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While researchers have long appreciated that mammal introductions were an important aspect of Amerindian-environment interaction in the prehistoric Caribbean, persistent questions about dispersal routes, animal management practices, possible domestication, and ritual use remain unresolved. In this three-article series, offered as a model approach for prehistoric translocation studies, I review the present state of knowledge on pre-Columbian Caribbean mammal translocations, focusing on three fundamental areas: (1) ethnozoogeographic distributions; (2) the sociocultural significance of translocated fauna; and (3) the ecological impact of introduced species. Here, in Part I, I consider species introduction patterns in relation to dispersal modes, the need to distinguish live introductions from the import of animal products, and the importance of direct-dating specimens to establish translocation chronology. In subsequent papers I explore topics II and III, advocating for a holistic approach to translocation research that integrates all three investigative areas to address larger questions about the role of introduced mammals in island society and ecology and their impact on human adaptation to the landscape. This first paper provides foundations for an ensuing final discussion in which I argue that intentional faunal translocation is sufficiently robust as a behavioural phenomenon across time and space to warrant theoretical treatment from an evolutionary perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of animal introductions have traditionally been the preserve of ecologists and natural historians but here it is argued that exotic species are a rich source of cultural evidence with the potential to enhance archaeological interpretations relating to human behaviour and beliefs. This paper focuses on the domestic fowl (Gallus gallus), a native of East Asia that spread across Europe during the Neolithic to Iron Age and became well established by the end of the Roman period. After reviewing the evidence for the diffusion of chickens and the concept of cockfighting, this paper presents a speculative argument about the impact of domestic fowl on Iron Age and Roman Britain. By drawing upon evidence from history, anthropology and human remains analysis, the article explores how the arrival of these new creatures may have helped shape human society, particularly in terms of gender definition and attitudes to violence. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In the absence of real strategic interest in her Micronesian possessions, Imperial Germany set out to administer the Islands Territory of Micronesia with as little financial effort as possible. To maximize returns from the colonies, the German administrators assessed the agricultural potential of the islands and set about introducing plant varieties for trial and future commercial planting. This paper traces the history of the animal and plant introductions to Micronesia and compiles the available evidence. The administrators were caught in an economic mindset circumscribed by copra production as well as by the need to grow crops of strategic potential, such as rubber-producing plants. While initially reliant on the interest and initiative of the local administrators, agricultural experimentation became increasingly centralized. The absence of fully trained agricultural advisors, especially in the later years of the German colonial administration, meant that plants of great commercial potential, such as sugarcane in the Marianas, were never trialled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Uruguay, Badumna longinqua is an invasive species arising from Australia. Phoresy by human activities and strong adaptation to synantropic sites have been the main factors that have contributed to the dispersal of this species to other countries. In this study, we analysed the dispersion of B. longinqua in Uruguay using voucher specimens deposited in Uruguayan arachnological collections and new field captures. A logistic regression was performed to evaluate the relationship of this species with the studied habitats. We found individuals of B. longinqua associated with many different synantropic sites, such as the bark of Eucalyptus spp. trees situated in parks, avenues and commercial plantations. As this crop is being extensively planted for the production of bleached hardwood pulp for paper production in Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina and others countries, we postulate the probable expansion of B. longinqua to other parts of South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS: To identify network measures with relevance to disease spread in a network of movements derived from the Department of Conservation (DOC) translocation records from 1970 to mid-2014, and to identify conservation sites that should be prioritised for surveillance activities and improvements to data collection to make the best use of network analysis techniques in the future. METHODS: Data included the source and destination of translocated specimens, the species and the dates the translocations were expected to occur. The data were used to construct a directed, non-weighted network in which a translocation event represented a tie in the network. Network density, in-degree (movements entering a node of interest) and out-degree (movements leaving a node of interest) and reciprocity were calculated. RESULTS: The data analysed consisted of 692 unique translocations between 307 sites, with the majority (518; 73%) being for birds. The constructed network for bird, reptile and frog translocations comprised 260 nodes, with 34/260 (13%) having two-way movements and 47/260 (18%) non-reciprocal movements. The median degree score (sum of in- and out-degree) was two (min 0, max 36) with a mean of 3.5 in a right skewed distribution. Most sites acted as receivers or senders of consignments with only a few having both high in- and high out-degree, and thus had characteristics that made them sites of interest for surveillance activities. These included the National Wildlife Centre at Mount Bruce, Tiritiri Matangi Island and Te Kakahu (Chalky Island). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of linking sites that join larger clusters within the network creates the potential for rapid disease spread if a pathogen were to be introduced. The important sites that supply or receive specimens for translocations are already well recognised by those performing translocations in New Zealand, and this paper provides further information by quantifying their role within the network. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Looking to clarify outstanding questions about human-animal dynamics in the pre-Columbian Caribbean, archaeologists have recently renewed investigation into the sociocultural context of mammal translocations to the islands. In this second instalment of a three-article series, I examine Amerindian ethnophoresy, that is, the process of anthropogenic species dispersal and its associated cultural practices, drawing on archaeological, ethnographic, and ethnohistoric evidence. Building on the ethnozoogeographic baselines established in Part I, I consider the tangible and intangible roles of introduced mammals, with particular attention given to subsistence, status, symbolic and ritual dimensions. I discuss enduring speculation over the management and incipient domestication of these species and its broader significance. Collectively, these topics are important because they inform explanation of the cause, extent and consequences of non-native animal introductions and allow us to understand translocation as an adaptive response to the natural and cultural environment. I conclude that resolution of the managed/domesticated status of non-native animals, in particular, constitutes the most critical research area in Caribbean ethnophoresy since this bears directly on the environmental impact and ecological legacy of mammal introductions in the region. This last topic is addressed in Part III of the series. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction to the article "Trends in lizard translocations in New Zealand between 1988 and 2013," that was published in the 2016 issue is presented.

Translocation is one of the fundamental tools in wildlife management but only if appropriately undertaken. In 2009, 30 black lechwe antelopes were suddenly translocated from the State House Habitat (STH) into the newly established Lusaka National Park (LNP). However, within 4 months of being translocated to LNP, 28 black lechwes (93%) died. A pathological report produced by veterinarians following a postmortem examination suggested no disease incidence affected the antelopes. The food quality of LNP was tested and compared to that in the STH and the antelopes’ native habitat of the Bangweulu wetlands (BGW) to establish if variations in food quality were responsible for the antelopes’ mortality. The findings suggest that the food quality in LNP was greatly inferior to that in STH, which could explain the observed high mortality of the antelopes in LNP. Further, the quality of food in LNP did not widely differ from that in the BGW, suggesting that the antelopes might not have survived had they been translocated to their native habitat, as they had already adapted to feeding on highly nutritious supplementary feed at the STH. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

There is growing concern about mitigation-driven translocations that move animals from anthropogenic threats at donor sites because of their failure rate and lack of application of scientific principles and best practice. We reviewed all known lizard translocations in New Zealand between 1988 and 2013 and identified 85 translocations of 30 lizard taxa to 46 release sites. Most translocations (62%) were motivated by conservation goals for the species or the release site, and one-third were mitigation-driven translocations, typically motivated by habitat loss due to development. Mitigation-driven translocations began in 2003, and since that time have equalled the number of conservation-motivated translocations. Conservation-motivated translocations usually released lizards on islands without mammalian predators, whereas mitigation-driven translocations usually relocated lizards to mainland sites with introduced predators. Long-term monitoring has been sparse and often rudimentary. Eight lizard translocations have recorded population growth, including one mitigation-driven translocation that was into a fenced reserve. Research on commonly used management techniques to mitigate human-related impacts is recommended to establish whether these techniques benefit lizards in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Natural habitat is not always available for translocations due to habitat modification or pressure from introduced predators. We followed the release of 30 captive-bred Otago skinks (Oligosoma otagense) into a 109 m2 outdoor enclosure of artificial habitat at Orokonui Ecosanctuary in southeastern New Zealand. We evaluated the short-term success of the translocation by assessing visibility and survival of the skinks over the 3 summer months following release in spring 2013, plus survival the following spring. Skinks were visible most days, especially in warm, dry conditions. Survival was high over the first summer; 80% of skinks were seen at least once during February 2014. The following spring 63% of skinks were resighted during three surveys and breeding has since been reported. Thus, it is feasible to maintain captive-bred adults of this Nationally Endangered skink in artificially constructed, outdoor habitat in a coastal location. However, to avoid predation of juveniles by adult skinks, future translocations should avoid releasing juveniles close to adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We emphasize the importance of adopting a restrictive reading of the validity and reliability of the faunal record with respect to past animal introductions. As a case study, we analyze the earliest evidence for dogs in the early prehistory of the Balearic Islands. This research is based on direct AMS 14C dates from selected dog bones obtained in archaeological contexts. These dates, together with a conservative interpretation of the archaeological evidence, allow us to document the historical biogeography of dogs in Balearic prehistory. On Mallorca, the earliest evidence for the presence of dogs falls ca. 2000 cal BC. In contrast, on Menorca and the Pityusic Islands, their presence in the early prehistory (i.e., prior to 2000 cal BC) remains to be demonstrated. These data illustrate the importance of direct AMS 14C dating of animal bones and careful analysis of archaeological context to document the chronology of animal introductions on islands and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Translocation is a common conservation tool and often involves founders that are reared in captivity. Why some translocations succeed and others fail is not well understood, but may be related to phenotypic changes brought about by captivity. We found that variation in speed and body condition index among a small group of captive-reared Otago skinks (Oligosoma otagense) did not influence their survival after release to the wild. In the first 12 months, 75% of skinks persisted, and this reduced to 58% by 18 months. After combining our results with data for other Oligosoma species, we found that captive-reared skinks pre-release have a higher body condition index and are about 50% slower than wild lizards; however, slower speeds are not consistently associated with higher body condition indices. We suggest that reduced speeds of captive lizards are a function of physiological and behavioural changes associated with captivity, but not necessarily obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Farmed oysters host a diverse community of epifaunal and infaunal fouling taxa, including alien species, and these are easily translocated in the course of commercial oyster trade. We document the diversity and densities of fouling taxa associated with farmed oysters Crassostrea gigas in South Africa, how effectively these are removed by conventional cleansing techniques, and whether those that remain after cleansing survive intra-regional translocation. Over 40 invertebrate species belonging to 11 major taxa were found living on farmed oysters. Both mean abundance (A) and biomass (B) of invertebrate taxa associated with uncleansed oysters (A: 79.48, SD 233.10; B: 0.034 g, SD 0.314) were greatly reduced following cleansing (A: 2.30, SD 7.65; B: 0.0003 g, SD 0.002), but small numbers survived even after translocation (A: 1.87, SD 7.43; B: 0.006 g, SD 0.020). We examined the effectiveness of exposing oysters to either fresh water or heated seawater as a more thorough cleansing regimen to prevent the translocation of such taxa. Oysters survived soaking in fresh water (0% mortality after 18 h) better than immersion in heated seawater (26.7% mortality after 40 s), but associated organisms were more effectively eliminated by the latter treatment. However, as some taxa survived both types of treatment, translocation of oysters would still pose some bio-security risks, even following such treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study is to verify the effect of two-day fasting prior to intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury on bacterial translocation (BT). Materials and Methods: Mail Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups: group 1, control rats that underwent sham operation only; group 2, rats fasted for two days prior to sham operation; group 3, rats that underwent occlusion of mesenteric vessels for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 4 hr; and group 4, rats fasted for two days prior to the same intestinal I/R injury as in group 3. In all groups, E. coli labeled with 99mTc were inoculated into the terminal ileum. Two hr after inoculation of E. coli, the rats were killed. A segment of ileum was obtained for histological examination and samples of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), liver, lung, blood, and spleen were obtained for radioactivity determination. Results: There were no significant differences in the intestinal mucosa and radioactivity of all samples between groups 1 and 2. Group 3 showed significantly shorter mucosa and villi, and higher radioactivity of samples, except for MLNs, compared to group 1. Group 4 showed similar mucosa and villi, but significantly higher radioactivity of samples, except for MLNs, compared to group 3. Conclusion: Two-day fasting without I/R injury does not cause mucosal change and BT, but in cases following intestinal I/R injury, two-day fasting increases the susceptibility of BT to systemic organs in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to identify the habitat preferences and home range of resident and relocated brown hares during the nohunting period. The trial was carried out in a protected area and in a free-hunting territory (FHT), both located in the Florence province. During the captures, 21 hares were equipped with a necklace radio-tag: seven hares (resident group) were released in the same area of capture and 14 hares (relocated group) were relocated in six different locations within the FHT. The effect of the place of release was analysed by ANOVA and/or nonparametric methods. Results showed that the home ranges of the resident group were characterized by a greater amount of fallow land and shrub land than of the relocated group (P<0.05). Home range sizes and maximum distances from the releasing sites were greater in the relocated group. Resident hares preferred landscape characterized by a higher density of patches (152 vs. 70 n/100 ha), patch richness (43 vs. 12 n/100 ha), and patch area (4703 vs. 8142 m2 ) than the relocated hares (P<0.01). The landscape structure indices, the home range sizes and the maximum distance from the releasing sites suggest that the relocated hares, even if released in suitable habitats, will move from their releasing point to look for better habitats. The landscape with the most complexity is preferred by the resident hares. This result should be considered when a project is programmed to reintroduce this lagomorph into a territory, or when it is necessary to improve the dynamics of a natural population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the study of specimens previously identified as Myriochele heeri Malmgren, 1867 (Polychaeta, Oweniidae) in Icelandic waters collected during the BIOICE project, a redescription of this taxon is presented, a Pacific species— Myriochele olgae Blake, 2000—is reported, and one new species is described: Myrioglobula malmgreni sp. nov. Myriochele heeri is characterized by three short anterior uniramous chaetigers of similar length. The revision of the type series of M. heeri showed that the length of the anterior chaetigers and the chaetal composition is variable in the different specimens, thus demonstrating that more than one species is involved. Complementary anatomical (prostomial, foregut, and peristomial ciliary fields, ventral pharyngeal organ) and biological (food composition, tube ornamentation, body regeneration) observations from selected specimens are provided. Additions to the original description of Myrioglobula islandica Parapar, 2003a and an updated key to the species of Oweniidae recorded in Arctic and East Atlantic Boreal waters are also presented. Aspects on geographical distribution and phylogeny of the family are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluates the potential ecological implications of the European green crab, Carcinus maenas, on prey species in British Columbia and Washington State. Preference of the green crab for molluscan and crustacean prey; Negative effect of the presence of green crab on both bivalve and crab fisheries; Effect of the green crab on migrating species.

Following the Australian CSIRO strategies, theUnited States Department of Agriculture introduced several dung beetle speciesas a biological control to decrease the dung accumulation and proliferationof different pest fly species therein. Of these, two species have been verysuccessful: Digitonthophagus gazella and Euoniticellus intermedius . They have expanded from their release sites in the United States, andquickly invaded Mexican territory and dispersed rapidly. Here we report on27 new capture sites in several Mexican states from 1994 to 1996 and discussinvasion routes as well as ecological conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An overview of the article "Special Issue: Continental-scale Ecology in an Increasingly Connected World," that was published in the June 2008 issue of "Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment" is presented. In this U.S. National Science Foundation publication special issue, ecologists discuss how human influences interact with natural processes to influence global connectivity. The articles in this issue report that because of increasing globalization, people often inadvertently introduce non-native plants, animal and diseases into new locations.