No Room For Speciesism In Welfare Considerations,
2020
Oakland University
No Room For Speciesism In Welfare Considerations, Jennifer Vonk
Animal Sentience
Speciesism should play no role in determining welfare outcomes. Cognition may vary within species as well as between species, but broad classifications such as invertebrates are functionally meaningless in this context. Cognition should relate to welfare only to the extent that it relates to the capacity to suffer or to experience pleasure.
Of Elephants And Men,
2020
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Of Elephants And Men, Helen Kopnina
Animal Sentience
Baker & Winkler’s target article is well-researched and thought-provoking, but I do have four points of contention: (1) The proposal to entrust elephants to traditional mahout culture has restricted elephants’ freedom of movement and reproduction and (ab)used them. (2) The concept of “indigenous” simultaneously reifies and denigrates the “noble savages”, privileging only human indigenous groups, ignoring nonhuman indigenes. (3) Most lifestyles have been globalized under consumer-economic and anthropocentric worldviews. (4) The fact that people (including mahouts) are part of nature does not mean they are benevolent, any more than cities, monocultures, or roads are.
Rewilding And Mixed-Community Collaboration In Conservation,
2020
CUNY Hunter College
Rewilding And Mixed-Community Collaboration In Conservation, Liv Baker
Animal Sentience
Rewilding is a psychological and sociocultural event for nonhuman animals that goes beyond the traditional framework of ecology. Elephants need to be seen as political agents in a collaboration. Our commentators shed light on the hierarchical assumptions and politics involved. Mixed-community collaboration can create dynamic and sustainable conservation interventions that are crucial to reconceptualizing the human-elephant relationship beyond the concept of labor. The profound effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have laid bare the fundamental vulnerabilities of the elephant tourism industry. Moreover, how well an elephant has been buffered by the fallout of the pandemic is dependent on the specific relations …
Insect Sentience And The Rise Of A New Inclusive Ethics,
2020
University of Florence
Insect Sentience And The Rise Of A New Inclusive Ethics, David Baracchi, Luigi Baciadonna
Animal Sentience
Welfare protections for vertebrates are grounded in the belief that vertebrates are sentient and capable of feeling whereas invertebrates are not. We agree with Mikhalevich & Powell that the exclusion of small-brained invertebrates from bioethics is not warranted by the current state of the scientific evidence. The choice to promote protection for certain invertebrates should be based on the Animal Sentience Precautionary Principle (ASPP). This principle should not prevent us from conducting experimental research with non-human animals to advance knowledge. However, we believe that it is important to outline practical guidelines to manage the wellbeing of invertebrates, while accumulating further …
An Assessment Of Convergence In The Feeding Morphology Of Xiphactinus Audax And Megalops Atlanticus Using Landmark-Based Geometric Morphometrics,
2020
Fort Hays State University
An Assessment Of Convergence In The Feeding Morphology Of Xiphactinus Audax And Megalops Atlanticus Using Landmark-Based Geometric Morphometrics, Edward Chase Shelburne
Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice
Convergence is an evolutionary phenomenon wherein distantly related organisms independently develop features or functional adaptations to overcome similar environmental constraints. Historically, convergence among organisms has been speculated or asserted with little rigorous or quantitative investigation. More recent advancements in systematics has allowed for the detection and study of convergence in a phylogenetic context, but this does little to elucidate convergent anatomical features in extinct taxa with poorly understood evolutionary histories. The purpose of this study is to investigate one potentially convergent system—the feeding structure of Xiphactinus audax (Teleostei: Ichthyodectiformes) and Megalops atlanticus (Teleostei: Elopiformes)—using a comparative anatomical approach to assess …
The Effects Of Prescribed Burning And Microhabitat Type On Ant (Formicidae) Functional Groups And A Survey Of Ants In The Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Area (A Mixed Grass Prairie),
2020
Fort Hays State University
The Effects Of Prescribed Burning And Microhabitat Type On Ant (Formicidae) Functional Groups And A Survey Of Ants In The Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Area (A Mixed Grass Prairie), Ashley N. Durr
Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice
This project sought to understand how prescribed burning and microhabitat type impacts Kansas ant functional groups and also whether prescribed burning in different microhabitat types altered the burn’s impact on those functional groups. The Dr. Howard Reynolds Nature Trail, located in Hays, Kansas, was burned in the spring of 2019. The area consists of 2 distinct habitat types: a dry, mixed-grass dominated uphill area and a moist, densely vegetated downhill area. Pitfall trapping was conducted during the summers of the year prior to the burn (2018) and the year following the burn (2019). 15 pitfall traps were spread across each …
Abundance And Occurrence Of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In Three Estuaries Of The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico,
2020
University of Florida, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program
Abundance And Occurrence Of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) In Three Estuaries Of The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Errol Ronje, Heidi Whitehead, Kevin Barry, Sarah Piwetz, Juliane Struve, Vincent Lecours, Lance Garrison, Randall S. Wells, Keith D. Mullin
Gulf and Caribbean Research
Current abundance estimates for populations of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus, Montagu, 1821) in bays, sounds, and estuaries are lacking throughout most of the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, including areas of Texas and western Louisiana. To address this issue, we conducted 92 small-boat photographic identification surveys covering ~2000 km2 and comprising ~11,000 km of track-line in winter and summer seasons in West Bay, TX (2014 – 2015, n = 25), the Galveston Bay, TX system (2016, n = 50), Sabine Lake, TX (2017, n = 17), and adjacent coastal waters. Individual dolphin encounter histories were constrained by …
The Natural History Of The Marsh Rice Rat, Oryzomys Palustris, In Eastern Virginia,
2020
Old Dominion University
The Natural History Of The Marsh Rice Rat, Oryzomys Palustris, In Eastern Virginia, Robert K. Rose
Biological Sciences Faculty Publications
The marsh rice rat, Oryzomys palustris, is a common rodent in tidal marshes of eastern Virginia, including those on the barrier islands. It also is present in grassy old fields in upland habitats in the coastal plain and parts of the piedmont of Virginia. This report summarizes what has been learned in recent decades about the population biology of this species in Virginia, including aspects of behavior, density, diet, distribution, genetics, habitats, mammal associates, and reproduction.
Neuroanatomy Of The Blackspotted Rockskipper, Entomacrodus Striatus,
2020
The University of Akron
Neuroanatomy Of The Blackspotted Rockskipper, Entomacrodus Striatus, Pooja Dayal
Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects
Here I characterized the central neuroanatomy of the Blackspotted Rockskipper, Entomacrodus striatus, native to French Polynesia. The neuroanatomy of E. striatus has not been studied prior to this paper. I used several histology and antibody staining techniques to accomplish this, including Crystal Violet, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Bielschowsky’s Silver Nitrate staining. This paper describes the most successful techniques used, identifies major structures in the species’ neuroanatomy, and also explains why studying E. striatus is important in the future of vertebrate research.
Applying Stable Isotopes Of Carbon (Δ$^{13}$C) And Nitrogen (Δ$^{15}$N) To Examine The Role Ofpikeperch (Sander Lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758) In Structuring The Food Web Oflake Eğirdir (Central Anatolia), Turkey, Meral Apaydin Yağci, Şenol Akin, Ahmet Alp, Abdulkadi̇r Yağci, Mehmet Cesur, Rahmi̇ Uysal, Fuat Bi̇lgi̇n, Vedat Yegen
Turkish Journal of Zoology
The aim of this study was to examine the role of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca L., 1758) in structuring the seasonal food web of Lake Eğirdir using carbon (δ$^{13}$C) and nitrogen (δ$^{15}$N) stable isotopes. The samples for stable isotopes were collected during the spring and autumn seasons. Sander lucioperca, as expected, was determined as a top predator with a substantially higher trophic position during both seasons (3.96, spring, δ$^{15}$N (mean ± SE = 13.09 ± 0.17) and δ$^{13}$C (mean ± SE = -17.23 ± 0.19) (4.10, autumn, δ$^{15}$N (mean ± SE = 14.14 ± 0.19) and δ$^{13}$C (mean ± SE = …
Order Diptera As A Model In The Studies Of Insect Immunity: A Review,
2020
TÜBİTAK
Order Diptera As A Model In The Studies Of Insect Immunity: A Review, Danail Ilchev Takov, Peter Vladislavov Ostoich, Andrey Ivanov Tchorbanov, Daniela Kirilova Pilarska
Turkish Journal of Zoology
Order Diptera is the most important group of animals when it comes to insect immunity research. The largest share of experimental data in the group falls on the genus Drosophila - a model species with a number of advantages. Other crucial representatives are those of the mosquito group, as they are vectors of a number of infectious diseases infecting higher vertebrates and humans. As representatives of the genera, Anopheles, Aedes and Culex are very significant model organisms. In total, more than 40 dipteran species are being actively studied as models in various aspects related to immunity. Together with the representatives …
Insecticidal Effect Of Diatomaceous Earth And Dolomite Powder Against Corn Weevilsitophilus Zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Alyssa Cristina Oliveira Freitas, Adriana Aparecida Sinopólis Gigliolli, Ronaldo Roberto Tait Caleffe Caleffe, Helio Conte
Turkish Journal of Zoology
Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, 1855 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) which develops inside the grain, is an aggressive pest of stored grains. Here, we evaluated the efficiency of diatomaceous earth (DE), Diatomita CI/325 CX, and dolomite (DOL), Dolomita Dr. Kanyo, against S. zeamais reared on corn under laboratory conditions and observed external alterations on treated insects using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Insects treated with both DE and DOL were impregnated with particles on the body surface, and they showed 100% mortality after 10 days of exposure. Damages caused by inert dusts may have contributed to dehydration and desiccation, consequently, leading insects to death. Thus, …
Rewilding Or Reviewing: Conservation And The Elephant-Based Tourism Industry,
2020
University of Queensland, Australia
Rewilding Or Reviewing: Conservation And The Elephant-Based Tourism Industry, Ingrid Suter
Animal Sentience
Baker & Winkler (2020) provide a detailed examination of elephants in captivity, from an historical perspective to modern-day concerns. Concerns include the poor level of mahout skills and subsequent captive elephant welfare issues in the Thai elephant tourism industry. Rewilding is proposed as a method of rehabilitation and a way to include mahouts in the conservation process. This commentary argues that the tourism industry is making positive changes and mahout skills can be utilised successfully without the arduous task of rewilding. Animal rights groups and the transfer of misinformation surrounding captive elephant welfare are also examined, as these typically fail …
Rewilding Elephants: A Solution Or A Potential Problem?,
2020
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Rewilding Elephants: A Solution Or A Potential Problem?, Sagarika Phalke
Animal Sentience
Baker & Winkler (B&W) provide a comprehensive and systematic review of Thailand’s captive tourist elephants. They propose rewilding as a solution to improving the welfare of captive tourist elephants. They also advocate this method for restoring degraded forests, elephant conservation and preserving traditional elephant-keeping practices and knowledge. This commentary argues that rewilding might exacerbate negative human-elephant interactions and impede conservation efforts. While further research is required for rewilding to be considered a viable and practical solution, B&W’s focus on documenting traditional knowledge which can directly contribute to the welfare of captive elephants remains important.
The Necessity Of Human Attitude Change And Methods Of Avoiding Pandemics,
2020
University of Cambridge
The Necessity Of Human Attitude Change And Methods Of Avoiding Pandemics, Donald M. Broom
Animal Sentience
Humans share their biology with other animals and in each of their actions should consider the consequences for all life. A series of measures can be taken by governments and individuals that would minimise inter-specific transfer of pathogens from wildlife and reduce the development of antimicrobial resistance.
Peregrine Falcons Nest Successfully During Reconstruction Of Bridge Over Ohio River,
2020
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
Peregrine Falcons Nest Successfully During Reconstruction Of Bridge Over Ohio River, Kate G. Slankard, Loren F. Taylor, Dan M. Stoelb, Charlie Gannon
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) often nest on bridges over rivers and other waterways, resulting in the need for mitigation planning for bridge maintenance and reconstruction. However, mitigation guidelines for peregrine falcon nests during bridge reconstruction are lacking in the literature. In this paper, we describe the monitoring, spatial, and temporal buffers, nest box installation, and other methods that allowed peregrine falcons to nest successfully on the Milton-Madison (US-421) Bridge during demolition and reconstruction. Construction activities occurred over a 4-year period (2011–2014), and coordination with local road departments and contracted engineers was necessary to accommodate the falcon nest. Nonetheless, …
Re-Engage With The World For Global Health And Animal Welfare,
2020
Valdosta State University
Re-Engage With The World For Global Health And Animal Welfare, Bradley J. Bergstrom
Animal Sentience
Wiebers & Feigin (2020) make a strong argument for measures that would limit future zoonoses, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, by closing live-animal markets, changing our habits of food consumption and production, and reducing habitat destruction. These would help human health, animal welfare, and conservation of at-risk wildlife all at the same time. China’s command-and-control government can accomplish some of these things by edict, but slower-to-act western democracies play a surprisingly large role in these global problems by the power of their consumerism, including the illicit wildlife trade. We citizens need to insist that our government use all of its …
Thinking Longer, Looking Deeper,
2020
University of Central Florida
Thinking Longer, Looking Deeper, Ronnie Z. Hawkins
Animal Sentience
We need to situate the present crisis within the larger context of what we humans have done to the nonhuman forms of life with which we evolved, taking a longer view of our own evolutionary origins and a deeper look at what might be a more appropriate role for our species to play within the Biosphere.
Timing And Extent Of Crop Damage By Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa Linnaeus) To Corn And Peanut Fields,
2020
University of Georgia, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Timing And Extent Of Crop Damage By Wild Pigs (Sus Scrofa Linnaeus) To Corn And Peanut Fields, C. M. Boyce, Kurt C. Vercauteren, James C. Beasley
United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
The global expansion of wild pigs over the last few decades has resulted in an increase in extent and distribution of damages to crops, placing a growing strain on agricultural producers and land managers. Despite the extent of wild pig damage to agriculture, there is little data regarding timing and spatial variability of damage to corn (Zea mays Linnaeus) and we found no data regarding the effect of these factors on peanuts (Arachis hypogaea Linnaeus). Our objective was to determine the timing and extent of wild pig damage to corn and peanut fields, as well as the extent …
Validation Of A Screening Method For The Detection Of Colistin-Resistant E. Coli Containing Mcr-1 In Feral Swine Feces,
2020
NWRC APHIS USDA
Validation Of A Screening Method For The Detection Of Colistin-Resistant E. Coli Containing Mcr-1 In Feral Swine Feces, Jeffrey C. Chandler, Alan B. Franklin, S. N. Bevins, Kevin T. Bentler, Jonas Bonnedahl, Christina A. Ahlstrom, Bledar Bisha, Susan A. Shriner
United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications
A method was developed and validated for the detection of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli containing mcr-1 in the feces of feral swine. Following optimization of an enrichment method using EC broth supplemented with colistin (1 μg/mL) and vancomycin (8 μg/mL), aliquots derived from 100 feral swine fecal samples were spiked with of one of five different mcr-1 positive E. coli strains (between 100 and 104 CFU/g), for a total of 1110 samples tested. Enrichments were then screened using a simple boil-prep and a previously developed real-time PCR assay for mcr-1 detection. The sensitivity of the method was determined in …
