Digital Commons Network^™

Finding Colonies Of Black-Headed Gulls Chroicocephalus Ridibundus Using Google Earth, Roberto G. Valle, Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, Francesco Scarton

Marine Ornithology

We explore the possibility of identifying Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus colonies in the saltmarshes of the Lagoon of Venice, Italy, using Google Earth satellite images. One reproductive season was considered (June 2017), based on the images available on Google Earth. This species builds nests clustered around tidal pools and tidal creeks, providing a dark background to reveal the white gulls. Images of the southern part of the lagoon (excluding fish farms) were analyzed by dividing it into sectors (n = 403) using the Google Earth grid at an elevation of 100 m above ground level. The results of the satellite …

Diet Assessment And Vulnerability Of White-Faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma Marina Within A Warming Hotspot, Madhuli Karmalkar, Lauren Roman, Farzana Kastury, Fernando Arce, Kerrie M. Swadling

Marine Ornithology

Shifts in zooplankton communities due to changing ocean climate can affect foraging patterns among planktivorous seabirds. To better understand seabird response to environmental change in Bass Strait, southeast Australia, we investigated the prey species and 16 elements in prey and feathers of the planktivorous White-faced Storm Petrel Pelagodroma marina. The krill Nyctiphanes australis was the most abundant prey species, followed by several species of post-larval fish; otherwise, the species appeared to be a generalist feeder. Element concentrations of feathers were not significantly influenced by dietary composition. Likewise, element concentrations did not significantly differ between major prey species, confirming that the …

Best Practices For Using Drones In Seabird Monitoring And Research, Alice J. Edney, Tom Hart, Mark J. Jessopp, Alex Banks, Lucy E. Clarke, Laure Cugnière, Kyle H. Elliot, Ignacio Juarez Martinez, Alexandra Kilcoyne, Matthew Murphy, Ruedi G. Nager, Norman Ratcliffe, Danielle L. Thompson, Robin M. Ward, Matt J. Wood

Marine Ornithology

Over the past decade, drones have become increasingly popular in environmental biology and have been used to study wildlife on all continents. Drones have become of global importance for surveying breeding seabirds by providing opportunities to transform monitoring techniques and allow new research on some of the most threatened birds. However, such fast-changing and increasingly available technology presents challenges to regulators responding to requests to carry out surveys and to researchers ensuring their work follows best practices and meets legal and ethical standards. Following a workshop convened at the 14th International Seabird Group Conference and a subsequent literature search, we …

Ingestion Of Man-Made Debris By Markham's Storm Petrel Hydrobates Markhami, Fernando Medrano, Macarena Vargas, Daniel Terán, Marlene Flores, Giannira Álvarez, Ronny Peredo

Marine Ornithology

Man-made debris is a global problem for seabirds because it is ingested by many species. Markham’s Storm Petrel Hydrobates markhami, which breeds in the Atacama Desert and is endemic to the Humboldt Current in the eastern South Pacific, has been poorly studied in this regard. Earlier studies found low levels of man-made debris in the species’ diet. We quantified the present-day frequency-occurrence of man-made debris in fledglings and adults of Markham’s Storm Petrel in Chile. We found that 16 of 25 fledglings and all adults contained man-made debris in their digestive tract, indicating the prevalence of man-made debris in this …

Lesser Noddy Anous Tenuirostris Migration From A Non-Breeding Area In The Northern Maldives To A Breeding Site In The Seychelles, A. Farhath Ali, Richard A. Phillips, R. Charles Anderson

Marine Ornithology

The Lesser Noddy Anous tenuirostris occurs in large numbers in the northern Maldives during the northeast monsoon season (December to April). These birds do not breed in the Maldives, but their breeding site(s) are unknown. We attached GPS Argos satellite transmitters to seven Lesser Noddies roosting on Gallandhoo Island (Haa Alifu Atoll, northern Maldives) on 25 March 2022. Only one transmitter provided data, but it tracked the migration of one Lesser Noddy to the Seychelles, where the bird first roosted on the island of Poivre before moving to the large nesting colony on Cousine. The tracked bird departed the Maldives …

Demographics And Gross Pathology Of Scoters And Scaups Killed By The Cosco Busan Oil Spill In California, Jessie Beck, Ryan D. Carle, Hannahrose Nevins, Susan E.W. De La Cruz, Erica Donnelly-Greenan

Marine Ornithology

Unusual wildlife mortality events provide a unique opportunity to collect information on demographics, disease, and body condition in affected wildlife, which may be useful for informing oil spill damage assessments and future spill responses. In November 2007, the Cosco Busan Oil Spill occurred in San Francisco Bay, California, a globally important wintering area for waterfowl. The spill resulted in the mortality of scoters Melanitta spp. and scaups Aythya spp., species that have declined significantly over recent decades. We examined the demography (sex and age ratios) and prevalence of grossly apparent disease (acanthocephalan parasite infection and mycotic disease) in 288 Surf …

Extra-Marine Occurrence Of The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata Magnificens In The Metropolitan Region Of São Paulo, Southeast Brazil, Fabio Schunck, Fábio Toledo Das Dores, Natália Dantas Paes, Marcos Antônio Melo, Bianca Matinata, Marcelo Bokermann, Ingo Grantsau

Marine Ornithology

The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens (MAFR) has the largest area of occurrence of any species in the Fregatidae family, with a large nesting colony in Southeast Brazil. However, studies with birds that occur on the coastal plain and in other areas of the continent are lacking. We organized information obtained in the field, from the literature, and from online ornithological platforms, and we evaluated the occurrence of MAFR on the plateau of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP), the largest urban area in South America. A total of 31 records were obtained dating back to 1960. Twelve of the …

The Potential Of Ecologists To Enhance Our Understanding Of Seabird Health, Melanie R. Wells, Annie Philips, Mary-Anne Lea, Scott Carver

Marine Ornithology

Ecologists play a pivotal role in the detection and investigation of population changes in seabirds and by doing so have significant potential to contribute to enhancing knowledge of seabird health. This review highlights key examples in the literature where ecologists have employed diligent passive health surveillance and/or undertaken targeted investigations of seabirds, strategies that have augmented our knowledge of seabird health at individual and population levels. Within the context of One Health, an integrated approach to perceiving and managing health, this review amalgamates veterinarian and ecology disciplines by summarising auxiliary metrics of clinical health that may be considered for incorporation …

Contents, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Nesting Distribution Of Masked Booby Sula Dactylatra At Trindade Island, Western South Atlantic Ocean, Victória R.F. Benemann, Leonardo D. Araújo, Arthur Z. Fabbris, Rosalinda C. Montone, Maria V. Petry

Marine Ornithology

The Masked Booby Sula dactylatra is a surface-nesting seabird that breeds on offshore islands across the tropical and subtropical oceans. On inaccessible rocky areas on Trindade Island, located about 1200 km from Espírito Santo, Brazil, the nesting of this species has been poorly studied. To model the species’ nesting habitat suitability at Trindade Island, we mapped active nests during the breeding seasons of 2017 and 2019, from October to November, using a hand-held Global Positioning System receiver and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. In order to identify key areas, we created nesting habitat suitability maps using seven different algorithms (Random Forest, …

Diagnosis Of Hypothermia In Seabirds From Coastal California, Nancy L. Anderson

Marine Ornithology

This study established cloacal temperature (TCl) cut-off values to diagnose hypothermia in near shore seabirds rescued along the coast of California. All birds died when TCl was < 38.2 °C. When Aechmophorus grebes were excluded, 100% died when TCl was < 38.4 °C. Mortality increased 2–3× when TCl was lower than receiver operating curve-determined criteria for diagnosing hypothermia based on attitude: < 38.8 °C for mixed species, < 39.1 °C for Common Murres Uria aalge, and < 38.2 °C for Aechmophorus grebes. Reductions in TCl as small as 1.0 °C had significant physiologic effects.

Mercury Contamination In The Endocrine Glands Of Black-Tailed Gulls Larus Crassirostris On Kabushima (Kabu Island), Japan, Yasuaki Niizuma, Hinako Tani, Yuki Yamashita, Mitsuki Ito, Miho Maeda

Marine Ornithology

A colony of about 30 000 pairs of Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris nest on Kabushima (Kabu Island), which is located on the northeast mainland coast of Japan (Sanriku Coast, Honshu Island). There, the surface-water Hg concentration is higher than in the North Pacific Ocean. We collected carcasses from the breeding colony to assess the level of mercury (Hg) contamination. We measured Hg concentrations in 10 body tissues, including the endocrine glands. The relative mercury concentrations in the tissue samples (µg/g dry weight) were as follows: adrenal glands > livers > kidneys > blood > pituitaries > gonads > breast muscles > thyroid glands > pancreases > brain stems. Correlations …

Using Remote Video Technology To Study Environmental Factors Influencing Productivity Of Black-Legged Kittiwakes Rissa Tridactyla, Sarah A. Tanedo, Tuula E. Hollmén, John M. Maniscalco, Sadie E.G. Ulman

Marine Ornithology

Monitoring seabirds and their responses to ecosystem change provides essential information for understanding the reasons behind any changes in productivity or populations. However, many species nest in remote locations, which poses logistical challenges for long-term studies. Remote cameras offer an opportunity to confront this issue. The Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla (kittiwake) has been used as an indicator of changes in its environment and is a prime candidate for monitoring via remote cameras. To investigate the potential for camera application, we used a remote camera system to collect six years (2010–2015) of reproductive data from a sub-colony of kittiwakes in Resurrection …

A Test Of Mechanisms Of Population Differentiation In Gannets (Morus Spp.) Using Comparative Phylogeography And Morphometrics, Victoria L. Friesen, Rebecca Brunt, James A. Morris-Pocock, Drew Sauve, Allan J. Baker, Timothy P. Birt, William S. Davidson, Kyle H. Elliott, William A. Montevecchi

Marine Ornithology

The relative importance of gene flow, genetic drift, and natural selection in driving genetic divergence of local populations, as well as the factors that disrupt gene flow in natural populations, are uncertain. Comparative analyses enable us to test explicit hypotheses regarding the roles of these factors. Gannets (Morus spp.) include three morphologically and ecologically similar seabird species: the Cape Gannet M. capensis, which breeds in southern Africa; the Australasian Gannet M. serrator, which breeds in southeastern Australia and New Zealand; and the Northern Gannet M. bassanus, which breeds in the North Atlantic. We assessed the extent of differentiation in mitochondrial …

Normal Physical Parameters Characterizing Galapagos Marine Birds, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Patricio D. Carrera-Játiva, Soledad Sarzosa, Edison Encalada, Richar Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Erika (Travis) Crook, Christian Sevilla

Marine Ornithology

The Galapagos Penguin Spheniscus mendiculus (GAPE), Flightless Cormorant Phalacrocorax harrisi (FLCO), and Waved Albatross Phoebastria irrorata (WAAL) are marine birds that are endemic to the Galapagos Islands. To provide health information for these three species, baseline data on several physiological parameters were collected non-invasively—from individuals and populations appearing to be healthy—during the course of physical examinations that were conducted from 2011–2019. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and body condition (weight vs. morphometric measurements) were analyzed as a function of age and sex. Mean heart rate differed significantly between juveniles and adults in all three species. Respiratory rate and body …

Contents, Pacific Seabird Group

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Motionfusion: A Robust Ensemble Learning Framework For Accurate Sensor-Based Human Activity Recognition, Hussein K. Almulla, Hussam J. Mohammed, Alaa S. Al-Waisy, Shumoos Al-Fahdawi, Ahmed Adnan Had, Bourair Al-Attar

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Human activity Recognition (HAR) has emerged as an important research area due to its potential applications in health, sport, and recreation. The widespread availability of smartphone sensors has facilitated data collection for HAR systems. Although machine learning and deep learning models have proven to be effective in detecting human activity from sensor data, their performance may be limited, this study proposes MotionFusion which is an ensemble learning model to increase HAR accuracy utilizing accelerometer and gyroscope data from a smartphone. By combining Histogram-Based Gradient Boosting, Random Forest, and Extra Trees models with a Support Vector Machine classifier and using feature …

Non-Breeding Movements And Foraging Ecology Of The Black Guillemot Cepphus Grylle In Atlantic Canada, Julia E. Baak, Marty L. Leonard, Carina Gjerdrum, Mark D. Dodds, Robert A. Ronconi

Marine Ornithology

Understanding the movements of seabirds, which are important ecological indicators, can provide new insights into physical and biological aspects of the marine environment. This information can also be used in planning marine conservation and oil spill response strategies. Though Black Guillemots Cepphus grylle are widely distributed in the coastal waters of eastern and arctic Canada, little is known about their movements during the non-breeding season. We used a combination of global location sensors and stable-isotope analyses on Black Guillemots breeding on Country Island, Nova Scotia, Canada and on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada to examine their non-breeding movements and trophic …

Population Decline And Breeding Distribution Changes Of Magnificent Frigatebirds Fregata Magnificens In Baja California Sur, Gerardo Marrón, Adriana Hernández-Alvarez, Roberto Carmona, Sergio Águila

Marine Ornithology

The Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens (MaFr) is a tropical seabird species that is widely distributed along the mid-latitude coasts of the Americas. Historically, its most important breeding location has been Estero Las Tijeras in the Magdalena Lagoon complex (MLC), Baja California Sur, Mexico. Our recent data indicate a severe (~96%) population decline at this location. In 2002–2003, 33535 MaFr were counted in all of the MLC, and historical data (1985–1986) support the maintenance of consistently high numbers of MaFr in this region over time. Yet, MaFr abundance dropped severely—to ~1 200 individuals—in 2015. This low abundance persisted into 2017, when …

Reviews: Journal Of A Voyage: Federico Craveri And The Gulf Of California In 1856 (Craveri, F.; T. Bowen [Ed.], B. D'Arpa And B. Cavatorta [Translators]); How To Be An Antiracist (Kendi, I.X.); The Skin We're In: A Year Of Black Resistance And Power (Cole, D.); Hawai'i'S White Tern: Manu-O-Ku, An Urban Seabird (Scott, S.), Daniel W. Anderson, Rachel T. Buxton, David Ainley, Louise Blight, Jenna Cragg, Benjamin Saenz, Lindsay Young

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Population Status Of The Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma Neglecta Juana) At San Ambrosio Island, Chile, Manuel Marín, Rodrigo González, Sergio Trucco

Marine Ornithology

We visited San Ambrosio Island off northern Chile (26°21′S, 079°47′W) on 10–12 December 2019. We found a large population of Kermadec Petrel Pterodroma neglecta juana that appeared to be healthy. In the area that we could survey, we estimated at least 22686 breeding pairs, which is an underestimate of the entire population as we could not access some steep areas. Introduced mammals, which have since been eradicated, caused a loss of island vegetation that might be a drawback for this population, as shading from the sun appears to be important for nest-site selection. Egg-laying started by early December. We assessed …

Foraging Ranges Of Humboldt Penguins Spheniscus Humboldti From Tilgo Island: The Critical Need For Protecting A Unique Marine Habitat, René Quispe, Miriam Lerma, Nicolás Luna, Matías Portflitt-Toro, Juan Serratosa, Guillermo Luna-Jorquera

Marine Ornithology

The largest population of Humboldt Penguins resides in a fertile archipelago of the north-central coast of Chile, formed by eight islands in proximity to upwelling centers of the Humboldt Current System. However, five of these islands lack legal protection. Here, we report the results of breeding Humboldt Penguins tracked while foraging from Tilgo Island. The average and maximum foraging radii around the colony were 22 km and 43 km, respectively. Our data indicate that trip ranges overlap areas proposed for industrial projects. Because Humboldt Penguins are sentinels of local ecosystem health, this underscores the value of expanding conservation zones in …

Two Unprecedented Auk Wrecks In The Northwest Atlantic In Winter 2012/13, Antony W. Diamond, Douglas B. Mcnair, Julie C. Ellis, Jean-François Rail, Erin S. Whidden, Andrew W. Kratter, Sarah J. Courchesne, Mark A. Pokras, Sabina I. Wilhelm, Stephen W. Kress, Andrew Farnsworth, Marshall J. Iliff, Samuel H. Jennings, Justin D. Brown, Jennifer R. Ballard, Sara H. Schweitzer, Joseph C. Okoniewski, John B. Gallegos, John D. Stanton

Marine Ornithology

An unprecedented irruption of thousands of Razorbills Alca torda into Florida in winter 2012/13 was followed by a “wreck” of Razorbills and Atlantic Puffins Fratercula arctica in outer Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in January–March 2013. We describe these events using citizen-science sources (eBird and beached-bird surveys) and band recoveries, then we discuss them in relation to extreme weather and oceanographic change. We explored effects on likely source populations using census and monitoring data, along with possible contributions from population increases, reduced food supply, and extreme weather. Winter 2012/13 followed a marine heatwave throughout the northwest Atlantic, whose effects included reduced availability …

Identification Of Foraging Areas And Movements Of Royal Tern Thalasseus Maximus At The Isles Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge, Louisiana, Virginie Rolland, Megan Nepshinsky, Eva D. Windhoffer, Jeff S. Liechty, Ashlee K. Minor, Aaron R. Pierce

Marine Ornithology

The Isles Dernieres Barrier Island Refuge (IDBIR) in Louisiana constitutes a major colonial seabird breeding site but is also considered a high-risk marine area that is susceptible to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances that can be detrimental to breeding areas and food resources. The objective of this study was to track the movements of breeding Royal Terns Thalasseus maximus at the IDBIR to identify important foraging movement parameters and foraging areas. GPS loggers were attached to six Royal Terns during the 2014–2017 breeding seasons. Mean foraging trip distance was 28.8 km and the maximum distance traveled was 47.8 km. The …

First Evidence Of Plastic Ingestion By Red-Billed Tropicbirds Phaethon Aethereus From St. Eustatius, Caribbean Netherlands, Hannah Madden, Eline Eggermont

Marine Ornithology

We present the first confirmed evidence of plastic ingestion by a Red-billed Tropicbird on the Caribbean Netherlands island of St. Eustatius, which supports a regionally important nesting population. With our observations, all species of tropicbird have now been documented ingesting marine plastic pollution.

Retracted: A Quantum Convolutional Neural Network Approach For Early And Accurate Diagnosis Of Parkinson's Disease, Aiesha Mahmoud Ibrahim, Mazin Abed Mohammed, Omar Al-Boridi

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects individuals over the age of 55. It is characterized by a range of motor and non-motor symptoms that can significantly impact various aspects of daily life. Despite notable advancements in medical science, there is currently no permanent cure or definitive treatment for PD. This therapeutic gap underscores the critical importance of early diagnosis, which remains a major focus of ongoing research. Due to the disease's gradual progression, PD symptoms may take years to fully develop, making early detection essential for improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Moreover, the …

The Future Of Intelligent Industrial Systems: Plc, Node-Red, And Iot/Iiot, Firas Ahmed Hussein, Mohammad Tariq Yaseen, Mohammed Obaid Mustafa

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

Integrating Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) with Node-RED and IoT/IIoT has emerged as a transformative technique for developing intelligent industrial systems as industrial automation improves. This narrative review brings together more than 70 research sources on industrial PLC, Node-RED, IoT, and IIoT applications. Case studies, experimental implementations, and industry reports are used to discover trends, challenges, and opportunities. The review focuses on three main topics: PLCs in modern industrial systems and their evolution and integration with IoT/IIoT; Node-RED as a middleware for industrial automation and its ability to connect PLCs to cloud and edge computing; and IIoT and smart manufacturing and …

Beyond The Airway, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2024-2025

Beyond the Airway

Table of Contents

1 - Foreword by Dr. Eric Schwenk

2 - Foreword by Bhavana Thota

3 - Interview with Dr. Jaime Baratta

5 - FAER MSARF Summer Research Fellowship

8 - Interview with Dr. Natasha Sinai-Hede

11 - Sugammadex vs. Neostigmine/Glycopyrrolate

14 - Interview with Dr. Angelica Pinninti

16 - Women in Anesthesiology

20 - Editorial Staff

The High Burden Of Depression, Anxiety, And Stress Among University Students In Southern Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study, Hassan Al-Karagoly, Zahraa Al-Attar, Hjar Al-Asadi, Sajad Al-Lahibi, Russul Al-Fartousi, Teeba Al-Jadry, Menatallah Bali, Baneen Al-Hasnawi, Hanan Al-Aboudi, Zainab Al-Fadliu, Ali Al-Mosawi, Zahraa Al-Aboudi, Qassim Al-Rubaie, Mohsin Al-Samawi, Abdulsalam Halboup

AUIQ Complementary Biological System

University students often face significant academic, social, and environmental pressures, making them particularly vulnerable to psychological distress. Despite this, there is limited evidence regarding the prevalence and associated factors of mental health problems among university students in Iraq. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and severity of depression, anxiety, and stress in this population and to examine their associations with sociodemographic characteristics, insomnia, internet use, and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among Iraqi university students using a structured questionnaire, including the DASS-21, Insomnia Severity Index, and Internet Addiction Test. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to …

An Exploration Of Response Bias And Their Impact On Self-Report Psychopathology: The Mmpi-A Response Bias Measures, Ashley Messinger

ETD Collection

No abstract provided.