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Context: Animal activity patterns throughout the day constitute an important dimension of their ecological niche, and may have ecological and evolutionary implications; for an organism to be active during the day or night period, a series of conditions requiring different anatomical, physiological and behavioural adaptations must be met. Aims: To study the anuran community in an area of Atlantic Forest in Brazil, to evaluate the species activity period as well as the diurnal and nocturnal detection probabilities of anurans, and to relate these activities to environmental variables such as air temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. Methods: The anurans were sampled along 21 plot transects in the diurnal period and during a nocturnal period, with temperature and relative humidity measured in each plot. Species were considered predominantly diurnal or nocturnal if 35% or more individuals were recorded during one of these periods. Anuran detectability was estimated using single-season occupancy models, relating to environmental variables. Key results: Of the individuals recorded, 12% were recorded during diurnal sampling and 88% were recorded during nocturnal sampling, with Ololygon agilis being the only species considered diurnal. The probability of detection was affected by only two variables (period and humidity). Conclusions: The anuran community in the study area was essentially nocturnal, with only one species that could be considered diurnal. Additionally, detectability was higher at night, with humidity being the most important variable affecting species detection. Implications: Surveys can be planned under climatic conditions that positively influence the probabilities of detection to improve the effectiveness of monitoring species and/or anurans community. Animal activity patterns throughout the day constitute an important dimension of their ecological niche, and result from a combination of biotic and abiotic factors. Our study of the anuran community in an area of the Atlantic Forest indicates that specific sampling conditions such as time of day and humidity are important for detectability. Surveys can be planned to coincide with climatic conditions that positively influence the probabilities of detection, thereby improving the effectiveness of monitoring of the species and/or anuran community. Photograph by Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus is crepuscular in habit and rarely encountered. Information on its natural history and ecology is limited and consequently its conservation requirements are not well understood. We report observations of a Brown Mongoose feeding on a Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii carcass in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern India. A camera trap was deployed over the Nilgiri Langur carcass over 10 nights during which, the mongoose visited the carcass on eight nights. Based on the images captured, the mongoose behaviour was broadly categorized as vigilance, feeding, walking and grooming. The mongoose was most active between 03.30-06.00 h and 19.00-00.00 h. Additionally, we report observations of a pair of Brown Mongoose foraging, and an incident of road mortality. These observations will add to the limited current understanding of the species, necessary for assessing its conservation status and identifying interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Field Ornithology is the property of Resilience Alliance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Distinguishing the factors that influence activity within a species advances understanding of their behavior and ecology. Continuous observation in the marine environment is not feasible but biotelemetry devices provide an opportunity for detailed analysis of movements and activity patterns. This study investigated the detail that calibration of accelerometers measuring root mean square (RMS) acceleration with video footage can add to understanding the activity patterns of male and female Port Jackson sharks (Heterodontus portusjacksoni) in a captive environment. Linear regression was used to relate RMS acceleration output to time‐matched behavior captured on video to quantify diel activity patterns. To validate captive data, diel patterns from captive sharks were compared with diel movement data from free‐ranging sharks using passive acoustic tracking. The RMS acceleration data showed captive sharks exhibited nocturnal diel patterns peaking during the late evening before midnight and decreasing before sunrise. Correlation analysis revealed that captive animals displayed similar activity patterns to free‐ranging sharks. The timing of wild shark departures for migration in the late breeding season corresponded with elevated diel activity at night within the captive individuals, suggesting a form of migratory restlessness in captivity. By directly relating RMS acceleration output to activity level, we show that sex, time of day, and sex‐specific seasonal behavior all influenced activity levels. This study contributes to a growing body of evidence that RMS acceleration data are a promising method to determine activity patterns of cryptic marine animals and can provide more detailed information when validated in captivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An extensive literature has documented the conflict between employment and household responsibilities and its impacts on the gendered patterns of daily activities in dual-earner households. However, most studies have focused exclusively on the division of household labour in nuclear households, with insufficient attention paid to the impact of alternative household strategies such as co-residence with extended family members. This article investigates the extent to which the presence of elderly parents shifts gendered activity patterns and even reduces the gender inequality in time use in urban China. By drawing on an activity diary survey conducted in Beijing in 2012, we compare and contrast the gendered patterns in time use between nuclear family households and extended family households. We find that co-residence mitigates the tension between employment and household responsibilities for women and leads to greater gender equality in the division of household labour and a reduced gender gap in the time spent on employment. However, co-residence only enables women to shift their time allocation from household responsibilities to employment rather than to pursue discretionary activities, and therefore its positive role is limited. We further discuss the policy implications given the limitations of intergenerational co-residence as an individual-based solution for childcare and other social services in transitional urban China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The visual-predation hypothesis proposes that certain derived features shared by crown primates reflect an insectivorous ancestry. Critics of this idea have argued that because insectivory is uncommon among extant primates it is unlikely to have been a major influence on early primate evolution. According to this perspective, the low frequency of insectivory indicates that it is an apomorphic deviation from the mostly conserved primate ecological pattern of herbivory. The present study tests two alternative hypotheses that are compatible with an insectivorous ancestor: (1) that trophic evolution was biased, such that herbivory evolved repeatedly with few shifts back to insectivory, and (2) that insectivorous lineages have diversified at a lower rate than herbivorous lineages owing to differential trophic effects on speciation and extinction probabilities. Model-based analysis conducted using trait data for 307 extant primate species indicates that rates of transition into and out of insectivory are similar, rejecting the hypothesis of biased trophic evolution. On the other hand, the hypothesis of asymmetric diversification is supported, with insectivorous lineages having a lower rate of diversification than herbivorous lineages. This correlation is mediated by activity pattern: insectivory occurs mostly in nocturnal lineages, which have a lower diversification rate than diurnal lineages. The frequency of insectivory also appears to have been shaped by repeated transitions into ecological contexts in which insectivory is absent (large body size) or rare (diurnality). These findings suggest that the current distribution of trophic strategies among extant primates is the result of macroevolutionary processes that have favored the proliferation and persistence of herbivory relative to insectivory. This conclusion implies that the low frequency of insectivory is not necessarily evidence against the visual-predation hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We characterized behavioral and adrenocortical activities of Tamandua tetradactyla under human care driven by the hypothesis that they vary between males and females. We also assessed the potential association between natural or abnormal behaviors and adrenocortical activity. We kept females and males T. tetradactyla in individual, contiguous enclosures at Córdoba Zoo (Argentina), under natural photoperiod and temperature. During 29 consecutive days we monitored the animals' behavior by recording their activity pattern every 5 min using infrared cameras (8352 records/individual). We collected all feces and measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGM) with an 11‐oxoaetiocholanolone enzyme immunoassay. We found individual differences in all behavioral variables. We detected that females exhibited lower total activity than males (23.8 ± 0.2% and 32.3 ± 0.3%, respectively; p = .005). Females were more active at night and males during the day (p < .05) and exhibited less abnormal behaviors than males (p = .05). Although we did not find sex‐related differences for average FGM, we detected individual differences (p < .0001). We found that daily FGM showed negative (−0.39) and positive (0.38) correlations with natural and abnormal behaviors, respectively (p < .0001). Thus, we consider that individual input and sex are factors to be considered in stress responses of the species in captivity. Natural and abnormal behaviors may demand different levels of adrenocortical activity. Our findings may prove useful as normative data for ex situ management of conservation programs. Research Highlights: Zoo‐housed lesser anteater females were less active than males.We found individual (but not sex) differences in levels of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites.Natural and abnormal behaviors were differently linked to adrenocortical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel rotator trap was evaluated to determine the diel activity patterns and physiological state of adult female mosquitoes in St. Augustine, FL, U.S.A. Culex nigripalpus were most active from 19:00-21:00, followed by 1:00-3:00, based on collections from the novel rotator trap. Furthermore, analysis of the physiological state of female mosquitoes collected by the novel rotator trap suggested that non-parous (nulliparous) host-seeking mosquitoes were more frequently active in the 21:00-23:00 and 09:00-19:00 time frames. Parous host-seeking mosquitoes were more frequently collected from 19:00-21:00 and 1:00-3:00. A low abundance of gravid females was collected by the rotator trap, so analysis of their activity periods was inconclusive. These results indicate that the novel rotated trap could be used to detect the diel activity patterns of adult mosquitoes in mosquito control programs and more testing should be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the factors facilitating co-occurrence of two large carnivores, tigers (Panthera tigris) and common leopards (Panthera pardus), within a human-dominated landscape. We estimated their density and population size using camera-trap photographs and examined spatial segregation of habitats, temporal activity pattern, and diets in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. A Bayesian spatially-explicit capture-recapture model estimated densities of 3.2–4.6 (3.94 ± 0.37) tigers and 2.6–4.1 (3.31 ± 0.4) leopards per 100 km2 with abundance of 70–102 tigers and 66–105 leopards. Tigers occupied the prime habitats (grasslands and riverine forests) in alluvial floodplains of the Park whereas leopards appeared in Sal forests and marginal areas where livestock are present. Both tigers and leopards showed crepuscular activity patterns with a high overlap but tigers were less active during the day compared to leopards. Leopards' activity in the day increased in the presence of tigers. Tiger and leopard diet overlapped considerably (90%). Compared to leopards, tigers consumed a higher proportion of the large prey and a smaller proportion of livestock. Our study demonstrates that sympatric large carnivores can coexist in high densities in prey rich areas that contain a mosaics of habitats. To increase the resilience and size of the Chitwan carnivore population, strategies are needed to increase prey biomass and prevent livestock depredation in adjacent forests. Long-term monitoring is also required to obtain a detailed understanding of the interaction between the large carnivores and their effects on local communities living in forest fringes within the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadvertent or intentional introductions of species in non-native habitats are forcing them to adapt quickly, resulting in evolutionarily significant changes in their ecology and social organisation. Understanding how these species are adapting in non-native areas will elucidate evolutionary aspects of migration and adaptation skills of exotic species in general. Thus, we investigated how Amazonian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) have adjusted their behavioural ecology and call propagation in an Atlantic forest fragment in north-eastern Brazil. Behavioural ecology data were obtained via instantaneous scan and ad libitum sampling methods. Call propagation data were obtained through playback experiments conducted in the Atlantic and Amazon forests. Atlantic forest squirrel monkey diet was found to be composed, primarily, of fruits considered "exotic" to the region. There was no variation between dry and wet months in food-resource exploitation except for flowers. Squirrel monkeys spent most of their time engaged in locomotion and foraging activities and had a preference for the Atlantic forest mid-strata. Nevertheless, resting, locomotion and social activities were most frequently demonstrated in the dry months, whereas foraging behaviours were mostly performed in the wet months. We found no variation between dry and wet months in the vertical use of the stratum, daily path length or home range size. The propagation of squirrel monkey isolation calls was more efficient in the Amazon compared with the Atlantic forest, with call acoustic parameters degrading faster in the Atlantic forest. Our results indicate that exotic squirrel monkeys have adjusted their activity pattern and diet in the Atlantic forest, resulting in behavioural variations consistent with the existing resources. Vocalisations, however, despite not being fully adapted for propagation in the Atlantic forest, do not appear to interfere in the occupation success of the species in the Atlantic forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A water vole Arvicola amphibius population inhabiting midfield ponds was studied by live-trapping, radio-telemetry and with camera traps. Within the midfield ponds, water voles did not prefer any particular type of littoral vegetation and avoided open water areas within the ponds. The mean distance of daily movements was 118 m for males and 53 m for females. The maximum distance between two locations of a radio-tracked individual within its home range during the whole study period was 450 m. Water vole movements between the studied ponds were very limited. Most of the hiding places were located in the areas around ponds. Water voles were active mostly during the night. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured species richness, diversity, and diel activity patterns of insectivorous bats at four sites within Dhana Biosphere Reserve. A total of seven species belonging to five families at varying species compositions were recorded. Four to six species were present at these sites and total diversity ranged between 0.32 at Ain Lahtha and 0.65 at Al Khararah. Overall frequency of passes was highest at Shaq Kalbeh. The Common Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pipistrellus, was the most prevalent at three sites, followed by the Arabian Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus clivosus, and Botta's Serotine, Eptesicus bottae. Natterer's Bat, Myotis nattereri, and the European Free-tailed Bat, Tadarida teniotis, occurred at low abundance. The Lesser Horseshoe Bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros, occurred at a higher abundance within Finan site (arid site at lower altitude), whereas the Egyptian Mouse-tailed Bat, Rhinopoma cystops, was restricted to Finan. The overall mean number of bat passes was not significantly different between sites. Average seasonal species diversity was low during winter (none at Ain Lahtha and Shaq Kalbeh) and highest during summer (0.68 at Al Kharrarah). Seasonal activity patterns for each site in terms of frequencies of bat passes on an hourly basis are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales is the property of Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Information about human land uses, producing the least impact on wildlife and their habitats, is crucial to develop management strategies allowing coexistence between human beings and wildlife. We investigated the responses of the bobcat (Lynx rufus) and the coyote (Canis latrans) to different types of human activity by assessing the abundance, habitat use, and activity patterns of these species in response to extraction of firewood, grazing, and crop farming within their habitat. Photographic records of both carnivores were obtained from 18 camera-trap stations, distributed evenly within these three types of habitat disturbances. The highest relative abundance index for both carnivores was obtained at firewood extraction sites, followed by grazing sites, and croplands. The probability of carnivore sightings varied between species by type of disturbance and by season. The probability of bobcat sightings was highest within firewood extraction sites, with no effect of season, whereas that of the coyote was highest during winter, with no effect of type of human disturbance. An analysis of habitat use revealed that both carnivores avoided cropland sites. Activity patterns were similar, which suggests an absence of temporal segregation between these species; moreover, the activity patterns of both carnivores seems to be affected by intensity of human activities. Preference for woodland habitats by both carnivores denotes that firewood extraction is the disturbance that least affects bobcat and coyote populations; therefore, this kind of human activity could be the least impacting type of disturbance for the coexistence between humans and these carnivore species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the factors influencing a worker's decision to choose an activity pattern for commuting in a city in India. Activity and travel information collected by home interview survey formed the database for the study. Multinomial logit models were developed to understand the factors affecting the workers decision to choose an activity pattern for commute. Analysis of variance tests performed on different characteristics of the working people suggest the need for separate analysis and modelling of these categories of workers. Modelling results indicates that workers are more likely to adopt HWH pattern of work. Age, gender, presence of school students, household size, start time for work etc. were found to influence activity pattern generation of the working people. The elasticity measures were also determined to understand the influence of variables in a better way. It shows that the probability to participate in HWH activity pattern increases with unit increase in household size and school going students. The probability to participate in HWH+ increases with unit increase in employed couples in the household. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camera traps are increasingly used to study wildlife ecology and inform conservation, but valid inference depends on appropriate data analysis. This article introduces the most common analytical approaches for camera‐trap data. Camera traps are generally used as point‐based sampling devices, and many analytical methods require spatial independence of camera‐trap stations and temporal independence of subsequent records. Photographic rates of species should be interpreted with care, because they confound abundance/use with detectability. Occupancy models estimate species occurrence while accounting for imperfect detection and can reveal species–habitat associations. Capture–recapture models estimate abundance and detection probability from individual detection/nondetection data and are applicable to camera‐trap data for individually recognizable species. Spatial capture–recapture extends this framework by accounting for animal movement and location relative to the trap array. This is particularly useful for the often wide‐ranging species typically studied with camera traps and presents possibilities of modelling spatial population processes. Several methods have been developed to estimate abundance for species that cannot be individually identified; they all heavily rely on model assumptions. Finally, time stamps on camera‐trap records can be used to describe activity pattern and temporal interactions between species. Considering the usefulness of camera trapping, we expect ongoing development of analytical approaches for camera‐trap data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the human footprint expands worldwide, people and wildlife are coming into greater contact, and areas of human activity may be simultaneously associated with risk and reward for animals. To avoid human threats while exploiting opportunities, animals may adjust their spatiotemporal activity, using areas of anthropogenic disturbance at night when people are less active. We combined four camera trap datasets from Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park to evaluate the effects of roads and settlement on diel activity patterns of elephants (Loxodonta africana). We found high rates of elephant activity along the boundary of the park, where elephants can access cultivated crops, and along roads, which serve as movement corridors. However, elephants restricted their activity to the night and crepuscular periods in these areas of human disturbance, seeking refuge in the interior of the park away from roads and settlements during the day. Our findings suggest that a history of killing and antagonism has instilled a fear of humans in this elephant population, with implications for research, tourism and human–elephant coexistence. Our study highlights the utility of camera traps in monitoring human–wildlife conflict and habituation and demonstrates the value of integrating disparate camera trap datasets for comparative analyses on landscape or even continental scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the realm of smart cities, understanding citizens' activity patterns is essential for effective urban planning and development. Weather condition plays a crucial role in shaping citizen's activities. This study investigates the impact of weather conditions on activity patterns by examining variations in visitor numbers at three types of sites in Guangzhou, China: parks, pedestrian streets and shopping malls, representing outdoor, semi-outdoor and indoor urban environment, respectively. Mobile phone signaling data and meteorological data were collected over two months, July and January 2022, representing the typical summer and winter conditions. With hourly visitor counts for the selected locations scaling to the magnitude of millions, the dataset offers significant representativeness. Our findings underscore that, predominantly temperature, exerts a marked influence on the choice of activities among Guangzhou's populace. As temperature rose, even during the hot summer month, the total number of visitors across the three types of locations increased. However, the frequency of park visitors exhibited heightened sensitivity to meteorological variations in comparison to their counterparts in pedestrian streets and shopping malls, with park visitor numbers in winter oscillating over a six-fold range due to climatic shifts. In contrast, the trend of visitor number to pedestrian streets and shopping malls tends to be less affected by weather conditions. Notably, the impact of weather on activity patterns varied among different groups. Males appeared more attuned to external conditions than females, with their presence in parks surging more noticeably with temperature increments—a gender ratio surpassing 1.7 in summer, further accentuating in winter. This starkly contrasts the gender ratios in pedestrian streets and malls, which aligned closely with the city's overall demographic distribution. Age emerged as another differentiating factor. Younger individuals (19–29 years) demonstrated a higher adaptability to the local high-temperature weather conditions, while during the winter season, a significant decrease in the number of visitors from this group was observed as the temperature dropped. Remarkably, within a narrow temperature bracket of 27 °C to 27.5 °C, the hourly count of visitors aged 19–29 on pedestrian streets experienced a six-fold variance, ranging from just over 0.1 million to nearly 0.7 million. This suggests that factors beyond weather play a significant role in influencing the mobility choices of young adults. In contrast, the 30–39 age bracket showcased more robust correlations with weather patterns. The number of older visitors remained relatively stable and did not change significantly with weather changes, especially those aged 60 and above. Drawing on robust evidence from large-scale mobile phone signaling data, this study can inform local policy-making in smart city development. [Display omitted] • Mobile phone signaling data over two months are employed. • Relationship between weather and visitor number is analyzed. • Temperature significantly affects citizens' activity pattern in Guangzhou. • Visitor number of park is sensitive to weather conditions. • Young adults adapt to local high temperatures rather than low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The use of ATUS in energy-related occupant-building interactions is reviewed. • The purpose of using ATUS in occupant-building interaction is categorized into three models. • Markov Chain is the most used approach in developing occupant behavior models. • This study suggested four new research directions in the focused topic. Occupant-building interaction plays a critical role in determining energy consumption and enhancing energy efficiency in the built environment. The advancement in data-driven approaches has provided new opportunities to investigate occupant-building interaction in building energy modeling and simulation. Selecting an enriched and reliable data source is a key factor in accurately modeling energy-related occupant-building interactions. The American Time Use Survey (ATUS), the nationally representative estimation of how Americans spend their time in the built environment, has been one of the primary data sources for such studies in the United States. This study provides a comprehensive review of 51 articles in which ATUS has been used to better study energy-related occupant-building interactions. We found out that the purpose of using ATUS in occupant-building interaction studies can be categorized into modeling (1) occupancy schedules, (2) occupant energy-related activity patterns, and (3) building energy performance. The results of this study summarize the current limitations and future research directions in this topic. The findings of this study not only contribute to the knowledge domain, but also assist practitioners by revealing the current practice and research needs in this field. In addition, it solves the gap of previous studies regarding lack of a comprehensive review on the use of ATUS in occupant-building interaction studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The recent prevalence of obesity in Japanese children is much higher compared to 1980. The present study compared daily sedentary behavior (SB) and physical activity (PA) between the school year and summer vacation in Japanese primary school children. Methods Participants were 98 Japanese boys (8.9 ± 1.8 years at baseline) and 111 girls (9.1 ± 1.8 years). SB and PA were measured in May (school term) and July/August (summer vacation), 2011. SB and PA were assessed using a triaxial accelerometer (Active style Pro HJA-350IT, Omron Healthcare) for 7 consecutive days. The average number of minutes spent in SB (no more than 1.5 metabolic equivalents (METs)), light intensity activity (LPA; more than 1.5 to less than 3.0 METs) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA; 3.0 METs or more), and step counts were calculated for each individual. Moreover, the determinants/moderators of changes in SB and PA were examined. Results Daily SB was significantly higher in the summer vacation than in the school year for both boys and girls (p

Nonconsumptive effects of predators potentially have negative fitness consequences on prey species through changes in prey behavior. Coyotes (Canis latrans) recently expanded into the eastern United States, and raccoons (Procyon lotor) are a common mesocarnivore that potentially serve as competitors and food for coyotes. We used camera traps at baited sites to quantify vigilance behavior of feeding raccoons and used binomial logistic regression to analyze the effects of social and environmental factors. Additionally, we created raccoon and coyote activity patterns from the camera trap data by fitting density functions based on circular statistics and calculating the coefficient of overlap (Δ). Overall, raccoons were vigilant 46% of the time while foraging at baited sites. Raccoons were more vigilant during full moon and diurnal hours but less vigilant as group size increased and when other species were present. Raccoons and coyotes demonstrated nocturnal activity patterns, with coyotes more likely to be active during daylight hours. Overall, raccoons did not appear to exhibit high levels of vigilance. Activity pattern results provided further evidence that raccoons do not appear to fear coyotes, as both species were active at the same time and showed a high degree of overlap (Δ = 0.75) with little evidence of temporal segregation in activity. Thus, our study indicates that nonconsumptive effects of coyotes on raccoons are unlikely, which calls into question the ability of coyotes to initiate strong trophic cascades through some mesocarnivores.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) can have negative consequences for a wide range of taxa. However, the effects on nocturnal mammals other than bats are poorly understood. A citizen science camera trapping experiment was therefore used to assess the effect of ALAN on the activity of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) at supplementary feeding stations in UK gardens. A crossover design was implemented at 33 gardens with two treatments—artificial light and darkness—each of which lasted for one week. The order of treatment depended on the existing lighting regime at the feeding station: dark treatments were applied first at dark feeding stations, whereas light treatments were used first where the station was already illuminated. Although temporal changes in activity patterns in response to the treatments were noted in some individuals, the direction of the effects was not consistent. Similarly, there was no overall impact of ALAN on the presence or feeding activities of hedgehogs in gardens where supplementary feeding stations were present. These findings are somewhat reassuring insofar as they demonstrate no net negative effect on a species thought to be in decline, in scenarios where the animals are already habituated to supplementary feeding. However, further research is needed to examine long-term effects and the effects of lighting on hedgehog prey, reproductive success and predation risk.

Abstract Even though the Onychophora represent a whole phylum, observations of their activity pattern in nature are almost non-existent. Here we report on the relationship between humidity and light and activity pattern of a new species of velvet worm, genus Epiperipatus, from four years of field observations in the South Pacific of Costa Rica. We found that most activity occurs during the driest and darkest nights of the year, in contrast with theoretical predictions.

Background: Measuring function with passive in-home sensors has the advantages of real-world, objective, continuous, and unobtrusive measurement. However, previous studies have focused on 1-person homes only, which limits their generalizability., Objective: This study aimed to compare the life space activity patterns of participants living alone with those of participants living as a couple and to compare people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with cognitively normal participants in both 1- and 2-person homes., Methods: Passive infrared motion sensors and door contact sensors were installed in 1- and 2-person homes with cognitively normal residents or residents with MCI. A home was classified as an MCI home if at least 1 person in the home had MCI. Time out of home (TOOH), independent life space activity (ILSA), and use of the living room, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom were calculated. Data were analyzed using the following methods: (1) daily averages over 4 weeks, (2) hourly averages (time of day) over 4 weeks, or (3) longitudinal day-to-day changes., Results: In total, 129 homes with people living alone (n=27, 20.9%, MCI and n=102, 79.1%, no-MCI homes) and 52 homes with people living as a couple (n=24, 46.2%, MCI and n=28, 53.8%, no-MCI homes) were included with a mean follow-up of 719 (SD 308) days. Using all 3 analysis methods, we found that 2-person homes showed a shorter TOOH, a longer ILSA, and shorter living room and kitchen use. In MCI homes, ILSA was higher in 2-person homes but lower in 1-person homes. The effects of MCI status on other outcomes were only found when using the hourly averages or longitudinal day-to-day changes over time, and they depended on the household type (alone vs residing as a couple)., Conclusions: This study shows that in-home behavior is different when a participant is living alone compared to when they are living as a couple, meaning that the household type should be considered when studying in-home behavior. The effects of MCI status can be detected with in-home sensors, even in 2-person homes, but data should be analyzed on an hour-to-hour basis or longitudinally., (©Marijn Muurling, Wan-Tai M Au-Yeung, Zachary Beattie, Chao-Yi Wu, Hiroko Dodge, Nathaniel K Rodrigues, Sarah Gothard, Lisa C Silbert, Lisa L Barnes, Joel S Steele, Jeffrey Kaye. Originally published in JMIR Aging (https://aging.jmir.org), 11.10.2023.)

Abstract Plant selection pattern and performance of lactating cattle and camels were compared on semiarid savanna rangelands in Kenya in the rainy season (RS) and a transition period (TP) between the RS and the main dry season. It was further evaluated whether supplementation with rumen-degradable protein (RDP) had an effect on these parameters. In both seasons, two cattle types (local 'Pokot' cattle and Guernsey × Boran crossbreds) and camels were used, with six females per treatment group (supplemented and nonsupplemented) each (n = 72 animals in total). The experimental periods consisted of 8–10 d of adaptation and 36–40 d of data and sample collection. The diet selected by the cattle types was similar and consisted almost exclusively of grasses. The camel diet consisted mainly of herbs and shrubs with higher contributions of woody plants in the TP than in the RS. Forage from woody plants overall made up a higher proportion of the diet, which was also reflected by a longer browsing time (overall and in the TP) of the supplemented camels compared with the nonsupplemented camels. This result indicates that supplementation of browsers like camels with RDP can be used to increase the intake of forage from woody plants rich in plant secondary compounds, which could be an effective measure for managing rangeland to limit bush encroachment. Overall, no seasonal differences in milk yield were found for the camels and Pokot cattle, but crossbreds had a lower yield in the TP compared with the RS. Overall, the cattle had higher milk fat content than the camels while the camels had slightly higher protein content. Supplementation had no effect on milk yield and composition. The results of diet selection and performance (milk yield) reflect the advantage of camels in arid rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was carried out at Uchalli Lake, District Khushab on Greater Flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) to find their behavioral activity pattern. The hypothesis that local climatic temperature affects the wintering behavior of Greater Flamingos was tested. Data were collected for a period of 3 days in March and 10 days in April using focal animal analysis. Each day was divided into four periods (7-8 a.m., 10-11 a.m., 1-2 p.m., and 4-5 p.m.). Activity patterns included characters like feeding, resting, flying, walking, preening, aggression, and alert. Results showed that feeding was the major activity for adults (51.06%) and juveniles (56.51%). Juveniles spent more time (t = − 2.02, p < 0.05) feeding than adults. There was a highly significant difference (t = 3.20, p < 0.01) in alert between adults and juveniles across time periods. Adults spent more time alert (8.3%) than juveniles (4.49%). Only aggression and alert in adults and walking and alert in juveniles was found significantly correlated to change with temperature. The findings of the present study highlighted the need of in-depth eco-ethological study of Greater Flamingo and hydrology of wetland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: Previous investigations have identified several ecological traits that may have shaped differences in species richness among primate clades by influencing speciation and extinction probabilities. In this study, I reevaluate these cases in light of concerns about high false‐positive rates of the methods used to detect trait‐dependent diversification. Materials and methods: Data for six traits were taken from the literature: activity pattern, sociality, mating system, terrestriality, frugivory, and mutualistic interactions with angiosperms (i.e., seed dispersal and pollination). These traits were treated as binary variables and analyzed in a phylogenetic framework using likelihood‐based and nonparametric methods for estimating trait‐specific diversification rates. Results: Of the traits analyzed here, only activity pattern was found by all methods to be correlated with diversification: diurnal primates diversify at higher rates than nocturnal primates. Solitary foragers have a lower rate of diversification than group‐living primates, but this link is driven by the association between solitariness and nocturnality. Discussion: These results indicate that ecological traits have had a more limited influence on primate diversification than suggested by previous studies. The false positives detected here can be linked with heterogeneity in diversification caused by sources other than the focal traits. One of these sources is the very high rate of diversification in Cercopithecoidea found in previous investigations. Another is the correlation between activity patterns and diversification. The underlying causal mechanism for the contrast in diversification dynamics between diurnal and nocturnal primates is unclear, but this correlation highlights the important role of activity pattern in shaping primate evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity level of weaned piglets provides a useful tool for farmers to control animal welfare and pollutant emissions. In addition, data for weaned piglet activity can be used as an input signal in real-time ventilation control systems because of its relation to temperature and CO 2 levels. This paper characterises the daily activity pattern of piglets from 6 to 20 kg live body mass based on data obtained by a passive infrared detector on a conventional farm. Activity level of piglets was at its maximum at the beginning of the experimental period and at its minimum at the end of the period. The analysis of the Fast Fourier Transform revealed an average pattern with two activity peaks, at 10:00 h and 18:00 h, described by three cosine waves with 24-, 12- and 8-h periodicity. The Continuous Morlet Wavelet Transform revealed variations in frequency spectrum with time between the first and second half of the cycle, defining two distinct activity periods. The predominant pattern during the first half was a single-peak pattern, whereas the predominant pattern during the second half was a two-peak pattern. Accordingly, two models for the prediction of piglet activity are proposed. Animal age and mass are essential to define behaviour patterns, which explains the existence of various models in the literature and the need to perform continuous measurements to establish accurate models for predicting activity in growing piglets. Passive infrared detectors are simple and cost-effective, and allow for the incorporation of animal activity into real-time control on conventional farms. Highlights • The animal activity showed two activity peaks during the daytimes. • There are differences in behaviour as a function of the age of the animals. • The activity level was at its maximum at the beginning of the cycle. • The method used can help introduce simple measurements under real farm conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predator-prey systems are regulated by a behavioral response race, in which the predator develops adaptations that enhance its hunting success and its prey adopt anti-predator strategies. In the present study, we analyzed the activity patterns, the influence of moonlight, and the habitat use of Leopardus pardalis and Puma concolor in comparison with their potential prey, Dasypus novemcinctus , Mazama gouazoubira , Pecari tajacu , Sapajus libidinosus , Kerodon rupestris , Cuniculus paca and Dasyprocta prymnolopha , in the Serra das Almas Nature Reserve in northeastern Brazil. Leopardus pardalis was predominantly nocturnal, while P. concolor presented a cathemeral pattern, however, the overlap coefficient between these species was high. The activity of L. pardalis overlapped strongly with three typical nocturnal prey ( D. novemcinctus , K. rupestris and C. paca ). While P. concolor had considerable temporal overlap with all prey. Both predators were habitat generalists, in contrast, most prey species exhibited a significant association with a specific type of habitat. The phases of the moon did not influence the activity patterns of the different species, except for K. rupestris , which was more active on moonlit nights. Our findings indicate that the predators maximize the efficiency of their foraging behavior by using habitats and the circadian cycle in a more generalist manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We explored unsupervised machine learning algorithms, specifically graph analytics, applied to behaviors observed in heterogeneous network sensor data for discovering anomalous behavior that could include novel attacks. In addition, we explored the potential difficulties with applying unsupervised machine learning approaches to anomaly detection in a network-defense context to understand how to integrate inherently imperfect anomaly-detection approaches into the workflow of a cyber defense infrastructure. Two general approaches can be used to discover anomalies: (1.) detecting rarity, i.e. , finding those activities that are observed the least frequently in a set of observations, and (2.) detecting novelty, i.e. , finding activities with the lowest estimated probability of observation based on prior observations of baseline (presumably "normal") data. This effort will describe the case of detecting rarity. In this paper, we describe the entire pipeline starting from explaining the data used, the data ingest, the quantization of features, application of graph analytics to the data, post-processing to reduce results, and measuring the performance. A network-penetration experiment was setup to conduct the network attacks and generate the data that is the input to this work. Baseline methods are proposed and compared to the main method that is described in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The increasing kangaroo occurrence in expanding peri-urban areas can be problematic when kangaroos become aggressive towards people and present a collision risk to motor vehicles. An improved understanding on kangaroo spatial and temporal activity patterns in the peri-urban environment is essential to manage kangaroo-human conflict. In this study, we used GPS telemetry to determine activity patterns of male Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in a peri-urban community on the north-coast of New South Wales, Australia. Two types of GPS devices were employed; collars and cheaper alternative glue-on units. Kangaroos moved on average 2.39 km a day, with an average movement rate of 1.89 m/min, which was greatest at dawn. The GPS glue-on devices had short deployment lengths of one to 12 days. Despite limitations in attachment time, the glue-on devices were viable in obtaining daily spatial and temporal activity data. Our results aid towards alleviating conflict with kangaroos by providing new insights into kangaroo movements and activity within a peri-urban environment and introduces a potential cheap GPS alternative for obtaining this data relative to more expensive collars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study to investigate the activity pattern of clouded leopard was carried out in Gunung Basor and Stong Utara Forest Reserves, Kelantan, Malaysia, using camera traps, over a period of 6 months. All camera traps were set to operate 24 hours a day, and are mounted on trees that face suitable paths like ridges, old logging paths and forest paths. A total of 69 pairs of camera traps have been used for this study. From this study, 152 photographed images of clouded leopard have been captured in both study areas. The results showed that clouded leopard can be classified into cathemeral classes where they are active during the day and night. If compared to other studies, clouded leopard was classified into nocturnal and diurnal. However, more studies need to be carried out on this species to get more information to help the conservation organizations and also the Wildlife Department in preserving and conserving this species and its habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current literature and our field observations have shown that spiny-tailed lizard may also be active in the winter season. Activity of Darevskia rudis in the February was recorded for the first time in the province of Giresun, Eastern Black Sea Region, Turkey. In conclusion, we assessed that the spiny-tailed lizard could be active throughout the year due to global climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity patterns of mammals are shaped by abiotic pressures and biotic interactions. Here, we describe the daily activity pattern of the northern tiger cat Leopardus tigrinus in semiarid drylands, an Endangered species in Brazil, and test its overlap with those of potential prey, small mammals and ground birds. Also, we test the effect of the lunar phase on the synchrony of the predator-prey interactions. Camera trap data were obtained from ten areas in the Caatinga of the Rio Grande do Norte state, totalling a sampling effort of 7271 camera-days. The northern tiger cat activity pattern was primarily nocturnal, although it shows a considerable crepuscular activity and some daytime activity. Results suggest a high activity overlap with small mammals, that were strongly nocturnal, but a low activity overlap with ground birds that were diurnal and crepuscular. The lunar cycle did not affect the activity of the northern tiger cat, but changed the activity of small mammals, which were most active during new moon phase. A feeding study performed in another geographic region of the Caatinga suggests, in contrast, that northern tiger cats should have a higher activity during the day or during the crepuscular period. Our results suggest that the stressful conditions of the day period in the Caatinga drylands, the virtual absence of nocturnal top predators in our study area, and the higher availability of small mammals during the night are propably shaping the activity pattern of the northern tiger cat. Our study contributes to enlarge our knowledge on the behavioural ecology of a threatened small cat providing one of the first insight on its predator-prey interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on distribution is useful for determining global conservation status of species and for prescribing sound management practices for taxa of conservation importance. Therefore, an attempt to understand the distribution of terrestrial animals using infra-red camera traps in Tanjung Datu National Park, Borneo, was carried out from July 2013 to October 2015 (28 months). A total of 23 camera locations set in various microhabitats and elevations accumulated 2,490 camera days, which resulted in 1,189 independent animal images comprised of 21 mammals, two birds, and one reptile species. The cameras revealed a total of 20 medium to large mammals (excluding treeshrews & small rodents), with the most common species photographed being the pig-tailed macaque (independent images n = 278) and bearded pig (271), while the masked palm civet (1) and Sunda pangolin (1) were only represented by singletons. Most of the common species are listed as Protected (33.64%) in the Sarawak Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998, while 2.02% species have Totally Protected status. Less than 1% of the species are considered Critically Endangered and Endangered, 3.57% are considered Near Threatened, and 74.3% are considered Vulnerable under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In addition, this survey has provided detailed information on activity patterns of some cryptic species. The absence of larger carnivores suggests that species such as the Sunda clouded leopard and Bornean sun bear may have been extirpated from this small, isolated, and fragmented protected area. We emphasise that regular monitoring of wildlife in National Parks should not be neglected, especially when the surrounding area is experiencing accelerated and unprecedented rates of habitat conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiologic studies regarding solvent-based paints (SBPs) containing VOCs have demonstrated a strong correlation between chronic and acute adverse health effects and the SBPs. Therefore, new environmentally friendly paints as substitutes containing less or none VOCs have been rapidly developed in research for future sustainable use. However, a few studies focusing on penetration and exposure condition of the substitute have been reported duo to the complexity and inaccessibility of painting industry. Surveys specifically looking at the present status of exposure condition were conducted to ascertain the popularization of water-based paints (WBPs) which concluded that markers of SBPs were detected in all 134 samples indicating bad industrial penetration. VOCs exposure concentrations of painters ranged from 3.8 to 18.2 mg/m 3 for WBPs, 3.5 × 10 3 to 14.8 × 10 3 mg/m 3 for SBPs, respectively. The negative correlation between ambient concentration and breathing zone concentration suggested the former was incapable of representing the actual exposure concentration. The real-time concentration was proved to be closely associated with the activity patterns while the mean concentration level was found mostly dependent on the paint types. Authentic inhalation dose ranged from 7.68 to 15.84 mg (WBPs) and 3.84 to 15.59 g (SBPs), respectively, for occupational painters (work 8 h per day) and the total inhalation dose was estimated through a new conception. The findings suggested that WBPs could significantly reduce VOCs emission and occupational exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the explanatory power of mobility-related attributes in explaining vehicle ownership decisions. In contrast with the state of the art, in which socio-demographic information is usually employed to explain vehicle ownership decisions, we highlight how the quality of travel offered by a given mode of transportation in serving one's activity pattern influences the ownership of a mode of transport. To implement this approach, we employ a two-level model: first, we estimate the mode choice for performing a set of activities, and second, we use the results of the mode choice calibration to estimate an ownership model. We also show the need to estimate this two-step model, originally modelled as a two-step multinomial logit, with more complex logit structures. With the aim to consider all possible correlations included in each step, a Mixed Logit model and a Cross-nested logit model are employed. Finally, the influence of the socio-demographic information on the quality of travel offered by a given transport mode in performing a particular activity is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Oil palm plantations have become a dominant landscape in Southeast Asia, yet we still understand relatively little about the ways wildlife are adapting to fragmented mosaics of forest and oil palm. The bearded pig is of great ecological, social and conservation importance in Borneo and is declining in many parts of its range due to deforestation, habitat fragmentation and overhunting. Aims. We assessed how the bearded pig is adapting to oil palm expansion by investigating habitat utilisation, activity patterns, body condition and minimum group size in a mosaic landscape composed of forest fragments and surrounding oil palm plantations. Methods. We conducted our study in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, in and around the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected area consisting of secondary forest fragments (ranging 1200-7400 ha) situated within an extensive oil palm matrix. We modelled bearded pig habitat use in forest fragments and oil palm plantations using survey data from line transects. Camera traps placed throughout the forest fragments were used to assess pig activity patterns, body condition and minimum group size. Key results. All forest transects and 80% of plantation transects showed pig presence, but mean pig signs per transect were much more prevalent in forest (70.00 ±13.00 s.e.) than in plantations (0.91 ± 0.42 s.e.). Pig tracks had a positive relationship with leaf cover and a negative relationship with grass cover; pig rooting sites had a positive relationship with wet and moderate soils compared with drier soils. Ninety-five percent of pigs displayed 'good' or 'very good' body condition in forests across the study area. Pigs also aggregated in small groups (mean = 2.7 ± 0.1 s.e. individuals), and showed largely diurnal activity patterns with peak activity taking place at dawn and dusk. Groups with piglets and juveniles were more active during the day and less active at night as compared to overall activity patterns for all groups. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that bearded pigs in our study area regularly utilise oil palm as habitat, as indicated by their signs in most oil palm sites surveyed. However, secondary forest fragments are used much more frequently and for a wider range of behaviours (e.g. nesting, wallowing) than adjacent oil palm plantations. These forests clearly remain the most important habitat for the bearded pig in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, and their protection is a high conservation priority for this species. Implications. Consistent bearded pig presence in oil palm is potentially an indication of successful adaptation to agricultural expansion in the study area. The apparently good body condition displayed by the vast majority of pigs in our study likely results from year-round cross-border fruit subsidies from surrounding oil palm plantations. The consistent diurnal activity displayed by groups containing piglets and juveniles may indicate predator avoidance strategies, whereas the substantial nocturnal activity we observed by other groups could suggest fewer threats for larger individuals. However, the overall effects of oil palm expansion in the region on bearded pig population health, foraging ecology, and movement ecology remain unknown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]