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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Avian Jurisprudence And The Protection Of Migratory Birds In North America, Marshall A. Bowen Aug 2018

Avian Jurisprudence And The Protection Of Migratory Birds In North America, Marshall A. Bowen

St. Mary's Law Journal

Abstract forthcoming


Plants And Their Uses; How Communities Of Tolipir, Pakistan Get Benefit, Abu Ul Hassan Faiz, Mehboob Ul Hassan, Fida Muhammad Khan, Lariab Zahra Faiz, Hina Farooq Jul 2018

Plants And Their Uses; How Communities Of Tolipir, Pakistan Get Benefit, Abu Ul Hassan Faiz, Mehboob Ul Hassan, Fida Muhammad Khan, Lariab Zahra Faiz, Hina Farooq

Journal of Bioresource Management

The present study documented ethnobotanical uses of 156 plant species belonged to 93 genera and 51 families listed from five villages of Tolipir landscape (Ali Sojhal, Kanchi Kot, Khori Chana, Kahoo Kot and Noor Kot villages). Study revealed that most of the species were used medicinally, leaves found to be the most frequently used part, for preparation of indigenous recipes and fodder purpose. The current study empirically contributes a huge chunk of ethnobotanical knowledge and depicts its strong connection with indigenous traditions. It is an urgent need to document indigenous uses of plants for future domestication.


Checklist Of Bats In Some Areas Of Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Fakhra Nazir, Inayatullah Malik, Sabiha Shamim May 2018

Checklist Of Bats In Some Areas Of Azad Jammu And Kashmir, Fakhra Nazir, Inayatullah Malik, Sabiha Shamim

Journal of Bioresource Management

Bats form an essential part of the ecosystem by aiding pollination, keeping insect pests in check and overall maybe helpful as indicators of health status of the ecosystem. This study was conducted to formulate a checklist of bats from different regions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Five National parks from Azad Jammu and Kashmir were surveyed for the species of bats present (Dhirkot National Park, Pir Lasura National Park, Pir Chanasi National Park, Banjosa National Park and Tolipir National Park). From the study conducted, 10 species of bats belonging to 5 families were found cumulatively in the five national parks.


When Extinction Is More Ethical Than Conservation: The Endangered Species Act And The Keystone Dilemma, Miranda F. Thomas Feb 2018

When Extinction Is More Ethical Than Conservation: The Endangered Species Act And The Keystone Dilemma, Miranda F. Thomas

Exigence

This paper examines how the Endangered Species Act's measures to protect endangered species have resulted in increased rates of extinction. The author summarizes the concept of endangered keystone species and explains the processes and operations of the environmental legislation enacted to protect the species. The paper discusses the harmful consequences that certain laws have had on both species and humans, such as misappropriating resources to species that are not as endangered as others, and abusing regulations in manners that punish people for conservation efforts. By examining opposing arguments that favor increased regulation, this paper explains through data from leading academic …


Insect (Arthropoda: Insecta) Composition In The Diet Of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene Ornata Ornata) In Two Western Illinois Sand Prairies, With A New State Record For Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Reese J. Worthington, E. R. Sievers, D. B. Ligon, P. K. Lago Feb 2018

Insect (Arthropoda: Insecta) Composition In The Diet Of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene Ornata Ornata) In Two Western Illinois Sand Prairies, With A New State Record For Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Reese J. Worthington, E. R. Sievers, D. B. Ligon, P. K. Lago

The Great Lakes Entomologist

A study of fecal samples collected over a two-year period from juvenile ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz) revealed diets consisting of six orders of insects representing 19 families. Turtles were reared in captivity from eggs harvested from local, wild populations, and released at two remnant prairies. Identifiable insect fragments were found in 94% of samples in 2013 (n=33) and 96% in 2014 (n=25). Frequency of occurrence of insects in turtle feces is similar to results reported in previous studies of midwestern Terrapene species. A comparison of insect composition presented no significant difference between release sites. There is …


Livestock Depredation By Bengal Tigers At Fringe Areas Of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam, India: Implications For Large Carnivore Conservation, Jimmy Borah, Pranab Jyoti Bora, Amit Sharma, Soumen Dey, Anupam Sarmah, Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Nadisha Sidhu Jan 2018

Livestock Depredation By Bengal Tigers At Fringe Areas Of Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Assam, India: Implications For Large Carnivore Conservation, Jimmy Borah, Pranab Jyoti Bora, Amit Sharma, Soumen Dey, Anupam Sarmah, Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Nadisha Sidhu

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) have cohabited with humans in India for centuries. However, with increasing human populations, human-tiger conflicts (HTC) have increased. Impacts of such conflicts are loss of human life, livestock depredations and retaliatory killings of tigers. Considering that Bengal tiger populations are in decline throughout their range, accurate information regarding the magnitude of the impacts of HTC is needed for tiger conservation. We analysed livestock depredation data collected over three years (April 2008 through March 2011) from villages near the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (KTR) to determine impacts of HTC. During the study period, we documented 518 …


Can The Vaquita Be Saved From Extinction?, Gerardo Rodríguez-Quiroz, Wenceslao Valenzuela-Quiñonez, Héctor A. González-Ocampo, Alfredo Ortega-Rubio Jan 2018

Can The Vaquita Be Saved From Extinction?, Gerardo Rodríguez-Quiroz, Wenceslao Valenzuela-Quiñonez, Héctor A. González-Ocampo, Alfredo Ortega-Rubio

Human–Wildlife Interactions

The vaquita (Phocoena sinus) is considered the world’s most endangered marine mammal. It is the smallest member of the porpoise family endemic to the upper part of the Gulf of California. The current population is estimated at less than 30 individuals. The primary reasons for the species decline includes limited habitat and incidental mortalities associated with illegal gillnet fishing activities. Since 2008, the Mexican government has taken environmental and economic actions to protect the vaquita’s focusing in reducing by-catch deaths to zero. In 2015, a federal Agreement decreed by the Secretaría de Agricultura, Ganadería, Desarrollo Rural, Pesca y …


Cooperative Conservation To Enhance Human–Wildlife Interactions, Terry A. Messmer Jan 2018

Cooperative Conservation To Enhance Human–Wildlife Interactions, Terry A. Messmer

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is the editors commentary


Engaging People In Nature Stewardship Through Master Naturalist Programs, Mark Larese-Casanova, Michelle Prysby Jan 2018

Engaging People In Nature Stewardship Through Master Naturalist Programs, Mark Larese-Casanova, Michelle Prysby

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Master Naturalist programs across the country have reconnected Americans with nature for >20 years. Research suggests that reconnecting humans with nature benefits personal health and wellness, educates stakeholders about the importance of conservation, and enhances individual participation in stewardship efforts. Nationally, the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs coordinates and supports Master Naturalist programs through facilitating collaboration and sharing of resources, as well as organizing an annual conference. We explore the Virginia Master Naturalist and Utah Master Naturalist programs as 2 examples of different, but highly effective, statewide programs to highlight the diversity of Master Naturalist programs. The …


Lessons Learned From A 20-Year Collaborative Study On American Black Bears, Jon P. Beckmann, Carl W. Lackey Jan 2018

Lessons Learned From A 20-Year Collaborative Study On American Black Bears, Jon P. Beckmann, Carl W. Lackey

Human–Wildlife Interactions

In the 1980s, black bears (Ursus americanus) began expanding into historic habitats in northwestern Nevada, USA. Over a period of >30 years, black bears recolonized areas where human populations have also increased. Our research represents one of, if not the longest-running and earliest comparative studies of a black bear population at wildland–urban interface and wildland areas in North America. As the population increased, we observed: 1) increasing human–bear conflicts in areas where several generations of people had lived in almost total absence of bears (70–80+ years); 2) changes in attitudes by the public toward bears and in the …


Clarifying The Range Of The Endangered Largetooth Sawfish In The United States, Jason C. Seitz, John D. Waters Jan 2018

Clarifying The Range Of The Endangered Largetooth Sawfish In The United States, Jason C. Seitz, John D. Waters

Gulf and Caribbean Research

The United States population of the endangered Largetooth Sawfish (Pristis pristis) has a high probability of extinction. It is critical to identify areas with valid historical records as these areas may be important to the recovery of the species. The U.S. range is reported to extend as far east as Florida based on one vouchered specimen and 3 historical records from this state. Three of these reports presume a local capture location despite a lack of locality data. The vouchered specimen was presumed captured in southern Florida, but evidence suggests otherwise. Dried specimens observed in Florida were most likely imported …


Why Do We Want To Think Humans Are Different?, Colin A. Chapman, Michael A. Huffman Jan 2018

Why Do We Want To Think Humans Are Different?, Colin A. Chapman, Michael A. Huffman

Animal Sentience

One harmful consequence of creating categories where one group is unique and superior to others is that it justifies committing negative, often atrocious, acts on the members of the inferior group. Correcting divisive human categorizations (racial superiority, gender superiority) has bettered society. Scholars have often claimed that humans are unique and superior to nonhuman animals. These claims need to be reevaluated. Many have already been refuted. Animals have been shown to outperform humans in many tasks, including cognitive ones. Here we raise the question: Has the false sense of superiority been used to justify human cruelty to animals?


Monitoring An Endangered And Rare Plant: Population Growth And Viability Oflotus Kunkelii (Esteve) Bramwell And Davis (Gran Canaria - Canary Islands), Agustin Naranjo Cigala, Marcos Salas, Francisco Javier Diaz, Aday Miguel Gonzalez-Garcia, Ana Ramos, Jose Ramon Arevalo Sierra Jan 2018

Monitoring An Endangered And Rare Plant: Population Growth And Viability Oflotus Kunkelii (Esteve) Bramwell And Davis (Gran Canaria - Canary Islands), Agustin Naranjo Cigala, Marcos Salas, Francisco Javier Diaz, Aday Miguel Gonzalez-Garcia, Ana Ramos, Jose Ramon Arevalo Sierra

Turkish Journal of Botany

Species monitoring is a valuable tool that can be used to answer a wide range of questions directly related to species conservation, management, and population improvement. We monitored the only remaining population of Lotus kunkelii on a monthly basis over 3 years to reveal important characteristics of the population that could help protect it. In this study, the main hypothesis to be tested is whether the population of L. kunkelii is stable or not. The study site is located in Gran Canaria. Monthly censuses of the population recording size (height and diameter), mortality, regeneration, and presence of reproductive structures in …


Habitat Effects And Differences In The Reproductive Success Oforchis Punctulata And Orchis Purpurea (Orchidaceae), Spyros Tsiftsis, Vladan Djordjevic Jan 2018

Habitat Effects And Differences In The Reproductive Success Oforchis Punctulata And Orchis Purpurea (Orchidaceae), Spyros Tsiftsis, Vladan Djordjevic

Turkish Journal of Botany

The pollination success of two nonrewarding orchids in two coarse habitats was examined. The comparative results of Orchis punctulata and O. purpurea showed a significant differentiation. The fruit set of O. purpurea was significantly greater compared to O. punctulata, whereas both species also had significantly higher fruit set in the grassland compared to the forest. Although the pollination success of O. purpurea was not significantly correlated with plant height, inflorescence size, or nearest neighbor distance, these factors were found to be significantly correlated to the pollination success of O. punctulata. Among these factors, the nearest neighbor distance had the highest …


Distribution, Density, And Important Hotspots Of Krüper?S Nuthatch Sitta Krueperi In Turkey And Lesvos Island, Greece, Tamer Albayrak, Ali̇ Erdoğan Jan 2018

Distribution, Density, And Important Hotspots Of Krüper?S Nuthatch Sitta Krueperi In Turkey And Lesvos Island, Greece, Tamer Albayrak, Ali̇ Erdoğan

Turkish Journal of Zoology

Atlas projects and phylogeographic studies provide detailed information of great value on key species; distribution maps of the species are the primary input for establishing hotspots, conservation, and management plans. Krüper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi) is endemic to Anatolia, Lesvos Island, and the Caucasus region. We surveyed more than 1400 point counts in Turkey and Greece, covering most of its global distribution in its potential habitat, coniferous forestland, during the breeding season. The geographical information system was used for preparing the distribution maps and depicting the hotspots for Krüper?s Nuthatch. The population density of Krüper?s Nuthatch in all of Turkey was …