The national mammal of the United States, the American Bison (Bison bison) was once nearly extinct. Populations have recovered to the degree that thousands roam the Great Plains today. Due to their large numbers and body size, this species has an oversized impact on the ecological communities where it lives and is considered a keystone herbivore in modern North American grasslands. This study explores the detailed, seasonally resolved, paleoecology of seven bison from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem during the Late Holocene through stable isotope analyses and species niche modeling. Isotopic analyses of δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O reveal that bison within high elevations regularly foraged on C3 vegetation while traveling among the valleys and ridges of ecoregions similar to those of modern-day. Species distribution models provide a bimodal niche, with best-suited temperatures of 4-8°C and 16-26°C, and topographic ranges of 250-800m and 2,000-4000m.

Vom Frühjahr 2010 bis Frühsommer 2011 wurden Verhalten, intra- und interspezifische Interaktionen sowie Raumnutzung von Wisenten (Bison bonasus), Exmoor-Ponys (Equus ferus) und Dybowski-Hirschen (Cervus nippon hortulorum) auf einer 14 ha großen Gemeinschaftsanlage im Tierpark Sababurg untersucht. 15 Individuen wurden dazu insgesamt für 605 Stunden mittels focal-animal und scan sampling beobachtet. Die Mittelwerte der Hauptverhaltensweisen über den gesamten Beobachtungszeitraum ergaben bei den Wisenten Tagesanteile von 47,73 % für Nahrungsaufnahme, 43,05 % für Ruheverhalten, 6,79 % für Fortbewegung und 1,68 % für Komfortverhalten. Die Exmoor-Ponys fraßen 58,62 % des Tages, ruhten 34,54 %, nutzten 3,87 % für die Fortbewegung und verbrachten 1,37 % mit Komfortverhalten. 47,22 % der Zeit wurden von den Dybowski-Hirschen zur Nahrungsaufnahme verwendet, 43,64 % geruht, 4,55 % zur Fortbewegung genutzt und 2,44 % mit Komfortverhalten verbracht. All diese Verhaltensweisen waren Bestandteil eines artspezifischen Tagesrhythmus aus alternierenden Nahrungsaufnahme- und Ruhephasen. Die prozentualen Anteile und somit auch die Ausprägung dieses Tagesrhythmus variierten dabei allerdings teilweise stark zwischen den einzelnen Jahreszeiten und den damit verbundenen klimatischen und umweltbedingten Veränderungen. Die Individuen aller drei Arten verhielten sich dabei völlig normal im Rahmen der nachgewiesenen Bandbreite des natürlichen Verhaltens ihrer wildlebenden Artgenossen, unbeeinflusst von den Gehegebedingungen und Eingriffen des Zuchtmanagements. Interspezifische Interaktionen traten regelmäßig auf, positive Kontakte blieben dabei allerdings auf die Exmoor-Ponys und die Dybowski-Hirsche beschränkt. Agonistische Interaktionen waren meist lediglich als einfache Drohgebärden oder als indirekte Interaktionen ohne körperlichen Kontakt feststellbar. Eine feste Artenhierarchie ist etabliert und wird von allen Tieren akzeptiert, wobei die Wisente die dominante Rolle einnehmen, gefolgt von den Exmoor-Ponys und den Dybowski-Hirschen. Die Habitatnutzungsanalyse ergab für alle drei Arten bevorzugte Aufenthaltsbereiche und genutzte Gehegeobjekte. Dabei war wie das Verhalten auch die Habitatnutzung stark von den jahreszeitlich veränderlichen Umweltbedingungen beeinflusst. Während die offeneren Areale insbesondere im Frühjahr und Herbst genutzt wurden, bevorzugten die Tiere im Sommer und Winter eher die geschützteren Anlagenbereiche, im Sommer hauptsächlich als Schattenbereich, im Winter als Wetterschutz. Zusammenfassend betrachtet funktioniert das Zusammenleben der Wisente, Exmoor-Ponys und Dybowski-Hirsche im Tierpark Sababurg ohne Probleme und kann als Beispiel-Projekt für die zukünftige Forschung über die Möglichkeiten für Beweidungsprojekte mit heimischen Wildtieren im Naturschutz dienen.

Le bison est un taxon couramment représenté dans les gisements archéologiques du Pléistocène récent européen. Il est omniprésent dans les assemblages paléolithiques des plaines méridionales d’Europe orientale où les économies préhistoriques sont généralement considérées comme spécialisées dans l’acquisition de ce boviné. La « spécialisation économique » implique l’acquisition et la consommation quasi-exclusive d’un taxon au sein des populations animales disponibles. Le complexe de sites épigravettien ancien d’Amvrosievka, particulièrement riche en vestiges osseux de bisons, permet de vérifier si cette notion est ou non applicable aux populations épigravettiennes des steppes du nord de la mer Noire. La synthèse des travaux éthologiques modernes montre que les bisons présentent une grande diversité comportementale, principalement liée à l’environnement, aux conditions climatiques locales et à la densité des populations. La caractérisation du comportement des bisons des steppes chassés par les Préhistoriques d’Amvrosievka s’est donc imposée afin de pouvoir déterminer les modalités d’acquisition de ce taxon. Deux volets ont ainsi été documentés à travers l’analyse des vestiges osseux : l’étude intra et interindividuelle des signatures isotopiques – teneurs isotopiques en carbone, oxygène et strontium de la bioapatite de l’émail dentaire ; composition isotopique en azote et en carbone du collagène de la dentine et de l’os – et l’analyse palethnographique basée sur une étude archéozoologique. Cela nous a permis de restituer certains aspects de la paléoéthologie du bison des steppes – particulièrement son caractère non migrateur – ayant eu des répercussions directes sur les comportements cynégétiques et les économies des chasseurs d’Amvrosievka. En comparant ces résultats avec les données connues pour d’autres gisements contemporains ainsi que pour d’autres sociétés de chasseurs dans lesquelles le bison est particulièrement bien représenté dans les assemblages fauniques, nous avons discuté des modalités de chasse et des économies préhistoriques en lien avec cet animal emblématique. / Bison are one of the most abundant and widely distributed large mammals during the Late Pleistocene and are commonly found in archaeological sites. This large bovid is omnipresent in Palaeolithic faunal assemblages from the Southern Plains of Eastern Europe, where Palaeolithic economies are considered to specialise in bison hunting. Amvrosievka is a complex of Epigravettian sites, particularly rich in bison remains; thus, it provides a good context for verifying the applicability of this notion to the northern Black sea economies. A synthesis of recent ethological analyses demonstrates the behavioural diversity of bison, linked mainly to local environmental variability, climatic conditions and population density. It was therefore necessary to reconstruct the behaviour of the steppe bison hunted at Amvrosievka before attempting to identify the acquisition strategies used. There are two distinct aspects to this research: an intra- and interindividual study of isotopic signatures – carbon, oxygen and strontium isotope ratios from enamel bioapatite; nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios from bone and dentin collagen –, and a palethnological analysis, based on the zooarchaeological study of the faunal remains. Aspects of steppe bison palaeoethology are identified that had a direct impact on the choice of hunting strategy and subsistence economy of the Epigravettian occupants of Amvrosievka: in particular, the non migratory behaviour of steppe bison is shown to have affected the seasonality of acquisition as well as hunting and butchering strategies developed by the Epigravettians. Finally, through a comparison of the faunal data from Amvrosievka with published records from other sites where bison is well represented in the archaeofaunal material, we discuss Prehistoric acquisition strategies and subsistence economies related to this emblematic species. / Réalisé en cotutelle avec le Département de Préhistoire du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France), École doctorale « Sciences de la nature et de l’Homme » (ED 227)

La vie en collectivité confère de nombreux avantages, mais aussi des inconvénients avec lesquels l’animal doit s’accommoder. Afin de maintenir la cohésion sociale, les membres d’un groupe doivent donc faire des compromis et résoudre rapidement les conflits d’intérêts. Comprendre comment les individus arrivent à des décisions communes et optimales permet d’en savoir plus sur l’organisation sociale, les patterns de mouvements et l’utilisation de l’habitat de l’espèce. En retour, ces informations sont essentielles au développement de nouvelles stratégies de gestion. Dans ce contexte, je me suis intéressée à la vie de groupe et aux déplacements collectifs chez le bison d’Europe, espèce expérimentant son grand retour sur son continent d’origine. Mes travaux ont pu mettre en évidence que (1) les liens matrilinéaires étaient au cœur de la vie sociale de l’espèce, (2) le bison européen, contrairement à l’idée populaire, était loin d’être un animal strictement forestier et (3) les déplacements de groupe étaient préférentiellement menés par les femelles dominantes les plus âgées et ayant un veau à leur charge. La prise en compte de ces résultats pourrait grandement améliorer la réintroduction et la gestion des populations de bisons et permettre, par là même, une meilleure cohabitation avec l’Homme. / Community life gives many advantages, but also disadvantages with which animal must accommodate. In order to maintain social cohesion, group members must therefore make compromise and resolve quickly conflicts of interest. Understanding how individuals reach common and optimal decisions helps to learn more about the social organization, movement patterns and habitat use of the species. In return, this information is essential to the development of new management strategies. In this context, I was interested in group life and collective movements of the European bison, species which experiencing its great come back on its continent of origin. My works have shown that (1) matrilineal ties were at the core of the species’ social life, (2) the European bison, contrary to popular opinion, was far from a strictly forest animal and (3) group movements were preferentially lead by the oldest dominant females which had a calf. Taking into account these results could be greatly improve the reintroduction and management of bison populations and, thereby, allow a better cohabitation with humans.

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Das Faltblatt ergänzt die Serie »Nutztiere in Sachsen«. Es informiert in kompakter Form über Herkunft, Lebensweise und Charakteristika der Wildwiederkäuerarten Rotwild, Sikawild, Muffelwild und Bison. Der Flyer gibt auch Auskunft zur Bedeutung dieser Wildtiere und zur Haltung in landwirtschaftlichen Gehegen. Er richtet sich in erster Linie an Personen, die ohne spezielle Vorkenntnisse an dieser Nischenproduktion interessiert sind. Redaktionsschluss: 31.03.2016

La Grotte du Portel-ouest située en Ariège sur la commune de Loubens a été fouillée de 1949 à 1987 par Joseph et JeanVézian. Les fouilleurs ont identifié 20 couches réparties en quatre ensembles archéo-stratigraphiques : un ensemble de base, un premier ensemble moustérien, un deuxième ensemble moustérien et un ensemble du paléolithique supérieur correspondants aux stades isotopiques 5, 4, 3, début 2. Le remplissage a livré 34 restes humains néandertaliens et plus de 200000 vestiges correspondants à de l’industrie, de la macrofaune et de la microfaune. L’étude paléontologique a porté sur les 4495 restes de Bovinae et d’Equidae ; l’étude paléo-environnementale a été réalisée à partir des 12963 restes de macro faune et de 896 rongeurs (NMI) enregistrés à ce jour. L’étude paléontologique des Bovinae (1486 restes) a permis d’identifier deux genres : Bos et Bison. Les comparaisons diachroniques et synchroniques ont conduit à la détermination de Bison priscus mediator et de Bos primigenius primigenius. L’étude paléontologique des Equidae a permis de confirmer la première détermination : Equus caballus germanicus (Gardeisen, 1998). Les comparaisons synchroniques et diachroniques avec les tests statistiques associés (Analyse en Composantes Principales, Classification Ascendante Hiérarchique, et le Test de k means) ont permis de rapprocher ce cheval de ceux de Combe Grenal (couches 1 à 35) et de la Grotte Tournal (niveaux II moyen et II B). Quelques restes trouvés dans le paléolithique supérieur ont pu être attribués à Equus caballus gallicus ; ce cheval est proche des chevaux de Camiac et de Jaurens (Würm récent inférieur) et aussi de Solutré (niveau aurignacien) L’étude paléo-environnementale a révélé à la base du sondage un paysage semi-ouvert, plutôt forestier tempéré correspondant au stade isotopique 5 (interglaciaire Riss-Würm et début Würm ancien) ; le stade 4 est très peu représenté. L’occupation principale du site (F à D) correspond au stade isotopique 3 caractérisé par de très forts changements climatiques avec une succession d’événements de Heinrich (H4, H5) et de phases de réchauffement ou de refroidissement des cycles de Dansgaard-Oeschger (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) dans un paysage très ouvert. La couche B présentant une industrie gravettienne et de l’aurochs correspond certainement à la phase de réchauffement du cycle de Dansgaard-Oeschger 2. / The West cave of the Portel located in Ariége in the commune of Loubens has been excavated between 1949 and 1987 byJoseph and Jean Vézian. The excavators identified 20 layers spread in 4 archeologically stratified groups : the basic group, the first Mousterian group and the second Mousterian group and an ensemble of the superior Paleolithic group corresponding to the isotopic stages 5, 4, 3, beginning 2. The contents excavated from this cave gave us 34 Neanderthal human remains and more than 200 000 artifacts corresponding to the industry, the macrofauna and the microfauna. Paleontological studies have been realized on the 4495 Bovinae and Equidae remains. Environmental Paleolithic studies have been completed from 12963 remains of the macrofuna and from 896 rodents registered to this day (NMI). Bovinae paleontological studies (1486 remains) allowed identification of two genre : Bos and Bison. The diachronic and synchronic comparisons have led to determination of Bison priscus mediator and Bos primigenius primigenius. Equidae paleontological studies have allowed confirmation of the first determination: Equus caballus germanicus (Gardeisen,1998).The diachronic and synchronic comparisons with the statistical tests associated (ACP, CAH, and the test of k means)allowed to bring closer the horse from the Portel to those of the Combe Grenal (layers 1 to 35) and the horses of the Tournal cave (stages II middle and II B). Some remains found in the superior Paleolithic have been attributed to Equus caballus gallicus. This horse resembles the horses of Camiac, of Jaurens (inferior recent Würm) and of Solutré (stage of the Aurignacian). Environmental Paleolithic studies has shown, at the bottom of the contents excavated, a landscape semi open, rather temperate forest corresponding to the isotopic stage 5 (interglacial Riss-Würm and to the beginning or ancient Würm). The isotopic stage 4 is rarely represented. The principal occupation of the site by Neanderthal (F à D) is during the isotopic stage 3 characterized by very great climatic changes with a succession of Heinrich events (H4, H5) and phases of warming or cooling phases of the cycle Dansgaard-Oeschger (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) in a landscape very open, far reaching and vast. The layer B presents one gravettian industry and some Bos, and certainly corresponds to the phase of warming of the cycle Dansgaard-Oeschger 2.

The southwest Yukon social-ecological system (SES) is marked by complex changes, including a climate induced directionally changing landscape, an increasing shift away from traditional subsistence lifestyles, and changing species composition. The addition of “new” ungulate species through human and non-human introductions has spawned many management questions. This study developed qualitative scenarios through a participatory process, utilizing scientific and traditional knowledge from within the social-ecological system’s local context. The study worked with local management groups to address two main objectives: 1.) Collaboratively envision alternate future scenarios with management groups from which to collaboratively develop management goals for wood bison, elk, and mule deer to cope with the changing social and ecological landscape of the southwest Yukon and 2.) Discover resource managers’ and local stakeholders’ perceptions of scenario planning as a method identify wildlife management goals. A series of three workshops with the Alsek Renewable Resource Council, the Yukon Wood Bison Technical Team, and the Yukon Elk Management Planning Team addressed the first objective, while two surveys addressed the second objective. Major findings included southwest Yukon-specific wildlife management goals and considerations for using scenario planning in a wildlife management context. The scenarios themselves warn of plausible events that might unfold, such as novel disease and pest outbreaks. Several participants mentioned that the value attributed to different species will change based on scenario context. This prompts warnings for wildlife managers not to “shut the door” on a species today that may be highly valuable for solving food security challenges of the future. Findings suggest that one of scenario planning’s most significant contribution is a forum for people to share perspectives and develop trust and understanding of one another. All participants valued the holistic and long-term thinking aspects of scenario planning, seeing it as a complementary tool to enhance existing planning processes. Major resource management plans and/or resource development projects in the future should consider using a scenarios approach to better articulated goals in terms of whole system impacts.

Intermountain West bison abundance and chronology is much debated, but little work addressing these debates has occurred in eastern Oregon. Historic records indicate bison were absent from eastern Oregon at Euro-American contact. However, during explorations in eastern Oregon in 1826 Ogden reported bison skeletons in a dry lake bed, suggesting bison once lived in the area. This study reviews archaeological and paleontological records, and ethnohistoric accounts of early 19th century explorers, to synthesize the Holocene history of bison eastern Oregon. Bison NISP (number of identified specimens) was documented from site reports when available, and overall abundance was measured by number of sites and number of dated components containing bison. Optimal foraging theory suggests archaeofaunal assemblages can be used to determine abundance of high-ranked prey such as bison in the paleoenvironment. To determine bison chronology for undated archaeological and paleontological contexts, 15 bison bone samples were selected for AMS dating. In total, 136 archaeological site reports were reviewed, 102 include discussions of faunal analysis, and 20 provide evidence of bison. Two paleontological records provided sufficient data to include in this study. Bison NISP values were relatively small and in reports offering quantitative faunal data, bison represented a minimal percentage of the total mammalian assemblage. Of the AMS results, five were problematic and excluded from the study, and ten provided unambiguous ages ranging from 800-160 BP. Previously published dates in conjunction with new AMS dates support a late Holocene presence of bison in eastern Oregon. Bison are present, yet scarce, in the early Holocene and altogether absent between 7,000-3,000 BP. Research results for this study are similar to those from other Intermountain West regions. Research suggests large ungulates such as bison were never abundant in the Intermountain West due to environmental constraints. Grassland degradation caused by the introduction of cattle provides proof that the region is inappropriate for large grazing herds. Understanding the prehistory of bison in the region has implications for management of modern herds as well as grassland conservation issues.

Transient analyses at Forsmark nuclear power plant are currently performed using realistic computer models in conjunction with conservative estimates of initial- and boundary conditions. This is known as the combined methodology. Due to the conservative estimates, the methodology runs the risk of sometimes over-estimating certain safety criteria which will negatively affect the optimization of reactor operation. The Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) methodology can provide higher safety margins by using probabilities instead of conservatisms when estimating initial and boundary conditions. The BEPU methodology applies a Monte Carlo method to assess the distribution of one or several key outputs. This study focuses on the lowest dryout margin achieved during each Monte Carlo simulation. The tolerance limits of the output are set with the help of Wilks formula using a one-sided 95% tolerance limit with 95% confidence. A total of 36 unique parameters describing initial and boundary conditions have been sampled for each Monte Carlo simulation. The parameters have been sampled using either Gaussian or Uniform distribution functions. The random nature of the Monte Carlo simulations has uncovered alternative event sequences and end states that are not seen in the combined methodology. Assessing the choice of order statistic in Wilks formula also concludes that there are diminishing returns the higher the order statistic is. When choosing the order statistic, one should consider the trade-off between an increased accuracy in the estimated outputs and the increased computational time required. The conservative methodology uses a mix of conservative and nominal estimations of key parameters. The difference in dryout margin between the conservative and the Monte Carlo results should therefore not be used to draw a conclusion about which methodology out-performs the other. While the Monte Carlo simulations do not result in an improved core optimization, they can act as a complement to the combined methodology by providing a more detailed analysis of possible event pathways for a postulated transient.