Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) Use Posture to Assess Level of Threat From Snakes

Once prey animals have detected predators, they must make decisions about how to respond based on a cost‐benefit analysis of their risk level. The threat sensitivity hypothesis predicts that prey animals match their response to the level of risk, with high‐risk predator encounters eliciting stronger evasive responses than low‐risk encounters. Primates are known prey of snakes, yet they vary their responses toward snakes. We predicted that primates match their response to the threat level from snakes by assessing posture, with striking postures indicating greater risk than coiled postures and coiled postures indicating greater risk than extended sinusoidal postures. We tested this prediction in a series of experimental trials in which captive rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) were exposed to snake models in those postures. Results supported the predictions: macaques responded more strongly to a snake model in a striking posture than in a coiled posture and more to a snake model in a coiled posture than to an extended sinusoidal snake model. We also examined responses of macaques to a partially exposed snake model to mimic the condition of incomplete information, as snakes are often occluded by vegetation. The occluded snake model evoked a response comparable to that of the striking snake. These findings support the threat sensitivity hypothesis. Rhesus macaques use the posture of snakes as a cue in threat assessment, responding more intensely as threat increases, and they also behave as if risk is elevated when their information about snakes is incomplete.     

Triage: How do we prioritize health care for landscapes?

Summary We explore the potential use of health care as a metaphor for landscape-scale conservation. In human health-care provision, a range of care options is generally available to cover the various levels of treatment required and the degree of urgency of that treatment. The concept of triage is frequently used in emergency situations where many people may be injured and decisions have to be made on the relative urgency of treatment for different individuals versus the relative likelihood of the success of that treatment. Indeed, the need to decide on level and type of care extends throughout health-care provision, and the array of health-care options available can be displayed on a grid that considers relative level of need or threat and the probability of recovery. A similar grid can be constructed for landscape management, which considers level of threat and the probability of system persistence or recovery. The grid differentiates between a variety of scenarios ranging from the need for prompt management action to protect or restore important habitat through to preventative threat minimization. We suggest that the broad concept of triage goes beyond the simple allocation of patients, landscapes or species into urgent, not urgent, and terminal categories and, instead, offers a rational basis for considering allocation of appropriate levels of management to different situations. We also suggest that the practice of restoration has much to learn from health care, where decisions are made daily on the allocation of appropriate levels of care.     

Food and feeding ecology of the rock fowl Picatthartes oreas in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

The rock fowl is an endangered species and its food and feeding ecology was studied in the forest zone of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. The methods used were direct observation, and fragmentation analysis of faecal and crop content of samples collected during both the wet and dry seasons. The results showed that rock fowl feed on a wide range of species of insects, fruits and flower buds. In the wet season, animal resources represented 54 and 62% of the adult and chick diet, respectively, whereas in the dry season, animal food resources represented about 60% of both adult and the chick diets. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the food composition of the birds between the dry and wet seasons. There was also a significant (P < 0.05) difference in food preference between adults and chicks. Food sharing was not common, although it was observed between rock fowl cockerels and hens. Food search and selection indices were directly related to season and food availability. It was concluded that food scarcity may not be a serious contributory factor in the threat to the rock fowl.     

海南淡水龟类贸易现状与管理建议

2002–2004年,对海南野生淡水龟类贸易进行了调查。调查发现海南所有市县都存在野生龟类贸易,有野生龟类贸易的农贸市场22个,占调查农贸市场总数的19.6%;有野生龟类贸易的乡镇64个,占调查乡镇总数的65.3%;野生龟类收购点103个,野生淡水龟共489只。野生龟贸易所涉及的淡水龟类共10种,占海南淡水龟分布总种数的90%以上,其中3种是国家二级重点保护动物,6种是列入《濒危野生动植物种国际贸易公约》附录II的物种。按照《中国濒危动物红皮书(两栖类和爬行类)》,1种为极危物种,8种为濒危物种,1种为易危物种。在个体数量方面,以锯缘摄龟(Pyxideamouhotii)、黄额盒龟(Cuoragalbinifrons)、四眼斑水龟(Sacaliaquadriocellata)和中华花龟(Ocadiasinensis)较多,平胸龟(Platysternonmegacephalum)、地龟(Geoemydaspengleri)、中华鳖(Pelodiscussinensis)较少,三线闭壳龟(Cuoratrifasciata)、黄喉拟水龟(Mauremysmutica)和山瑞鳖(Paleasteindachneri)极其稀少。龟类市场价格差异很大,从2002年到2004年,各种龟的价格都有不同幅度的上涨。分析表明:淡水龟类非法捕猎与贸易在海南普遍存在,过度捕猎对海南淡水龟类构成了严重威胁,而野生龟贸易则是导致过度捕猎的主要原因。本文在分析和探讨海南野生淡水龟类贸易的现状、原     

Interactive and cumulative effects of multiple human stressors in marine systems

Humans impact natural systems in a multitude of ways, yet the cumulative effect of multiple stressors on ecological communities remains largely unknown. Here we synthesized 171 studies that manipulated two or more stressors in marine and coastal systems and found that cumulative effects in individual studies were additive (26%), synergistic (36%), and antagonistic (38%). The overall interaction effect across all studies was synergistic, but interaction type varied by response level (community: antagonistic, population: synergistic), trophic level (autotrophs: antagonistic, heterotrophs: synergistic), and specific stressor pair (seven pairs additive, three pairs each synergistic and antagonistic). Addition of a third stressor changed interaction effects significantly in two‐thirds of all cases and doubled the number of synergistic interactions. Given that most studies were performed in laboratories where stressor effects can be carefully isolated, these three‐stressor results suggest that synergies may be quite common in nature where more than two stressors almost always coexist. While significant gaps exist in multiple stressor research, our results suggest an immediate need to account for stressor interactions in ecological studies and conservation planning.     

Calculating the ESS level of information transfer in aggressive communication

Summary We present a model of aggressive communication that demonstrates the use of evolutionarily stable ambiguous threat displays. We use stochastic dynamic programming to solve a game in which two contestants of differing fighting ability communicate using cost-free threats. These contestants use communication strategies that supply information of varying reliability to the opponent. The results demonstrate that communication does not need to be either costly or unambiguous to be evolutionarily stable.     

First record of the siricid Urocerus albicornis,an invasive alien pest,in the Czech Republic

One male of the horntail wasp Urocerus albicornis was found in the Czech Republic in 2018. The male probably emerged from imported timber, although it may have originated from an established population because it was collected during the flight period.     

The relationship between video game play and threat simulation dreams.

Revonsuo proposes an evolutionary theory of dreaming in which dreams allow an individual to prepare for real world threats in the safety of the virtual setting of the dream world. Based upon previous work examining the dreams of video game players, it was hypothesized that high-end gamers would experience fewer threat simulation dreams because of frequent threat resolution rehearsal during game play. Subjects were asked to report a night before dream and fill out surveys regarding their gaming history, media use, and dream experiences. Using a factor analysis, support for the main hypothesis was found. Individuals with a history of game play experienced fewer threat severity variables in their dreams. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surveillance of antibiotic resistance

Surveillance involves the collection and analysis of data for the detection and monitoring of threats to public health. Surveillance should also inform as to the epidemiology of the threat and its burden in the population. A further key component of surveillance is the timely feedback of data to stakeholders with a view to generating action aimed at reducing or preventing the public health threat being monitored. Surveillance of antibiotic resistance involves the collection of antibiotic susceptibility test results undertaken by microbiology laboratories on bacteria isolated from clinical samples sent for investigation. Correlation of these data with demographic and clinical data for the patient populations from whom the pathogens were isolated gives insight into the underlying epidemiology and facilitates the formulation of rational interventions aimed at reducing the burden of resistance. This article describes a range of surveillance activities that have been undertaken in the UK over a number of years, together with current interventions being implemented. These activities are not only of national importance but form part of the international response to the global threat posed by antibiotic resistance.     

The function of agonistic display behaviours in Gnathonemus petersii

In pairs of interacting Gnathonemus petersii , a mormyrid electric fish, dominant individuals were larger (longer body). Pairs of interacting fish of similar body size emitted more parallel displays at the onset of an interaction. Over the course of 10 min interactions, head butting increased and parallel display decreased. This decrease occurred primarily in pairs that contained a prior resident and intruder, as compared with two intruders. The patterns of electric organ discharge during parallel display, and the possible sensory modalities mediating this behaviour are discussed.     

Culture of Risk in Vulnerable Communities: The Case of Barranquilla,Colombia, in the Context of Globalized (In)Security

This article addresses both the culture of risk as an analytical and intervention category in vulnerable communities. The main objective is to show that risk analysis and intervention is only viable when the cultural values of the communities that face a particular kind of vulnerability are taken into account. We present the results from a study of a representative sample of vulnerable communities in Barranquilla, Colombia, in which various techniques of data collection were applied to identify the perception of risk and its relationship with the cultural typologies developed by Cultural Theory. We explain the causes and effects of perception and response when faced with risk in different contexts.     

Colour‐variable birds have broader ranges,wider niches and are less likely to be threatened

Coloration fulfils a variety of adaptive functions in animals. Colour variability, both between and within species, can be caused by different colours being favoured for different functions and in different environments. Thus, species with highly variable coloration may have greater potential to persist in new and changing environments. As a consequence, such colour‐variable species may be more able to adapt, colonize new areas and niches, occupy larger ranges, speciate more readily and in general be less vulnerable to environmental change and extinction. These predictions have been supported by comparative analyses on amphibians and reptiles. However, as coloration in ectotherms plays a key role in thermoregulation, it is unclear whether these results can be generalized to endotherms, such as birds and mammals. Here, we test the hypothesis that more colour‐variable endotherms occupy larger ranges/niches and are less vulnerable to the threat of extinction by focussing on colour variation in Australian parrots and passerine birds. As predicted, colour variability was correlated with range size (parrots and passerines) and niche breadth (dietary heterogeneity, parrots only). These relationships support the predicted link between colour variability and adaptability, whereby range size and niche breadth may be a cause of colour variability or vice versa. Irrespective, and as predicted, colour variability was lower in threatened species, even after statistically controlling for other confounding variables. Hence, our study supports the hypothesis that colour‐variable species in general are more resilient to environmental change.     

卷叶木灵藓Orthotrichum revolutum(Orthotrichaceae,Bryophyta),一个中国特有藓类在123年之后的重新发现

卷叶木灵藓(Orthotrichum revolutum)是一种中国特有藓类植物,自从123年前的首次采集之后再也没有被发现过。本文增加了一个新地点,即北京百花山自然保护区。这份标本在形态上与模式十分一致。本文第一次提供了卷叶木灵藓的详细的形态照片和地理分布图。四个来自中国甘肃、新疆以及境外日本和吉尔吉斯斯坦的记录都被证实是错误鉴定。我们还讨论了该种和邻近种的区别,以及野外濒危等级的重新评估。     

The role of threat to areas and initiative from actors for establishment of nature reserves in southern Sweden 1926–1996

Ecologists are developing methods for the design of reserve systems, but non-ecological factors or criteria may limit their applicability (e.g. threat, initiative, low-cost opportunities). Threat before reserve acquisition (i.e. direct threat, contributing to reserve establishment) and the actors proposing reserves were studied for a random sample of 84 nature reserves with forest in southern Sweden, established 1926–1996. A direct threat was recorded for about 40% of these reserves before they were acquired. The remaining reserves had not been directly threatened, although indirect threat probably contributed to establishment of several reserves. Threat was an important factor in this productive lowland area, but for reserves in larger regions with varied topography (e.g. Sweden) mainly alpine or low-productive areas is represented, and threat seems to be of minor importance. Decisions for the 84 reserves were taken by one main conservation agency, which however initiated less than 50% of the reserves. External actors, such as other authorities, idealistic organisations and private individuals were also important initiators, suggesting that actors in the reserve process should be studied in biodiversity programs. Strong arguments for protection, careful planning, and flexibility with respect to non-ecological factors (that probably cannot be eliminated) may be successful tactics to establish more reserves with high biological values.     

Acoustical expression of arousal in conflict situations in tree shrews (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tupaia belangeri)</Emphasis>

Empirical research on human and non-human primates suggests that communication sounds express the intensity of an emotional state of a signaller. In the present study, we have examined communication sounds during induced social interactions of a monogamous mammal, the tree shrew. To signal their unwillingness to mate, female tree shrews show defensive threat displays towards unfamiliar males paralleled by acoustically variable squeaks. We assumed that the distance between interacting partners as well as the behavior of the male towards the female indicates the intensity of perceived social threat and thereby the arousal state of a female. To explore this hypothesis we analyzed dynamic changes in communication sounds uttered during induced social interactions between a female and an unfamiliar male. Detailed videographic and sound analyzes revealed that the arousal state predicted variations in communication sound structure reliably. Both, a decrease of distance and a male approaching the female led to an increase in fundamental frequency and repetition rate of syllables. These findings support comparable results in human and non-human primates and suggest that common coding rules in communication sounds govern acoustic conflict regulation in mammals.     

Biases,gaps, and opportunities in mammalian extinction risk research

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