Stewardship as a Path to Cooperation? Exploring the Role of Identity in Intergroup Conflict Among Michigan Wolf Stakeholders

Post-recovery wolf management remains controversial. In Michigan, dialogue centers on hunting wolves but controversy may be more nuanced than simple pro- or anti-hunting positions. Social identity may cause stakeholders to organize in groups and identity differences may be driving controversy. To explore stakeholder disagreement over wolf management, we conducted semi-structured key informant interviews (n = 21) about identity and stewardship in August–September 2012. Four overarching identity themes emerged regarding: (a) management objectives, (b) focal levels, (c) control methods, and (d) justifications for methods. Themes indicated two main researcher-defined identity groups. Interviewees from both groups identified six common stewardship themes: (a) bequest values, (b) ecosystem health, (c) education, (d) existence values, (e) pride in natural resources, and (f) sustainability. Findings suggest stakeholders may be conflicting over opposing identities vis-à-vis organization affiliation, which may be related to what management strategies individuals oppose. Establishing common stewardship objectives through established participation methods may help alleviate controversy.     

Changes in attitudes toward wolves in Croatia

Against a background of an evolving wolf policy process we carried out personal structured interviews with residents of three regions within Croatian wolf range in 1999 (n = 1209) and repeated the study, using the same methodology in 2003 (n = 1172). We documented a change in public support for wolf conservation and support for control of wolves. The change was a result of a real change in attitudes and not of a change in the age structure of the sampled population. The changes were documented in the two southern regions, Lika and Dalmatia, with attitudes shifting towards a more neutral viewpoint, as there was a decrease in support for wolf conservation and a decrease in support to control wolves. It seems that different birth cohorts react differently to conservation activities. In 1999, the younger cohort groups may have been influenced more by the legal protection campaign. The older cohorts reacted more sympathetically to livestock concerns and thus held stronger negative attitudes toward wolves. Using human dimensions research as an evaluative tool can help large carnivore managers be more adaptive and thus effective in their management solutions.     

Factors associated with gastrointestinal parasite infection in dogs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Factors associated with parasitism by helminths and protozoans in 500 dogs presented to three veterinary clinics in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro from November 2003 to September 2004 were evaluated. Dogs were submitted to physical examination and owners were interviewed about the animal's management. One fecal sample from each dog was examined by centrifugal flotation and sedimentation methods followed by the safranin–methylene blue staining technique. Positive results for gastrointestinal parasites were detected in 46.4% of the examined samples. Infection with protozoans (29.6%) was more frequent than with helminths (23.2%). Cryptosporidium sp. (26.2%) and Ancylostoma sp. (15.2%) were the most frequent parasites. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (p < 0.001), access to soil (p < 0.001), hygiene of the environment (p = 0.001), illness (p = 0.007), owner's level of education (p < 0.006) and veterinary clinic (p = 0.043) were associated with gastrointestinal parasite infections in dogs. Treatment and control are especially important for puppies. Adult dogs should be submitted to fecal examination before treatment, placing special emphasis on those that present one or more factors associated with infection.     

苦楝皮驱除犬蛔虫试验效果研究

为了研究苦楝皮驱除犬蛔虫的试验效果,采用云南当地苦楝皮,将20只京巴犬分为4组,分别为对照组、低剂量组(5mL/kg)、中剂量组(15mL/kg)、高剂量组(25mL/kg)。以7d为1个投药周期,将炮制好的苦楝皮饲喂病犬,连续给药3个周期。通过采集粪便和实验室观察,计算出给药后虫卵转阴率,并确定最佳疗程及剂量。试验结果表明,3个剂量的苦楝皮对犬蛔虫都有驱除效力,但高剂量组综合效力最好,虫卵转阴率可以达到96.5%,且以7d为1个周期,连续用药3周可以达到对犬蛔虫病的基本治愈。     

Herders and Wolves in Post-Soviet Society: An Ethnographic Study in Mongolia’s Ikh Nart Nature Reserve

This article links ecological, social, and cultural data to analyze relationships between wolves and herders in a pastoral setting, the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve, Dornogobi Aimag, Mongolia, an area representative of the broader Gobi-Steppe ecosystem in northern Asia. This article is specifically interested in understanding the contemporary lifestyles of herders in this area, their relationships with wolves, and the perceived and actual risks posed by wolves to both livestock and humans. Data show that herders differed in their views of and actions toward wolves based mainly on the size of herds they managed. But, their cultural stories continue to reflect traditional values and images of wolves and herders. This research argues for an appreciation of cultural contexts in conservation planning, especially in transitional societies.     

犬黑皮质素受体4真核表达载体的构建及在COS-7细胞中的表达

[目的]构建犬黑皮质素受体4真核表达载体并在COS-7细胞中进行瞬间表达。[方法]以犬MC4R线性DNA为模板,进行引物设计,PCR特异性扩增,扩增产物连接到pMD18-T载体上,酶切鉴定后测序。将该片段亚克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)。重组体pcD-NA3.1(+)-MC4R经过酶切和测序鉴定。采用FuGENE HD介导转染技术将pcDNA3.1(+)-MC4R导入COS-7细胞,提取细胞内总RNA,RT-PCR扩增犬MC4R基因的全长cDNA编码序列。[结果]克隆犬MC4R基因的全长cDNA序列,并以pcDNA3.1(+)表达载体为骨架,构建真核表达载体,测序的扩增片段与GenBank公布的模板序列经Blast比对相似性为99%。采用G418筛选,获得带有pcDNA3.1(+)-MC4R的COS-7细胞。[结论]成功构建犬真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+)-MC4R,重组体能在真核细胞中表达。     

犬黑皮质素受体4真核表达载体的构建及表达

[目的]构建带myc和His标签的犬黑皮质素受体4真核表达载体并在MDCK细胞中进行表达。[方法]以犬MC4R基因组DNA为模板PCR扩增目的基因编码区,将扩增产物进行T-A克隆;酶切、测序鉴定成功后将目的基因亚克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-myc-His/A。重组体pcDNA3.1-myc-His/A-cMC4R经酶切和测序鉴定;采用FuGENE HD介导转染技术将重组体导入MDCK细胞;转染后继续培养72 h,提取细胞内总RNA,RT-PCR鉴定目的基因的表达;提取细胞总蛋白,Western Blot检测蛋白表达。[结果]构建带标签的pcDNA3.1-myc-His/A-cMC4R重组真核表达载体,测序结果与GenBank公布的序列相似性为99%。RT-PCR和Western Blot检测到目的基因表达。[结论]成功构建犬真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-myc-His/A-MC4R,重组体能在MDCK细胞中表达。     

Cross-fostering in coyotes: Evaluation of a potential conservation and research tool for canids

Cross-fostering has been attempted opportunistically with endangered canids as a means of increasing populations. Due to the usefulness of cross-fostering for conservation, an understanding of factors influencing success rates is essential. Using captive coyotes (Canis latrans) as a model, we assessed the willingness of adult pairs to foster young born to other parents. We assessed the efficacy of fostering pups into existing litters (augmentation) and completely switching litters (replacement). We augmented four litters with two pups of similar age when pups were <7 days old. In addition, we replaced four entire litters when pups were <10 days old. We also augmented litters with pups 3-4 and 6-7 weeks of age. Survival, weight gain, and dominance status of pups were monitored for six weeks and compared to four control litters to determine success. All complete litter replacements were successful with survival rates among replaced pups (89.5%) similar to those of control litters (90%). For augmented litters, pup survival was dependent on the age at which fostering occurred. All pups fostered into 4 litters at <1 week of age survived beyond 6 weeks of age, two of three fostering attempts with 3-4-week-old pups succeeded, while neither of two attempts to foster 6-week-old pups succeeded. Surviving fostered pups appeared to be at no disadvantage. Weight gains were similar for pups in all treatments, and there was no evidence of reduced dominance status among fostered pups as compared to natal pups in the same litters. These results illustrate that genetic relatedness is not essential for successful fostering and does not appear to alter dominance patterns; however the age at which pups are fostered may affect the success of fostering attempts.     

Tracing the origin of 'blue Weimaraner' dogs by molecular genetics

Weimaraner dogs are defined by light brown coat colour termed grey including several shadings ranging from silver and deer to mouse grey. In contrast, the so-called blue Weimaraners (BW) with lightened black-pigmented coat have been proposed to represent spontaneous revertants in the Weimaraner breed. In order to investigate the genetic determinants of the characteristic grey coat colour versus those of BW, known variation in coat colour genes including TYRP1 and MLPH were analysed in a number of grey and blue dogs. Variations at the B locus cause grey coat colour in Weimaraners via two non-functional TYRP1 copies (bb) including the b(s), b(d) and b(c) alleles. In all BW, at least one functional TYRP1 allele (Bb or BB genotype) was identified. Defined microsatellite alleles in TYRP1 intron 4 are linked to this functional B allele in BW. These alleles were also detected in various other dog breeds, but not in grey Weimaraners. The combination of a dominant trait for blue versus grey together with a specific TYRP1 haplotype in BW suggests that blue coat colour is not the result of spontaneous (back-) mutation in grey Weimaraners. This inference is even emphasized by the presence of a unique Y-chomosomal haplotype in a male offspring of the supposed ancestor of the BW population which - according to pedigree information - carries a copy of the original Y chromosome. Thus, molecular genetic analyses of coat colours combined with Y-chromosomal haplotypes allow tracing the origin of atypical dogs in respective canine populations.