Distribution Of Food Resources Research Articles

Cross-continental phylogeography of two Holarctic Nymphalid butterflies, Boloria eunomia and Boloria selene.

Pleistocene glaciations had significant effects on the distribution and evolution of species inhabiting the Holarctic region. Phylogeographic studies concerning the entire region are still rare. Here, we compared global phylogeographic patterns of one boreo-montane and one boreo-temperate butterflies with largely overlapping distribution ranges across the Northern Hemisphere, but with different levels of range fragmentation and food specialization. We reconstructed the global phylogeographic history of the boreo-montane specialist Boloria eunomia (n = 223) and of the boreo-temperate generalist Boloria selene (n = 106) based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers, and with species distribution modelling (SDM). According to the genetic structures obtained, both species show a Siberian origin and considerable split among populations from Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. According to SDMs and molecular data, both butterflies could inhabit vast areas during the moderate glacials. In the case of B. selene, high haplotype diversity and low geographic structure suggest long-lasting interconnected gene flow among populations. A stronger geographic structuring between populations was identified in the specialist B. eunomia, presumably due to the less widespread, heterogeneously distributed food resources, associated with cooler and more humid climatic conditions. Populations of both species show opposite patterns across major parts of North America and in the case of B. eunomia also across Asia. Our data underline the relevance to cover entire distribution ranges to reconstruct the correct phylogeographic history of species.

Food Inequality, Injustice, and Rights.

As humanity continues to grow in size, questions related to human rights and the existing unequal distribution of food resources have taken on greater urgency. Is inequality in food access unjust or a regrettable consequence of the geographic distribution of biophysical resources? To what extent are there obligations to redress inequalities in access to food? We draw from a human rights perspective to identify obligations associated with access to food and develop a quantitative framework to evaluate the fulfillment of the human right to food. We discuss the capacity of socioeconomic development to reduce inequalities in per capita food availability with respect to the distribution of biophysical resources among countries. Although, at the country level, international trade shows the capacity to reduce human rights deficits by increasing food availability in countries with limited food production, whether it actually improves the fulfillment of the right to food will depend on within-country inequality.

广西弄岗黑叶猴栖息地选择与利用

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 广西弄岗黑叶猴栖息地选择与利用 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201807011444 作者: 作者单位: 广西珍稀濒危动物生态学重点实验室,广西珍稀濒危动物生态学重点实验室,广西珍稀濒危动物生态学重点实验室,广西珍稀濒危动物生态学重点实验室,广西珍稀濒危动物生态学重点实验室 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金项目（31660616，31672285）；广西自然科学基金项目（2017GXNSFAA198046；2018GXNSFAA281029）；广西研究生教育创新计划项目（XYCSZ2019078） Habitat selection and patterns of habitat use in a group of François' langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) in Nonggang, Guangxi, China Author: Affiliation: Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology,Guangxi Key Laboratory of Rare and Endangered Animal Ecology,,, Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:2005年9月至2006年8月对广西弄岗国家自然保护区内一群黑叶猴进行行为观察，采用瞬时扫描法观察并收集猴群的栖息地利用数据，分析黑叶猴对喀斯特石山栖息地的选择与利用规律。结果表明，黑叶猴对不同山体部位的利用有显著性差异（χ2=43.063，df=4，P < 0.001）。黑叶猴对崖壁的利用频率最高（占总记录的36.67%±9.44%），其次是山坡（32.30%±9.57%），对山脚（14.15%±5.01%）、山顶（11.24%±8.42%）和平地（5.63%±2.92%）的利用较少。分析发现，黑叶猴对山体部位的利用没有显著的季节性差异（山顶：Z=-0.160，P=0.837；崖壁：Z=-0.320，P=0.749；山坡：Z=-0.480，P=0.631；山脚：Z=-1.601，P=0.109；平地：Z=0，P=1）。黑叶猴将崖壁作为主要的休息场所，山坡和山脚为主要的移动和觅食场所。黑叶猴对栖息地的利用受食物可获得性的影响。当食物中花的可获得性降低时，猴群增加对山脚的利用；当嫩叶可获得性降低时，猴群增加在崖壁移动的频率；当果实的可获得性升高时，猴群增加在平地觅食的频率。食物组成与黑叶猴栖息地利用也有关系。总体来看，黑叶猴对山顶的利用频率与花的觅食比例呈显著正相关；对山脚的利用频率与果实+种子的觅食比例呈显著正相关。猴群在山顶休息的频率随花和成熟叶的觅食比例的上升而上升；在山脚休息的频率随果实+种子的觅食比例的上升而上升。猴群在山坡觅食的频率随果实+种子的觅食比例的下降而上升；在山脚觅食的频率随嫩叶的觅食比例的下降而上升。另外，平均最低温度与猴群在平地觅食的频率呈负相关关系。分析表明食物的分布和数量对黑叶猴栖息地利用有重要影响，黑叶猴对栖息地的选择是在觅食利益与风险之间进行权衡的结果。 Abstract:A group of François' langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) was studied in the Nonggang National Nature Reserve, southwest Guangxi, China, from September 2005 to August 2006. An instantaneous scan sampling method was used to collect data on patterns of habitat utilization. The aim of this study was to explore habitat selection by langurs living in a limestone forest. The results indicated that the langurs did not exploit their habitat uniformly and preferentially used particular microhabitats (χ2=43.063, df=4, P < 0.001). For example, the langurs were observed most frequently on cliffs (36.67% ±9.44% of the total record), followed by hill slopes (32.30% ±9.57%), hill bottoms (14.15% ±5.01%), flat zones (11.24% ±8.42%), and hill-tops (5.63% ±2.92%). We found no evidence of seasonal variation in patterns of habitat use (Hill-top:Z=-0.160, P=0.837; Cliff:Z=-0.320, P=0.749; Hill slope:Z=-0.480, P=0.631; Hill bottom:Z=-1.601, P=0.109; Flat zone:Z=0, P=1). However, individual microhabitats were used by the monkeys for different activities. The cliffs were frequently used as resting sites, and the hill slopes and the hill bottoms were used as both moving and feeding sites. Langur habitat use also was influenced by food availability, dietary composition, and climate. When the availability of flowers decreased, the langurs increased the time spent exploring the hill bottom. As flower consumption and mature leaf consumption increased, there was a correlated increase in the use of hilltops. In contrast, when exploiting fruits and seeds, langurs increased the time spent on hill bottoms and hill slopes. Similarly, the frequency of moving on cliffs increased in response to a decrease in the availability of young leaves. The frequency of feeding in the flat zone increased with the availability of fruits. In addition, there was a negative relationship between the average low temperature recorded during the day and the frequency that langurs fed in the flat zone. Our results indicate that the pattern of distribution and quantity of food resources acts as an important determinant of habitat use in François' langurs inhabiting limestone forests in southwest Guangxi. Patterns of habitat use in this primate species may reflect a trade-off between foraging benefits and predation risks. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献

A new satellite-based indicator to identify spatiotemporal foraging areas for herbivorous waterfowl

The distribution of food resources is a key factor in habitat selection. Herbivorous waterfowl prefer early-stage growing plants (from the onset of plant growth to the peak in nutrient biomass) as these offer higher energy intake rates. This plant development stage is not fully captured by commonly used satellite-derived vegetation indicators, which focus on plant biomass (e.g., Enhanced Vegetation Index, EVI) or active plant growth (e.g., the differential EVI between current and a previous date, diffEVI). To improve mapping suitable grazing areas for herbivorous waterfowl, we propose a new satellite-based plant growth indicator of early-stage plant growth (ESPG). We hypothesize that herbivorous waterfowl prefer plants at an early development stage during the growing season and select plants with a relatively later end of ESPG during the non-growing season. We use satellite tracking data of 20 greater white-fronted geese (Anser albifrons) wintering in the Yangtze River floodplain to validate our predictions. We build generalized linear models for goose distributions during the growing and non-growing seasons and compare the performance of ESPG to commonly used plant growth indictors (EVI and diffEVI). During the growing season, ESPG can explain 53% of variation in the goose distribution, outperforming EVI (27%) and diffEVI (34%). During the non-growing season, only the end of ESPG significantly influences goose distribution, explaining 25% of the variance (ESPG: AUC = 0.78; EVI: AUC = 0.58; diffEVI: AUC = 0.58). The newly-developed plant growth indicator ESPG could be used to improve models of herbivorous waterfowl distributions and hence support efforts toward waterfowl conservation and wetland management.

An Exploration of the Factors Influencing the Spatial Behavior of Mantled Howler Monkeys (Alouatta palliata)

Space use patterns are the result of complex interactions between individuals and their environment. Although competition with conspecifics, the distribution and availability of food resources and climatic conditions may all influence space use by primates, these factors are usually addressed separately. Studies that integrate social, ecological, and physical factors have the potential to improve our understanding of variation in the spatial behavior of primates. We studied two groups of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) in Los Tuxtlas, Mexico, to explore how intergroup competition, food availability, and ambient temperature influenced their use of space over 15 months. Loud calls produced by neighboring groups were a determining factor in the variation in the area used per month, daily ranging distance, and travel rate. Food availability did not influence any aspect of spatial behavior, but the distribution of feeding trees affected travel rate. Ambient temperature influenced the frequency and speed of travel. These results suggest that the spatial behavior of howler monkeys is influenced by social (intergroup competition), ecological (food distribution), and physical (ambient temperature) factors, and that the specific effects of these factors vary among measures of space use.

Do remnant retention patches and forest edges increase grizzly bear food supply?

Grizzly bears should benefit from forest harvesting strategies that emulate patterns of natural disturbance, such as wildfire, presumably because of increased foraging opportunities associated with open and edge habitats. Several studies have linked early seral habitats associated with natural and anthropogenic disturbances to increased food supply for grizzly bear. However, few have quantitatively evaluated whether food supply is higher along forest edges, particularly edges created by different forest harvesting strategies such as structure retention. Here we tested whether grizzly bear food supply was: 1) more common/abundant along forest harvest (cutblock) edges; 2) similar between undisturbed forest matrix (uncut) undisturbed forest remnants (i.e., retention patches) that were situated within forest harvests; and 3) similar in terms of responses relative to retention and forest harvest edges. To address these questions, we measured the distribution and abundance of plant-based food resources used by grizzly bears along edge distance gradients associated with to three forest treatments (cutblock, uncut forest, and retention patch) in Alberta, Canada. We then used information theory to compare models and evaluate support for factors. We found that blueberry (Vaccinium membranaceum, V. myrtilloides, and V. vitis-idaea.) shrubs, which are known to be sensitive to mechanical damage and soil disturbance from harvest and post-harvest site preparation, were more common/abundant near young ( ≤ 20 years) forest edges. Conversely, raspberry (Rubus idaeus) shrubs, horsetail (Equisetum arvense), and cow parsnip (Heracleum lanatum), which are known to be positively associated with soil disturbance, were generally more common/abundant away from forest edges. Blueberry, fruit production was highest at forest harvest edges and lowest in older cutblocks, as well as retention patches, which we showed contained fewer lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) trees and more deciduous species. These results support the contention that understory disturbance, environmental conditions (e.g. light availability), and forest tree species composition could explain our research findings. As part of stand-level prescriptions, we recommend that forest managers consider maintaining uncut forest adjacent to cutblocks for up to 20 years post-harvest, and create more and smaller retention patches to increase the amount of forest edge. We also recommend that criteria be developed for selecting the spatial location of forest edges and retention patches such that blueberry shrubs are common/abundant in the undisturbed forest. This research demonstrated that forest harvesting strategies can increase food supply for grizzly bears and thus support recovery efforts of this provincially threatened species.

Home ranges of Cape porcupines on farmlands, peri-urban and suburban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Cape porcupines, Hystrix africaeaustralis, are one of the South African mammalian species that are increasing their distribution range and abundance with anthropogenic changing land-use. Knowledge of the home range of this species can provide important ecological information and explain their ability to persist in a range of land-use types. We investigated the home ranges of 15 radio-tagged Cape porcupines on farmlands, peri-urban and suburban areas in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Using the 95% Kernel Density Estimator (KDE), Cape porcupines had an overall estimated mean home range of 39.37 ± 6.33 ha (n = 9) which ranged from 13.19 to 67.19 ha. When compared with other Hystrix species, Cape porcupines had the lowest estimated home range size. Individuals on farmlands had the smallest mean estimated home range area (24.57 ha), relative to peri-urban (34.61 ha) and suburban (45.18 ha) sites. Variation in the home range sizes of Cape porcupines with differing anthropogenic land-use type showed their behavioural flexibility in response to habitat heterogeneity and forage availability in each. Our results suggest that Cape porcupine ranging ecology is influenced by food resource distribution and availability in various land-use types.

Habitat preferences depend on substrate quality in a cooperative breeder

© 2018 Dario Josi. Background: The evolution of complex social organization is mediated by diverse environmental constraints, including predation risk and the availability and distribution of food resources, mating partners, and breeding habitats. The cooperatively breeding cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher inhabits highly distinct habitats ranging from sheer rock faces to gastropod shells, rubble and sandy bottoms with dispersed stones. Physical habitat characteristics influence predator abundance and consequently the social system and reproductive performance of this species. Under natural conditions, habitat preferences should facilitate optimization of territorial position within a colony. Question: When given the choice, does N. pulcher have a preference for environments differing in structural complexity and the presence of sand? Method: We created breeding groups consisting of a dominant pair and two subordinates. We manipulated structural complexity (low vs. high stone cover) and sandy environments (present vs. absent). We measured habitat preference using a four-factorial design with binary choice options. Predictions: We predicted that groups prefer to settle in a highly structured environment that provides many places to hide from potential predators. We further predicted a preference for a sandy bottom, especially in environments with low structural complexity, because sand allows shelters to be dug out. Results and conclusion: Neolamprologus pulcher favoured more complex over less complex habitats, independently of the presence of sand. When fish faced low structural complexity in both experimental compartments, the presence of sand became a critical factor. Choosing appropriate habitats may help to reduce predation risk.

Temporal variation in structural properties of tropical plant-herbivore networks: The role of climatic factors

Plant herbivore interactions can be influenced by abiotic factors such as climate or resource availability. Nevertheless, the influence of climatic variation on the temporal dynamics of plant-herbivore networks has been scarcely studied. In this study we evaluated the influence of temperature and precipitation on the structure and selectiveness of plant-herbivore networks associated to a seasonal tropical ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. Although a significant turnover was observed in plant and herbivore species across seasons, high modularity and selectivity of the networks remained relatively constant despite the temporal variation in climatic variables. However, precipitation and temperature was negatively associated with niche overlap for herbivores and positively related to evenness of network interactions. In other words, less stressful conditions are likely to promote the diversification in the use of resources by herbivores, and increase evenness of interactions in the network. An increase in niche overlap and a decrease in the evenness of interactions during the driest and coldest months could be promoted by the presence of less specialized herbivores when availability and quality of host resources is lower.We suggest that the constancy in network selectiveness and modularity facilitates the coexistence of species through the fine distribution of niches and the equitable distribution of food resources in periods of greater precipitation and temperature, when the availability of host plants is greater. Overall, we show for the first time how abiotic factors can influence the emergent structural properties of an antagonistic tropical plant-herbivore network.

Host Dispersal Responses to Resource Supplementation Determine Pathogen Spread in Wildlife Metapopulations.

Many wildlife species occupy landscapes that vary in the distribution, abundance, and quality of food resources. Increasingly, urbanized and agricultural habitats provide supplemental food resources that can have profound consequences for host distributions, movement patterns, and pathogen exposure. Understanding how host and pathogen dispersal across landscapes is affected by the spatial extent of food-supplemented habitats is therefore important for predicting the consequences for pathogen spread and impacts on host occupancy. Here we develop a generalizable metapopulation model to understand how the relative abundance of provisioned habitats across the landscape and how the host dispersal responses to provisioning and infection influence patch occupancy by hosts and their pathogens. We find that pathogen invasion and landscape-level infection prevalence are greatest when provisioning increases patch attractiveness and disperser production and when infection has minimal costs on dispersal success. Alternatively, if provisioning promotes site fidelity or reduces disperser production, increasing the fraction of food-supplemented habitats can reduce landscape-scale infection prevalence and minimize disease-induced declines in host occupancy. This work highlights the importance of considering how resources and infection jointly influence host dispersal for predicting how changing resource distributions influence the spread of infectious diseases.

Local agro-ecological condition-based food resources to promote infant food security: a case study from Benin

Children are still undernourished in many developing countries. A way to address this issue is to make better use of local food resources. The present study documents local plant and animal resources used for feeding infants and young children across the agro-ecological zones (AEZ) of Benin, with a focus on the availability of resources and consumption forms. It describes similarities and differences among the AEZs and identifies proposals for infant food formulations at the AEZ level. A literature review was performed and supplemented with a survey in 42 villages of eight AEZs of Benin. The selection of municipalities was based on the prevalence of food insecurity. In total 969 people were interviewed through focus group discussions and individual interviews using pre-established interview checklists and questionnaires. Data were processed with statistical tools, including non-metric dimensional scaling analyses, descriptive statistics and Chi2 test of independence. Results showed disparities in the distribution and use of local food resources for infant foods in the AEZs. AEZ 1 represented by Karimama and AEZ 2 represented by Banikoara (both in the Sudanian zone, with about 900 mm rainfall per year in one long rainy season and one long dry season) had the lowest diversity of local food resources used in children’s feeding, while AEZ 5 represented by Aplahoue and Ouesse (both in the Guinean zone, with about 1200 mm rainfall per year over two rainy seasons and two dry seasons), and AEZ 8 represented by Adjohoun and Bopa (both in the Guinean zone with about 1200 mm rain per year) had the highest diversity. The baobab tree (Adansonia digitata) and groundnut (Arachis hypogea) were the plant resources recording the highest number of usages for food in general and infant foods in particular. High similarities in the species used for infant food existed among AEZs 5, 6, 7 and 8 whereas AEZ 1 and AEZ 4 had no match with resources used for infants in the other AEZs, mainly due to food cultures and availability. These findings indicate the usefulness and efficiency of an approach to formulate generic infant food formulas based on grouping AEZs with similar resources. Further studies are needed to assess the quantitative availability of local food resources throughout the year, the links between food prices and purchasing power of the population, and to assess the bioavailability of nutrients in infant foods made from local food resources in relation to food preparation methods.

Spatial distribution of macrofauna within a sandy beach on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica

Knowingthe spatial pattern and densities of individuals in apopulation is basic to understand ecology such as their response to environmental gradients.The main goal of the present study is to describe the abundances and distribution of thebenthicfauna in thelower intertidallevelof asandybeach at PacuareReserve, Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica. The count data of five taxa (in 29 cores) was analyzed to determine their spatial distribution. Two species of polychaetes were found: the first, Scolelepis (Scolelepis) squamata (O. F. Mueller, 1806) was common in the center of the beach in an aggregated pattern. The second, Pisionidens indica (Aiyar &amp; Alikunhi, 1940) was present in low densities with a random distribution pattern. Moreover, two isopods were found: Excirolana braziliensis Richardson, 1912 was randomly distributed along the beach while Ancinus brasiliensis Lemos de Castro, 1959 appeared only in two stations. A meiofaunal nemerteanattached tograins of sand was the mostcommon organismin theintertidal zone, showing a clumped pattern. Thepatches ofabundancewithin the beachcould be duetoamorphologicchangethat imposes the influenceof thestrongsurf conditions. Moreover, food resource distribution, niche partitioning or competition within the same tide level could influence the different patterns of distribution found in the sediment among the species. In these unstable sediments, the fauna was limited to few opportunist taxa well adapted to withstand mechanical disturbances.

Anthropogenic resource subsidies and host-parasite dynamics in wildlife.

For a wide range of wildlife, anthropogenic change and human activities modify the abundance, distribution and timing of food resources [1,2]. Although activities such as deforestation and overfishing deplete resources for many wildlife species, in other cases, urbanization, agriculture and supplemental feeding can provide wildlife with abundant and predictable food [3–8]. As a result, many wildlife have adapted their foraging behaviour to capitalize on these resources [9,10], leading to subsidized populations that are often larger, more aggregated and better fed than their naturally foraging counterparts [11–13]. Importantly, novel assemblages of species can form around anthropogenic resources [14,15], which could facilitate the cross-species transmission of pathogens among wildlife, humans and domestic animals [16]. For example, bird feeders have been implicated in the emergence of virulent pathogens such as Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Trichomonas gallinae in songbirds [17,18]. The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa and 1998 emergence of Nipah virus in Malaysia also underscore the importance of understanding how anthropogenic resources can bring wildlife reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens into close proximity with humans and domesticated species [19–21]. Predicting how anthropogenic resources will impact host–parasite interactions is challenging owing to multiple underlying mechanisms with potentially opposing effects [22,23]. Although energy and nutrients from supplemental food can support robust immune function needed to resist and recover from infections [24], anthropogenic food containing toxins or lacking nutrients could reduce host immunity and increase susceptibility to infection and pathogen shedding [25–27]. Moreover, aggregation around food sources can increase contact rates and facilitate pathogen transmission [28–30]. These individual-scale effects and local interactions are …

DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL SCENARIOS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION FORECASTS IN TERMS OF SOLVING GLOBAL FOOD PROBLEM

Urgency of the research. Food problem issues take a prominent place in national security concepts of every developed country. In the context of Ukraine’s commitment to integration into the European community, the food problem is of prominent significance. Target setting. Given the global economy dynamics, the research of this problem is not exhaustive and needs new approaches to scientific research. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The problems of food support of the population reflected in the works of L. Brown (2011), O. Berezin (2011), L. Berezina (2011), V. Vlasov (2009), M. Lysak (2009), R. Maltus (1998), B. Paskhaver (2007), M. Puhachov (2014), A. Sen (1979), Ya. Stoliarchuk (2009), etc. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Existing mechanisms of formation and distribution of world food resources, international trade therein, and food aid do not create an efficient system to ensure sufficient food support around the world. Therefore, it is important to reason the forecast ratio of deficit and domestic production for certain types of food to satisfy the demand under WHO standards. The research objective. The purpose of the article is to identify the most and least vulnerable countries in terms of food security through the forecast ratio of deficit (shortage) and domestic production for certain types of food to satisfy the demand under WHO standards in particular parts of the world. The statement of basic materials. Prospects for tackling the global food issue by using trend, adaptive and integrated autoregressive models (Box-Jenkins and OLYMPUS models) have been analysed. The calculations herein have been provided by different parts of the world: Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Conclusions. The results show that almost all parts of the world are unable to provide the population with rational norms of major foods through domestic production.

Pigs in space: An agent-based model of wild boar (Sus scrofa) movement into cities

Last decades saw a dramatic increase in wildlife populations within urban areas. Policymakers seek to minimize human-wildlife conflicts resulting from overabundance of species, such as wild boars (Sus scrofa). To this end, there is a need to understand the drivers governing infiltration of wildlife into cities. In this paper we study the availability and distribution of food resources in urban areas as driver of wild boar movement patterns. Based on the optimal foraging theory, we utilize an agent-based simulation model to investigate the ever-growing infiltration of wild boars into some cities. We apply the model to an artificial city that mimics the landscape of the city of Haifa. Manipulating food availability and relative resistance costs of different land-covers we demonstrate that infiltration of boars depends on population size of wild boars and on the amount and spatial distribution of attractors (e.g., food). Model outputs for likely sets of parameters demonstrate good correspondence to the reports of boar observations within the city of Haifa, Israel, where the porosity of the urban fabric and the connectivity of open space patches provide a trail network that makes food throughout the city accessible at a relatively low search-cost. Our results indicate that land cover and food patterns determine critically boars’ foraging movement and infiltration into the city. The proposed modeling framework provides a tool to investigate wildlife management policies that aim at reducing people-wildlife conflicts in cities.

PROTOCOL: Mass deworming for improving health and cognition of children in endemic helminth areas: a systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis.

PROTOCOL: Mass deworming for improving health and cognition of children in endemic helminth areas: a systematic review and individual participant data network meta-analysis.

Variations in diet composition of sympatric Trachypithecus francoisi and Macaca assamensis in the limestone habitats of Nonggang, China.

Comparative studies of sympatric species are essential for understanding behavioral and ecological adaptation as well as the mechanisms that can reduce resource competition to allow coexistence. François’ langurs (Trachypithecus francoisi) and Assamese macaques (Macaca assamensis) are sympatric primate species found in the limestone seasonal rainforests of Nonggang Nature Reserve, southwestern Guangxi, China. To explore their different adaptation strategies, we collected data on diet using scan sampling at 15-min intervals. Our results revealed that François’ langurs showed a more flexible diet composition than Assamese macaques. François’ langurs increased dietary diversity and mature leaf consumption in response to seasonal scarcity of preferred young leaves and fruits, whereas Assamese macaques relied heavily on young bamboo leaves (Indocalamus calcicolus) in most months. These variations reflect the differences in digestive physiology, morphology, and the temporal and spatial distribution of food resources.

Imagining the cultural landscapes of Paleoindians

Archaeologists commonly use the geographic patterning of sourced artifacts to understand how prehistoric cultures used their landscapes, yet exactly what this patterning indicates remains unclear. The Paleoindian literature reflects a tendency to assume that toolstone conveyance reflects direct acquisition (i.e., mobility) motivated by subsistence and technological concerns, rather than acquisition (i.e., exchange) motivated by social concerns. This tendency demonstrates a willingness on the part of many archaeologists to imagine Paleoindians organized on a physical landscape defined by the location of important material resources (e.g., food, water, stone), but a hesitancy to imagine Paleoindians organized on a social landscape defined by the location of other people. Yet the challenge of actually distinguishing between mobility and exchange persists. Here, I offer some ideas that might help us make headway on the linkage problem we confront when attempting to infer mode of acquisition from patterns of toolstone conveyance, focusing on the North American Great Basin. I imagine a Paleoindian cultural landscape defined, not just by the distribution of food and non-food resources, but also other people, to propose that mobility and exchange both contributed to the patterns of toolstone conveyance we see, perhaps operating at different scales in relation to subsistence, technological, and social motivations.

Wildfire affects space use and movement of white-tailed deer in a tropical pyric landscape

Abstract Fire influences the distributions of cover and food resources for ungulates in frequently burned systems. Fire typically improves forage quality, and as a result, herbivores are often drawn to recently burned areas–a response termed the ‘magnet effect.’ Thus, fire can be an important tool for manipulating vegetation to benefit wildlife. However, most studies of ungulate responses to fire occur at broad temporal scales (multiple years post-burn), and the immediate effects of fire on ungulates are poorly understood. While conducting a study of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southern Florida, we were able to evaluate a natural experiment investigating the effects of wildfire on the spatial ecology of deer. In May 2015, the Mud Lake Fire Complex burned approximately 10,250 ha in Big Cypress National Preserve. This area included portions of the home ranges of 19 of 79 deer that we were monitoring via GPS-telemetry and permitted a Before-After-Control-Impact design to investigate if fire altered the area of use and movement rates of deer at 1, 2, and 3 months following fire compared to the month before the fire. Relative to the white-tailed deer in the unburned areas, white-tailed deer in the burned areas increased movement rates, potentially because fire reduced concealment cover, resulting in increased predator detection and decreased predation risk. Counter to our predictions that fire would increase forage quality and result in decreased space use, white-tailed deer exposed to the fire increased their space use following the fire when compared to deer whose home range did not include burned areas. This appeared to be the outcome of balancing competing demands for site fidelity and to increase access to improved forage in the recently burned areas. In general, deer exposed to the fire increased their use of the burned area following the fire, but also maintained portions of their home ranges that were not burned. Our results provide a behavioral confirmation that white-tailed deer are attracted to recently burned areas and that they respond rapidly to the alteration of vegetation.

Microhabitat use of the western black-crested gibbon inhabiting an isolated forest fragment in southern Yunnan, China: implications for conservation of an endangered species.

Due to the synergistic effects of hunting and habitat loss, populations of the western black-crested gibbon are currently restricted to isolated forest fragments. The home range use of this species in fragmented forests is presumptively related to spatial, food and vegetation attributes, as in other primates. We examined the distributions of different food resources, the structure of the vegetation (tree density, DBH, and height), and the microhabitat use of one gibbon group in an isolated and disturbed forest at Bajiaohe in southern Yunnan, China. The results indicated that the gibbons used the edge habitat frequently, which was subject to more anthropogenic disturbance than the interior forest, and they appeared to adapt to discontinuous canopy cover by using bamboo and tsaoko plants for travel. The group also modified its diet in response to fluctuations in food availability and the local flora. However, the gibbons intensively used areas with high tree fruit availability across the two study periods. It is suggested that the microhabitat use by the group was mostly affected by the distribution of particular food resources and canopy gaps caused by selective logging. Protecting the current distribution area and planting native important food species to boost habitat quality and connectivity should be considered as part of conservation plans of the western black crested gibbon living in limited areas.