Arachis pintoi (Fabaceae) is a common relative of the cultivated peanut, and folds its four leaflets up to look like one at night. The adaptive significance of this behavior (foliar nyctinasty) is unknown. To test the hypothesis that leaflet folding alone can deter herbivores, a leaf preference experiment was performed on Chromacris trogon grasshoppers. Small oval cutouts were made from leaves of the grasshopper’s preferred food source, Iochroma arborescens (Solanaceae), and were combined with small pieces of tape and dry grass to construct artificial leaves resembling the day and night form of A. pintoi. In the experiment, groups of three grasshoppers were starved for 24 hours and then placed in petri dishes containing one closed and one open artificial leaf. After 30 six-hour trials, the average herbivory of open leaves was 12.3%, while closed leaves was 5.2% (p = 0.00145), indicating a significant preference for open leaves. This suggests that the folded configuration of A. pintoi leaves can be a defense against herbivory.

1. While territoriality is one of the key mechanisms influencing carnivore space use, most studies quantify resource selection and movement in the absence of conspecific influence or territorial structure without inference on resource selection processes. 2. Our analysis incorporated intra-specific competition in a resource selection framework, via territorial data of conspecifics, to investigate mechanisms of territoriality and to better understand the role of neighboring packs on African wild dog habitat selection. We fit integrated step selection functions to 3-hour GPS data from 12 collared wild dog packs in the Okavango Delta, and estimated selection coefficients using a conditional Poisson likelihood with random effects. 3. Packs selected for the outline of their neighbors’ 30-day boundary (defined as their 90% kernel density estimate), and for the outline of their own 90-day core (defined as their 50% kernel density estimate). Neighbors’ 30-day boundary had a greater influence on resource selection than any habitat feature. Habitat selection differed when they were within versus beyond their neighbors’ 30-day boundary. 4. Pack size, pack age, pup presence, and seasonality all mediated how packs responded to neighbors, and seasonal dynamics altered the strength of residency. While newly-formed packs and packs with pups avoided their neighbors’ boundary, older packs and those without pups selected for it. Packs also selected for the boundary of larger neighboring packs more strongly than that of smaller ones. 5. Social structure within packs has implications for how they interact with conspecifics, and therefore how they are distributed across the landscape. Future research should continue to investigate how territorial processes are mediated by social dynamics and, in turn, how territorial structure mediates resource selection and movement. These results could inform the development of a human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation tool by co-opting the mechanisms of conspecific interactions to manage space use of endangered carnivores.

The invasion of alien plant species poses a threat to native community’s composition and diversity. However, the invasiveness of alien plants and invisibility of native communities should be depended on the interactions between biotic and abiotic factors, such as natural enemies and nutrient availability. In a study, we simulated the invasion of nine invasive plants into native plant communities with two levels of nutrient availability and natural enemies suppression. We explored how the biotic and abiotic factors affect the response of alien target species and the resistance of native communities to invasion. The results showed that enemy release (i.e., presence of enemy) increased biomass proportion of alien plants and decreased that of native community under without nutrient addition. Furthermore, we also found that the negative effect of enemy suppression on the evenness of native community and the root-to-shoot ratio of alien target species was greatest under nutrient addition. Therefore, nutrient deficiency and natural enemies might promote the invasive success of alien species in native community, whereas nutrient addition and enemy suppression can better enhance the resistance of native plant communities to invasion.

We report the first case of egg burying behaviour in a neotropical direct-developing frog. An amplectant pair of Pristimantis chocoensis was found and we recorded oviposition and the subsequent burying of the clutch by the female. Both parents remained near the nest during the following day. This rare observation sheds light over the intricate reproductive behaviours of terrestrial amphibians and suggests that the evolution of direct development has selected for highly specialized forms of parenting.

Soil fungi are involved in the decomposition of organic matter, and they alter soil structure and physicochemical properties and drive the material cycle and energy flow in terrestrial ecosystems. Grazing exclusion is one of the most common measures used to restore degraded grasslands worldwide. However, changes in soil fungal community characteristics during grazing exclusion in different types of grasslands are unknown. Here, we investigated the effects of a 9-year grazing exclusion on soil properties, fungal community composition and diversity in three grassland types (temperate desert, temperate steppe and mountain meadow). The results showed that in the 0-5 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly affected the physicochemical parameters of all three studied grassland types. In the 5-10 cm soil layer, grazing exclusion significantly increased total phosphorus (TP) in temperate deserts by 34.1%, while significantly decreasing bulk density (BD) by 9.8% and the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio (N:P) by 47.1%. The soil fungal community composition differed among the grassland types, For example, significant differences were found among the three grassland types for the Glomeromycota and Mucoromycota, Grazing exclusion, grassland type, and the interaction between the two did not significantly affect soil fungal α-diversity or community composition(P > 0.05), but significantly altered fungal β-diversity (P < 0.05). Overall, our results highlight the importance of soil nutrient content, especially soil Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus and organic carbon on fungal diversity, and the results provide key insights into how soil fungi respond to grazing exclusion in different grassland types.

The current knowledge on insects preying on fruits is limited, and some of the scarce existing data on fruit-associated insects are secluded within the host institutions. Consequently, their value is not fully realized. However, the integration and interlinking of historical biocollections data of plants, fruits, and insects, collected in Kenya, within a digital framework have not been fully exploited. This necessitates the need to enhance accessibility by consolidating the historical biodiversity data onto a unified platform. To address these gaps, this article presents a description of the development of a web-based platform for data sharing and integrating biodiversity historical data of wild plants, fruits, associated insects, and their molecular barcodes (WiPtFruIM) while leveraging data science technologies. The platform holds invaluable potential in fruit pest management, by providing information on potential biocontrol agents for fruit pests, which can function as a decision-making tool and fruit-pest ecological modeling. The platform is invaluable information to a worldwide community (such as researchers, classroom education, nature enthusiasts, fruit pest management, modeling, etc.) to make informed decisions and build innovative tools.

In the Arctic tundra, recurrent periods of food scarcity force predators to rely on a wide variety of resources. In particular most predators use ungulate carcasses as an alternative food supply, especially in winters when live preys are scarce. As important and localized resource patches, carrion promotes co-occurrence of different individuals, and its use by predators is likely to be affected by interspecific competition. Here, we studied how interspecific competition and resource availability impact winter use of carrion by Arctic and red foxes in low Arctic Fennoscandia. We predicted that presence of red foxes limits Arctic foxes' use of carrion, and that the outcome of competition for carrion depends on the availability of alternative food resources, such as rodents. We monitored Arctic and red fox presence at experimentally supplied carrion using camera traps, between 2006 and 2021 in late winter. Using a multi-species dynamic occupancy model at a week-to-week scale, we evaluated use of carrion by foxes, while accounting for the presence of competitors, rodent availability and supplemental feeding provided to Arctic foxes. Competition primarily affected carrion use by increasing both species' probability to leave occupied carcasses to a similar extent, suggesting a symmetrical avoidance. Rodent abundance was associated with an increase in the probability of colonizing carrion for both species. For Arctic foxes, however, this increase was only observed in carcasses unoccupied by red foxes, showing greater avoidance when alternative preys are available. Contrary to expectations, we did not find strong signs of asymmetric competition for carrion in winter. Our results suggest that interactions for resources at a short time scale are not necessarily aligned with interactions at the scale of the population. In addition, we found that competition for carcasses depends on the availability of other resources, suggesting that interactions between predators depend on the ecological context.

We present the first videos depicting the consumption of bats by rusty-spotted genets (Genetta maculata) inside a cave in the Republic of Congo. Following the implementation of a camera-trap monitoring protocol of interactions between cave bats and wildlife, we identified important genet activity in one of the caves in our study. Between 2022 and 2023, we recorded four events of bat or rodent consumption (including two with certainty on bats), one hunting attempt on bats and three feeding behaviors on insects. We detail the various behaviors and discuss the potential implications of genets consuming bats, rodents and insects, and in particular scavenging on dead bats. Finally, we address the potential implications of zoonotic pathogen transmission from bats to humans via genets through the bushmeat trade.

The wild African harlequin quails (Coturnix delegorguei delegorguei) of Western Kenya suffer from incessant hunting, habitat fragmentation, and the effects of climate change. These challenges, among others, have forced them to breed under intensive pressure, disrupting normal evolutionary processes. Here, we provide the first overview of the selection signatures in wild African harlequin quails using genotyping-by-sequencing information from 76 captured individuals. Additionally, 19 domestic Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were incorporated for comparative signatures of selection analysis between wild and domesticated quail species that undergo different selection pressures. Composite likelihood ratio test (CLR) and integrated haplotype score (iHS) methods were used to detect selection signatures. As a result, 252 and 424 candidate genes were detected in wild African harlequin and domestic Japanese quails, respectively, through the CLR test, whereas 150 and 457 candidate genes were identified through iHS. Some of the essential candidate genes identified in the wild African harlequin quail were associated with important traits such as immune response (MAPK13, MAPK14, CREB1, ITGB3, and PPP1CA) and morphological traits (WNT5A, GRIA1, CREB1, ADCY8, and ALK) whereas, in domestic Japanese quail, primarily production-related genes such as VIPR2, DYNLL2, COL6A3, MSX2, PRF1and GNA12 were identified. Our findings provide insights into the role of selection in shaping both wild and domestic quail genomes in terms of significant immune response, growth, reproduction, and morphological and behavioral traits.

Crop wild relatives provide a valuable resource for improving crops. They possess desirable traits that confer resilience to various environmental stresses. To fully utilize crop wild relatives in breeding and conservation programs, it is important to understand the genetic basis of their adaptation. Landscape genomics associates environments with genomic variation and allows for examining the genetic basis of adaptation. In this study, we applied landscape genomics to examine the differences in allele frequency of 15,416 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) among 153 accessions of wild eggplant relatives from Africa, the principal hot spot of these wild relatives. Further, we explored the correlation between these variations and the bio-climatic and soil conditions at their collection sites. Our results showed that the environment has a greater impact on the genetic variation in the eggplant wild relative populations compared to the geographical distances between collection sites while controlling for population structure. These findings indicate the relevance of the environment in shaping genetic variation in eggplant relatives over time. We detected 396 candidate SNPs associated with ten environmental factors by applying four genotype-environment association methods. Some of these SNPs signal genes involved in pathways that help with adaptation to environmental stresses such as drought, heat, cold, salinity, pests, and diseases. These candidate SNPs will be useful for marker-assisted improvement and characterizing the germplasm of this crop for developing climate-resilient eggplant varieties. The study provides a model for how we can apply landscape genomics to the wild relatives of other crops.

Here, we describe a Raspberry Pi-based camera system that is portable, robust, and weatherproof, with a close-up focus (2.5 cm). We show that this camera system can be used in remote locations with high rainfall and humidity. The camera has an Infrared LED light to film in dark places and can continuously record for 21 days. We also describe how to make concrete artificial shelters to mount the camera in. One of the great strengths of this shelter/camera setup is that the animals choose to take up residence and can then be filmed for extended periods with no disturbance. Furthermore, we give examples of how shelters and cameras could be used to film a range of behaviours in many small cryptic amphibian species, but also other small vertebrates and invertebrates globally.

1: Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) revolutionises ecological research, utilizing sounds for species-specific inferences. However, PAM generates large volumes of data, posing challenges in annotation, classification, and review complexity, necessitating efficient data management strategies. 2: Given this particular need, this research aimed to improve the performance of a pattern-matching algorithm for detecting signals of interest in two nocturnal bird species. The study pursued two main objectives: first, to evaluate various similarity scores and determine the optimum one through a sensitivity-specificity analysis. Second, we investigate potential relationships between species-specific spectral features, such as high, low, and peak frequencies, and the algorithm’s performance by reviewing and comparing their dispersion with a Levene test. 3: The outcomes demonstrated a generally favorable algorithm performance, achieving up to 80% sensitivity and specificity. This underscores its effectiveness in identifying target signals. Our investigation indicated that factors like individuality, which could be reflect on the spectral features, could potentially impact the algorithm’s efficacy. 4: ARBIMON provides transformative collaborative solutions in the field of bioacoustics. However, additional research is imperative to fully grasp the performance and potential applications of such tools. This exploration extends beyond ARBIMON to encompass the burgeoning technologies within the discipline.

Impacts of long-term fertilization and cultivation were evaluated on nematode communities associated with tall fescue turfgrass following 11 years of treatment applications. Fertilizer treatments of biosolid, synthetic, and plant-based fertilizers and cultivation treatments of 0x, 1x, and 2x aerification passes were applied to randomized and replicated tall fescue plots at the University of Maryland Paint Branch Turfgrass facility in College Park, Maryland. Free-living and plant-parasitic nematodes were identified, enumerated, and categorized into functional groups. Nematode count data were compared using generalized linear mixed modeling with negative binomial distribution and two-way ANOVA was used to compare nematode ecological indices. Biosolid treatments resulted in lower omnivore-predator densities than plant-based fertilizer treatments (P≤0.001) and significantly greater Hoplolaimus densities than plant-based fertilizer plots (P≤0.05). Synthetic fertilizer applications resulted in the greatest Eucephalobus (P≤0.05) and total bacterivore densities (P≤0.001) of all fertilizer treatments. Plant-based fertilizer treated plots had the largest Structure Index (P≤0.05). Cultivation of 1x resulted in fewer total bacterivore densities than 2x (P≤0.01) while omnivore-predator densities were greater in 1x than 0x (P≤0.001). Plant health, as measured by NDVI, was lowest in biosolid treated turfgrass (P≤0.05). These findings suggest that long-term turfgrass management practices can have variable impacts on nematode abundance and community structure in tall fescue and provide insights into ecological impacts of turfgrass management practices.

1. Many plants compensate for the damage caused by herbivorous insects through tolerance responses. Besides directly causing plant tissue loss and seed production reduction, herbivory causes phenological changes in the host plant. However, little is known about the fitness costs of phenological changes caused by tolerance responses to herbivorous attacks. 2. The girdling beetle Phytoecia rufiventris caused a short-term decrease in the number of flowers of the host plant Erigeron annuus. However, accelerated growth restored the number of flowers, but after a 2-week delay. With an objective to examine whether the tolerance response with such a delay fully compensates the fitness, we experimentally reproduced a 2-week delay in germination under greenhouse and field settings. Under both conditions, intraspecific competition resulted in serious defects in the growth and reproduction of E. annuus plants which of germination was delayed. However, delayed germination resulted in better growth when competition and herbivory were eliminated from the field. 3. Thus, we showed that the tolerance response to restore reproductive production does not fully compensate for the fitness loss caused by insect attack; rather, the delay in seed production in attacked plants leads to delayed germination and subsequent inferiority in intraspecific competition. 4. Synthesis. Our results imply that compensation for floral production after an herbivore attack does not fully restore offspring fitness in the presence of intraspecific competition and herbivory. Assessing the ecological consequences of defense traits in an appropriate layer of interaction is critical to interpreting adaptive values.

Aim Large-scale banana production in Zimbabwe is confined to agro-ecological zone 1, although other regions have managed to produce to a limited extent. This is mainly because of the favourable climatic conditions for banana growth found in this region. Across Zimbabwe, there are zones that can be modified to mimic climatic conditions in agro-ecological zone one. Therefore the aim of the research was to find suitable area that supports banana optimal growth. Location Zimbabwe Time period 36 months Major taxa studied Plantae, Magnoliophyta, Liliopsida, Zingiberales, Musaceae, Musa Methods In this study, new potential production areas were prospected using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt). The data output was mapped in ArcGIS. An average of training and test Area Under Curve of 0.9380 and 0.976 respectively with a standard deviation of 0.03 was achieved after 10 replication trials. Results The Area Under Curve was represented by showing sensitivity on the y-axis and 1-specificity on the x-axis for all potential thresholds. Based on the bioclimatic data, the outputted model showed Area Under Curve values greater than 0.9 indicating a good prediction ability. Distinction of suitable areas from unsuitable areas was established using an automatic generated threshold. Low suitable areas ranged from 0-0.46, medium suitable areas ranged from 0.46-0.77 and high suitable areas ranged from 0.77-1. Potential production areas lied in the medium range due to a number of factors. An approximate total of 4757.112 km2 was found to be suitable for banana expansion in Zimbabwe and this equates to over USD $ 1,813,715.9844 billion dollars annually in net profit. Main conclusion The major environmental factors affecting banana distribution in Zimbabw were found to be precipitation and temperature therefore irrigation schemes in suitable areas that has water bodies could be of great help towards banana production expansion. Keywords: banana production ,Maxent, GIS, species distribution models

Insects perform the greatest part of pollination services (Winfree et al., 2011) and insects native to a given habitat can play an irreplaceable ecological role in food webs and plant reproduction (Travis & Kohn, 2023; Pelmyr, et al., 1996; Suarez, et al.,2000). With precipitous declines in insect species over the last decades, it is urgent to document insect assemblages in native plant communities to support conservation efforts. Identifying pollinators and their pollination activity is challenging; emerging methods involve the use of camera traps (Droissart, et al., 2021). In this study, we compare the accuracy of two different methods of monitoring to produce insect assemblage of Encinitas Baccharis (Baccharis vanessae): focal observations and video recordings from camera traps. B. vanessae is a rare, endemic species found in Coastal Sage Scrub communities in San Diego County (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2021). This federally listed species is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, which may also be affecting the availability of its insect pollinators (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2011). Preliminary results indicate that B. vanessae supports a variety of flower-visiting insect guilds and is in turn supported by diverse pollinators. While focal observations underreported insect activity by approximately half, the proportions of common diurnal visitors were similar with both methods. Camera traps were unable to provide sufficient detail to discern visually similar guilds, but were able to record nocturnal insect activity, which was dominated by moths (Lepidoptera, 82%). While collection protocol in this study did not record the time an insect spent interacting with a flower, moths spent notably longer periods in contact with flowers than most diurnal insects. This study has implications for the effective monitoring of endangered plant species and their affiliated pollinators.

In root-nodule symbioses (RNS) between nitrogen (N) fixing bacteria and plants, bacterial symbionts cycle between nodule-inhabiting and soil-inhabiting niches that exert differential selection pressures on bacterial traits. Little is known about how the resulting evolutionary tension between host plants and symbiotic bacteria structures naturally occurring bacterial assemblages in soils. We used DNA cloning to examine soil-dwelling assemblages of the actinorhizal symbiont Frankia in sites with long-term stable assemblages in Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia nodules. We compared: 1) phylogenetic diversity of Frankia in soil vs. nodules, 2) change in Frankia assemblages in soil vs. nodules in response to environmental variation: both across succession, and in response to long-term fertilization with N and phosphorus, and 3) soil assemblages in the presence and absence of host plants. Phylogenetic diversity was much greater in soil-dwelling than nodule-dwelling assemblages, and fell into two large clades not previously observed. Presence of host plants was associated with enhanced representation of genotypes specific to A. tenuifolia, and decreased representation of genotypes specific to a second Alnus species. The relative proportion of symbiotic sequence groups across a primary chronosequence was similar in both soil and nodule assemblages. Contrary to expectations, both N and P enhanced symbiotic genotypes relative to non-symbiotic ones. Our results provide a rare set of field observations against which predictions from theoretical and experimental work in the evolutionary ecology of RNS can be compared.

1) Clustering is indispensable in the quest for robust vegetation classification schemes which aim to partition continua to summarise and communicate pattern. However, clustering solutions are sensitive to methods and data and are therefore unstable, a feature which is usually attributed to noise. Viewed through a central-tendency lens, noise is defined as the degree of departure from type, which is problematic since vegetation types are abstractions of continua and so noise can only be quantified relative to a particular solution to hand. Graph theory models the structure of vegetation data based on the interconnectivity of samples. Through a graph-theoretic lens, the causes of instability can be quantified in absolute terms via the degree of connectivity among objects. 2) We simulated incremental increases in sampling intensity in a dataset over five iterations and assessed classification stability across successive solutions derived using algorithms implementing, respectively, models of central-tendency and interconnectivity. We used logistic regression to model the likelihood of a sample changing groups between iterations as a function of distance to centroid and degree of interconnectivity. 3) Our results show that the degree to which samples are interconnected is a more powerful predictor of instability than the degree to which they deviate from their nearest centroid. The removal of weakly interconnected samples resulted in more stable classifications, although solutions with many clusters were apparently inherently less stable than those with few clusters, and improvements in stability flowing from the removal of outliers declined as the number of clusters increased. 4) Our results reinforce the fact that clusters abstracted from continuous data are inherently unstable, and that the quest for stable, fine-scale classifications from large regional datasets is illusory. Nevertheless, our results show that using models better suited to the analysis of continuous data may yield more stable classifications of the available data.

Colour polymorphism can be maintained by colour morph-specific benefits across environmental conditions. Currently, the amount and duration of snow cover during winter decreases especially in northern latitudes, which can alter the potential for camouflage of animals with light and dark morphs. Tawny owls, Strix aluco, are colour polymorphic avian predators with dark (brown) and light (grey) colour morphs, where the grey morph is presumed to enjoy camouflage benefits under snowy conditions. We studied the two tawny owls’ morphs’ camouflage potential using passerines’ probability to detect and mob in the wild during spring, autumn, and winter with and without snow. We find that grey tawny owls are both less likely to be detected and have a lower probability of being mobbed compared to brown tawny owls only during snowy winters. The two colour morphs therefore experience differential benefits across snow conditions, which may help to maintain colour morphs in the population, although further warming of winter climate will reduce the potential for camouflage for grey tawny owls in northern latitudes.

The Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) is an internationally significant biodiversity hot-spot area located in the Bale eco-region, south-eastern highlands of Ethiopia. In spite of its huge ecological importance, however, habitat degradation takes place at an alarming rate at different agro-climatic zones and poses a severe threat to the survival of most species. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of agro-climatic variation on floristic composition and structure and exploring the human-induced factors responsible for the change in the ecosystems of the park. Sampling sites were selected by means of purposive sampling to represent a wide range of agro-climatic zones. A total of 144 sampling plots covering an area of 5.76 ha were established on twelve parallel transect lines that were laid along the three altitudinal gradient with four replications to draw representative vegetation data. Mean species comparison across agro-climatic zones was determined using one-way ANOVA and significant differences were reported at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05). Result show that oth species richness (76) and mean DBH of woody species (49.63 ± 1.34 cm) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the sub-moist mid highland than cold humid afro-alpine zone (29), and in the cool moist mid highlands (31 and 44.50 ± 1.42 cm, respectively). Similarly, the density of seedling, sapling, and mature trees were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the sub-moist mid highland compared to the density in the cool moist mid highlands (3000–3400 m a.s.l). The study concludes that the sub-moist mid-highland harbors most species and has trees with higher DBH which requires protection against ecological degradation due to human activities. The higher altitude such as the cold humid afro-alpine zone is ecologically fragile and needs a comprehensive natural resource management strategy that combines the restoration and protection of natural ecosystem.

Acoustic communication in animals can be affected by multiple biotic (intra and interspecific) and abiotic (e.g., wind and rain) natural noises. In addition, human beings produce additional novel sources of noise, which can reduce or inhibit the reception of acoustic signals by conspecifics, leading to behavioral changes. In this study, we investigated whether sound of conspecifics and road noise additively affect the acoustic parameters of the advertisement call of males of a Yellow Heart-tongued Frog (Phyllodytes luteolus). We hypothesized that males that vocalize in larger choruses (many males) and in areas close to highways (anthropic noise) will increase their temporal and spectral acoustic parameters, respectively, to avoid acoustic signal masking. We recorded the vocalizations of 38 males in environments close (N=18) to and distant (N=20) from highways in different social contexts (many or few individuals in the chorus). Contrary to our expectation, the results indicated that individuals exposed to road noise had lower dominant frequency calls than those from natural areas, and that the density of males in the chorus had no influence on the acoustic parameters. Furthermore, we found a positive relationship between body size and intensity, indicating that larger individuals can emit calls that can reach greater distances. The advertisement call of Phyllodytes luteolus has a high dominant frequency, with little overlap with the frequency of anthropic noises (roads), which may explain its presence and reproductive success of this species in bromeliads from urbanized areas.

Wildlife monitoring is a crucial component of conservation management, with reliable field surveys being important for trend analysis and population viability modelling. Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, are rapidly supplanting manned aircraft for aerial wildlife counts. Here we investigated and compared the impacts of drone presence on two large terrestrial mammals from Tasmania, Australia—Bennett’s wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus), and Forester kangaroo (Macropus giganteus tasmaniensis) —using a commercial quadcopter model: DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Further, a ground bird, the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), was used as a model organism to further investigate behavioural responses of ‘aerial aware’ species to drones. We found that M. giganteus tasmaniensis and N. rufogriseus started to exhibit noticeable changes in behaviour, including evasion, when the drone motor sound exceeded ~50 decibels (dB) as heard from the ground (at flight altitudes of 30 – 50 m). At lower sound levels (48 dB and below, above 50 m), the animal’s response was minimal. The response of G. gallus domesticus to the drone was remarkably similar to that of the Macropus species, despite the species generally being more susceptible to, and instinctively vigilant against drone-sized aerial predators such as raptors. This study has established the baseline information required to understand the limits of drone operations, in terms of target disturbance, for macropod surveys.

Fallback foods (FBF), classified into staple and filler types, are low-quality food resources chosen by animals due to a shortage of preferred food during a specific period. The selection of lichens as FBF for Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti) represents a unique ecological adaptation and evolutionary development in the animal kingdom. This study investigates the yearly dietary selection of five R. bieti groups to address the issues and elucidate the nutritional value and ecological selection of lichens for this monkey species, which resides at the highest altitude among nonhuman primates. The results indicate that the consumed lichens serve as the staple FBF. Two main lichen species taken by the monkeys are Bryoria spp. and Usnea longissimi, with Bryoria spp. being the primary choice (67.25 ± 12.20% compared to 15.79 ± 11.66% from U. longissimi). Bryoria spp. provides a higher level of digestible fiber (NDF) and a lower level of tannin, fat, ADF, and energy compared to U. longissimi, which offers higher availability. Lichens are the dominant food and nutritional resource for the monkey species during the dry season, while they serve as a primary food source rather than a nutritional resource during the wet season. Therefore, they compensate for nutrients from other food types, such as fruits, seeds, and leaves. Compared to other Asian colobine counterparts, this species consumes the highest amount of lichens but the lowest proportions of leaves, flowers, and seeds. This dietary pattern demonstrates a specific type of ecological selection and evolutionary development during the Quaternary. The biomass of lichens in the monkeys’ habitat has significantly decreased due to environmental degradation. This study also provides evidence and information to develop or amend conservation strategies and guidelines for the dietary management of captive Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys.

Harvest-based Initiatives (HBI) are local communities’ responsible use of wildlife resources to raise living standards and reduce unlawful activities in protected areas. It includes fishing, beekeeping, local hunting, and other resources. Although it has the potential for conservation and supporting livelihoods, it is not well-known in some areas of Tanzania. This study examines the implementation and management of HBI in the Ugalla game reserve and the challenges it encounters to ensure the sustainable utilisation of wildlife resources. We gathered data from 141 trade union members using a semi-structured questionnaire pre-tested with 30 members. Data collected included general characteristics, criteria for joining a union, participation in HBI, and challenges faced. We performed a reliability analysis test and a validity check to ensure the questionnaires are trustworthy and the data collected was accurate. Descriptive data were analysed using percentages, and the Chi-square test (X2) and generalised linear model were used to determine differences and factors affecting community decision-making satisfaction. Qualitative data from professional and trade union leaders were analysed using content analysis. Results showed significant involvement of trade union members in decision-making and a strong correlation between membership and satisfaction. Challenges faced included corruption, closing fishing camps, poaching, change of game reserve managers, hunting companies, and awareness of game reserve laws. Local communities set conditions for HBI participation and exclude those without legal access to wildlife resources. If there are any issues regarding the practice, then they are addressed through negotiation between the trade union and the game management. Additionally, groups that share the same ethnicity tend to adhere to established norms, taboos, traditions, and historical practices in managing wildlife resources to sustain the well-being of their local communities. Therefore, regulations are needed for local communities’ use of resources in protected areas for their livelihoods and support of conservation