Distribution modelling to guide stream fish conservation: an example using the mountain sucker in the Black Hills National Forest,USA

• 1. Conservation biologists need tools that can utilize existing data to identify areas with the appropriate habitat for species of conservation concern. Regression models that predict suitable habitat from geospatial data are such a tool. Multiple logistic regression models developed from existing geospatial data were used to identify large‐scale stream characteristics associated with the occurrence of mountain suckers (Catostomus platyrhynchus), a species of conservation concern, in the Black Hills National Forest, South Dakota and Wyoming, USA.
• 2. Stream permanence, stream slope, stream order, and elevation interacted in complex ways to influence the occurrence of mountain suckers. Mountain suckers were more likely to be present in perennial streams, and in larger, higher gradient streams at higher elevations but in smaller, lower gradient streams at lower elevations.
• 3. Applying the logistic regression model to all streams provided a way to identify streams in the Black Hills National Forest most likely to have mountain suckers present. These types of models and predictions can be used to prioritize areas that should be surveyed to locate additional populations, identify stream segments within catchments for population monitoring, aid managers in assessing whether proposed forest management will potentially have impacts on fish populations, and identify streams most suitable for stream rehabilitation and conservation or translocation efforts.
• 4. When the effect of large brown trout (Salmo trutta) was added to the best model of abiotic factors, it had a negative effect on the occurrence of mountain suckers. Negative effects of brown trout on the mountain sucker suggest that management of recreational trout fisheries needs to be balanced with mountain sucker conservation in the Black Hills. However, more spatially explicit information on brown trout abundance would allow managers to understand where the two species interact and where recreational fisheries need to be balanced with fish conservation.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Improving density estimates for elusive carnivores: Accounting for sex-specific detection and movements using spatial capture–recapture models for jaguars in central Brazil

Owing to habitat conversion and conflict with humans, many carnivores are of conservation concern. Because of their elusive nature, camera trapping is a standard tool for studying carnivores. In many vertebrates, sex-specific differences in movements – and therefore detection by cameras – are likely. We used camera trapping data and spatially explicit sex-specific capture–recapture models to estimate jaguar density in Emas National Park in the central Brazilian Cerrado grassland, an ecological hotspot of international importance. Our spatially explicit model considered differences in movements and trap encounter rate between genders and the location of camera traps (on/off road). We compared results with estimates from a sex-specific non-spatial capture–recapture model. The spatial model estimated a density of 0.29 jaguars 100 km⁻² and showed that males moved larger distances and had higher trap encounter rates than females. Encounter rates with off-road traps were one tenth of those for on-road traps. In the non-spatial model, males had a higher capture probability than females; density was estimated at 0.62 individuals 100 km⁻². The non-spatial model likely overestimated density because it did not adequately account for animal movements. The spatial model probably underestimated density because it assumed a uniform distribution of jaguars within and outside the reserve. Overall, the spatial model is preferable because it explicitly considers animal movements and allows incorporating site-specific and individual covariates. With both methods, jaguar density was lower than reported from most other study sites. For rare species such as grassland jaguars, spatially explicit capture–recapture models present an important advance for informed conservation planning.     

Homogenization of fish faunas across the United States

Fish faunas across the continental United States have become more similar through time because of widespread introductions of a group of cosmopolitan species intended to enhance food and sport fisheries. On average, pairs of states have 15.4 more species in common now than before European settlement of North America. The 89 pairs of states that formerly had no species in common now share an average of 25.2 species. Introductions have played a larger role than extirpations in homogenizing fish faunas. Western and New England states have received the most introductions, which is a reflection of the small number of native fishes in these areas considered desirable gamefish by settlers.     

Alfaxalone or ketamine‐medetomidine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy: a comparison of intra‐operative parameters and post‐operative pain

ObjectiveTo compare post-operative pain in cats after alfaxalone or ketamine- medetomidine anaesthesia for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and physiologic parameters during and after surgery.Study designProspective ‘blinded’ randomized clinical study.AnimalsTwenty-one healthy cats.MethodsCats were assigned randomly into two groups: Group A, anaesthesia was induced and maintained with alfaxalone [5 mg kg^?1 intravenously (IV) followed by boli (2 mg kg^?1 IV); Group MK, induction with ketamine (5 mg kg^?1 IV) after medetomidine (30 μg kg^?1 intramuscularly (IM)], and maintenance with ketamine (2 mg kg^?1 IV). Meloxicam (0.2 mg kg^?1 IV) was administered after surgery. Basic physiological data were collected. At time T = -2, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 hours post-operatively pain was assessed by three methods, a composite pain scale (CPS; 0–24 points), a visual analogue scale (VAS 0–100 mm), and a mechanical wound threshold (MWT) device. Butorphanol (0.2 mg kg^?1 IM) was administered if CPS was scored =13. Data were analyzed using a general linear model, Kruskal–Wallis analyses, Bonferroni-Dunn test, unpaired t-test and Fisher's exact test as relevant. Significance was set at p < 0.05.ResultsVASs were significantly higher at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 20 hours in group A; MWT values were significantly higher at 8 and 12 hours in group MK. Post-operative MWT decreased significantly compared to baseline in both groups. There was no difference in CPS at any time point. Five cats required rescue analgesia (four in A; one in MK).Conclusion and clinical relevanceAnaesthesia with ketamine-medetomidine was found to provide better post-surgical analgesia than alfaxalone in cats undergoing OHE; however, primary hyperalgesia developed in both groups. Alfaxalone is suitable for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in cats undergoing OHE, but administration of additional sedative and analgesic drugs is highly recommended.     

The potential for large-scale wildlife corridors between protected areas in Brazil using the jaguar as a model species

Most large reserves in Brazil do not hold viable populations of jaguars to guarantee the species’ long-term survival. Corridors linking populations have been identified as a potential tool to avoid negative effects of isolation, increasing population viability. Here, we performed a Brazil-wide evaluation of potential large scale corridors connecting protected jaguar populations. Six variables (human population size, dam reservoir size, number of dams, roads, railways and cities) expected to negatively impact jaguar movement were analyzed across 180 potential corridors connecting 298 protected jaguar areas. We established overall disturbance scores for the corridors using a principal components analysis and compared them among the Brazilian biomes. We further investigated which variables separated biomes using a canonical variates analysis. The Atlantic Forest and the semi-arid Caatinga have the most impacted potential corridors, whereas the Amazon and Pantanal still have the best potential corridors. Corridor quality in the Cerrado grasslands was intermediate. All variables but human population size and corridor length contributed significantly to differences in corridor variables among biomes. Our conclusions suggest that we need to plan the implementation of large scale corridors in the Amazon, Pantanal and particularly the Cerrado soon, while potential corridors might still be economically viable. In the much more impacted Atlantic Forest and Caatinga, the need for conservation actions is strongest, but logistical difficulties and costs may turn implementation of corridors unfeasible.     

Hierarchical faunal filters: an approach to assessing effects of habitat and nonnative species on native fishes

Abstract –  Understanding factors related to the occurrence of species across multiple spatial and temporal scales is critical to the conservation and management of native fishes, especially for those species at the edge of their natural distribution. We used the concept of hierarchical faunal filters to provide a framework for investigating the influence of habitat characteristics and nonnative piscivores on the occurrence of 10 native fishes in streams of the North Platte River watershed in Wyoming. Three faunal filters were developed for each species: (i) large-scale biogeographic, (ii) local abiotic, and (iii) biotic. The large-scale biogeographic filter, composed of elevation and stream-size thresholds, was used to determine the boundaries within which each species might be expected to occur. Then, a local abiotic filter (i.e., habitat associations), developed using binary logistic-regression analysis, estimated the probability of occurrence of each species from features such as maximum depth, substrate composition, submergent aquatic vegetation, woody debris, and channel morphology (e.g., amount of pool habitat). Lastly, a biotic faunal filter was developed using binary logistic regression to estimate the probability of occurrence of each species relative to the abundance of nonnative piscivores in a reach. Conceptualising fish assemblages within a framework of hierarchical faunal filters is simple and logical, helps direct conservation and management activities, and provides important information on the ecology of fishes in the western Great Plains of North America.     

The impact of habitat fragmentation on the ecology of xenarthrans (Mammalia) in the Brazilian Cerrado

Landscape Ecology - The impact of deforestation and fragmentation upon ecologically important and poorly known groups is currently an important issue for conservation biology. Herein we describe...     

Stratégie Nationale de lutte contre la mineuse de la tomate Tuta absoluta Meyrick

Au Maroc, la mineuse de la tomate Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) a été signalée pour la première fois en avril 2008 dans la région de Nador, puis s'est propagée rapidement dans toutes les régions de production de tomates. Depuis sa signalisation, des efforts ont été déployés par la profession et les départements techniques du Ministère de l'Agriculture de la Pêche Maritime (MAPM) pour faire face à ce fléau. Le plan d'action 2008–09 se basait sur la surveillance, les approches techniques de lutte dans le cadre d'un programme de protection intégrée, la sensibilisation et l'encadrement des agriculteurs et la production de supports d'information et de vulgarisation. Pour inciter les agriculteurs à adopter une approche de lutte intégrée contre ce ravageur, des subventions ont été mises en place par le MAPM, pour l'acquisition du filet insect proof et de capsules de phéromone à utiliser pour le piégeage de masse. L’ONSSA a également autorisé de nouvelles spécialités phytosanitaires pour lutter contre T. absoluta en cultures de tomate et de pomme de terre. Cette stratégie a fait l'objet d'une évaluation qui a permis de définir un plan d'action pour 2010–11. Ce plan d'action suit les mêmes axes que la campagne précédente tout en mettant l'accent sur la surveillance du ravageur en cultures de tomates de plein champ, le renforcement du programme de sensibilisation et d'encadrement des agriculteurs et le lancement d'un programme de suivi des résidus de produits phytosanitaires dans les tomates. En 2010–11, les attaques de la mineuse de la tomate ont toujours été maitrisées.     

Diverse diversities—Open innovation in small towns and rural areas

It is generally accepted that cities and other forms of geographic agglomerations are conducive to innovation because their density and variety of firms, sectors and individuals create a diverse environment. However, a growing body of work shows that innovation also occurs in peripheral regions and small towns. Furthermore, work on rural social networks shows that diversity is multidimensional, and that along certain dimensions networks developed in rural areas are more diverse than those observed in cities. In this paper, we develop these arguments, then report our observations of seven successful firms in Swiss small towns. These firms benefit from at least three types of diversity: internal diversity; multiplexed interactions between workers at different hierarchical levels; and external diversity as firms reach beyond the region. We conclude that diversity conducive to firm‐level innovation is not a specifically urban attribute: at least some of its dimensions are present in small towns and more peripheral areas.