Walker's Mammals of the World, 4th Edition, Ronald M. Nowak, John L. Paradiso. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, Maryland (1983), 1xi, +1-568 (Vol. I), xxv+569-1362 (Vol. II). Price $65.00

Maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling has great potential for identifying distributions and habitat selection of wildlife given its reliance on only presence locations. Recent studies indicate Maxent is relatively insensitive to spatial errors associated with location data, requires few locations to construct useful models, and performs better than other presence-only modeling approaches. Further advances are needed to better define model thresholds, to test model significance, and to address model selection. Additionally, development of modeling approaches is needed when using repeated sampling of known individuals to assess habitat selection. These advancements would strengthen the utility of Maxent for wildlife research and management.

https://www.mdpi.com/1099-4300/11/4/854/pdf

Use of Maximum Entropy Modeling in Wildlife Research

Camera Traps in Animal Ecology

Groundwater is considered as the most important natural resources in arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, the application of random forest (RF) and maximum entropy (ME) models for groundwater potential mapping is investigated at Mehran Region, Iran. Although the RF and ME models have been applied widely to environmental and ecological modeling, their applicability to other kinds of predictive modeling such as groundwater potential mapping has not yet been investigated. About 163 groundwater data with high potential yield values of ≥ 11 m 3 /h were obtained from Iranian Department of Water Resources Management (IDWRM). Further, these selected wells were randomly divided into a dataset 70% (114 wells) for training and the remaining 30% (49 wells) was applied for validation purposes. In total, ten groundwater conditioning factors that affect the storage of groundwater occurrences (e.g. altitude, slope percent, slope aspect, plan curvature, drainage density, distance from rivers, topographic wetness index (TWI), landuse, lithology, and soil texture) were used as input to the models. Subsequently, the RF and ME models were applied to generate the groundwater potential maps (GPMs). Moreover, a sensitivity analysis was used to identify the impact of variable uncertainties on the produced GPMs. Finally, the results of the GPMs were quantitatively validated using observed groundwater dataset and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) method. Area under ROC curve (AUC) was used to compare the performance of RF with ME. The uncertainty on the preparation of conditioning factors was taken in account to enhance the model. The validation results showed that the AUC for success rate of RF and ME models was 86.5 and 91%, respectively. In contrast, the AUC for prediction rate of RF and ME methods was obtained 83.1 and 87.7%, respectively. Therefore, RF and ME were found to be effective models for groundwater potential mapping.

Application of GIS-based data driven random forest and maximum entropy models for groundwater potential mapping: A case study at Mehran Region, Iran

Increase in food production is the prime-most objective of all countries, as world population is expected to grow to nearly 10 billion by 2050 Based on evidence, world population is increasing by an estimated 97 million per year (Saravi and Shokrzadeh, 2011) The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has in-fact issued a sobering forecast that world food production needs to increase by 70%, in order to keep pace with the demand of growing population However, increase in food production is faced with the ever-growing challenges especially the new area that can be increased for cultivation purposes is very limited (Saravi and Shokrzadeh, 2011) The increasing world population has therefore put a tremen‐ dous amount of pressure on the existing agricultural system so that food needs can be met from the same current resources like land, water etc In the process of increasing crop pro‐ duction, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, nematicides, fertilizers and soil amendments are now being used in higher quantities than in the past These chemicals have mainly come into the picture since the introduction of synthetic insecticides in 1940, when organochlorine (OCl) insecticides were first used for pest management Before this introduction, most weeds, pests, insects and diseases were controlled using sustainable practices such as cultural, mechanical, and physical control strategies

/pdf/pesticides-environmental-impacts-and-management-strategies-59v0x0zo9d.pdf

Pesticides: Environmental Impacts and Management Strategies

Combination baits containing cholecalciferol plus an anticoagulant are effective against commensal ro- dents resistant to anticoagulants, and they likely pose less risk than anticoagulant-only rodenticides due to lower con- centrations of active ingredients and shorter time to death. However, these combination baits have not been tested for agricultural rodent pests. Therefore, we established a study to test the efficacy of cholecalciferol plus diphacinone arti- choke bract and pellet baits to determine their ability to manage California voles Microtus californicus in artichokes, where resistance to anticoagulants is known to occur. Field tests using radiocollared voles indicated that bract baits were highly efficacious (85 %), although pellet baits were less effective (60 %). Low observed efficacy of pellet baits may have resulted from poor weather following application during the second sampling period; further testing may yield more positive results. We observed a bimodal distribution in timing of death, with one group of voles dying between 4.3 and 5.8 days post-consumption; the other group died be- tween 9.0 and 14.5 days post-consumption. Deaths in the first group were attributed to cholecalciferol, while deaths in the second group were likely due to chronic anticoagulant exposure. Almost double the proportion of voles that died from bract consumption did so during the early period when compared to their pellet plot counterparts. This suggests that voles were consuming greater quantities of bract baits over a shorter period of time when compared to the pellet bait. Collectively, these findings indicate that baiting with cholecalciferol plus diphacinone coated bracts is an effective method for controlling vole populations in artichokes.

/pdf/cholecalciferol-plus-diphacinone-baits-for-vole-control-a-5ggmm2vohg.pdf

Cholecalciferol plus diphacinone baits for vole control: a novel approach to a historic problem

Historically, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has supported a small black bear (Ursus americanus) population of low productivity. Increased visitor use of the park and development around its periphery could lead to a reduction in population viability of RMNP’s bear population or could increase the potential for human–bear conflict. Therefore, we investigated contemporary survival and productivity parameters for RMNP’s black bear population from 2003 to 2006 and compared these values to historic levels (1984–1991) and population means throughout the western United States to clarify the current status of RMNP’s bear population. The contemporary black bear population showed signs of earlier reproduction and higher cub survival when compared to historic bears; litter size and adult and subadult survival were similar between contemporary and historic periods. Increased productivity of the contemporary population was likely due to better nutritional condition of reproductive females, which showed significantly higher body condition index scores, body fat, and weights, which are likely due to observed greater use of anthropogenic food sources. The population of black bears in RMNP may have greater growth potential than was observed historically, decreasing the reliance on immigration from adjacent populations. However, increased human–bear conflicts associated with greater use of human-associated habitats in RMNP may negate some of the advantages of increased population productivity because of removal of problem bears.

/pdf/survival-and-productivity-of-a-low-density-black-bear-5dexruiya0.pdf

Survival and productivity of a low-density black bear population in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

. Understanding factors influencing the timing of den entrance and emergence of black bears (Ursus americanus) provides insight for bear management. We determined den entrance and emergence dates for bears in Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) and related these dates to vegetative productivity, weather, habitat, and demographic factors to assess the influence of these factors on denning chronology. Date of den entrance was most strongly influenced by age class, precipitation, and proportion of human-use areas in annual home ranges. Den entrance was typically later for adult bears during wetter years and when annual home ranges contained a greater proportion of human-use areas. Sex and presence of human-use areas were most strongly related to den emergence. Male bears typically emerged from dens before females, and bears emerged from dens earlier when human-use areas composed a greater proportion of annual home ranges. Collectively, our results suggest that denning behavior of black bears in RMNP ...

/pdf/denning-chronology-of-black-bears-in-eastern-rocky-mountain-56mr15kfap.pdf

Denning chronology of black bears in eastern Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

The association of microhabitat variables and capture (¼ occurrence) of striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) was assessed at 3 sites in western Tennessee. Sixteen features were included in univariate and stepwise logistic regressions to investigate relationships between occurrence and habitat factors and to construct models predictive of occurrence. Accuracy of models was examined using jackknife procedures, and maps predictive of occurrence were developed through semivariance and kriging analyses. Average height of stand, hardwood snags .35 cm diameter at breast height, number of stems, distance to permanent water sources, and distance to open areas were among the habitat features most frequently found to be related to occurrence. Models derived from logistic regression predicted occurrence of the species at varying levels (56% to 75%). Overall, classification percentages appeared to be at a level useful for predicting the occurrence of M. mephitis, and mapping procedures sufficient for illustrating the association between occurrence and habitat.

https://bioone.org/journals/Journal-of-Mammalogy/volume-85/issue-6/BWG-207.1/AN-ASSESSMENT-OF-MICROHABITAT-VARIABLES-AND-CAPTURE-SUCCESS-OF-STRIPED/10.1644/BWG-207.1.pdf

An Assessment of Microhabitat Variables and Capture Success of Striped Skunks (Mephitis Mephitis)

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2873&context=icwdm_usdanwrc

Roger A. Baldwin

Papers

Cholecalciferol plus diphacinone baits for vole control: a novel approach to a historic problem

Survival and productivity of a low-density black bear population in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Denning chronology of black bears in eastern Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

An Assessment of Microhabitat Variables and Capture Success of Striped Skunks (Mephitis Mephitis)

Repellent application strategy for wild rodents and cottontail rabbits