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A tri‐axial acceleration‐based behaviour template for translocated birds: the case of the Asian houbara bustard
Understanding the behaviours and time budgets of translocated animals post‐release has the potential to improve rearing and release protocols, and therefore survival rate. Otididae (bustards) inhabit open landscapes across the Middle East and Asia, are highly mobile on the ground and have similar lifestyles and body plans. The Asian houbara Chlamydotis macqueenii is a bustard of conservation concern inhabiting the Middle East to Central Asia and is frequently reared in captivity for population management. We deployed tri‐axial accelerometers on 20 captive Asian houbaras in two seasons to catalogue basic behaviours, provide a template applicable to other bustard species and examine seasonal differences in behaviour. We created Boolean algorithms to define the following behaviours using raw acceleration data and derived metrics: stationary, eating/drinking and locomotion. We used video recordings to cross‐validate the algorithms, yielding recalls from 95 to 97%, and precisions between 97 and 98%. Houbaras spent significantly more time ‘stationary' and less time on ‘locomotion' in summer (June) compared to spring (March). Simple Boolean algorithms proved useful in identifying several behaviours and have the potential to be applicable to other bustard species, in captivity and in the wild post‐release. Keywords: accelerometer, animal behaviour, Asian houbara bustard, captive breeding, conservation translocation
Journal Article
Vegan is love : having heart and taking action
Outlines what can be done to protect animals and the environment by making such decisions as refusing products tested on or made from animals, avoiding aquariums and zoos, and choosing to buy organic food.
Book
Assessing evolutionary processes over time in a conservation breeding program: a combined approach using molecular data, simulations and pedigree analysis
Captive breeding for conservation is widely used to prevent extinction, however these programs face many challenges due to small population size, founder effects, lack of migration and potential adaptation to captivity. Together these influence how selection, genetic drift and gene flow shape the genetic makeup of small populations, so examining these in a captive setting is valuable for appropriate biodiversity management. We have quantified the effects of selection, drift and gene flow in 503 individuals across five generations from the Tasmanian devil insurance population. To determine whether different processes were acting in different settings, we separately analysed animals housed under individual-based management, versus those that were released to an island site. We found that a greater proportion of alleles were lost over time in the smaller island population than in captivity and propose that genetic drift is the most likely process influencing this result. We found that the captive population became more heterozygous over time, while the island population stayed constant. Our molecular measure of inbreeding found a decrease over generations in captivity that is not captured by pedigree-based analysis. As management of breeding interactions only takes place in the captive population, our results are consistent with gene flow through managed breeding in captivity minimising inbreeding over time. Gene flow was also evident through changes to population structure in the captive population. Our findings serve as an example of how conservation managers can assess the impact of evolutionary processes on managed populations and adapt management practices if required.
Journal Article
In silico analyses of the genomes of three new bacteriocin-producing bacteria isolated from animal’s faeces
Here, we have analysed and explored the genome sequences of three newly isolated bacteria that were recently characterised for their probiotic activities and ability to produce bacteriocins. These strains, isolated from faeces of animals living in captivity at the zoological garden of Lille (France), are Escherichia coli ICVB443, Enterococcus faecalis ICVB501 and Pediococcus pentosaceus ICVB491. Their genomes have been analysed and compared to those of their pathogenic or probiotic counterparts. The genome analyses of E. coli ICVB443 and Ent. faecalis ICVB501 displayed similarities to those of probiotics E. coli 1917 Nissle, and Ent. faecalis Symbioflor 1, respectively. Furthermore, E. coli ICVB443 shares at least 89 genes with the enteroaggregative E. coli 55989 (EAEC), and Ent. faecalis ICVB501 shares at least 315 genes with the pathogenic Ent. faecalis V583 strain. Unlike Ped. pentosaceus ICVB491, which is devoid of virulence genes, E. coli ICVB443 and Ent. faecalis ICVB501 both carry genes encoding virulence factors on their genomes. Of note, the bioinformatics analysis of these two genomes located the bsh gene, which codes for bile salt hydrolase (BSH). The presence of BSH is of major importance, as it can help to increase the viability of these two strains in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The genome analysis of Ped. pentosaceus ICVB491 confirmed its GRAS status (Generally Recognised As Safe), as no genomic virulence factor determinant was found.
Journal Article
Cranial morphology of captive mammals: a meta-analysis
Background
Captive facilities such as zoos are uniquely instrumental in conservation efforts. To fulfill their potential as bastions for conservation, zoos must preserve captive populations as appropriate proxies for their wild conspecifics; doing so will help to promote successful reintroduction efforts. Morphological changes within captive populations may be detrimental to the fitness of individual animals because these changes can influence functionality; thus, it is imperative to understand the breadth and depth of morphological changes occurring in captive populations. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis of scientific literature reporting comparisons of cranial measures between captive and wild populations of mammals. We investigate the pervasiveness of cranial differences and whether cranial morphological changes are associated with ecological covariates specific to individual species, such as trophic level, dietary breadth, and home range size.
Results
Cranial measures of skull length, skull width, and the ratio of skull length-to-width differed significantly between many captive and wild populations of mammals reported in the literature. Roughly half of captive populations differed from wild populations in at least one cranial measure, although the degree of changes varied. Carnivorous species with a limited dietary breadth displayed the most consistent changes associated with skull widening. Species with a more generalized diet displayed less morphological changes in captivity.
Conclusions
Wild and captive populations of mammals differed in cranial morphology, but the nature and magnitude of their cranial differences varied considerably across taxa. Although changes in cranial morphology occur in captivity, specific changes cannot be generalized for all captive mammal populations. The nature of cranial changes in captivity may be specific to particular taxonomic groups; thus, it may be possible to establish expectations across smaller taxonomic units, or even disparate groups that utilize their cranial morphology in a similar way. Given that morphological changes occurring in captive environments like zoos have the potential to limit reintroduction success, our results call for a critical evaluation of current captive husbandry practices to prevent unnecessary morphological changes.
Journal Article
Unusual formation of air bubbles in the arms of the California two-spot octopus, Octopus bimaculatus Verrill, 1883 during handling in captivity
Octopus bimaculatus from Bahia de Los Angeles, Baja California, Mexico, is a poorly known species which sustains a commercial fishery and has aquaculture potential in the Mexican Northwest. We are currently conducting research aimed at recording the pathogens and diseases that affect O. bimaculatus in the wild and captivity. In this context, six female octopuses were collected by traps in February 2022 from Bahia de Los Angeles fishery and held in captivity in flow-through system. After 26 days in captivity, air bubbles in the arms and mantle of one female were observed. This first case occurred when the female was transferred to a temporary shelter to allow routine cleaning of tanks. Air bubbles persisted for 24 h, and spawning started during this time. Air bubbles were again observed in two females after 62 days in captivity during handling to anaesthetise the octopuses for biological sampling. In this case, air bubbles disappeared while the anaesthesia was taking effect. Bacterial infection and gas bubble diseases were ruled out as potential causes; air bubbles were not associated with biochemical changes in the haemolymph of affected specimens. To our knowledge, this is the first report of air bubbles in the epidermis of a cephalopod species. Thus, air bubbles appeared in three females of O. bimaculatus during handling. This anomalous result points to the need to further investigate species-specific physiological and behavioural responses to stress caused by handling, allowing assessment of animal health and wellbeing of cephalopod species in captivity.
Journal Article