bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduced horn size in two wild trophy‐hunted species of Caprinae
Authors: Pérez Jesús M. , Serrano Emmanuel , González‐Candela Mónica , León‐Vizcaino Luis , Barberá Gonzalo G. , de Simón Miguel A , Fandos Paulino , Granados José E. , Soriguer Ramón C. , Festa‐Bianchet Marco 
Published: May 2011

AbstractFactors affecting horn size in wild Caprinae are of biological and socio‐economic interest because several species are selectively harvested on the basis of this heritable character. We analysed temporal trends in horn size in two mountain ungulates from south‐eastern Spain, the Iberian wild goat Capra pyrenaica and the aoudad Ammotragus lervia. Trophy harvest is the main way in which these two species are exploited, although ‘poor‐quality’ aoudads are also selectively removed. In recent years, both populations have suffered drastic decreases in number due to outbreaks of sarcoptic mange that led to the suspension of hunting for several years. Horn length in harvested male wild goats and aoudads declined during our study period. Over an 18‐year period, the mean age of male goats shot as trophies rose by four years, while the age of trophy‐harvested aoudads decreased by around six months over a 9‐year period. Age and environmental conditions during the first few years of life explained 20% of variance in horn size in Iberian wild goat and 53% in aoudad. Population density early in life explained much of the reduction in goat horn size over time. Nevertheless, the major fall in population densities after the sarcoptic mange outbreaks did not lead to a recovery in horn size in either species. We suggest that the selective removal of large‐horned animals may contribute to a decline in horn size. Other factors that may also explain the observed pattern include changes in interspecific competition, long‐lasting maternal effects and reduced carrying capacity due to overgrazing during high density periods. Unfortunately, our data sets did not allow us to account for the possible effects of these factors.
Browse biomass removal and nutritional condition of moose Alces alces
Authors: Seaton C. Tom , Paragi Thomas F. , Boertje Rodney D. , Kielland Knut , DuBois Stephen , Fleener Craig L. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe present methodology for assessing browse removal to help evaluate resource limitation among moose Alces alces populations in large, potentially remote areas of boreal forest. During 2000‐2007, we compared proportional removal (ratio of browse consumption to browse production) in eight areas of Interior Alaska, USA, with multi‐year twinning rates of the respective moose populations. Several prior studies concluded that twinning rate provided an index of the nutritional condition of moose. We theorized that a plant‐based sampling of proportional use of browse by moose in late winter would inversely correlate with the nutritional condition of moose. We sampled willow Salix spp., quaking aspen Populus tremuloides, balsam poplar P. balsamifera and Alaska paper birch Betula neoalaskana, i.e. plants with current annual growth (CAG) between 0.5 and 3.0 m above ground. We estimated the biomass of CAG and biomass removed by moose based on bite diameters and diameter‐mass regressions specific to each browse species. Mean browse removal by moose varied among study areas from 9 to 43% of CAG. Moose twinning rate (range: 7‐64%) was inversely correlated with proportional browse removal by moose (Spearman's rho = −0.863, P < 0.005). Proportional browse removal appeared useful in linking foraging ecology and population dynamics of moose in Alaska, and the technique may be used to quantify resource limitation in moose populations inhabiting boreal forest in a broader geographic region.
Effects of an experimentally clumped food resource on raccoon Procyon lotor home‐range use
Authors: Wehtje Morgan , Gompper Matthew E. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractSome species of carnivores fluctuate between a primarily solitary lifestyle and a group‐living lifestyle, depending on resource availability. Understanding the ontogeny of this transition requires analyzing changes in space use. We analyzed radio‐telemetry data from 41 adult raccoons Procyon lotor to assess the influence of an experimentally maintained clumped food source on spatial structure. We compared home‐range size, two‐dimensional overlap and volume of intersection (VI) values between 22 raccoons with access to the clumped food resource and 19 raccoons on an adjacent control site that received similar food quantities, but for which food was distributed in a non‐clumped and spatially‐temporally unpredictable pattern. No between‐sex differences in home‐range size occurred within either food site, nor did differences in home‐range size occur between the two sites. However, the experimental‐site animals had two‐dimensional home‐range overlap values and volume of intersection (VI) scores that were nearly twice those of raccoons inhabiting the control site. These differences appear to be driven by increased overlap among females from the experimental site, as males from the two treatment sites had similar home‐range overlap and VI scores. Collectively, these results indicate that the distribution of resources can significantly change the extent of spatial overlap among individuals, even when the mean home‐range size of the population does not change. This further suggests that while a site's overall resource availability influences population size, the spatial clumping of resources facilitates the formation of local aggregations.
The extent and impact of shooting on black grouse Tetrao tetrix in northern England
Authors: Warren Philip , Baines David , Aebischer Nicholas 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIn northern England, 95% of black grouse Tetrao tetrix leks occur on the fringes of managed grouse moors. Recognising the threatened conservation status of black grouse in northern England, most grouse moors have refrained from deliberate shooting for more than a decade. Despite this, black grouse are unintentionally shot in mistake for red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus. We assessed the circumstances and frequency of shooting in northern England and its potential impact on population recovery from three independent sources, annual shooting returns as part of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's (GWCT) National Gamebag Census (NGC), incidents of shooting reported independently to the North Pennines Black Grouse Recovery Project (NPBGRP) and losses of radio‐tagged black grouse to shooting. Moors contributing to the NGC between 1998 and 2008 reported 110 black grouse shot from 13 of 23 moors, averaging 1.2% of the estimated post‐breeding population. From 2001 to 2008, 152 black grouse from 28 moors were reported shot independently to the NPBGRP, equivalent to an annual 1.0% of the post‐breeding population. The majority appeared unintentional (78%), with females (68%) more frequently shot. Out of 244 radio‐tagged black grouse on 15 estates, four adult females were shot (1.6%). The voluntary restraint from harvesting black grouse in northern England appears effective, with incidents of shooting infrequent. Continued effort to minimise shooting incidents, particularly on the fringe of the range to encourage settlement of dispersing females, may contribute to increasing numbers and range.
Sex and scale: implications for habitat selection by Alaskan mooseAlces alces gigas
Authors: Oehlers Susan A. , Bowyer R. Terry , Huettmann Falk , Person David K. , Kessler Winifred B. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe examined the roles of sex and spatial scale in habitat selection by Alaskan mooseAlces alces gigas. We GPS‐collared 11 female and seven male adult moose in the Tongass National Forest, Alaska, USA, during 2002‐2004. We predicted that adult male and female moose would be spatially separated outside of the mating season, consistent with hypotheses attributing sexual segregation among sexually dimorphic ruminants to allometric differences in body and gastrointestinal size, and resulting differential needs for nutrient requirements by the sexes (the gastrocentric hypothesis), and varying risks of predation (the predation hypothesis) between sexes, especially for females with young. We predicted that habitat selection would be similar between sexes during the mating season, but dissimilar and occur at different scales during periods of late gestation and lactation. We expected that during segregation, females would select for a higher percentage of forested cover and a higher edge density than males to reduce predation risk on their young. Furthermore, we examined whether differences in scale of habitat selected between the sexes was related to home‐range size. Multi‐response Permutation Procedures (MRPP) analysis indicated that the spatial distributions of adult males and females differed, particularly near or during parturition. The sexes selected habitats similarly during the mating season (rut), when sexes generally were aggregated, whereas sexes exhibited differential habitat selection during spring, when sexes were segregated. Habitat selection by both sexes was best explained by vegetation and landscape composition tabulated within 1,000‐m radii centered on GPS locations of moose. The sexes did not differ in the scale at which they selected habitats. Mean size of the annual home range was 76 km2for females and 125 km2for males, but size of home range was not related to scale of habitat selection by moose. Our results indicate that females were likely selecting habitat with high‐quality forage while minimizing predation risk during periods of sexual segregation, whereas males were selecting habitat that allowed high forage intake, which together provide support for both the gastrocentric and the predation hypotheses.
A technique to estimate white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus density using vertical‐looking infrared imagery
Authors: Kissell Robert E. , Nimmo Susan K. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractAerial infrared imagery is used increasingly in eastern North America to provide population counts of white‐tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus because of the increased probability of detection compared to visual methods. To date, most work using infrared technology has been conducted using imagery from Forward‐Looking Infrared (FLIR). Methods have produced counts, but density or population estimates have not been forthcoming because of problems with methodology and automation. Using standard photogrammetry techniques, Vertical‐Looking Infrared (VLIR) data, GIS and distance sampling, we describe a method for estimating density. We estimated deer density in four bottomland hardwood sites in Arkansas, USA, with distance sampling using VLIR data and assessed the probability of detection of deer identified in the imagery. Uniform models were selected as the best representative models for each site, and probability of detection was similar (x̄ = 0.95 ± 0.05 SE) across sites. Distance sampling used in conjunction with VLIR data may provide estimates of ungulate populations in ecosystems of deciduous hardwoods with little topographic relief.
Adapting a predictive spatial model for wolf Canis spp. predation on livestock in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA
Authors: Edge Justin L. , Beyer Dean E. , Belant Jerrold L. , Jordan Mark J. , Roell Brian J. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWolves Canis spp. in the Great Lakes region have expanded into rural areas where livestock production occurs, resulting in an increase of conflicts. We applied a predictive spatial model for livestock predations by wolves developed by Treves et al. (2004; hereafter the ‘2004 model’) to the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. The 2004 model did not satisfactorily discriminate between townships with (57.1%) and without (65.7%) wolf predations (61.4% overall) that occurred during 15 April 1996 ‐ 14 April 2009. Consequently, we adapted the 2004 model based on deer density and spatial data derived from the UP to maximize the model's predictive ability in the UP. We used matched pair analysis of six landscape variables significant in the 2004 model. Our adapted model improved on the 2004 model, and overall discriminated 70% of townships in our sample (N = 70). Affected townships (i.e. townships with predations) in the UP displayed a consistent set of landscape variables, including relatively higher proportions of pasture/hayfield and crops, and relatively lower proportions of coniferous forest. We extrapolated from the 35 affected townships to the entire UP to generate two maps, available to managers for assistance in predicting townships at higher risk of livestock predation by wolves. As wolves continue to recover in the Great Lakes region, predicting livestock predations by wolves can assist managers in limiting the number of conflicts, as well as costs of control and compensation.
Estimating abundance of mountain ungulates incorporating imperfect detection: argali Ovis ammon in the Gobi Desert, Mongolia
Authors: Wingard Ganchimeg J. , Harris Richard B. , Amgalanbaatar Sukh , Reading Richard P. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractEstimating the density or abundance of mountain ungulates is difficult and rarely conducted in a statistically valid manner. The rough terrain they inhabit, their group‐living habits, their relatively low density, and the difficulty of marking individuals all contribute to making rigorous estimates of abundance logistically difficult. Raw (uncalibrated) counts are usually reported, and although their drawbacks are often acknowledged, biases are rarely quantified. In September 2009, we took advantage of the presence of a radio‐marked sample of argali Ovis ammon in the Ikh Nart Nature Reserve in south‐central Mongolia, as well as the area's comparatively forgiving topography to estimate abundance simultaneously using two independent methods: distance sampling and mark‐resight sampling. Distance sampling produced an abundance estimate of 539 (95% CI: 196‐1,081) argali within a ∼ 330 km2study area on the same day that we visually tallied 189 animals. Mark‐resight sampling using the Poisson log‐normal model yielded an estimate of 747 (95% CI: 484‐1,009) argali when we observed, at most, 223 animals in any given day. Although both were imprecise, their similarity increases our confidence that neither estimator was highly biased. Because of budget or logistical restrictions, uncalibrated counts of mountain ungulates are often the only alternative. They should be viewed cautiously, however, and when possible, more rigorous approaches to estimating abundance should be taken.
Modelling the combined effect of an obligate predator and a facultative predator on a common prey: lynx Lynx lynx and wolverine Gulo gulo predation on reindeer Rangifer tarandus
Authors: Andrén Henrik , Persson Jens , Mattisson Jenny , Danell Anna C. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractIn conservation and management of large predators, effects of species are often considered separately. However, predators often interact with one another in different ways (e.g. interspecific competition, intra guild predation and kleptoparasitism) that may influence the total predation on a common prey. We estimated the total number of semi‐domestic reindeer Rangifer tarandus killed by Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx and wolverine Gulo gulo at different relative abundances of the two species using a model based on diet, food requirements of lynx and wolverine and amount of food available on a reindeer. Our model suggests that total predation decreases by approximately 7.9% (± 4.8 SD) if wolverines scavenge on lynx‐killed reindeer, compared to a model without scavenging. If the management goal is a constant number of predators, the model suggests that the total kill rate will be lowest in areas with only wolverines, as the estimated wolverine kill rate is much lower than the lynx kill rate. Our model showed that it is unlikely that the lowest number of reindeer killed per predator individual will be at a certain lynx‐wolverine ratio, which would appear if lynx consumption of killed reindeer is low and wolverines are very efficient finding lynx‐killed reindeer. However, if the management goal is a constant number of lynx and wolverines, the model suggests that the total predation is lower, if lynx and wolverines coexist in the same area compared to existing separately in different areas. The total predation by wolverine and lynx on reindeer is very important for the management of lynx and wolverine in the reindeer husbandry area in Sweden, as the current compensation scheme for predator‐killed semi‐domestic reindeer is based on the number of predators present within a reindeer herding district, and the compensation for wolverine and lynx is added independently of one another.
Spatio‐temporal responses of male Reeves's pheasants Syrmaticus reevesii to forest edges in the Dabie Mountains, central China
Authors: Xu Ji‐Liang , Zhang Zheng‐Wang , Wang Yong , Connelly John W. 
Published: May 2011

AbstractWe evaluated the response of male Reeves's pheasants Syrmaticus reevesii to different forest edges in a fragmented forest landscape in central China using radio‐telemetry. Our fieldwork was carried out from April 2000 to August 2003 in the Dongzhai National Nature Reserve within the Dabie Mountains, China. We identified four major types of forest edges: shrub, farmland, road and residential edge. The association of male Reeves's pheasants with these edges was non‐random and varied by season, suggesting that land‐cover and land‐use patterns surrounding forest fragments could have variable effects on habitat use of Reeves's pheasants. Shrub edges were preferred by males in all seasons and male Reeves's pheasant seldom moved > 200 m from this type of edge. Pheasants tended to avoid farmland edges in summer, stayed within 100 m of the nearest road edges in spring and moved farther from residential edges with season shifts. Furthermore, edge use by male Reeves's pheasants also differed between winter and the other three seasons. Our data demonstrated the relationships between edge effects and the spatial distribution patterns of Reeves's pheasants, and suggested that landscape configuration, including juxtaposition of forest and shrubby vegetation, should be incorporated into management and conservation for addressing edge effects at landscape scales. We suggest monitoring the spatial responses of this species to different forest edges over a longer term and at a larger landscape scale.
Effectiveness and Safety of Etanercept in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis in a Canadian Clinical Practice Setting: The REPArE Trial
Authors: GLADMAN DAFNA D. , BOMBARDIER CLAIRE , THORNE CARTER , HARAOUI BOULOS , KHRAISHI MAJED , RAHMAN PROTON , BENSEN WILLIAM , SYROTUIK JERRY , POULIN-COSTELLO MELANIE 
Published: May 2011

Objective.To describe the longterm effectiveness and safety of etanercept in Canadian patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), treated over 24 months in clinical practice.Methods.Patients with active PsA (≥ 3 tender and ≥ 3 swollen joints) were recruited from 22 centers. Etanercept was administered at 50 mg/week subcutaneously. In addition to clinical assessment of skin and joint disease, conducted at baseline and at Months 6, 12, 18, and 24, regular patient interviews were conducted by telephone. Patient responses related to health status, disability, and work productivity were scored using the patient global assessment tool, the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Health and Labour Questionnaire (HLQ), and the Fatigue Severity Scale.Results.Out of 110 patients, 71 (65%) maintained etanercept treatment through the end of our study. All clinical measures of disease severity, including joint tenderness/pain, joint swelling, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, improved significantly between baseline and Month 6 of etanercept treatment and remained constant thereafter. By the end of our study, 79% of patients achieved a Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria response, and 56% of patients achieved a 0.5-point improvement on HAQ, indicating clinically significant improvement in disability; 14% of patients finished our study free of disability (HAQ = 0). Patients’ work productivity and fatigue improved significantly in parallel with these clinical and functional improvements.Conclusion.Continuous treatment with etanercept over 2 years in a clinical setting improved clinical symptoms of PsA while reducing fatigue, improving work productivity, and ameliorating or eliminating disability.
The Influence of Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Characteristics on Heart Failure
Authors: MYASOEDOVA ELENA , CROWSON CYNTHIA S. , NICOLA PAULO J. , MARADIT-KREMERS HILAL , DAVIS JOHN M. , ROGER VÉRONIQUE L. , THERNEAU TERRY M. , GABRIEL SHERINE E. 
Published: May 2011

Objective.To examine the influence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) characteristics and antirheumatic medications on the risk of heart failure (HF) in patients with RA.Methods.A population-based incidence cohort of RA patients aged ≥ 18 years (1987 American College of Rheumatology criteria first met between January 1, 1980, and January 1, 2008) with no history of HF was followed until onset of HF (defined by Framingham criteria), death, or January 1, 2008. We collected data on RA characteristics, antirheumatic medications, and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Cox models adjusting for age, sex, and calendar year were used to analyze the data.Results.The study included 795 RA patients [mean age 55.3 yrs, 69% women, 66% rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive]. During the mean followup of 9.7 years, 92 patients developed HF. The risk of HF was associated with RF positivity (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0, 2.5), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) at RA incidence (HR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2, 2.0), repeatedly high ESR (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2, 3.5), severe extraarticular manifestations (HR 3.1, 95% CI 1.9, 5.1), and corticosteroid use (HR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3, 3.2), adjusting for CV risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD). Methotrexate users were half as likely to have HF as nonusers (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3, 0.9).Conclusion.Several RA characteristics and the use of corticosteroids were associated with HF, with adjustment for CV risk factors and CHD. Methotrexate use appeared to be protective against HF. These findings suggest an independent effect of RA on HF that may be further modified by antirheumatic treatment.
Longterm Survival and Associated Risk Factors in Patients with Adult-onset Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies and Amyopathic Dermatomyositis: Experience in a Single Institute in Japan
Authors: YAMASAKI YOSHIOKI , YAMADA HIDEHIRO , OHKUBO MICHIKO , YAMASAKI MASAOMI , AZUMA KOHEI , OGAWA HITOSHI , MIZUSHIMA MACHIKO , OZAKI SHOICHI 
Published: May 2011

Objective.To analyze clinical characteristics, survival, causes of death, and risk factors associated with mortality in patients with adult-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) in Japan.Methods.We retrospectively investigated 197 patients diagnosed with adult-onset IIM at our hospital from 1984 to 2009 according to Bohan and Peter criteria for polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM) and modified Sontheimer’s criteria for clinically amyopathic DM (ADM).Results.Survival in the whole group at 1, 5, and 10 years was 85%, 75%, and 67%, respectively. Mortality in cancer-associated myositis was the worst (25% at 5 yrs), followed by clinically ADM (61% at 5 yrs) and primary DM (77% at 5 yrs). Primary DM had significantly low survival compared to primary PM (91% at 5 yrs; p = 0.0427). Among the 53 patients who died were 6 patients with ADM (11%) and 20 patients with primary DM (38%). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was the main cause of death in clinically ADM (71%) and primary DM (60%), most of which occurred within the first few months. Fewer patients died in primary PM (9%) and overlap myositis (13%). Independent risk factors for death were older age (HR 1.031; 95% CI 1.009–1.053) and skin ulcers (HR 3.018; 95% CI 1.340–6.796) in the whole group and ILD with mild serum creatine kinase levels (< 500 IU/l; HR 3.537; 95% CI 1.260–9.928) in primary DM.Conclusion.Survival of clinically ADM and primary DM was low, mainly due to fatal ILD, compared to primary PM. Establishing therapeutic strategy for ILD may improve the survival in our patient population.