Ranger Stations Research Articles

Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Iberá Natural Reserve (Corrientes Province, Argentina)

An inventory of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Insecta: Hemiptera) from Iber Natural Reserve (Corrientes Province, Argentina) is presented based on data from literature and the results of 10 expeditions to the region between 2003 and 2018. Different environments were surveyed at six ranger stations: Galarza, Itat, Laguna Iber, San Ignacio, San Nicols and Yahaver. In total, 69 species of Gerromorpha (23) and Nepomorpha (46) included in 29 genera (Gerromorpha, 13; Nepomorpha, 16) and 13 families (Gerromorpha, 5; Nepomorpha, 8) were recorded, representing 73% of the aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera fauna known from Corrientes Province. Gerridae was the richest family with regards to genera (6), followed by Veliidae (3), Belostomatidae (3), Naucoridae (3), and Notonectidae (3). However, with regards to species, Belostomatidae was the richest family (14 species), followed by Gerridae (10), Veliidae (8), Notonectidae (7), Naucoridae (6), Nepidae (6), Corixidae (4) and Micronectidae (4). The remaining 10 species belonged to Pleidae (3), Mesoveliidae (2), Hebridae (2), Gelastocoridae (2) and Hydrometridae (1). Five species are new for Argentina: Paravelia rotundanotata (Hungerford, 1930) (Veliidae), Steinovelia vinnula (Drake, 1951) (Veliidae), Neogerris celeris (Drake Harris, 1934) (Gerridae), Ovatametra obesa Kenaga, 1942 (Gerridae) and Curicta granulosa De Carlo, 1951 (Nepidae). Three genera (Paravelia Breddin, 1898; Brachymetra Mayr, 1865; Ovatametra Kenaga, 1942) are herein first recorded from Corrientes Province. Thirteen species are first recorded from Corrientes Province, raising to 94 the number of species of aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera recorded from the province. Twenty-eight species and six genera (Merragata White, 1877; Paravelia; Brachymetra; Halobatopsis Bianchi, 1896; Ovatametra; Rheumatobates Bergroth, 1892) are new for the Reserve. Geographic distributions and habitat associations of all species are presented. Our study highlights the importance of this Reserve for the protection of the aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera fauna and the habitats upon which they rely.

A novel application of hierarchical modelling to decouple sampling artifacts from socio-ecological effects on poaching intensity

Poaching is a global driver of wildlife population decline, including inside protected areas (PAs). Reducing poaching requires an understanding of its cryptic drivers and accurately quantifying poaching scales and intensity. There is little quantification of how poaching is affected by law enforcement intensity (e.g., ranger stations) versus economic factors (e.g., unemployment), while simultaneously accounting for imperfect detection. Using extensive data of poaching events (i.e., seizures) and censuses of nine ungulate species across the PAs and unprotected lands of Iran from 2010 to 2018, we developed a single-visit hierarchical (N-mixture) model to accurately estimate annual poaching of Iranian ungulates and to differentiate between social and ecological effects on annual poaching intensity. We found that poaching detectability increased with numbers of ranger stations. A recent surge in poaching (2013–2018) coincides with rising unemployment rate. We estimated that 19,727 ungulates (95% confidence interval 11,178–36,195) were poached across the country during 2010–2018. Poaching intensity was positively related to unemployment rate, road density, and ungulate abundance. Our simulations demonstrated that the Poisson and Negative binomial N-mixture models had adequate performance when the conditions of Sólymos et al. (2012) were satisfied, in particular, when at least one covariate is unique to both the detection and abundance parts of the model. Overall, we suggest that single-visit models offer unique insights into understanding the link between poaching intensity, economic conditions, and law enforcement in large-scale landscapes while accounting for imperfect detection of poaching events.

Conserving populations at the edge of their geographic range: the endangered Caspian red deer (Cervus elaphus maral) across protected areas of Iran

Large ungulate populations around the world are declining, experience range loss or even go extinct. Ecological theory predicts that a species’ vulnerability is greater at the edges of its geographic range compared to its core. However, edge populations may still be successfully managed inside reserves when the drivers of declines are addressed with priority. Our aim was to evaluate the status of Caspian red deer in Iran and address the importance of law enforcement and landscape connectivity between reserves. Using systematic occurrence records and ranger-based censuses, we applied multiple methods to model the Caspian red deer’s distribution, quantify population trajectory metrics and predict landscape connectivity. Additionally, we ran generalized linear models in a Bayesian approach to assess the importance of ranger stations and connectivity on population abundance. We estimated the population at 747 (CI 95% 604–890) individuals being confined to 21 areas, reflecting a decline by 59% compared to an estimate in 1977 with declining trajectories in 98% of reserves. The number of ranger stations was the only factor correlating with its population abundance. Moreover, extirpation and range loss mostly occurred in the periphery of its Iranian distribution, and we detected five stepping stone areas in the center of the range. Our study suggests that under conditions of heavy poaching and competition with livestock, conservation urgently needs to focus on increased law enforcement and improvement of habitat quality to stop declines and prevent extinction of this large ungulate in Iran.

Assessing status and habitat of siamese fireback <i> (Lophura diardi) </i> by using camera trap in Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park, Vietnam

Siamese fireback, Lophura diardi, belonging to Galliformes is at risk due to habitat loss and hunting, which are main challenges to conservation of the species. In order to provide scientific information to conserve the L. diardi, we implemented a camera-trap survey in Lo Go-Xa Mat National Park from 2017 to 2018. Occupancy and Poisson regression models were used to investigate presence of the species and potential factors influencing the occurrence of the species in the study area. Our results showed that the probability of occurrence of the species at locations within the park was high at 0.84 (0.69–0.92) and detection probability was relative low at 0.19 (0.16–0.23). The best models consistently suggested that the abundance of the species was high in closed canopy forest cover (β = 0.41), but appeared to be notably lower in areas far away from the ranger stations (β = -0.25) and in places with high frequency of human (β = -0.22). This research provided the first quantitative information of status and potential factors influencing occurrence of the L. diardi in the park, which is an essential data for developing practical actions to protect the species and monitoring program in the future for the park.

The conservation value of unlogged and logged forests for native mammals on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

Tropical forests across the world provide important habitats for a diverse number of conservation priority species, yet are under threat from a range of anthropogenic impacts including logging. This study aims to quantify mammalian biodiversity in unlogged and logged forests in the adjoining Tembat and Petuang Forest Reserves, Terengganu, on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Data was collected over a series of surveys using direct and indirect observation methods from 2008 to 2014. A total of 30 medium and large sized mammals species were identified, with 27 of those species found in unlogged forests and 22 species in logged forests. Carnivores encompassed 11 species from 67 observations representing 15% of the total number of observations. The family Felidae had the highest number of species (six species), followed by Hylobatidae, Cercopithecidae and Suidae with three species each. A total of 17 species contributed to more than 90% of the mammal community in the unlogged and logged forests, while six species were uncommon and only observed once during the entire survey. Species abundance in the unlogged forest was significantly greater than the logged forests, but the difference was not significant for species richness. This study provides critical baseline information on the impact of unlogged and logged forests and the identification of threatened species warrant the establishment of conservation measures such as anti-poaching patrol and ranger stations in the study area.

Effects of ranger stations on predator and prey distribution and abundance in anIranian steppe landscape

AbstractRanger stations are essential to combat poaching in protected areas and the distance from ranger stations is sometimes used as a proxy for poaching levels and law enforcement intensity. However, the influence of the spatial distribution of ranger stations on wildlife abundance and population structure has rarely been investigated. We evaluated the abundance and distribution of urial sheepOvis vigneiandPersian leopardPanthera pardus saxicolorin the steppe ofGolestanNationalPark in northeasternIran. The spatial distribution of these species in regard to anthropogenic (distances to ranger stations, villages and park border) and environmental variables (distance to water resources, average slope and normalized difference vegetation index) was assessed using systematic line transect sampling (186 km) and camera trapping (1150 trap nights). The studied steppe area is divided into three management zones differing in the number of ranger stations and their position with respect to park boundaries. The results of multivariate analyses highlighted that the distance to ranger stations was negatively related to the size and density of urial clusters and the most important variable in explaining urial distribution. Moreover, the distance to park borders influenced urial cluster density. Leopard abundance was positively associated with urial density but was less affected by the other variables tested. We found urial densities in the three management zones to range from 0.15 ± se0.09 individuals km−2(zone with just one station outside the park) to 21.77 ± se7.92 individuals km−2(zone with three stations). Taking into account these results and historical data on ungulate abundance and distribution in these management zones, we conclude that law enforcement from ranger stations has shaped current patterns of ungulate distribution. These results confirm that a good coverage (both numbers and locations) of ranger stations is of central importance for the management of protected areas.

Population status of the Southwest China Serow Capricornis milneedwardsii: A case study in Cat Ba Archipelago, Vietnam.

The Southwest China Serow is a browsing caprine that, although found in Myanmar, Cambodia, northern Thailand, Laos, central and southwest China and Vietnam, is listed as near threatened and is in decline throughout its range. This animal also lives in an isolated population on the Cat Ba Archipelago in northern Vietnam. Anecdotal reports suggest that it is declining rapidly in that location and there is little chance that natural immigration will sustain the population. This study applied a systematic approach to provide a holistic view of conservation status of the Southwest China Serow in its range and determine the number of serow that may currently live in Cat Ba national park, and to quantify the factors that affect its distribution. There are no estimates of the population size and status of the Southwest China Serow over its range so far. A comprehensive census survey was initially conducted in Cat Ba Archipelago. Only 26–28 serows were found in the archipelago and these were clustered close to ranger stations and further from villages as a result of high hunting pressure. This suggests that poaching is an important determinant of the distribution and survival of this species on Cat Ba Archipelago. It also supports the deployment of more rangers to protect the remaining serows from hunting. These findings also suggest it is necessary to improve farming practices for local people through financial and technical support so they have no need to exploit wild serows. Key words: Cat Ba Archipelago, conservation planning, isolated population, karst landscape, poaching, population status, threatened species, Vietnam.

Do Ranger Stations Deter Poaching Activity in National Parks in Thailand?

AbstractAs protected areas become more accessible via transportation networks, fragmentation, and encroachment from the borders, carnivores in these areas frequently decline. To counter these pressures, patrolling and active wildlife enforcement are widely accepted as fundamental conservation strategies. Using the case example of Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) and data from a camera trap survey, we modeled and evaluated the effectiveness of ranger stations in reducing human access and illegal activities, and in increasing prey and predator presence. This type of data and analysis is needed to monitor and evaluate enforcement effectiveness and develop adaptive management strategies. At KYNP, we used camera‐trapping data as a proxy to evaluate whether or not a positive impact of ranger stations on wildlife distribution could outweigh edge effects from human disturbance. We assessed factors affecting the distribution of poachers and wildlife using Maxent. Our analysis was based on 217 camera trap locations (6260 trap nights) and suggests that ungulates and poachers persist nearby ranger stations. Rangers should increase patrolling efforts of border areas; however, increasing wildlife patrolling in inaccessible areas with mobile range units may be more effective than establishing more ranger stations along park boundaries.

Can stumps tell what people want: Pattern and preference of informal wood extraction in an urban forest of Nairobi, Kenya

Detailed patterns and preferences of informal wood extraction were investigated in an urban forest used by slum inhabitants of Nairobi, Kenya, as such information determines the sustainability of resource use. Instead of asking the people what they had secretly cut, a survey was conducted of the stumps and trees left in the forest to (i) evaluate how accessibility and patrolling affected spatial patterns of resource use, and to (ii) estimate a broad spectrum of species and species-specific size preferences. Both probability and size of cutting increased with better accessibility (represented by distance from the slum), and stump size exceeded that of living stem size around 1.7km from the slum, which suggested magnified impact of tree cutting near the slum. Patrolling (represented by distance from ranger stations) had little effect in reducing the probability of cutting but was effective in reducing cut size. With the use of random effect models, a broad species preference spectrum (including less abundant and non-preferred species) was estimated, which indicated trends in vegetation change. Smaller stems were preferred for most species presumably used for domestic fuelwood, but major exploitation of large Brachylaena huillensis stems traded in the woodcarving industry was also revealed. Such detailed information on informal wood use can help forest managers to understand threats to the forests as well as the needs of local communities. This is a first step to redefining ‘acceptable’ resource use by the local community for their increased role and responsibility in sustainable forest management, especially when conventional controls of informal activities (i.e. exclusion and penalty) are not functioning well.

School Yard Seismology

The Norwegian EduSeis initiative is foremost tied to deployment of a 3-component seismograph network in schoolyards nationwide. The operational quality of our own designed Cossack Ranger stations ($ 2000) match those of professional instruments thus providing adequate seismic recordings also for basic research. The obvious advantages here is that schoolyard installations ensure free Internet access for data transfer (in trigger mode) to a server at University of Bergen. This allows for timing to the nearest ± 20 msec removing the need for GPS clocks. To further reduce operational costs, we require that the schools themselves install a data logger and the seismograph. One project goal is to inspire science interests among students so we are concerned about learning psychology in a competitive high school environment. First convoluted mathematics and IT-intricacies are “hidden” in a flexible data base management system (DBMS) so as not to frighten students (and teachers) but providing easy Internet access to recordings in near real time. The DBMS also provides analysis tools for filtering, zooming, etc. so the goal is that students should be able to make epicenter locations and estimate magnitudes (Richter numbers) for local earthquakes even from home. We encourage and cooperate with seismological oriented School Project works, (sort of high school theses) which have proved popular with students and teachers alike. Just try it on http://pcg1.ifjf.uib.no/.

Occupational physical activity as an indicator of health and fitness.

Recent government guidelines suggest that simply increasing physical activity, regardless of mode, leads to improved health profiles. This study examined the relationship between amount of work-related physical activity of United States Forest Service (USFS) workers and 12 indicators of health and fitness. Subjects were 110 USFS workers recruited from 8 separate USFS ranger stations in the Pacific Northwest. The associations between work-related physical activity and indicators of health and fitness indicated the 63 workers who were physically active on the job displayed better overall health and fitness patterns as evidenced by higher aerobic capacity, lower body fat, and greater muscular flexibility than their 47 inactive peers.

OCCUPATIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS AN INDICATOR OF HEALTH AND FITNESS

Recent government guidelines suggest that simply increasing physical activity, regardless of mode, leads to improved health profiles. This study examined the relationship between amount of work-related physical activity of United States Forest Service (USFS) workers and 12 indicators of health and fitness. Subjects were 110 USFS workers recruited from 8 separate USFS ranger stations in the Pacific Northwest. The associations between work-related physical activity and indicators of health and fitness indicated the 63 workers who were physically active on the job displayed better overall health and fitness patterns as evidenced by higher aerobic capacity, lower body fat, and greater muscular flexibility than their 47 inactive peers.

Psychosocial, behavioral, and biometric characteristics of stages of exercise adoption.

This study incorporates the Stages of Change model to examine the relationship between the stages of exercise adoption and indicators of health and fitness. Subjects were 198 United States Forest Service (USFS) workers recruited from 8 USFS ranger stations in the Pacific Northwest. Analysis indicated that those subjects in Action and Maintenance stages of exercise adoption differed significantly from those in Preparation and Precontemplation/Contemplation stages on a variety of indicators of both health and fitness. Also, interesting differences were noted among the physically inactive stages, e.g., Preparation stage subjects showed lower triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, and higher HDL cholesterol compared with subjects in the Precontemplation/Contemplation stage. Progressing to the Preparation stage, where the individual remains inactive but is aware of the problem and has begun to make small changes, is associated with a differing (more positive) health profile in this study compared to those in the Precontemplation/Contemplation stage. These results imply that simply advancing in stage can have a variety of health benefits.

Use of a Handheld, Battery-operated Chemistry Analyzer for Evaluation of Heat-related Symptoms in the Backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park: A Brief Report

Study objectives: To test the feasibility of using handheld, battery-operated chemical analyzers by EMS personnel in a wilderness environment to aid in the diagnosis and management of heat illness. Methods: During the summer of 1996, 3 portable clinical analyzers (i-STAT Corp, Princeton, NJ) were kept at different locations along the main hiking trail into the Grand Canyon. An operational protocol was designed for field use, and Park Service EMS personnel used the instruments at their discretion, primarily to determine serum sodium concentration and identify cases of hyponatremia. Data were collected on all EMS encounters. This study reviews our experience with the instruments. Results: The i-STAT analyzer was used for 64 patients in the backcountry; of these uses, at least 22 were in the field and the remainder in backcountry ranger stations. Eight error messages were recorded in 6 patients. Subsequently, all but 1 had a successful determination. Among patients evacuated for further evaluation and care, serum sodium values were highly consistent with later analysis using standard laboratory equipment. The instrument was used in 31 (48%) of 64 of patients evaluated and released for self-treatment and self-evacuation, and 31 (36%) of 87 of patients evacuated by EMS personnel from the canyon. Nine cases of hyponatremia were confirmed in the field, allowing appropriate intervention. Conclusion: Portable clinical analyzers can reliably be used in a hot wilderness environment. In our application, it allowed identification of exercise-associated hyponatremia, an important cause of serious heat illness during endurance exercise in a hot environment. The results helped make treatment and disposition decisions.[Backer HD, Collins S: Use of a handheld, battery-operated chemistry analyzer for evaluation of heat-related symptoms in the backcountry of Grand Canyon National Park: A brief report. Ann Emerg Med April 1999;33:418-422.]

World Forestry: Forest Administration in Japan

Abstract National forests, totaling 7.9 million hectares, are managed through regional and district offices and ranger stations. Other public forests, controlled by prefectures and municipalities, aggregate some 2.5 million hectares. Private forests total 14.8 million hectares, about 59 percent of the total forest area. They are managed largely under regional plans drafted by prefectural governments in accordance with the national Forest Law. Owners' associations make it possible for landholders to undertake planting and other activities that would be difficult for them to accomplish individually. The nation has designated 7 million hectares as protection forests and 4 million as national parks; the areas overlap some-what. About half of the area in these two classes is privately held, with the owners receiving some indemnification.