Prairie Dog Optimization Algorithm

Many forests of eastern North American are undergoing a species composition shift in which maples (Acer spp.) are increasingly important while oak (Quercus spp.) regeneration and recruitment has become increasingly scarce. This dynamic in species composition occurs across a large and geographically complex region. The elimination of fire has been postulated as the driver of this dynamic; however, some assumptions underlying this postulate have not been completely examined, and alternative hypotheses remain underexplored. Through literature review, and a series of new analyses, we examined underlying assumptions of the "oak and fire" hypothesis and explored a series of alternative hypotheses based on well-known ecosystem drivers: climate change, land-use change, the loss of foundation and keystone species, and dynamics in herbivore populations. We found that the oak―maple dynamic began during a shift in climate regime ― from a time of frequent, severe, multi-year droughts to a period of increased moisture availability. Anthropogenic disturbance on the landscape changed markedly during this same time, from an era of Native American utilization, to a time characterized by low population densities, to Euro-American settlement and subsequent land transmogrification. During the initiation of the oak-maple dynamic, a foundation species, the American chestnut, was lost as a canopy tree across a broad range. Several important browsers and acorn predators had substantial population dynamics during this period, e.g. white-tailed deer populations grew substantially concurrent with increasing oak recruitment failure. In conclusion, our analyses suggest that oak forests are reacting to marked changes in a suite of interlocking factors. We propose a "multiple interacting ecosystem drivers hypothesis", which provides a more encompassing framework for understanding oak forest dynamics.

Multiple interacting ecosystem drivers: toward an encompassing hypothesis of oak forest dynamics across eastern North America

Large vertebrates are strong interactors in food webs, yet they were lost from most ecosystems after the dispersal of modern humans from Africa and Eurasia. We call for restoration of missing ecological functions and evolutionary potential of lost North American megafauna using extant conspecifics and related taxa. We refer to this restoration as Pleistocene rewilding; it is conceived as carefully managed ecosystem manipulations whereby costs and benefits are objectively addressed on a case‐by‐case and locality‐by‐locality basis. Pleistocene rewilding would deliberately promote large, long‐lived species over pest and weed assemblages, facilitate the persistence and ecological effectiveness of megafauna on a global scale, and broaden the underlying premise of conservation from managing extinction to encompass restoring ecological and evolutionary processes. Pleistocene rewilding can begin immediately with species such as Bolson tortoises and feral horses and continue through the coming decades wi...

/pdf/pleistocene-rewilding-an-optimistic-agenda-for-twenty-first-3b7zcsrtsh.pdf

Pleistocene rewilding: an optimistic agenda for twenty-first century conservation.

Two infectious diseases, and one presumably infectious disease, each vectored by or associated with the bite of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum), were identified and characterized by clinicians and scientists in the United States during the 1980s and 1990s. These three conditions-human monocytic (or monocytotropic) ehrlichiosis (HME), Ehrlichia ewingii ehrlichiosis, and southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI)-undoubtedly existed in the United States prior to this time. However, the near-simultaneous recognition of these diseases is remarkable and suggests the involvement of a unifying process that thrust multiple pathogens into the sphere of human recognition. Previous works by other investigators have emphasized the pivotal role of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the emergence of Lyme disease, human babesiosis, and human granulocytic anaplasmosis. Because whitetails serve as a keystone host for all stages of lone star ticks, and an important reservoir host for Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Borrelia lonestari, the near-exponential growth of white-tailed deer populations that occurred in the eastern United States during the twentieth century is likely to have dramatically affected the frequency and distribution of A. americanum-associated zoonoses. This chapter describes the natural histories of the pathogens definitively or putatively associated with HME, E. ewingii ehrlichiosis, and STARI; the role of white-tailed deer as hosts to lone star ticks and the agents of these diseases; and the cascade of ecologic disturbances to the landscape of the United States that have occurred during the last 200 years that provided critical leverage in the proliferation of white-tailed deer, and ultimately resulted in the emergence of these diseases in human populations.

http://www.nslc.wustl.edu/courses/Bio348/thach/2011/Paddock,%20Yabsley.pdf

Ecological havoc, the rise of white-tailed deer, and the emergence of Amblyomma americanum-associated zoonoses in the United States.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Homosexuality in animals. Topics, hypotheses, and research trajectories Volker Sommer and Paul L. Vasey Part II. Non-primates: 2. Making the best of a bad situation. Homosociality in male greylag geese Kurt Kotrschal, Josef Hemetsberger and Brigitte Weiss 3. Pink flamingos. Atypical partnerships and sexual activity in colonially breeding birds Catherine E. King 4. Establishing trust. Sociosexual behaviour and the development of male-male bonds among Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins Janet Mann 5. Going with the herd. Same-sex interaction and competition in American bison Hilde Vervaecke and Catherine Roden 6. Exciting ungulates. Male-male mounting in fallow, white-tailed and red deer Ludek Bartos and Jana Holeckova 7. Frustrated felines. Sexual mounting between males in feral cats Akihiro Yamane Part III. Primates: 8. The pursuit of pleasure. An evolutionary history of homosexual behaviour in Japanese macaques Paul L. Vasey 9. Getting to know you. Female-female consortships in free-ranging rhesus monkeys Ellen Kapsalis and Rodney L. Johnson 10. A wild mixture of motivations. Same-sex mounting in Indian langur monkeys Volker Sommer, Peter Schauer and Diana Kyriazis 11. Playful encounters. The development of homosexual behavior in male mountain gorillas Juichi Yamagiwa 12. Social grease for females? Same-sex genital contacts in wild bonobos Barbara Fruth and Gottfried Hohmann 13. The evolution of male homosexuality and its implications for human psychological and cultural variations Dennis Werner Part IV. Outlooks: Science and Beyond: 14. Where do we go from here? Research on the evolution of homosexual behaviour in animals Paul L. Vasey 15. Against nature?! An epilogue about animal sex and the moral dimension Volker Sommer Acknowledgements.

Homosexual behaviour in animals : an evolutionary perspective

/pdf/an-update-on-the-revision-of-the-handbook-prevention-and-1p3n41it63.pdf

An update on the revision of the handbook, "prevention and control of wildlife damage"

Movements of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are of great concern with respect to spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) across landscapes because most yearlings males disperse and adult males have higher prevalence of CWD than do females and younger deer. We radiocollared and monitored 85 male white-tailed deer in the middle Missouri River Valley of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, USA from 2004 to 2008. Average size ( SE) of fixed-kernel annual home ranges (95%) and core areas (50%) for resident deer were 449 ( 32) ha and 99 ( 7) ha, respectively. Resident deer exhibited a highdegree of fidelity to their home ranges. Mean overlap between consecutive annual home ranges and core areas was 81% and 74%, respectively. Average dispersal distance was 17.7 4.5 km (range 1⁄4 3–121 km) for 22 radio-marked and 6 ear-tagged yearlings. Mean spring dispersal distance (25 km) was 150% greater than fall (10 km). Dispersal direction from Desoto National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) was bimodal on a northwest to southeast axis that followed the Missouri River corridor. Of 22 yearlings that dispersed 18 (82%) established adult home ranges within the river valley. Dispersal movements of yearling males represent the greatest risk for rapid spread of diseases from infected source populations. Disease management efforts in riparian habitats should target male fawns and yearling males for removal in areas within or immediately adjacent to river corridors. 2011 The Wildlife Society.

/pdf/movements-of-white-tailed-deer-in-riparianhabitat-51qf6xxl9j.pdf

Movements of White-Tailed Deer in RiparianHabitat: Implications for Infectious Diseases

Since its inception in the late 1950's, radiotelemetry has been used to study various life history characteristics of numerous species. Typically, researchers interpret radio signals from transmitters, estimate bearings to transmitters with directional antennas and compasses, and determine transmitter locations via triangulation (Heezen and Tester 1967, Mech 1983, White and Garrott 1990). Others have discussed sources of error affecting signal interpretation and the accuracy of animal locations derived from radio-telemetry data (Slade et al. 1965, Heezen and Tester 1967, Tester 1971, Springer 1979, Hupp and Ratti 1983, Mech 1983, Lee et al. 1985, Garrott et al. 1986, White and Garrott 1986, Schmutz and White 1990, White and Garrott 1990). Springer (1979) proposed that deviations from a transmitter location, xi, for the ith triangulation reading be expressed as:

An evaluation of electronic versus hand-held compasses for telemetry studies

The relationships among seasonal change, population dynamics, social pressures, landscape dynamics, anthropologic disturbances, and behavioral ecology are complex. Therefore, migration and seasonal movements are poorly understood and dispersal continues to be one of the least understood aspects of animal ecology in North America. We reviewed scientific literature on movements of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tailed deer (0. virginianus) in western and midwestern landscapes to identify gaps in our knowl­ edge and direct future research. We used electronic databases, library catalogs, Internet search engines, and peer-reviewed journals to conduct key word searches for pertinent articles. We found that deer disperse due to habitat conditions and social pressures that are based on seasonal influences. Dispersal rates and distances vary regionally and are influenced by landscape characteristics and competition for resources such as food, cover, and mates. Migration and dispersal may influence local population levels. Decisions to manipulate densities, sex ratios, and age structures should account for local deer movements.

/pdf/literature-review-of-mule-deer-and-white-tailed-deer-2p5k6bzwn7.pdf

Literature review of mule deer and white-tailed deer movements in western and midwestern landscapes

The safe and humane live capture of deer may be an important component of management and research projects. Growing populations of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in both urban and agricultural settings often conflict with local human interests and present challenges to natural resource managers. Netted cage traps can be an important tool when managing deer populations where traditional control methods may not be appropriate or acceptable. Netted cage traps can also be used by researchers to acquire deer for marking, measurements, or other non-lethal purposes. We discuss the design of netted cage traps, trapping techniques, and the handling of trapped deer. INTRODUCTION Throughout history, humans have used their ingenuity to capture ungulates. Historically, the goal was to secure food, hides, and other useful materials. Today the capture of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) may be necessary for population management or research activities. Recent conflicts with deer in urban and agricultural settings have required nontraditional population control measures because hunting and other lethal control methods were either deemed not appropriate or were not acceptable (Craven and Hygnstrom 1994, Clark 1995, Deblinger and Rimmer 1995, Drummond 1995, Ishmael et al. 1995, Jones and Witham 1995, Jordan et al. 1995, Mayer et al. 1995, McAninch 1995, Stradtmann et al. 1995, Warren et al. 1995). Considerable time, effort, and expense is required to trap large numbers of deer (Rongstad and McCabe 1984, Clark 1995, Ishmael et al. 1995). The intent of any deer trapping program should be the efficient, safe, and humane capture of the number of deer required to meet predetermined goals. The most common methods of capturing deer are with cage traps, rocket nets, drop nets, and remote chemical immobilization. Unlike other methods, cage traps do not require constant monitoring and can be fitted with telemetry devices to notify biologists when the trap is sprung. Further, cage traps can be concealed and used in areas where rocket nets or drop nets will not work. Also, deer captured in cage traps have a lower incidence of capture myopathy than those captured in rocket nets (Beringer et al. 1996). Cage traps have been used with euthanization, translocation, and sterilization in deer population reduction efforts in urban areas (Drummond 1995, Ishmael et al. 1995, Jordan et al. 1995, Mayer et al. 1995). Cage traps have also been used by biologists to equip individual deer with identification tags or radiotransmitters in order to study herd demographics and collect biological data, e.g., physical measurements, tissue samples, or blood samples. Although used commonly, specifics of cage trap design and trapping are seldom reported. This is likely because catching deer is usually not the primary goal of most management or research efforts. Also, many trapping programs are short term and sufficient data for rigorous statistical analysis are'not available and' therefore not reported in the literature. We made more than 1,000 deer captures with cage traps over the past 10 years. Our study areas were between 38" 00' N and 43" 30' N latitudes and 90" 00' W and 96" 00' W longitudes, in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin, USA. In this report we review the cage trapping experiences of others, synthesize their experiences with our own, and suggest improved trap design and techniques for capturing and handling deer with cage traps.

/pdf/use-of-netted-cage-traps-for-capturing-white-tailed-deer-4xdh1kxu1e.pdf

Use of Netted Cage Traps for Capturing White-Tailed Deer

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