Types Of Shelters Research Articles

Update on the distribution of the free-tailed bat, Nyctinomops aurispinosus (Chiroptera, Molossidae), with new records for the Caatinga and Brazilian Amazon

Abstract In Brazil, three out four bat species from the genus Nyctinomops are known. Most of occurrences of these species are based on captures with mist-nets. In this study, we extend the distribution of Nyctinomops aurispinosus in Brazil, providing new records for the Brazilian states of Mato Grosso (1), Roraima (1), Pará (2) and Pernambuco (1). We also confirm the use of new types of shelter by N. aurispinosus, such as rock crevices in dryland environments and river boulders. We provide new fundamental information about the biology, behavioural and ecological patterns of this species.

Role of neighbourhood spatial and energy design in reducing energy vulnerability during power disruption

This research discusses the role of neighbourhoods' design in reducing their energy vulnerability during power disruptions. Neighbourhoods’ design includes building types and their role and function, as well as land use and spatial design of the neighbourhood. The architectural design and energy characteristics of specific buildings are analysed to assess their potential to act as local shelters in case of evacuations, and available renewable and alternative energy sources to supply energy during power outage. The neighbourhoods considered in this study are designed according to sustainable practices while reflecting North American practice of urban developments. Several response scenarios are designed and analysed to account for the duration of disruptions, scenarios of evacuations, and type of temporary shelters. The role of neighbourhood design is highlighted under each of these scenarios, and recommendations on practices to enhance resilience are discussed. Building such as schools with shelter energy intensity of 9.5 kWh can be prioritized during the evacuations in power outages. By modifying standard design guidelines for shelters of 5.6 m2/person to 4 m2/person, the shelter to population ratio can be significantly increased (i.e., by 77%–80%) supporting community resilience. The relevance of proximity of shelter building to residential areas as well as role of landscape for additional energy system installation are also discussed in this work.

“Relational homeˮ as a strategy for an intersubjective psychoanalytic approach to working with the consequences of psychic trauma

This article attempts to theoretically analyse the concept of “relational homeˮ, introduced by Robert D. Stolorow. The clinical and theoretical contexts of the formation of this concept, due to the original theory of mental trauma, formulated within the framework of intersubjective psychoanalysis, are studied. Based on this study, an analysis of this concept was made. In the course of this study, the content of this concept was revealed. A phenomenological analysis of various types of mental trauma was carried out, in relation to which Robert D. Stolorow proposes to apply this strategy. And also a comparison was made between two different situations: using the considered strategy in relation to a person experiencing a painful affect, as well as in relation to a person who has experienced a mental trauma. It has been pointed out that this difference reveals two different types of emotional shelter, one of which takes place in human relationships in everyday life, and the second, mainly refers to the situation of psychological counseling. The article also proposed an interpretation of these varieties of psychoanalytic strategies in terms of intersubjective field theory, designed to emphasise the importance of this distinction.

Spatial analysis of provision the population of Kharkiv with civil defense facilities

The article analyzed the territorial aspect of the distribution and capacity characteristics of civil defense structures in the city of Kharkiv, comparing it with the population size. In the first stage, population density was calculated for specific areas within the maximum permissible radius of the nearest available shelter. The spatial characteristics of the location (level of clustering) and capacity of the defense structures were examined for these same areas. Finally, the population size was correlated with the capacity of the civil defense structures, and spatial clustering of the identified areas was conducted based on this attribute. The geostatistical method of spatial interpolation was used to determine population density in specific areas and fill gaps in the primary data. The application of this method required the following sequential procedures: transforming the primary data according to a normal distribution, constructing a semivariogram model of the transformed variables, aggregating the model into a surface, and defining target polygons. During the calculation of the territorial provision of various types of shelters in the city of Kharkiv, the following sources were utilized: a layer of point objects from the interactive map of open data on the Kharkiv Geoportal (to determine the locations and types of protective structures), and information from the website of the non-commercial enterprise «Emergency Medical Care and Disaster Medicine Center» of the Kharkiv Regional Council (to update information on the capacity of storage facilities and anti-radiation shelters). The Global Moran’s Index and Local Moran’s Index are statistical methods used to assess spatial autocorrelation, which is the degree of clustering or spatial pattern in a variable across a defined area. In this case, they were employed to evaluate the spatial autocorrelation of the capacity of civil defense structures in specific parcels in Kharkiv. The Global Moran’s Index indicated a high level of clustering of areas based on this attribute. Using the Local Moran’s Index, parcels were classified into five object classes: High-High cluster (HH), Low-Low cluster (LL), a high-value outlier surrounded by low-values (HL), a low-value outlier surrounded by high-values (LH), and areas without cluster or outliers (non-significant). The scientific novelty of the article, compared to related studies on a similar topic, lies in the utilization and transformation of a hexagonal grid of population density distribution in the city of Kharkiv, in accordance with the research requirements. In the conclusions, based on the results of cluster analysis and through the adaptation of the tectological principle of the weakest link to the realities of the present, a comprehensive sequential strategy for addressing the shortcomings of territorial provision of civil defense structures in ensuring the population of Kharkiv was proposed.

Mesh-shelters provide more effective long-term protection than tube-shelters or mulching for restoration of Pinus halepensis in a Mediterranean arid ecosystem

Forest restoration is challenging in arid and semiarid lands. Research has identified ecotechnologies that may alleviate stressful conditions of planted seedlings, but studies are often limited to the first few years of regeneration establishment. Over 20 years, we tested the effects of tree shelters (mesh- and tube-shelters) and competition suppression (two types of synthetic mulch and manual weeding) on soil water content and development of Pinus halepensis on an arid site in southeastern Spain. Competition suppression increased soil water content at shallow depths only using a polyethylene sheet, with no effect on survival. Tree shelters had a much greater effect than competition suppression on tree responses. Survival was mostly affected by shelter type, with lower survival in tube-shelters compared to mesh-shelters and non-protected seedlings; differences began after the first year, but became more pronounced following an intense drought at 3 years. Survival for pines protected by mesh-shelters was significantly higher than for non-protected seedlings beginning at 6 years, and mortality did not stabilize until 15 years. After 20 years, survival ranked in order of mesh-shelters (57.5%), non-sheltered (46%), and tube-shelters (29.5%). Effects of shelter type on growth response over time followed an opposite pattern, with differences declining when pines outgrew the height of the shelter after 3 years. The response of pines to tube-shelters could be explained by the microenvironmal differences among vertical protection and its effects on a shade intolerant species such as Pinus halepensis: survival depletion is provoked probably by a reduction in root growth under the shaded conditions of tubes. On the other side, growth and morphology response could be partially explained by differences in light, but response of pines in mesh also points towards a reduction of wind pressure that precludes stem growth in thickness. Competition suppression had no effect on pine growth. Lack of response to main effects of competition suppression treatments can be attributed to the minimum changes of soil water content to mulching or weeding under arid conditions. Thus, 20 years after planting, tube-shelters and competition suppression treatments were relatively ineffective at improving survival or growth of P. halepensis. Mesh-shelters are recommended as the most effective protection method for restoration under arid site conditions.

Characteristics of winter bat aggregations in Poland: a review

The distribution of natural wintering roosts of bats in Poland is not homogenous, and covers almost exclusively the south of Poland: the Kraków–Wieluń Upland, the Sudetes, the Carpathian and the Świętokrzyskie mountains. Man-made underground shelters, on the other hand, are found across the country, including areas outside the range of natural caves. Based on literature data and own observations, the size and species composition of winter bat aggregations occupying natural and artificial roosts were compared. The data concern records both published and collected between 1992 and 2019. The start date of the range was assumed due to the well-established formula of nationwide bat monitoring that started in 1988 (important factor: correctness of species identification), while the end date was based on the availability of publications. We arbitrarily adopted 50 individuals as the minimum number of bats in a certain wintering site, found at a minimum of one during the study period. In total, we collected data on 128 wintering sites: 42 natural and 86 man-made. The overall size of the analysed aggregations reaches at a minimum of 88 800 individuals of which man-made gathered at minimum 77 600 individuals, while natural gathered almost 12 200 individuals. The most abundant bat aggregations were recorded in man-made underground sites: up to 38 594 individuals, while in natural sites only up to 2900 individuals, but the average aggregation size did not differ between the two types of shelters (169 vs. 156, F = 3.368, df = 1,128; p = 0.069). In contrast, the number of species wintering in natural shelters is higher than in man-made ones (8 vs. 6 species, F = 9.785, df = 1.128, p = 0.002179). P. pipistrellus was found only in anthropogenic shelters. In addition, this type of shelters is characterised by a higher proportion of M. daubentonii (16.4% vs. 3.7%), M. myotis (42.0% vs. 29.1%), M. nattereri (26.4% vs. 16.5%), and B. barbastellus (11.3% vs. 7%), as well as species recorded incidentally: P. austriacus (0.09% vs. 0.04%) and E. serotinus (0.17% vs. 0.07%). In contrast, R. hipposideros (16.7%) and M. emarginatus (5.7%) were recorded almost exclusively in caves; moreover, M. brandtii/mystacinus (15.6% vs. 0.3%) and P. auritus (4.2% vs. 1.9%) were clearly predominant in these shelters. Some of these differences could be explained by the effect of geographical location: some species are found only in the south of the country (R. hipposideros, M. emarginatus), on the other hand, artificial shelters are usually characterised by more dynamic microclimate, preferred, in turn, by species rarely found in natural shelters.

1359. Human Parainfluenza Epidemiology in Homeless Shelters — King County, Washington

Abstract Background Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) cause respiratory illness in individuals of all ages. However, HPIV epidemiology data in people experiencing homelessness (PEH) are limited. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from a clinical trial and SARS-CoV-2 surveillance study in 23 homeless shelters in King County, Washington from October 2019-May 2021. Questionnaires and nasal swab specimens were obtained from eligible participants at enrollment. Between October 2019-March 31, 2020, participants included those aged > 3 months with acute respiratory illness. Monthly shelter surveillance was also conducted where participants were recruited regardless of symptoms. With the community spread of SARS-CoV-2, the study design transitioned from a clinical trial to a SARS-CoV-2 surveillance study which expanded enrollment eligibility to include participants with or without symptoms from April 1, 2020, onward. Participants were not followed longitudinally but were permitted to enroll multiple times during the study period. Specimens were tested for HPIV 1-4 and other respiratory viruses using RT-PCR. Results Among 14,464 specimens, 32 were HPIV-positive from 29 participants (median age 9 years, range 0.3-64 years; 45% female; 28% Black; 10% with chronic conditions) of which 59% were children. Family shelters had the highest percentage of HPIV infections (Table). HPIV was detected every month before the community spread of SARS-CoV-2. All HPIV-positive samples in May 2021 came from a single family shelter (Figure). Only 67% of HPIV-positive participants had symptoms with runny nose, cough and sore throat the most commonly reported. HPIV co-detection with other respiratory viruses occurred in 19% of HPIV-positive specimens; Rhinovirus co-detection (16%) was the most common. Human Parainfluenza Encounters by Shelter Type Before and After April 1, 2020 Human Parainfluenza Positive Samples by Shelter Type Among Unique Participants Conclusion HPIV affected PEH of all ages with most cases in shelters with children. Coinciding with community-wide SARS-CoV-2 mitigation efforts, the number of HPIV infections were reduced. However, a cluster of HPIV infections still occurred within one family shelter. Shelter-specific public health measures including non-pharmaceutical interventions used during the COVID-19 pandemic may reduce HPIV infections among residents. Disclosures Janet A. Englund, MD, AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Advisor/Consultant Helen Y. Chu, MD, MPH, Cepheid: Reagents|Ellume: Advisor/Consultant|Gates Ventures: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant.

1456. Environmental and Nasal Pathogen Surveillance in Seattle Area Homeless Shelters

Abstract Background The need for community surveillance of respiratory viruses in high-risk settings such as homeless shelters has been underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we show that sampling high-touch surfaces is a low-cost, minimally intensive means of community respiratory virus surveillance. Methods Environmental samples were collected weekly from adult and family homeless shelters in King County, WA from November 2019 – April 2020. At times when residents were present, a 10cm2 area of selected high-touch surfaces were swabbed and bioaerosol samples were collected in high-traffic areas. Surfaces included entrance and restroom doorknobs, counters, and surfaces unique to each shelter. Study staff collected mid-turbinate swabs from shelter resident participants aged > 3 months with symptoms of acute respiratory illness (ARI). All samples were tested by RT-PCR for 27 viruses. From January 1, 2020 onward, samples were also tested for SARS-CoV-2. Results A total of 788 environmental swabs, 1509 nasal swabs, and 98 bioaerosol samples from 6 adult and 3 family shelters were tested. Adenovirus (109 positive swabs, 13.8% of tested swabs), rhinovirus (107, 13.6%) and human bocavirus (62, 7.9%) were the most frequently detected viruses in surface swabs. Rhinovirus (160, 10.6%), human coronaviruses (79, 5.24%) and influenza B (43, 2.85%) were the most detected in nasal swabs. All viruses detected in nasal swabs were found in surface swabs. Of 9 surfaces, exterior bathroom doorknobs were the physical location with the highest number of pathogens detected. SARS-CoV-2 was first detected in surface swabs on 3/20/20, and in nasal swabs on 3/10/20. Bioaerosol samples detected virus in a low percentage of samples relative to surface and nasal swabs. Table 1Count and period prevalence of environmental viral detection by shelter type, November 18, 2019 - April 10, 2020.Figure 1Number of viral pathogens detected from environmental swabs, disaggregated by shelter type.Figure 2Bar graphs comparing prevalence of respiratory pathogen detection in mid-turbinate nasal swabs and environmental swabs/bioaerosol samples by epidemiologic week, November 18, 2019 - April 30, 2020. Conclusion Respiratory viruses detected through environmental sampling in homeless shelters were similar to the viruses detected from ARI episodes in study participants. Environmental surface sampling presents a plausible, minimally invasive method of surveillance for both endemic and emerging respiratory pathogens, as evidenced by the detection of SARS-CoV-2 during the early stages of the pandemic. Further research could focus on sampling public locations for broader community surveillance and culturing viruses found on these surfaces. Disclosures Michael J. Boeckh, MD PhD, Allovir: Advisor/Consultant|Amazon: Grant/Research Support|Ansun Biopharma: Grant/Research Support|EvrysBio: Advisor/Consultant|Gates Ventures: Grant/Research Support|Gilead Sciences: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead Sciences: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Advisor/Consultant|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Helocyte: Advisor/Consultant|Janssen: Advisor/Consultant|Janssen: Grant/Research Support|Kyorin Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Moderna: Advisor/Consultant|Moderna: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|ReViral: Advisor/Consultant|Symbio: Advisor/Consultant|Takeda: Grant/Research Support|Vir Biotechnology: Advisor/Consultant|Vir Biotechnology: Grant/Research Support Janet A. Englund, MD, AstraZeneca: Advisor/Consultant|AstraZeneca: Grant/Research Support|GlaxoSmithKline: Grant/Research Support|Meissa Vaccines: Advisor/Consultant|Merck: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Sanofi Pasteur: Advisor/Consultant Helen Y. Chu, MD, MPH, Cepheid: Reagents|Ellume: Advisor/Consultant|Gates Ventures: Grant/Research Support|Merck: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Advisor/Consultant.

Attack behavior leading cannibalism in tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae under different tank colors and shelter type

Aggressivity expressed as cannibalism in fish larvae is a problem that limits the development of many species in aquaculture, therefore, understanding it and generating strategies to reduce its impact is important. This study described cannibalistic attacks behavior in Tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus) larvae. The larvae were exposed to different tank colors and shelters (rocks and plastic vegetation), in pairs (2 larvae) and in groups (10 larvae). In addition, attacks behavior, types of attacks, and morphometric aspects related to cannibalism were described. In pairs, attacks occurred in greater numbers with white background color (8.50 ± 0.70) and fewer for yellow and purple (0.66 ± 0.57, p < 0.05). The largest number of group attacks was observed with the background colors pink, blue and yellow, and purple to a lesser extent. The presence of shelters (artificial vegetation) decreased the attacks in pairs and in groups compared to the use of rocks as refuge. A. tropicus larvae show a clear preference for artificial vegetation. It was found that morphologically, both juveniles and larvae (10 Days after hatching (DAH)) can consume prey greater than their own body depth (1.59 ± 0.22, 1.00 ± 0.12) and body width (1.74 ± 0.29, 0.94 ± 0.12). The mouth depth angle was significantly higher in larvae (10 DAH) (85.63 ± 6.41°), which decreases as age increases. A total of 452 events were recorded, four behaviors were described: interaction (214 events, 47 attacks, effectiveness of the attack (EA) 21.96%), chasing (127 events, 44 attacks, EA 34.64%), escape (62 events), and fast swimming (47 events). Three types of attacks were recorded: frontal (41.24%), lateral (29.94%), and posterior (28.81%), with three attack regions: head (31.64%), body (10.72%), and tail (57.63%). The most frequent attack was posterior tail with 70 events (39.55%). Attacker presented a S-like curvature prior to the attack (30.50%). Differences were determined in the percentage of weight (g) and total length (cm) between the attacker larvae and the attacked larvae 16.39 ± 10.86% and 15.23 ± 5.68%, respectively. In conclusion, A. tropicus larvae show cannibalism Type I, II, and two variants of Type III. It is suggested that this species is a more efficient cannibal than an interspecific predator. The relation of the greater number of attacks in the white color tanks could be related to the contrast with the bottom, thus, there is a less preference for this color. This information is essential to carry out a more efficient sorting of the larvae during their culture and reduce cannibalism in the larval stage in A. tropicus. The results of this study could be useful to understand this behavior in other species.

Residents’ Perception of the Quality of Facilities and Services at “The Residence”, Festac Town, Lagos

Housing is one of the three basic needs of man and is crucial to man’s survival. The goal of providing any type of shelter is to ensure maximum satisfaction and convenience for its users. Over the years, residents’ satisfaction with private housing estates in Nigeria has not attracted much attention from researchers, compared to public housing estates. This study therefore investigated residents’ perception of the quality of facilities and services provided in “The Residence”, Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos, Nigeria. This was done in order to determine the level of satisfaction of residents with the quality of facilities and services. The study’s objectives are to investigate the state of the building’s facilities and services and to ascertain residents’ perceptions of their housing environment in terms of maintenance and security. A total of 119 questionnaires was administered to the residents in the study area, and a response rate of 71% was achieved. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistical tools. Out of the 17 parameters presented to the residents, they ranked 3 as “excellent”, 13 as “very good” and 1 as “fair”. Moreover, the respondents admitted that the property is well-maintained (RII=0.917) and the maintenance personnel are skillful (RII=0.816). Finally, they also affirmed that “The Residence” is secure due to the presence of functional CCTV (RII=0.896), adequate number of security men (RII=0.868) and a reasonable restriction on visitors’ access to the building (RII=0.851). The study urged the managing agents of “The Residence” to pay constant attention to its facilities and services, which would result in enhanced long-term resident satisfaction. This study is expected to serve as a benchmark for investors in residential buildings, since it offers information on how privately-owned estates in Nigeria – and by extension in other developing nations – may be improved qualitatively.

Data collected by citizen scientists reveal the role of climate and phylogeny on the frequency of shelter types used by frogs across the Americas

Shelters are microhabitats where animals rest and hide. These microhabitats can be used from short daily periods to long-term estivation or hibernation. Environmental conditions and the phenotypical characteristics of the animal drive habitat selection in relation to shelters. Based on this, climate regions and phylogeny are expected to affect the use of different shelter types. Although shelters are yet to be described for most anuran species, a variety of microhabitats have already been reported as shelter-sites, including dense vegetation, rock crevices, and holes in the ground. In this study, we evaluated photos of frogs for sheltering behaviour from 29 countries in the Americas deposited on the popular citizen-science platform, iNaturalist. We compared the frequency of use of different shelter types identified on the photos among different climate regions and anuran families, also testing possible phylogenetic signals. We identified 11,133 photographs of 378 frog species showing individuals hiding in shelters or in a resting position. We classified observations into 10 shelter types, with live vegetation (24.7 %) being the most commonly recorded natural shelter, followed by hole in the ground (11.4 %) and tree trunk (11.1 %). The use of different shelter types varied between arid and humid climates, and also among different anuran families. We found strong phylogenetic signal for three shelter types (hole in the ground, live vegetation, and water) and the differences in shelter use among taxa suggest a relation with body characteristics. Approximately 47 % of observations of threatened and near threatened species were in hole in the ground, while artificial habitat represented only 3.6 % of the observations in this group. The daily pattern of shelter use corroborated the nocturnal activity of most species. Our findings also expanded the description of shelter sites for 330 species that had no published information on this behaviour. This study contributes to our current knowledge about animal behaviour and highlights the use of citizen science as an effective approach to understand the natural history of amphibians at a large scale.

Street Vendors’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Typhoons in Naga City, Philippines

Street vendors belong to the informal business sector operating outside the legal frameworks. With little or no access to social protection, they are perceived to be vulnerable to the adverse effects of a crisis or shocks like typhoons. This study assessed the livelihood vulnerability of street food vendors in an urban city in the Philippines by modifying Hahn's livelihood vulnerability model and the IPCC formula to construct a composite index for exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Using the data obtained from the randomized survey of 100 street food vendors, principal component analysis revealed 10 latent variables related to livelihood vulnerability. These variables are business networks, business experience, human capital, financial capital, livelihood utilities, physical well-being, business risk management, physical damages, business losses, and shelter type. The index scores for each variable show that shelter type, business losses, business risk management, and financial capital are the leading factors of livelihood vulnerability among street food vendors; business network is the least. The overall vulnerability of the sector was found to be at a moderate level. One of the sector's major strengths is having social ties manifested through daily interactions and direct connections with their clients. The study offers a framework for measuring the vulnerability of the informal business sector to climate hazards that is context-specific and multifaceted, encompassing adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure – distinctly integrating an entrepreneurial context indicative of business continuity as a livelihood vulnerability-reducing strategy.

The effect of activity on some milking parameters in holstein cows

The study was conducted on 41-second lactation Holstein cows of German origin. The shelter type is a semi-open field type and the research period is 12 months. The activities in the first 100 days of lactation per day were 451.4 ± 133.5, and in the second 100 days, it was determined at 420.78 ± 118.0. The activities are divided into 3 parts within 24 hours (at night, during the day between two milkings, and in the evening). While there was no statistical difference between days 100 and 200 of lactation, the lowest activity was recorded at night and the highest activity during the day. The conductance, milk flow, and milking duration of the milk were within the normal range in the first 100 and 200 days and no statistical difference between them could be determined. Mean daily milk yield was 28.28 ± 3.86 kg for the first 100 days and 25.15 ± 3.61 kg for the following 100 days, and the difference was found to be significant (P&amp;lt;0.001). To investigate the influence of the daily activity numbers taken into account as factors on the milking parameters, 4 groups were formed for the 100th and 200th days. Accordingly, the effect of activity on milk conductivity, milking duration, and milk yield could not be determined in the first 100 days; its effect on milk flow rate proved significant (P&amp;lt;0.05). No effect of activity on milking parameters was observed in 200 days of lactation. It is assumed that the inclusion of the housing type, lactation number, and lactation period as well as the seasonal effect in activity studies in cows will contribute positively to animal welfare in herd management.

Marine rocky reef assemblages and lithological properties of substrates are connected at different ecological levels

Recent studies suggest that the lithological properties of hard substrates play an important role in influencing the diversity and structure of marine assemblages involving macroalgae, sessile organisms and vagile animals like heterobranchs gastropods and fishes. The present study aims at exploring whether the influence of different substrates (limestone vs granite) could drive the occurrence of different vagile groups (crustacean decapods, echinoderms and fishes). The study was carried out at the “Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo” Marine Protected Area (NE Sardinia, Mediterranean Sea) where substrates of different lithology, namely granites and limestones, occur on a local spatial scale. The diversity and the abundance of 16 vagile species (four crustaceans, seven echinoderms and five fishes) were investigated by the analysis of photographs (2352 images) collected in 20 sites (10 limestones and 10 granites), between 30 and 50 m depth. Statistical analyses showed a clear-cut separation between the assemblages assessed on the two lithological substrate types, with assemblages on granites that were tightly grouped and those on limestones more dispersed. The total species richness did not significantly vary between limestones and granites. Galathea strigosa and Marthasterias glacialis were exclusively recorded on granites, while Palinurus elephas, Scyllarides latus, Arbacia lixula, Ophidiaster ophidianus and Serranus scriba were exclusively found on limestones. The observed patterns could be partially explained by multiple factors related to lithology: i) the different availability of preferred food sources, potentially influenced by substrate type; ii) the site geomorphology, that could provide different dens and refuges (in terms of quantity and types of shelters) suitable for different species; iii) the colour of different substrates enhancing the mimicry of different species according to their livery and camouflage ability. Our and literature data suggest that the substrate type in rocky reefs could interact with other environmental factors (i.e., light intensity related to depth) in shaping the structure of rocky-reef assemblages.

Shelter use by horses during summer in relation to weather conditions and horsefly (Tabanidae) prevalence

National legislation requires shelter access for horses kept outside during winter, whereas there are no requirements for shelter access to provide shade and a refuge from biting insects during summer. This study investigated use of artificial shelters by 10 horse groups continuously for eight summer weeks (2019: 5 groups, 2020: 5 groups, n = 42, 3 – 5 horses per group). Shelter use was recorded every 30 min, using wildlife cameras mounted inside the shelters, i.e., 48 recordings per day for 56 days (a total of 2688 recordings per group where each horse inside the shelter was identified and its behaviour noted). Daily weather conditions were recorded, and horsefly (Tabanidae) prevalence was quantified one day per week using H-traps (i.e. eight trap catches per group). The groups represented a variety of compositions (horse breed, age, gender) and shelter types (design, size). Across all groups and shelter types, shelter use increased on warmer days and the daily rhythm of shelter-seeking behaviour changed; on warmer days, shelter-seeking increased significantly during the day, whereas night-time use was unaffected. Further, significantly more horses were inside on days with the highest trap catch of horseflies compared to days with the lowest catch. We conclude that regardless of group composition and shelter type, horses make increased use of artificial shelters on warm summer days. Since all horses had access to natural shade in their pastures and shelter temperatures were generally higher than outdoor temperatures, we suggest that the increased shelter use on warm summer days was related to nuisance from biting insects. This is supported by the higher shelter use on days with a high horsefly catch. We recommend provision of shelter access to horses kept on summer pastures with limited opportunities to seek natural refuge from biting insects.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Equine West Nile Virus Infections in Eastern Germany, 2020.

West Nile virus (WNV) infections were first detected in Germany in 2018, but information about WNV seroprevalence in horses is limited. The study’s overall goal was to gather information that would help veterinarians, horse owners, and veterinary-, and public health- authorities understand the spread of WNV in Germany and direct protective measures. For this purpose, WNV seroprevalence was determined in counties with and without previously registered WNV infections in horses, and risk factors for seropositivity were estimated. The cohort consisted of privately owned horses from nine counties in Eastern Germany. A total of 940 serum samples was tested by competitive panflavivirus ELISA (cELISA), and reactive samples were further tested by WNV IgM capture ELISA and confirmed by virus neutralization test (VNT). Information about potential risk factors was recorded by questionnaire and analyzed by logistic regression. A total of 106 serum samples showed antibodies against flaviviruses by cELISA, of which six tested positive for WNV IgM. The VNT verified a WNV infection for 54 samples (50.9%), while 35 sera neutralized tick-borne encephalitis virus (33.0%), and eight sera neutralized Usutu virus (7.5%). Hence, seroprevalence for WNV infection was 5.8% on average and was significantly higher in counties with previously registered infections (p = 0.005). The risk factor analysis showed breed type (pony), housing in counties with previously registered infections, housing type (24 h turn-out), and presence of outdoor shelter as the main significant risk factors for seropositivity. In conclusion, we estimated the extent of WNV infection in the resident horse population in Eastern Germany and showed that seroprevalence was higher in counties with previously registered equine WNV infections.

An evaluation of the preferences of the juvenile swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, for different structural properties of shelters

Crustaceans select shelters non-randomly, and their preferences may be mediated by the structural properties of shelters. Providing shelters is an effective approach to improving the survival of pond-raised crabs, but the structural properties of shelters that would significantly benefit the survival rate remain unclear. Here, a laboratory experiment was conducted to examine the preference of swimming crabs (Portunus trituberculatus) for three types of shelter with different depths, heights, and widths using an animal behavioral observation system. The residence time of crabs in each shelter was calculated, the changes in their preference were described by the program PFunc, and the correlations between the carapace width and preference function traits were analyzed. The results showed that juvenile swimming crabs (carapace width = 5.08 ± 0.34 cm) preferred shallow, high, and wide shelters, and the strongest preferences observed were for depth and height. There was a correlation between crab carapace width and preference function traits, which suggests that preferences became stronger as the carapace width increased. Height and width are the two major dimensions that need to be controlled when designing a shelter, and their value should be determined by the carapace width of the crabs. Providing the crabs with shelter at their preferred dimensions in the pond can prolong the residence time, which may help to reduce the frequency of agonistic encounters and improve the survival of the crabs.

Community factors and animal shelter outcomes

ABSTRACT This research explores connections between the nature of a community, the type of animal shelter it has, how animals arrive at the shelter, and outcomes for the animals in terms of adoption or euthanasia. Based on data from Shelter Animals Count, the study concludes that the nature of the local community is related to the type of shelter it is served by, how dogs arrive at the shelter, and directly to outcomes. Areas with greater economic stress and lower educational attainment are more likely to have a municipal shelter, which increases stray intake, and ultimately euthanasia. Community economic stress is also directly associated with lower adoption and higher euthanasia rates. The findings of the study suggest a multi-pronged strategy to increase adoptions and reduce euthanasia focusing on both animal shelters but also using a One Health approach to improve the welfare of both humans and non-human animals.

Living underground: Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) activity in the underground shelters during the active period

The Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) uses different types of shelters at particular times of the year. During hibernation, they are found in underground cavities or sometimes in caves, while during active periods they mostly use above-ground shelters: tree hollows or nest boxes. Selection of such thermally varied shelters is the result of different physiological requirements during both active and non-active periods, choosing a lower and constant temperature during hibernation and higher temperature during mating, gestation, and lactation. However, this species is also observed underground outside of hibernation. It is possible that the Edible Dormouse uses caves as alternative shelters during adverse weather conditions or food shortages. We examined the annual and circadian activity of G. glis in two caves (Czestochowska Upland, southern Poland). Research was conducted for three years (2019 – 2021) using a non-invasive method: camera-traps. We evaluated climatic parameters outside and inside caves and the availability of the main diet (beech seeds, Fagus sylvatica). Our research indicates the year-round presence of G. glis in both caves. Dynamics of their activity vary between seasons (masting vs non-masting), but they are similar in different sites within a year. Dormouse activity in the cave was highest during a full masting season and intermediate and lowest during a mast failure year. Circadian activity varied between phenological periods: from 24-hour activity at the beginning of the season (mating period), to becoming exclusively nocturnal in the remaining period. These results may indicate that, apart from being used for hibernation, caves are also a regular daily shelter for active dormice.

Improving Osmia lignaria and O. cornifrons (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) retention with preferred nest materials and attractant spray

AbstractMason bees (Megachilidae: Osmia) are alternative managed pollinators with the potential to supplement pollination by honey bees in many crops. However, challenges for their management in orchards still remain. If nesting conditions are not optimal, females can show high dispersion rates, which decrease their economic viability at commercial scales. One way to improve female retention is by offering attractive nesting substrates. We tested the effect of several combinations of substrate materials and shelter types, as well as an attractant compound, on the retention and performance of Osmia lignaria and O. cornifrons females. We compared nesting in three types of shelter (blue and white plastic totes and brown pine plywood), with cardboard tubes of four different diameters (5–8 mm), reeds, and wood blocks as substrates at an experimental farm orchard. In a separate experiment with plywood shelters and 7‐mm cardboard tubes, we tested an attractant spray based on decanoic acid (patent number US 9301521B2), a compound isolated from O. lignaria cocoons and expected to encourage females to nest in artificial cavities. In both experiments, O. cornifrons showed higher female retention than O. lignaria. The combination of plywood shelters with reeds had the highest nesting for both species, although O. cornifrons also readily used cardboard tubes of 5–6 mm diameter. The attractant spray increased nesting by O. cornifrons, but not by O. lignaria. We also found a significant interaction between the effect of the attractant and the year of the experiment, indicating that weather and other environmental variables could affect the efficacy of the attractant. Together, our results suggest that using the right combination of shelters and substrates, as well as the attractant spray, is an effective strategy to increase Osmia female retention for orchard pollination.