Article
Ecology
Jacob D. O'Sullivan, J. Christopher D. Terry, Axel G. Rossberg
Summary: This study develops a simple patch occupancy framework and analyzes a dataset of freshwater metacommunities in England to understand the distribution of species occupancy and predict metacommunity-scale species turnover. The results show that the model provides a good fit to empirical OFDs and can be used for prediction.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Ionut Paun, Dirk Husmeier, J. Grant C. Hopcraft, Majaliwa M. Masolele, Colin J. Torney
Summary: Understanding the spatial dynamics of animal movement is crucial for maintaining ecological connectivity and conserving key habitats. This study presents a Bayesian framework based on Gaussian processes to analyze spatial characteristics of animal movement, and demonstrates its effectiveness through synthetic data and telemetry data from the Serengeti wildebeest migration.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Wanchuang Zhu, Roman Marchant, Richard W. Morris, Louise A. Baur, Stephen J. Simpson, Sally Cripps
Summary: This study used data from The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children to model the causal structure of childhood obesity. It found that socio-economic status is a key driver, with parental high school levels and birth weight also influencing childhood obesity.
Article
Ecology
Andrew J. Hamer, Denes Schmera, Michael J. Mahony
Summary: The use of multi-species occupancy models can provide insight into species-habitat relationships and factors shaping amphibian metacommunity structure, contributing to the validation of metacommunity theory.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Martijn Bollen, Thomas Neyens, Maxime Fajgenblat, Valerie De Waele, Alain Licoppe, Benoit Manet, Jim Casaer, Natalie Beenaerts
Summary: The study focuses on a major ASF outbreak in South of Belgium from 2018 to 2020, and evaluates the effectiveness of ASF control measures using a camera trap network. Results show that ASF infection and culling efforts lead to decreased wild boar occupancy rates over time, with an estimated mean total extinction rate ranging between 22.44% and 91.35%.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Experimental
Thomas Kaplan, Lorenzo Jamone, Marcus Pearce
Summary: Music performances contain microtiming, which are systematic temporal irregularities that cannot be notated but are important for expression and communication. This study uses a probabilistic prediction model to show that listeners can implicitly discriminate the mean and variance of stimulus microtiming. The findings suggest that the cognitive mechanisms underlying microtiming perception reflect a continuous inferential process, potentially driving qualitative judgements of rhythmic feel.
Article
Economics
Jesus Crespo Cuaresma, Sebastian Uljas Lutz
Summary: The study identifies economic and demographic covariates as robust predictors of digital variables, and predicts that convergence trends related to digital technology access will continue, but the digital divide in Europe is not expected to disappear in the coming years without specific policy interventions.
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Thierno Souleymane Barry, Oscar Ngesa, Jeremiah Kimani Kiingati, Nelson Owuor Onyango, Aurise Niyoyunguruza, Alexis Habineza, Henry Mwambi, Henri Bello Fika
Summary: Anemia and malaria are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to estimate the spatial linear correlation between anemia and malaria, and investigate the factors affecting morbidity in Guinea. The findings show high prevalences of anemia and malaria in children under five years old in Guinea, and significant associations between each disease and various demographic factors.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alex Diana, Eleni Matechou, Jim E. Griffin, Andrew S. Buxton, Richard A. Griffiths
Summary: Environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys are a popular tool for assessing species distribution, but false positive and false negative observation errors can occur in both field sampling and laboratory analysis stages. Our RShiny app implements a state-of-the-art statistical method that uses Bayesian variable selection to identify important predictors for species presence and model observation errors in eDNA data. The app is user-friendly and efficient, making it valuable for researchers and practitioners working with eDNA data.
Article
Ergonomics
Zhenggan Cai, Fulu Wei
Summary: This study proposes a superior spatiotemporal interaction correlated random parameters logit approach for characterizing unobserved heterogeneity, spatiotemporal correlations, and spatiotemporal interactions.
ACCIDENT ANALYSIS AND PREVENTION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alexander D. Wright, Evan H. Campbell Grant, Elise F. Zipkin
Summary: Dedicated long-term monitoring is crucial for understanding biodiversity losses and developing effective conservation plans. Wildlife monitoring requires data collection at different spatial scales to understand the status, trends, and drivers of species or communities. Limited resources require tradeoffs in data collection scope and scale. The stratified random design outperformed other designs for most parameters, but other designs had improved performance in specific situations.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Andrew J. Marshall, Matthew T. Farr, Lydia Beaudrot, Elise F. Zipkin, Katie L. Feilen, Loren G. Bell, Endro Setiawan, Tri Wahyu Susanto, Tatang Mitra Setia, Mark Leighton, Heiko U. Wittmer
Summary: The study on Western Bornean orangutans found that population abundance fluctuates dramatically across different forest types, with movements playing a crucial role in mitigating fruit scarcity. Peat swamps are identified as crucial fallback habitats, and the utilization of high elevation forests by orangutans is strongly influenced by abiotic conditions.
Article
Ecology
Marcelo H. Jorge, L. Mike Conner, Elina P. Garrison, Michael J. Cherry
Summary: This study explores the link between fire diversity and biodiversity in ecosystems. It finds that frequent fires can increase bird species diversity, supporting the theory that fire diversity begets biodiversity.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Abagael L. Sykes, Edmundo Larrieu, Thelma Veronica Poggio, M. Graciela Cespedes, Guillermo B. Mujica, Maria-Gloria Basanez, Joaquin M. Prada
Summary: Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasitic cestode causing cystic echinococcosis in humans and sheep. A One Health approach is needed for its control. The study evaluated the performance of a novel ELISA diagnostic tool for detecting E. granulosus in sheep, showing promising results for flock-level surveillance.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Hamid Zareifard, Mehdi Mahbod, Zohreh Mohammadi
Summary: Prediction of response values is a primary goal in many applications. The standard approach to this problem is kriging which is essentially a linear prediction using optimal least squares interpolation of the random field. However, the optimal predictor is not necessarily a linear one unless the geostatistical data support the Gaussian model. As data often exhibit non-normality, some of the most effective spatial processes are reviewed in the current study. The usefulness of the presented models is demonstrated based on the prediction of rainfall levels in Fars Province, Iran. The measurements were taken from 100 stations. To assess the predictive performance of the evaluated models, 15 stations were randomly withheld. Subsequently, the predicted values at these locations were evaluated against the measured ones. The results of the study indicated that, comparing to some well-known models, the skew Gaussian model introduced in this article demonstrated a better performance in the prediction..
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kelly R. Martin, Pieter T. J. Johnson, Jay Bowerman, Jingchun Li
Review
Ecology
Andres Valenzuela-Sanchez, Mark Q. Wilber, Stefano Canessa, Leonardo D. Bacigalupe, Erin Muths, Benedikt R. Schmidt, Andrew A. Cunningham, Arpat Ozgul, Pieter T. J. Johnson, Hugo Cayuela
Summary: When facing an emerging infectious disease of conservation concern, limited information is available on host-parasite interactions, but integrating life-history theory into disease ecology can predict and mitigate the impact of infectious diseases on wildlife populations. Host life-history characteristics influence host responses to parasitism at different levels, from individuals to communities, and further research is needed to address knowledge gaps in this area. Theoretical insights from this integration can inform the monitoring and control of infectious diseases in wildlife.
Article
Ecology
Pieter Johnson, Dana M. Calhoun, Wynne E. Moss, Travis McDevitt-Galles, Tawni B. Riepe, Joshua M. Hallas, Thomas L. Parchman, Chris R. Feldman, Tyler J. Achatz, Vasyl V. Tkach, Josh Cropanzano, Jay Bowerman, Janet Koprivnikar
Summary: This study found that local adaptation of the trematode parasites to their amphibian hosts varied depending on the dispersal abilities of the parasites, with Paralechriorchis syntomentera being affected by geographic distance while Ribeiroia ondatrae was not. The differences in local adaptation corresponded to the genetic structure of the parasites, with P. syntomentera populations exhibiting greater genetic divergence compared to R. ondatrae populations.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Sean A. Locke, Fabiana B. Drago, Danimar Lopez-Hernandez, Fred D. Chibwana, Veronica Nunez, Alex Van Dam, Maria Fernanda Achinelly, Pieter T. J. Johnson, Jordana Costa Alves de Assis, Alan Lane de Melo, Hudson Alves Pinto
Summary: Molecular and morphological evidence show transcontinental distributions in two species of Apharyngostrigea Ciurea, 1924, with samples from Africa and the Americas. Sequences confirmed the presence of Apharyngostrigea pipientis in Tanzania, Argentina, Brazil, USA, and Canada, with hosts surveyed from various regions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Bethany J. Hoye, Celeste M. Donato, Simeon Lisovski, Yi-Mo Deng, Simone Warner, Aeron C. Hurt, Marcel Klaassen, Dhanasekaran Vijaykrishna
Summary: Lineages of avian influenza A viruses in Australia are genetically distinct from those in Eurasia and the Americas, potentially due to occasional introductions from other regions. Waders, specifically ruddy turnstones, may influence the ecology and evolution of AIVs in Australia.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Stefanie K. Johnson, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: The interconnected nature of human, wildlife, and domestic animal infections highlights the importance of a broader ecological understanding for disease management. Toxoplasma gondii, a coccidian protozoan, infects a wide range of vertebrates and can have significant health consequences in humans, influencing behavior even in asymptomatic cases. The potential mechanisms through which infection may impact host behavior, such as brain inflammation or changes in hormones, are subject to intense study and debate.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ANIMAL BIOSCIENCES, VOL 9, 2021
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Kyle R. Christianson, Kelly A. Loria, Peter D. Blanken, Nel Caine, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: The study found that the ice-cover duration of high-elevation lakes is decreasing, leading to an increase in open water duration. Compared to Northern Hemisphere lakes, the ice-cover duration in Green Lakes Valley, Colorado is decreasing faster, which is partly influenced by the elevation level.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Pieter Johnson, Sarah E. Haas
Summary: The study revealed an increase in parasite richness and abundance across 20 degrees of latitude, exhibiting a reverse latitudinal gradient. Parasite richness was positively correlated with wetland area, land-cover diversity, and waterbird richness, while negatively correlated with amphibian taxonomic richness.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Nels R. Bjarke, Ben Livneh, Sarah C. Elmendorf, Noah P. Molotch, Eve-Lyn S. Hinckley, Nancy C. Emery, Pieter T. J. Johnson, Jennifer F. Morse, Katherine N. Suding
Summary: The Niwot Ridge and Green Lakes Valley long-term ecological research site in the north-central Colorado Rocky Mountains has been collecting environmental observations since 1952, providing a wealth of data for hydrologic investigations. The research at NWT LTER aims to understand ecological responses to climate, nutrients, and water availability in high-mountain environments, with a focus on hydrologic connectivity and snow-albedo alteration experiments. The combination of observational and experimental datasets at NWT LTER lays a strong foundation for studying and predicting changes in catchment and local-scale processes.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Brendan K. Hobart, Wynne E. Moss, Travis McDevitt-Galles, Tara E. Stewart Merrill, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: Predation on parasites is a common interaction with multiple outcomes. The transmission mode of parasites affects predator-parasite interactions. Chaetogaster predation can either limit or increase snail infection by trematodes, depending on the transmission mode of the parasite.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Wynne E. Moss, Lynsey R. Harper, Mark A. Davis, Caren S. Goldberg, Matthew M. Smith, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: Efficient and accurate biodiversity monitoring is necessary for globally imperiled taxa. Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has the potential to enhance monitoring programs, but its benefits and limitations need to be understood. A comparative study evaluated the efficacy of two eDNA methodologies and conventional field sampling approaches in ponds containing six amphibian species. The results showed that both eDNA methods were competitive with or improved upon traditional methods. Further optimization and validation are needed for eDNA approaches to be effectively paired with visual encounter surveys for detecting terrestrial life stages.
Article
Ecology
Tara E. Stewart Merrill, Dana M. Calhoun, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: Understanding the capacity of different species to support parasite transmission, known as "competence", is crucial for modeling transmission and testing diversity-disease theory. However, the factors that generate competence and drive its variation are not well understood. This study developed novel approaches to systematically quantify competence for a multi-host, multi-parasite community. The findings suggest that variation in competence is mainly driven by differences in barrier resistance and pre-transmission mortality, highlighting the importance of host resistance and parasite pathogenicity. Host species identity was found to be a strong predictor of competence variation. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of infection and epidemiological patterns.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Caitlin L. Nordheim, Sarah E. Detmering, David J. Civitello, Pieter T. J. Johnson, Jason R. Rohr, Taegan A. McMahon
Summary: This study investigated whether Cuban treefrog tadpoles can gain protection from Bd through exposure to a prophylaxis treatment composed of killed zoospores or soluble Bd metabolites. The results showed that tadpoles exposed to Bd metabolites had significantly lower Bd intensity and prevalence. This research provides a promising strategy for protecting amphibians in the wild.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Michelle Wille, Simeon Lisovski, David Roshier, Marta Ferenczi, Bethany J. J. Hoye, Trent Leen, Simone Warner, Ron A. M. Fouchier, Aeron C. C. Hurt, Edward C. C. Holmes, Marcel Klaassen
Summary: Host susceptibility to LPAIV is influenced by factors such as genetics, ecology, age, and season. This study analyzed data from wild birds in Australia over 11 years and found that host phylogeny is a key driver in determining host range. The study provides insights into the evolutionary ecology of LPAIV in its avian reservoir community and expands our global understanding of LPAIV.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Dana M. Calhoun, Jamie Curtis, Clara Hassan, Pieter T. J. Johnson
Summary: The study examined the infection patterns of four trematodes within amphibian hosts, revealing differences in their primary locations and degree of specificity. The ability to measure fine-scale changes in parasite distributions has the potential to provide insight into ecological questions and disease control.
JOURNAL OF HELMINTHOLOGY
(2023)