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Engaging Crisis: Immersive, Interdisciplinary Learning In Mathematics And Rhetoric, Meredith L. Greer, Stephanie Kelley-Romano

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This paper describes an interdisciplinary activity that crosses over between Mathematics and Rhetoric. The professors who created this activity both sought active-learning opportunities for their students, a sense of realism--even urgency--in what can otherwise be perceived as abstract material, and a meaningful liberal arts experience. Evidence of the power of this experience is seen in the media coverage, both from our college and from the Portland Press Herald newspaper. Both courses described in this paper are at the elective level, taken by majors or minors in their respective disciplines. Students have moderate to extensive backgrounds in their subject areas. However, …

Combating Tuberculosis: Using Time-Dependent Sensitivity Analysis To Develop Strategies For Treatment And Prevention, Kendall B. Clark, Mayleen Cortez, Cristian Hernandez, Beth E. Thomas, Allison L. Lewis

Spora: A Journal of Biomathematics

Although many organizations throughout the world have worked tirelessly to control tuberculosis (TB) epidemics, no country has yet been able to eradicate the disease completely. We present two compartmental models representing the spread of a TB epidemic through a population. The first is a general TB model; the second is an adaptation for regions in which HIV is prevalent, accounting for the effects of TB/HIV co-infection. Using active subspaces, we conduct time-dependent sensitivity analysis on both models to explore the significance of certain parameters with respect to the spread of TB. We use the results of this sensitivity analysis to …

Contact Rates With Nesting Birds Before And After Invasive Snake Removal: Estimating The Effects Of Trap-Based Control, Amy A. Yackel Adams, Melia G. Nafus, Page E. Klug, Björn Lardner, M.J. Mazurek, Julie A. Savidge, Robert N. Reed

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Invasive predators are responsible for almost 60% of all vertebrate extinctions worldwide with the most vulnerable faunas occurring on islands. The brown treesnake (Boiga irregularis) is a notorious invasive predator that caused the extirpation or extinction of most native forest birds on Guam. The success of avian reintroduction efforts on Guam will depend on whether snake-control techniques sufficiently reduce contact rates between brown treesnakes and reintroduced birds. Mouse-lure traps can successfully reduce brown treesnake populations at local scales. Over a 22-week period both with and without active snake removal, we evaluated snake-trap contact rates for mouse- and bird-lure traps. Bird-lure …

An Evaluation Of The Registration And Use Prospects For Four Candidate Toxicants For Controlling Invasive Mongooses (Herpestes Javanicus Auropunctatus), Emily W. Ruell, Chris N. Niebuhr, Robert T. Sugihara, Shane R. Siers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The eradication or control of invasive small Indian mongooses from islands likely requires toxic baiting when removal by trapping proves insufficient. The one toxic bait currently registered for mongooses in the United States has relatively low palatability and efficacy for mongooses. Developing and registering a new pesticide can be very expensive, while funding for developing toxicants for mongooses is limited. Once registered, use of a toxic bait may be hindered by other factors, such as public opposition to an inhumane toxicant, poorer efficacy than expected, or if the toxic bait is difficult for applicators to apply or store. Therefore, we …

Computational Investigation Of The Interactions Between Bioactive Compounds And Biological Assemblies, Tye D. Martin

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

Small, biologically active molecules with unique properties and applications are potential solutions to a wide range of threats to global health including infectious agents and neurodegenerative disease. Experimental studies on a class of oligomeric p-phenylene ethynylenes (OPEs) have shown potential both as bioactive antimicrobials and fluorescent sensing agents for tracking amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates found in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). A second type of small molecule with potential applications in AD therapy, curcumin, has been found to interfere with Aβ fibril growth. Curcumin also attenuates Aβ-membrane interactions and Aβ toxicity. Our goal has been to use computational techniques to better understand the …

Editorial Board

Karbala International Journal of Modern Science

No abstract provided.

Sickle Cell Disease Complications: Prevalence And Resource Utilization, Nirmish Shah, Menaka Bhor, Lin Xi, Jincy Paulose, Huseyin Yuce

Publications and Research

Objectives: This study evaluated the prevalence rate of vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) episodes, rates of uncomplicated and complicated VOC episodes, and the primary reasons for emergency room (ER) visits and inpatient admissions for sickle cell disease (SCD) patients.

Methods: The Medicaid Analytic extracts database was used to identify adult SCD patients using claims from 01JUL2009-31DEC2012. The date of the first observed SCD claim was designated as the index date. Patients were required to have continuous medical and pharmacy benefits for .6 months baseline and .12 months follow-up period. Patient demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, the rate of uncomplicated and complicated VOC (VOC …

Design And Synthesis Of Novel Agents For The Treatment Of Tropical Diseases, Linda Corrinne Barbeto

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infectious diseases have had an impact on populations since the beginning of humanity. Despite huge advances in the fight against these conditions, they continue to be the leading cause of death and disability for a large portion of the world’s populace. Those most adversely affected predominately live in the more improvised areas of the developing world. Often treatments are made inaccessible to these areas due to cost, complicated administration requirements, severe side effects, and / or compound instability. Even when treatments are available the accelerated development of resistance has created an urgent need for the creation of new molecules with …

Modulations Of Lipid Membranes Caused By Antimicrobial Agents And Helix 0 Of Endophilin, Nawal Kishore Khadka

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Understanding the cellular membrane interaction with membrane active biomolecules and antimicrobial agents provides an insight in their working mechanism. Here, we studied the effect of antimicrobial agents; a recently developed peptidomimetics E107-3 and colistin as well as the N-terminal helix H0, of Endophilin A1 on the lipid bilayer.

It is important to discern the interaction mechanism of antimicrobial peptides with lipid membranes in battling multidrug resistant bacterial pathogens. We study the modification of structural and mechanical properties with a recently reported peptidomimetic on lipid bilayer. The compound referred to as E107-3 is synthesized based on the acylated reduced amide scaffold …

Relative Density And Resource Selection Of Urban Red Foxes In Lincoln, Nebraska, Kyle Dougherty

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Since early reports of urban red fox (Vulpes vulpes) populations in Great Britain, red fox populations have been studied in many large cities throughout Europe, North America, and Australia. However, there has been relatively little research conducted in moderately sized North American cities. To further the ecological understanding of red foxes in moderately sized cities, we investigated relative density and resource selection of the urban fox population in Lincoln, Nebraska. We used presence-only data collected from a citizen science project and inhomogeneous point process models to investigate relative density of urban foxes and deployed GPS collars on ten red …

Design And Synthesis Of Tlr2 And Tlr6 Heterodimer Ligands, A Triply Functionalized Α-Galcer Derivative For Identifying Proteins Involved In Glycolipid Trafficking, And The Disaccharide Of Staphylococcus Aureus Cp8 Towards A Self-Adjuvanting Vaccine, Sara Mayeth Mata

Theses and Dissertations

Toll like receptors (TLRs) are found on B cells, macrophages, monocytes, and dendritic cells, and these cells belong to the innate immune system that recognizes antigens and induces multiple cell responses through the release of cytokines. TLR1, TLR2 and TLR6 function as heterodimers, either as TLR1/TLR2 or TLR2/TLR6 to recognize lipopeptides. TLR1/2 dimer activation releases inflammatory cytokines, while TLR2/TLR6 dimer activation releases immunomodulatory cytokines. Based on the size of the binding pocket between TLR2 and TLR6, it was hypothesized that lipopeptides, such as FSL1, could be simplified while keeping overall activity. FSL1 is a lipopeptide first isolated from Mycoplasma salivarum …

Role Of Outer Membrane Permeability, Efflux Mechanism, And Carbapenemases In Carbapenem-Nonsusceptible Pseudomonas Aeruginosa From Dubai Hospitals: Results Of The First Cross-Sectional Survey, Carole Ayoub Moubareck, Dalal Hammoudi Halat, Charbel Akkawi, Anju Nabi, Mouza A. Alsharhan, Zulfa O. Aldeesi, Christabel C. Peters, Handan Celiloglu, Dolla Karam Sarkis

All Works

© 2019 The Authors Objectives: Carbapenem resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa is growing and results from variable mechanisms. The objectives of the current study were to investigate mechanisms of carbapenem resistance and genetic relatedness of P. aeruginosa isolates recovered in Dubai hospitals. Methods: From June 2015 through June 2016, carbapenem-nonsusceptible P. aeruginosa were collected from 4 hospitals in Dubai, and subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, molecular investigation of carbapenemases by PCR-sequencing, analysis of outer membrane porin OprD2 and multidrug efflux channel MexAB-OprM levels by qPCR, and fingerprinting by ERIC-PCR. Results: Out of 1969 P. aeruginosa isolated during the study period, 471 …

Not All Surveillance Data Are Created Equal—A Multi‐Method Dynamic Occupancy Approach To Determine Rabies Elimination From Wildlife, Amy J. Davis, Jordona D. Kirby, Richard B. Chipman, Kathleen M. Nelson, Tatiana Xifara, Colleen T. Webb, Ryan Wallace, Amy T. Gilbert, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. A necessary component of elimination programmes for wildlife disease is effective surveillance. The ability to distinguish between disease freedom and non‐detection can mean the difference between a successful elimination campaign and new epizootics. Understanding the contribution of different surveillance methods helps to optimize and better allocate effort and develop more effective surveillance programmes.

2. We evaluated the probability of rabies virus elimination (disease freedom) in an enzootic area with active management using dynamic occupancy modelling of 10 years of raccoon rabies virus (RABV) surveillance data (2006–2015) collected from three states in the eastern United States. We estimated detection probability …

Transmission Dynamics Of Toxoplasma Gondii In Arctic Foxes (Vulpes Lagopus): A Long-Term Mark-Recapture Serologic Study At Karrak Lake, Nunavut, Canada, Emilie Bouchard, Stacey A. Elmore, Ray T. Alisauskas, Gustaf Samelius, Alvin A. Gajadhar, Keaton Schmidt, Sasha Ross, Emily J. Jenkins

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Transmission dynamics of Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite of importance for wildlife and human health, are enigmatic in the Arctic tundra, where free-ranging wild and domestic felid definitive hosts are absent and rarely observed, respectively. Through a multiyear mark-recapture study (2011– 17), serosurveillance was conducted to investigate transmission of T. gondii in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) in the Karrak Lake region, Nunavut, Canada. Sera from adult foxes and fox pups were tested for antibodies to T. gondii by using serologic methods, including the indirect fluorescent antibody test, direct agglutination test, and modified agglutination test. The overall seroprevalence was 39% in adults …

Survival, Fidelity, And Dispersal Of Double-Crested Cormorants On Two Lake Michigan Islands, Christopher R. Ayers, Katie C. Hanson-Dorr, Ken Stromborg, Todd W. Arnold, Jacob S. Ivan, Brian S. Dorr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Colony fidelity and dispersal can have important consequences on the population dynamics of colonial-nesting birds. We studied survival and inter-colony movements of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; cormorants) nesting at Spider and Pilot islands, located 9 km apart in western Lake Michigan, during 2008–2014. We used live resighting and dead recovery data from both colonies, plus dead recoveries from throughout North America, in a multistate live and dead encounter model to estimate annual survival, inter-colony movements, plus temporary and permanent emigration to unmonitored sites. Annual survival averaged 0.37 (annual process variation, ˆ = 0.07) for hatch-year, 0.78 (ˆ= 0.08) for secondyear, …

Incidence And Cost Of Acute Kidney Injury In Hospitalized Patients With Infective Endocarditis, Victor M. Ortiz-Soriano, Katherine Donaldson, Gaixin Du, Ye Li, Joshua Lambert, Dan Cleland, Alice C. Thornton, Laura C. Fanucchi, Moises A. Huaman, Javier A. Neyra

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of hospitalized patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Further, AKI in the setting of IE is associated with high morbidity and mortality. We aimed to examine the incidence, clinical parameters, and hospital costs associated with AKI in hospitalized patients with IE in an endemic area with an increasing prevalence of opioid use. This retrospective cohort study included 269 patients admitted to a major referral center in Kentucky with a primary diagnosis of IE from January 2013 to December 2015. Of these, 178 (66.2%) patients had AKI by Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) …

Use Of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Uas) And Multispectral Imagery For Quantifying Agricultural Areas Damaged By Wild Pigs, Justin W. Fischer, Kelsey Greiner, Mark W. Lutman, Bryson L. Webber, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) cause extensive damage to agricultural crops, resulting in lost production and income. A major challenge associated with assessing damage to crops is locating and quantifying damaged areas within agricultural fields. We evaluated a novel method using multispectral high-resolution aerial imagery, collected from sensors mounted on unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), and feature extraction techniques to detect and map areas of corn fields damaged by wild pigs in southern Missouri, USA. Damaged areas were extracted from orthomosaics using visible and near-infrared band combinations, an object-based classification approach, and hierarchical learning cycles. To validate estimates we also collected ground …

Confronting Models With Data: The Challenges Of Estimating Disease Spillover, Paul C. Cross, Diann J. Prosser, Andrew M. Ramey, Ephraim M. Hanks, Kim M. Pepin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

For pathogens known to transmit across host species, strategic investment in disease control requires knowledge about where and when spillover transmission is likely. One approach to estimating spillover is to directly correlate observed spillover events with covariates. An alternative is to mechanistically combine information on host density, distribution and pathogen prevalence to predict where and when spillover events are expected to occur. We use several case studies at the wildlife–livestock disease interface to highlight the challenges, and potential solutions, to estimating spatiotemporal variation in spillover risk. Datasets on multiple host species often do not align in space, time or resolution, …

Typha (Cattail) Invasion In North American Wetlands: Biology, Regional Problems, Impacts, Ecosystem Services, And Management, Sheel Bansal, Shane C. Lishawa, Sue Newman, Brian A. Tangen, Douglas Wilcox, Dennis Albert, Michael J. Anteau, Michael J. Chimney, Ryann L. Cressey, Edward Dekeyser, Kenneth J. Elgersma, Sarah A. Finkelstein, Joanna Freeland, Richard Grosshans, Page E. Klug, Daniel J. Larkin, Beth A. Lawrence, George Linz, Joy Marburger, Gregory Noe, Clint Otto, Nicholas Reo, Jennifer Richards, Curtis Richardson, Leroy Rodgers, Amy J. Schrank, Dan Svedarsky, Steven Travis, Nancy Tuchman, Lisamarie Windham-Myers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Typha is an iconic wetland plant found worldwide. Hybridization and anthropogenic disturbances have resulted in large increases in Typha abundance in wetland ecosystems throughout North America at a cost to native floral and faunal biodiversity. As demonstrated by three regional case studies, Typha is capable of rapidly colonizing habitats and forming monodominant vegetation stands due to traits such as robust size, rapid growth rate, and rhizomatic expansion. Increased nutrient inputs into wetlands and altered hydrologic regimes are among the principal anthropogenic drivers of Typha invasion. Typha is associated with a wide range of negative ecological impacts to wetland and agricultural …

Extreme Site Fidelity As An Optimal Strategy In An Unpredictable And Homogeneous Environment, Brian D. Gerber, Mevin B. Hooten, Christopher P. Peck, Mindy B. Rice, James H. Gammonley, Anthony D. Apa, Amy J. Davis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

1. Animal site fidelity structures space use, population demography and ultimately gene flow. Understanding the adaptive selection for site fidelity patterns provides a mechanistic understanding to both spatial and population processes. This can be achieved by linking space use with environmental variability (spatial and temporal) and demographic parameters. However, rarely is the environmental context that drives the selection for site fidelity behaviour fully considered.

2. We use ecological theory to understand whether the spatial and temporal variability in breeding site quality can explain the site fidelity behaviour and demographic patterns of Gunnison sage‐grouse (Centrocercus minimus). We examined female site fidelity …

Using Big Data Analytics To Improve Hiv Medical Care Utilisation In South Carolina: A Study Protocol, Bankole Olatosi, Jiajia Zhang, Sharon Weissman, Jianjun Hu, Mohammad Rifat Haider, Xiaoming Li

Faculty Publications

Introduction Linkage and retention in HIV medical care remains problematic in the USA. Extensive health utilisation data collection through electronic health records (EHR) and claims data represent new opportunities for scientific discovery. Big data science (BDS) is a powerful tool for investigating HIV care utilisation patterns. The South Carolina (SC) office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs (RFA) data warehouse captures individual-level longitudinal health utilisation data for persons living with HIV (PLWH). The data warehouse includes EHR, claims and data from private institutions, housing, prisons, mental health, Medicare, Medicaid, State Health Plan and the department of health and human services. The …

Analysis Of An Eco-Epidemiological Model Under Optimal Control Measures For Infected Prey, Alfred Hugo, Emanuel Simanjilo

Applications and Applied Mathematics: An International Journal (AAM)

This paper examines the analysis of an eco-epidemiological model with optimal control strategies for infected prey. A model is proposed and analyzed qualitatively using the stability theory of the differential equations. A local and global study of the model is performed around the disease-free equilibrium and the endemic equilibrium to analyze the global stability using the Lyapunov function. The time-dependent control is introduced into the system to determine the best strategy for controlling the disease. The results obtained suggested the separation of the infected population plays a vital role in disease elimination.

The Transformative Possibilities Of The Microbiota And Mycobiota For Health, Disease, Aging, And Technological Innovation, Lucas Jones, Jessica Kumar, Adil Mistry, Thriveen Sankar Chittoor Mana, George Perry, Prakash Reddy, Mark Obrenovich

Chemistry Faculty Research & Creative Works

The gut microbiota is extremely important for the health of the host across its lifespan. Recent studies have elucidated connections between the gut microbiota and neurological disease and disorders such as depression, anxiety, Alzheimer's disease (AD), autism, and a host of other brain illnesses. Dysbiosis of the normal gut flora can have negative consequences for humans, especially throughout key periods during our lifespan as the gut microbes change with age in both phenotype and number of bacterial species. Neurologic diseases, mental disorders, and euthymic states are influenced by alterations in the metabolites produced by gut microbial milieu. We introduce a …

Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever And House Conditions In Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Wanti Wanti, Ririh Yudhastuti, Hari Basuki Notobroto, Sri Subekti, Oktofianus Sila, Ragu Harming Kristina, Feby Dwirahmadi

Kesmas

Kupang City has the highest Incidence of DHF in East Nusa Tenggara and also higher than the national figure. This study aims to analyze the relationship between housing conditions and the DHF incidence in the Kupang City. This observational study uses a case-control study in 25 villages with a total sample of 500 people. Data is analyzed using t test and chi square test. The house conditions were significantly related to the DHF incidence (p≤0.05), namely house lighting, water usage, wall construction, ventilation area and ownership of clean water facilities. People are advised to ventilate the house ≥10% of the …

Risk Factor Analysis Of Overnutrition Among Elementary School Children In Pekanbaru: An Urban-Rural Perspective, Arfianti Arfianti

Kesmas

The prevalence of childhood overnutrition is increasing in many parts of the world including Indonesia. National basic health research (RISKESDAS) 2010 showed that over-nutrition in urban children (10.4%) was greater than in rural areas (8.1%). The purpose of this study was to analyse risk factors for overnutrition on elementary students in urban and rural areas in Pekanbaru. This was an observasional analytical study with cross-sectional design. This study involved 137 urban and 113 rural students from six elementary schools in Pekanbaru recruited by quota sampling technique. This study was conducted between April-May 2018. The results showed that the proportions of …

Occurrence Of Natural Vertical Transmission Of “Zika Like Virus” In Aedes Aegypti Mosquito In Jambi City, Tri Baskoro Satoto, Nur Alvira Pasca Wati, Wida Purwaningsih, Hari Kusnanto Josef, Purwono Purwono, Rumbiwati Rumbiwati, Hermanto Hermanto, Roger Frutos

Kesmas

Zika virus can be transmitted through mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus. During the transition period of 2014–2015, an outbreak of dengue was reported in Jambi City, during which several sufferers were screened positive for Zika virus infection by the Eijkman Institute. It was interesting to note that all of those positive for Zika virus infection were indigenous residents and none of them had a history of international travel. This descriptive analytic study with a cross-sectional design study was conducted to present an overview of Aedes spp. population using ovitrap and egg colonization methods and to detect the …

Factors Related To Adolescent Behavior Towards Hiv/Aids Prevention, Yuliasti Eka Purnamaningrum, Ratyas Ekartika Puspita Candra Nugrahawati, Munica Rita Hernayanti, Anne Vajee

Kesmas

In 2016 Special Region of Yogyakarta was ranked 9th as the province with the highest number of people suffered from HIV/AIDS especially at Sleman regency. Globally, AIDS was the second leading cause of adolescents’s death aged of 10-19 years. The purpose of this study was to find out factors affecting the behaviour of the adolescents towards HIV/AIDS prevention. This research using with cross sectional study design. The sampling technique which used was stratified random sampling resulted in 59 respondents from 11th grade students at SMA Negeri 2 Sleman were selected as sample. Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using …

Growth Factors In The Human Body: A Conceptual Update, Estefania Alexandre, Debasish Bandyopadhyay

School of Integrative Biological & Chemical Sciences (Formerly Dept. of Chemistry)

Growth factors are found in most of the organisms including insects, humans, plants, etc. The name ‘growth factors’ became known when the substances were active in stimulating the growth of cells and tissues. Growth factors are regulatory species (signaling molecules mainly proteins) that are generated by the body which function in binding to receptors on the cell surface and are required to stimulate the growth in living responsive cells by triggering cellular proliferation and/or cellular differentiation pathways, as well as by regulating gene transcription in the nucleus. They are quite versatile by promoting cell growth and act in a paracrine, …

Ecological Interventions To Prevent And Manage Zoonotic Pathogen Spillover, Susanne H. Sokolow, Nicole Nova, Kim M. Pepin, Alison J. Peel, Juliet R.C. Pulliam, Kezia Manlove, Paul C. Cross, Daniel J. Becker, Raina K. Plowright, Hamish Mccallum, Giulio A. De Leo

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Spillover of a pathogen from awildlife reservoir into a human or livestock host requires the pathogen to overcome a hierarchical series of barriers. Interventions aimed at one or more of these barriers may be able to prevent the occurrence of spillover. Here, we demonstrate how interventions that target the ecological context in which spillover occurs (i.e. ecological interventions) can complement conventional approaches like vaccination, treatment, disinfection and chemical control. Accelerating spillover owing to environmental change requires effective, affordable, durable and scalable solutions that fully harness the complex processes involved in cross-species pathogen spillover.

This article is part of the theme …

Scavenging In The Anthropocene: Human Impact Drives Vertebrate Scavenger Species Richness At A Global Scale, Esther Sebastián‐González, Jomar Magalhães Barbosa, Juan M. Pérez‐García, Zebensui Morales‐Reyes, Francisco Botella, Pedro P. Olea, Patricia Mateo‐Tomás, Marcos Moleón, Fernando Hiraldo, Eneko Arrondo, José A. Donázar, Ainara Cortés‐Avizanda, Nuria Selva, Sergio A. Lambertucci, Aishwarya Bhattacharjee, Alexis Brewer, Erin Abernethy, Olin E. Rhodes Jr., Kelsey Turner, James C. Beasley, Travis L. Devault, Andrés Ordiz, Camilla Wikenros, Barbara Zimmermann, Petter Wabakken, Christopher C. Wilmers, Justine A. Smith, Corinne J. Kendall, Darcy Ogada, Evan R. Buechley, Ethan Frehner, Maximilian L. Allen, Heiko U. Wittmer, James R.A. Butler, Johan T. Du Toit, John Read, David Wilson, Klemen Jerina, Miha Krofel, Rich Kostecke, Richard Inger, Arockianathan Samson, Lara Naves‐Alegre, José A. Sánchez‐Zapata

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Understanding the distribution of biodiversity across the Earth is one of the most challenging questions in biology. Much research has been directed at explaining the species latitudinal pattern showing that communities are richer in tropical areas; however, despite decades of research, a general consensus has not yet emerged. In addition, global biodiversity patterns are being rapidly altered by human activities. Here, we aim to describe large‐scale patterns of species richness and diversity in terrestrial vertebrate scavenger (carrion‐consuming) assemblages, which provide key ecosystem functions and services. We used a worldwide dataset comprising 43 sites, where vertebrate scavenger assemblages were identified using …