Effects Of Human Presence Research Articles

Human activities reshape the spatial overlap between North Chinese leopard and its wild ungulate prey

BackgroundRapidly expanding human activities have profoundly changed the habitat use of both large carnivores and their prey, but whether and how human activities affect the interactions between them has received relatively less attention. In this study, we conducted a systematically designed camera-trapping survey on an endangered large carnivore (North Chinese leopard Panthera pardus japonensis) and its wild ungulate prey (Siberian roe deer Capreolus pygargus and wild boar Sus scrofa) in the Taihang Mountains of central North China. Using conditional two-species occupancy model based on data derived from the extensive sampling effort (15,654 camera-days at 102 camera sites), we examined the relationship of spatial use between leopards and each prey species under the effects of human presence, free-ranging cattle, roads and settlements.ResultsHumans and cattle had contrasting effects on the relationship of spatial use between leopard and roe deer, with higher and lower spatial segregation between them at human and cattle-frequented sites, respectively. Roads might create a shelter for wild boar from leopard predation, with less spatial segregation between them at sites close to the roads.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate that human activities are reshaping the spatial overlap between large carnivores and their prey, and have non-equivalent effects among different types of human activity. Such effects may further alter the strength of interspecific interactions between predator and prey, with far-reaching influences on the community and ecosystem that require more research.

Effects of the Human Presence among Robots in the ARIAC 2023 Industrial Automation Competition

ARIAC is a robotic simulation competition promoted by NIST annually since 2017, aiming to present competitors’ with contemporary industry problems to be solved using agile robotics. For the 2023 competition, ARIAC competitors must perform assembly and kitting tasks by controlling four autonomous ground vehicles (AGVs), one floor-based robot, and one ceiling-based (Gantry) robot in an attempt to overcome a range of agility challenges in the supplied simulated environment, itself based on the Robot Operating System (ROS 2) and Gazebo. The 2023 competition also included a “human” agility challenge, comprising a (simulated) human operator working among robots on the factory floor. This development was motivated by the fact that, while robots and automation play an increasingly significant role in modern manufacturing, there still remains a close relationship between machines and humans. They should complement each other’s strengths and cover each other’s limitations while also observing any required safety rules. For example, the ISO standard “Robots and Robotic Devices – Collaborative robots” (ISO 15066:2016) prescribes the distances required between humans and robots. Within the ARIAC simulation environment, each human operator is controlled using autonomous Belief-Desire-Intention (BDI) agents. At the same time, competitors can monitor the position of each human operator at any time by subscribing to the relevant ROS topic. In this article, we analyse the effects of this (simulated) human presence in the 2023 ARIAC competition and perform a detailed analysis of how the three different human personalities that were implemented affect the assembly tasks undertaken at the four different locations of the assembly stations. Given how the system is currently implemented, it appears that the influence of each encoded personality on the competitors is not as predictable as anticipated. We expand on why this may be a problem when addressing real collaborative spaces involving humans and industrial robots and the improvements that can be undertaken to mitigate the ensuing problems.

Breeding in the pandemic: short-term lockdown restrictions in a European capital city did not alter the life-history traits of two urban adapters

Humans are transforming natural habitats into managed urban green areas and impervious surfaces at an unprecedented pace. Yet the effects of human presence per se on animal life-history traits are rarely tested. This is particularly true in cities, where human presence is often indissociable from urbanisation itself. The onset of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, along with the resulting lockdown restrictions, offered a unique, “natural experiment” to investigate wildlife responses to a sudden reduction in human activity. We analysed four years of avian breeding data collected in a European capital city to test whether lockdown measures altered nestbox occupancy and life-history traits in terms of egg laying date, incubation duration and clutch size in two urban adapters: great tits (Parus major) and blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). Lockdown measures, which modulated human presence, did not influence any of the life-history traits investigated. In contrast, the interaction between year and tree cover, a distinct ecological attribute of the urban space, was positively associated with clutch size, a key avian life-history and reproductive trait. This highlights the importance of inter-year variation and habitat quality over human activity on urban wildlife reproduction. We discuss our results in the light of other urban wildlife studies carried out during the pandemic, inviting the scientific community to carefully interpret all lockdown—associated shifts in biological traits.

Effects of Human Presence and Movement on Received Signal Strength Levels in a 2.4 GHz Wireless Link: An Experimental Study

Effects of Human Presence and Movement on Received Signal Strength Levels in a 2.4 GHz Wireless Link: An Experimental Study

Evaluation of Human Disturbance on the Activity of Medium–Large Mammals in Myanmar Tropical Forests

The effects of human disturbance represent one of the major threats for wildlife conservation. Many studies have shown that wildlife avoids or reduces direct contact with human activities through changes in activity patterns, and by minimizing spatiotemporal overlap. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of human presence on the temporal activity of medium-to-large mammals using two areas in Myanmar that differ in the intensity of human disturbance. We monitored temporal segregation mechanisms using camera trapping data and with two statistical approaches: daily activity overlaps between humans and wildlife and circular statistics. We did not find a significant difference in overlapping activity between areas but, thanks to circular statistics, we found that some species show changes in activity patterns, suggesting temporal avoidance. We observed that the daily activity of five species differed between areas of Myanmar, likely adopting mechanisms to reduce overlap in areas highly frequented by humans. Interestingly, these species are all threatened by hunting or poaching activities, four of which have been described in literature as “cathemeral”, or species that are active through day and night. This study suggests that some species adapt their behavior, at least partially, to avoid human presence in habitats with higher anthropic occurrence and increase our knowledge on the status of medium–large mammals in a poorly studied country as Myanmar.

Effects of Human Presence and Voice on the Behaviour of Shelter Dogs and Cats: A Preliminary Study

Simple SummaryEnvironmental enrichment is fundamental for the welfare of shelter animals. This study compared the behaviour of single-housed shelter dogs and cats while being read a book (using a prerecording) in the presence of an unfamiliar human (without direct physical contact) or in its absence. Behaviours such as scratching the door, gaze direction and location in relation to the audio source/human were observed for 10 min. When a human was present, dogs spent longer in their bed and looking at the auditory source, while cats scratched the door and rubbed against the door. In the absence of the human, cats tended to spend more time in the vertical dimension, where the hiding boxes were located. Overall, the presence of a person, combined with auditory enrichment, induced greater interest compared to just an audio stimulation in both shelter dogs and cats. However, some animals showed signs of frustration likely due to not being able to physically interact with the human. Given that dogs that exhibit calmness and cats that scratch the door in the presence of humans and try to attract human attention are more likely to be adopted, auditory enrichment combined with human presence promotes behaviours that may consequentially increase adoption rate.Reading books to shelter animals combining auditory enrichment with human presence is increasingly used although its effects on animal welfare have not yet been investigated. This study compared the behaviour of single-housed shelter dogs and cats during a prerecorded reading condition in the absence or presence of an unfamiliar human (without direct physical contact). Fourteen dogs and twenty-one cats were observed in their enclosure in the two conditions in a counterbalanced order. Behaviours such as scratching the door, gaze direction and location in relation to the audio source/human were analysed from video recording for 10 min per condition. Dogs spent more time in their bed (p < 0.047) and looking at the auditory source (p < 0.004) when a human was present. Cats showed door scratching and rubbing when a human was present (p < 0.043), whereas they tended to spend more time in the vertical dimension (p = 0.051), where the hiding boxes were located, during auditory stimulation without a human present. These results show that the presence of a human induces greater interest compared to just audio stimulation in shelter dogs and cats but may induce frustration likely due to not being able to physically interact in some animals.

Widespread Presence of Domestic Dogs on Sandy Beaches of Southern Chile.

Simple SummaryThe presence of dogs on sandy beaches is a concern when it comes to protecting the breeding and migratory stop-over sites of shorebirds. To manage this threat, it is necessary to understand the factors that explain the presence of dogs at sandy beaches. To address this, we conducted a study in southern Chile where we surveyed dogs and their tracks at 14 beaches. Dogs were present on all of them, and we found that their abundance was higher when more people were on the beach and at beaches surrounded by more houses. Furthermore, we detected that, given the opportunity, dogs frequently harassed whimbrels, a long-distance migratory shorebird. Dogs at beaches were often not supervised, and only 13% were on a leash. Although our study shows the association between dogs and people, it identifies that this relationship is not simply one of dogs and their owners; instead, it is free-ranging dogs that are associated with beach-goers and human settlements. Therefore, we suggest that to reduce dog harassment of shorebirds, it is fundamental to reduce the number of unsupervised and unleashed dogs at beaches.Dogs on sandy beaches are a threat to shorebirds. Managing this problem requires understanding the factors that influence the abundance of dogs in these ecosystems. We aimed to determine the proportion of beaches used by dogs and the effects of human presence on dog abundance on sandy beaches of southern Chile. We conducted dog counts and recorded the presence of tracks on 14 beaches. We used zero-inflated generalized linear mixed models to determine if the number of people, number of households, and other covariates were associated with dog abundance. We detected dog tracks on all the beaches, and dog sightings on most of them. Dogs were frequently not supervised (45%) and only 13% of them were leashed. The number of people on the beach and the number of houses near the beach were positively associated with the number of dogs on beaches. Finally, when dogs co-occurred with whimbrels (Numenius phaeopus), the probability of dog harassment was high (59%). Our work reveals that human presence determines the abundance of dogs on sandy beaches. Therefore, our study suggests that any strategy aiming at reducing dog harassment of shorebirds requires changes in those human behaviors that favor the presence of free-ranging dogs at beaches.

Effects of human activities on concentrations of culturable bioaerosols in indoor air environments

We studied the effects of human activity on concentrations of fungal and bacterial bioaerosols in indoor air environments. We conducted measurement experiments for concentrations of bioaerosols and aerosol particles in test chambers with people performing various activities inside. We found that the number of people and human activities had positive correlations with the concentrations of bacterial bioaerosols. However, the concentration of fungal bioaerosols was not influenced by human presence or activities. The findings regarding the concentrations of fungal and bacterial bioaerosols and the effects of human presence and activities will be useful for studying control methods against bioaerosols.

The social dimension of learning through argumentation: Effects of human presence and discourse style.

In spite of its potential for learning, and in particular knowledge revision, argumentation on science concepts is neither easily elicited nor easily sustained. Students may feel uneasy critiquing and being critiqued, especially on complex science topics. We report on a controlled study that tested the role of 2 potential factors that may either relieve or aggravate some of these concerns: the partner’s argumentative discourse style (disputative or deliberative) and belief in interaction with a human or a computer agent. Learners interacted in scripted, computer-mediated interactions with a confederate on their understanding of a scientific concept they had just studied (i.e., diffusion). They were led to believe they were either interacting with a human peer or with a conversational peer agent. The peer confederate’s verbal behavior was scripted to evoke argumentative discourse, while controlling for exposure to conceptual content and the type of dialogue moves, but differed in argumentative discourse style (disputative or deliberative). Results show that conceptual understanding of participants in the deliberative discourse style condition was higher than that in the disputative condition. Further, even though previous studies have reported that the belief in human interaction benefits learning in consensual interactions, the opposite was found to be true in a setting of disagreement and critique: Belief in interaction with a computer agent resulted in higher conceptual learning gains, compared to belief in interaction with a human peer. Implications for theory as well as instructional design are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Effects of Human Presence on Chimpanzee Nest Location in the Lebialem-Mone Forest Landscape, Southwest Region, Cameroon

In several areas of Africa, great apes experience increasing predation pressure as a result of human activities. In this study, terrestrial and arboreal nest construction among chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) populations was investigated in the Lebialem-Mone Forest Landscape (LMFL), Southwest Region, Cameroon, to examine the anthropogenic effects on nest location. Data on the height, distribution and approximate age of chimpanzee night nests were collected during two 4-week primate field surveys (July to August 2010; July 2011) at two field sites (Bechati and Andu) within the LMFL. Data were collected using the line transect method. Chimpanzee night nests were categorized by their location: arboreal versus terrestrial. During the two field surveys, arboreal night nests were the most frequently constructed nest type at both sites, and the only type of night nest constructed at Bechati. Terrestrial night nests were also constructed at Andu. The main difference between these two sites is the level of human predation and agricultural development. At Bechati chimpanzees inhabit forest regions around dense, expanding villages and are regularly hunted by humans. However, at Andu the chimpanzee populations are not under the same threat. Therefore, terrestrial night nest construction in the LMFL appears to be a behavior exhibited where there is less human presence.

Towards a reverse image. Botanical research into the landscape history of the eastern Netherlands (1100 B.C.—A.D. 1500)

ABSTRACT Analysis of a large number of pollen samples from pools and wells has led to a more detailed understanding of the vegetation development in the eastern Netherlands between c. 1100 B.c. and A.D. 1500. During the Neolithic and the Bronze Age settlements were islands within a forest landscape, with natural clearings as the obvious starting points for further exploitation. Especially during the Iron Age the higher grounds became rapidly deforested. A semi-open landscape was formed relatively quickly, as was the case in the northern Dutch sandy areas. The Iron Age and Roman period landscape seems to have been almost as open as it would be during the Middle Ages, something which has also been established for south-east England. Deforestation proceeded at a slower pace in the lower and wetter parts of the landscape, but here too the effects of human presence are already visible during late prehistory, at least in the proximity of settlements. A sharp increase of heath can be observed, the result of deforestation and soil exhaustion. Sometimes it is grasses that increase rather than heather, as was probably the case on relatively fertile and degradation-resistant soil types. The late prehistoric mosaic landscape was probably still characterised by a high degree of spatial dynamics. On the other hand, many of the medieval and younger essen (open fields) are likely to have been open areas and to have been in continuous use for agriculture from the Iron Age until the present day. These areas had apparently become stable elements in an otherwise dynamic landscape long before the Middle Ages.

Effects of human presence on two social wasp species

Abstract. 1. The effects of human presence on the behavioural response and productivity of a native wasp species of North America (Polistes fuscatus) and an invasive wasp species (Polistes dominulus) were examined in a field experiment. Over a 3‐month period, colonies of each species were exposed to human presence at either low (biweekly) or high (daily) levels. At 2‐week intervals, wasp response to human presence was recorded for all colonies via an index, ranging from no response (0) to an attack (4).2. The levels of human presence had no effect on wasp response or colony productivity but foundresses of both species increased their response level the closer a human was to the nest. In addition, foundresses of P. fuscatus became more aggressive over time, corresponding to after adult offspring emerged, whereas foundresses of P. dominulus did not change their response level after the emergence of offspring.3. The adult offspring of P. dominulus responded to human presence at a level similar to that of the foundress, whereas adult offspring of P. fuscatus exhibited a lower response to human presence than that of the foundress. The more distinctive aposematic coloration of P. dominulus may play a role in the behavioural differences between species; it may be more effective in deterring predators, and with the result that leaving the nest to defend it is less often necessary. Accordingly, the less aggressive response to human presence by P. dominulus may contribute to its success as an introduced species in North America.

The effects of human presence, flock size and prey density on shorebird foraging rates

Animals may alter their foraging behaviour in the presence of humans because they perceive humans as potential predators. In this study I determined whether people caused shorebirds to reduce feeding rates at a stopover site in coastal British Columbia, Canada. I controlled for prey density and flock size because these variables may influence both the foraging rates as well as the effect of human disturbance on feeding efficiency. Semipalmated plovers decreased feeding rates when there were more people on the beach (multiple regression: F1,15=5.86, b=0.59, P=0.029, R2=37.6%). For least sandpipers, the effect of human densities on feeding rates depended on flock size (F1,21=5.97, P=0.023) and amphipod availability (F1,21=4.98, P=0.037). This study demonstrated the importance of measuring subtle behavioural changes in foraging rates along with key ecological variables in order to assess the true impact of human disturbance on migratory shorebirds.

The Effects of a Small Sewage Outfall on an Algal Epifaunal Community at Macquarie Island (sub-Antarctic): A Drop in the Southern Ocean?

Macquarie Island, in the sub-Antarctic, is the location of one of four permanently staffed bases operated by the Australian Antarctic Division. As part of a wider programme investigating the effects of human presence on Antarctic and sub-Antarctic ecosystems, this study evaluated the impact of the small sewage outfall at Macquarie Island on the epifauna living within turfs of the intertidal red alga Chaetangium fastigiatum. Sampling was conducted during early December (austral summer) in both 1996 and 1997 at six sites, two sites within each of three adjacent bays. The site closest to the outfall was 3 m from the point of discharge. Data analyses at the population and community levels failed to demonstrate a significant effect of the outfall. Small scale spatial patterns, probably related to wave exposure, and inter-annual variation in recruitment, are suggested as the main causes of variation in patterns of epifaunal dominance during the study.

Intraspecific Variation in Antipredator Responses of Three Species of Lizards (Liolaemus): Possible Effects of Human Presence

Intraspecific Variation in Antipredator Responses of Three Species of Lizards (Liolaemus): Possible Effects of Human Presence

The effects of human presence at the time of calving of primiparous cows on their subsequent behavioural response to milking

The effects of humans interacting with primiparous cows at the time of their calving on the subsequent behavioural response of these cows to milking was studied in this preliminary experiment. Cows which were handled around the time of calving ( n = 5) displayed a lower ( P < 0.05) number of flinch, step and kick responses in the close presence of humans over the first 2 weeks of milking than cows which were not handled ( n = 4). During the first 2 weeks of milking the cows in the no handling treatment required more ( P < 0.05) assistance from the milker in the form of replacing dislodged clusters. It is suggested that the handled cows were less fearful of humans due to handling at the time of calving. More comprehensive research is recommended to examine the long-term consequences on behaviour, milking efficiency and milk yield of this apparent improvement in the human-animal relationship.