Suchergebnisse

In Andalusia, southern Spain, each game estate applies its own rules and presents its results in annual hunting reports, which have been mandatory for Spanish game estates since 1989. We used the information about hunting yields, included in 32 134 annual hunting reports produced during the period 1993/94 to 2001/02 by 6049 game estates, to determine the current distribution of hunting yields of big and small game species in Andalusia. Using generalised linear models and a geographic information system, we determined the most favourable municipalities to big and small game, respectively, and delimited potential areas to attain good hunting yields for big and small game at a 1-km2 resolution. Municipalities and areas favourable to big game are mainly located in the Sierra Morena and the westernmost fringe of the Betic Range, while those favourable to small game occupy the upper Guadalquivir River valley. There is a clear segregation between big and small game species according to the physiography and land uses of the territory. Big game species are typical of Mediterranean woodland areas, while the most emblematic small game species prefer agricultural areas. Our results provide a territorial ordination of hunting yields in southern Spain and have several potential applications in strategic planning for hunting activities and biodiversity conservation in Andalusia that can be extrapolated to other regions.

The release of farm-reared game is considered a conflictive management tool because of its potential harmful ecological effects on wildlife and associated habitats. Estimates of the number of animals released and the area where this game management takes place could give an idea of the magnitude of their potential impacts. We aimed to quantitatively assess the release of farm-reared red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) in the province of Ciudad Real, central Spain, one of the main hunting areas in this country. We analysed the official permits that the regional government granted to the hunting estates to release farm-reared partridges between 2006 and 2012. Our results show that an average of 800,000 partridges were released annually in the study area. A decrease in the number of hunting estates that used this game management practice, as well as in the number of red-legged partridges officially released, was observed during the last years within the study period. This might be a consequence of the current economic crisis, rather than a change in management styles. Release intensity was spatially heterogeneous, being higher in the southeast of the study area, where historically red-legged partridge was more abundant. Most of the red-legged partridges released came from only four farms placed in northern Spain. Our results suggest that this management activity should be better monitored and that spatial regulations should also be considered. ; Work was supported by the European Commission (7th Framework Programme for R&D through project HUNT, 212160, FP7-ENV-2007-1) and by CSIC (PIE 201330E105). ; Peer reviewed

Game bird management has the potential to benefit conservation, as management practices specifically targeted at reducing the factors limiting game populations may have positive effects on non‐game species. However, such management may also have costs to species. We review the literature that examines the effect of different forms of game bird management on non‐target species in Europe, including habitat management, predator control, parasite control, provision of water and food and rear and release. We focus on Europe, where these forms of management are common and sometimes intensive. We identified 35 studies, which recorded 122 individual significant effects. Most studies (80%) focussed on the effects of habitat management and predator control, and >90% were carried out in the UK. 63% of the 122 significant effects on non‐game species were positive. Overall, 85% of the effects of habitat management in agricultural habitats were positive, while in non‐agricultural habitats 65% of effects were negative. Effects of rear and release were mixed (8 positive and 7 negative). Legal predator control was almost always positive (96% of effects), or benign, whereas illegal predator control was always negative (8 effects). This continues to be a major cost to conservation. No studies examined the effects of parasite control on non‐target wildlife. Three of four significant effects of supplementary feeding were negative. More studies are needed on the impacts of game bird management on non‐game species, and particularly of rear and release, the provision of supplementary food and water, and parasite control. We also found few experimental studies examining the specific effects of management for shooting of game birds, and very few studies overall outside the UK. Future studies should aim to fill these gaps. Synthesis and applications. The management of game bird populations for shooting is widespread across Europe. Our study shows that effects of such management practices vary between different non‐target species. There is a need to understand these trade‐offs, find effective strategies to limit the damaging aspects of game bird management and work to enhance the benefits for the conservation of biodiversity. ; This work was originally funded by EU Framework IV for the project Reconciling Gamebird Hunting and Biodiversity (REGHAB), and continued under FP7 HUNTing for Sustainability. S.R. is grateful for his King Carl XVI Gustaf guest professorship with SLU, which gave him the time to finish this manuscript. P.B. was supported through the EDP Biodiversity Chair. S.N. and R.J.I. were also supported by the Rural & Environment Science & Analytical Services Division of the Scottish Government. ; Peer Reviewed

Some animals and plants injure or kill millions of people annually, others cause trillions of dollars in property damage and loss. Such harmful species are understandably hated. However, the vast majority of the planet's millions of species are disliked simply because of how they look and act. This bias is endangering numerous species that play important roles in maintaining both the natural ecosystems and the human economies of the world. In Defense of the World's Most Despised Species examines the psychological motivations that lead people to make judgments about the attractiveness of species, noting the overwhelming importance of visual cues. It describes in considerable detail the physical and behavioral traits of species that lead us to love or hate them. Full color illustrations throughout present beautiful, charming animals and plants, species that seem loathsome, behavior of people in relation to such divergent species and their characteristics, and numerous explanatory diagrams of relevant biological and psychological phenomena. The aim of this book is to give readers insights into how we humans arrive at biased judgments and to promote the welfare of valuable, albeit sometimes unlovable animals and plants that consequently suffer from discrimination. Many of the ugliest, most disgusting, and feared species, such as vultures, toads, hyenas, sharks, spiders, and even the vast majority of cockroaches, in reality are some of our most valuable friends. Features Theme of the book - human preferences for and against species - is novel, scarcely examined to date Multidisciplinary analysis, especially psychology, biological conservation science, and ecology, as well as philosophy, agriculture, urban planning, human health, and law Text is accessible, user-friendly, concise, and well-organized, making numerous complex topics comprehensible, readable not only by specialists, but also by students and the educated layperson Includes over 2,000 high-quality, entertaining, and informative color figures

Abstract
The European Commission asked EFSA for a risk assessment on small organoarsenic species in food. For monomethylarsonic acid MMA(V), decreased body weight resulting from diarrhoea in rats was identified as the critical endpoint and a BMDL10 of 18.2 mg MMA(V)/kg body weight (bw) per day (equivalent to 9.7 mg As/kg bw per day) was calculated as a reference point (RP). For dimethylarsinic acid DMA(V), increased incidence in urinary bladder tumours in rats was identified as the critical endpoint. A BMDL10 of 1.1 mg DMA(V)/kg bw per day (equivalent to 0.6 mg As/kg bw per day) was calculated as an RP. For other small organoarsenic species, the toxicological data are insufficient to identify critical effects and RPs, and they could not be included in the risk assessment. For both MMA(V) and DMA(V), the toxicological database is incomplete and a margin of exposure (MOE) approach was applied for risk characterisation. The highest chronic dietary exposure to DMA(V) was estimated in 'Toddlers', with rice and fish meat as the main contributors across population groups. For MMA(V), the highest chronic dietary exposures were estimated for high consumers of fish meat and processed/preserved fish in 'Infants' and 'Elderly' age class, respectively. For MMA(V), an MOE of ≥ 500 was identified not to raise a health concern. For MMA(V), all MOEs were well above 500 for average and high consumers and thus do not raise a health concern. For DMA(V), an MOE of 10,000 was identified as of low health concern as it is genotoxic and carcinogenic, although the mechanisms of genotoxicity and its role in carcinogenicity of DMA(V) are not fully elucidated. For DMA(V), MOEs were below 10,000 in many cases across dietary surveys and age groups, in particular for some 95th percentile exposures. The Panel considers that this would raise a health concern.

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Every year, the South African government spends approximately ZAR 2 billion to control invasive alien species (IAS) that are intentionally or unintentionally introduced into new areas by humans, and have a variety of social, ecological, and economic impacts. Given the link between people and the introduction and spread of IAS, it is important to understand citizens' knowledge and perceptions of IAS to guide management. For this reason, we conducted a study in small towns of South Africa to assess (1) awareness of IAS by the general public, (2) local perceptions of the impacts associated with IAS, (3) if awareness of IAS is associated with demographic covariates and IAS density, and, (4) people's willingness to detect, report, and support IAS management. We found that people were not aware of IAS and their impacts, and many perceived them as beneficial. We found that IAS density, education level, and gender influenced people's knowledge and perceptions about IAS in the region. Some people showed interest and willingness to learn more about IAS. These results could help to inform outreach and educational programs to promote public awareness and engagement in IAS management. ABSTRACT: Invasive alien species (IAS) are a growing threat globally and cause a variety of ecological, economic, and social impacts. People can introduce IAS and facilitate their spread, and can also implement, support, or oppose their management. Understanding local knowledge, awareness, and perceptions are therefore crucial if management and policy are to be effective. We administered questionnaires to members of the public in eight small towns along the Berg River Catchment in the biodiverse fynbos biome of South Africa. We aimed to assess: (1) awareness of IAS by the general public, (2) local perceptions of the impacts associated with IAS, (3) whether awareness of IAS is correlated with demographic covariates and IAS density, and (4) people's willingness to detect, report, and support IAS management. Overall, 262 ...

Populations of waterfowl of three game species, the Pacific black duck Anus superciliosa, grey teal
A. gibberifrons, and maned duck Chenonetta jubata, were assessed by aerial survey in October 1983
within a survey region of 2 697 000 km2 of eastern Australia. The numbers of each species were
assessed on all surface waters of over 1 ha, and on a sample of smaller surface waters within 10 survey
bands each 30 km wide and spaced at intervals of 2� latitude from 20�30' to 38�30'S. The area within
the survey bands was 324 120 km2, which gave a sampling intensity of 12.0% of the land surface area.
The area of features shown as wetlands or water impoundments within the survey bands on 1 : 2 500 000
topographic maps was 19 200 km2 or 11.2% of the total area of these features in the survey region.
The area of surface waters surveyed was assessed at 465 300 ha. Assessments of populations of each species
were tallied for wetlands by grid cells of 6 min of 1� longitude along the survey bands (258-309 km2
depending on latitude). Distributions were then mapped, with log*10 indices of populations in each cell.
Distributions of the black duck and grey teal showed a pattern of intense aggregation in limited numbers
of cells, that of the maned duck was more evenly distributed. The major concentrations of the Pacific black
duck were recorded in northern New South Wales and the south-eastern, western, central eastern and
central coastal regions of Queensland; those of the grey teal were in south-western, western and northern
New South Wales and central-eastern Queensland; the maned duck was broadly distributed over inland
New South Wales with the exception of the far west, inland southern Queensland, and central northern
Victoria.