Digital Commons Network^™

Potential Of C4 Tropical Grasses To Contribute In Carbon Sequestration, Environmental Security And Livelihood Opportunities Through Increased Fodder Availability, D. R. Malaviya, A. K. Roy, P. Kaushal

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The world grasslands/rangeland ecosystems comprise 26% of earth’s surface and have immense ecological and economic significance. Diversity of grasslands had been a key element for their sustainability. Grasslands in India have existed as natural ecosystems for millions of years. It is a major source of income, employment and livelihood to the rural families. Owing to heavy grazing pressure, coupled with other social/anthropogenic factors, the grazing resources have fast deteriorated. The country has many old and natural grasslands with ethnic and economic value. Comprehensive ecological studies including floristic compositions, dominant species, grazing pressure and the climax/sub-climax stages of ecological succession will …

Linking Ground, Space And Knowledge: The Role Of Weather Forecasting In Pastoralists' Decision-Making, E. L. Mulder, V. C. Wright, S. C. Steele-Dunne, P. H. A. J. M. Van Gelder, H. C. Winsemius

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Changing weather patterns and decreasing land availability continue to challenge the livelihood of the pastoralists in northern Tanzania. The increasing variability of expected rains has complicated livestock management, often jeopardizing household resilience. Drought Early Warning Systems are being set up to contribute to decision-making processes at national and international levels. Nevertheless, due to the large spatial- and temporal resolution of these systems and their high uncertainties, these systems have limited value at a pastoral household level.

Therefore, this paper explores what type of weather and climate information is deemed valuable for pastoral households in Longido District, Tanzania. It is based …

Microbiome Of The Cool Season Forage Grass Timothy (Phleum Pratense L.) And Its Potential Role In Stress Tolerance, Dina Saleh, Suha Jabaji, Philippe Seguin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The functional attributes of the microbiome associated with timothy for growth promotion properties, antimicrobial and biosurfactant capacities were characterized. A total of 254 culturable bacteria were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing and grouped into 16 taxa that shared high homology of 98–99% with other known sequences. The majority of bacterial isolates exhibited multifunctional growth promotion attributes and plant stress improvement. The selection of competent and compatible strains for application in forage production is dependent on the recognition of root exudates and motility towards the roots, attachment to the root surface, formation of biofilm, penetration, and colonization of internal tissues. We …

Improving The Functionality Of Water Investments In The Drylands: Learning From Kenya’S County Climate Change Fund, C. Bedelian, M. Bonaya, A. Ibrahim, F. Ngarachu, C. Hesse

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Kenya’s County Climate Change Fund (CCCF) is financing public good investments focused on the water sector to increase the resilience of communities to climate change. In the drylands, investments in water are critical for water and food security, yet ensuring the functionality and sustainability of water investments remains an ongoing challenge. This paper assesses the functionality and sustainability of 62 CCCF water investments in five dryland counties (Isiolo, Wajir, Garissa, Kitui and Makueni) in Kenya through a functionality survey and stakeholder workshops. The survey was designed based on a review of studies assessing the functionality of water supply systems. Across …

Long-Read Sequencing Of The Zebrafish Genome Reorganizes Genomic Architecture, Yelena Chernyavskaya, Xiaofei Zhang, Jinze Liu, Jessica S. Blackburn

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Nanopore sequencing technology has revolutionized the field of genome biology with its ability to generate extra-long reads that can resolve regions of the genome that were previously inaccessible to short-read sequencing platforms. Over 50% of the zebrafish genome consists of difficult to map, highly repetitive, low complexity elements that pose inherent problems for short-read sequencers and assemblers.

RESULTS: We used long-read nanopore sequencing to generate a de novo assembly of the zebrafish genome and compared our assembly to the current reference genome, GRCz11. The new assembly identified 1697 novel insertions and deletions over one kilobase in length and placed …

Sex Differences In Desiccation Tolerance Varies By Colony In The Mesic Liverwort Plagiochila Porelloides, Juliana Da C. Silva-E-Costa, Andrea P. Luizi-Ponzo, David Nicholas Mcletchie

Biology Faculty Publications

Water scarcity, a common stress factor, negatively impacts plant performance. Strategies to cope with it, such as desiccation tolerance, are becoming increasingly important to investigate. However, phenomena, such as intraspecific variation in stress responses have not received much attention. Knowledge of this variability and the environmental drivers can be leveraged to further investigate the mechanisms of desiccation tolerance. Here we tested for variation in desiccation tolerance in Plagiochila porelloides among colonies and sexes within the same riparian zone. Field-collected dehardened plants were subjected to a desiccation event, under controlled conditions and then rehydrated. Plant water status, photosynthetic rates, net carbon …

Second Heart Field–Derived Cells Contribute To Angiotensin Ii–Mediated Ascending Aortopathies, Hisashi Sawada, Yuriko Katsumata, Hideyuki Higashi, Chen Zhang, Yanming Li, Stephanie Morgan, Lang H. Lee, Sasha A. Singh, Jeff Z. Chen, Michael K. Franklin, Jessica J. Moorleghen, Deborah A. Howatt, Debra L. Rateri, Ying H. Shen, Scott A. Lemaire, Masanori Aikawa, Mark W. Majesky, Hong S. Lu, Alan Daugherty

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The ascending aorta is a common location for aneurysm and dissection. This aortic region is populated by a mosaic of medial and adventitial cells that are embryonically derived from either the second heart field (SHF) or the cardiac neural crest. SHF-derived cells populate areas that coincide with the spatial specificity of thoracic aortopathies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether and how SHF-derived cells contribute to ascending aortopathies.

METHODS: Ascending aortic pathologies were examined in patients with sporadic thoracic aortopathies and angiotensin II (AngII)–infused mice. Ascending aortas without overt pathology from AngII-infused mice were subjected …

Innovative Approaches To Analysing Carbon Sequestration As A Mitigation Strategy In Tropical Pasture Landscapes In Two Emblematic Contexts, The Amazon And The West African Sahel, V. Blanfort, R. Pocard-Chapuis, J. Vayssières, M. Vignes, M. H. Assouma, B. Hubert, A. Ickowicz, S. Fontaine

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relationship between ruminant production systems and climate change is complex. As a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the sector has been the subject of considerable controversy, with particularly severe criticism in the 2000s. However, ten years ago, the attitude towards grazing lands began to change. Their efficient use of non-renewable energy and their contribution to carbon (C) sequestration were considered as key factors in the new environmental challenge. The reality of this mitigation potential was recently called into question once again in the global agriculture and climate change debate, including that of sequestration in the soil where …

Elevated Co2 And Extreme Climatic Events Modify Nitrogen Content And Ruminal Protein Digestion Of Temperate Grassland, V. Niderkorn, C. Picon-Cochard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was aimed at analyzing changes in nitrogen (N) content and in vitro protein rumen digestion of an upland grassland exposed to climate changes in controlled conditions. Monoliths of grassland were inserted in 12 macrocosms in which climatic conditions for the 2050s were simulated (i.e., +2.3°C and 33 mm less precipitation compared to the current climatic conditions). Six of them were subjected to ambient CO₂ (390 ppm) while the other six were subjected to elevated CO₂ (520 ppm). After four months, an extreme climatic event (ECE) consisting of four weeks of reducted precipitation (-50%) followed by two …

Effects Of Climate Variability On Wild Edible Plant Products: A Coping Strategy Applied By Pastoralists Of Northern Kenya, A. W. Kagunyu, J. W. Wanjohi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Drought which is a manifestation of climate variability has become a perennial problem in Kenya with chronic vulnerability being concentrated in Arid and Semi-Arid lands (ASALs). Traditionally, pastoralists have used wild edible plant products namely; fruits, vegetables and seeds as a coping strategy while faced by climate related calamities. However, recent studies have shown that pastoralists’ traditional coping strategies have become weak as a result of recurrent droughts. The overall objective of this study was to investigate the effects of climate variability on wild edible plant products. This study applied; household interviews (n=400), focus group discussions and key informant interviews …

Drought Mitigation In Bundelkahand Grassland Ecosystem For Improving Livelihood Of Farming Community-A Case Study, N. S. Pasricha, P. K. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bundelkhand grassland ecosystem (23º20´ and 26°20´N latitude and 78°20´ and 81°40´E longitude) is an undulating rain fed region (annual rain fall, 768-1087 mm) spread over an area of 7.08 m ha in central India in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This region has to support 16 million human and 8.5 million animal populations. Area is prone to surface run off losses, severe soil erosion and increasingly more drought events, leading to only mono-cropping. Lively-hood of the people, which is mainly the live-stock rearing and marginal agriculture, is at stake. In-situ conservation of rain water, forage management, …

Development And Utilization Of An Isolation Box Test To Characterize Personality Traits Of Dairy Calves, Megan Marie Woodrum Setser, Heather W. Neave, Eric S. Vanzant, Joao H. C. Costa

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

The use of an isolation box test (IBT) to characterize personality traits has been used in non-bovine species with success. We aimed to develop an IBT for dairy calves and determine if the behavioral responses to an IBT were associated with personality traits found from traditional tests (novel person, novel object, and a startle tests) and average daily gain (ADG; Kg/d) through weaning. Calf movement while in the IBT was measured via accelerometers attached to 5 locations on the exterior of the box. A total movement index (TMI) was calculated based on accelerometer readings during the IBT. We performed a …

Auxin/Cytokinin Antagonistic Control Of The Shoot/Root Growth Ratio And Its Relevance For Adaptation To Drought And Nutrient Deficiency Stresses, Jasmina Kurepa, Jan A. Smalle

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

The hormones auxin and cytokinin regulate numerous aspects of plant development and often act as an antagonistic hormone pair. One of the more striking examples of the auxin/cytokinin antagonism involves regulation of the shoot/root growth ratio in which cytokinin promotes shoot and inhibits root growth, whereas auxin does the opposite. Control of the shoot/root growth ratio is essential for the survival of terrestrial plants because it allows growth adaptations to water and mineral nutrient availability in the soil. Because a decrease in shoot growth combined with an increase in root growth leads to survival under drought stress and nutrient limiting …

Hpg80 (Circulating Progastrin), A Novel Blood-Based Biomarker For Detection Of Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma And Well Differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors, Aman Chauhan, Alexandre Prieur, Jill Kolesar, Susanne Arnold, Léa Payen, Younes Mahi, Berengere Vire, Madison Sands, B. Mark Evers, Dominique Joubert, Lowell Anthony

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Current blood-based biomarkers for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) lack both sensitivity and specificity. Human circulating progastrin (hPG₈₀) is a novel biomarker that can be easily measured in plasma by ELISA. This study is the first to examine hPG₈₀ in NENs. Plasma hPG₈₀ was quantified from 95 stage IV NEN patients, using DxPG₈₀ technology (ECS Progastrin, Switzerland) and compared with hPG₈₀ concentrations in two cohorts of healthy donor controls aged 50–80 (n = 252) and 18–25 (n = 137). Median hPG₈₀ in NENs patients was 5.54 pM compared to 1.5 pM for the …

Considering Natural Baselines When Calculating Livestock Impacts Point To A Negligible Role Of Grass-Fed Livestock Systems In Climate Change, P. Manzano, S. R. White

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The use of baselines is common in a variety of academic disciplines, including environmental science, but they are subjected to relativity depending on the geographical or historical reference considered. Such considerations are illustrated by how invasive species are evaluated or what reference baselines are considered in biodiversity assessments.

The measurement of livestock effects on climate change has, however, disregarded the use of baselines. Current methodology is based exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions by individual animals, without putting them in their ecological context. As a consequence, current analyses of livestock impacts put grass-fed ruminant systems in the spotlight, because of their …

Comparative Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics In Tropical And Subtropical Grassland Ecosystems, N. S. Pasricha, P. K. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland ecosystems play significant role in mitigating the climate change by sequestering atmospheric CO₂. One fifth of the total terrestrial C is stored in the root zone of grasslands as soil organic carbon. However, because of lack of proper management, overgrazing, and conversion to crop lands, these grasslands are becoming a source of CO₂ emissions. It has been observed that in Imperata grasslands of Northeast India, a third of total C captured annually is lost though CO₂ emissions. In the absence of intensified grazing and burning, these grasslands exhibit significantly high capacity to store SOC stocks. …

Climate Change Threats To Semi-Arid Transhumance Grazing Systems: Proposals For Adaptation In Cabo Verde, J. F. Castro, S. Tavares, M. Castro

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Global warming has changed the rainfall regime in the Sahelian region, endangering and widespread poverty and chronic famines in Cape Verde, where rural communities' well-being and food security depend on rainy agriculture. Local responses to rainfall new patterns and scarcity have been livestock reduction with significant revenue losses. Together with dry mist occurrences, these environmental constraints demand to define priority actions to adapt and mitigate climate change's direct impacts. According to fifty household inquiries, this work explains the transhumant grazing practices on a semi-arid plateau in Tarrafal (Santiago, Cabo Verde), prospecting adaptation alternatives for sustainability. We related grazing patterns and …

Wild Red Deer Benefit The Conservation Of European Semi-Natural Open Habitats, F. Riesch, Bettina Tonn, Marcus Meißner, Sven Herzog, Niko Balkenhol, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditional land use practices have shaped European landscapes for millennia. Agricultural intensification and declining popularity of pastoral farming in the past century have resulted in a tremendous loss of extensively used open landscapes and associated biodiversity. Today, conservation management needs to prevent secondary succession of many open habitats. Large or inaccessible target areas unsuitable for conventional conservation measures might benefit from grazing by wild herbivores, which do not require fencing nor regular welfare monitoring. In a military training area in Germany, we studied the quantitative and qualitative effects of wild red deer in two protected open habitat types (lowland hay …

Causal Factors Of Breeding Success And Frequency In Threatened Grassland Birds On The Ingula Nature Reserve, South Africa, R. B. Colyn, C. Pienaar, H. Smit-Robinson, K. Chetty

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The high-altitude grasslands covering the eastern escarpment of South Africa is one of the country’s most valuable habitats for biodiversity, livestock and water production. The habitat hosts several threatened bird species including endangered species such as the Rudd's Lark (Heteromirafra ruddi) and Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum), and vulnerable species such as the Blue Crane (Grus paradisea), Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus), and Yellow-breasted Pipit (Anthus chloris). Avian research and monitoring have been ongoing within the recently declared Ingula Nature Reserve for more than …

Animal Performance In Signalgrass Monoculture Or In Silvopastoral Systems, I. A. Gomes Da Silva, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., A. C. L. De Melo, Márcio V. Da Cunha, Mércia V. F. Dos Santos, V. X. O. Apolinário, Erinaldo Viana De Freitas, S. B. M. Costa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Silvopastoral systems (SPS) can increase overall productivity and long-term income due to the simultaneous production of trees, forage, and livestock. This 2-yr study evaluated animal performance and herbage responses in C4-grass monoculture or in SPS in the sub-humid tropical region of Brazil. The experimental design was randomized complete block with three replications. Treatments were: Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) R. Webster (Signalgrass) + Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth (SPS-Mimosa); Signalgrass + Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp (SPS-Gliricidia); and Signalgrass monoculture (SM). Response variables included herbage and livestock responses. Cattle were managed under continuous stocking with variable stocking rate. There was interaction between treatment …

Legume And Nitrogen Fertilization Affect Animal Performance And Enteric Methane Emission Of Nellore Heifers, B. G. C. Homem, I. B. G. Lima, P. P. Spasiani, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., A. Berndt, D. R. Casagrande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Methane emission from livestock operation is an important source of greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming. Forage legume secondary compounds may mitigate methane emissions by reducing methanogenic population in the rumen. This study evaluated animal performance and methane emission from beef cattle grazing either a mixed pasture [Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu (palisadegrass) and Arachis pintoi (forage peanut) cv. BRS Mandobi] or a palisadegrass monoculture with or without nitrogen (N) fertilisation. A 2.5-yr continuous stocking experiment was carried out in southeast Brazil, on a randomized complete block design with three treatments and four replicates. Two Nellore heifers were used …

People-Environment Trade-Offs In Managing Communal Rangelands Of South Africa, J. E. Bennett, S. Lemke, T. Marandure

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Communal rangelands in South Africa support a range of ecosystem services including water provision, carbon sequestration and livestock production for different stakeholders. Delivering these in a sustainable and socially appropriate manner necessarily requires trade-offs to be made between the different environmental and social outcomes required. We draw on empirical fieldwork and a two-day participatory stakeholder workshop to report on the early stages of a project evaluating these trade-offs in communal rangelands of the uMzimvubu catchment in Eastern Cape Province. Our findings suggest that trade-offs will be necessary at a variety of different levels within this system. For example, a key …

Parasite Dynamics In Untreated Horses Through One Calendar Year, Ashley E. Steuer, Haley P. Anderson, Taylor Shepherd, Morgan Clark, Jessica A. Scare, Holli S. Gravatte, Martin K. Nielsen

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Horses are host to a plethora of parasites. Knowledge of the seasonality of parasite egg shedding and transmission is important for constructing parasite control programs. However, studies describing these patterns are sparse, and have largely been conducted only in the United Kingdom. This study evaluated strongylid egg shedding patterns and transmission dynamics of Strongylus vulgaris in naturally infected and untreated mares and foals through one calendar year in Kentucky, USA. The study also investigated the existence of a peri-parturient rise (PPR) in strongylid egg counts in foaling mares and collected information about Strongyloides westeri and Parascaris spp. in the …

Functional Antagonism Of Wri1 And Tcp20 Modulates Gh3.3 Expression To Maintain Auxin Homeostasis In Roots, Que Kong, Pui Man Low, Audrey R. Q. Lim, Yuzhou Yang, Ling Yuan, Wei Ma

Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center Faculty Publications

Auxin is a well-studied phytohormone, vital for diverse plant developmental processes. The GH3 genes are one of the major auxin responsive genes, whose expression changes lead to modulation of plant development and auxin homeostasis. However, the transcriptional regulation of these GH3 genes remains largely unknown. WRI1 is an essential transcriptional regulator governing plant fatty acid biosynthesis. Recently, we identified that the expression of GH3.3 is increased in the roots of wri1-1 mutant. Nevertheless, in this study we found that AtWRI1 did not activate or repress the promoter of GH3.3 (proGH3.3) despite of its binding to proGH3.3. Cross-family …

Prostacyclin Promotes Degenerative Pathology In A Model Of Alzheimer’S Disease, Tasha R. Womack, Craig T. Vollert, Odochi Ohia-Nwoko, Monika Schmitt, Saghi Montazari, Tina L. Beckett, David Mayerich, M. Paul Murphy, Jason L. Eriksen

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common form of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression …

Automatic Segmentation Of Sinkholes Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Muhammad Usman Rafique, Junfeng Zhu, Nathan Jacobs

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Sinkholes are the most abundant surface features in karst areas worldwide. Understanding sinkhole occurrences and characteristics is critical for studying karst aquifers and mitigating sinkhole-related hazards. Most sinkholes appear on the land surface as depressions or cover collapses and are commonly mapped from elevation data, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). Existing methods for identifying sinkholes from DEMs often require two steps: locating surface depressions and separating sinkholes from non-sinkhole depressions. In this study, we explored deep learning to directly identify sinkholes from DEM data and aerial imagery. A key contribution of our study is an evaluation of various ways …

Feasibility Of Using Ring-Mounted Halcyon Linac For Single-Isocenter/Two-Lesion Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Damodar Pokhrel, Aaron Webster, Richard Mallory, Justin Visak, Mark E. Bernard, Ronald C. Mcgarry, Mahesh Kudrimoti

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the plan quality and delivery efficiency of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with the Halcyon Linac ring delivery system (RDS) in the treatment of single-isocenter/two-lesion lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

MATERIALS/METHODS: Sixteen previously treated non-coplanar VMAT single-isocenter/two-lesion lung SBRT plans delivered with SBRT-dedicated C-arm TrueBeam Linac were selected. Prescribed dose was 50 Gy to each lesion over five fractions with treatment delivery every other day and AcurosXB algorithm as the final dose calculation algorithm. TrueBeam single-isocenter plans were reoptimized for Halcyon Linac with coplanar geometry. Both TrueBeam and Halcyon plans were normalized for identical combined target coverage …

Soil Health – It's Not All Biology, Mark S. Coyne, E. M. Pena-Yewtukhiw, John H. Grove, A. C. Sant'anna, D. Mata-Padrino

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Soil Health research tends to bias to a biology/microbiology emphasis. We believe this bias neglects important physical and chemical interactions in soil that are crucial to soil function. We offer several examples illustrating this bias, and how it may misrepresent management practices that have the greatest influence on Soil Health. Four suggestions are given as approaches to mitigate this bias. By appreciating soil structure as a foundation for Soil Health and its microbial community, we believe better recommendations can be made to assist the farm community in its stewardship of soil as a critical natural resource.

Automatic Segmentation Of Sinkholes Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Muhammad Usman Rafique, Junfeng Zhu, Nathan Jacobs

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

Sinkholes are the most abundant surface features in karst areas worldwide. Understanding sinkhole occurrences and characteristics is critical for studying karst aquifers and mitigating sinkhole-related hazards. Most sinkholes appear on the land surface as depressions or cover collapses and are commonly mapped from elevation data, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). Existing methods for identifying sinkholes from DEMs often require two steps: locating surface depressions and separating sinkholes from non-sinkhole depressions. In this study, we explored deep learning to directly identify sinkholes from DEM data and aerial imagery. A key contribution of our study is an evaluation of various ways …

Using Low-Fix Rate Gps Telemetry To Expand Estimates Of Ungulate Reproductive Success, Nathan D. Hooven, Kathleen E. Williams, John T. Hast, Joseph R. Mcdermott, R. Daniel Crank, Gabe Jenkins, Matthew T. Springer, John J. Cox

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Background

Population parameters such as reproductive success are critical for sustainably managing ungulate populations, however obtaining these data is often difficult, expensive, and invasive. Movement-based methods that leverage Global Positioning System (GPS) relocation data to identify parturition offer an alternative to more invasive techniques such as vaginal implant transmitters, but thus far have only been applied to relocation data with a relatively fine (one fix every  < 8 h) temporal resolution. We employed a machine learning method to classify parturition/calf survival in cow elk in southeastern Kentucky, USA, using 13-h GPS relocation data and three simple movement metrics, training a random forest on cows that successfully reared their calf to a week old.

Results

We developed a decision rule based upon a predicted probability threshold across individual cow time series, accurately classifying 89.5% (51/57) of cows with a known reproductive status. When used to infer status of …