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Effects Of Vehicle Speed On Flight Initiation By Turkey Vultures: Implications For Bird-Vehicle Collisions, Travis L. Devault, Bradley F. Blackwell, Thomas W. Seamans, Steven L. Lima, Esteban Fernandez-Juricic

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The avoidance of motorized vehicles is a common challenge for birds in the modern world. Birds appear to rely on antipredator behaviors to avoid vehicles, but modern vehicles (automobiles and aircraft) are faster than natural predators. Thus, birds may be relatively ill-equipped, in terms of sensory capabilities and behaviors, to avoid vehicles. We examined the idea that birds may be unable to accurately assess particularly high speeds of approaching vehicles, which could contribute to miscalculations in avoidance behaviors and ultimately cause collisions. We baited turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) to roads with animal carcasses and measured flight initiation distance and effective …

Mitochondrial Diversity Supports Multiple Origins For Invasive Pigs, Blake E. Mccann, Mathew J. Malek, Robert A. Newman, Brandon S. Schmit, Seth R. Swafford, Richard A. Sweitzer, Rebecca B. Simmons

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Our objective was to identify and evaluate mitochondrial diversity of wild pigs in the United States (U.S.). We obtained tissue samples from 81 individual pigs in 30 U.S. states and amplified a 403 basepair region of mitochondrial DNA. We then downloaded overlapping sequences (n¼904) from public repositories to create a global reference. We used parsimony and Bayesian techniques to evaluate phylogenetic relationships, and we used origins of published sequences from Eurasian wild boar to establish a phylogeographic reference. We then compared gene and nucleotide diversity measures for introduced pigs in North America with those of domestic swine, Eurasian wild boar, …

Extended Viral Shedding Of A Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus By Striped Skunks (Mephitis Mephitis), J. Jeffrey Root, Susan A. Shriner, Kevin T. Bentler, Thomas Gidlewski, Nicole L. Mooers, Jeremy W. Ellis, Terry R. Spraker, Kaci K. Vandalen, Heather J. Sullivan, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background: Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are susceptible to infection with some influenza A viruses. However, the viral shedding capability of this peri-domestic mammal and its potential role in influenza A virus ecology are largely undetermined.

Methodology/Principal Findings: Striped skunks were experimentally infected with a low pathogenic (LP) H4N6 avian influenza virus (AIV) and monitored for 20 days post infection (DPI). All of the skunks exposed to H4N6 AIV shed large quantities of viral RNA, as detected by real-time RT-PCR and confirmed for live virus with virus isolation, from nasal washes and oral swabs (maximum #106.02 PCR EID50 equivalent/mL and #105.19 …

Effectiveness Of Rodenticides For Managing Invasive Roof Rats And Native Deer Mice In Orchards, Roger A. Baldwin, Niamh Quinn, David H. Davis, Richard M. Engeman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Roof rats (Rattus rattus) and deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are occasional pests of nut and tree fruit orchards throughout California and in many other parts of the USA and beyond. In general, the most practical and cost-effective control method for rodents in many agricultural environments is the use of rodenticides (toxic baits), but little or no information exists on the efficacy of current rodenticides in controlling roof rats and deer mice in orchards. Therefore, our goals were to develop an index of rodent activity to monitor efficacy of rodenticides and to subsequently test the efficacy of three California Department of …

Stochasticity In Natural Forage Production Affects Use Of Urban Areas By Black Bears: Implications To Management Of Human-Bear Conflicts, Sharon Baruch-Mordo, Kenneth R. Wilson, David L. Lewis, John Broderick, Julie S. Mao, Stewart W. Breck

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The rapid expansion of global urban development is increasing opportunities for wildlife to forage and become dependent on anthropogenic resources. Wildlife using urban areas are often perceived dichotomously as urban or not, with some individuals removed in the belief that dependency on anthropogenic resources is irreversible and can lead to increased human-wildlife conflict. For American black bears (Ursus americanus), little is known about the degree of bear urbanization and its ecological mechanisms to guide the management of human-bear conflicts. Using 6 years of GPS location and activity data from bears in Aspen, Colorado, USA, we evaluated the degree of bear …

The Evolution Of Flow Devices Used To Reduce Flooding By Beavers: A Review, Jimmy D. Taylor Ii, Russell D. Singleton

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Dams created by American beavers (Castor canadensis) are associated with positive and negative values, and beaver management decisions are based on stakeholder perception and levels of tolerance. Lethal trapping is a widely used and accepted tool to reduce beaver damage caused by flooding; however, acceptable and efficacious non-lethal tools are increasingly desired by the public. We traced the origin of non-lethal tools used to reduce beaver flooding as far back as the early 20th century, when beavers received protective status and were reintroduced to many areas across North America. These tools focus on 2 general factors—exclusion and deception—and can be …

Influence Of Habitat Structure And Food On Patch Choice Ofcaptive Coyotes, Sharon A. Poessel, Eric M. Gese, Julie K. Young

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Increasing urban development can have significant effects on wildlife species, includingcarnivores. Some carnivore species have been able to adapt to and even thrive in urban envi-ronments, including coyotes (Canis latrans). The presence of carnivores in urban areas cansometimes lead to conflicts with humans and their pets. Although coyotes may frequentlyuse urban areas, they also inhabit natural areas surrounding urban development. Under-standing the various factors affecting patch choice of urban coyotes may assist wildlifeofficials in managing human-coyote conflicts. Both sex and behavioral profile can influ-ence patch choice; bold individuals are more likely to be exploratory than shy animals,which can …

Responses To Canopy Loss And Debris Deposition In A Tropical Forest Ecosystem: Synthesis From An Experimental Manipulation Simulating Effects Of Hurricane Disturbance, Aaron B. Shiels, Grizelle González, Michael R. Willig

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons are intense and broad-scale disturbances that affect many island and coastal ecosystems throughout the world. We summarize the findings of the articles that compose this special issue of Forest Ecology and Management, which focuses on a manipulative experiment (the Canopy Trimming Experiment, CTE) that simulates two key aspects of hurricane effects in a wet tropical forest. Although previous studies of tropical and subtropical forests have documented changes resulting from hurricanes, it is not clear which of the two simultaneously occurring direct effects of hurricanes—canopy openness or debris deposition—most influence responses. In the Luquillo Experimental Forest …

The Short-Term Effects Of A Routine Poisoning Campaign On The Movements And Detectability Of A Social Top-Predator., B L. Allen, R. M. Engeman, L. K-P. Leung

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Top-predators can be important components of resilient ecosystems, but they are still controlled in many places to mitigate a variety of economic, environmental and/or social impacts. Lethal control is often achieved through the broadscale application of poisoned baits. Understanding the direct and indirect effects of such lethal control on subsequent movements and behaviour of survivors is an important pre-requisite for interpreting the efficacy and ecological outcomes of top predator control. In this study, we use GPS tracking collars to investigate the fine-scale and short-term movements of dingoes (Canis lupus dingo and other wild dogs) in response to a routine poison-baiting …

Using Novel Spatial Mark–Resight Techniques To Monitor Resident Canada Geese In A Suburban Environment, M. Elizabeth Rutledge, Rachel Sollmann, Brian E. Washburn, Christopher E. Moorman, Christopher S. Deperno

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Context. Over the past two decades, an increase in the number of resident (non-migratory) Canada geese (Branta canadensis) in the United States has heightened the awareness of human–goose interactions.

Aims. Accordingly, baseline demographic estimates for goose populations are needed to help better understand the ecology of Canada geese in suburban areas.

Methods. As a basis for monitoring efforts, we estimated densities of adult resident Canada geese in a suburban environment by using a novel spatial mark–resight method. We resighted 763 neck- and leg-banded resident Canada geese two to three times per week in and around Greensboro, North Carolina, …

Novel Management Methods: Immunocontraception And Other Fertility Control Tools, Giovanna Massei, Dave Cowan, Douglas C. Eckery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Impacts of overabundant ungulate populations on human activities and conservation include crop and forestry losses, collisions with vehicles, disease transmission, nuisance behaviour, damage to infrastructures, predation on livestock and native species, and reduction of biodiversity in plant and animal communities (e.g. Curtis et ai., 2002; Massei et al., 2011; Reimoser and Putman, 2011; Ferroglio et ai., 2011; Langbein et al., 2011). Current trends in human population growth and landscape development indicate that human-ungulate conflicts in Europe, as well as in the United States, are likely to increase in parallel with increased expansion in numbers and range of many of these …

The Wake Island Rodent Eradication: Part Success, Part Failure, But Wholly Instructive, Richard Griffiths, Alex Wegmann, Chad Hanson, Brad Keitt, Gregg Howald, Derek Brown, Bernie Tershy, William Pitt, Matthew Moran, Kristen Rex, Susan White, Beth Flint, Nick Torr

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Rodent eradications undertaken on tropical islands have had a lower success rate than those attempted in temperate regions. A recent project undertaken to eradicate Rattus tanezumi and R. exulans from the 3 islands comprising Wake Atoll is illustrative. R. tanezumi was successfully removed from all 3 islands. R. exulans was permanently eradicated on Peale Island (95 ha) and temporarily on Wilkes Island (76 ha). R. exulans eradication on Wake Island (525 ha) was unsuccessful and the species has since repopulated Wake Island and recolonized Wilkes Island. We completed a detailed review of the project in an attempt to isolate potential …

A Review Of Invasive Rodent (Rattus Spp. And Mus Musculus) Diets On Pacific Islands, Aaron B. Shiels, William C. Pitt

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Three rat species, the Norway rat, black rat or ship rat, Pacific or Polynesian rat, and the house mouse are among the most widespread and destructive invasive mammals affecting islands. Through mostly unintentional introductions by humans, these rodents occupy >80% of the major islands worldwide. As a consequence of their omnivorous diet and large incisor teeth, introduced rats are probably the invasive animals responsible for the greatest number of plant and animal extinctions on islands. The effects of house mice on island ecosystems are less well known when compared with rats. We have reviewed past diet studies of these 4 …

Managing California Ground Squirrels On Levees Using Habitat Modification, Dirk Van Vuren, Miguel A. Ordeñana, Michael C. Mcgrann, Are R. Berentsen

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Burrowing mammals such as ground squirrels are considered threats to levee integrity, and some authors have proposed that ground squirrel occurrence on levees might be reduced by habitat modification. We characterized the threat that California ground squirrels pose to levees by summarizing available information on burrow lengths and depths, and we reviewed available information about the efficacy of habitat modification to reduce squirrel occurrence on levees. Burrows of California ground squirrels averaged 8.2 m in length (range = 0.9-42.1 m) and 75 cm in greatest depth (range = 33-168 cm), indicating that most burrows are not long enough to transect …

Iophenoxic Acid And Rhodamine B As Biomarkers Of Bovine Tuberculosis Vaccine Bait Uptake By White-Tailed Deer, Gregory E. Phillips, David A. Goldade, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Troy L. Ott, Donald C. Wagner

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium bovis, exists in free-ranging white-tailed deer in portions of northeastern Lower Michigan where deer herds serve as reservoirs and sources for reinfection of livestock herds. Density reduction and vaccination of reservoir host populations could be used together to reduce prevalence or eliminate the disease. Voluntary oral uptake of vaccine by deer is the most feasible mode of delivery. High probability of eliminating bTB would depend, in part, on a high proportion of deer being vaccinated. Chemical biomarkers could be used to estimate the proportion of a deer population consuming baits. Three …

Improving Pandemic Influenza Risk Assessment, Colin A. Russell, Peter M. Kasson, Ruben O. Donis, Steven Riley, John Dunbar, Andrew Rambaut, Jason Asher, Stephen Burke, C. Todd Davis, Rebecca J. Garten, Sandrasegaram Gnanakaran, Simon I. Hay, Sander Herfst, Nicola S. Lewis, James O. Lloyd-Smith, Catherine A. Macken, Sebastian Maurer-Stroh, Elizabeth Neuhaus, Colin R. Parrish, Kim M. Pepin, Samuel S. Shepard, David L. Smith, David L. Suarez, Susan C. Trock, Marc-Alain Widdowson, Dylan B. George, Marc Lipsitch, Jesse D. Bloom

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Assessing the pandemic risk posed by specific non-human influenza A viruses is an important goal in public health research. As influenza virus genome sequencing becomes cheaper, faster, and more readily available, the ability to predict pandemic potential from sequence data could transform pandemic influenza risk assessment capabilities. However, the complexities of the relationships between virus genotype and phenotype make such predictions extremely difficult. The integration of experimental work, computational tool development, and analysis of evolutionary pathways, together with refinements to influenza surveillance, has the potential to transform our ability to assess the risks posed to humans by non-human influenza viruses …

Effects Of Spatiotemporal Resource Heterogeneity On Home Range Size Of American Beaver, L. F. Mcclintic, J. D. Taylor Ii, J. C. Jones, R. D. Singleton, G. Wang

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Home range size of terrestrial animals may be influenced by spatiotemporal dynamics of resources. However, little is known regarding the effects of spatiotemporal resource availability on semi-aquatic central place foragers such as the American beaver Castor canadensis. From January 2011 to April 2012, 26 beavers at 11 wetlands at Redstone Arsenal in north-central Alabama, USA, were captured and radio-tracked using radio telemetry. The objectives of this study were to test the predictions of three hypotheses: (1) the resource dispersion hypothesis: more spatially dispersed resources throughout a landscape increase home range sizes; (2) the temporal resource variability hypothesis: more temporally …

Evolution Of Puma Lentivirus In Bobcats (Lynx Rufus) And Mountain Lions (Puma Concolor) In North America, Justin S. Lee, Sarah N. Bevins, Laurel E. K. Serleys, Winston Vickers, Ken A. Logan, Mat Aldredge, Erin E. Boydston, Lisa M. Lyren, Roy Mcbride, Melody Roelke-Parker, Jill Pecon-Slattery, Jennifer L. Troyer, Seth P. Riley, Walter M. Boyce, Kevin R. Crooks, Sue Vandewoude

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) throughout North and South America are infected with puma lentivirus clade B (PLVB). A second, highly divergent lentiviral clade, PLVA, infects mountain lions in southern California and Florida. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in these two geographic regions are also infected with PLVA, and to date, this is the only strain of lentivirus identified in bobcats. We sequenced full-length PLV genomes in order to characterize the molecular evolution of PLV in bobcats and mountain lions. Low sequence homology (88% average pairwise identity) and frequent recombination (1 recombination breakpoint per 3 isolates analyzed) were observed …

Short Report: Antibody Prevalence Of Select Arboviruses In Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) In The Great Lakes Region And Atlantic Coast Of The United States, Kerri Pedersen, David R. Marks, Dustin M. Arsnoe, Sarah N. Bevins, Eryu Wang, Scott C. Weaver, Randall M. Mickley, Thomas J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Mute swans (Cygnus olor) are an invasive species in the United States. The dramatic increase in their populations in localized areas has led to various problems, among them competition with native species and attacks on humans by aggressive swans. However, very little is known about the ability of these swans to transmit pathogens to humans, domestic birds, or wildlife or participate in enzootic maintenance. To learn more about select pathogens that mute swans may harbor, a survey was conducted from April of 2011 to August of 2012 in the Great Lakes region and localized areas of the Atlantic …

Responses By Wild House Mice (Mus Musculus) To Variousstimuli In A Novel Environment, Gary W. Witmer, Nathan P. Snow, Rachael S. Moulton

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

House mice (Mus musculus) pose a threat to the native flora and fauna on islands, and cancause significant damage wherever they have been introduced. Methods used to eradicateinvasive rodents, like house mice, at high population densities may not be appropriate forintercepting them at lower densities. A better understanding of the immediate behavior ofhouse mice when first introduced to a novel environment would help managers developeffective biosecurity techniques to protect against new invasions. To address this problem,we conducted a controlled laboratory experiment that simulated an invasion by wild housemice into a novel environment. We quantified and compared the immediate …

Right Place, Wrong Species: A 20-Year Review Of Rabies Virus Cross Species Transmission Among Terrestrial Mammals In The United States, Ryan M. Wallace, Amy T. Gilbert, Dennis Slate, Richard Chipman, Amber Singh, Cassie Wedd, Jesse D. Blanton

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Introduction: In the continental US, four terrestrial mammalian species are reservoirs for seven antigenic rabies virus variants. Cross species transmission (CST) occurs when a rabies virus variant causes disease in non-reservoir species.

Methods: This study analyzed national surveillance data for rabies in terrestrial mammals. The CST rate was defined as: number of rabid non-reservoir animals/number of rabid reservoir animals. CST rates were analyzed for trend. Clusters of high CST rate counties were evaluated using space-time scanning statistics.

Results: The number of counties reporting a raccoon variant CST rate >1.0 increased from 75 in 1992 to 187 in 2011; counties with …

Efficacy Of Ropel® As A Coyote Repellent, Elizabeth A. Miller, Julie K. Young, Scott Stelting, Bruce A. Kimball

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined the repellency of a commercially available animal repellent to determine the efficacy of its application to objects that are attractive to coyotes (Canis latrans). Specifically, we aimed to both prevent chewing behavior by coyotes on a nylon-like strapping material, which is used to construct barrier-arresting systems on military airstrips, and determine the ability of the solution to prevent the animals from repeating the undesired behavior. We mixed Ropel® Animal and Rodent Repellent with a liquid latex sticker to form a 2% latex and 98% Ropel solution. We used a 2% latex and 98% water solution as …

The Influence Of Study Species Selection On Estimates Of Pesticide Exposure In Free-Ranging Birds, Shannon Borges, Nimish B. Vyas, Mary Christman

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Field studies of pesticide effects on birds often utilize indicator species with the purpose of extrapolating to other avian taxa. Little guidance exists for choosing indicator species to monitor the presence and/or effects of contaminants that are labile in the environment or body, but are acutely toxic, such as anticholinesterase (anti-ChE) insecticides. Use of an indicator species that does not represent maximum exposure and/or effects could lead to inaccurate risk estimates. Our objective was to test the relevance of a priori selection of indicator species for a study on pesticide exposure to birds inhabiting fruit orchards. We used total plasma …

Functional Significance Of Ultraviolet Feeding Cues In Wild Turkeys, Scott J. Werner, Richard Buchholz, Shelagh K. Tupper, Susan E. Pettit, Jeremy W. Ellis

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Most birds are able to sense ultraviolet (UV) visual signals. Ultraviolet wavelengths are used for plumage signaling and sexual selection among birds. The aim of our study was to determine if UV cues are also used for the process of food selection in wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). We used avoidance conditioning to test the hypothesis that UV feeding cues can be used functionally for foraging behavior in wild turkeys. Female turkeys exhibited no avoidance of untreated food and 75–98% avoidance of food treated with an UV-absorbent, postingestive repellent (0.5–4% anthraquinone; wt./wt.) during repellent exposure. Male turkeys exhibited 78–99% avoidance of …

Avian Paramyxovirus Serotype 1 (Newcastle Disease Virus), Avian Influenza Virus, And Salmonella Spp. In Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) In The Great Lakes Region And Atlantic Coast Of The United States, Kerri Pedersen, David R. Marks, Dustin M. Arsnoe, Claudio L. Afonso, Sarah N. Bevins, Patti J. Miller, Adam R. Randall, Thomas J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Since their introduction to the United States in the late 19th century, mute swans (Cygnus olor) have become a nuisance species by causing damage to aquatic habitats, acting aggressively toward humans, competing with native waterfowl, and potentially transmitting or serving as a reservoir of infectious diseases to humans and poultry. In an effort to investigate their potential role as a disease reservoir and to establish avian health baselines for pathogens that threaten agricultural species or human health, we collected samples from 858 mute swans and tested them for avian paramyxovirus serotype 1 (APMV-1), avian influenza virus (AIV), and Salmonella spp. …

Population Dynamics Of Double-Crested Cormorants In Two Interior Breeding Areas, Jennifer E. Chastant, D. Tommy King, D.V. Chip Weseloh, David J. Moore

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Because of rapid population expansion, conflicts between double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and humans have increased, particularly at aquaculture facilities in the Lower Mississippi River Valley (LMRV), United States. Although key demographic information on the Interior population is sparse, management decisions for population reduction are already in place across their breeding range. New evidence suggests the Appalachian Mountains may act as a migration divide for Interior cormorants, causing some birds to migrate between LMRV and the western Great Lakes, whereas others migrate between Florida and the eastern Great Lakes. Most of the banded cormorants recovered near LMRV aquaculture facilities were banded …

Improved Satellite Transmitter Harness Attachment Technique, John S. Humphrey, Michael L. Avery

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Kenward et al. (2001) observed: ‘‘Techniques for studying animals should not prejudice either the welfare of the individuals or the scientific quality of the results. This is especially important when advances in technology create new opportunities, as well as new risks.’’ Satellite telemetry technology has revolutionized the ability of scientists to conduct long-term studies of avian movements and behavior (e.g., Prince et al. 1992, Cappelle et al. 2011, Chevallier et al. 2011). Effective application of this technology depends on many factors, including the proper attachment of the transmitter to the bird. For large birds, transmitters are attached using a backpack-style …

Toxicokinetics And Coagulopathy Threshold Of The Rodenticide Diphacinone In Eastern Screech-Owls (Megascops Asio), Barnett A. Rattner, Katherine E. Horak, Rebecca S. Lazarus, David A. Goldade, John J. Johnston

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

In the United States, new regulations on second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides will likely be offset by expanded use of first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides. In the present study, eastern screech-owls (Megascops asio) were fed 10 mg diphacinone/g wet weight food for 7 d, and recovery was monitored over a 21-d postexposure period. By day 3 of exposure, diphacinone (DPN) was detected in liver (1.63 mg/g wet wt) and kidney (5.83 mg/g) and coagulopathy was apparent. By day 7, prothrombin time (PT) and Russell’s viper venom time (RVVT) were prolonged, and some individuals were anemic. Upon termination of exposure, coagulopathy and anemia were resolved …

The Evolution Of Self-Control, Evan L. Maclean, Brian Hare, Charles L. Nunn, Elsa Addessi, Federica Amici, Rindy C. Anderson, Filippo Aureli, Joseph M. Baker, Amanda E. Bania, Allison M. Barnard, Neeltje J. Boogert, Elizabeth M. Brannon, Emily E. Bray, Joel Bray, Lauren J. N. Brent, Judith M. Burkart, Josep Call, Jessica F. Cantlon, Lucy G. Cheke, Nicola S. Clayton, Mikel M. Delgado, Louis J. Divindenti, Kazuo Fujita, Esther Herrmann, Chihiro Hiramatsu, Lucia F. Jacobs, Kerry E. Jordan, Jennifer R. Laude, Kristin L. Leimgruber, Emily J. E. Messer, Antonio C. De A. Moura, Ljerka Ostojic, Alejandra Picard, Michael L. Platt, Joshua M. Plotnik, Friederike Range, Simon M. Reader, Rachna B. Reddy, Aaron A. Sandel, Laurie R. Santos, Katrin Schumann, Amanda M. Seed, Kendra B. Sewall, Rachael C. Shaw, Katie E. Slocombre, Yanjie Su, Ayaka Takimoto, Jingzhi Tan, Ruoting Tao, Carel P. Van Schaik, Zsofia Viranyi, Elisabetta Visalberghi, Jordan C. Wade, Arii Watanabe, Janes Widness, Julie K. Young, Thomas R. Zentall, Yini Zhao

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Cognition presents evolutionary research with one of its greatest challenges. Cognitive evolution has been explained at the proximate level by shifts in absolute and relative brain volume and at the ultimate level by differences in social and dietary complexity. However, no study has integrated the experimental and phylogenetic approach at the scale required to rigorously test these explanations. Instead, previous research has largely relied on various measures of brain size as proxies for cognitive abilities. We experimentally evaluated these major evolutionary explanations by quantitatively comparing the cognitive performance of 567 individuals representing 36 species on two problem-solving tasks measuring self-control. …

One Health In Action: Reducing Feral Swine Damage And Disease, Sarah N. Bevins, Alan B. Franklin

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

As an invasive species, feral swine (Sus scrofa) are a classic example of a species that can profoundly influence ecological communities and ecosystems. They alter environments through a suite of well-known traits: rooting behaviors that alter soil properties and disturb plant communities; a generalist diet that can encompass seeds, crops, and animals; a rapid reproduction rate that can result in explosive population growth; and an adaptable biology that allows them to thrive in a range of habitats and climates. Along with these more familiar traits of an aggressive invasive species, feral swine can also reservoir and transmit a …