Barred Owls were located through audio playback surveying searching in southern Manitoba. Sixty-one confirmed home ranges were located and nine nest sites were located. Mean diameter at breast height and cavity depth and width were determined to be limiting factors governing Barred Owl distribution. Barred Owl habitat use was examined at two scales: immediately around nest trees and within estimated breeding and non-breeding home ranges. Barred Owl breeding and non-breeding home ranges had significantly more hardwood and mixedwood than random plots. Barred Owl breeding season commenced in early March, egg laying in early April, hatching in early May, and fledging at the start of June. Mean and standard deviation of clutch size were 1.91 ± 0.83. Barred Owl diet was determined to be generalist in nature. Dietary breadth was calculated, using Simpson’s formula for measurement of diversity in a sample, of D = 0.1525.

Barred Owls were located through audio playback surveying searching in southern Manitoba. Sixty-one confirmed home ranges were located and nine nest sites were located. Mean diameter at breast height and cavity depth and width were determined to be limiting factors governing Barred Owl distribution. Barred Owl habitat use was examined at two scales: immediately around nest trees and within estimated breeding and non-breeding home ranges. Barred Owl breeding and non-breeding home ranges had significantly more hardwood and mixedwood than random plots. Barred Owl breeding season commenced in early March, egg laying in early April, hatching in early May, and fledging at the start of June. Mean and standard deviation of clutch size were 1.91 ± 0.83. Barred Owl diet was determined to be generalist in nature. Dietary breadth was calculated, using Simpson’s formula for measurement of diversity in a sample, of D = 0.1525.

During 2006 and 2007 behavioral observations surveys of raptors were conducted at 12 turbines of a 66-turbine wind farm near Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada. Mortality surveys were conducted at all turbines in the wind farm with additional search effort at the twelve turbines where behavioral monitoring was conducted. The wind farm is located along a significant autumn raptor migration corridor along Lake Erie which is in the area of the Central Flyway. Only one raptor fatality was found each year at the 12 turbines used in the study, with one additional fatality found at the other 54 turbines in the wind facility. The estimated mortality rate for Erie Shore Wind Farm ranged from 0.028 to 0.049 raptor fatalities/MW/autumn. The estimated mortality rate for Erie Shores is at the low end of mortality for North American wind facilities outside of California, and which are not located in known migratory pathways. My findings suggest that the presence of high numbers of migrant raptors passing over a wind facility site does not automatically equate to high collision mortality. Over 5,579 observations of individual raptor passes within 250m of a turbine were recorded. The majority of raptors (73%) passed outside of blade sweep height. The majority of raptors avoided entering the risk zone of operational turbines with 2.92% (n = 159) of raptors observed passing within the risk zone of blade sweep height above ground and 0-40m out from the turbine base. The majority (73%) of raptors that entered the risk zone did so under conditions when risk was reduced due to turbine blade orientation in relation to the raptors’ direction of movement or when the turbine was not operational.

During 2006 and 2007 behavioral observations surveys of raptors were conducted at 12 turbines of a 66-turbine wind farm near Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada. Mortality surveys were conducted at all turbines in the wind farm with additional search effort at the twelve turbines where behavioral monitoring was conducted. The wind farm is located along a significant autumn raptor migration corridor along Lake Erie which is in the area of the Central Flyway. Only one raptor fatality was found each year at the 12 turbines used in the study, with one additional fatality found at the other 54 turbines in the wind facility. The estimated mortality rate for Erie Shore Wind Farm ranged from 0.028 to 0.049 raptor fatalities/MW/autumn. The estimated mortality rate for Erie Shores is at the low end of mortality for North American wind facilities outside of California, and which are not located in known migratory pathways. My findings suggest that the presence of high numbers of migrant raptors passing over a wind facility site does not automatically equate to high collision mortality. Over 5,579 observations of individual raptor passes within 250m of a turbine were recorded. The majority of raptors (73%) passed outside of blade sweep height. The majority of raptors avoided entering the risk zone of operational turbines with 2.92% (n = 159) of raptors observed passing within the risk zone of blade sweep height above ground and 0-40m out from the turbine base. The majority (73%) of raptors that entered the risk zone did so under conditions when risk was reduced due to turbine blade orientation in relation to the raptors’ direction of movement or when the turbine was not operational.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 23-26, 2000 / Town & Country Hotel and Conference Center, San Diego, California / Understanding the horsepower demands that electrical and hydraulic systems place on an aircraft engine is critical since this directly effects engine performance. The current methods of measuring horsepower have been mainly limited to lower rpm engines and are not suitable for higher rpm jet engines. L-3 Telemetry East has developed instrumentation for the F-22 instrumentation group that is capable of measuring horsepower loads on engine shafts that are rotating at up to 18000RPM. This paper describes the operation of this system.

mTOR is the central kinase in biochemical pathways that regulate cellular growth, protein synthesis and cell survival. Deregulation of mTOR signaling results in uncontrolled cell proliferation and hence is implicated in various cancers and autoimmune diseases. mTOR functions through two distinct signaling complexes, called mTORC1 and mTORC2. CCT is a cytosolic chaperonin that assists in folding of several protein substrates. In these studies, we have identified two components of the mTOR complexes, mLST8 and Raptor, as substrates of CCT. We have performed biochemical and signaling studies which indicate that CCT is involved in assembly and signaling of mTOR complexes by folding β-propeller domains of mLST8 and Raptor. We have also obtained high resolution structural information of the mLST8-CCT complex by cryo-EM and mass spectrometric cross-linking. Moreover, we have explored the role of PhLP1 as a co-chaperone for CCT in the assembly of mTOR complexes. Interestingly, we found that PhLP1 plays very different roles in the case of mLST8 and Raptor. While PhLP1 participate in assembly of mLST8 into mTOR complexes, it facilitates degradation of Raptor. These biochemical data, combined with structural information, can be used to design small molecules that modulate mTOR signaling by affecting the formation of intact mTOR complexes.

A novel capture matrix utilizing human serum albumin (HSA) and streptococcal Protein G (PG), which possesses an albumin binding domain (ABD), was used to immobilize antibodies for improved bacterial capture efficiency in immunoassays. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were used to characterize and optimize a specific protocol for the HSA-PG capture matrix; which revealed several critical factors that should be considered. The Fc binding domain, on PG, should have high affinity for the species of capture antibody used in the assay. Goat and rabbit species antibodies bound strongly to the Fc binding domain of PG. Displacement of the capture antibody, by the detector antibody should be avoided to reduce background signals. The Fc binding domain on PG should have equivalent or lower affinity for the detector antibody, when compared to the capture antibody. Goat species antibody, used as a detector antibody, did not displace the same-species capture antibody. ELISA analysis showed detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 cells at 1.0 x 104 CFU/ml using HSA-PG and goat antibody raised against Escherichia coli O157:H7; unlabeled antibody was used for capture while HRP labeled antibody was used for detection. Studies were performed on an automated fiber optic biosensor, RAPTOR, which was used for the rapid detection of pathogens. Biosensor assays showed detection of E. coli O157:H7 at 1.0 x 10³ CFU/ml in PBS and 1.0 x 105 CFU/ml in homogenized ground beef supernatant. Capture efficiency of the HSA-PG capture matrix was studied using the biosensor and GFP-E. coli O157:H7. The amount of cells captured was less than one percent of the sample concentration. This limit of detection and capture efficiency was comparable to the streptavidin-biotin capture matrix.

Le balbuzard pêcheur Pandion haliaetus est une espèce de rapace cosmopolite et migratrice mais menacée. C'est un modèle intéressant pour explorer comment les adaptations comportementales au sein de populations géographiquement distantes, ayant évoluées dans conditions écologiques différentes, pourraient être une cause proximale de leur distribution géographique et de différences génétiques et comportementales (stratégies migratrices et comportement de recherche alimentaire). Ainsi, j'ai mené une étude intégrative à différentes échelles afin de répondre à plusieurs questions fondamentales et appliquées.Grâce à une approche phylogéographique (phylogénie moléculaire) j'ai mis en évidence l'existence de quatre lignées différentes à l'échelle mondiale qui peuvent être considérées comme des Unités Evolutives Significatives (ESUs) et qui méritent des mesures de gestion spécifiques. En combinant des méthodes d'écologie moléculaire et d'observations d'oiseaux marqués, j'ai pu estimer le taux de connexion populationnelle dans le Paléarctique occidental. En combinant des outils d'écologie trophique en utilisant les isotopes stables, et d'écologie spatiale en utilisant de nouveaux outils en bio télémétrie, j'ai étudié les comportements migratoires et de l'écologie hivernale des balbuzards pêcheurs méditerranéens, que j'ai pu comparer avec ceux des populations nord européennes. Finalement, j'ai étudié la nécessité d'adopter des mesures de gestions adéquates pour trois population du bassin méditerranéen (Corse, Maroc, Italie), en comparant la dynamique des populations, en lien avec leurs ressources alimentaires (recensement des espèces piscicoles) et les perturbations d'origine anthropique. Dans l'ensemble, ce travail a conduit à des avancées significatives par rapport à la conservation des balbuzards pêcheurs à différentes échelles biogéographiques. Ces connaissances sont particulièrement utiles à l'égard d'une gestion efficace de cette espèce emblématique. / Being a cosmopolitan and migratory species, the osprey Pandion haliaetus provides a good opportunity to explore how behavioural adaptations in different populations, that evolved under different ecological conditions and are widely spaced, can be the proximate causes of geographical distribution, genetic divergence, population connectivity, migratory strategies and foraging ecology. According to this, a multi-scale integrated approach has been adopted for the osprey: through an interdisciplinary framework made by molecular ecology, trophic ecology as assessed via stable isotopic analyses, spatial ecology through the use of novel biotelemetry tools, as well as population dynamics, fish censuses and assessments of levels of human disturbance, we: a) evidenced the existence of four different lineages at global scale that should be treated as Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs) and deserve specific management; b) revealed population connectivity in the Western Palearctic; c) disentangled the migratory behaviour and winter ecology of Mediterranean ospreys and compared it with northern European populations, in an evolutionary context; d) stressed the need of adequate management measures to be adopted for three local populations of the Mediterranean basin (Corsica, Morocco and Italy). Overall, this work has led to some important advances with respect to the conservation biogeography of ospreys at different scales. Those insights are particularly valuable with respect to the effective management of this emblematic species.

In order to understand the effects of climate change on the peregrine’s future prospects, we investigated the relationship between weather variables (extreme weather) and breeding success parameters for the peregrine in South Greenland. We defined two variables for comparison with weather data: young per known territory and nest success, i.e. proportion of known sites producing young, for each monitored year (N = 33). Weather data were obtained from two weather stations in the study area. From the weather data four extreme predictor variables were calculated: extreme low temperature, extreme precipitation, consecutive rainy days and total days with extreme weather. Peregrine breeding success (both parameters) was correlated negatively with number of days with extreme weather; the strongest correlation found was between total days in the season with extreme weather and breeding success. Low temperature and total days with extreme weather during the pre-laying and incubation period were also significantly negatively correlated with breeding success. Thereby, extreme weather is an important factor in explaining the peregrine’s breeding success. However, other factors also influence the breeding success, in the last few years there has been a strong downward trend but not an increase of extreme weather events during the same period. / Den globala uppvärmningen påverkar Arktis klimat vilket orsakar en snabbt föränderlig miljö för den Arktiska biotan. Effekten av klimatförändringarna är ökade väder variationer och extremer. Pilgrimsfalken är en väl studerad toppredator men få studier har undersökt hur extremt väder påverkar pilgrimsfalkens häckningsframgång i arktiska miljöer. Därför undersöker vi förhållandet mellan extrema väder och häckningsframgången för pilgrimsfalken på södra Grönland. Vi har i denna studie använt data om pilgrimsfalkens häckningsframgång på södra Grönland som sträcker sig från år 1981 och fram till 2015. Väderdata som använts för att kalkylera variablerna: extrem temperatur, extremt regn, regndagar i följd och totalt antal dagar med extremt väder har erhållits från två väderstationer inom studieområdet. Häckningssäsongen analyserades i sin helhet samt delades in i perioderna: “innan äggläggnings-”, “ruvnings-” och “ungar-i-boet-perioden”, vilka korrelerades mot vädervariablerna. Vi fann att dagar med extremt väder påverkar pilgrimsfalkens häckningsframgång negativt under hela säsongen samt under perioderna “innan äggläggning” och “ruvning”. Extrema väderhändelser kan alltså förklara variationer i häckningsframgången för pilgrimsfalken på södra Grönland. Resultatet indikerar även att andra faktorer påverkar häckningsframgången då det finns en stark nedåtgående trend i pilgrimsfalkens häckningsframgång men inte en ökning av extrema väderhändelser under samma period.

Populations of birds of prey, henceforth raptors, have declined worldwide, mostly from anthropogenic causes. Because their role as apex predators in ecosystems is considered vital for ecosystem health, conservation efforts have been implemented throughout their distribution. In many cases, we do not know enough about their basic food and habitat requirements, which is requisite if we are going to be able to protect them. The purpose of this study was to describe the habits and biology of nesting martial eagles by looking at the chick’s diets and the roles of male and female eagles in provision and presentation (dismemberment) of prey to the chicks. Data were collected non-obtrusively by fitting five nests in the Maasai Mara and one in the Rift Valley region of Kenya with cameras that were both motion-triggered and programmed to take images every five minutes. Based on analysis of 214,000 image frames, the diet of nesting martial eagles and their chicks was found to be comprised of 23 different species within four broad prey categories (gamebirds, domestic poultry, large ungulates and small ungulates), of which gamebirds were the most important. There were sex-based differences in parental feeding, with females selecting for larger and heavier prey items than males. Males were the primary foragers for the chicks up until the eighth to eleventh week of chick development, after which the females became more involved. In addition, before delivery to the nest, large prey were more often dismembered than small and medium-sized prey. This study is the first in Africa to use nest-cams to study martial eagles over the breeding season, corroborating previous studies that have shown sex-dependent differences in chick nurturing. My results contribute to establishing a fuller picture that can be used in future conservation actions and management decisions that can be used to protect this species and their prey base. / Beståndet på rovfåglar (hädanefter raptor) har minskat över hela världen, mestadels på grund av all antropomorfisk verksamhet. Eftersom deras roll som topprovdjur i ekosystem anses vara oerhört viktig för ekosystemens hälsa har bevarandeinsatser genomförts i alla deras habitat. I många fall vet vi inte tillräckligt om deras grundläggande mat- och livsmiljökrav, vilket är nödvändigt om vi skall kunna skydda dem. Syftet med denna studie var att beskriva habitat och biologi hos häckande stridsörnar genom att titta på ungarnas dieter och rollen som hanor och honor i tillhandahållande och presentation (rivning) av byte till ungarna. Data samlades in genom att använda en icke-störande teknik. Kameror som var både rörelsestyrda och programmerade att ta bilder var femte minut monterades vid fem bon i Maasai Mara och en i Rift Valley-regionen i Kenya. Baserat på analys av 214 000 bildramar konstaterades att dieten för häckande stridsörnar och deras ungar bestod av 23 olika arter inom fyra breda byteskategorier (viltfåglar, tamfåglar, stora hovdjur och små hovdjur), varav viltfåglar var de viktigaste. Det fanns könsbaserade skillnader i kost som ungarna fick, med honor som valde större och tyngre byte än hanar valde. Hanar var de främsta furagerare fram till den åttonde veckan av ungarnas utveckling, då blir honor mer involverade. Dessutom blev stort byte ofta delade ned innan leverans till boet än små och medelstora byten. Denna studie är den första i Afrika som använde kamror för stridsörnar under Häckningssäsong och den bekräftar tidigare studier som har visat könsberoende skillnader i skötsel av ungar. Mina resultat bidrar till att skapa en mer fullständig bild som kan användas i framtida bevarandeåtgärder och förvaltningsbeslut som kan användas för att skydda denna art. / <p>Due to Covid-19 all presentations and defences were held online</p>