Article
Ecology
Amy E. Mayer, Laken S. Ganoe, Charles Brown, Brian D. Gerber
Summary: Anthropogenic developments can lead to changes in the environment and resources available to wildlife communities, causing species to adjust their spatial distribution and diel activity. This study used a multi-state diel occupancy modeling framework to examine how a community of mammals responds to anthropogenic development and forest cover, and found that species displayed heterogeneity in diel occupancy and detection in relation to these factors.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tamara Narganes Homfeldt, Denise Risch, Andrew Stevenson, Lea-Anne Henry
Summary: Humpback whales show a clear seasonal and diel pattern at the migratory stopover site off Bermuda, with increased singing activity at night. The study highlights the importance of Bermuda as a two-way migratory stopover site for humpback whales and provides better constraints for anthropogenic activities.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Persia Khan, Laura Eliuk, Sandra Frey, Christopher Bone, Jason T. Fisher
Summary: Coexistence mechanisms among wildlife species may be affected by human disturbance and invasive species. The expansion of white-tailed deer in North America may alter the diel activity of other species and impact conservation efforts.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Matthew J. Clement, J. Andrew Royle, Ronald J. Mixan
Summary: Autonomous recording units (ARUs) are commonly used for surveying species communities, generating counts of unmarked animals. However, these counts often contain false negatives and misclassified detections, which can bias occupancy estimates. We developed a Bayesian implementation of a two-species, false-positive N-mixture model that accounts for detection heterogeneity and improves occupancy estimates without manual verification. This model has been evaluated through simulations and applied to bat surveys, showing superiority over competing occupancy models.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
David W. Wolfson, Peter E. Schlichting, Raoul K. Boughton, Ryan S. Miller, Kurt C. VerCauteren, Jesse S. Lewis
Summary: This study evaluated the daily activity patterns of wild pigs and found that they are influenced by multiple factors, including seasons, sexes, and data collection methods. The daily activity patterns of wild pigs in the subtropical climate of Florida were similar across seasons, sexes, and data collection methods. In contrast, the daily activity patterns of wild pigs in California showed greater differences between seasons and data collection methods.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gregory M. Verutes, Sarah E. Tubbs, Nick Selmes, Darren R. Clark, Peter Walker, Oliver Clements
Summary: This study conducted seasonal habitat models for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Kep Archipelago based on environmental data and species occurrences, revealing their habitat preferences and distribution. The results can guide regional conservation efforts by taking into account the seasonality of the species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel R. Green, Janaina N. Avila, Susanne Cote, Wendy Dirks, Daeun Lee, Christopher J. Poulsen, Ian S. Williams, Tanya M. Smith
Summary: The study uses oxygen isotope data from modern African primate teeth to infer their adaptations to variable seasonal precipitation, potentially relying on fallback food sources and water. The results show that the Miocene ape exhibited intermediate complexity in food intake and environmental adaptation between baboons and modern forest-dwelling chimpanzees.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yixin Tian, Jiapeng Yin, Chengyao Wang, Zhenliang He, Jingyi Xie, Xiaoshan Feng, Yang Zhou, Tianyu Ma, Yang Xie, Xue Li, Tianming Yang, Chi Ren, Chengyu Li, Zhengtuo Zhao
Summary: Researchers have developed a mechanically robust ultraflexible electrode array, the MERF, for high-density, large-scale, and chronic recording of neurons in the nonhuman primate brain. The MERF array has shown promising results in basic neuroscience studies and brain-machine interface applications.
Article
Biology
Jules Dezeure, Alice Baniel, Alecia Carter, Guy Cowlishaw, Bernard Godelle, Elise Huchard
Summary: This study on wild chacma baboons identifies two optimal birth timings in their annual cycle, maximizing offspring survival or minimizing maternal interbirth intervals. Observed births are most frequent between these optima, suggesting an adaptive trade-off between current and future reproduction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Katja Rudolph, Dominik Schneider, Claudia Fichtel, Rolf Daniel, Michael Heistermann, Peter M. Kappeler
Summary: Environmental factors shape population-specific gut microbiota, while intrinsic and social factors have a stronger impact on gut microbiome variation in this primate species.
Article
Ecology
Davina L. Hill, Neville Pillay, Carsten Schradin
Summary: Baseline corticosterone levels, but not testosterone levels, are associated with female social tactic in striped mice. Corticosterone levels at the start of the breeding season may be an indicator of subsequent social tactic. Glucocorticoids may play a modulatory role in social organization in facultatively social species.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tomomitsu Miyoshi, Takeshi Morimoto, Hajime Sawai, Takashi Fujikado
Summary: Retinal prostheses like STS have been shown to be safe and potentially provide large visual field coverage, making them an attractive option for the development of retinal prosthetic devices. However, functional evaluation through neurophysiological experiments is still needed to fully assess their spatial resolution and effectiveness.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Richa Singh, Manjari Jain
Summary: This study explored the temporal variation in calling activity of Acanthogryllus asiaticus on a daily and seasonal scale, as well as the acoustic structure of mating calls. Results showed distinct calls patterns with the potential for peak frequency to indicate male body size.
BIOACOUSTICS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SOUND AND ITS RECORDING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Alessandra Galli, Nicolo Lago, Sarah Tonello, Mario Bortolozzi, Marco Buonomo, Morten Gram Pedersen, Andrea Cester, Giada Giorgi
Summary: This paper proposes a processing technique to accurately and reliably extract single-cell action potentials from signals acquired by extracellular recording devices. The proposed method utilizes denoising and threshold-based classification techniques to improve the performance of peak detection. The results of tests on simulated and experimental data demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON INSTRUMENTATION AND MEASUREMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Bronte E. Van Helden, Paul G. Close, Barbara A. Stewart, Peter C. Speldewinde
Summary: This study investigated the seasonal variations in garden features influencing the presence and/or abundance of arboreal, flying, and ground-dwelling mammals in urban gardens. The findings suggest that sampling in multiple seasons is essential for identifying comprehensive features influencing wildlife in gardens, as different factors may be influential in different seasons. It is important to consider both features that support wildlife across seasons and those that support critical life-history events in a single season for effective conservation outcomes.
Article
Zoology
Cristian Perez-Granados, Karl-L. Schuchmann, Marinez I. Marques
Summary: Passive acoustic monitoring coupled with automated signal recognition software was used to monitor the vocal behavior of the Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl. The species showed highest vocal activity in the hours prior to sunrise during the crepuscular periods. Breeding period starts in June, and nesting phase likely begins in September.
STUDIES ON NEOTROPICAL FAUNA AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guillaume Latombe, Hanno Seebens, Bernd Lenzner, Franck Courchamp, Stefan Dullinger, Marina Golivets, Ingolf Kuehn, Brian Leung, Nuria Roura-Pascual, Emma Cebrian, Wayne Dawson, Christophe Diagne, Jonathan M. Jeschke, Cristian Perez-Granados, Dietmar Moser, Anna Turbelin, Piero Visconti, Franz Essl
Summary: This study investigated the impact of socio-economic and environmental factors on biological invasions and found that trade, governance, lifestyle and education are the best indicators for explaining invasive species richness and a country's capacity to manage invasions. Historical levels of governance and trade were found to have a stronger influence than recent levels, highlighting the importance of historical factors in shaping future invasions. The results provide valuable insights for decision-making and management of biological invasions.
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Cristian Perez-Granados, Karl-L Schuchmann
Summary: Studying the vocal behavior of the Striped Cuckoo in the Brazilian Pantanal revealed clear seasonal patterns and differences between different vocalization types. The study suggests that the Striped Cuckoo breeds during the dry season and leaves during the flooding period.
Article
Biology
Kathrin Burs, Lydia Moecklinghoff, Marinez Isaac Marques, Karl-L. Schuchmann
Summary: This study used camera trap data to investigate the spatial and temporal patterns of lowland tapirs in two different regions of the Pantanal wetland in Brazil. The results show that habitat characteristics, seasons, and human activities have different effects on tapirs in these regions. Adaptation strategies based on avoidance may be more effective in areas with less human pressure and sufficient protected areas.
Article
Ecology
Cristian Perez-Granados, Karl -L. Schuchmann
Summary: Passive acoustic monitoring coupled with automated signal recognition software has been widely used for wildlife monitoring and combatting illegal activities. This study evaluates the performance of this technique in monitoring illegal cattle occurrences in the Brazilian Pantanal. The study found that automated software efficiently detected cow calls and could be used to direct patrols to areas with confirmed illegal activities. Future studies should assess the impact of cattle grazing on wildlife and flora, and advancements in automated recognition offer potential for improved conservation.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Ornithology
Cristian Perez-Granados
Summary: Automated recognition software, such as BirdNET, is crucial for effective passive acoustic monitoring. Despite growing popularity, BirdNET has been subject to few assessments, hindering the interpretation of ecological results and decision-making. Studies evaluating BirdNET show relatively high average precision (72-85% of correctly identified detections) and recall rate (33-84% of target species vocalizations detected), but few have linked BirdNET detections to ecological processes or real-world monitoring schemes. Recommendations for evaluating BirdNET efficiency and considering the confidence score threshold are provided.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Julia Gomez-Catasus, Margarita Reverter, Daniel Bustillo-de la Rosa, Adrian Barrero, Cristian Perez-Granados, Julia Zurdo, Juan Traba
Summary: Open semi-natural ecosystems have been affected by anthropogenic land-use, with the abandonment or intensification of activities causing detrimental landscape alterations. This study focuses on the impact of sheep grazing on arthropod biomass and space use by insectivorous birds, finding that intermediate levels of grazing lead to the highest biomass of different arthropod groups. Short-term grazing affects arthropod biomass, while long-term grazing influences vegetation structure and determines bird territory establishment. The results highlight the importance of sustained moderate grazing in conserving steppe biodiversity.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Filipe Ferreira de Deus, Karl-L. Schuchmann
Summary: This study investigated the movement patterns of hummingbirds in the highly variable environment of the Brazilian Pantanal. The results showed significant differences in species richness and abundance between habitats, with savanna habitats being the richest during rainy seasons.
ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Gerard Bota, Robert Manzano-Rubio, Lidia Catalan, Julia Gomez-Catasus, Cristian Perez-Granados
Summary: The efficient analysis of sound recordings obtained through passive acoustic monitoring is challenging due to the large amount of data collected. BirdNET, a new machine learning tool, was evaluated for its effectiveness in identifying and detecting two cryptic forest bird species. BirdNET showed high precision rates for both species and successfully detected them in the majority of annotated recordings.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Margarita Reverter, Cristian Perez-Granados, German M. Lopez-Iborra, Amparo Garcia-Mellado, Emilio Aledo-Olivares, Manuel Alcantara, Antonio Aranda, Adrian Barrero, Gerard Bota, Daniel Bustillo-de la Rosa, David Cubero, David Giralt, Julia Gomez-Catasus, Matias de las Heras, Jose M. Fernandez-Palacios, Jose R. Garrido, Mariano Paracuellos, Miguel A. Rubio, Gema Ruiz, Pedro Saez-Gomez, Victor Salvador, Javier Sampietro, Ana Santos-Torres, David Serrano, Julia Zurdo, Juan Traba
Summary: The population of the Dupont's lark in Europe has declined by 29.9% from 2004 to 2009, and the species' distribution range has also decreased by 35.9%. Only 39.3% of the species' territories are currently protected within special protection areas. Urgent conservation measures are needed to prevent the species from going extinct.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Cristian Perez-Granados, Gerard Bota, Julia Gomez-Catasus, Magda Pla, Adrian Barrero, Pedro Saez-Gomez, Margarita Reverter, German M. Lopez-Iborra, David Giralt, Daniel Bustillo-de la Rosa, Julia Zurdo, Juan Traba
Summary: The impact of an extreme winter snowstorm on the abundance of Dupont's Lark Chersophilus duponti was evaluated, and it was found that there was a drastic and significant population decline in the next reproductive season following the extreme weather event. The snowstorm, combined with extreme cold weather, may have hindered the bird's ability to find food resources and regulate body temperature, leading to its displacement and increased mortality risk.
BIRD CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Ornithology
Julia Zurdo, Paula Gomez-Lopez, Adrian Barrero, Daniel Bustillo- de la Rosa, Julia Gomez-Catasus, Margarita Reverter, Cristian Perez-Granados, Manuel B. Morales, Juan Traba
Summary: This study used faecal DNA metabarcoding to describe the diet of nestlings and adults of five shrub-steppe passerine species in central Spain. The results showed differences in dietary composition between nestlings and adults, high diet overlap among nestlings of different species, and higher diet richness in adults. Nestlings were fed nutrient-rich prey, while adults selected easily digestible and protein- and calcium-rich prey. The findings shed light on the ecology and conservation of these declining steppe birds.
Article
Ornithology
Adrian Barrero, Julia Gomez-Catasus, Cristian Perez-Granados, Daniel Bustillo-de la Rosa, Juan Traba
Summary: Territorial defence of birds is influenced by factors such as food abundance and conspecific density. A study on Dupont's Lark found that response to foreign male playback was influenced by conspecific density, habitat quality, and male body condition. Areas with higher conspecific density and poorer habitat quality had a greater probability of response, while areas with lower conspecific density had longer latency time. Intrasexual communication increased with habitat quality, while intraspecific communication increased in poorer quality habitats and at a higher density of conspecifics. Body condition did not have an effect on the response.