bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beyond elite capture? Community-based natural resource management and power in Mohammed Nagar village, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: SAITO-JENSEN MOEKO , NATHAN IBEN , TREUE THORSTEN 
Published: September 2010

SUMMARYCommunity-based natural resource management (CBNRM) projects and policies often aim to improve the livelihoods of rural people who depend on natural resources, and to promote democratic decision making and equitable benefit distribution at the local level. However, a growing number of critics argue that CBNRM is susceptible to elite capture. This paper contributes to the debate on elite capture under CBNRM by studying joint forest management (JFM) in Andhra Pradesh (India) and, in particular, the case of Mohammed Nagar village. The paper addresses the following four questions: (1) How has the Indian Government formally addressed the risk of elite capture? (2) What actually happened over time when formal structures of JFM interacted with the pre-existing social structure in Mohammed Nagar? (3) When JFM results in elite capture, is this owing to the formal structures and/or the pre-existing social structure? (4) How can CBNRM be designed to avoid or minimize elite capture? Based on a reading of official government documents, the Indian Government has addressed the risk of elite capture, by ensuring representation of different social groups in the decision making bodies, regular elections, collective action in rule making and implementation, and transparency in record keeping. Nevertheless, during Mohammed Nagar's 10 years of JFM history elite capture did occur. This confirms that elite capture is a possible outcome of CBNRM. Yet, the subsequent fall of elite capture in the village also indicates that this is not necessarily a permanent outcome, and that CBNRM may in fact promote democratic and equitable resource management in the long-term. In Mohammed Nagar elite capture was largely owing to pre-existing social structures and to weaknesses in the official rules that were meant to safeguard the interests of marginalized groups. Accordingly, in CBNRM project design and implementation, pre-existing social structures' potential promotion of elite capture need to be taken into account and formal measures that might alleviate the adverse effects and/or reduce this risk must be identified.
Non‐random pairing with respect to past breeding experience in the common toad (Bufo bufo)
Authors: Reading C. J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA 20‐year study of a common toad Bufo bufo population in south Dorset, U.K. was carried out between 1980 and 1999. On average, c. 33% of all experienced males and females arriving each year did so during the first quarter of each breeding season with only 18% arriving during the last quarter. Conversely, a slightly higher proportion (27%) of all inexperienced (first‐time breeders) males and females arrived during the last quarter season than during the first quarter (22%). In 18 of the 20 years, the proportion of inexperienced females found paired with inexperienced males was significantly higher than could be expected from the proportion of inexperienced males in the pond, suggesting that selective pairing was occurring. One potential effect of pairings between inexperienced male and female toads, coupled with the sex difference in the age of attaining sexual maturity, might be a reduction in the incidence of sibling matings (inbreeding) in the common toad. This is particularly relevant in a species that is both highly philopatric and which congregates in large numbers every spring to breed in very localized areas.
Intraspecific interactions among oophagous tadpoles (Chirixalus eiffingeri: Rhacophoridae) living in bamboo stumps in Taiwan
Authors: Kam Yeong‐Choy , Su Yahn‐Jauh , Liu Jin‐Liang , Lin Yao‐Sung 
Published: September 2010

AbstractWe studied the intraspecific interactions among oophagous Chirixalus eiffingeri tadpoles that occupied the same water‐filled bamboo stumps at Chitou, Taiwan. We monitored the growth of newly‐hatched tadpoles in unoccupied and occupied bamboo stumps in the field where the latter contained large tadpoles that hatched from earlier clutches. The growth of the small, late‐hatching tadpoles in occupied nests was suppressed by the presence of large, early‐hatching tadpoles. However, small tadpoles that were physically separated from large tadpoles in a perforated container grew at about the same rate as small tadpoles living in pools without large tadpoles. Thus, the slower growth of the late‐hatching tadpoles was probably caused by behavioural interference competition with the early‐hatching tadpoles. In the laboratory, we kept large and small tadpoles together in containers and did not feed them for 6 days. The large tadpoles did not cannibalize the small tadpoles. Although large tadpoles may scavenge dead tadpoles, the effects of scavenging on growth were negligible. Interactions among cohabiting C. eiffingeri tadpoles are similar to those among the oophagous tadpoles of several hylid species that use phytotelmata. Results suggest that behavioural interference competition is the principal type of intraspecific interactions among the oophagous, non‐predatory tadpoles of hylid and rhacophorid frogs.
Comparative demography of black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta) in Ontario and Maryland
Authors: Blouin‐Demers Gabriel , Prior Kent A. , Weatherhead Patrick J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThis study investigated how demographic characteristics of black rat snakes Elaphe obsoleta are affected by the length of the active season, and also used the resulting demographic data to determine the proximate factors responsible for male‐biased sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in the species. Demographic data collected from 1981 to 1998 in Ontario (ON; 583 males and 588 females) and from 1942 to 1976 in Maryland (MD; 180 males and 150 females) were used to develop growth models with the von Bertalanffy growth equation. Instantaneous growth rates declined significantly with increasing snout–vent length (SVL) in males and females of each population. The growth models predicted age using SVL satisfactorily, but the accuracy of the model decreased significantly with increasing SVL. As predicted, based on the brevity of their active season (ON ≊ 135 days, MD ≊ 190 days), rat snakes of both sexes from Ontario had lower and more variable instantaneous growth rates and matured at a more advanced age (ON ≊ 9 years, MD ≊ 4 years) than snakes from Maryland. However, the rapid growth and early maturation in Maryland snakes occurred at the expense of longevity (maximum: ON ≊ 30 years, MD ≊ 20 years). Slower growth and later maturation will make rat snakes in Ontario less capable of recovering from population declines. Within each population, males grew faster than females. Survivorship for Ontario snakes did not vary by sex, but increased significantly with increasing SVL. The demographic consequence of sex differences in growth was a male‐biased sex ratio among larger snakes. Because SSD is a function of males growing faster than females, SSD in black rat snakes is probably a product of sexual selection, suggesting that large size confers a mating advantage in males.
Differences in physiological tolerance between coexisting taxa of the Madeiran land snail genusHeterostomaunder controlled humidity and simulated rainfall
Authors: Craze Paul G. , Lace Lesley A. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe Madeiran land snail genusHeterostomacontains two taxa distinguished by differences in genital anatomy: one has full hermaphroditic genitalia (euphallic) while the other lacks the distal male organs (hemiphallic). Snails from the Madeiran islands of Porto Santo and Ilhéu de Cima were kept under controlled conditions differing in humidity and simulated rainfall. There were four treatments: (1) low humidity, no rainfall; (2) low humidity, rainfall; (3) high humidity, no rainfall; (4) high humidity, rainfall. For snails from Porto Santo there were viability differences between taxa under all treatments such that hemiphallics were most viable under treatment 1 and euphallics were more viable under all other treatments. There were no significant differences between taxa taken from Ilhéu de Cima. This may be a real effect or the result of smaller sample size or a combination of both. Under all conditions, both taxa from both islands show a time‐dependent reduction in viability in response to rainfall. Taxa from Porto Santo also respond differently to humidity with hemiphallics surviving for less time than euphallics at high humidity. These results are interpreted as showing a difference in physiological tolerance between taxa from Porto Santo with respect to humidity. It is suggested that this ecological difference may have been a factor in the divergence of the taxa, perhaps through interaction with genital anatomy variation. No firm conclusions can yet be drawn regarding samples taken from Ilhéu de Cima.
Behavioural interactions, basal plasma luteinizing hormone concentrations and the differential pituitary responsiveness to exogenous gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone in entire colonies of the naked mole‐rat (Heterocephalus glaber)
Authors: van der Westhuizen L. A. , Bennett N. C. , Jarvis J. U. M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractAgonistic and sexual interactions as well as plasma bioactive luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations were monitored in all the adults of two colonies of the naked mole‐rat Heterocephalus glaber at three phases in the pregnancy of the breeding female. Blood samples were collected at early (days 1–15), mid (days 30–40) and late (days 55–65) phases of her pregnancy, and the circulating basal plasma LH and the response to administration of 0.1 μg gonadotrophin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) were examined. In both colonies it was found that non‐breeding males and females showed depressed basal LH concentrations and responses to a GnRH challenge. However, there was considerable variation between individuals, in terms of both basal plasma and post‐GnRH concentrations of LH, implying that certain individuals were more suppressed than others. The responses were more pronounced in non‐breeding males than in non‐breeding females, and this is discussed in light of the reproductive skew occurring within colonies. Few agonistic interactions occurred between the breeding female and the majority of the colony members, and overall, there was no clear relationship between plasma LH and the amount of aggression received from the breeding female. However, in one colony there was a significant positive correlation between basal plasma LH concentrations of non‐breeding females and agonistic interactions received by them from the breeding female. In this same colony, older females and older and heavier males received most of the aggression from the breeding female. The second colony did not show this trend, possibly because it had recently lost many large animals during fighting for succession; in this colony sexual interactions were elevated.
Soaring behaviour in the Samoan flying fox (Pteropus samoensis)
Authors: Thomson Susan C. , Brooke Anne P. , Speakman John R. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractBats seldom soar because it is behaviour generally associated with the use of thermals, which are normally of insufficient strength at night to support the behaviour. Daylight flying bats, however, such as the Samoan flying fox Pteropus samoensis may be able to exploit thermals for soaring. This may give the bats one of two advantages. It may reduce the energy costs of transport because gliding flight is much cheaper than active flapping flight. However, because less endogenous heat is generated by soaring, a second advantage may be that it reduces the thermal stress placed on these bats. Thermal stress is a factor that we have shown previously probably constrains the daylight flying behaviour of this species. Observations of the patterns of soaring behaviour at two sites on American Samoa in March and October 1995 supported the predictions of the energy saving but not the hyperthermia avoidance hypothesis. Soaring was a common behaviour under all conditions and was used extensively when conditions did not pose a threat of hyperthermia. In March, the bats also adopted flight patterns over time that exposed them to areas of the valleys where insolation was greatest, presumably increasing their risk of hyperthermia but bringing energy saving benefits. Modelling the expected heat flows during soaring and flapping flight using an established model revealed that soaring reduced the risk of hyperthermia, when flying in the shade of clouds, because of the energy savings resulting from reduced endogenous heat production. However, when soaring in sunlight, these savings are more than offset by the increased exogenous heat uptake, because a greater proportion of the wing surface is exposed when soaring. Despite its low endogenous energy cost, soaring in sunlight is not thermally advantageous, and the behaviour of the bats reflected this fact.
Food selection of wintering common cranes (Grus grus) in holm oak (Quercus ilex) dehesas in south‐west Spain in a rainy season
Authors: Avilés Jesús M. , Sánchez Juan M. , Parejo Deseada 
Published: September 2010

AbstractIn the holm oak Quercus ilex dehesas of the Iberian Peninsula, several food types occur that can be selected by birds through the winter. In this framework, diet composition and diet selection of common cranes Grus grus was studied during a rainy wintering season. The winter diet of the common crane is mostly herbivorous in the holm oak dehesas of south‐west Spain with <10% of items being of animal origin. Leaves and stems of sown cereal, bulbs, acorns and cereal grain are the most common vegetable food types. The diversity of the overall winter diet was similar among juveniles and among adults with and without juveniles in attendance. However, there were differences in diet composition between juvenile birds and their parents. Furthermore, the diet composition of adult cranes with juveniles in attendance was different from that of adult cranes without juveniles in attendance. Foraging abilities of juvenile cranes did not vary significantly through the winter, suggesting a low effect of experience on diet differences between age classes. Our results point toward the existence of diet differences among the three considered crane categories related with differential habitat selection by family groups. The monthly pattern of choice of each food type differed from those expected according to the monthly pattern of food availability in the study area. Cereal grain was the most preferred food type when it was available. When cereal seed germinated, cranes shifted to acorns and bulbs which were then more profitable.
Population ecology of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in a fragmented woodland ecosystem on the Island of Jersey, Channel Islands
Authors: Magris L. , Gurnell J. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe Channel Island of Jersey is 116 km2 but has only 540 ha of woodland distributed in 237 wooded fragments with mean size of 2.5 ha. Despite this, the island supports 300 to 600 red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris, a species that is under threat in mainland Britain from habitat fragmentation, disease and the spread of the alien grey squirrel S. carolinensis. Grey squirrels are not present on Jersey. Between 1994 and 1997, using trapping and tracking techniques, we studied how red squirrels survive on Jersey by focusing on three local populations in sites B, C and S with contrasting food availability. The primary squirrel foods at site B were autumn tree seeds, at site C autumn tree seeds and summer conifer cones, and at site S autumn tree seeds and ad libitum, year‐round supplementary food provided by local people. The densities of squirrels in site C (mean over 3 years 0.97 ha−1) and site S (1.21 ha−1) were more than one and a half times that of site B (0.68 ha−1), which relied on autumn seeds. Body mass and condition, and early breeding (spring litters) were not affected by food availability although conception occurred as early as November, earlier than in mainland Britain. Less than 50% of females produced summer litters, and 88% of non‐breeders did not receive supplementary food. Turnover rates were lowest and most stable in site B. Annual residency was not influenced by the size of the natural tree seed crop. Cat and road kills caused two out of three reported deaths. This island population seems to remain viable as a result of an extended breeding season and increased population densities in sites with summer or supplementary food. The results emphasize the beneficial effects of extra food provided by local people. This provides a buffering effect against variations in natural food availability, and seems to be important for their long‐term survival.
Delayed maturity, group fission and the limits of group size in female Cape ground squirrels (Sciuridae: Xerus inauris)
Authors: Waterman Jane M. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractFemale Cape ground squirrels Xerus inauris live in matrilineal kin groups in which the number of reproductive positions is limited to three females. Field observations on a population in Namibia revealed that the mechanisms by which group size was limited were reproductive suppression and group fission. Sub‐adult females attained sexual maturity at 8 months of age when only a single adult female was present in their social group, whereas sub‐adult females in groups with more than one adult female matured at 12 months of age. Social groups with more than three breeding females subsequently split into smaller groups. Several hypotheses for limiting group size were considered. There was no evidence of higher ectoparasite loads on females in larger groups, nor was survival of adult females affected by group size. Although adult females have lower body masses and higher mortality during the winter when food is more scarce, feeding competition alone does not seem to limit group size. Groups that split continued to overlap in their feeding ranges and there was no seasonal difference in juvenile survival. However, juvenile survival was affected by group size. The greatest cost of being in a larger group was lower juvenile survival. Larger groups use larger feeding ranges, and because squirrels return to their sleeping burrow when threatened, not just to the nearest refuge, slower juveniles have greater exposure to predators. Thus, although competition for food resources may be important, predation seems to be a major constraint on female group size as well as the primary selective force leading to female group formation.
Predatory strike of the tentacled snake (Erpeton tentaculatum)
Authors: Smith Tamara L. , Povel G. David E. , Kardong Kenneth V. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractThe tentacled snake Erpeton tentaculatum lives its entire life in fresh water where it feeds mostly on fish. Because the tentacled snake strikes underwater, the physical demands differ from those of air, and require modified methods of prey capture compared to terrestrial snakes. To examine this, we scored the feeding behaviours of five snakes and used multiple high‐speed films of two snakes striking fishes. In the pre‐strike phase, the snake usually assumed a J‐shaped posture with its head turned posteriorly at the neck and its body held straight. The snake waited in such a rigid posture for the fish to move into the very narrow ‘window’ between turned head and body. Tentacles remained erected, and motionless. The strike was extremely rapid, occurring typically from pre‐set J‐shaped postures, not from sigmoidal body coils. As the head turned and travelled to the fish, the mouth opened and water collected in the ballooning throat. Significant suction feeding was absent. The fish was secured on buccal teeth and quickly swallowed by unilateral displacements of the jaws. Prey capture and swallowing exhibited specialized modifications of the general snake predatory behaviour to address the hydrodynamic demands of such an underwater strike.
Behavioural responses of killer whales (Orcinus orca) to whale‐watching boats: opportunistic observations and experimental approaches
Authors: Williams Rob , Trites Andrew W. , Bain David E. 
Published: September 2010

AbstractJohnstone Strait provides important summer habitat for the northern resident killer whales Orcinus orca of British Columbia. The site is also an active whale‐watching area. A voluntary code of conduct requests that boats do not approach whales closer than 100 m to address perceived, rather than demonstrated, effects of boat traffic on killer whales. The purpose of the study was to test the relevance of this distance guideline. Relationships between boat traffic and whale behaviour were studied in 1995 and 1996 by shore‐based theodolite tracking of 25 identifiable focal animals from the population of 209 whales. Individual killer whales were repeatedly tracked in the absence of boats and during approaches by a 5.2 m motorboat that paralleled each whale at 100 m. In addition, whales were tracked opportunistically, when no effort was made to manipulate boat traffic. Dive times, swim speeds, and surface‐active behaviours such as breaching and spy‐hopping were recorded. On average, male killer whales swam significantly faster than females. Whales responded to experimental approaches by adopting a less predictable path than observed during the preceding, no‐boat period, although males and females used subtly different avoidance tactics. Females responded by swimming faster and increasing the angle between successive dives, whereas males maintained their speed and chose a smooth, but less direct, path. Canonical correlations between whale behaviour and vessel proximity are consistent with these conclusions, which suggest that weakening whale‐watching guidelines, or not enforcing them, would result in higher levels of disturbance. High variability in whale behaviour underscores the importance of large sample size and extensive experimentation when assessing the impacts of human activity on killer whales.
First record of Parvidrilidae (Annelida, Oligochaeta) in Europe with a description of a new species (Parvidrilus spelaeus sp. nov.) and comments on the family and its phyletic relationships
Authors: Martínez‐Ansemil Enrique , Sambugar Beatrice , Giani Narcisse 
Published: September 2010

AbstractA new species of the oligochaete family Parvidrilidae Erséus, 1999 is described from several subterranean waterbodies of southern Europe. A comparison with the type species suggests that the so called ‘genital body’ and ‘copulatory organ’ of the latter can be interpreted as the atrium and spermathecae, respectively. A critical analysis of the most important diagnostic features known is made to increase understanding of the real position of the Parvidrilidae in a natural system within the Oligochaeta. The parvidrilids seem to be closely related to the Phreodrilidae. Waiting for the results of molecular and ultrastructural analyses, and considering the dorsal crotchets ‘buried’ in the body wall as an autapomorphy for the phreodrilids, the rank of family for the parvidrilids is maintained on the basis of the three following autapomorphies: the location of the setae in a marked posterior position within the segments; the lateral development of the clitellum, with large clitellar cells in relation to the body diameter; the singular glandular pouches present in the mid‐dorsal line of the mesosomial segments.