Range, areas of concentrated activity, and dispersal characteristics for juvenile Steller sea lions Eumetopias jubatus in the endangered western population (west of 144° W in the Gulf of Alaska) are poorly understood. This study quantified space use by analyzing post-release telemetric tracking data from satellite transmitters externally attached to n = 65 juvenile (12-25 months; 72.5 to 197.6 kg) Steller sea lions (SSLs) captured in Prince William Sound (60°38'N -147°8'W) or Resurrection Bay (60°2'N -149°22'W), Alaska, from 2003-2011. The analysis divided the sample population into 3 separate groups to quantify differences in distribution and movement. These groups included sex, the season when collected, and the release type (free ranging animals which were released immediately at the site of capture, and transient juveniles which were kept in captivity for up to 12 weeks as part of a larger ongoing research program). Range-use was first estimated by using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) approach, and then followed with a probabilistic kernel density estimation (KDE) to evaluate both individual and group utilization distributions (UDs). The LCV method was chosen as the smoothing algorithm for the KDE analysis as it provided biologically meaningful results pertaining to areas of concentrated activity (generally, haulout locations). The average distance traveled by study juveniles was 2,131 ± 424 km. The animals mass at release (F[subscript 1, 63] = 1.17, p = 0.28) and age (F[subscript 1, 63] = 0.033, p = 0.86) were not significant predictors of travel distance. Initial MCP results indicated the total area encompassed by all study SSLs was 92,017 km², excluding land mass. This area was heavily influenced by the only individual that crossed over the 144°W Meridian, the dividing line between the two distinct population segments. Without this individual, the remainder of the population (n = 64) fell into an area of 58,898 km². The MCP area was highly variable, with a geometric average of 1,623.6 km². Only the groups differentiated by season displayed any significant difference in area size, with the Spring/Summer (SS) groups MCP area (Mdn = 869.7 km²) being significantly less than that of the Fall/Winter (FW) group (Mdn = 3,202.2 km²), U = 330, p = 0.012, r = -0.31. This result was not related to the length of time the tag transmitted (H(2) = 49.65, p = 0.527), nor to the number of location fixes (H(2) = 62.77, p = 0.449). The KDE UD was less variable, with 50% of the population within a range of 324-1,387 km2 (mean=690.6 km²). There were no significant differences in area use associated with sex or release type (seasonally adjusted U = 124, p = 0.205, r = -0.16 and U = 87, p = 0.285, r = -0.13, respectively). However, there were significant differences in seasonal area use: U = 328, p = 0.011, r = -0.31. There was no relationship between the UD area and the amount of time the tag remained deployed (H(2) = 45.30, p = 0.698). The kernel home range (defined as 95% of space use) represented about 52.1% of the MCP range use, with areas designated as "core" (areas where the sea lions spent fully 50% of their time) making up only about 6.27% of the entire MCP range and about 11.8% of the entire kernel home range. Area use was relatively limited – at the population level, there were a total of 6 core areas which comprised 479 km². Core areas spanned a distance of less than 200 km from the most western point at the Chiswell Islands (59°35'N -149°36'W) to the most eastern point at Glacier Island (60°54'N -147°6'W). The observed differences in area use between seasons suggest a disparity in how juvenile SSLs utilize space and distribute themselves over the course of the year. Due to their age, this variation is less likely due to reproductive considerations and may reflect localized depletion of prey near preferred haul-out sites and/or changes in predation risk. Currently, management of the endangered western and threatened eastern population segments of the Steller sea lion are largely based on population trends derived from aerial survey counts and terrestrial-based count data. The likelihood of individuals to be detected during aerial surveys, and resulting correction factors to calculate overall population size from counts of hauled-out animals remain unknown. A kernel density estimation (KDE) analysis was performed to delineate boundaries around surveyed haulout locations within Prince William Sound-Kenai Fjords (PWS-KF). To closely approximate the time in which population abundance counts are conducted, only sea lions tracked during the spring/summer (SS) months (May 10-August 10) were chosen (n = 35). A multiple state model was constructed treating the satellite location data, if it fell within a specified spatiotemporal context, as a re-encounter within a mark-recapture framework. Information to determine a dry state was obtained from the tags time-at-depth (TAD) histograms. To generate an overall terrestrial detection probability 1) The animal must have been within a KDE derived core-area that coincided with a surveyed haulout site 2) it must have been dry and 3) it must have provided at least one position during the summer months, from roughly 11:00 AM-5:00 PM AKDT. A total of 10 transition states were selected from the data. Nine states corresponded to specific surveyed land locations, with the 10th, an "at-sea" location (> 3 km from land) included as a proxy for foraging behavior. A MLogit constraint was used to aid interpretation of the multi-modal likelihood surface, and a systematic model selection process employed as outlined by Lebreton & Pradel (2002). At the individual level, the juveniles released in the spring/summer months (n = 35) had 85.3% of the surveyed haulouts within PWS-KF encompass KDE-derived core areas (defined as 50% of space use). There was no difference in the number of surveyed haulouts encompassed by core areas between sexes (F[subscript 1, 33] << 0.001, p = 0.98). For animals held captive for up to 12 weeks, 33.3% returned to the original capture site. The majority of encounter probabilities (p) fell between 0.42 and 0.78 for the selected haulouts within PWS, with the exceptions being Grotto Island and Aialik Cape, which were lower (between 0.00-0.17). The at-sea (foraging) encounter probability was 0.66 (± 1 S.E. range 0.55-0.77). Most dry state probabilities fell between 0.08-0.38, with Glacier Island higher at 0.52, ± 1 S.E. range 0.49-0.55. The combined detection probability for hauled-out animals (the product of at haul-out and dry state probabilities), fell mostly between 0.08-0.28, with a distinct group (which included Grotto Island, Aialik Cape, and Procession Rocks) having values that averaged 0.01, with a cumulative range of ≈ 0.00-0.02 (± 1 S.E.). Due to gaps present within the mark-recapture data, it was not possible to run a goodness-of-fit test to validate model fit. Therefore, actual errors probably slightly exceed the reported standard errors and provide an approximation of uncertainties. Overall, the combined detection probabilities represent an effort to combine satellite location and wet-dry state telemetry and a kernel density analysis to quantify the terrestrial detection probability of a marine mammal within a multistate modeling framework, with the ultimate goal of developing a correction factor to account for haulout behavior at each of the surveyed locations included in the study. / Graduation date: 2013

Domoic acid (DA) is a neurotoxin produced by the harmful algae Pseudo-nitzschia that has been directly linked to mass stranding events of the California Sea Lion (CSL). The purpose of this paper is to review the anthropogenic influence on the production of this neurotoxin and examine how human activities are impacting this marine mammal species. A comprehensive and interdisciplinary literature review was conducted to evaluate the future sustainability of the CSL population. It was found that while Pseudo-nitzschia bloom developments are vulnerable to anthropogenic influences, the incontestable existence of natural contributing factors adds a certain complexity to the determination of causalities and the development of solutions. Strong evidence exists to show that DA can cause major and irreversible neurological damage in CSLs. Rehabilitation of DA-impacted CSLs is a polarizing issue in the U.S. and presents interesting implications for sustainable development. While the CSL population is currently healthy and plenteous, the strong abundance of future uncertainties warrants concern. A balance must be found between the involving social, economic, and environmental factors to ensure a promising future for the CSL species.

The essay discusses the world of Narnia from a psychological point of view. It argues that for Lucy, visiting Narnia takes the form of a psychological journey that represents the realisation of her repressed desires. It is through this realisation that Lucy develops as a character.

Maintaining thermal balance is essential for all homeotherms but can be especially challenging for pinnipeds which must regulate over a variety of ambient temperatures and habitats as part of their life history. Young pinnipeds, with their immature physiology and inexperience, have the additional expense of needing to allocate energy for growth while still dealing with a thermally stressful aquatic environment. With the immense environmental and physiological pressures acting on juvenile age-classes, declines in prey resources would be particularly detrimental to survival. The goal of the present study was to examine the metabolic and thermoregulatory capabilities of juvenile Steller sea lions to better understand how changing prey resources indirectly impact juvenile age classes. Data collected from captive Steller sea lions suggest that changes in body mass and body composition influence the thermoregulatory capabilities of smaller sea lions in stationary and flowing water. Serial thermal images taken of sea lions after emergence from the water show vasoconstriction of the flippers compared to the body trunk to help minimize heat loss. Despite this ability to vasoconstrict, sea lions in poor body condition displayed a reduced tolerance for colder water temperatures, suggesting that decreases in prey availability which affect insulation may limit survival in younger sea lions. If reductions in prey availability (i.e., nutritional stress) were impacting western Alaskan populations, a reduction in energetic expenditures would be expected in these animals to cope. Measures of resting metabolism in juvenile free-ranging Steller sea lions across Alaska showed no differences between eastern and western capture locations, suggesting no evidence of metabolic depression in declining western stocks of sea lions. Finally, thermal costs predicted by a thermal balance model were compared to actual costs measured in the present study. Model output reliably predicted thermoregulatory costs for juvenile Steller sea lions under certain environmental conditions. Basic physiological measurements combined with the predictive power of modeling will allow for greater exploration of the environmental constraints on juvenile Steller sea lions and identify directions of future study.

No description available.

Over the last 15 years, pinniped tourism has experienced a rapid growth in the Southern Hemisphere, and particularly in Australia and New Zealand where at least four sites attract more than 100,000 visitors per year. Tourism focused on the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea), a protected species endemic to Australia, occurs in at least nine sites in South Australia and Western Australia. Australian sea lions haul out on several offshore islands in the Perth region. Carnac Island Nature Reserve is one of the main sites where people can view sea lions near Perth, either during recreational activities or on commercial tours. This study sought: (1) to investigate the potential impact of human visitors on Australian sea lions hauled out on Carnac Island, (2) to consider implications of the results for the management of Carnac Island Nature Reserve, and (3) to examine under which conditions tourism and recreation around sea lions can be sustained in the long term. Sea lion numbers, rate of return to the site, behavioural response to human presence and incidents of disturbances of sea lions by visitors were recorded over a period of four months on Carnac Island. A survey of 207 visitors was also carried out. Findings indicated that there were two main types of human impacts on the sea lions: • A specific state of sea lion vigilance induced by low level, but ongoing, repetitive disturbances from human presence, sustained at various approach distances ranging to more than 15 m, vigilance that is different from the behaviour profile observed in the absence of human disturbance, • Impacts resulting from incidental direct disturbances of sea lions by visitors from inappropriate human recreational activities or from visitors trying to elicit a more ‘active’ sea lion response than the usual ‘sleeping or resting’ behaviour on display; these impacts included sea lions retreating and leaving the beach, or displaying aggressive behaviour. Impacts on sea lions from these disturbances may range from a potential sea lion physiological stress response to sea lions leaving the beach, a reduction in the time sea lions spend hauling out, and, in the longer term, the risk of sea lions abandoning the site altogether. Repeated instances of visitors (including unsupervised young children) approaching sea lions at very short distances of less than 2.5 m represented a public safety risk. Results also indicated that (1) the numbers of sea lions hauled out and their rate of return to the beach did not appear to be affected by an increase in the level of human visitation (although longer-term studies would be required to confirm this result); and (2) there appeared to be a high turnover rate of sea lions at the site from day to day, suggesting that there are frequent arrivals and departures of sea lions to and from Carnac Island. The visitor survey indicated that many visitors to Carnac Island had a recreational focus that was not primarily directed towards sea lion viewing (‘incidental ecotourists’). Although many visitors witnessed incidental disturbance caused by humans to sea lions, they did not seem to recognise that they themselves could disturb sea lions through their mere presence. Visitors also seemed to have a limited awareness of the safety risk posed by sea lions at close range. Visitors expressed support for the presence of a volunteer ranger on the beach and for more on-site information about sea lions. Finally, visitors indicated that they greatly valued their sea lion viewing experience. It is anticipated that the continued increase in visitation to Carnac Island from recreation and from tourism will result in intensified competition for space between humans and sea lions. Long-term impacts of human disturbances on sea lions are unknown, but a physiological stress response and/or the abandonment of haulout sites has been observed in other pinniped species. The findings of this study highlight the need to implement a long-term strategy to reduce disturbance levels of sea lions by visitors at Carnac Island to ensure that tourism and recreation around sea lions can be sustained in the long term. Recommendations include measures to control visitor numbers on the island through an equitable allocation system between various user groups, the development of on-site sea lion interpretation and a public education and awareness program, the setting up of a Sea Lion Sanctuary Zone on the main beach, ongoing monitoring of sea lion and visitor numbers and other data, and a system of training and accreditation of guides employed by tour operators.

Thesis (M.E.S.)--The Evergreen State College, 2007. / Title from title screen (viewed 1/24/2008). "MES thesis." Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-88).

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Lion populations globally are on the decrease and their habitats are fragmenting. Despite their importance in the Zambezi Region in Namibia, very little research has yet been undertaken to understand their occurrence in this area. One of the primary motivations behind this study was the Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area’s (KAZA TFCA) need to identify trans-boundary movement of carnivores. The collaborative approach with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism in Namibia facilitated the collaring of lions in three National Parks. A number of species were collared and this study focuses on the occurrence of lions in the Zambezi Region. From the lion home range analysis we could see that the home-range sizes of the collared lions varied greatly across the study area. The difference in home range size is largely due to human pressure surrounding the protected areas. Geographically weighted regression assisted in understanding which were the main drivers of lion occurrence, but further investigation was needed using the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model for presence-only data. The factors that were investigated as possibly affecting the occurrence of lions included the following: rivers, land cover, land use, elevation and human activity. After pursuing various research models and manipulating data among all these factors, no single factor or combination of factors was found to be reliable predictors on lion occurrence in the study area. As is discussed in recommendations for further research in Chapter 6, it became clear that quantitative data cannot be used in isolation to predict where lions may occur. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Leeu-bevolkings is wêreldwyd aan die afneem en hulle habitatte fragmenteer al hoe meer. Ten spyte van hulle intrinsieke belang vir die Zambezi streek in Namibië is daar ‘n gebrek aan navorsing om die voorkome van leeus in hierdie streek te verstaan. ‘n Belangrike motivering vir hierdie studie was die vereiste van die “Kavango Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area” (KAZA TFCA) om grensoorstekende bewegings te verstaan, in onder andere karnivore. In samewerking met KAZA TFCA is GPS-halsbande aangebring aan leeus in drie wildsparke, asook aan individue van ander spesies; hierdie studie fokus spesifiek op leeus in die Zambezi streek. Analise van die leeus se loopgebied toon breë variasies oor die studiegebied, vir die individue met halsbande, hoofsaaklik te wyte aan menslike druk vanuit omliggende nedersettings. Hierdie studie gebruik geografies geweegde regressie om die belangrikste faktore in die teenwoordigheid van leeus te verstaan, terwyl Maximale Entropie modelle (MaxEnt) vir slegs teenwoordigheid data in verdere ondersoeke ingespan is. Die volgende faktore is ondersoek ten opsigte van hulle moontlike bydrae tot die voorkome van leeus: riviere, land bedek, grondgebruik, hoogte en menslike aktiwiteite. Verskeie statistiese navorsingsmodelle is ondersoek, met inagneming van data vir al die faktore, maar geen betroubare aanwyser of aanwysers vir leeu-teenwoordigheid is gevind nie. Dit is duidelik dat bloot kwantitatiewe data ontoereikend is om leeuteenwoordigheid te voorspel, soos uiteengesit in hoofstuk 6.

Fear of predation can have a major impact on the behaviour of prey species. Despite recent codifying of the concept of the ecology of fear, there has been relatively little focus on how these ideas apply to large carnivore species which, although not prey sensu stricto, may experience fear as a result of threats from humans. This thesis argues that large mammalian carnivores are subject to a Landscape of Fear similar to that described for prey species, and will respond behaviourally to fear of human-caused mortality. The idea of a "Landscape of Coexistence" is introduced to denote the perceived risk from humans and associated behavioural responses that can be overlain on spatio-temporally heterogeneous landscapes. Literature on the ecology of fear for large mammalian carnivores and, as there is a dearth of such literature, the current theory on the ecology of fear for other guilds is reviewed, and how this might inform large carnivore behaviour in a Landscape of Coexistence is explored. Behavioural effects of human-caused mortality risk are revealed for lions living in a human dominated landscape (Laikipia County, Kenya), specifically how lions adjust their movement patterns, habitat use and foraging tactics when in proximity to humans. It is argued that these behavioural adjustments represent a trade-off between maximising fitness enhancing activities and minimising the risk of human-caused mortality, thus need to be taken into consideration along with the lethal effects of humans when explaining the density, distribution and behaviour of lions throughout much of their remaining range. Although fear is generic, 'human-caused mortality risk' represents a distinct and very important sub-set of the ecology of fear for the carnivore guild. The existence of a Landscape of Coexistence has implications for understanding their foraging ecology, and ultimately their population dynamics and role in the ecosystem, and is therefore, important for the conservation of large carnivores throughout large parts of their remaining ranges.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 pinto_bl_me_rcla.pdf: 2556419 bytes, checksum: a7f4d02a3a6803b418af5a8a09394fc8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-02 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O bioma Mata Atlântica possui alta diversidade de primatas e com alto grau de endemismo, porém grande parte desses primatas estão ameaçados devido à grande modificação da paisagem. O mico-leão-preto (Callitrichidae, Leontopithecus chrysopygus) é uma espécie endêmica do Estado de São de Paulo, ameaçada de extinção, que ocorre na Mata Atlântica e cuja detecção é difícil por ser de pequeno porte, críptico e ocorrer em baixa densidade. Para poder implementar programas de conservação eficazes, é necessário o conhecimento das áreas de ocorrência da espécie assim como das características ambientais que favorecem sua ocupação. Este trabalho tem como objetivo determinar as características da paisagem e locais que influenciam a ocupação e detecção do mico-leão preto. Através do playback, foi realizado o levantamento dos micos-leões-pretos em 16 sítios amostrais, com 3 pontos em cada um e 3 repetições (uma por mês, Maio-Julho de 2016). Coletamos dados sobre as características locais (largura dos pontos amostrais, diâmetro à altura do peito das árvores, estratificação e presença de gado) e da paisagem (conectividade funcional, quantidade de densidade de borda, cobertura vegetal, tipo de matriz e distância à Estação Ecológica de Angatuba) em cada ponto amostral. As características foram obtidas através dos programas ArcGis, Grass e Google Earth Pro, além da ajuda de um botânico para algumas características locais. O modelo de ocupação (verossimilhança), através da análise de padrão-de única estação (standard-singleseason) pelo programa PRESENCE ® versão 11.8, foi utilizado para encontrar as características que melhor explicam a ocupação e detecção do mico-leão-preto. A ocupação foi de 26% e a detecção de 75%. As características da paisagem foram as que influenciaram tanto na ocupação quanto na detecção. A ocupação dos micos-leões-pretos foi associada à quantidade de áreas florestais, que obteve uma relação positiva, a mesma também encontrada para a detectabilidade. Todavia, a detecção apresentou outra característica (quantidade de densidade de borda), que em lugares mais alterados (com efeito de borda) podem apresentar uma vantagem em relação à locais mais conservados (mais fechados), auxiliando na propagação do som e facilitando a procura do mico no campo. Assim, ao identificar as principais características que influenciam a ocupação dos micos-leões-pretos, outros locais podem ser estimados e as áreas florestais priorizadas e com as medidas mitigadoras mais direcionadas para a preservação e conservação da espécie juntamente com seus hábitats. / The Atlantic Forest biome presents high primate diversity and high degree of endemism, but most of these primates are threatened habitat fragmentation. The black lion tamarin (Callitrichidae, Leontopithecus chrysopygus) is an endemic species of the State of São Paulo, threatened with extinction, occurring in the Atlantic Forest and whose detection is difficult because it is small, cryptic and occurs in low density. In order to implement effective conservation programs, it is necessary to know the areas of occurrence of the species as well as the environmental characteristics that favor their presence. This work aims to determine local and landscape characteristics that influence the occupancy and detection of the black lion tamarin. We used the playback methodology to find the primates in 16 sites samples with 3 points in each and 3 replicates (one per month, May-July 2016). It was collect data from local (width of sampling points, diameter at breast height, stratification and presence of cattle) and landscape characteristics (functional connectivity, amount of border density, vegetation cover, type of matrix and distance to the Ecological Station of Angatuba) at each sampling point. The characteristics were from ArcGis, Grass and Google Earth Pro software, and also from a botanist. The occupation model (likelihood), through standard-single-season (standardsingle-season) using the PRESENCE ® version 11.8 software, helped to find which characteristics best explain the occupation and detection of the black lion tamarin. The occupation was 26% and the detection was 75%. The characteristics of the landscape were those that influenced both (occupation and detection). The occupation of the black lion tamarins was associated to the number of forest areas, which obtained a positive relation, the same also it was find for detectability. However, the detection presented another characteristic (amount of edge density), which shows that in more altered sites (with border effect) can present an advantage over the more conserved (more closed) sites, helping the propagation of the sound and facilitating the search of the black lion tamarin in the field. Thus, identifying the main characteristics that influence the occupation of black lion tamarins, other sites can be estimate, forest areas can be prioritized and mitigating measures for the preservation and conservation of the species along with their habitats. / FAPESP: 2014/14739-0