Subsistence Hunting Research Articles

The diet and diving behaviour of the ringed seal (Pusa hispida) in Kangia (Ilulissat Icefjord), Greenland

AbstractThis study uses telemetry and stomach content analysis to describe the ringed seals’ dive pattern and prey selection within Kangia (Ilulissat Icefjord), Greenland, where the ringed seals are known to be exceptionally large and genetically distinct. Data from twenty-four ringed seals (Pusa hispida) tagged in Kangia, with satellite relay data loggers from 2012 to 2020, were used to describe the dive patterns. The transmitters were active between 28 and 270 days and showed that subadults most frequently dove to around 150 m. Adult males frequently dove to this depth, but they also had a second frequently visited depth at around 400 m, some adults significantly deeper. Adult males generally dove deeper than females and adult seals showed deeper dives during the winter, a feature that was less prominent in subadults. The stomach content from ringed seals (n = 108) harvested in Kangia by subsistence hunters revealed that polar cod (Boreogadus saida), capelin (Mallotus villosus), mysids (Mysis oculata, M. littoralis, M. Polaris) and shrimps (mainly Pandalus borealis) were the dominant prey. Shrimps were observed more often in adults, likely due to the frequently visited dive depth of around 400 m, whereas mysids were more observed in small subadult seals. The stomach content from harp seals (Pagophilus groenlandicus) and Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) caught in Kangia also showed a strong niche overlap with the ringed seals. These findings outline the unique ecological adaptations and the importance of Kangia as a critical habitat of ringed seals.

Exposing illegal hunting and wildlife depletion in the world's largest tropical country through social media data.

Globally, illegal sport hunting can threaten prey populations when unregulated. Due to its covert nature, illegal sport hunting poses challenges for data collection, hindering efforts to understand the full extent of its impacts. We gathered social media data to analyze patterns of illegal sport hunting and wildlife depletion across Brazil. We collected data for 2years (2018-2020) across 5 Facebook groups containing posts depicting pictures of illegal sport hunting events of native fauna. We described and mapped these hunting events by detailing the number of hunters involved, the number of species, the mean body mass of individuals, and the number and biomass of individuals hunted per unit area, stratified by Brazilian biome. We also examined the effects of defaunation on hunting yield and composition via regression models, rank-abundance curves, and spatial interpolation. We detected 2046 illegal sport hunting posts portraying the hunting of 4658 animals (∼29t of undressed meat) across all 27 states and 6 natural biomes of Brazil. Of 157 native species targeted by hunters, 19 are currently threatened with extinction. We estimated that 1414 hunters extracted 3251kg/millionkm2. Some areas exhibited more pronounced wildlife depletion, in particular the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes. In these areas, there was a shift from large mammals and reptiles to small birds as the main targeted taxa, and biomass extracted per hunting event and mean body mass across all taxonomic groups were lower than in other areas. Our results highlight that illegal sport hunting adds to the pressures of subsistence hunting and the wild meat trade on Brazil's wildlife populations. Enhanced surveillance efforts are needed to reduce illegal sport hunting levels and to develop well-managed sustainable sport hunting programs. These can support wildlife conservation and offer incentives for local communities to oversee designated sport hunting areas.

Elucidating the sustainability of 700 y of Inuvialuit beluga whale hunting in the Mackenzie River Delta, Northwest Territories, Canada

Beluga whales play a critical role in the subsistence economies and cultural heritage of Indigenous communities across the Arctic, yet the effects of Indigenous hunting on beluga whales remain unknown. Here, we integrate paleogenomics, genetic simulations, and stable δ13C and δ15N isotope analysis to investigate 700 y of beluga subsistence hunting in the Mackenzie Delta area of northwestern Canada. Genetic identification of the zooarchaeological remains, which is based on radiocarbon dating, span three time periods (1290 to 1440 CE; 1450 to 1650 CE; 1800 to 1870 CE), indicates shifts across time in the sex ratio of the harvested belugas. The equal number of females and males harvested in 1450 to 1650 CE versus more males harvested in the two other time periods may reflect changes in hunting practices or temporal shifts in beluga availability. We find temporal shifts and sex-based differences in δ13C of the harvested belugas across time, suggesting historical adaptability in the foraging ecology of the whales. We uncovered distinct mitochondrial diversity unique to the Mackenzie Delta belugas, but found no changes in nuclear genomic diversity nor any substructuring across time. Our findings indicate the genomic stability and continuity of the Mackenzie Delta beluga population across the 700 y surveyed, indicating the impact of Inuvialuit subsistence harvests on the genetic diversity of contemporary beluga individuals has been negligible.

Toxoplasma gondii in a Remote Subsistence Hunting-Based Indigenous Community of the Peruvian Amazon.

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects a wide variety range of warm-blooded animals. This study describes the epidemiological scenario of T. gondii in an indigenous community that relies on subsistence hunting in a well-conserved and isolated area of the Peruvian Amazon. The high seropositivity against T. gondii in humans (83.3% IgG and 6.1% IgM), wild mammals (30.45%, 17 species), peri-domestic rodents (10.0% Rattus sp.), and domestic animals (94.1% dogs and 100% cats) indicates the existence of a sylvatic cycle in the community under study. Individual age was found to be positively associated with IgG detection against T. gondii but not with IgM. It is estimated that each family consumed 5.67 infected animals per year with terrestrial species having higher infective rates than arboreal species. The main risk factors included improper handling and cooking of wild meat, poor hygiene practices, and feeding uncooked offal to domestic animals. This scenario results in a continuous process of infection and reinfection within the indigenous community with cats, dogs, and peri-domestic animals becoming infected through the ingestion of infected raw viscera. Our results emphasize the need to promote safe food handling practices and disposal of waste materials from hunted animals in such communities.

Traditional Territory in a Protected Area: Territorial Dynamics and Wildlife Management in the Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil

Implementing sustainable management strategies for common-use resources influences the territorialization processes of traditional peoples and communities. This article aims to provide historical context on the use of natural resources in the Amanã Lake region, Maraã-AM. It also seeks to describe the territorial boundaries and hunting areas of one riverine community, presenting a proposal for establishing the sustainable management of subsistence hunting. The data cover a fifty-year period and were obtained through semi-structured interviews, systematic mapping of hunting locations, and participatory mapping of resource use in the region. The proposed zoning for the management of wildlife was based on previously established models in the region and on discussions with the villagers. Over the period, two territorial logics were identified, and their combination has had significant impacts on the territoriality of the studied community. The hunting area used by community members shrinked as its designated use area but at a different pace, leading to overlaps and conflicts over resource use. The proposed spatial wildlife management (of 22.216,22 ha of area) was considered appropriate by the villagers, but there is still a need to develop this wildlife management strategy based on local territorialities.

First documented movement of a humpback whale between the Cape Verde Islands and West Greenland.

The endangered population of humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) breeding and calving off the Cape Verde Islands (CVI) are known to migrate to feeding areas located along the eastern margin of the North Atlantic Ocean (Iceland, and Norway). Here, we report for the first time a confirmed migration of an individual humpback whale from CVI breeding ground to a western North Atlantic feeding ground of West Greenland. This individual humpback, which was photographed and identified off the coast of West Greenland in 2021, was previously documented in CVI 22 years before (1999). An annual subsistence hunt for humpbacks occurs in West Greenland and the resighting at this location with a humpback whale from CVI has strong implications for the conservation efforts of the small CVI population.

Phylogenetic congruence of Plasmodium spp. and wild ungulate hosts in the Peruvian Amazon

Malaria parasites are known to infect a variety of vertebrate hosts, including ungulates. However, ungulates of Amazonia have not been investigated. We report for the first time, the presence of parasite lineages closely related to Plasmodium odocoilei clade 1 and clade 2 in free-ranging South American red-brocket deer (Mazama americana; 44.4%, 4/9) and gray-brocket deer (Mazama nemorivaga; 50.0%, 1/2). We performed PCR-based analysis of blood samples from 47 ungulates of five different species collected during subsistence hunting by an indigenous community in the Peruvian Amazon. We detected Plasmodium malariae/brasilianum lineage in a sample from red-brocket deer. However, no parasite DNA was detected in collared peccary (Pecari tajacu; 0.0%, 0/10), white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari; 0.0%, 0/15), and tapir (Tapirus terrestris; 0.0%, 0/11). Concordant phylogenetic analyses suggested a possible co-evolutionary relationship between the Plasmodium lineages found in American deer and their hosts.

Target, tool, tenure and timing: the four T’s limiting the impact of traditional hunting in Indonesian Papua

Subsistence hunting has sustained human populations in New Guinea for millennia, without seriously affecting the highest levels of biodiversity on Earth. Recent changes to hunting practices, demographic, social and economic context and the introduction of large exotic species has significantly altered the dynamic of hunting and its potential effects in north-west New Guinea. In this paper we examine contemporary hunting practices of six ethnic groups from highland to coastal sites throughout Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia. Semi-structured interviews were used to examine hunting practices as well as customary rules and attitudes associated with hunting in the region and how they have changed in living memory. Each group indicated traditional restrictions on at least one of target, tool, timing or tenure, albeit in varied ways. Six different hunting tools were used and each hunter typically combined several tools while hunting. Religious and cultural factors deeply influenced hunting practices among the communities. We discuss the implications of these findings and conclude with recommendations to integrate local, village level governance and customary practices with regional and national law for more effective conservation and management of wildlife in the region while simultaneously respecting cultural heritage and local ecological knowledge.

Fetal morphology of the female urogenital apparatus in Dasyprocta fuliginosa

Dasyprocta fuliginosa had a gestational period of approximately 104 days, to date there are few descriptions of fetal development in this species. From animals collected through subsistence hunting in the Amazon, it was possible to follow the fetal development of the female urogenital apparatus of animals from 56 days until the end of gestation. The kidneys of younger fetuses showed discreet lobations, and from the 75th gestational day onwards they were defined as smooth unilobed organs. The glomerular composition of the cortical region of the youngest fetuses had morphological differences, with poorly developed and undifferentiated capillaries. This composition was transmuted around the 82nd gestational day. Throughout the fetal development process the ureters inserted dorsolaterally to the urinary bladder, communicating with the fetal umbilical funiculus through the urachus, and with the urethra. The same occurred with the reproductive system, which was composed of a double-type uterus, with two uterine horns, a septum and two individual cervical canals, in addition to two uterine tubes, two ovaries, a vagina with a semi-open vaginal membrane, and a vulva, which made up the external genitalia. This constitution reveals that D. fuliginosa during the fetal phase has a well-developed morphology of the reproductive and urinary systems.

Documentation of commercial and subsistence hunting of Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata) in northeastern Madagascar

Hunting of wild animals for meat and habitat loss are the main drivers of wildlife population decline around the world, and in tropical regions in particular. While Madagascar is a hotspot for biodiversity, hunting is widespread, mostly in form of subsistence hunting, while hunting for the pet trade is less often reported.We studied hunting of the Critically Endangered black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata) in northeastern Madagascar. Using lemur surveys (102.7 km survey effort) and 54 semi-structured and seven key informant interviews, we assessed the local knowledge, hunting pressure, and the perceived and actual abundances of V. variegata in two hunting and two non-hunting villages.V. variegata was well known (> 83%) by the respondents but abundance estimates differed significantly between hunting and non-hunting villages, with 26% and 77% of respondents, respectively, estimating a high abundance of ruffed lemurs in the adjacent forests of the villages. Actual observations of V. variegata also differed strongly, in accordance to perceived abundances. Hunting was either done by trapping animals or by pursuit hunts. In both hunting villages, adult lemurs were used for direct meat consumption and juveniles for rearing for the later trade. Hand-raised V. variegata were reported to be sold for 38–71 USD on regional markets or ‘delivered’ directly to buyers.While wildlife hunting has been widely reported from all over Madagascar, commercial hunting, hand-rearing and trading adds a new dimension of threat towards these Critically Endangered lemurs. As such, the extent of the trade is a priority for future studies.

Reproductive parameters of Bering‐Chukchi‐Beaufort Seas bowhead whales

AbstractData from Bering‐Chukchi‐Beaufort Seas bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus), harvested during 1973–2021 by aboriginal subsistence hunters, were used to estimate reproductive parameters: length at sexual maturity (LSM), age at sexual maturity (ASM), pregnancy rate (PR), and calving interval. Sexual maturity (N = 187 females) was determined from the presence/absence of corpora in the ovaries, or a fetus. Using sampling bias‐corrected logistic regression, LSM was estimated at 13.5 m, 95% CI [13.0, 13.8]. There was a downward trend in LSM over time, statistically significant with one method but marginal with another. A growth model translated this estimate to an ASM estimate of 23.5 years, 95% CI [20.4, 26.7]. Pregnancy rate was determined from mature females (N = 125), and from a subset limited to certain autumn‐caught whales (n = 37) to reduce bias. The PR was estimated at 0.46 globally, 95% CI [0.36, 0.55] and 0.38 for the autumn sample, 95% CI [0.20, 0.51]. Both estimated PRs are consistent with a 3‐year calving interval, because the larger estimate includes two cohorts of pregnant whales harvested in spring, and bowhead whale gestation is longer than 12 months. These analyses represent the most conclusive empirical estimates of ASM, LSM, and PR for this bowhead whale stock from the largest available data sets to date.

Use of logging roads by terrestrial mammals in a responsibly managed neotropical rainforest in Guyana

Selective logging is the most widespread use of tropical forests. Building logging roads facilitates access to previously remote rainforests, and so proper management is essential for ensuring biodiversity retention in logged landscapes. Terrestrial mammals often directly use logging roads (via movement corridors, hunting or foraging), making them vulnerable to poorly managed roads. Here we explore how the presence, arrangement and use of logging roads influence terrestrial mammal occupancy and detection within a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified logged forest in Guyana. We compared camera trap data from20 natural ‘game’ trails in an unlogged area, with camera trap data from 23 sites set near to or on logging roads within the Iwokrama forest. Our findings showed high occupancy within logged areas with no statistically significant difference to unlogged areas. Higher detections were noted along secondary and feeder roads compared to skid trails and the natural trails in control areas. Additionally, our data showed a negative correlation between occupancy and distance to village for a scatter hoarding rodent, most likely driven by subsistence hunting by local communities. Our results indicate that proper road management geared towards the monitoring and guarded access of logging roads, can have a positive effect on terrestrial mammal occurrence within responsibly managed rainforests.

Notes on the conservation threats to the western lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista buettikoferi) in the Bijagós Archipelago (Guinea-Bissau, West Africa)

The lesser spot-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus petaurista) is a widely distributed West African guenon, which is generally considered less vulnerable to local extinctions than many sympatric primate species. Guinea-Bissau harbours the westernmost populations of the species, which is thought to be very rare or even extinct on the mainland, but to have putative populations on some islands of the Bijagós Archipelago. However, due to a lack of regional studies, baseline information on these insular populations is missing. We collected baseline data on the anthropogenic activities that possibly threaten the long-term conservation of this primate by using non-systematic ethnographic methodologies. The species was reported to be decreasing in number or rare by locals on two of the islands, and we identified two main conservation threats to it: generalised habitat loss/degradation, and hunting. While subsistence hunting has been recorded before in these areas, we report, to the best of our knowledge for the first time for these islands, the presence of a semi-organised commercial wild meat trade. The carcasses of western lesser spot-nosed monkeys were observed being stored and shipped from seaports to be sold at urban hubs (Bissau and Bubaque Island). The effect of commercial trade on the species could be severe, considering the small, naturally occurring, carrying capacities typical of insular ecosystems. The results of this study highlight the importance of understanding the leading social drivers of wild meat hunting of lesser spot-nosed monkeys on the Bijagós Archipelago, and the need to conduct baseline research on these insular populations, for which qualitative and quantitative methods could be combined.

Redescription of Brevimulticaecum baylisi () (Nematoda: Heterocheilidae), a parasite of Caiman crocodilus (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) in the north-eastern Peruvian Amazon.

Caiman crocodilus is among the most abundant and widely distributed predators in the Neotropical region. These animals consume prey such as crustaceans, birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, which can carry infective larval forms of nematodes. Brevimulticaecum has few studies on its morphology available, lacking detailed images. Therefore, the aim of this study was to redescribe Brevimulticaecum baylisi, stomach parasite of Caiman crocodilus, from subsistence hunting in the Yavari-Mirin River, Peruvian Amazon, using light and scanning electron microscopy. Four caimans were analyzed, and, macroscopically, all had ulcerative lesions in the stomach caused by this parasite. Histopathology showed an inflammatory infiltrate with a predominance of lymphocytes. Morphological characteristics of nematodes include the presence of three diamond-shaped lips wider than they are long, interlabia pyramidal, excretory pore located above the nerve ring, present intestinal cecum, ventriculus with five ventricular appendages, and long, winged spicules. These morphological characters, added to the number and distribution of the pre- and postcloacal papillae of the male specimens, allowed the identification of these parasites as B. baylisi. Scanning electron microscopy of these nematodes showed the presence of a dentigerous ridge on the inner surface of the lips in both sexes, while in males, the presence of a horseshoe-shaped median papilla was observed on the upper lip of the cloaca. Our research, therefore, adds these characteristics to the original description of B. baylisi, in addition to expanding the biogeographical distribution of this parasite.

Mineral licks as a potential nidus for parasite transmission

Discrete landscape features can concentrate animals in time and space, leading to non-random interspecific encounters. These encounters have implications for predator-prey interactions, habitat selection, intraspecific competition, and transmission of parasites and other pathogens. The lifecycle of the parasitic nematode Parelaphostrongylus tenuis requires an intermediate host of a terrestrial gastropod. Natural hosts of P. tenuis are white-tailed deer, and an aberrant host of conservation concern is moose, which are susceptible to high levels of mortality as a naive host to the parasite. Intermediate hosts become infected when P. tenuis larvae are shed in deer feces, then consumed or enter the gastropod through the foot. Incidental (or perhaps intentional) ingestion of infected gastropod intermediate hosts by aberrant or dead-end hosts often results in mortality of that animal. We present photographic evidence depicting a potential mechanism for transmission from infected white-tailed deer to moose, heretofore not examined in the literature. We deployed remote cameras at mineral licks around Grand Portage Indian Reservation in northeastern Minnesota, USA. We observed white-tailed deer defecating at mineral lick sites and geophagous moose at the same sites. We hypothesize that mineral licks may act as a nidus for P. tenuis transmission between deer and moose in this system and call for further research into the potential role of mineral licks in parasite transmission.The Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is a federally recognized Indian tribe in extreme northeastern Minnesota, USA, and proudly exercises its rights to food sovereignty through subsistence hunting and fishing. Mooz (Moose) are a primary subsistence food used by the Anishinaabeg (people) of Grand Portage Band historically and presently. Management for and research on maintaining this moose population as a vital subsistence species thus sets the context for this paper examining potential for disease transmission between white-tailed deer and moose through shared use of mineral licks.

Comparing diet, seed size and richness in fruit ingested by red howler monkeys (<i>Alouatta juara<i></i></i>) in two habitat types in Central Amazonia


 
 
 Primates within the Alouatta genus (howler monkeys) inhabit a wide range of environments due to their flexible folivorous-frugivorous diet. However, the feeding ecology of Alouatta species that inhabit continuous and difficult-to-access forest environments, such as the Amazon, is poorly known. In this study, we compared diet composition, seed size, and richness of fruits ingested by Juruá red howler monkeys (Alouatta juara) in white-water flooded forest and upland for- est. Our analysis was based on 47 stomachs donated by subsistence hunters of central Amazonia in Brazil. We found no difference in the proportion of structural parts, reproductive parts, and animal matter (arthropods) ingested between these environments. However, we found a positive relationship between the richness of ingested seeds and the water level for the white-water flooded forest. This correlation was not observed for upland forest, where other environmental factors such as precipitation may influence tree phenology. The stomach analysis revealed a high diversity of seeds and a substantial percentage of whole seeds (73%) in the red-howler monkeys’ stomachs. This suggests that they have the potential to be effective seed dispersers for at least 40 taxa in the white-water flooded forest and 14 in the upland forest. The population decline or extinction of this species could have an impact on seed dispersal services, particularly for plant species with seeds larger than 20 mm of diameter, as the number of dispersing agents tends to be limited. Further studies are needed to investigate the environmental dynamics involved in the feeding ecology of red howler monkeys. These studies would help to understand the ecological impacts of local subsistence hunting and wild meat trading on seed dispersal, as well as the economic implications for human populations.
 
 

An exploratory assessment of the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales using a stochastic population dynamics model

The stochastic population dynamics model used by Aboriginal Whaling Management Procedure developers is revised to correct weaknesses related to uncertainty parameterisation and replacement yield estimation. Two variants of this model, along with the standard deterministic version, are used to assess the Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort Seas stock of bowhead whales. The variants differ with respect to the magnitude and complexity of the stochastic variation they introduce into natural mortality and birth/calf survival processes. An allowable catch statistic, E (Q0), is defined for appropriate use with stochastic model assessments. Using the same assessment methods, likelihood and priors as IWC (1999a), 5th percentiles of E (Q0) were found to be 117, 106 and 91 for the deterministic, simpler stochastic and extreme stochastic models, respectively. Bayes factor results show that there is no evidence suggesting that either stochastic model should be favoured over any simpler alternative, and the deterministic model yielded the best fit overall. The E (Q0) estimates confirm and strengthen past IWC Scientific Committee inference that under current bowhead subsistence hunting levels the stock should continue to increase towards stabilisation above its maximum sustainable yield level.

Organochlorine contaminant concentrations and lipid profiles in eastern North Pacific gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus)

Organochlorine (OC) contaminant concentrations in tissues and lipid profiles in blubber are summarised for 101 gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) from the eastern North Pacific stock. Samples were obtained from presumably healthy gray whales during a 1994 subsistence hunt in the Russian Arctic (n = 17) and also from biopsy sampling of live animals from the Washington coast (n = 38). In addition, tissues were collected from two groups of animals (1988-1991, n = 22; and 1999, n = 24) that stranded along the west coast of the USA. These whales represent a diverse group of animals with respect to lipid stores, age, gender, health and reproductive status. Information about these biological factors is necessary before contaminant concentration data can be properly interpreted. Differences in blubber lipid levels and profiles were examined among these groups of whales. Significantly higher lipid levels were found in the blubber of subsistence animals that were sampled following summer feeding in the Bering and Chukchi Seas, compared to lipid levels in the biopsied and stranded animals. Lipid class profiles from blubber of presumably healthy gray whales (i.e. from subsistence and biopsy sampling) contained primarily triglycerides and were very different from those of stranded animals that showed lipid decomposition (increased proportions of free fatty acids, cholesterol and phospholipids). Furthermore, lipid class profiles were found to be a means of estimating the quality of a blubber sample from stranded cetaceans. An examination of how biological factors (e.g. gender, reproductive status, age) contribute to interpreting the differences found in contaminant concentrations among the gray whales was also undertaken. Although not statistically significant, higher (OC) concentrations were found in males compared to females, thus suggesting the tendency of the mother to shift her contaminant burden to her calf during gestation and lactation. Results also indicated that there was no significant increase in concentrations of contaminants in the blubber with increase in length (surrogate for age). Higher concentrations of OC contaminants were found in stranded juvenile gray whales, compared to juvenile subsistence whales, and were thought to result from retention of OCs in blubber of the stranded animals as lipid stores are mobilised for energy and total lipid levels decrease, rather than from a difference in diet or feeding areas. OC concentrations in various tissues (blubber, liver, kidney, muscle, brain) were similar on a lipid weight basis, except for brain, which had lower lipid-adjusted OCs because the blood-brain barrier limits contaminant transfer.

Development of a new SNP panel for bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus)

Population genetic research is a critical tool for the conservation and management of marine mammals and other species. The bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) is subject to aboriginal subsistence hunting in Alaska, Canada, Chukotka, and Greenland and managed by the International Whaling Commission for all those countries except Canada. Genetic studies support conservation management plans and the determination of safe hunting quotas by providing information on levels of genetic diversity, estimates of abundance and effective population size, and stock separation. Because bowhead populations are monitored in several countries, including genetic monitoring, there is a need for methods that can be consistently used in multiple labs that provide comparable data that can be publicly shared and built upon by successive studies. Here we present a new panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), derived from multiple bowhead populations, that meet those criteria. We describe the use of the Fluidigm SNPtype assay for analyzing 69 autosomal, 6 X-chromosome, and 1 Y-chromosome SNPs. Results indicate that the methods herein are reliable and have low error rates. Because SNPs are discrete sequence-based genetic markers, the panel of loci described here can be replicated, used in different labs, and are directly comparable, making SNPs more useful than existing microsatellite markers.

Emperor goose fall–winter harvest monitoring and hunter's perspectives in Alaska

AbstractMonitoring harvests and understanding hunters' perspectives are key for effective harvest management. Emperor goose (Anser canagicus) harvest in Alaska was recently re‐authorized after a 30‐year closure, but relatively small numbers of geese are available for a sustainable harvest. We characterized participation in the fall–winter hunting permit program, evaluated harvest monitoring, documented hunter's perspectives, and provided management recommendations. Participants in fall–winter bird hunting include rural, urban, Alaska Native, non‐Indigenous, subsistence, and sport (recreational) hunters, and these categories may overlap. In 2017–2019, 1367 permits were issued to urban Alaska residents (49%), rural residents (47%), and nonresidents (4%). Permit reporting documented take below the fall–winter federal quota. However, ancillary harvest surveys in rural Alaska suggested a substantially higher harvest. In a survey of 2017 and 2018 permit holders, most Alaska urban and nonresident respondents as well as more than half of rural respondents identified sport hunting as their primary motivation for obtaining a permit. These respondents often mentioned a taxidermy mount as a reason for obtaining a permit. About half of respondents motivated by subsistence hunting mentioned food as a reason. Finetuning harvest management include actions to increase participation by rural hunters in the fall–winter permit program, adjustments to boundaries of hunt areas so they are meaningful for hunters, and complementary harvest monitoring for all regulatory seasons.