No description available.

During 2000-2004 I studied the population status of the Formosan clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa brachyurus) and the ecology of its prey and other sympatric carnivores in the largest remaining lowland primary forest in southern Taiwan. My research team and I set up 232 hair snare stations and 377 camera trap sites at altitudes of 150-3,092m in the study area. No clouded leopards were photographed in total 13,354 camera trap days. Hair snares did not trap clouded leopard hairs, either. Assessment of the prey base and available habitat indicated that prey depletion and habitat loss, plus historical pelt trade, were likely the major causes of extinction of clouded leopards in Taiwan. Using zero-inflated count models to analyze distribution and occurrence patterns of Formosan macaques (Macaca cyclopis) and 4 ungulates, we found habitat segregation among these 5 herbivore species. Formosan macaques, Reeve's muntjacs (Muntiacus reevesi micrurus), and Formosan serows (Nemorhaedus swinhoei) likely were the most important prey species of Formosan clouded leopards given their body size and high occurrence rates in lower altitudes. In contrast, sambar deer (Cervus unicolor swinhoii) tended to occur more frequently as altitude increased. Formosan macaques exhibited seasonal differences in occurrence rates and were absent at altitudes > 2,500m in winter. Only Formosan serows showed preference for cliffs and rugged terrain, while the other 4 species, except wild boars (Sus scrofa taivanus), avoided these areas. Habitat segregation in forest understory and structure were more pronounced among the 4 ungulates. Forest structure rarely affected occurrence rates of Formosan macaques on the ground. Niche relationships of the other sympatric carnivores were studied through habitat, diet, and temporal dimensions. Resource partitioning by carnivores was observed. Altitude was the strongest factor explaining the composition of the carnivore community in the local study-area scale and in the landscape scale across Taiwan. Carnivores could be divided into 2 groups: low-mid altitude consisting of Formosan ferret badgers (Melogale moschata subaurantiaca), gem-faced palm civets (Paguma larvata taivana), lesser oriental civets (Viverricula indica taivana), crab-eating mongooses (Herpestes urva formosanus), leopard cats (Prionailurus bengalensis chinensis), and feral cats (Felis catus), and the mid-high altitude group consisting of yellow-throated martens (Martes flavigula chrysospila), Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica taivana), and Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus). Carnivore richness was higher at mid altitudes where these 2 groups overlapped (i.e. mid-domain effect). The low-mid altitude carnivores were more nocturnal and tolerant of human activity and forest alteration except crab-eating mongooses, which were diurnal and avoided human encroachment. Similar to crab-eating mongooses, the mid-high altitude carnivores also avoided human encroachment and were diurnal except for Siberian weasels, which were more nocturnal. Diet summary based on their major food items for all sympatric carnivores revealed 3 groups of foragers which foraged on: invertebrates, small mammals, and plant fruits. Felidae, yellow-throated martens, and Siberian weasels preyed on small mammals. Asiatic black bears and gem-faced palm civets ate mostly plant fruits. The other 3 carnivores were mainly invertebrate foragers. These 9 carnivores partitioned resource uses in the 3 niche dimensions except for some overlap in resource use by leopard cats and feral cats. Prey base for Formosan clouded leopards and the carnivore richness in Taiwan were found to be lower in areas with higher levels of human activity. On the other hand, Formosan macaques and ungulates could become over-abundant without human hunting and top carnivore predation. Mesopredator release may occur because of vanishing top carnivores, causing reduction of the lower trophic level prey species. It is important to assess the cascading impacts of the loss of the Formosan clouded leopards and Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra chinensis) and the declining Asiatic black bears and to consider reintroduction of Formosan clouded leopards, as well as active management of the other larger mammals. These results provided baseline information for reintroduction of clouded leopards and management of their prey and generated new hypotheses regarding the ecology of these large mammals for future investigation. / Ph. D.

The tiger (Panthera tigris) was once abundant in many of Asia’s forests. The entire species now hovers dangerously close to extinction. Population declines within the last two centuries are blamed largely on loss of habitat, reductions in prey species, poaching, and human-tiger conflict. Modern tiger conservation efforts focus on reintroducing formerly captive tigers to designated protected wild areas. Re-wilding and reintroduction programs teach survival skills to tiger cubs raised in zoo collections. Merging in situ and ex situ research collaborations is the twenty-first century’s interdisciplinary answer to the tiger’s plight in the wild. The zoo is viewed in terms of its role as an institution that represents societal values that shift in concurrence with shifting paradigms. This thesis studies the human-tiger relationship and analyzes three defining periods that occurred between 1800 and the present. The first period occurred during the nineteenth century, the second took place from the early through the late twentieth century and the third picked up where the second left off and is the one we are presently engaged in. The tiger is investigated in two different ways throughout — for its importance in human history and culture conceptually, and in the biological sense in terms of its importance as umbrella species within its own ecosystem. / Master of Science

Thesis (MSc (Conservation Ecology and Entomology))--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In 2005, six white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) were reintroduced into Pafuri, in the far northern section of Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa, as part of a large mammal reintroduction project. All six individuals were fitted with horn radio transmitters. Rhinos have been absent from Pafuri for over a century, and this project aimed to establish a breeding nucleus in the area. The aim of this study was to monitor post-release movement and habitat use of these animals within the 203 km2 study area and assess the short term success of the re-introduction project as well as the suitability of the five landscape types in Pafuri as a habitat for white rhinoceros. Habitat suitability and selection was assessed at two ecological hierarchical scales: 1) landscape system, analysed further down to the spatial scale of range and territory establishment, and 2) feeding station for diet selection. Rhinos were tracked for 12 months and a database of 719 sighting records was compiled. These data were used to determine the utilisation of and preference between the Pafuri landscape types, using preference indices that compare utilisation versus availability. An a-LoCoH nonparametric kernel method was used to calculate home ranges and utilisation distributions of each rhino. Feeding surveys were attempted by backtracking along fresh rhino feeding paths and recording the grass species present and eaten in 0.7 m x 0.7 m quadrats. Faecal samples were collected and analysed using microhistological techniques and dietary composition was assessed for each rhino. Landscape preference analyses showed that the rhinos favoured Colophospermum mopane Shrubveld on calcrete in the dry season, and the Punda Maria Sandveld in the wet season. The territory establishment of the dominant bull was substantially larger (44.8 km²) than those of adult male rhinos in the rest of KNP. Ranging areas of the mature females (17 – 25.4 km²), were consistent with sizes of previous studies. The two sub-adults ranged far more extensively, establishing an 84.1 km² annual range during the study period. The annual diet consisted of mostly perennial grass species, with moderate grazing value species dominating for most of the year. Dietary analyses showed that Schmidtia pappophoroides, Eragrostis superba, Enneapogon cenchroides, Cenchrus ciliaris and Stipagrostis uniplumis were the primary grass species consumed. vii This study demonstrated that the Pafuri rhinos are behaving similarly to rhinos established in other areas, with movements around the landscapes being primarily influenced by rainfall and permanent water sources, and the high quality grazing that is more abundant in the wet season. Their range and territory sizes were inevitably large, for a low density area, but not uncommonly so. The most significant outcome of this study was the preference shown for the Colophospermum mopane Shrubveld on calcrete landscape that is classed as unique within South Africa, and was also ranked as ‘avoided’ by the earlier KNP studies into landscape preferences of rhinos. The grass cover in Pafuri, although sparse and very dry, contained a diversity of low to high grazing value grasses that the rhinos appeared to exploit to the best of their ability. The abundance of moderate grazing value species in their diets, and the low number of low grazing value species suggests that they are maximising the opportunities to graze on nutritious grasses when they are available. Our findings suggest that the Pafuri area is suitable for the establishment of a small breeding nucleus of white rhinos. The abundance of permanent water, in the form of springs, is a great advantage however, the potential for bush encroachment into grasslands in areas of such low rainfall needs to be considered if the population continues to grow at the current rate. The birth of two new calves in 2008 confirms that these rhinos have settled and adapted to their new habitat, and is a very promising sign for the future of this increasing subpopulation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 2005 is ses wit renosters (Ceratotherium simum) hervestig in Pafuri in die noordelike gedeelte van die Kruger Nasionale Park (KNP), Suid-Afrika, as deel van ‘n groot soogdier hervestigings projek. Al ses individue is gemerk met horing radioseintoestelle. Renosters kom vir al meer as ‘n honderd jaar nie meer in Pafuri voor nie en hierdie projek was daarop gemik om ‘n teel-nukleus in hierdie gesied te vestig. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verspreiding van die renosters na loslating en habitat-gebruik binne die 203 km2 studie-omgewing te monitor, om die korttermyn sukses van die hervestigings program te evalueer en ook te kyk na die gepastheid van die vyf landskap-tipes in Pafuri as ‘n geskikte habitat vir die wit renosters. Habitatgepastheid en seleksie is geëvalueer volgens twee ekologiese hiërargiese skale: 1) landskapsisteem, wat in meer resolusie tot die ruimtelike skaal van reikwydte en omgewingsvestiging geanaliseer is, en 2) voedings-stasie vir dieet-seleksie. Renosters is vir 12 maande gevolg en ‘n databasis wat 719 waarneming-rekords bevat, is opgestel. Laasgenoemde data is gebruik om die gebruik en voorkeur vir die Pafuri landskap tipes te bepaal met behulp van voorkeur-indikators wat die gebruik met beskikbaarheid vergelyk het. ‘n a-LoCoH nie-parametriese kern metode is gebruik om die reikwydte en gebruiksverspreidings van elke renoster te bereken. Voedingsopnames is gedoen deurdat vars renoster voedings-paadjies terugwaarts gevolg is en die grasspesies teenwoordig en waarop gevoed is, in 0.7 m x 0.7 m kwadrante te bepaal. Mismonsters is versamel en geanaliseer deur gebruik te maak van mikro-histologiese tegnieke en voedingswaarde-samestellings is vasgestel vir elke renoster . Landskapsvoorkeur analises dui daarop dat die renosters in die droë seisoen Colophospermum mopane struikveld wat op kalkreet groei verkies en die Punda Maria Sandveld in die reën seisoen. Die terrein vestiging van die dominanate bul was aansienlik groter (44.8 km²) in vergelyking met die volwasse bul renosters in die res van die KNP. Reikwydte van die volwasse koeie (17 – 25.4 km²) was ooreenstemmend met dié van vorige studies. Die reikwydte van die twee subvolwassenes het baie meer gevarieer, deurdat ‘n 84.1 km² jaarlikse reikwydte gedek was binne die studie periode. Die jaarlikse dieet het meestal bestaan uit meerjarige ix grasspesies, met spesies met matige weidingswaarde wat oorheers vir meeste van die jaar. Voedingswaarde analises dui daarop dat Schmidtia pappophoroides, Eragrostis superba, Enneapogon cenchroides, Cenchrus ciliaris en Stipagrostis uniplumis die primêre gras spesies was waarop gewei word. Die studie het bewys dat die Pafuri renosters soortgelyke gedragspatrone vertoon het as renosters in ander gevestigde gebiede, deurdat bewegings binne die landskap hoofsaaklik beïnvloed word deur reënval en permanente waterbronne, asook die hoë gehalte weidingsbronne beskikbaar gedurende die reën seisoen. Hulle reikwydte- en terrein-groottes was uiteraardelik groot vir ‘n lae-digtheid areas, maar dit is nie buitengewoon nie. Die mees betekenisvolle gevolgtrekking van die studie was die voorkeur vir die Colophospermum mopane struikveld op kalkreet landskappe wat beskou word as uniek aan Suid-Afrika, en wat ook beskou was as ‘vermy’ deur vroër KNP studies tov. landskap voorkeure spesifiek vir renosters. Die grasbedekking in Pafuri, alhoewel yl en baie droog, het tog oor ‘n verskeidenheid grasse beskik wat van lae tot hoë weidings waarde het, en wat die renosters tot die beste van hulle vermoë benut het. Die oorvloedige teenwoordigheid van beide spesies met matige weidingswaarde in hulle dieët en die lae hoeveelheid van spesies met lae weidingswaarde, impliseer dat hulle die geleentheid om op voedingsryke grasse te voed ten volle benut wanneer dit beskikbaar is. Ons resultate dui daarop dat die Pafuri omgewing geskik is vir die vestiging van ‘n klein teel-nukleus van wit renosters. Die oorvloedige teenwoordigheid van permanente waterbronne in die vorm van fonteine is ‘n groot voordeel, maar die kans vir bosindringing in hierdie grasveld-gebiede met lae reënval moet oorweeg word sou die populasie aanhou toeneem teen die huidige tempo. Die geboorte van twee nuwe kalfies in 2008 staaf die moontlikheid dat die renosters gevestig en aangepas het in hulle nuwe habitat, wat ‘n baie belowende teken is vir die toekoms van die groeiende subpopulasie.

This study quantifies the changes in vegetation composition and structure of a fire-excluded Pinus palustris (longleaf pine) wetland savanna restoration site in southeastern in comparison to a proximate contemporary reference site. The restoration site was invaded by hardwood species and off-site pines, and never underwent extensive soil disturbance. The restoration treatments involved logging across portions of the site and the reintroduction of fire across the entire site. All species present in 10m2 quadrats were recorded prior to treatment and throughout the 17 year study at reference and treatment sites. The community composition of both logged and unlogged sites converged over time, and became more similar to the reference site. We conclude that logging of off-site pine coupled with the reintroduction of frequent fires can be effective in restoring ground cover in remnant longleaf pine savannas withdisturbance.

Background The prevalence of reported food hypersensitivity among children has increased in Western countries. However, the prevalence varies largely due to differences in methods used in different studies. Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the most reliable method to verify or exclude food hypersensitivity. The use of double-blind food challenges is increasing in clinical praxis, but since the method is time- and resource consuming it is rarely used in population-based cohort studies. There is a lack of knowledge on how adolescents and mothers experience participation in double-blind placebocontrolled food challenges and to what extent the food is reintroduced after a negative challenge. While several studies have described the impact of IgEmediated food allergy on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL), few studies have described HRQL among children with other food hypersensitivity phenotypes. Aim The aim of this thesis was to estimate the prevalence of reported food hypersensitivity, associated risk factors, and symptom expressions among schoolchildren. We also examined HRQL among children with total elimination of cow’s milk, hen’s egg, fish or wheat due to food hypersensitivity as a group compared with children with unrestricted diet, and after we categorised the children with eliminated foods into different phenotypes of FHS. Finally, adolescents’ and mothers’ experience of DBPCFC was examined as well if the food had been reintroduced. Methods Three studies were based on the Obstructive Lung Disease in Northern Sweden (OLIN) paediatric cohort II. The cohort was recruited in 2006 when all children in first and second grade (7-8 years) in three municipalities in Norrbotten were invited to a parental questionnaire study and 2,585 (96% of invited) participated. The questionnaire included questions about food hypersensitivity, asthma, rhinitis, eczema and possible risk factors. The children in two municipalities were also invited to skin prick testing with 10 airborne allergens, and 1,700 (90%) participated. Paper I is based on this initial survey of the cohort. Four years later, at age 11-12 years, the cohort was followed up using the same methods and with the same high participation rate. At the follow-up, 125 children (5% of the cohort) reported total elimination of cow’s milk, hen’s egg, fish or wheat due to food hypersensitivity. These children were invited to a clinical examination and to complete a generic (KIDSCREEN-52) and a diseasespecific HRQL questionnaire (FAQLQ-TF) (n=75). Based on the clinical examination the children were categorised into different phenotypes of food hypersensitivity: current food allergy, outgrown food allergy and lactose intolerance. In addition, a random sample of children with unrestricted diet from the same cohort, answered the generic questionnaire (n=209). Paper II is based on this HRQL study. Children categorised as having current food allergy were invited to a further evaluation including DBPCFC. Eighteen months after the challenges, these children were interviewed about their experiences during and after the challenge (n=17). Paper III is based on these interviews. Paper IV was based on interviews with mothers to children referred to a paediatric allergy specialist for evaluation of food allergy using DBPCFC (n=8). In the two interview studies results were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results At age 7-8 years, the prevalence of reported food hypersensitivity was 21%. Food hypersensitivity to milk, egg, fish, wheat or soy was reported by 10.9% and hypersensitivity to fruits or nuts by 14.6%. The most common essential food to trigger symptoms was milk, reported by 9%. The most frequently reported food induced symptoms, were oral symptoms mainly caused by fruits, followed by gastrointestinal symptoms mainly caused by milk. The risk factor pattern was different for food hypersensitivity to milk compared to hypersensitivity to other foods. No significant difference in distribution in generic or disease-specific HRQL was found among children with reported total elimination of milk, egg, fish and/or wheat due to FHS compared to children with unrestricted diet. However, a trend indicated that the disease-specific HRQL was most impaired among children with current food allergy compared to children with outgrown food allergy and lactose intolerance. The proportion of poor HRQL defined as ≥75 percentile was significantly higher among children with current food allergy than the other phenotypes. A DBPCFC was an opportunity for the adolescents and the mothers to overcome the fear of reactions to food that had been eliminated for a long time. After the challenge, when the food was partially or fully reintroduced, socializing became easier and both adolescents and mothers experienced more freedom regarding food intake. A negative challenge was not consistently associated with reintroduction of the food. Reasons for reintroduction failure were fear of allergic reactions, that the adolescent did not like the taste of the food, or that living with an elimination diet was considered as normal. Conclusion In this population-based study, one in five of children at age 7-8 years reported food hypersensitivity to any food. The generic HRQL was similar among children with and without food hypersensitivity. However, poor disease-specific HRQL was more common among children with current food allergy compared to children with other FHS phenotypes. If the tested food was reintroduced after a DBPCFC, both adolescents and mothers described a changed life with less fear, and that life had become easier regarding meal preparations and social events. As reintroduction failure was present despite a negative food challenge, follow-ups and evaluations of food reintroduction should be performed independent of the outcome of a food challenge. / Bakgrund Andelen barn med rapporterad födoämnesöverkänslighet har ökat. Prevalensen varierar mycket beroende på var studien genomförts och vilka metoder som använts. Dubbel-blinda placebo-kontrollerade födoämnesprovokationer (DBPCFC) är den mest tillförlitliga metoden för att utesluta eller verifiera födoämnesöverkänslighet. I klinisk praxis används DBPCFC alltmer, men eftersom metoden är resurskrävande används den sällan i populationsbaserade studier. Det saknas kunskap om mödrars och tonåringars egna upplevelser av att delta i DBPCFC och i vilken utsträckning livsmedlet återintroduceras efter en negativ provokation. Studier har beskrivit IgE-medierad födoämnesallergi och dess påverkan på hälsorelaterad livskvalitet men det saknas studier om livskvalitet bland barn med andra fenotyper av födoämnesöverkänslighet. Syfte Syfte med avhandlingen var att undersöka rapporterad förekomst av födoämnesöverkänslighet, riskfaktorer och symtomyttringar bland skolbarn. Vi har även studerat hälsorelaterad livskvalitet bland barn som helt eliminerat baslivsmedel, som hel grupp jämfört med barn utan eliminerad föda, samt efter att barnen kategoriserats i olika fenotyper av födoämnesöverkänslighet. Ett ytterligare syfte var att beskriva ungdomars och mödrars upplevelser, konsekvenser av DBPCFC samt i vilken omfattning livsmedlet återintroducerades. Metod Tre studier baseras på en barnkohort som rekryterades 2006 inom OLIN studierna (Obstruktiv Lungsjukdom i Norrbotten). Kohorten innefattade alla barn i årskurs 1 och 2 (7-8 år) i Luleå, Kiruna och Piteå där 2585 (96 % av de inbjudna) deltog i en föräldrabesvarad enkät. Enkäten innehöll frågor om födoämnesöverkänslighet, astma, rinit, eksem och möjliga riskfaktorer. Barn från Kiruna och Luleå inbjöds även till pricktest med 10 luftburna allergen och 1700 (90 %) deltog. Artikel I baseras på denna initiala enkätstudie. Fyra år senare följdes kohorten upp med samma metoder och höga deltagande. Totalt 125 barn (5 % av kohorten) uppgav total elimination av mjölk, ägg, fisk och/eller vete på grund av födoämnesöverkänslighet. Dessa barn inbjöds till en klinisk undersökning och 94 barn deltog. Sjuttiofem (80 %) av dessa barn besvarade hälsorelaterade livskvalitetsfrågor innefattande det generiska mätinstrumentet KIDSCREEN-52 samt det sjukdomsspecifika frågeformuläret FAQLQ-TF. Frågeformuläret KIDSCREEN-52 skickades även till ett slumpurval av barn utan eliminationskost från samma kohort, och 209 barn (65 %) deltog. Artikel II baseras på denna hälsorelaterade livskvalitetsstudie. Baserat på den kliniska undersökningen kategoriserades barnen med eliminerad kost i olika fenotyper av födoämnesöverkänslighet: pågående födoämnesallergi, utläkt födoämnesallergi och laktosintolerans. De barn som bedömdes ha pågående födoämnesallergi inbjöds till DBPCFC. Arton månader efter provokationen intervjuades deltagarna om sina upplevelser av provokationen och i vilken omfattning livsmedlet återintroducerades. Artikel III baseras på dessa intervjuer. Den fjärde studien baseras på intervjuer av mödrar vars barn remitterats till en pediatrisk barnallergolog för utredning av misstänkt födoämnesallergi med DBPCFC. Intervjuerna har analyserats med kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat Vid 7-8 år var prevalensen av rapporterad födoämnesöverkänslighet 21 %. Överkänslighet mot basföda (mjölk, ägg, fisk, vete eller soja) rapporterades av 10.9% och 14.6% uppgav att de reagerade på frukt eller nötter. Klåda i munnen var det vanligaste rapporterade födoämnesutlösta symtomet som huvudsakligen orsakades av frukt. Det näst vanligaste symtomet var mag- och tarmbesvär, huvudsakligen orsakat av mjölk. Riskfaktormönstret för födoämnesöverkänslighet mot mjölk skiljde sig från överkänslighet mot andra födoämnen. Vi fann ingen statistiskt signifikant skillnad i generisk eller sjukdomsspecifik hälsorelaterad livskvalitet mellan barn som helt eliminerat mjölk, ägg, fisk eller vete på grund av födoämnesöverkänslighet jämfört med barn utan eliminerad kost. En trend indikerade att barn med pågående födoämnesallergi hade sämre sjukdomsspecifik hälsorelaterad livskvalitet jämfört med barn med utläkt födoämnesallergi eller laktosintolerans. Dålig livskvalitet, definierat som den ≥75e percentilen i det sjukdomsspecifika frågeformuläret, var vanligast hos barn med pågående födoämnesallergi. Deltagande i DBPCFC var en möjlighet för tonåringar och mödrar att övervinna rädslan för födoämnesorsakade symtom. I de fall då det testade livsmedlet helt eller delvis återintroducerades efter provokationen, upplevde både tonåringarna och mödrarna att det sociala umgänget blev lättare och att de inte längre behövde ha samma kontroll över födoämnesintaget. Ett negativt provokationsutfall resulterade inte alltid i att det testade livsmedlet återintroducerades i kosten. Orsaker till att inte återintroducera födoämnet var rädsla för allergiska reaktioner, att livsmedlet inte smakade gott och att det upplevdes som normalt att leva ett liv utan det eliminerade livsmedlet. Slutsats Vart femte barn rapporterade någon form av födoämnesöverkänslighet i denna populationsbaserade studie. Det var ingen signifikant skillnad i generisk livskvalitet mellan barn med och utan födoämnesöverkänslighet men barn med pågående födoämnesallergi tenderade att ha sämre sjukdomsspecifik livskvalitet jämfört med barn med utläkt födoämnesallergi och laktosintolerans. De deltagare som återintroducerade det testade livsmedlet efter provokationstestet upplevde att livet var mindre begränsat jämfört med innan provokationen. Alla återintroducerade inte det testade livsmedlet trots en negativ provokation, vilket styrker vikten av uppföljning och utvärdering av födoämnesprovokationer.

Successful management of bighorn sheep depends on understanding the mechanisms responsible for population growth or decline, habitat selection, and utilization distribution after translocations. We studied a declining population of desert bighorn sheep in the North San Rafael Swell, Utah to determine birthdates of neonates, demographics, limiting factors, population size, probable cause of death, production, and survival. We documented 19 mortalities attributed to a variety of causes including cougar predation (n = 10, 53%), bluetongue virus (n = 2, 11%), reproductive complications (n = 2, 11%), hunter harvest (n = 1, 5%), and unknown (n = 4, 21%). Annual survival of females was 73% (95% CI = 0.55—0.86) in 2012 and 73% (95% CI = 0.55—0.86) in 2013. Adult male survival was 75% in 2012 (95% CI = 0.38—0.94) and 88% (95% CI = 0.50—0.98) in 2013. Disease testing revealed the presence of pneumonia-related pathogens. The population increased from an estimated 127 in 2012 to 139 in 2013 (λ = 1.09). Lamb:ewe ratios were 47:100 in 2012 and 31:100 in 2013. Mean birthing dates were 21 May in 2012 and 20 May in 2013. Spatial separation from domestic sheep and goats, and aggressive harvest of cougars, may have aided in the recovery of this population after disease events. Second, we investigated the timing of parturition and nursery habitat of desert bighorn sheep in the North San Rafael Swell to determine the influence of vegetation, topography, and anthropogenic features on resource selection. We monitored 38 radio-tagged ewes to establish birthing dates. We documented birthdates of 45 lambs. We used collar-generated GPS locations to perform logistic regression within a model-selection framework to differentiate between nursery and random locations (n = 750 for each) based on a suite of covariates. The top model included elevation, slope, ruggedness, aspect, vegetation type, distance to trails, and distance to roads. We used these variables to create a GIS model of nursery habitat for the North San Rafael (desert bighorns) and the Green River Corridor (Rocky Mountain bighorns). Ewes showed preference for steep, north-facing slopes, rugged terrain, lower elevation, and avoidance of roads. Our model provides managers with a map of high probability nursery areas of desert and Rocky Mountain bighorns to aid in conservation planning and mitigate potential conflicts with industry and domestic livestock. Finally, we monitored 127 reintroduced female bighorn sheep in three adjacent restored populations to investigate if the size and overlap of habitat use by augmented bighorns differed from resident bighorns. The size of seasonal ranges for residents was generally larger than augmented females. However, there was a shift in utilization distribution in all three populations after augmentation. Overlap indices between resident and augmented sheep varied by source herd. These data will help managers understand the dynamics of home range expansion and the overlap between provenance groups following augmentations.

<p>When breeding wild species in captivity, the animals may gradually become more adapted to captivity and therefore less suited for reintroduction which is the ultimate goal for some species. This study measured the activity budget of European bison (<em>Bison bonasus</em>) in six enclosures in Sweden with the aim to find out how the characteristics of the enclosures – with and without pasture - influenced the activity budget. The results show that there were significant differences in the activity budget, i.e. the activity was higher in the enclosures with pasture than in enclosures with barren ground. However, since barren enclosures were smaller than naturalistic, it was not possible to exclude the effect of size. Judged from observations of bison in the wild, there seems to be a direct correlation between food availability and ranging, indicating that enclosure characteristics affect activity more than size. The bison foraged differently in the two enclosure categories, but the total amount of time spent on feeding did not differ. A feeding enrichment experiment showed to have more positive effects in the barren enclosures than in the naturalistic ones, as the amount of time of inactivity decreased in the former. Since the genetic characteristics of all Swedish bison are very similar, the differences between the two enclosure groups indicate that the animals still have the ability to respond appropriately to improved environmental quality. Hence the next step in the assessment of the suitability of these bison for release would be to study them during an acclimatisation program.</p>

Listed as federally-endangered in 1990, the Lower Keys marsh rabbit (LKMR, Sylvilagus palustris hefneri) exists as a metapopulation in patches of wetland habitat in Florida’s Lower Keys. This study sought to address 2 priority actions identified by the LKMR Recovery Team: (1) monitoring of populations and (2) reintroduction. Monitoring the distribution and status of LKMR populations is critical for targeting future management actions. Informal transects for rabbit fecal pellets were used to survey habitat patches documented in1988–1995 surveys and to identify additional patches of occupied and potential habitat. Next, a buffer was created around patches to help managers account for uncertainty in rabbit movements and to identify groups of patches that might function as local populations. Surveys included 228 patches of occupied and potential habitat, 102 of which were occupied by rabbits. Patches were arranged in 56 occupied and 88 potential populations. Surveys revealed new patches of both occupied and potential habitat. Considering only areas included in 1988–1995 surveys, however, revealed a net decrease in the number of occupied patches. Many of the recently extirpated populations, which tended to occupy the periphery of larger islands or small neighboring islands, were unlikely to be recolonized without human intervention. Reintroduction provides a means of artificially recolonizing potential habitat. Two pilot reintroductions were conducted to evaluate this conservation strategy for the species. The second reintroduction was postponed, but the first effort met all criteria for short-term success, including survival comparable to a control group, fidelity to release sites, and evidence of reproduction. There are a limited number of potential source populations for translocations. Future efforts should consider using in-situ captive breeding to prevent potential long-term impacts to these populations. Few potential release sites exhibited suitable habitat quality and landscape context. Thus, for reintroduction to be more widely-applied for this species, it must be part of a comprehensive management plan involving land acquisition, control of secondary impacts from development, and habitat restoration and enhancement.

When breeding wild species in captivity, the animals may gradually become more adapted to captivity and therefore less suited for reintroduction which is the ultimate goal for some species. This study measured the activity budget of European bison (Bison bonasus) in six enclosures in Sweden with the aim to find out how the characteristics of the enclosures – with and without pasture - influenced the activity budget. The results show that there were significant differences in the activity budget, i.e. the activity was higher in the enclosures with pasture than in enclosures with barren ground. However, since barren enclosures were smaller than naturalistic, it was not possible to exclude the effect of size. Judged from observations of bison in the wild, there seems to be a direct correlation between food availability and ranging, indicating that enclosure characteristics affect activity more than size. The bison foraged differently in the two enclosure categories, but the total amount of time spent on feeding did not differ. A feeding enrichment experiment showed to have more positive effects in the barren enclosures than in the naturalistic ones, as the amount of time of inactivity decreased in the former. Since the genetic characteristics of all Swedish bison are very similar, the differences between the two enclosure groups indicate that the animals still have the ability to respond appropriately to improved environmental quality. Hence the next step in the assessment of the suitability of these bison for release would be to study them during an acclimatisation program.