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The importance of a Culture of Care is increasingly referred to in the literature surrounding laboratory animal science, with good care viewed as essential to the competent management of animal facilities. Yet 'culture of care' is poorly defined, with care often being seen as synonymous with an attention to animal welfare. This paper draws on data from focus groups with researchers and animal technologists working in UK animal research facilities to identify practices that support or negate a culture of care. Tronto's ethic of care is used as a framework to consider how caring cultures are shaped within laboratory animal facilities, revealing practices which support or limit care. I suggest that closer attention human–human as well as human–animal relations is central to more expansive understanding of a culture of care, one which values care labour, recognises the need for both practical and emotional support, and provides opportunities for technologists and researchers to develop attentiveness to one another's work. The paper also recognises key obstacles to developing a more expansive culture of care including institutional hierarchies, the need to realise scientific outcomes, and the preconceptions held by individuals who work in animal facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis of 8,339 articles published in 1980–2014 in the journals of meat science and the related fields from which meat science arose, such as the animal, poultry, food, and veterinary sciences, disclosed several important patterns. First, the principal institutional contributors to the meat science literature are national agricultural laboratory networks and university meat scientists who are most often a part of animal science faculties in the United States and veterinary school faculty in Europe. Second, meat science continues to discuss even long-familiar, primary cuts of meat, since their quality and consumer acceptance can be significantly impacted by the fluctuating circumstances under which the livestock that provided them are raised. They also continue to develop new or improved further processed meat products because of market share competition and changing tastes among consumers. While the United States and its universities are major contributors to the meat science of virtually all animals, they truly dominate worldwide beef and poultry meat science. Nonetheless, Denmark (the University of Copenhagen) is an important leader in pork, as Australia (the University of New England) is in lamb. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This document contains summaries of various research studies related to poultry production. The first study investigated the effects of feeding sprouted barley to hens and found that increased levels of sprouted barley decreased laying rate and feed intake. The second study examined the effects of antioxidant feed stabilizers on broiler performance and meat yield, showing that supplementation improved feed conversion ratio and breast meat yield. The third study explored broiler farmers' perceptions of slow-growing broiler production, finding positive interest but also barriers to adoption. These summaries provide valuable insights for researchers and farmers interested in poultry production. [Extracted from the article]

Keywords: Animal; challenge; science; pasture; technology EN Animal challenge science pasture technology 111 113 3 04/07/22 20220401 NES 220401 Animal production systems are seeing increasing economic, environmental, cultural and social challenges. Animal, challenge, science, pasture, technology The review also highlighted the disadvantages of pasture for animal production including, the seasonality of feed supply and animal health issues such as internal parasites. [Extracted from the article]

The objective of this paper is to summarize the Italian Animal Genetic Resources (ItAnGR) recorded in the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS) of FAO. The breed data sheets of ItAnGR were implemented by the Italian National Focal Point (ItNFP) of FAO under the guidance of Prof. Donato Matassino and CONSDABI. The impressive amount of work done is documented by 299 breed data sheets. The average level of completeness of the data sheets is 48%, i.e. a value similar to the average for European Countries, and for half of ItAnGR updating is quite regular. The number of breeds/populations included is very high for cattle (61), sheep (84), goats (54), asses (15), horses (34) and pigs (45), while it is very low for chicken (6) and absent for the other species. The level of risk of ItAnGR described in DAD-IS is worrying as about one fifth of the breeds are yet extinct, one fifth is judged critical, almost one fifth is endangered and about two fifth are not at risk, transboundary breeds included. The priority for next years is to complete and update the existing data sheets, to implement new breed data sheets for avian species, buffaloes and shepherd and hunting dogs, and to implement the new PED (Production Environment Description) module for all breeds/populations. It is evident that complete and updated database of ItAnGR is a prerequisite for the implementing of a sound National Plan of Action for the safeguarding of farm animal biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 8th International Feed Conference 'Present and Future Challenges' took place in Milan, Italy, in October 2023, marking the first time the event was held in Italy. The conference highlighted the importance of animal feed in sustainable food production systems, addressing the increasing global demand for animal proteins. Key topics discussed included circular feed and additives, feed quality, safety, authentication, and traceability. The conference aimed to bring together experts from various fields to share knowledge and discuss innovative solutions for the challenges facing the feed industry. [Extracted from the article]

A designed segment of multidisciplinary co-teaching was used to activate a process of professional decision-making and study undergraduate students' perception of this skill development. A questionnaire was constructed to analyse students' perception of the process of decision-making and to reflect on the contribution of designed teaching to development of this competence. Students in our study had difficulties in perceiving, analysing, and monitoring the decision-making process. They had positive reactions, recognised contributions to their personal and professional development and perceived lack of classes for practicing complex competencies, during bachelor studies. To be able to expect some lasting effects, it is necessary for the development of these competencies to become a regular part of the curriculum and teaching practice, but also assessment of student achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD34 is a cell surface glycoprotein expressed by hematopoietic progenitors and endothelial cells. It is widely used in the clinic for isolation of human hematopoietic stem cells. In recent years large animals are gaining increasing importance in biomedical research for the study and therapy of human diseases. Sheep has proved to be an useful experimental model for preclinical trials in transplantation procedures. Unfortunately, the lack of specie-specific monoclonal antibodies (MABS) recognizing hemopoietic progenitor cells hampers the use of this animal in experimental hematology. The aim of this paper was to determine whether commercial monoclonal antibodies specific for human CD34 molecule could cross-react with hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) present in sheep umbilical cord blood (UCB). Six antihuman CD34 MABS, recognizing the three different epitope classes, were tested in flow cytometry on purified mononuclear cells (MNC) isolated from cord blood of both species. None of the MABS used in this trial seemed to be able to identify HPC from sheep UCB. These data suggest that the panel of monoclonal antibodies used for cross reactivity detection has to be expanded with recently produced reagents. Further studies should be directed towards the production of ovine specific anti CD34 MABS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary medicine and animal science (VMAS) students coexist in asocial, geographic, and economic context that influences personal and career decisions. The goal of this study was to analyze students' perceptions of Animal Welfare (AW) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) topics by gender, religion, and stage of study at the school of veterinary medicine in the northeastern Mexican border area. Survey response rate was 60% of VMAS student enrollment, which was divided in basic, intermediate, and advanced academic levels. Student respondents reported animal production followed by animals for companionship and wildlife appreciation as their job placement expectations after graduation. Students in the basic training stage rated AW in general practice to be more important compared with those in intermediate and advanced training (p < 0.005). Compared with intermediate and advanced level students, students at the basic level considered bioethics, sustainable food production, and OIE animal welfare topics more important (p < 0.05). Regarding gender differences, compared with male students, their female counterparts rated AW more important, depending on areas of work practice and OIE topics (p < 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal research has always been debated on moral and ethical grounds. Non-governmental organisations repeatedly critique the lack of openness and transparency around the use of animals in science. In response to this critique, openness and transparency have, in the most recent decade, been integrated in new ways in systems and practices of licensing animal research in the EU, materialised and conceptualised by a harm-benefit framework. In the licensing system in Norway–this article's empirical site–articulating and balancing between 'harms' and 'benefits' are core activities to foster a 'culture of care' that responds to a diverse set of care relations: those between science and society, science and policy, and humans and animals. Harm-benefit analysis is, however, plagued by tensions that can be traced into licensing procedures. Performing harm-benefit analysis in this context can be called 'procedural care'. While procedural care is meant to manage conflicting cares in animal research, it also tends to conceal tensions that emerge in practice. Yet, procedural care is a genre promises to bring together types of care and more openly engage with the relationship among them. Conceptually and methodologically, procedural care calls for the study of care in the administrative and legal domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is the only disease-modifying treatment option for allergic rhinitis (AR) patients with persistent moderate-severe AR for whom traditional pharmacotherapies are ineffective. The nasal allergen challenge (NAC) and allergen exposure chamber (AEC) are two translational models of AR that can be used to investigate the properties, safety, and efficacy of AIT. Peer-reviewed, human-centered articles utilizing AEC or NAC models to investigate AIT between 2010 and 2020 were curated from PubMed, EMBASE, and OVID Medline databases. AECs have been used to evaluate traditional subcutaneous and sublingual administrations of AIT, including cross-protective effects and different dosing regimens. More recently, the effectiveness of novel AIT formulations has been evaluated. NACs are another model used to study AIT, including using novel intralymphatic routes of administration. It is an especially powerful and versatile tool to determine if basic science and animal model findings are clinically translatable. The AEC and NAC models both produce clinically relevant and reproducible results. AECs are more effective for studying many participants but are limited because they require a specialized facility. As more AIT therapies and new formulations are developed over time, the versatility of the NAC will be especially useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to study to what extent body condition and skin soiling in cattle are rated differently depending on the profession, education and professional experience of assessors. Data were collected at 15 group-training sessions in the years 2009–2016. Totally, 569 persons; Swedish animal welfare inspectors, veterinarians/advisers, animal welfare scientists, other animal professionals as well as undergraduate students in animal science rated a set of 6–40 photos with respect to animal body condition, animal skin soiling, and recommended corrective action in response to perceived animal soiling. The more extensive animal science education, the less prone animal welfare inspectors were to give higher body condition scores. Students had a higher overall probability of rating the degree of soiling higher than the animal welfare inspectors and veterinarians/advisers. Students also recommended stricter corrective actions than did welfare inspectors and veterinarians/advisers, and veterinarians/advisers recommended less strict actions than animal welfare inspectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is a vital component to the United States economy and is necessary to all our daily needs. This article provides descriptions for the most important Internet sites for agriculture. Sites are described for general resources, statistics and agricultural economics, plant sciences, food sciences, and animal and veterinary sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic mobility and cultural diversity have continuously increased in higher education in recent years. Consequently, the language barrier has become an important issue in the learning process, mainly in Europe where there are 24 official languages. In animal and veterinary sciences, the complexity of vocabulary used during the learning process exacerbates this problem. To overcome this problem, lecturers must create an interactive and engaging classroom atmosphere, provide a reduced and concise lecture and promote interaction between students through the promotion of discussion. The use of e-tools also contributes to student interaction. When teaching animal biological processes, hands-on laboratory exercises and case-based activities also help overcome language barriers between students and lecturers. Lecturers need to create an interactive classroom through the use of direct and concise language and new technologies to promote learning in international classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the importance of scientific publishing within animal science for the development of the whole animal production in Scandinavia. Details on the different disciplines within the animal science; Significance of animal production; Commitment of the journal.

A survey regarding crop enterprise management, forages cost of production, dairy cattle management including reproductive management, housing, heat abatement, body condition scoring, nutrition, grouping strategies, and income over feed cost performance, was carried out from December 2016 to January 2018 on 50 dairy farms by the Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition of Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Piacenza, Italy). A total of 41 herds (82%) completed the survey. Average herd size was 327 ± 162 lactating cows with the average land size of 160 ± 94 ha per farm. Herds were located in the provinces of Cremona (17), Brescia (8), Mantova (7), Piacenza (5), Cuneo (4), Bergamo (3), Lodi (3), Torino (2), and Venezia (1). These farms sold 32.8 ± 2.01 kg of milk/day per cow, had an annual culling rate of 34.0 ± 4.00%, a calving interval of 14.16 ± 0.58 months., and a 21-days pregnancy rate of 17.05 ± 2.58%. Implementing effective management strategies to contrast the damage caused by Ostrinia nubilalis, Diabrotica spp. and Myocastor coypus were identified as the main crop enterprise challenges. Main forages cultivated were alfalfa and corn silage second seeding with a total cost of production of (€/ha) 1968 ± 362 and 2,581 ± 221, with an average yield of 9.61 ± 1.24 and 17.22 ± 2.46 ton of DM per hectare, respectively. Results of this study can provide useful benchmark or reference for dairy management practices, crops and dairy performances, forages production costs on very well-managed North Italian dairy farms at the present time. benchmarks for dairy farms management practices, economic and reproductive performance cost of production of forages in northern Italy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The probability of surviving and moving between 'states' is of greatinterest to biologists. Robust estimation of these transitions usingmultiple observations of individually identifiable marked individuals has received considerable attention in recent years. However, in some situations, individuals in a sample can be assigned to a particular state (e.g. breeding or non-breeding) without error. In such cases,only aggregate data (number of individuals in a given state at each occasion) are available. If the underlying matrix of transition probabilities does not vary through time and aggregate data are available for several time periods, then it is possible to estimate these parameters using least-squares methods. Even when such data are available,this assumption of stationarity will usually be deemed overly restrictive and, frequently, data will only be available for two time periods. In these cases, the problem reduces to estimating the most likelymatrix (or matrices) leading to the observed frequency distribution of individuals in each state. An entropy maximization approach has been previously suggested. In this paper, we show that the entropy approach rests on a particular limiting assumption, and does not provide estimates of latent population parameters (the transition probabilities), but rather predictions of realized rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous capture probabilities are a common problem in many capture-recapture studies. Several methods of detecting the presence of such heterogeneity are currently available, and stratification of data has been suggested as the standard method to avoid its effects. However, few studies have tried to identify sources of heterogeneity, orwhether there are interactions among sources. The aim of this paper is to suggest an analytical procedure to identify sources of capture heterogeneity. We use data on the sex and age of Great Tits captured fn baited funnel traps, at two localities differing in average temperature. We additionally use 'recapture' data obtained by videotaping at a feeder (with no associated trap), where the tits ringed with different colors were recorded. This allowed us to test whether individuals in different classes (age, sex and condition) are not trapped because of trap shyness or because of a reduced use of the bait. We used logistic regression analysis of the capture probabilities to test forthe effects of age, sex, condition, location and 'recapture' method.The results showed a higher recapture probability in the colder locality. Yearling birds (either males or females) had the highest recapture probabilities, followed by adult males, while adult females had the lowest recapture probabilities. There was no effect of the method of 'recapture' (trap or video-tape), which suggests that adult females are less often captured in traps not because of trap-shyness but because of less dependence on supplementary food. The potential use o this methodological a roach in other studies is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, a web-based questionnaire was used with the aim to investigate perceived relevance of 14 behavioural traits in horses regarding quality of match between horse and rider. The responses of approximately 2800 participants indicate a high interest in the topic. All traits were considered relevant by at least 50% of the respondents. ‘Easy to bring to new environments’ was the trait indicated as relevant by the highest proportion (85%) of respondents, followed by ‘spirited and forward’ (84%) and ‘tolerant towards humans’ (80%). Respondents’ age as well as preferred equitation discipline was shown to have a profound influence on perception of relevance (P< 0.05). The results suggest a need for methods to objectively evaluate individual differences in behavioural traits to enable selection of horses to optimize horse–rider match. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the current study was to evaluate whether oil palm frond (OPF) can be successfully ensiled without or with the additives cellulase or lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Thus, fresh OPF was ensiled either without additives or with cellulase or LAB or their combination. Ensiling was carried out by storing 2 kg samples in airtight glass jars at 25- 30°C for 12 weeks. Thereafter, the silage samples were subjected to proximate analyses, an in vitro digestibility assay and measures on selected indices of fermentation. Fermentation of OPF without additives appeared to be unsuccessful as both pH and ammonia content were too high (4.9 and 9.9%, respectively). In contrast, the use of cellulase or LAB resulted in silages with a pH<4.5 and ammonia fractions <8.4%, but the lowest values were found when both cellulase and LAB were used, i.e. pH=4.1 and ammonia fraction=6.7%. In vitro digestibility of dry matter was significantly higher in the cellulase treated silages. The process of ensiling was associated with both a significant decrease of the fat content of OPF and a significant change of the fatty acid profile. However, the proportions of major fatty acids (C16:0 and C18:2n-6) were not affected by the process of ensiling. In conclusion, the use of cellulase additive appears a practical tool to safeguard the process of fermentation. Using a cellulase enzyme or its combination with LAB improves the fermentation profile and increases the nutritional value of the OPF silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was performed to investigate the influence of probiotics or antibiotic on breast quality characteristics of broiler chickens that were subjected to Salmonella challenge. Two hundred, one-day-old Cobb 500 chicks were allocated in five experimental treatments for 42 d. Ten cages of birds received one of the following treatments: T1=positive control (+CONT), unsupplemented, unchallenged; T2=negative control (-CONT), unsupplemented, challenged; T3=supplemented with antibiotic neoxyval (NEOX), challenged; T4=supplemented with probiotic Toyocerin (TOYO), challenged; and T5=supplemented with probiotic CloSTAT™ (CLOS), challenged. Birds in treatments T2 to T5 were challenged with 3×109 CFU/mL of Salmonella enterica subsp. typhimurium on day 16. Nine birds per treatment were sampled at the end of the trial for breast characteristics. Overall, pH and temperature values of the breast muscle were similar among all groups tested. Cooking loss results indicated that breasts from T3 birds had the highest degree of shrinkage upon cooking while those of the probiotic group had similar control values (P<0.0001). Probiotic supplementation reduced the extent of destruction of myofibrils caused by homogenisation (P<0.0001). Warner-Bratzler shear test and texture profile analysis showed that neither treatments nor Salmonella challenge had any negative impact on texture or sensory attributes of chicken breast. In conclusion, results show that breast characteristics were better when probiotics were supplemented in the diets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we analysed the effect of aguamiel (sap from Agave salmiana) on haematic biometry in rabbits as well as its antioxidant activity with the objective of determining its nutritional value. Nine male Landrace 55-day-old rabbits were sorted into three groups of three rabbits each, which had access to fresh aguamiel, boiled aguamiel and water instead of aguamiel. Commercial rabbit food was supplied ad libitum to each experimental unit. Fresh aguamiel promoted weight increases of about 13% by the seventh week. Haemoglobin counts increased by 4.5% and 9% when rabbits were fed with fresh and boiled aguamiel, respectively. Haematocrit counts increased from 2.6% to 5.3%. Mean corpuscular volume did not show a change. Mean corpuscular haemoglobin significantly increased up to 12% above that previously reported on rabbits. Observed Fe (fixed to transferrin), transferrin and ferritin content increased slightly when fresh aguamiel was included in the diet, as compared to the control. In bone, Fe increased 79.3% (boiled aguamiel) while P increased 23.6% (fresh aguamiel). In antioxidant activity determination, the aguamiel showed 20% with respect to that found in coffee and/or grape juice (commercial beverages with a high antioxidant capability), 226.2 μmol gallic acid equivalent and 35.1 mg ascorbic acid in 250 mL, respectively. These results showed that aguamiel is an innocuous beverage to feed animals, conferring some beneficial properties, and it could be considered as a nutraceutical product. [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]

Country hams are dry-cured products from the Southeastern region of the USA. This high value product requires quality fresh meat to avoid later processing problems. The marker SREBF1 is a transcription factor involved in the regulation of fatty acid synthesis and antioxidative enzyme transcription. The SREBF1 gene and its regulators, SCAP and MBTPS1, were investigated for associations with several meat quality traits in country hams. After single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification, PCR-RFLP tests were designed for one polymorphism in each of the three investigated genes. Meat quality and physical traits were collected on 299 fresh hams. Significant associations were found with ham yield (MBTPS1, P<0.05 and SREBF1xMBTPS1, P<0.05) and ham circumference (MBTPS1, P<0.05 and SREBF1x MBTPS1, P<0.01), Hunter A colour score on fresh meat (SREBF1, P<0.05), Hunter B colour score on cured meat (MBTPS1, P<0.05 and SREBF1xMBTPS1, P<0.01), moisture (SCAPxMBTPS1, P<0.05) and salt percentage (SREBF1xSCAP, P<0.05). Our findings provide initial evidence that SNPs in SREBF1, SCAP and MBTPS1 are associated with some country ham quality traits. Breeders could use these gene tests to improve their animals, which would in turn improve country ham processing and other desired production goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the "Welfare and Epidemiology: Across Species, Across Disciplines, and Across Borders," held in Ames, Iowa on July 14-16, 2008 is presented. The topics discussed at the conference include research in epidemiology, animal science and veterinary medicine. The event was organized by Iowa State University, Ontario Veterinary College, and Norwegian School of Veterinary Sciences with an aim to create awareness that links between animal welfare and epidemiology scientific disciplines.

In the first of this three-part series of articles, the debate in the clinical literature over the reality or extent of particular positive health benefits of a putative nutraceutical, conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), in human subjects was reviewed. In this second article, the means by which animal scientists and farmers—responding as much to annual sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars in health food stores of seed oil capsules rich in CLAs, as opposed to any conclusive clinical science—are aggressively pursuing ways to feed livestock that would naturally increase the concentration of CLAs per conventional consumer dietary portions, essentially allowing beef, pork, lamb, goat, and broiler meat to be marketed as functional foods is reported. In all three installments in this series, the core journals covering developments in CLA-related research are identified for agricultural and food science librarians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past several years have seen the development of a number of statistical models and methods for drawing inferences about bird movementusing data from marked individuals. It can be difficult to keep up with this rapid development of new methods, so our purpose here is to categorize and review methods for drawing inferences about avian movement. We also outline recommendations about future work, dealing bothwith methodological developments and with studies directed at hypotheses about bird movement of interest from conservation, management, or ecological perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 56, 56, 54, 51, and 55 oats samples used for food production were collected randomly after the 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1992crops, respectively, from farms located in an area of southwest Germany. Deoxynivalenol (DON), 3- and 15-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-,15-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), fusarenon-X (FUS-X), T-2 toxin (T-2), HT-2 toxin(HT-2) and diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) were determined by gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MS), zearalenone (ZEA), alpha- and beta-zearalenol (alpha-, beta-ZOL) by GC-MS or by HPLC. DON wasthe major toxin with incidences at 49- -85% and mean levels in positive samples of 52--302 mu g/kg. Incidences of ZEA, 3-ADON, NIV, HT-2,and T-2 were at 20--37, 0-- 30, 18--67, 0--29, and 27--61%, respectively, with mean levels in positive samples at 8--25, 5--63, 11--192, 205--296, and 20--244 mu g/kg, respectively. alpha- and beta-ZOL and DAS were not detected in any sample. 15-ADON and FUS-X were assayed in samples from 1987, 1991 and 1992. 15-ADON was detected in 9, 4 and 0% of samples, with an average of 9 and 18 mu g/kg, respectively; FUS-X was not detected. The incidence and levels of toxins varied from year to year. The correlation between the occurrence of toxins and precipitation is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size of the breeding population of Brandt's Cormorants Phalacrocorax penicillatus on Southeast Farallon Island, off the coast of central California, USA, shows large annual fluctuations and has declinedby 50% since the 1970s. We investigated patterns of variation in adult survival, breeding probability, resighting probability, juvenile survival and reproductive success, to determine the extent to which variation in demographic processes reflected variation in environmentalconditions (e.g. food availability) versus density- dependence, using observations of breeders and non-breeders from 2976 to 1995. Resighting and breeding probabilities varied significantly among years, andboth were positively correlated with an annual index of prey availability -the abundance of juvenile rockfish. Adult survival between years was significantly correlated with changes in juvenile rockfish abundance and differed between sexes (0.77, males; 0.72, females). Female, but not male, survival appeared age specific: older females showedreduced survival, especially during El Nino years. Intermittent breeding appeared common in this population: 54% of males and 49% of females estimated to be alive in a given year were not observed breeding in that year. Reproductive success varied in relation to the juvenilerockfish index but not in relation to population size. The return rate of juveniles, an index of survival during the first three years oflife, was negatively related to sea surface temperature, both in theyear of hatching and in the third year of life, when individuals first return to the colony to breed. We conclude that this population isstrongly susceptible to environmental fluctuation. All parameters ofsurvival and reproduction deteriorate under poor environmental conditions, with no evidence of buffering, and there was no evidence of density-dependence. Thus extrinsic, not intrinsic, forces appear most important in explaining recent population fluctuations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study categorizes and reviews methods used to estimate stopoverlength in migratory birds. Stopover length is an important variable in analyzing migration strategies. The analysis of the stopover pattern of migratory birds typically attempts to investigate variability in the number of stopovers and in the length of time spent at stopoversites in relation to species, age, sex and body condition. Although the number of capture-recapture studies analyzing stopover length hasincreased substantially, most are analysed using the simple last first capture method which gives biased estimates. ,The use of mathematical models to calculate stopover length is uncommon. Most researchersassume homogeneity in stopover length and do not determine the capture probability. Intensive studies are available for many migratory passerines, waders and geese. Some of the data sets are highly standardized and could be reanalyzed with new applications and innovative uses of existing techniques, such as the CJS models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotelemetry has become a very popular technique for avian survival studies in recent years. Usually the survival function is estimated. However, the hazard function (the instantaneous rate of change in mortality) is also very important in wildlife ecology. We explain important reasons for estimating the hazard function in wildlife ecology,and show how to estimate the hazard function by applying smoothing techniques (also card non-parametric regression) to telemetry data. Weillustrate the smoothing methodology with an example using survival data from a study on wild turkeys in West Virginia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The great flexibility of capture-recapture models to estimate survival and recruitment parameters is described. Recruitment models appearas analogous to survival models applied to capture histories reversed in time. The available flexibility is used at its best by basing model selection on the minimization of Akaike's information criterion within a set of biologically plausible models. However; to proceed to model selection, one needs to determine the number of identifiable parameters. We explain how SURGE version 5.0 (available on the Internetby anonymous ftp from ftp.cefe.cnrs-mop.fr) makes it possible to fitsurvival and recruitment models and determines numerically how many and which parameters are concerned with identifiability problems. Model selection for survival and recruitment models is illustrated usingEuropean Dipper Cinclus cinclus data. The advantages and shortcomings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than one attribute group of animals can be modeled. The basic input to MARK is the encounter history for each animal. MARK can also estimate the size of closed populations. Parameters can be constrained to be the same across re-encounter occasions, or by age, or group, using the parameter index matrix. A set of common models for initial screening of data are provided. Time effects, group effects, time x group effects and a null model of none of the above, are provided for each parameter. Besides the logit function to link the design matrix to the parameters of the model, other link functions include the log-log, complimentary log-log, sine, log, and identity. The estimates ofmodel parameters are computed via numerical maximum likelihood techniques. The number of parameters that are estimable in the model are determined numerically and used to compute the quasi-likelihood Ale value for the model. Both the input data, and outputs for various models that the user has built, are stored in the Results database which contains a complete description of the model building process. It is viewed and manipulated in a Results Browser model output, deviance residuals from the model, likelihood ratio and analysis of deviance between models, and adjustments for over dispersion. Models can also be retrieved and modified to create additional models. These capabilitiesare implemented in a Microsoft Windows 95 interface. The online helpsystem has been developed to provide all necessary program documentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods for diagnosing causes of bird population declines are described, paying special attention to methods that rely on comparisons among geographical regions and/or time periods with different populationtrends. Comparisons of breeding productivity and survival among regions or periods provide a valuable check on the diagnosis of external causes of a decline indicated by correlation with population trend. Ringing or tagging programs can give information on population levels and are the main source of information on survival. Age ratios from counts or catches of juveniles and adults in standardized trapping programs can provide data on breeding productivity. Nest recording schemes yield estimates of productivity if females make one breeding attempt per year or if the number of attempts per female can be estimated from supplementary data. Population models should be used to explore hypotheses about the external causes and demographic mechanisms of population declines. Models are described which have combinations of parameter values set to give rates of population decline similar to those seen in various passerines in Britain during the 1980s and 1990s. These models indicate that demographic changes associated with declines are subtle and difficult to detect if the demographic rate which changes is density-dependent. Analytical procedures should be devised to compare the fit of models with different underlying demographic mechanisms for the decline to data on survival and breeding success recorded before, during and after declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]