, van Rooyen MC, Bertelsen MF, Tambling CJ, Wilson RP. How often should dead-reckoned animal movement paths be corrected for drift? Anim Biotelemetry 2021; 9:43. [PMID: 34900262 PMCID: PMC7612089 DOI: 10.1186/s40317-021-00265-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Understanding what animals do in time and space is important for a range of ecological questions, however accurate estimates of how animals use space is challenging. Within the use of animal-attached tags, radio telemetry (including the Global Positioning System, 'GPS') is typically used to verify an animal's location periodically. Straight lines are typically drawn between these 'Verified Positions' ('VPs') so the interpolation of space-use is limited by the temporal and spatial resolution of the system's measurement. As such, parameters such as route-taken and distance travelled can be poorly represented when using VP systems alone. Dead-reckoning has been suggested as a technique to improve the accuracy and resolution of reconstructed movement paths, whilst maximising battery life of VP systems. This typically involves deriving travel vectors from motion sensor systems and periodically correcting path dimensions for drift with simultaneously deployed VP systems. How often paths should be corrected for drift, however, has remained unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS Here, we review the utility of dead-reckoning across four contrasting model species using different forms of locomotion (the African lion Panthera leo, the red-tailed tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda, the Magellanic penguin Spheniscus magellanicus, and the imperial cormorant Leucocarbo atriceps). Simulations were performed to examine the extent of dead-reckoning error, relative to VPs, as a function of Verified Position correction (VP correction) rate and the effect of this on estimates of distance moved. Dead-reckoning error was greatest for animals travelling within air and water. We demonstrate how sources of measurement error can arise within VP-corrected dead-reckoned tracks and propose advancements to this procedure to maximise dead-reckoning accuracy. CONCLUSIONS We review the utility of VP-corrected dead-reckoning according to movement type and consider a range of ecological questions that would benefit from dead-reckoning, primarily concerning animal-barrier interactions and foraging strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M. Gunner
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Mark D. Holton
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - David M. Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Phil Hopkins
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Emily L. C. Shepard
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Adam J. Fell
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Baptiste Garde
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Flavio Quintana
- Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos (IBIOMAR), CONICET. Boulevard Brown, 2915, U9120ACD Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Agustina Gómez-Laich
- Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución & Instituto de Ecología, Genética Y Evolución de Buenos Aires (IEGEBA), CONICET, Pabellón II Ciudad Universitaria, C1428EGA Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ken Yoda
- Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Organization for the Strategic Coordination of Research and Intellectual Properties, Meiji University, Nakano, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Holly English
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sam Ferreira
- Savanna and Grassland Research Unit, Scientific Services Skukuza, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza 1350, South Africa
| | - Danny Govender
- Savanna and Grassland Research Unit, Scientific Services Skukuza, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza 1350, South Africa
| | - Pauli Viljoen
- Savanna and Grassland Research Unit, Scientific Services Skukuza, South African National Parks, Kruger National Park, Skukuza 1350, South Africa
| | - Angela Bruns
- Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, 97 Memorial Road, Old Testing Grounds, Kimberley 8301, South Africa
| | - O. Louis van Schalkwyk
- Department of Agriculture, Government of South Africa, Land Reform and Rural Development, Pretoria 001, South Africa
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
- Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - Nik C. Cole
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Les Augrès Manor, Channel Islands, Trinity JE3 5BP, Jersey, UK
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Indian Ocean, Vacoas, Mauritius
| | - Vikash Tatayah
- Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, Grannum Road, Indian Ocean, Vacoas, Mauritius
| | - Luca Börger
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
- Centre for Biomathematics, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - James Redcliffe
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Stephen H. Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Nikki J. Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 002., South Africa
| | - Mariano H. Tonini
- Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales, Grupo GEA, IPATEC-UNCO-CONICET, San Carlos de Bariloche, Río Negro, Argentina
| | - Hannah J. Williams
- Department of Migration, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, 78315 Radolfzell, Germany
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research Centre, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Martin C. van Rooyen
- Mammal Research Institute. Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 002., South Africa
| | - Mads F. Bertelsen
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Craig J. Tambling
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Fort Hare, Alice Campus, Ring Road, Alice 5700, South Africa
| | - Rory P. Wilson
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
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Dickinson ER, Twining JP, Wilson R, Stephens PA, Westander J, Marks N, Scantlebury DM. Limitations of using surrogates for behaviour classification of accelerometer data: refining methods using random forest models in Caprids. Mov Ecol 2021; 9:28. [PMID: 34099067 PMCID: PMC8186069 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-021-00265-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Animal-attached devices can be used on cryptic species to measure their movement and behaviour, enabling unprecedented insights into fundamental aspects of animal ecology and behaviour. However, direct observations of subjects are often still necessary to translate biologging data accurately into meaningful behaviours. As many elusive species cannot easily be observed in the wild, captive or domestic surrogates are typically used to calibrate data from devices. However, the utility of this approach remains equivocal. METHODS Here, we assess the validity of using captive conspecifics, and phylogenetically-similar domesticated counterparts (surrogate species) for calibrating behaviour classification. Tri-axial accelerometers and tri-axial magnetometers were used with behavioural observations to build random forest models to predict the behaviours. We applied these methods using captive Alpine ibex (Capra ibex) and a domestic counterpart, pygmy goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), to predict the behaviour including terrain slope for locomotion behaviours of captive Alpine ibex. RESULTS Behavioural classification of captive Alpine ibex and domestic pygmy goats was highly accurate (> 98%). Model performance was reduced when using data split per individual, i.e., classifying behaviour of individuals not used to train models (mean ± sd = 56.1 ± 11%). Behavioural classifications using domestic counterparts, i.e., pygmy goat observations to predict ibex behaviour, however, were not sufficient to predict all behaviours of a phylogenetically similar species accurately (> 55%). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate methods to refine the use of random forest models to classify behaviours of both captive and free-living animal species. We suggest there are two main reasons for reduced accuracy when using a domestic counterpart to predict the behaviour of a wild species in captivity; domestication leading to morphological differences and the terrain of the environment in which the animals were observed. We also identify limitations when behaviour is predicted in individuals that are not used to train models. Our results demonstrate that biologging device calibration needs to be conducted using: (i) with similar conspecifics, and (ii) in an area where they can perform behaviours on terrain that reflects that of species in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Dickinson
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Joshua P Twining
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Rory Wilson
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, Wales, UK
| | - Philip A Stephens
- Conservation Ecology Group, Department of Biosciences, Durham University, South Road, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Jennie Westander
- Kolmården Wildlife Park, SE-618 92, Kolmården, Sweden
- Öknaskolans Naturbruksgymnasium, SE-611 99, Tystberga, Sweden
| | - Nikki Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - David M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, 19 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK
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Mullineaux ST, McKinley JM, Marks NJ, Scantlebury DM, Doherty R. Heavy metal (PTE) ecotoxicology, data review: Traditional vs. a compositional approach. Sci Total Environ 2021; 769:145246. [PMID: 33736251 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) otherwise known as heavy metals are ubiquitous in soils and can have a range of negative health and environmental impacts. In terrestrial systems understanding how PTEs move in the environment is made challenging by the complex interactions within soil and the wider environment and the compositional nature of PTEs. PTEs are compositional because data of individual PTEs within in a sample are ratios which may be under a sum constraint, where individual components sum up to a whole. In this study three different scenarios were considered, one using the centred log ratio transformation (clr) a compositional transformation, the more "traditional" log10 transformation (log10) and untransformed data acting as a comparison (unt) were applied to four different datasets. Three were the Liver, Muscle and Kidney tissue of Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles) and the fourth was soil and data were extracted from a regional geospatial survey. Cluster analysis demonstrated that the clr and log10 transformation were able to resolve compositional trends at the point of the individual sample, whilst unt could not and did not meet the preconditions for the next phase of analysis. At the level of compositional trends between PTEs complex heatmaps demonstrated that clr was able to isolate PTE relationships and highlight commonalities between different datasets, whilst log10 could not. In the final phase, principal component analysis (PCA) of the clr transformation showed similarities between the signals in the soft tissues and the disparities they had with soil, whilst the log10 transformation was unable to achieve this. Overall, the clr transformation was shown to perform more consistently under a variety of analytical scenarios and the compositional approach will provide more realistic interpretations about PTEs in both soil and animal soft tissue than the log10 or unt conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Mullineaux
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - J M McKinley
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - N J Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - D M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - R Doherty
- School of Natural and Built Environment, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Mullineaux ST, Redpath SHA, Ogle N, McKinley JM, Marks NJ, Scantlebury DM, Doherty R. Potentially toxic element accumulation in badgers (Meles meles): a compositional approach. Sci Total Environ 2021; 762:143087. [PMID: 33131870 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143087] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Badgers (Meles meles), otherwise known as heavy metals, are unique amongst environmental pollutants occurring, both naturally and anthropogenically. PTEs have a broad range of negative health and environmental effects, therefore identifying their sources and pathways through the environment is imperative for public health policy. This is difficult in terrestrial systems due to the compositional nature of soil geochemistry. In this study, a compositional statistical approach was used to identify how PTEs accumulate in a terrestrial carnivorous mammal, Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles). Compositional principal component analysis (PCA) was used on geochemical data from the Tellus survey, the soil baseline and badger tissue data to map geo-spatial patterns of PTEs and show accumulative trends measured in time. Mapping PCs identified distinct regions of PTE presence in soil and PTE accumulation in badger tissues in Northern Ireland. PTEs were most elevated in liver, kidney and then muscle tissues. Liver and kidney showed the most distinct geo-spatial patterns of accumulation and muscle was the most depleted. PC1 and 2 for each type were modelled using generalised additive mixed models (GAMM) to identify trends through time. PC1 for the liver and muscle were associated with rainfall and ∂N15 in the liver, showing a link to diet and a bioaccumulation pathway, whilst PC2 for both tissues was associated with mean temperature, showing a link to seasonal activity and a bioaccessibility pathway. However, in kidney tissue these trends are reversed and PC1 was associated with bioaccessibility and PC2 with bioaccumulation. Combined these techniques can elucidate both geo-spatial trends in PTEs and the mechanisms by which they move in environment and in future may be an effective tool for assessing PTE bioavailability in environmental health surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Mullineaux
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| | - S H A Redpath
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - N Ogle
- School of Natural and Built Environment, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - J M McKinley
- School of Natural and Built Environment, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - N J Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - D M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, 1-33 Chlorine Gardens, Belfast BT9 5AJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
| | - R Doherty
- School of Natural and Built Environment, David Keir Building, Stranmillis Road, Belfast BT9 5AG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Noonan MJ, Fleming CH, Tucker MA, Kays R, Harrison A, Crofoot MC, Abrahms B, Alberts SC, Ali AH, Altmann J, Antunes PC, Attias N, Belant JL, Beyer DE, Bidner LR, Blaum N, Boone RB, Caillaud D, de Paula RC, de la Torre JA, Dekker J, DePerno CS, Farhadinia M, Fennessy J, Fichtel C, Fischer C, Ford A, Goheen JR, Havmøller RW, Hirsch BT, Hurtado C, Isbell LA, Janssen R, Jeltsch F, Kaczensky P, Kaneko Y, Kappeler P, Katna A, Kauffman M, Koch F, Kulkarni A, LaPoint S, Leimgruber P, Macdonald DW, Markham AC, McMahon L, Mertes K, Moorman CE, Morato RG, Moßbrucker AM, Mourão G, O'Connor D, Oliveira‐Santos LGR, Pastorini J, Patterson BD, Rachlow J, Ranglack DH, Reid N, Scantlebury DM, Scott DM, Selva N, Sergiel A, Songer M, Songsasen N, Stabach JA, Stacy‐Dawes J, Swingen MB, Thompson JJ, Ullmann W, Vanak AT, Thaker M, Wilson JW, Yamazaki K, Yarnell RW, Zieba F, Zwijacz‐Kozica T, Fagan WF, Mueller T, Calabrese JM. Effects of body size on estimation of mammalian area requirements. Conserv Biol 2020; 34:1017-1028. [PMID: 32362060 PMCID: PMC7496598 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Accurately quantifying species' area requirements is a prerequisite for effective area-based conservation. This typically involves collecting tracking data on species of interest and then conducting home-range analyses. Problematically, autocorrelation in tracking data can result in space needs being severely underestimated. Based on the previous work, we hypothesized the magnitude of underestimation varies with body mass, a relationship that could have serious conservation implications. To evaluate this hypothesis for terrestrial mammals, we estimated home-range areas with global positioning system (GPS) locations from 757 individuals across 61 globally distributed mammalian species with body masses ranging from 0.4 to 4000 kg. We then applied block cross-validation to quantify bias in empirical home-range estimates. Area requirements of mammals <10 kg were underestimated by a mean approximately15%, and species weighing approximately100 kg were underestimated by approximately50% on average. Thus, we found area estimation was subject to autocorrelation-induced bias that was worse for large species. Combined with the fact that extinction risk increases as body mass increases, the allometric scaling of bias we observed suggests the most threatened species are also likely to be those with the least accurate home-range estimates. As a correction, we tested whether data thinning or autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation minimized the scaling effect of autocorrelation on area estimates. Data thinning required an approximately93% data loss to achieve statistical independence with 95% confidence and was, therefore, not a viable solution. In contrast, autocorrelation-informed home-range estimation resulted in consistently accurate estimates irrespective of mass. When relating body mass to home range size, we detected that correcting for autocorrelation resulted in a scaling exponent significantly >1, meaning the scaling of the relationship changed substantially at the upper end of the mass spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Noonan
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Christen H. Fleming
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Marlee A. Tucker
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungSenckenberganlage 25Frankfurt (Main)60325Germany
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
- Department of Environmental ScienceInstitute for Wetland and Water ResearchRadboud UniversityP.O. Box 9010NijmegenGLNL‐6500The Netherlands
| | - Roland Kays
- North Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesBiodiversity LabRaleighNC27601U.S.A.
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Autumn‐Lynn Harrison
- Migratory Bird CenterSmithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteWashingtonD.C.20013U.S.A.
| | - Margaret C. Crofoot
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Smithsonian Tropical Research InstituteBalboa Ancon0843‐03092Republic of Panama
| | - Briana Abrahms
- Environmental Research DivisionNOAA Southwest Fisheries Science CenterMontereyCA93940U.S.A.
| | - Susan C. Alberts
- Departments of Biology and Evolutionary AnthropologyDuke UniversityDurhamNC27708U.S.A.
| | | | - Jeanne Altmann
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionPrinceton University106A Guyot HallPrincetonNJ08544U.S.A.
| | - Pamela Castro Antunes
- Department of EcologyFederal University of Mato Grosso do SulCampo GrandeMS79070–900Brazil
| | - Nina Attias
- Programa de Pós‐Graduaçao em Biologia Animal, Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do SulCidade UniversitáriaAv. Costa e SilvaCampo GrandeMato Grosso do Sul79070‐900Brazil
| | - Jerrold L. Belant
- Camp Fire Program in Wildlife Conservation, State University of New YorkCollege of Environmental Science and ForestrySyracuseNY13210U.S.A.
| | - Dean E. Beyer
- Michigan Department of Natural Resources1990 U.S. 41 SouthMarquetteMI49855U.S.A.
| | - Laura R. Bidner
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Mpala Research CentreNanyuki555–104000Kenya
| | - Niels Blaum
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Randall B. Boone
- Natural Resource Ecology LaboratoryColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523U.S.A.
- Department of Ecosystem Science and SustainabilityColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCO80523U.S.A.
| | - Damien Caillaud
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
| | - Rogerio Cunha de Paula
- National Research Center for Carnivores ConservationChico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of BiodiversityEstrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600AtibaiaSP12952‐011Brazil
| | - J. Antonio de la Torre
- Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico and CONACyTCiudad UniversitariaMexicoD.F.04318Mexico
| | - Jasja Dekker
- Jasja Dekker DierecologieEnkhuizenstraat 26ArnhemWZ6843The Netherlands
| | - Christopher S. DePerno
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Mohammad Farhadinia
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordTubney House, OxfordshireOxfordOX13 5QLU.K.
- Future4Leopards FoundationTehranIran
| | | | - Claudia Fichtel
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Christina Fischer
- Restoration Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem ManagementTechnische Universität MünchenEmil‐Ramann‐Straße 6Freising85354Germany
| | - Adam Ford
- The Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences, Unit 2: BiologyThe University of British ColumbiaOkanagan Campus, SCI 109, 1177 Research RoadKelownaBCV1V 1V7Canada
| | - Jacob R. Goheen
- Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWY82071U.S.A.
| | | | - Ben T. Hirsch
- Zoology and Ecology, College of Science and EngineeringJames Cook UniversityTownsvilleQLD4811Australia
| | - Cindy Hurtado
- Museo de Historia NaturalUniversidad Nacional Mayor de San MarcosLima15072Peru
- Department of Forest Resources ManagementThe University of British ColumbiaVancouverBCV6T 1Z4Canada
| | - Lynne A. Isbell
- Department of AnthropologyUniversity of California, DavisDavisCA95616U.S.A.
- Mpala Research CentreNanyuki555–104000Kenya
| | - René Janssen
- Bionet NatuuronderzoekValderstraat 39Stein6171ELThe Netherlands
| | - Florian Jeltsch
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Petra Kaczensky
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research — NINASluppenTrondheimNO‐7485Norway
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary MedicineSavoyenstraße 1ViennaA‐1160Austria
| | - Yayoi Kaneko
- Tokyo University of Agriculture and TechnologyTokyo183–8509Japan
| | - Peter Kappeler
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Anjan Katna
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
- Manipal Academy of Higher EducationManipalKarnataka576104India
| | - Matthew Kauffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and PhysiologyUniversity of WyomingLaramieWY82071U.S.A.
| | - Flavia Koch
- German Primate CenterBehavioral Ecology & Sociobiology UnitKellnerweg 4Göttingen37077Germany
| | - Abhijeet Kulkarni
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
| | - Scott LaPoint
- Max Planck Institute for OrnithologyVogelwarte RadolfzellAm Obstberg 1RadolfzellD‐78315Germany
- Black Rock Forest65 Reservoir RoadCornwallNY12518U.S.A.
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - David W. Macdonald
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of ZoologyUniversity of OxfordTubney House, OxfordshireOxfordOX13 5QLU.K.
| | | | - Laura McMahon
- Office of Applied ScienceDepartment of Natural ResourcesRhinelanderWI54501U.S.A.
| | - Katherine Mertes
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Christopher E. Moorman
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
| | - Ronaldo G. Morato
- National Research Center for Carnivores ConservationChico Mendes Institute for the Conservation of BiodiversityEstrada Municipal Hisaichi Takebayashi 8600AtibaiaSP12952‐011Brazil
- Institute for the Conservation of Neotropical Carnivores – Pró‐CarnívorosAtibaiaSao Paulo12945‐010Brazil
| | | | - Guilherme Mourão
- Embrapa PantanalRua 21 de setembro 1880Corumb´aMS79320–900Brazil
| | - David O'Connor
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
- San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research15600 San Pasqual Valley RoadEscondidoCA92027U.S.A.
- National Geographic Partners1145 17th Street NWWashingtonD.C.20036U.S.A.
| | | | - Jennifer Pastorini
- Centre for Conservation and Research26/7 C2 Road, KodigahawewaJulpallamaTissamaharama82600Sri Lanka
- Anthropologisches InstitutUniversität ZürichWinterthurerstrasse 190Zurich8057Switzerland
| | - Bruce D. Patterson
- Integrative Research CenterField Museum of Natural HistoryChicagoIL60605U.S.A.
| | - Janet Rachlow
- Department of Fish and Wildlife SciencesUniversity of Idaho875 Perimeter Drive MS 1136MoscowID83844‐1136U.S.A.
| | - Dustin H. Ranglack
- Department of BiologyUniversity of Nebraska at KearneyKearneyNE68849U.S.A.
| | - Neil Reid
- Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS), School of Biological SciencesQueen's University BelfastBelfastBT9 5DLU.K.
| | - David M. Scantlebury
- School of Biological SciencesQueen's University Belfast19 Chlorine GardensBelfastNorthern IrelandBT9 5DLU.K.
| | - Dawn M. Scott
- School of Life SciencesKeele UniversityKeeleStaffordshireST5 5BGU.K.
| | - Nuria Selva
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesMickiewicza 33Krakow31–120Poland
| | - Agnieszka Sergiel
- Institute of Nature ConservationPolish Academy of SciencesMickiewicza 33Krakow31–120Poland
| | - Melissa Songer
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Nucharin Songsasen
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Jared A. Stabach
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
| | - Jenna Stacy‐Dawes
- San Diego Zoo Institute of Conservation Research15600 San Pasqual Valley RoadEscondidoCA92027U.S.A.
| | - Morgan B. Swingen
- Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology Program, College of Natural Resources Campus Box 8001North Carolina State UniversityRaleighNC27695U.S.A.
- 1854 Treaty Authority4428 Haines RoadDuluthMN55811U.S.A.
| | - Jeffrey J. Thompson
- Asociación Guyra Paraguay – CONACYTParque Ecológico Asunción VerdeAsuncion1101Paraguay
- Instituto SaiteCoronel Felix Cabrera 166Asuncion1101Paraguay
| | - Wiebke Ullmann
- University of Potsdam, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationAm Mühlenberg 3Potsdam14476Germany
| | - Abi Tamim Vanak
- Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)BangaloreKarnataka560064India
- Wellcome Trust/DBT India AllianceHyderabad500034India
- School of Life SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalWestvilleDurban4041South Africa
| | - Maria Thaker
- Centre for Ecological SciencesIndian Institute of ScienceBangalore560012India
| | - John W. Wilson
- Department of Zoology & EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoria0002South Africa
| | - Koji Yamazaki
- Ibaraki Nature MuseumZoological Laboratory700 OsakiBando‐cityIbaraki306–0622Japan
- Forest Ecology LaboratoryDepartment of Forest ScienceTokyo University of Agriculture1‐1‐1 SakuragaokaSetagaya‐KuTokyo156–8502Japan
| | - Richard W. Yarnell
- School of Animal, Rural and Environmental SciencesNottingham Trent UniversityBrackenhurst CampusSouthwellNG25 0QFU.K.
| | - Filip Zieba
- Tatra National ParkKúznice 1Zakopane34–500Poland
| | | | - William F. Fagan
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
| | - Thomas Mueller
- Senckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreSenckenberg Gesellschaft für NaturforschungSenckenberganlage 25Frankfurt (Main)60325Germany
- Department of Biological SciencesGoethe UniversityMax‐von‐Laue‐Straße 9Frankfurt (Main)60438Germany
| | - Justin M. Calabrese
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology InstituteNational Zoological Park1500 Remount RoadFront RoyalVA22630U.S.A.
- Department of BiologyUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMD20742U.S.A.
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9
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Wilson RP, Williams HJ, Holton MD, di Virgilio A, Börger L, Potts JR, Gunner R, Arkwright A, Fahlman A, Bennett NC, Alagaili A, Cole NC, Duarte CM, Scantlebury DM. An "orientation sphere" visualization for examining animal head movements. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:4291-4302. [PMID: 32489597 PMCID: PMC7246194 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal behavior is elicited, in part, in response to external conditions, but understanding how animals perceive the environment and make the decisions that bring about these behavioral responses is challenging.Animal heads often move during specific behaviors and, additionally, typically have sensory systems (notably vision, smell, and hearing) sampling in defined arcs (normally to the front of their heads). As such, head-mounted electronic sensors consisting of accelerometers and magnetometers, which can be used to determine the movement and directionality of animal heads (where head "movement" is defined here as changes in heading [azimuth] and/or pitch [elevation angle]), can potentially provide information both on behaviors in general and also clarify which parts of the environment the animals might be prioritizing ("environmental framing").We propose a new approach to visualize the data of such head-mounted tags that combines the instantaneous outputs of head heading and pitch in a single intuitive spherical plot. This sphere has magnetic heading denoted by "longitude" position and head pitch by "latitude" on this "orientation sphere" (O-sphere).We construct the O-sphere for the head rotations of a number of vertebrates with contrasting body shape and ecology (oryx, sheep, tortoises, and turtles), illustrating various behaviors, including foraging, walking, and environmental scanning. We also propose correcting head orientations for body orientations to highlight specific heading-independent head rotation, and propose the derivation of O-sphere-metrics, such as angular speed across the sphere. This should help identify the functions of various head behaviors.Visualizations of the O-sphere provide an intuitive representation of animal behavior manifest via head orientation and rotation. This has ramifications for quantifying and understanding behaviors ranging from navigation through vigilance to feeding and, when used in tandem with body movement, should provide an important link between perception of the environment and response to it in free-ranging animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory P. Wilson
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | | | - Mark D. Holton
- Department of Computing ScienceCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Agustina di Virgilio
- Grupo de Biología de la ConservaciónLaboratorio EcotonoINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue)BarilocheArgentina
- Grupo de Ecología CuantitativaINIBIOMA (CONICET‐Universidad Nacional del Comahue)BarilocheArgentina
| | - Luca Börger
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Jonathan R. Potts
- School of Mathematics and StatisticsUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Richard Gunner
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Alex Arkwright
- Department of BiosciencesCollege of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat ValencianaValenciaSpain
| | - Andreas Fahlman
- Fundación Oceanogràfic de la Comunitat ValencianaValenciaSpain
| | - Nigel C. Bennett
- Department of Zoology and EntomologyMammal Research InstituteUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
| | | | - Nik C. Cole
- Mauritian Wildlife FoundationVacoasMauritius
- Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustJerseyChannel Islands
| | - Carlos M. Duarte
- Red Sea Research CentreKing Abdullah University of Science and TechnologyThuwalSaudi Arabia
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McGowan NE, Scantlebury DM, Cowan E, Burch KJ, Maule AG, Marks NJ. Dietary effects on pelage emissivity in mammals: Implications for infrared thermography. J Therm Biol 2020; 88:102516. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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11
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Barbour K, McClune DW, Delahay RJ, Speakman JR, McGowan NE, Kostka B, Montgomery WI, Marks NJ, Scantlebury DM. No energetic cost of tuberculosis infection in European badgers (Meles meles). J Anim Ecol 2019; 88:1973-1985. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katie Barbour
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - David W. McClune
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - Richard J. Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre Animal and Plant Health Agency York UK
| | - John R. Speakman
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Natasha E. McGowan
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - Berit Kostka
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - W. Ian Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - Nikki J. Marks
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
| | - David M. Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences Institute for Global Food Security Queen’s University Belfast UK
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12
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Twining JP, Montgomery I, Fitzpatrick V, Marks N, Scantlebury DM, Tosh DG. Seasonal, geographical, and habitat effects on the diet of a recovering predator population: the European pine marten (Martes martes) in Ireland. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-019-1289-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Abstract
Light pollution is increasing worldwide, affecting human health and ecosystem quality. The adverse effect of this novel pollution, mediated in mammals by suppression of the pineal neuro-hormone melatonin production and secretion, particularly by short wavelength (SWL) illumination. Currently, this problem is not challenged sufficiently, even ignored by decision-makers at local and national levels, as well as other related organizations. Therefore, we assume that the correct way to deal with it will be by treating the dark night as an ecosystem-service for temporal organization of humans as other organisms. Therefore, chasing darkness away and mainly by SWL illumination is as giving up the natural light/dark cycles offered as an ecosystem-service. So far, we have no environmental economic tools for assessing the real coast of the health damages or reduction in pollination caused by light pollution. Using Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) as a loss of ecosystem-services will enable us to give it a realistic economic value thus an opportunity to re-evaluate the environmental cost of SWL efficient illumination. This will also help decision-makers to move to the next stage of illumination preferring sustainable illumination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haim Abraham
- a The Israeli Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Chronobiology , University Haifa , Haifa , Israel
| | - David M Scantlebury
- b School of Biological Sciences , Queen's University Belfast , Belfast , Ireland
| | - Abed E Zubidat
- a The Israeli Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Chronobiology , University Haifa , Haifa , Israel
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14
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Mulvenna CC, Wilson RP, Marks NJ, Maule AG, Scantlebury DM. The ability of magnetic field sensors to monitor feeding in three domestic herbivores. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5489. [PMID: 30225163 PMCID: PMC6139244 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rate at which animals ingest food is a fundamental part of animal ecology although it is rarely quantified, with recently-developed animal-attached tags providing a potentially viable approach. However, to date, these methods lack clarity in differentiating various eating behaviours, such as ‘chewing’ from ‘biting’. The aims of this study were to examine the use of inter-mandibular angle sensors (IMASENs), to quantify grazing behaviour in herbivores including cattle (Bos taurus), sheep (Ovis aries) and pygmy goats (Capra aegagrus hircus) eating different foodstuffs. Specifically, we aimed to: (1) quantify jaw movements of each species and determine differences between biting and chewing; (2) assess whether different food types can be discerned from jaw movements; and (3) determine whether species-specific differences in jaw movements can be detected. Subjects were filmed while consuming concentrate, hay, grass and browse to allow comparison of observed and IMASEN-recorded jaw movements. This study shows that IMASENs can accurately detect jaw movements of feeding herbivores, and, based on the rate of jaw movements, can classify biting (taking new material into the mouth) from chewing (masticating material already in the mouth). The biting behaviours associated with concentrate pellets could be identified easily as these occurred at the fastest rate for all species. However, the rates of chewing different food items were more difficult to discern from one another. Comparison of chew:bite ratios of the various food types eaten by each species showed no differences. Species differences could be identified using bite and chew rates. Cattle consistently displayed slower bite and chew rates to sheep and pygmy goats when feeding, while sheep and pygmy goats showed similar bite and chew rates when feeding on concentrate pellets. Species-specific differences in chew:bite ratios were not identified. Magnetometry has the potential to record quantitative aspects of foraging such as the feeding duration, food handling time and food type. This is of major importance for researchers interested in both captive (e.g., agricultural productivity) and wild animal foraging dynamics as it can provide quantitative data with minimal observer interference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina C Mulvenna
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Rory P Wilson
- Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki J Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Aaron G Maule
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - David M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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15
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McClune DW, Kostka B, Delahay RJ, Montgomery WI, Marks NJ, Scantlebury DM. Winter Is Coming: Seasonal Variation in Resting Metabolic Rate of the European Badger (Meles meles). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0135920. [PMID: 26352150 PMCID: PMC4564200 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0135920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is a measure of the minimum energy requirements of an animal at rest, and can give an indication of the costs of somatic maintenance. We measured RMR of free-ranging European badgers (Meles meles) to determine whether differences were related to sex, age and season. Badgers were captured in live-traps and placed individually within a metabolic chamber maintained at 20 ± 1°C. Resting metabolic rate was determined using an open-circuit respirometry system. Season was significantly correlated with RMR, but no effects of age or sex were detected. Summer RMR values were significantly higher than winter values (mass-adjusted mean ± standard error: 2366 ± 70 kJ⋅d−1; 1845 ± 109 kJ⋅d−1, respectively), with the percentage difference being 24.7%. While under the influence of anaesthesia, RMR was estimated to be 25.5% lower than the combined average value before administration, and after recovery from anaesthesia. Resting metabolic rate during the autumn and winter was not significantly different to allometric predictions of basal metabolic rate for mustelid species weighing 1 kg or greater, but badgers measured in the summer had values that were higher than predicted. Results suggest that a seasonal reduction in RMR coincides with apparent reductions in physical activity and body temperature as part of the overwintering strategy (‘winter lethargy’) in badgers. This study contributes to an expanding dataset on the ecophysiology of medium-sized carnivores, and emphasises the importance of considering season when making predictions of metabolic rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W. McClune
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Berit Kostka
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Delahay
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire GL10 3UJ, United Kingdom
| | - W. Ian Montgomery
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki J. Marks
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NJM); (DMS)
| | - David M. Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (NJM); (DMS)
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16
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Wilson RP, Griffiths IW, Mills MGL, Carbone C, Wilson JW, Scantlebury DM. Mass enhances speed but diminishes turn capacity in terrestrial pursuit predators. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26252515 PMCID: PMC4542338 DOI: 10.7554/elife.06487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The dynamics of predator-prey pursuit appears complex, making the development of a framework explaining predator and prey strategies problematic. We develop a model for terrestrial, cursorial predators to examine how animal mass modulates predator and prey trajectories and affects best strategies for both parties. We incorporated the maximum speed-mass relationship with an explanation of why larger animals should have greater turn radii; the forces needed to turn scale linearly with mass whereas the maximum forces an animal can exert scale to a 2/3 power law. This clarifies why in a meta-analysis, we found a preponderance of predator/prey mass ratios that minimized the turn radii of predators compared to their prey. It also explained why acceleration data from wild cheetahs pursuing different prey showed different cornering behaviour with prey type. The outcome of predator prey pursuits thus depends critically on mass effects and the ability of animals to time turns precisely. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06487.001 A pursuit between a predator and its prey involves complex strategies. Prey often make sudden sharp turns when running to evade a predator. Any predator that cannot turn quickly enough will have to run further to catch up with the prey again, thus potentially allowing the prey to pull away from the predator. The timing of these turns is crucial; if the prey turns when the predator is too far away, the predator can cut the corner off the turn and catch up with the prey more easily. The speed at which animals can turn depends on the forces involved in cornering, and larger animals need to produce greater forces for any given turn. However, larger animals can apply relatively less force than smaller animals for turns and so cannot turn as rapidly. The effect of the relationship between mass and turning ability on the strategies used during land-based pursuits had not been investigated. Wilson et al. have now created a mathematical model that considers how the mass of a predator and its prey influences the course and strategies used in a land-based pursuit. The model is based in part on a mathematical problem called the ‘homicidal chauffeur game’, where a car driver attempts to run over a pedestrian. Wilson et al.'s model predicts that chases between large predators and smaller prey should feature frequent sharp turns, as the prey try to exploit their superior turning ability. However, when the predators and prey are of similar size, the prey gain little or no advantage from executing high-speed turns. Indeed, as turning slows the prey down, turning may often be disadvantageous, and so fewer turns should be seen during a pursuit. The predictions of the model were compared with the pursuit strategies of wild cheetahs, which were studied using collars equipped with tags to measure acceleration as the predators chased prey of different sizes—from hares to large antelopes called gemsboks. The tracking data confirmed the predictions of the model; thereby revealing that body mass and the ability of animals to choose when best to turn strongly determine the outcome of predator-prey pursuits. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.06487.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory P Wilson
- Swansea Lab for Animal Movement, Department of Biosciences, College of Science, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales
| | | | | | - Chris Carbone
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John W Wilson
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - David M Scantlebury
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute for Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
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Scantlebury DM, Mills MGL, Wilson RP, Wilson JW, Mills MEJ, Durant SM, Bennett NC, Bradford P, Marks NJ, Speakman JR. Flexible energetics of cheetah hunting strategies provide resistance against kleptoparasitism. Science 2014; 346:79-81. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1256424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Population viability is driven by individual survival, which in turn depends on individuals balancing energy budgets. As carnivores may function close to maximum sustained power outputs, decreased food availability or increased activity may render some populations energetically vulnerable. Prey theft may compromise energetic budgets of mesopredators, such as cheetahs and wild dogs, which are susceptible to competition from larger carnivores. We show that daily energy expenditure (DEE) of cheetahs was similar to size-based predictions and positively related to distance traveled. Theft at 25% only requires cheetahs to hunt for an extra 1.1 hour per day, increasing DEE by just 12%. Therefore, not all mesopredators are energetically constrained by direct competition. Other factors that increase DEE, such as those that increase travel, may be more important for population viability.
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Speakman JR, Ergon T, Cavanagh R, Reid K, Scantlebury DM, Lambin X. Resting and daily energy expenditures of free-living field voles are positively correlated but reflect extrinsic rather than intrinsic effects. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2003; 100:14057-62. [PMID: 14615588 PMCID: PMC283545 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2235671100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Resting metabolic rates at thermoneutral (RMRts) are unexpectedly variable. One explanation is that high RMRts intrinsically potentiate a greater total daily energy expenditure (DEE), but recent work has suggested that DEE is extrinsically defined by the environment, which independently affects RMRt. This extrinsic effect could occur because expenditure is forced upwards in poor habitats or enabled to rise in good habitats. We provide here an intraspecific test for an association between RMRt and DEE that separates intrinsic from extrinsic effects and forcing from enabling effects. We measured the DEE and RMRt of 75 free-living short-tailed field voles at two time points in late winter. Across all sites, there was a positive link between individual variation in RMRt and DEE. This correlation, however, emerged only because of an effect across sites, rather than because of an intrinsic association within sites. We defined site quality from the survivorship of voles at the sites and the time at which they commenced breeding in spring. The associations between DEE/RMRt and site quality suggested that in February voles in poorer sites had higher energy demands, indicating that DEE was forced upwards, but in March the opposite was true, with higher demands in good sites, indicating that high expenditure was enabled. These data show that daily energy demands are extrinsically defined, with a link to RMRt that is secondary or independent. Both forcing and enabling effects of the environment may pertain at different times of year.
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Affiliation(s)
- J R Speakman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, Scotland, United Kingdom.
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