Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kristyn R. Vitale
Summary: This paper reviews the literature on the social behavior of free-ranging cats (FRCs) and finds that their relationships are socially complex and influenced by various factors. The study also identifies interactions between FRCs and humans and wildlife. The findings suggest that FRCs are social generalists who display flexible social behavior, highlighting the need for further research in this area.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Laura Arena, Laura Menchetti, Silvana Diverio, Giovanna Guardini, Angelo Gazzano, Chiara Mariti
Summary: Overweight and obesity are significant health issues in domestic cats, with this study aiming to identify predictive factors associated with these conditions. Factors such as age, neutering, stress, and being alone during the day were found to increase the likelihood of a cat being overweight, while the presence of other animals had a protective effect. Discrepancies between owners' perceptions and clinical evaluations of a cat's body condition were a common risk factor for overweight.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
D. J. Herrera, M. Cove, W. J. McShea, D. T. Flockhart, S. Decker, S. M. Moore, T. Gallo
Summary: Research shows that predation by domestic cats is highest where supplemental food is most abundant, and the probability of cats preying on native species increases closer to forest edges. Recommendations include implementing cat exclusionary buffer zones around urban forests and considering the spatial location of cat-feeding sites in management policies. These findings provide a data-driven approach to managing free-roaming domestic cats.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Neva Mercnik, Maja Prevolnik Povse, Dejan Skorjanc, Janko Skok
Summary: Among domestic animals, domestic cats have the highest proportion of free-ranging individuals and play an important role in ecosystems. This study examined their circadian, lunar, and seasonal activity patterns. The research found that cats were most active during spring and summer, with a nocturnal/crepuscular activity pattern. There was a tendency for increased nocturnal activity around the new moon, particularly in spring. Understanding these activity rhythms is crucial for managing cats and minimizing their impact on wildlife.
APPLIED ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jace C. Taylor, Steven B. Bates, Jericho C. Whiting, Brock R. McMillan, Randy T. Larsen
Summary: Camera traps have been proven to be an effective, accurate, and safer method for estimating ungulate population abundance compared to traditional aerial surveys. By photographing marked animals in camera traps, a permanent record is created for future ecological and population research.
REMOTE SENSING IN ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Seraiah T. Coe, Jared A. Elmore, Elisa C. Elizondo, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Increasing free-ranging cat populations pose a threat to wildlife and biodiversity conservation. The trap-neuter-return (TNR) program in Stillwater, Oklahoma initiated in 2013 showed limited effectiveness in reducing cat abundance. Additional long-term monitoring is required to assess the impact of TNR on cat populations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rebecca N. Davenport, Melinda Weaver, Katherine C. B. Weiss, Eric G. Strauss
Summary: Urban coyotes and domestic cats spatially overlap in green spaces in Culver City, California, which may be responsible for the frequent cases of coyote depredation on cats.
Article
Ecology
Hannah E. Clyde, D. Ryan Norris, Emily Lupton, Elizabeth A. Gow
Summary: By using trail cameras and walking surveys, we found that the abundance of cats varies significantly across different seasons and locations, with factors such as proximity to buildings, distance to agriculture, major roads, and the presence of coyotes playing a role.
Article
Environmental Studies
Genevieve C. Perkins, Amanda E. Martin, Adam C. Smith, Lenore Fahrig
Summary: Domestic cats are common predators of birds in urban areas, with both lethal and sublethal effects on individual birds. Reducing outdoor cat densities may benefit urban bird communities, but the specific impact is uncertain and further research is needed to address the disconnect between the negative effects of cats on individual birds and their effects on bird populations.
Article
Ecology
Maria De la Puente-Arevalo, Paolo Motta, Salome Duerr, Charlotte Warembourg, Christopher Nikola, Jordana Burdon-Bailey, Dagmar Mayer, Frederic Lohr, Andy D. Gibson, Patrick Chikungwa, Julius Chulu, Luke Gamble, Neil E. Anderson, Barend M. deC Bronsvoort, Richard J. Mellanby, Stella Mazeri
Summary: Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease with a significant mortality rate. This study focused on the roaming behavior and home range size of free-roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) in Blantyre city, Malawi. Factors such as gender, household composition, and diet were found to influence the size of the dogs' home ranges. The results have implications for rabies control and prevention interventions, as well as public awareness campaigns.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Kevin F. P. Bennett, Brian S. Evans, J. Alan Clark, Peter P. Marra
Summary: Research findings suggest that cat abundance is highest in areas with intermediate human population density and lower educational attainment. In high-intensity urban areas, cats tend to be strictly nocturnal, possibly due to a higher proportion of unowned cats or to avoid human activity.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Christopher Cole Frishcosy, Yao Wang, Yunping Xi
Summary: The rapid urbanization has led to a more complex relationship between the man-made system and Earth development. Fuel energy, as the main connection between urban and environment, has been a hot spot in recent scientific research. This study proposed a novel method to estimate the mass of fuel load in urban areas, utilizing parameters such as fire load density (FLD) and building types to investigate the distribution of combustible materials. The case study in Washington D.C. demonstrated the significant influence of different land-use types on fuel mass quantities in various districts.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elizabeth A. Gow, Joseph B. Burant, Alex O. Sutton, Nikole E. Freeman, Elora R. M. Grahame, Matthew Fuirst, Marjorie C. Sorensen, Samantha M. Knight, Hannah E. Clyde, Nathaniel J. Quarrell, Alana A. E. Wilcox, Roxan Chicalo, Stephen G. Van Drunen, David S. Shiffman
Summary: The study found that popular press often oversimplified and provided unbalanced coverage of issues related to free-roaming cats. They mainly presented viewpoints from animal welfare and rights groups, focused on TNR or euthanasia as the only viable management strategies for cats, ignoring many other existing alternatives supported by experts. Additionally, they discussed the impacts of cats on birds and small mammals but overlooked reptiles or amphibians.
Article
Sociology
D. T. Tyler Flockhart, Lauren Lipsey, Daniel J. Herrera, Justin Belsley, Samuel T. Decker, Sophie M. Moore, Erin Robinson, R. Julia Kilgour, Ashley Gramza, William McShea, Michael V. Cove, Roger Haston, Margaret R. Slater, Danielle Jo Bays, John D. Boone
Summary: Accurate information about the number of cats living outdoors and how they respond to different kinds of management is crucial for resolving debates about outdoor cat policy. The DC Cat Count project aims to develop tools and methods to quantify the cat population in the District of Columbia and identify effective interventions using the best scientific practices. This approach has the potential to improve outcomes for both cats and wildlife.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Eugenia Natoli, Roberto Bonanni, Simona Cafazzo, Daniel S. Mills, Dominique Pontier, Malgorzata Pilot
Summary: Through reconstructing the genetic pedigree and assessing kinship patterns, it was found that free-ranging dogs exhibit a polygynandrous mating system with a network of kinship relationships across packs. While retaining some common reproductive patterns with wolves, such as repeated mating of the same pairs and adult offspring staying within packs, the shift in ecological niche from apex predator to human commensal likely influenced this behavior.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Megan A. Roselli, Bruce H. Noden, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Urban birds in the surrounding landscape play a crucial role in tick infestation patterns, and infestation prevalence is inversely related to urbanization intensity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ellen P. Robertson, Evan P. Tanner, R. Dwayne Elmore, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf, Jonathan D. Mays, Jennifer Knutson, John R. Weir, Scott R. Loss
Summary: As the effects of climate change intensify, there is a growing need to understand the thermal properties of landscapes and their influence on wildlife. Vegetation structure and composition are key thermal properties of landscapes, which can be altered by management approaches, potentially affecting wildlife thermoregulation. Consideration of spatial scale is important in understanding how management practices impact the thermal properties of landscapes relevant to wildlife.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biodiversity Conservation
Scott R. Loss, Bruce H. Noden, Samuel D. Fuhlendorf
Summary: Vector-borne diseases are impacted by woody plant encroachment (WPE), which may increase disease transmission and distribution. Further research on the effects of WPE management on health risks associated with VBDs is crucial for making informed land management and policy decisions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David W. Londe, Daniel Dvorett, Craig A. Davis, Scott R. Loss, Ellen P. Robertson
Summary: Wetlands play vital roles in global ecosystem functions and services, and are hotspots of biodiversity. Climate change poses a significant threat to depressional wetlands in regions like the Southern Great Plains of North America, with predicted extreme weather events and altered hydrological patterns.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Bruce H. Noden, Brandon E. Henriquez, Megan A. Roselli, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Tick-borne diseases are highly prevalent in the south-central United States, but the diversity of Rickettsia species in ticks remains poorly understood. A study in Oklahoma City identified several new rickettsiae using an exclusion assay, shedding light on the presence and classification of these pathogens in Amblyomma americanum ticks.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tara J. Conkling, Christopher J. W. McClure, Sandra Cuadros, Scott R. Loss, Todd E. Katzner
Summary: Wind power is a growing source of renewable energy, but there is a lack of rigorous data collection and variation in study design, limiting our understanding of its impact on wildlife populations. Particularly, there is limited knowledge on the negative effects of wind energy on bird groups such as raptors. Few facilities collect rigorous data on the impact of wind energy on raptors and report mitigation measures to reduce negative effects.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yevgeniya Malyutina, Gail W. T. Wilson, Eric B. Duell, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Non-native earthworm invasions can significantly alter plant communities, particularly through their effects on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. However, most previous research on invasive earthworms has been conducted in areas without native earthworms, limiting our understanding of their impacts in ecosystems where native earthworms are already present. In a tallgrass prairie in the U.S. Great Plains, we found that the total abundance of earthworms was associated with changes in plant community composition, but the abundance of non-native species did not have a significant effect. This suggests that the impacts of earthworm invasions on plant communities may be driven by mechanisms other than alteration of symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Christopher A. Lepczyk, David C. Duffy, David M. Bird, Michael Calver, Dmitry Cherkassky, Linda Cherkassky, Christopher R. Dickman, David Hunter, David Jessup, Travis Longcore, Scott R. Loss, Kerrie Anne T. Loyd, Peter P. Marra, John M. Marzluff, Reed F. Noss, Daniel Simberloff, Grant C. Sizemore, Stanley A. Temple, Yolanda van Heezik
Summary: Free-roaming domestic cats have global impacts on biodiversity and human health, but are often managed using ineffective approaches. Recognizing cats as invasive non-native species is crucial for developing science-based management plans, promoting responsible pet ownership, and enforcing existing laws.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Ornithology
Sirena Lao, Abigail W. Anderson, Robert B. Blair, Joanna W. Eckles, Reed J. Turner, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Weather has a significant impact on collisions between migrating birds and building windows, particularly in spring and fall. Favorable weather for migration increases collisions, such as tailwinds, while impediments to migration, such as changes from fair conditions to headwinds, also increase collisions. Additionally, we found more nuanced weather effects, including the weather conditions 2-3 nights before collisions and multi-day sequences of conditions. Therefore, permanent measures like reducing nighttime lighting and using bird-friendly building design and glass treatments should be prioritized.
ORNITHOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
David W. Londe, Omkar Joshi, Betsey C. York, Craig A. Davis, Scott R. Loss, Ellen P. Robertson, Torre J. Hovick
Summary: This study used an online survey to explore the perspectives of wetland managers and biologists in the Southern Great Plains regarding climate change. The results showed that a majority of wetland managers are experiencing the effects of climate change, with changes in water availability being the most common impact. Managers reported using various approaches to manage changing precipitation, with management of plant species being the most common practice. Lack of funding and uncertainty about the effects of climate change on wetlands were identified as the main barriers to adaptation.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Georgia J. Riggs, Christine M. Barton, Corey S. Riding, Timothy J. O'Connell, Scott R. Loss
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a commercially marketed product (Feather Friendly(R) markers) in reducing bird-window collisions at bus shelters. The results showed a significant reduction in collisions at shelters treated with the product compared to untreated shelters. Treating half of Stillwater's bus shelters resulted in a 64% reduction in total annual bird collisions.
Review
Ecology
Scott R. Loss, Binbin Li, Lisa C. Horn, Michael R. Mesure, Lei Zhu, Timothy G. Brys, Adriaan M. Dokter, Jared A. Elmore, Richard E. Gibbons, Tania Z. Homayoun, Kyle G. Horton, Patsy Inglet, Benjamin J. Jones, Taylor Keys, Sirena Lao, Sara S. Loss, Kaitlyn L. Parkins, Heather L. Prestridge, Georgia J. Riggs, Corey S. Riding, Katherine R. Sweezey, Anna C. Vallery, Benjamin M. Van Doren, Julia Wang, Caley Zuzula, Andrew Farnsworth
Summary: Bird-window collisions (BWCs) pose a major threat to bird populations worldwide, causing billions of bird deaths annually. Citizen-science campaigns have played a crucial role in generating scientific information, raising public awareness, and advocating for policies to reduce collisions. Overcoming constraints such as funding limitations and engaging stakeholders at scale are essential for further success in addressing BWCs.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
R. James Ansley, Victor H. Rivera-Monroy, Kerry Griffis-Kyle, Bruce Hoagland, Amanda Emert, Todd Fagin, Scott R. Loss, Heather R. McCarthy, Nicholas G. Smith, Elizabeth F. Waring
Summary: Climate change interacts with human modifications to the landscape, altering ecosystem structure and function, biodiversity, and species distributions. Understanding the impacts of climate change on foundation species and ecosystem services is crucial for managing and conserving natural resources. Lack of public understanding and past management practices have exacerbated shifts in invasive species, resulting in significant changes in ecosystem structure and function. Management decisions should be informed by an understanding of ecological trends and the critical nature of climate change impacts.
Article
Entomology
Bruce H. Noden, Megan A. Roselli, Scott R. Loss
Summary: Urbanization can affect tick abundance and disease prevalence, and little is known about the impact of urbanization on ticks in North America. This study found that there is a risk of encountering ticks across the entire urbanization gradient in Oklahoma City, USA. Vegetation variables were also associated with tick abundance.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Courtney Maichak, Kris Hiney, Scott R. Loss, Justin L. Talley, Bruce H. Noden
Summary: Woody plant encroachment into grasslands may affect mosquito-borne disease transmission. The study found that the encroachment of eastern redcedar increased the abundance of at least one medically important mosquito species, but did not show a significant association with West Nile virus infection.
JOURNAL OF VECTOR ECOLOGY
(2022)