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During summer 2022, the European Wildlife Observatory (EOW2), involving 50 study areas in at least 30 European countries, has applied similar camera‐trapping‐based population estimation protocols and data collection standards to facilitate harmonization and interoperability. For this purpose, continuous training of the network of wildlife professionals in Europe is a key activity of the EOW. In this context, in May 2022 the ENETWILD consortium organized a first online training course to update information on methodology to process with next steps in the field. The course here reported took place in two different dates, 28th September, and 21st November 2022, online. The first part of the course (28th September) presented the progress of the EOW and focused on the analytical tools incorporated to Agouti app, on the use of information technology tools and artificial intelligence to process and analyse photo‐trappings to finally obtain a standardized database, ready for analysis. The main objective of the course offered on 21st November was providing detailed instructions on running the random encounter model (REM) on camera trap data packages from Agouti and incorporating some recommendations to improve the calibration of images for distance estimation. We also presented SMART app adapted to the EOW, which facilitates the collection of information in the field using stablished density estimation protocols to make these data available in the destock in real time (cloud‐based solution). SMART is flexible enough to incorporate new protocols and species, as methods (such as camera traps‐based) and needs continuously evolve. The integration of SMART tools on EOW was successfully done for (i) distance sampling, (ii) hunting data and (iii) camera trap protocols. This course was successfully attended by 46 wildlife biologists, animal health professionals and wildlife experts from national hunting and forestry authorities. Detailed explanations, protocols, and examples for applying such protocols were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is essential to provide tools to wildlife professionals and researchers in order to facilitate data collection on wildlife density estimation following standardized protocols in the field. This is relevant for efficient harmonized data management systems, from the field to final reporting. Our main objective was to facilitate the collection of information in the field using established density estimation protocols. The specific objectives were (i) to evaluate and use already existing data registration IT tools for collecting and storing the data in the field; (ii) to make these data available in real time (cloud‐based solution), and (iii) being flexible enough to incorporate new protocols and species, as methods (such as camera trap‐based) and needs continuously evolves. We improved an already existing tool, Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART; https://smartconservationtools.org/). It is an open source software, which allows easily collect, visualize, store, analyze, report and act on a wide range of field data relevant for wildlife monitoring. The integration of SMART tools on EOW was successfully done for (i) distance sampling, (ii) hunting data and (iii) camera trap protocols. ENETWILD, therefore, made now available new IT functionalities to wildlife professionals and researchers to facilitate and harmonize wildlife data collection systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main objectives of ENETWILD consortium is to collect data on density, hunting statistics and wildlife occurrence in order to model the geographical distribution and abundance of wildlife species across Europe as a tool to support the assessment of risks associated, for example, with disease transmission. Created in the framework of the ENETwild project, the European Wildlife Observatory (EOW2) provides the backbone for an integrated, interdisciplinary, multi‐sectoral and multi‐institutional approach to wildlife monitoring, initially focusing on terrestrial mammals in Europe. The EOW applies similar camera‐trapping‐based protocols for population estimation and data collection standards to facilitate harmonization and interoperability. For this purpose, continuous training of the network of wildlife professionals in Europe is a key activity of the EOW. In this context, during the last few years the ENETWILD consortium has organized different online training courses and workshops on the use of camera traps, addressing different approaches from the design and handling of camera traps to the processing of the collected data. Many of the participants in our previous courses are now part of the EOW and require updated information on methodology to process with next steps in the field. The course here reported presented improvements and refinements in the sampling protocols, aimed specially at new collaborators to be incorporated in the network. Therefore, the objectives of this introductory online course held on 5th May 2022 were: (i) to present milestones and achievements of the ENETWILD project and the EOW, and (ii) to review scientific methods for determining wildlife abundance and density, providing specific training on camera trapping methods and protocols, specifically the random encounter method (REM) and other methods which do not require identification of individuals. This course was attended by 46 wildlife biologists, animal health professionals and wildlife experts from national hunting and forestry authorities. Detailed explanations, protocols, and examples for applying such protocols were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic pressure has well‐documented effects on the spatial distribution of biodiversity but it can also have more subtle effects on wildlife, influencing the time of the day and for how long animals are active. These temporal effects have not received much attention from the scientific and conservation community, despite activity being intrinsically related to crucial aspects in an animal's life. Here we use data from a large‐scale camera trap survey (517 survey sites covering more than 1000 km2) conducted in areas under distinct levels of protection in the Brazilian Cerrado to investigate the effect of anthropogenic pressure on the activity of mammal species >1 kg. We used both circular statistics and GLMMs to investigate whether species would shift activity towards the night in response to disturbance, resulting in a decrease of diurnal activity in areas under lower protection levels and closer to households. Our results revealed that most species investigated did not show a temporal response to anthropogenic pressure, with only two species responding in the way we expected: tamanduas reduced the probability of daytime activity closer to households and collared peccaries reduced diurnal activity slightly in areas under lower protection levels. Our findings also suggest that environmental factors have a greater influence on species' activity than indicators of pressure in the mosaic of protected areas studied. Although stricter levels of habitat protection are known to have a positive and strong influence on the spatial distribution of many mammal species in the study region, we showed here that human pressure has only a modest effect on the period these species were active. This limited temporal response highlights the need for large natural areas under low disturbance that allow mammal species to respond spatially to threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The trade in wildlife products can represent an important source of income for poor people, but also threaten wildlife locally, regionally and internationally. Bushmeat provides livelihoods for hunters, traders and sellers, protein to rural and urban consumers, and has depleted the populations of many tropical forest species. Management interventions can be targeted towards the consumers or suppliers of wildlife products. There has been a general assumption in the bushmeat literature that the urban trade is driven by consumer demand with hunters simply fulfilling this demand. Using the urban bushmeat trade in the city of Kumasi, Ghana, as a case study, we use a range of datasets to explore the processes driving the urban bushmeat trade. We characterise the nature of supply and demand by explicitly considering three market attributes: resource condition, hunter behaviour, and consumer behaviour. Our results suggest that bushmeat resources around Kumasi are becoming increasingly depleted and are unable to meet demand, that hunters move in and out of the trade independently of price signals generated by the market, and that, for the Kumasi bushmeat system, consumption levels are driven not by consumer choice but by shortfalls in supply and consequent price responses. Together, these results indicate that supply-side processes dominate the urban bushmeat trade in Kumasi. This suggests that future management interventions should focus on changing hunter behaviour, although complementary interventions targeting consumer demand are also likely to be necessary in the long term. Our approach represents a structured and repeatable method to assessing market dynamics in information-poor systems. The findings serve as a caution against assuming that wildlife markets are demand driven, and highlight the value of characterising market dynamics to inform appropriate management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) adversely interact with aspirin, diminishing its antiplatelet effect and potentially placing patients at an increased risk for recurrent thrombotic events. This crossover study aimed to determine whether the topical NSAID diclofenac epolamine 1.3% patch or oral diclofenac 50 mg interfered with the antiplatelet effects of aspirin 325 mg. Twelve healthy men and women aged 18-50 were included. Participants were randomized into 5 treatment arms: aspirin, diclofenac potassium 50 mg, diclofenac patch, diclofenac potassium plus ASA 325 mg, and diclofenac patch plus aspirin. Platelet responsiveness was determined using whole-blood impedance aggregation (WBA) to collagen 1 μg/mL and arachidonic acid (AA) 0.5 mM and was sampled every 2 hours. No significant difference in platelet function was observed following the diclofenac patch and aspirin vs aspirin alone. Oral diclofenac produced a mixed effect with significant reduction in platelet inhibition at hour 2 and hour 8 following aspirin administration. Topical diclofenac does not significantly interfere with the antiplatelet effects of aspirin and may be a safer alternative to the oral formulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the web site Food-A Fact of Life, from the British Nutrition Foundation.