bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANALYSIS OF THE DYNAMICS OF CHANGING THE INDICATORS OF THE FUNCTIONAL OCCLUSION ASSESSMENT METHOD T-SCAN IN PATIENTS WITH OCCLUSION DISORDERS WHICH HAVE BEEN ARISEN OR WERE ACTIVATED AS A RESULT OF INCORRECT DENTAL SURGERY
Authors: Shynchukovskyi I. A. , Nespryadko V. P. , Tereshchuk O. G. , Khrol N. S. , Oleinyk A. V.
Published: May 2018

Recent studies showed that regaining the occlusal contacts is one of the most difficult tasks during the prosthetics remanufacturing process. It often happens, that during prosthetics remanufacturing process misunderstanding between a patient and a doctor may occur. It is related to the removal of expensive structures and manufacturing of new ones that are just as pricey. Thus, the touchstone for achieving optimal functional and esthetic results is not only the repositioning of the mandible that eliminates pain sensation in TMJ, but also regaining of the occlusal contacts is needed for prosthetics remanufacturing. Thereby, by knowing the treatment outcome, the doctor is able to minimize the risk of error in prosthetics re-manufacturing process and improve the doctor-patient relationship.Key words: maxillo-dental apparatus, temporomandibular joint, occlusive correction, masticatory muscles, pharmaceutical constructions
Envisioning a Community Exemplar for Sustainability in and by ICT
Authors: Fritsch Andreas , Betz Stefanie
Published: May 2018

We understand sustainability as a perspective on the performance of various kinds of systems that puts human well-being in the center of focus. Recognizing that information and communication technology (ICT) is shaping our modern society, there is a need to understand the impact of ICT on sustainability. On the one hand this can be achieved, for example, by extending classic software development approaches to cover sustainability issues. This can be coined sustainability in ICT. On the other hand, innovative ICT approaches offer the potential of directly addressing sustainability issues (sustainability by ICT). Within the ICT4S community, both perspectives are addressed. What is missing, is an overarching perspective that helps to identify interlinkages. In this contribution, we present the case of an online-shop selling ICT hardware products as an community exemplar. We exemplify the usefulness as an overarching example, by relating parts of our existing work on ICT sustainability to it: a process model of the sales process, as well as a representation of sustainability risks related to the sold ICT products. Additionally, we show how ICT4S papers from 2016 can be mapped to the exemplar. We conclude with presenting a community website, where we invite fellow researchers and practitioners to contribute to a growing wealth of sustainability insights.
ICT for Sustainable Last-Mile Logistics: Data, People and Parcels
Authors: Bates Oliver , Friday Adrian , Allen Julian , McLeod Fraser , Cherrett Tom , Wise Sarah , Piecyk Maja , Piotrowska Marzena , Bektas Tolga , Nguyen Thuba
Published: May 2018

In this paper we present a vision of how ICT can be leveraged to help combat the impact on pollution, congestion and carbon emissions contributed by the parcel delivery sector. This is timely given annual growth in parcel deliveries, especially same-day deliveries, and the need to inform initiatives to clean up our cities such as the sales ban on new petrol and diesel vehicles in the UK by 2040. Our insights are informed by research on parcel logistics in Central London, leveraging a data set of parcel manifests spanning 6 months. To understand the impact of growing e-commerce trends on parcel deliveries we provide a mixed methods case study leveraging data-driven analysis and qualitative fieldwork to demonstrate how ICT can uncover the impact of parcel deliveries on delivery drivers and their delivery rounds during seasonal deliveries (or “the silly season”). We finish by discussing key opportunities for intervention and further research in ICT4S and co-created Smart Cities, connecting our findings with existing research and data as a call to the ICT4S community to help tackle the growth in carbon emissions, pollution and congestion linked to parcel deliveries.
Barriers for sustainable waste management practices in grocery stores. Exploration by Research-through-Design
Authors: Nyström Sofie , Katzeff Cecilia , Pargman Daniel
Published: May 2018

Since natural resources are limited, we need to ensure that materials are reused and recycled to the highest degree possible. Information and feedback as well as incentives may encourage people to alter their behavior. In this paper, we explore waste practices within grocery stores and how feedback through visualizations may help stores improve their waste management. We have studied the gap between current waste data and waste data that is both meaningful and can be acted upon as well as barriers between actionable data and organizational change. Nine interviews were conducted with a central facilities manager, store managers, employees and a representative from the waste collection company. Based on the results from these interviews, two mockups of web visualizations were designed and later evaluated in two additional stores. The initial interviews highlighted knowledge about waste, economic and environmental incentives for recycling and current modes of feedback and comparisons between stores. The mockups also reveal structural tensions between economic and environmental goals that wouldn’t be affected solely by better visualization of data. We conclude by discussing obstacles that needs to be overcome to reach organizational change in terms of more sustainable waste management practices in grocery stores.
The maker movement in Europe: empirical and theoretical insights into sustainability
Authors: Millard Jeremy , Sorivelle Marie Nicole , Katsikis Orfeas Konstantinos , Unterfrauner Elisabeth , Voigt Christian
Published: May 2018

In recent years, ICT has revolutionized content creation and communications. Today, everybody with Internet access can produce digital content composed of virtual ‘bits’ and make it instantly available across the globe. The same is now happening to manufacturing for all people with access to tools like 3D printers. This inter- changeability of bits and atoms is being called the maker movement, which started as a community-based, socially-driven bottom-up movement but is today also impacting mainstream manufacturing through increased efficiencies, distributed local production and the circular economy. The maker movement thus has significant promise for increasing social, economic, environmental and technical sustainability, but is it currently living up to this potential? The European-funded MAKE-IT project has examined these postulates through in-depth qualitative and quantitative empirical research.
Towards Simulating Non-lane Based Heterogeneous Road Traffic of Less Developed Countries
Authors: Alam Quazi Mishkatul , Sarker Bejon , Biswas Biplob , Zubaer Kazi Hasan , Toha Tarik Reza , Nurain Novia , Islam A. B. M. Alim Al
Published: May 2018

Microscopic traffic simulators have become efficient tools to conduct different analytic studies on roads, vehicles, behavior of drivers, and critical intersections, which lead to- wards a well-planned traffic solution. Devising a realistic and sustainable traffic solution requires replication of the real traffic scenario in a simulator. For example, to simulate the traffic streams of developing and under developed countries, we need to simulate non-lane based heterogeneous traffic stream, i.e., motorized and non-motorized vehicles, road traffic behaviors such as irregular pedestrian, illegal parking, violation of laws pertaining lanes, etc. However, most of the existing traffic simulators are unable to mimic the unstructured road traffic streams of less developed countries with their diversified behaviors. Therefore, in this work, we propose a new microscopic traffic simulator to handle non-lane based heterogeneous traffic stream and on road traffic behaviors that generally occurred in the road networks of cities in less developed countries. Our simulator receives network topology, traffic routes, and traffic demand flow rates as input, visualizes the traffic flows, and provides traffic statistics. To evaluate sustainability of our proposed simulator in real-life scenarios, we calibrate the simulator using real traffic data. Our evaluation reveals 99% accuracy in terms of travel time.
Introducing Quality Models Based On Joint Probabilities
Authors: Ulan Maria , Löwe Welf , Ericsson Morgan , Wingkvist Anna
Published: May 2018

Multi-dimensional goals can be formalized in so-called quality models. Often, each dimension is assessed with a set of metrics that are not comparable; they come with different units, scale types, and distributions of values. Aggregating the metrics to a single quality score in an ad-hoc manner cannot be expected to provide a reliable basis for decision making. Therefore, aggregation needs to be mathematically well-defined and interpretable. We present such a way of defining quality models based on joint probabilities. We exemplify our approach using a quality model with 30 standard metrics assessing technical documentation quality and study ca. 20,000 real-world files. We study the effect of several tests on the independence and results show that metrics are, in general, not independent. Finally, we exemplify our suggested definition of quality models in this domain.
Data Storage and Maintenance Challenges: The Case of Advanced Metering Infrastructure Systems
Authors: Pereira Lucas , Gonçalves Rodolfo , Quintal Filipe , Nunes Nuno
Published: May 2018

In today’s digital age, massive amounts of data are steadily being generated from various sources, such as smart-phones and social media. Smart-Grids are among the fields that are currently experiencing a burst in the data being generated, in part due to the recent investments in Advanced Metering Infrastructure Systems. In this paper, we present a benchmark between MySQL and MongoDB, when used to store and maintain the data that results from Advanced Metering Infrastructure Systems deployments. Our results show that MongoDB clearly outperforms MySQL for reading operations but at a cost of a much larger database size. As such, when deploying such systems, developers should be aware of this important trade-off that may greatly affect the overall experience.
Economic Expansion of China: Determinants, Perspectives, Limits
Authors: Kołodko Grzegorz W.
Published: May 2018

Two centuries ago, Asia delivered over 60 percent of world production; in the middle of the 20th century it was less than 20 percent. Currently, it is twice as large and this share is still increasing, above all but not only, because of China whose production is still growing at a rate twice as fast as the world average. China is trying to maintain high economic dynamics, inter alia, through investment external expansion. This aim is to be served, among others, by the infrastructure project, drawn up with enormous verve, known as the New Silk Road, which the Middle Kingdom addresses to 65 countries on three continents. While some hope for accelerating their own economic growth, others warn against the risk of becoming dependent on China. The article analyzes these challenges, pointing to the desired directions of irreversible evolution globalization by giving it a more inclusive character, which is also strongly emphasized by the Chinese authorities in their official enunciations.
Economic Development and Dependence Theory: The Approach of the Un Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC)
Authors: Bonzanini Osmar Antonio , Menuzzi Diverio Tamara Silvana , Zuliani da Silva Luiz , Olesiak Estevo Mateus
Published: May 2018

Subject and purpose of work: The purpose of this article is to present the vision of ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean and its contribution to the reflections on economic development. Materials and methods: This is an exploratory and descriptive study. The first part of the paper contemplates the emergence and evolution of ECLAC thinking during its more than sixty-five years of existence. The second deals with dependency theory, ending with the current thinking proposed by ECLAC. Results: It results in a brief analysis of the moment of the globalization of the economy as an exclusionary process in the history of capitalism, emphasizing the importance of the ECLAC thinking, reinvigorated nowadays. Conclusions: It is considered that the dependency theory has been the great contribution of ECLAC thinking, with the change of focus from a viewpoint only from the prism of the central countries, to an optic from the point of view of the peripheral countries.
Eastern Borderland of the European Union in the Process of Networking, as Exemplified by the Polish-Belarusian Cross-Border Cooperation
Authors: Partycki Sławomir , Błaszczak Dawid
Published: May 2018

Summary Subject and purpose of work: The purpose of the study is to analyse the structure and the relation of the Polish-Belarusian cross-border cooperation network, to identify the key nodes in the network, to analyse the dynamics of connections between the actors, and to identify the most important changes in the structure of the network. Materials and methods: The article quotes the results of analyses of cross-border projects from 2004- 2017. The analysis includes projects completed, applicants, and partners of projects. The network analysis was carried out using Ucinet and NetDraw software. Results: The structure of the Polish-Belarusian cooperation is dominated by several large nodes, on the other hand there are many micronetworks - of three or four nodes, which are connected with each other. Conclusions: The Polish-Belarusian cooperation is of great importance for the international relations of the Polish state. Projects carried out by entities located at the border strengthen the cooperation, bringing a number of measurable benefits (hard and soft), depending on nature of the projects, as well as frequency and scale of the undertaken activities.
Influence of the Common Agricultural Policy on the Development of Family Agricultural Farms in the Podlaskie Province
Authors: Kołoszko-Chomentowska Zofia
Published: May 2018

Subject and purpose of work: We present the results of the research on the impact of the CAP on the development of family farms in the province of Podlasie. Materials and methods: The research covered farms included in the FADN system. The analysis concerns 2005 and 2014 and was carried out in groups separated due to the their condition and development opportunities: progressive farms, potentially progressive and non-progressive ones. The development opportunities were assessed on the basis of the surplus on self-financing, net investments and fixed asset replacement rates. Results: In all groups of farms the value of assets grew, and the growth rate of assets was the highest in the progressive farms. Only the progressive and potentially progressive farms had self-financing options. Conclusions: Budget transfers targeted at farms affected the intensification of activities related to their modernization, which resulted in the diversification of these entities. The most active recreation of fixed assets took place in the progressive farms. The market activity of potentially progressive farms increased and they are likely to become progressive farms in the future. The non-progressive farms are characterized by their permanent inability to develop.
Influence of Selected Agricultural Policy Instruments on the Regional Variation in Changes in Milk Production in Poland
Authors: Parzonko Andrzej
Published: May 2018

Subject and purpose of work: The objectives of the elaboration are the following: 1) to analyze the regional changes (at the level of poviats) in the number of farms involved in milk production over the period 2002-2010; 2) to present the main factors affecting the ongoing changes in Polish farms oriented at milk production; 3) to determine the impact of the measure 121. “Modernization of agricultural holdings” under the RDP 2007-2013 and the applied system of direct subsidies for the development of farms oriented at milk production. Materials and methods: The work has been prepared on the basis of the analysis and synthesis of the source literature, statistical data collected and the author’s own reflections. Results: In Poland, in the years 2002-2010 there was a distinct regional differentiation in the pace of the ongoing changes in the dairy sector. The regions, where we observe the development of milk production, include almost the entire Podlaskie Province, the northern part of the Mazowieckie Province and the south-eastern part of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province. Conclusions: Within the RDP 2007-2013, significant funds were allocated to support the modernization of agricultural farms. Mainly under the measure 121 “Modernization of agricultural holdings” the investments were carried out in relation to the purchase of mobile equipment, they represented 89% of all investments. This was partly due to the actual demand and administrative procedures that stimulated these types of investments.
Institutional and Systemic Determinants of the Development of Business Entities in the Market of Accommodation and Catering Services
Authors: Kuźmicki Marek
Published: May 2018

Subject and purpose of work: The aim of this article is to determine the influence of the institutional and systemic environment on the development of enterprises providing accommodation and catering services in Lublin province. Materials and Methods: The direct questionnaire and computer-assisted method of data collection CAWI were used to carry out research. Results: The research conducted in 2007 and 2013 shows that there was a positive change in the institutional and systemic environment, with improved access to capital and EU aid programs, along with government policy, local government policy and promotion, as well as tourism and business development organizations. Conclusions: Entrepreneurs expect greater involvement of the state in activities that encourage the increase of the competitiveness of enterprises. The issue of simplifying the tax system and reducing the existing taxes is particularly important.
Genetic structures and clinal variation of European red deer Cervus elaphus populations for two polymorphic gene loci
Authors: Herzog Sven , Gehle Thomas
Published: May 2018

A study of nine enzyme systems in liver and kidney samples of red deer Cervus elaphus from three sites in North Germany and reanalysed allelic structures at two polymorphic gene loci (IDH, SOD) from eight sites in Germany, Scotland, France, Austria and Hungary (a total of 1,252 animals) have revealed two opposite genetic profiles. For IDH the presence of a biallelic major polymorphism is suggested, and for SOD a biallelic minor polymorphism. It is assumed that the three North German red deer populations at Harz, Lüneburger Heide and Soiling descend from one former population. The comparison of the allelic structures at the SOD gene locus of German, French, Austrian and Hungarian red deer populations provides evidence for a clinal decrease of this rare allele from north to south as well as an analogous clinal differentiation within the populations. For the gene locus IDH the selection model of overdominance is probable, due to the viability advantage of heterozygote calves previously discovered by other researchers. The allelic distances found between the three collectives of North Germany approximately correspond to the geographical distance.
Hunting disturbance and the timing of autumn migration in Anas species
Authors: Väänänen Veli‐Matti
Published: May 2018

In Europe, waterfowl hunting is a popular recreational activity, especially in waterfowl staging and wintering areas, but also in breeding areas such as Finland. This paper gives an account of hunting disturbance, timing of autumn migration and refuge use in Anas species in eutrophic wetlands in central Finland (63°N, 27°E) during 1995–1999. Based on the timing of migration, duck species may be divided into early and late migrants. In two lakes (total area 2.2 km2) which were monitored on a weekly basis during 1995–1998, numbers of late migrants, i.e. mallard Anas platyrhynchos, teal Anas crecca and wigeon Anas penelope, increased towards the opening of hunting season on 20 August, whereas shoveler Anas clypeata, pintail Anas acuta and garganey Anas querquedula migrated early, and peak numbers of these species occurred already in the beginning of August. Consequently, in Finland's inland lake area, hunting disturbance relates differently to early and late migrating species. Immediately after the opening of the season the numbers of dabbling ducks collapsed and the average numbers in the wetlands were only 9.3% of the numbers present at the end of the protection period in 1995–1998. A corresponding decrease in numbers occurred in 13 lakes (total area 8.5 km2) in the Finnish inland lake district in 1999. After the beginning of the open season numbers of wigeon, teal and mallard decreased in unprotected areas, but increased in a refuge area. In Finland, refuge areas with high‐quality foraging and moulting habitats for waterfowl are few, so a network of waterfowl reserves could mitigate the effects of hunting disturbance.
Monitoring feeding behaviour of brent geese Branta bernicla using position‐sensitive radio transmitters
Authors: Hassall Mark , Lane Simon J. , Stock Martin , Percival Steve M. , Pohl Barbara
Published: May 2018

Though the occurrence of night time feeding has been demonstrated in numerous species of wildfowl, accurately quantifying this behaviour visually is inherently difficult and so alternative techniques are required. During the course of two distinct projects on the ecology of brent geese Branta bernicla in England (Studies A and B) and another in Germany (Study C) we used position‐sensitive radio transmitters, attached to thin leather neck collars, to monitor feeding behaviour remotely. In this paper, we present a collective account of the method. Transmitter units emitted pulses at two different intervals depending on the orientation of a built‐in tilt switch; generally shorter intervals (ca 1.1 seconds) when a bird lowered its neck to feed and longer intervals (ca 1.4 seconds) when in upright positions, though in some units this was reversed. Daytime observations of each radio‐marked goose were required to produce predictive equations which described the proportion of time feeding in terms of mean pulse interval (Study B), number of long intervals between pulses (Study C) or the proportion of time in which pulses were received at short (or in some cases long) intervals (Study A). Coefficients of determination ranged within 0.13–0.95. These equations could be used to interpret data that was received and stored at regular intervals (30 or 60 seconds) during night time by a data logging system. Each study also assessed whether the collars affected the behaviour of the geese. No significant behavioural differences were observed for free‐ranging birds wearing collars compared to nearby birds without. This technique is a realistic option for ecological studies of wildfowl requiring construction of feeding time budgets through the night as well as the day.
Sustainable exploitation: a review of principles and methods
Authors: Sutherland William J.
Published: May 2018

Although the main theoretical framework determining how to exploit populations was derived almost 50 years ago, overexploitation is common. I review 10 major concepts underlying the regulation of exploitation: population increase can be exploited; density dependence is essential; quantifying density dependence is exceedingly difficult; sustainable exploitation involves reducing population size; population growth rate is usually mismeasured; sustainability has many conflicting definitions and the choice depends upon the objectives; it is better to monitor the population than the harvest; quotas are unstable; increasing effort is simple, reducing it is painful; exploit conservatively. I then give a brief account of each of the nine main methods that are used to determine sustainable exploitation and the uses, advantages and limitations of each. The nine techniques are: surplus production models, yield per recruit models, Robinson and Redford model, linking yield to recruitment and mortality, adjusting to population changes, comparing demography across sites, reducing to a fixed fraction of unexploited population size, full population models and adaptive management.
Harvest dynamics of mustelid carnivores in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Fryxell John , Falls J. Bruce , Falls E. Ann , Brooks Ronald J. , Dix Linda , Strickland† Marjorie
Published: May 2018

Virtual population analysis (cohort analysis) was used to reconstruct past dynamics of a harvested population of martensMartes americanain the Bracebridge District of southern Ontario. Harvests in the Bracebridge District were managed using a quota system set by regional authorities. Quotas changed from year to year, apparently on the basis of past trapping success and variation in the proportion of young‐of‐the‐year among harvested animals. The proportion of young in the harvest was a sensitive indicator of the annual rate of increase, whereas trapping success tended to be linked most strongly, in inverse fashion, with marten harvesting quotas. The proportion of martens harvested each year was constant, averaging 34%, despite 3‐fold variation in marten abundance. This proportion was very close to the maximum sustainable yield (36%) for the population, suggesting that the management policy in the administrative unit was effective in the past in sustaining the source population as well as yielding high trapping returns. Monte Carlo simulation showed that proportionate harvesting, such as the policy in the Bracebridge District during 1972–1991, should be considerably less likely to lead to overharvesting than a constant quota policy, particularly at high average yields.
Optimal harvest of age‐structured populations of mooseAlces alcesin a fluctuating environment
Authors: Sæther Bernt‐Erik , Engen Steinar , Solberg Erling J.
Published: May 2018

We analysed sex‐ and age‐specific harvesting strategies of moose using an age‐structured population model that includes density dependence as well as environmental stochasticity. In order to find the strategy that maximises the mean annual yield we simulated the process over a large number of years. The mean annual yield is a function of the three parameters (number of harvested individuals of calves, adult (≥ ½ years old) bulls and adult females) that are involved in the definitions of the strategies. We compare, by numerical maximisation of a function in several variables, two harvest strategies: proportional harvesting, i.e. removal of a certain proportion of individuals in a given age‐and sex‐class, and threshold harvesting, i.e. all individuals of a given sex‐ and age‐class are harvested when the size of this subpopulation exceeds a certain threshold. In general, proportional harvest gives a smaller mean annual yield than threshold harvesting. The variance in the annual yield is, however, larger for threshold than for proportional harvesting. These differences between the two harvest strategies increase when the annual survival of calves is low, when there is high environmental stochasticity and when there is strong density regulation operating on survival. For both harvest strategies, the optimal harvest strategy involves high harvest of calves and adult bulls, whereas adult females should hardly be harvested.
MooseAlces alceshunting in Finland ‐ an ecological risk analysis
Authors: Luoma Anne , Ranta Esa , Kaitala Veijo
Published: May 2018

The mooseAlces alcespopulation in Finland has been managed for sustained harvest since 1970 by regulating annual hunting quotas. However, against all expectations the population size declined in the 1990s. An ecological risk analysis approach was used to build a growth model with annual harvest for the moose population. In the model there is stochasticity in the parameters representing population dynamics. We shall address: 1) whether the population decline could be due to a mismatch between harvest and anticipated population growth rate, and 2) to what extent hunting the moose population down to a much lower target size succeeds. A central element in this is the assumption that the estimate of the pre‐hunting population size errs. First, the probability of a population decline due to hunting increases from values close to 0% up to 100% in a very narrow range (15–25%) of harvest rates. Even with high birth rates the risk of a population decline was substantial when the hunting rate exceeded 25% for cows and 37.5% for calves and bulls. The 1974–1994 moose harvest rate was, on average, ca 45% of the population size in autumn. The high rate suggests that the harvest might have been too intense in that period to keep the population stable. Second, we set the target to reduce the moose population drastically (to say 50% of the existing population size). Assuming that the estimates of the population size may err, our analysis shows that the achieved population size after the severe harvest is far below the size we aimed at.
Harvesting spatially distributed populations
Authors: Jonzén Niclas , Lundberg Per , Gårdmark Anna
Published: May 2018

Spatial structure has a paramount influence on population dynamics. This has until recently been neglected in harvesting theory. In this paper, we demonstrate how source‐sink and habitat selection theory can provide guidance for harvesting spatially structured populations. We also show how harvesting can affect the spatial distribution of the exploited resource, which has consequences for the design of protected areas. This implicit treatment of space is complemented by a spatially explicit predator‐prey model. It turns out that harvesting of the prey and/or the predator species in one patch in space sometimes has effects on the other species outside the harvested patch. We stress the importance of considering how realistic the representation of the spatial dimension has to be in population management.
Understanding the effects of harvesting willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus in Sweden
Authors: Willebrand Tomas , Hörnell Maria
Published: May 2018

Willow ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus is considered a popular small game species by many hunters in Scandinavia. A simple harvest strategy would be to prohibit harvest in parts of the total area. We used a spatial model of a fluctuating population of willow ptarmigan, divided into 25 subareas to investigate the possible advantages of buffer zones in managing harvest. We let the breeding success be the source of annual environmental stochasticity but without any spatial variation. Survival was assumed to be density dependent over the total area, whereas dispersal was modelled as density independent. We then compared four major scenarios in which we let dispersal and harvest vary. About 75% of the area could be left open to hunting even if the level of harvest was close to the extinction level if executed in all grids. This harvest strategy would be particularly advantageous if the goal is to provide as many hunting opportunities as possible, rather than to harvest a maximum sustainable yield. Furthermore, it is quite simple and does not need a resource‐demanding control system. We believe that a harvest strategy which sets aside a part of the area as a buffer, and places a limit to the harvest effort in the grids that are open for hunting, would be a cost‐efficient system with only a small risk of overharvesting.
Systems identification and the adaptive management of waterfowl in the United States
Authors: Williams Byron K. , Nichols James D.
Published: May 2018

Waterfowl management in the United States is one of the more visible conservation success stories in the United States. It is authorized and supported by appropriate legislative authorities, based on large‐scale monitoring programs, and widely accepted by the public. The process is one of only a limited number of large‐scale examples of effective collaboration between research and management, integrating scientific information with management in a coherent framework for regulatory decision‐making. However, harvest management continues to face some serious technical problems, many of which focus on sequential identification of the resource system in a context of optimal decision‐making. The objective of this paper is to provide a theoretical foundation of adaptive harvest management, the approach currently in use in the United States for regulatory decision‐making. We lay out the legal and institutional framework for adaptive harvest management and provide a formal description of regulatory decision‐making in terms of adaptive optimization. We discuss some technical and institutional challenges in applying adaptive harvest management and focus specifically on methods of estimating resource states for linear resource systems.
Characteristics of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia distribution in southern Korea
Authors: Rhim Shin‐Jae , Lee Woo‐Shin
Published: May 2018

During October 1998 ‐ May 1999, we studied the distribution of hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia and the structure of their habitats in southern Korea. Hazel grouse were censused from the responses to calls imitated using a Scandinavian metal hunter's whistle in winter and spring along line transects. Hazel grouse were distributed in most of the high mountain forest areas in southern Korea. The frequency of occurrence varied with altitude within the range of 300–1,200 m a.s.l., with the highest density at 600–900 m a.s.l. Altitudinal distribution differed between seasons, however, and hazel grouse were observed at lower altitudes more often in winter than in spring. They occurred in mixed, deciduous and coniferous forest areas, but the use of forest types varied by season. Particularly many individuals were observed in planted Japanese larch Larix leptolepis forests. The coverage and density of understory vegetation was more developed where hazel grouse were observed, but coverage more than 2 m above ground did not seem to be important in explaining hazel grouse presence. The occurrence of hazel grouse was related to the development of understory vegetation more than to forest type. Seasonal use of forest types may have been related to the combined availability of food and cover in understory vegetation.
Hunting legislation in the Carpathian Mountains: implications for the conservation and management of large carnivores
Authors: Salvatori Valeria , Okarma Henryk , Ionescu Ovidiu , Dovhanych Yaroslav , Find'o Slavomir , Boitani Luigi
Published: May 2018

The importance of conserving wild populations of large carnivores in balance with local human interests has been recognised throughout the world. However, diverse human activities are in potential conflict with the conservation of large carnivore species. We discuss the role that hunters have in the management of three large carnivore species, the brown bear Ursus arctos, the Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx and the wolf Canis lupus in the Carpathian Mountains in central Europe. We considered four different countries (i.e. Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania), comparing the status of large carnivore populations and the regulations of hunting activities. The situation appears to be generally consistent throughout the Carpathian region, although the degree of protection accorded to wolf varies most. Interactions between large carnivores and hunters are well rooted in the culture of local communities in the four countries considered. The large forested areas make the Carpathians an excellent environment for large carnivores, which here are favoured by low human population density. We underline the need for integration of hunting activities and scientific knowledge for future management practices.
Age determination in leverets of European hareLepus europaeusbased on body measurements
Authors: Bray Yves , Champely Stephane , Soyez Dominique
Published: May 2018

The objective of our work was to provide allometric relationships between different body measurements and age of young leverets of European hareLepus europaeus(less than two months old) for use in live‐trapping studies. Five morphometric variables were measured to predict the age of leverets: body mass, skull length, skull width, hind foot length and ear length. The hares came from two rearing centres near Paris (France) and were handled in 1995 and 1996. Measurement repeatability of each variable was compared in a pilot study (N = 51 leverets) and the effect of rearing centre on the growth curve was tested for the first 30 days after birth. We used a complementary sample (N = 168 leverets) to establish a model of age determination using I‐splines regression. The skull length was the best candidate variable based on measurement repeatability, comparability between the two rearing centres and goodness of fit. I‐spline modelling has minimal underlying statistical assumptions. In addition, it provides easy‐to‐use and powerful plots of the relation between age and measurements, including confidence limits estimated by a bootstrap procedure.
Predation on an introduced voleMicrotus rossiaemeridionalisby arctic foxAlopex lagopuson Svalbard
Authors: Frafjord Karl
Published: May 2018

The arctic island group of Svalbard has no native species of voles or lemmings, but the voleMicrotus rossiaemeridionalishas been accidentally introduced. Mainly found in the region of the abandoned Russian mining town of Grumant, the vole has not been able to colonise larger parts of Svalbard. The food habits of arctic foxesAlopex lagopuswere studied by collecting and analysing samples of scats from various sites in the region in 1996, including fresh scats from three litters. Hairs of voles were found in scats from all sites, but the proportion of voles in the diet of arctic foxes varied considerably. Overall, voles made up 13% of the diet by occurrence, but were insignificant in the diet of the three litters. Birds were the most important (79%) and reindeer carcasses the second most important food item (22%). Other estimates used gave less importance to voles (10 and 4%). Birds most often constituted the major part of a scat, voles less often. Pups from three litters had consumed 97% birds, with the proportion of alcids and gulls varying largely according to availability near the respective litter. The population of voles at Grumant was very low in 1996, but in other years it may grow to much higher numbers. However, a large proportion of the scats collected were old and reflected arctic fox diet over many years. Although arctic foxes at Grumant have gained access to a new food source, voles appear to be of minor importance in their diet.
Factors causing traffic killings of roe deer Capreolus capreolus in Denmark
Authors: Madsen Aksel Bo , Strandgaard Helmuth , Prang Allan
Published: May 2018

In Europe, roe deer Capreolus capreolus is one of the biggest mammal species killed in traffic, and the number of accidents seems to increase. The purpose of our paper is to point out the most important factors causing traffic killings and to suggest conservation measures that may reduce the number of roe deer killings in traffic. Our study is based on data including 115 roe deer killed in traffic at the Kal⊘ estate in East Jutland, Denmark, during 1956–1985. No significant correlation was found between the number of traffic killings of roe deer and mean daily traffic, but the number of roe deer killed in traffic varied significantly over the seasons. The distribution pattern of roe deer/car collision sites was clumped. The risk of being killed in traffic was highest for young and old roe deer. Significantly more adult females, adult males and subadult males than expected were killed in traffic, and significantly more individuals were killed in years when most of the fields next to the roads were left unsown in winter. We suggest that the following measures be taken to prevent traffic killings: increasing areas with winter cereal or wintergreen fields, clearing the vegetation adjacent to roads and reducing car speed in high‐risk areas.
Do arctic foxesAlopex lag opusdepend on kills made by large predators?
Authors: Linnell John D.C. , Strand Olav
Published: May 2018

Many hypotheses have been raised to try explaining the failure of Fennoscandian arctic foxAlopex lagopuspopulations to recover following 60–70 years of protection. One of the most appealing hypotheses has been that they depend on scavenging the kills of ungulates made by large carnivores, mainly wolvesCanis lupus,which have been absent for much of the 20th century. We examine this hypothesis using a variety of data from throughout the holarctic range of arctic foxes and conclude that there is little evidence for the importance of this food source ‐ although it is an issue that needs to be examined in greater detail.
Temporal variation in feeding tactics: exploring the role of competition and predators in wintering dabbling ducks
Authors: Guillemain Matthieu , Fritz Hervé
Published: May 2018

To evaluate the effects of competition and predation on foraging by wintering granivorous dabbling ducks, we collected data on long‐term changes in foraging methods used during winter in the marshes of western France. Teal Anas crecca, mallard A. platyrhynchos and pintail A. acuta start feeding in shallow areas, and later switch to deeper feeding methods. We show experimentally that the food intake rate is 1.5 times higher in shallow (5 cm) than in deep (35 cm) areas, which may explain why shallow feeding is the principal method used early in the winter season. In the field, the switch between foraging methods was neither related to the frequency of fly‐overs by raptors nor to the density of competitors at a foraging site, although birds foraged deeper sooner at sites frequented more often. Thus, the potential role of interference competition remained unclear. Conversely, at each site, the proportion of deep foragers increased with increasing cumulative numbers of foragers, used as a measure of food depletion. We therefore have no evidence that disturbance by predators has an important effect on the foraging methods used, whereas competition through food depletion may play a major role.
Dispersal, survival and causes of mortality in black grouse Tetrao tetrix in northern England
Authors: Warren Philip K. , Baines David
Published: May 2018

Between autumn 1998 and spring 2000, 70 black grouse Tetrao tetrix (48 poults and 22 adults) were equipped with radio transmitters in the North Pennines, England. We recorded timing and distances of dispersal, survival rates and causes of death. First‐year survival rates differed between years, but in each year were highest in late autumn prior to dispersal, when predation by stoats Mustela erminea and raptors accounted for three‐quarters of deaths. First‐year grouse survival was lower than that of adult birds owing to predation in the autumn and winter by raptors and stoats. The annual adult survival rate of 0.72 was higher than those found in most other European studies. By contrast, breeding success was low. Dispersal was confined to first‐year hens, with distinct dispersal periods in late autumn (mean 10.3 km) and again in early spring (mean 5.8 km). Natal dispersal resulted in none of the first‐year hens breeding within the study area. Adults of either sex and first‐year cocks showed high site fidelity. This has practical repercussions when considering prescriptive management to aid species recovery and range expansion in relation to habitat fragmentation at both the local and regional levels.
Upland habitat use by Pyrenean grey partridges Perdix perdix hispaniensis during the breeding season
Authors: Novoa Claude , Aebischer Nicholas J. , Landry Philippe
Published: May 2018

Whereas in most of Europe the decline of the grey partridge Perdix perdix is due primarily to agricultural intensification, the Pyrenean grey partridge P. p. hispaniensis is believed to suffer from the opposite effect, namely the abandonment of agricultural practices which allows the encroachment of dense shrublands. We investigated habitat use by the Pyrenean grey partridge during the breeding season and its relationship with reproductive success and survival. The study was based on 22 radio‐tagged grey partridges in a 5,800‐ha upland area of the eastern Pyrenees. Habitat use was non‐random, and shrubland with a shrub canopy cover higher than 40% was the most important requirement during the breeding season. In the spring, pairs that successfully reared a brood used shrublands (20–60% cover) twice as frequently as unsuccessful breeders, then in the summer halved their use of open habitats (montane grassland and shrubland with <40% cover), whereas failed breeders increased it sevenfold. Consequently, a good mixture of different cover types in the spring and summer is likely to provide the most suitable breeding habitat. There was no evidence linking the spring/summer survival of adult partridges to a particular habitat use. Current grazing practices, especially with the use of controlled burning to clear shrubby vegetation, reduce the amount of mature shrublands used by Pyrenean grey partridges. However, grazing management also delays the natural vegetation succession and hence contributes to the long‐term persistence of partridge habitat. Grazing practices that prevent reafforestation and maintain a mosaic of dense and open shrublands should be encouraged in the Pyrenean uplands.
Significance of lynx Lynx lynx predation for roe deer Capreolus capreolus and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra mortality in the Swiss Jura Mountains
Authors: Molinari‐Jobin Anja , Molinari Paolo , Breitenmoser‐Würsten Christine , Breitenmoser Urs
Published: May 2018

Prey class selection and kill rates by lynx Lynx lynx were studied in the Swiss Jura Mountains from March 1988 until May 1998 to evaluate the significance of lynx predation for roe deer Capreolus capreolus and chamois Rupicapra rupicapra. We found clear differences in the kill rates and prey class selection between lynx of different age, sex and breeding status. Male lynx killed more chamois than female lynx, and chamois was never found in kill series of subadult lynx. Family groups had the highest kill rate. They killed an ungulate every 5.0 days, compared to an average of 6.2–6.6 days for single lynx. During our 10‐year study, the density of independent lynx was rather stable, ranging within 0.94–1.01 individuals/100 km2. Based on the observed kill rates and the estimated lynx population structure we calculated that lynx killed 354 ± 13 roe deer and 87 ±13 chamois annually in the 710 km2 study area. The magnitude of lynx predation on roe deer and chamois was primarily shaped by the lynx population structure. A decline in the number of resident male lynx reduced the number of chamois killed in the study area by ¼ of the previous number due to the difference in prey selection of male and female lynx. There was a difference in the most frequently killed age and sex classes between roe deer and chamois: lynx killed more male chamois (39%) than females or fawns, whereas in roe deer, does (38%) were most often killed. By altering adult survival, lynx predation has a significant impact on prey population dynamics. Lynx killed a maximum of 9% of the roe deer and 11 % of the chamois spring population. Considering the differences in the recruitment potential of the two prey species, lynx has a greater impact on chamois than on roe deer.