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Animal tolerance towards humans can be a key factor facilitating wildlife-human coexistence, yet traits predicting its direction and magnitude across tropical animals are poorly known. Using 10,249 observations for 842 bird species inhabiting open tropical ecosystems in Africa, South America, and Australia, we find that avian tolerance towards humans was lower (i.e., escape distance was longer) in rural rather than urban populations and in populations exposed to lower human disturbance (measured as human footprint index). In addition, larger species and species with larger clutches and enhanced flight ability are less tolerant to human approaches and escape distances increase when birds were approached during the wet season compared to the dry season and from longer starting distances. Identification of key factors affecting animal tolerance towards humans across large spatial and taxonomic scales may help us to better understand and predict the patterns of species distributions in the Anthropocene.

Simple Summary: This study deals with the role of predator pressure on group formation in the Helmeted Guineafowl, a large sub-Saharan highly social galliform. We focused on a population from South Africa exposed to the frequent chase of both aerial and terrestrial predators, namely, eagles and jackals, recording prey and predator behaviour along with the outcome of predatory encounters. While all attacks were directed to prey aggregates rather than lone individuals, a tendency for chasing groups of a larger size seemingly emerged in jackals. However, unlike aerial predators, these do not seem to induce high fear in guineafowl, eliciting hardly predictable anti-predator responses. This arguably suggests that these galliforms perceive eagles and jackals differently despite the comparable hunting success. While the high predator-induced fear points to a well-established predator–prey system in the case of aerial predators, jackals, mostly carrion eaters, are perceived as a minor threat accounting for the failure in eliciting a well-defined defensive behaviour. Little is known about landbird group dynamics in response to predation. Here, we describe the interactions between the Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) and its predators regarding the survival advantages grouping behaviour may provide. Livestream webcam observations were conducted in Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa) from August 2020 to August 2021. Emphasis was placed on predator–prey interaction and its effect on group size and structure in a spatial framework. We hypothesise that while grouping is crucial for a number of daily activities in this highly social species, it might turn into a higher predatory pressure. We found, indeed, that the probability of attacks by black-backed jackals (Lupulella mesomelas) significantly increased with guineafowl group size, unlike what happened with raptors. Moreover, when attacked by jackals, the birds responded by standing close to each other. These results suggest, in line with the proposed hypothesis, that a trade-off occurs between the defensive function of grouping in this galliform and the probability of jackal attack that increases as a function of prey group size. Nevertheless, we argue that Helmeted Guineafowl cooperative social groups also play a role as a defensive strategy against predators, with the many-eyes and dilution effects likely compensating for the higher predatory pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South African gold mining industry requires complex water reticulation systems to deliver chilled water to underground production areas. However, chilled- and service-water wastage, including leaks and misuse, contribute to approximately 50% of the total chilled-water demand. The current inefficiency detection methods rely on broad, infrequent, and labour-intensive work, focusing only on identifying and quantifying wastages without comprehensive mitigation strategies. This study aimed to develop a novel accountability framework employing dynamic zero-waste baselines to identify and address inefficiencies closer to active working areas. The proposed method incorporates four key components—define, assess, execute, and communicate—into an accountability system to monitor performance and ensure sustainable improvements. The integration of dynamic zero-waste baselines within this accountability framework will ensure faster and more accurate inefficiency detection and, more importantly, the mitigation thereof, significantly reducing water wastage. This study successfully reduced the daily water wastage, with an annual energy cost benefit of approximately USD 1.6 million (ZAR 28.7 million). The successful implementation of this method met all the research objectives, confirming its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compressed air systems are one of the most significant energy users on mines, with a contribution of about 20 per cent to the total electrical energy consumption on a mine. Research has shown that these compressed air networks are systemically inefficient. Improving the efficiency of these systems would result in a significant reduction in energy costs. A simulation methodology was developed and investigations were conducted into compressed air systems. A compressed air system was subsequently modelled, and a proposed means of improvement was simulated, analysed, and quantified. A South African gold mine was used as a case study. The results showed that, by reducing air usage at refuge bays, an average power reduction of 0.9 megawatts could be achieved. The improvement in efficiency could potentially lead to R6.3 million in annual energy cost savings. The study shows how simulations can help to improve efficiency and profitability in the mining industry.

A survey comparing librarian job satisfaction with a 1996 Inc./Gallup survey of other US workers found fewer librarians were satisfied with their place of employment (80.4%/91%), fewer felt they had an opportunity to do what they do best (57.8%/82%), but more felt they had an opportunity to learn and grow (91%/84%). (PEN)