Molecular detection and phylogenetic characterization of Rickettsia in ticks collected from leopard tortoise(Geochelone pardalis)in rural Zambia

In sub-Saharan Africa,limited studies have investigated zoonotic pathogens that may be harboured by ticks infesting reptiles such as tortoises.Here,we report the presence of pathogenic Rickettsia in ticks(Amblyomma marmoreum)collected from the leopard tortoise(Geochelone pardalis)in rural Zambia.Using polymerase chain reaction,56%(49/87)of ticks were positive for the Rickettsia outer membrane protein(ompB)gene.Multi-locus sequence and phylogenetic analysis based on the ompB,ompA,and citrate synthase(gltA)genes showed that the ticks carried R.africae,and other Rickettsia spp.closely related to R.raoultii,R.massiliae,R.tamurae and R.monacensis.Given the proximity between humans,livestock,and wildlife in these habitats,there exists a considerable risk of transmission of zoonotic Rickettsia to human populations in this rural setting.These results call for heightened awareness and further research into the dynamics of tick-borne diseases in regions where humans and animals coexist,particularly in the context of tortoise-associated ticks as vectors.Understanding and addressing these potential disease vectors is crucial for effective public health measures and the prevention of Rickettsia zoonoses.

Patterns of Species Richness and Abundance in Badingilo National Park in South Sudan

The study was carried out to determine patterns of birds’species richness,alpha and beta diversities;and abundance in Badingilo national park using a 10 m fixed-radius point count method.A total of 2670 individuals were recorded from 182 points in the park.The highest expected number of species(Jack1 estimator)was observed in the Riverine habitat and least was in the Agriculture and Human settlement habitat type.The total number of species observed in the park was 63;however Jack1 estimator indicated that there were 68 species in the park.The majority of the birds observed during the study were resident species,few migratory and Palaearctic bird species.Few birds observed in the park were abundant.The most abundant species was the village weaver(381 individuals),and the rarest species were black-bellied bustard,barn owl,black scimitar bill and tree pipit(one individual each).

Food habits of striped hyena(Hyaena hyaena) in a semi-arid conservation area of India

Striped hyena（Hyaena hyaena） is a near-threatened large carnivore known to occur in arid and semi-arid landscapes in many parts of the world. Its population is declining globally and ecological information is required urgently to meet their conservation needs. We studied the diet pattern of the striped hyena in the semi-arid Gir National Park and Sanctuary（GNPS）, western India. Prey items eaten by the striped hyena were identified from scats. Around 44.4% scats represented single to three mammalian preys while 55.6% of them represented four preys to seven preys. A variety of food items were identified including mammals, birds, insects and vegetable matters. Scats analysis showed that 63.91% diet of striped hyena was contributed by wild prey items, 20.94% by domestic prey and 3.31% by birds, whereas vegetable and insects contributed 9.92% and 1.93%, respectively. Diet diversity of the striped hyena computed by the Shannon-Weiner Index（H） was found to be 2.64. The presence of domestic mammals in the scat remains implied that the striped hyena might frequently visit human habitation in search for food and hence, a potential conflict between human and wildlife might arise. Reducing the dependence of hyena on domestic livestock is a challenge to ensure the survival of striped hyena outside the protected area.

Habitat Suitability Index Modelling for Bluebull (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in Pench Tiger Reserve, M.P. India

The habitats for the wild animals are shrinking due to the clearance of forests for agriculture and industrialization.The idea of wildlife conservation begins with the identification of their acceptable habitat.Since this crucial information helps in the development and maintenance of the protected areas.The requirement of habitat varies with different landscapes.The bluebull(Boselaphus tragocamelus)is Asia’s largest antelope,widespread throughout the northern Indian subcontinent.Peter Simon Pallasin(1766)described it as the only member of the genus Boselaphus.The Wildlife(Protection)Act of 1972 lists it as a Schedule III animal,while the IUCN lists it as Least Concern(LC).Our goal was to design a habitat appropriateness model for blue bull so that it could reduce the conflict with farming community due to crop damage.Model will be develop using RS&GIS technique to protect the species inside the Pench Tiger Reserve(77°55’W to 79°35’E and 21°08’S to 22°00’N)the central highlands of India.The satellite data from LANDSAT-8 of 4th April 2015,Path-144,Row-45,with a ground resolution of 30 meters,were collected from the USGS website.This satellite image was then transferred in image format to ERDAS IMAGINE 2013 for further analysis.The data from satellites were gathered and analysed.The purpose of the field survey was to gather information about the presence of various ungulates.A ground truthing exercise was also carried out.For data processing and GIS analysis,ERDAS IMAGINE 13 and Arc GIS 10 were used.Analytical Hierarchy Process(AHP)was used Factors were identified who were influencing the spatial distribution of the species for conservation planning.The linear additive model was used for HSI.The results show that 242 km^(2)(29.48 percent)of Pench Tiger Reserve forest was recognized to be highly suitable for bluebull,while 196 km^(2)(23.87 percent)was moderately suitable,231 km^(2)(28.14 percent)was suitable,109 km^(2)(13.28 percent)was least suitable,and about 43 km^(2)(5.249 percent)of PTR was completely avoided by bluebull.

Multi-scale habitat selection and impacts of climate change on the distribution of four sympatric meso-carnivores using random forest algorithm

Background:The habitat resources are structured across different spatial scales in the environment,and thus animals perceive and select habitat resources at different spatial scales.Failure to adopt the scale-dependent framework in species habitat relationships may lead to biased inferences.Multi-scale species distribution models(SDMs)can thus improve the predictive ability as compared to single-scale approaches.This study outlines the importance of multi-scale modeling in assessing the species habitat relationships and may provide a methodological framework using a robust algorithm to model and predict habitat suitability maps(HSMs)for similar multi-species and multi-scale studies.Results:We used a supervised machine learning algorithm,random forest(RF),to assess the habitat relationships of Asiatic wildcat(Felis lybica ornata),jungle cat(Felis chaus),Indian fox(Vulpes bengalensis),and golden-jackal(Canis aureus)at ten spatial scales(500-5000 m)in human-dominated landscapes.We calculated out-of-bag(OOB)error rates of each predictor variable across ten scales to select the most influential spatial scale variables.The scale optimization(OOB rates)indicated that model performance was associated with variables at multiple spatial scales.The species occurrence tended to be related strongest to predictor variables at broader scales(5000 m).Multivariate RF models indicated landscape composition to be strong predictors of the Asiatic wildcat,jungle cat,and Indian fox occurrences.At the same time,topographic and climatic variables were the most important predictors determining the golden jackal distribution.Our models predicted range expansion in all four species under future climatic scenarios.Conclusions:Our results highlight the importance of using multiscale distribution models when predicting the distribution and species habitat relationships.The wide adaptability of meso-carnivores allows them to persist in human-dominated regions and may even thrive in disturbed habitats.These meso-carnivores are among the few species that may benefit from climate change.

Using machine learning to predict habitat suitability of sloth bears at multiple spatial scales

Background:Habitat resources occur across the range of spatial scales in the environment.The environmental resources are characterized by upper and lower limits,which define organisms’distribution in their communities.Animals respond to these resources at the optimal spatial scale.Therefore,multi-scale assessments are critical to identifying the correct spatial scale at which habitat resources are most influential in determining the specieshabitat relationships.This study used a machine learning algorithm random forest(RF),to evaluate the scaledependent habitat selection of sloth bears(Melursus ursinus)in and around Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve,Madhya Pradesh,India.Results:We used 155 spatially rarified occurrences out of 248 occurrence records of sloth bears obtained from camera trap captures(n=36)and scats located(n=212)in the field.We calculated focal statistics for 13 habitat variables across ten spatial scales surrounding each presence-absence record of sloth bears.Large(>5000 m)and small(1000–2000 m)spatial scales were the most dominant scales at which sloth bears perceived the habitat features.Among the habitat covariates,farmlands and degraded forests were the essential patches associated with sloth bear occurrences,followed by sal and dry deciduous forests.The final habitat suitability model was highly accurate and had a very low out-of-bag(OOB)error rate.The high accuracy rate was also obtained using alternate validation matrices.Conclusions:Human-dominated landscapes are characterized by expanding human populations,changing landuse patterns,and increasing habitat fragmentation.Farmland and degraded habitats constitute~40%of the landform in the buffer zone of the reserve.One of the management implications may be identifying the highly suitable bear habitats in human-modified landscapes and integrating them with the existing conservation landscapes.

Foraging technique and prey-handling time in black-necked stork(Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)

The foraging technique and prey-handling time of the black-necked stork(Ephippiorhynchus asiaticus)was stud-ied in Dudhwa National Park,India,from January 1996 to June 1997.The habitat in which the storks foraged played an important role in selecting a particular technique to procure food.Black-necked storks mostly foraged using a tactile technique(>90%),but sometimes foraged visually.When the water level was estimated to be less than 60 cm,the storks foraged using tactile techniques.There was no difference in the feeding techniques of male and female storks.Foraging attempt rates varied between the sexes in summer(May)and during late winter(February)in 1997.The search time for prey increased when the water level was high and fish were widely distributed.Decreases in water level resulted in concentration of fish in certain areas and this contributed to high fish-catching rates by black-necked storks.Males had a higher success rate of fish capture than females.However,females captured longer fish than males.Prey-handling time increased in both sexes as fish length increased.Fish 4–6 cm long were most frequently taken by the foraging storks.