Biodiversity monitoring and predictions of species occurrence are essential to develop outcome-oriented conservation management plans for endangered species and assess their success over time. To assess distribution and patterns of habitat use of large mammal assemblages in Thailand, with a focus on the endangered dhole (Cuon alpinus), I first implemented a long-term camera-trapping project carried out with park rangers from October 2003 through October 2007 in Khao Yai National Park. This project was extremely successful and may serve as a regional model for wildlife conservation. I found significantly lower relative abundance indices for carnivore species, and collectively for all mammals compared to data obtained in 1999–2000, suggesting population declines resulting from increased human activity. I integrated this data into maximum entropy modeling (Maxent) to further evaluate whether ranger stations reduced poaching activity and increased wildlife diversity and abundances. I then conducted a focused camera trap survey from January 2008 through February 2010 in Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary to gather critical baseline information on dholes, one of the predator species that seemed to have declined over time and that is exposed to continued pressure from humans. Additionally, I led a collaborative effort with other colleagues in the field to collate and integrate camera trap data from 15 protected areas to build a country-wide habitat suitability map for dholes, other predators, and their major prey species. The predicted presence probability for sambar (Rusa unicolor) and leopards (Panthera pardus) were the most important variables in predicting dhole presence countrywide. Based on my experience from these different field ecological surveys and endeavors, it became clear that local people's beliefs may have a strong influence on dhole management and conservation. Thus, I conducted villager interview surveys to identify local attitudes towards dholes, document the status of dholes in wildlife sanctuaries adjacent to Cambodia, and determine the best approach to improve local support for dhole conservation before proceeding with further field studies of the species in Thailand. A photograph of a dhole was correctly identified by only 20% of the respondents. My studies provide evidence that some protected areas in Thailand continue to support a diversity of carnivore speices of conservation concern, including clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), dholes, and small felids. However, dholes' impact on prey populations may be increasing as tiger (Panthera tigris) and leopards are extripated from protected areas. The next step in dhole conservation is to estimate the size and stability of their fragmented populations and also focus on maintaining adequate prey bases that would support both large felids and dholes.

The Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife sanctuary (TYNE) is clarified as the Tiger Conservation Landscape of Global Priority and also a stronghold for other endangered and threaten species. Although, UNESCO designated this area, the cores of the Western Forest Complex (WEFCOM), as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1991, this wildlife has been threatened by habitat alteration, prey depletion, and direct killing. Yet, the information on impact of human activities and wildlife status that is needed to guild forest authorities to develop conservation strategies remains challenging. The goal of this dissertation was to increase understanding of tiger, other main predators, prey status, and also impact of human activities in the sanctuary. In the TYNE, the globally endangered species were observed including Asiatic Elephant (Elephas maximus), Tiger (Panthera tigris), Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus), Dhole (Cuon alpines), and Malayan Pangolin (Manis javanica). Spatially explicit capture-recapture approach estimated tiger density at 1.4-1.6 tigers/100 km2 and leopard density at 0.7-0.8 leopards/100 km2, which indicates that there might be 27±10 tigers (95% CL range from 11-46) and around 12±4 leopards (95% CL range from 8-19) roaming in the area around 1,596 km2 in TYNE. The large predators like tigers, leopards, and dholes co-occurred in the area with the combination of both spatial and temporal partitioning due to differences in predator and prey activity and low overlap in space use correlated to their prey preferences. Prey availability, human settlement areas, and human disturbance activities are the key limiting factors for their distribution and space-use. The habitat use of tiger and leopard demonstrated that the population distribution was limited in the central to the eastern part of the TYNE, while the local people occupied the west with high disturbance activities. The activities by local people in TYNE were varied and the impacts of the disturbance were complex. Slash and burn, livestock, tree cutting, and poaching appeared to be the major influence wildlife abundance and habitat around the settlement areas. The results of this study stress the need for the further conservation and management to maintain wildlife distribution and populations in the future. Better scientific understanding of wildlife biology, ecology, and social sciences would help to deal with the conservation and management issues facing the local communities and natural resources in Thung Yai Naresuan (East) Wildlife Sanctuary.

Thesis (M. Sc. (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2016 / Livestock production in communal areas is faced by a myriad of challenges such as environmental degradation, poor markets, stock theft and disease. This has drawn interest towards wildlife-based land-use practices as an alternative or complement to livestock production. Wildlife-based land-uses have potential to generate incomes and create employment in wildlife rich areas. On the other hand, several problems such as human-wildlife conflict have been identified in wildlife rich areas. This study investigated perceptions of rural households in areas adjacent to the Kruger National Park (KNP) regarding integrated wildlife/livestock land-use practices. Data were collected from 130 households in nine villages alongside KNP in Giyani. Respondents were stratified into cattle owning households and non-cattle owning households, to determine differences in perception towards wildlife. Chi-square and Cramer`s V tests were used to test if there is an association and relationship between the households` opinion and cattle ownership. For empirical analysis, factor analysis and multinomial logistic regression models were run with SPSS. Attitudes and perceptions were analysed by the Likert-scale numbered from 1 to 4. High scores (i.e. 3 and 4) indicated negative attitudes and low scores (i.e. 1 and 2) indicated positive attitudes. The factor analysis managed to reduce the number of attitude variables fitted into the model from 29 to 9 factors (components), that were used in the multinomial logit model analysis. Results from the multinomial regression indicated that demographic factors such as age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, monthly income and cattle ownership had a significant impact in distinguishing between pairs of groups and the contribution which they make to change the odds of being in one dependent variable group rather than the other. Results from factor analysis (component variables or factors) also had a significant impact on the dependent variables when applied to multinomial logit regression. About 59% of the sampled households showed positive attitudes towards integrated wildlife-based land-use practices, and indicated willingness to participate in it. Those who had negative attitudes and were not likely to participate were 13%; and those who were uncertain on whether or not to participate were 28%. Looking at the results of the empirical analysis derived from regression analysis through multinomial logit, several factors were found to have influenced whether or not households were likely to participate in the integrated wildlife/livestock land-uses. Variables: damages caused by wild animals on crops and vegetables; giving land and stopping farming to allow for wildlife conservation; roles and opportunities of wildlife in the community; roles and opportunities of livestock in the community; age of household head; occupation of household head; gender of household head; cattle ownership; Access to market, income earned from sale of livestock, and state of grazing area, were found to be significant (at different significant levels 1%, 5% and 10%) in determining whether or not households were likely to participate in the integrated wildlife/livestock land-uses. However, variables: Government support and the number of people benefiting from livestock, Interest in wildlife protection, Relationship between wildlife, human and domestic animals and land ownership were found to be insignificant in determining whether or not households were likely to participate in the integrated wildlife/livestock land-uses. Most of the households showed interest in participating in wildlife-based land-uses irrespective of whether or not they own cattle. Some households indicated dislike of the proposed land-use practice, mainly those who practiced cattle and crop production, as they perceived wild animals as a high risk to their stock. However, this negative attitude can be managed if benefits to households and community are clearly defined and compensation for loses from wildlife are made a priority. Cooperation of all stakeholders (for example, community, government, conservationists and foreign donor’ agencies) is recommended for implementation of wildlife-based land-uses.

No description available.

No description available.

Cephalopods provide forage to a wide range of predators in marine food-webs. Despite their ecological importance, a basic understanding of the mechanisms controlling predation risk and demand is lacking. This is true of one of the most common species of squid found in the northwest Atlantic, the longfin inshore squid (Loligo pealeii). In this dissertation, I address this shortcoming by investigating the role that size and behavior play in influencing squid’s vulnerability to predation. I used long-term food habits, population survey, and commercial landings data, to quantify size-based patterns of predation respective to 25 species of predators. Additionally, I estimated the amount of overlap between predatory consumption and the fishery catch for squid by size. I found that finfish and elasmobranchs generally consumed juvenile and sub-adult squid, while marine mammals primarily targeted adults. Consequently, marine mammals had the highest overlap with the fishing industry for squid size resources. Although large squid were not common in predator diets, predators did not appear to be gape-limited when feeding on squid. This suggested that other factors, including behavior, were important in shaping size-based patterns of predation. I used a laboratory-based approach to quantify attack and capture behaviors towards squid by two predators representing contrasting foraging tactics. Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) and summer flounder ( Paralichthys dentatus) were chosen as cruising and ambush predators, respectively. Patterns in attack rates suggested that size-selection on squid was constrained by passive processes rather than active choice in both predators. Size-dependent profitability functions were calculated by combining capture success rates, handling times, and relative prey mass, and determined that bluefish was the more efficient predator of squid. Lastly, I evaluated the occurrence and effectiveness of anti-predator responses used by squid in the presence of bluefish and flounder. Squid behavior depended on the type of predator present, and the survival value of primary and secondary defense behaviors differed during interactions with each predator. The results of this project are intended to improve the quality of management of squid and their predators by providing a better understanding of predator-prey interactions in the northwest Atlantic.

No description available.

No description available.

<p> Mottled ducks (<i>Anas fulvigula</i>) are a non-migratory waterfowl species endemic to the western Gulf Coast, with a separate, genetically distinct subspecies (<i>A. fulvigula fulvigula</i>) occurring in peninsular Florida. Birds from Texas, Louisiana, and Florida were released in coastal South Carolina from 1975-1983, and banding data suggest an expanding population. I monitored 72 mottled duck nests and captured and radio-marked 196 pre-breeding and nesting females between 2010 and 2014 to study breeding ecology of these birds in the Ashepoo, Combahee, Edisto Rivers Basin. Nest success averaged 12% and varied with vegetation height and year. Indicated breeding pair surveys revealed breeding mottled ducks select managed wetland impoundments, predominately influenced by water depth. Future research should investigate ecology of nest predators of mottled ducks to devise successful habitat management strategies for breeding birds. Preliminary evidence suggests that managed wetland impoundments are important to breeding and brood rearing mottled ducks in coastal South Carolina.</p>

<p> Efforts to document current wild bee faunas are imperative as evidence of changes in local abundance, geographical range, and species diversity among many taxa accumulates. These changes and declines have led to an intensified effort to survey wild bees in representative habitats throughout North America. The objective of this study was to characterize the wild bee fauna of one such coastal habitat in Connecticut, USA, specifically to examine marsh, dune, and coastal scrub bee communities.</p><p> Biweekly surveys were conducted at Grass Island Preserve (Guilford, CT) over a two-year period (2011-2012) using pan traps and effort-based (timed) net collecting. A total of 3929 individual bees were collected, representing five families, 18 genera and 80 species. The total number of species collected represents approximately 23% of the known Connecticut bee fauna. Three species -<i>Hylaeus illinoisensis</i> (Robertson); <i>Hylaeus</i> aff. <i>nelumbonis</i> (undescribed); <i>Lasioglossum michiganense </i> (Mitchell) - are newly recorded for Connecticut. Species accumulation curves constructed for all sub-habitats indicated that bee diversity was steadily increasing over the sample period. No asymptote in accumulation curves were observed at any site.</p>