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Wild, Volume 1, Issue 1 (December 2024) – 7 articles

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14 pages, 2561 KiB  
Article
Assessing Species Richness with Camera Trap Surveys During Five Years of Large-Scale Mining Disruptions
by Ruan W. Higgs and Francois Deacon
Wild 2024, 1(1), 82-95; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010007 - 2 Dec 2024
Viewed by 752
Abstract
In the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, an investigation was launched into the impact of large-scale open-pit mining on wildlife ecology and populations, more specifically on the animal species richness and detection rates across different vegetation types. Using camera traps, we monitored [...] Read more.
In the Northern Cape Province of South Africa, an investigation was launched into the impact of large-scale open-pit mining on wildlife ecology and populations, more specifically on the animal species richness and detection rates across different vegetation types. Using camera traps, we monitored a 43,000-hectare area, which included active mining areas and adjacent lands, over a period of five years (2020–2024). Data on 44 animal species ranging from small mammals to large megaherbivores were collected, with a large variation in species richness across the study site being observed. The detection of species that are of conservation concern, such as the vulnerable Temminck’s ground pangolin (Smutsia temminckii) and endangered mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), highlighted additional potential risks that mining activities pose to biodiversity in the area, emphasizing the importance of monitoring biodiversity in areas that are impacted by large-scale anthropogenic and mining activities. Furthermore, the results suggest that some areas may require a more targeted approach to conservation in order to mitigate the disruptive effect of mining. Benchmarking the species present and proving the presence of endangered and vulnerable species prove the successful first steps into understanding habitat disruption caused by mining activities and will guide future conservation and management efforts. Full article
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19 pages, 4547 KiB  
Article
Habitat Associated with Ramps/Wild Leeks (Allium tricoccum Ait.) in Pennsylvania, USA: Guidance for Forest Farming Site Selection
by Ezra Houston, Eric P. Burkhart, Cassie Stark, Xin Chen and Sarah E. Nilson
Wild 2024, 1(1), 63-81; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010006 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1359
Abstract
Ramps or wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) are a popular foraged non-timber forest product in North America consumed for their edible bulbs and leaves. The agroforestry practice of forest farming is a possible solution to conservation challenges surrounding the wild exploitation of [...] Read more.
Ramps or wild leeks (Allium tricoccum) are a popular foraged non-timber forest product in North America consumed for their edible bulbs and leaves. The agroforestry practice of forest farming is a possible solution to conservation challenges surrounding the wild exploitation of this species, but it requires proper site selection to be successful. In this study, maximum entropy (Maxent) modeling using 163 occurrence points and field data collected at 30 wild populations were combined to determine the characteristics of the ramp habitat in Pennsylvania. Both Maxent modeling and field measurements highlighted moist, lower slope positions with base-rich bedrock types as suitable for ramps. Sites shared 50% of their floristic associates on average, with 252 species documented in total. Forest communities associated with ramps included many species indicative of base-rich mesic soil conditions, but the relative abundance of some indicator species differed by region. The confirmation of model variables by field measurements and forest community types points to the usefulness of these characteristics in identifying suitable forest farming sites. When used in tandem, these results can help to guide site selection for forest farming and other conservation strategies. Full article
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6 pages, 552 KiB  
Communication
Comparison of Serum Testosterone Levels in Male Wild Boars and Domestic Pigs in Japan
by Hiromitsu Tanaka, Hiroshi Sato, Masashi Fukasawa, Yasuchika Yamaguchi, Keisuke Kakazu, Toshiaki Seto, Yuki Tanaka and Yuichiro Matsumoto
Wild 2024, 1(1), 57-62; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010005 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 850
Abstract
(1) Background: The numbers of wild animals in Japan are increasing due to changes in the industrial structure and a decline in the population. Various extermination approaches have been used against animals that are classified as harmful, such as boars. Making effective use [...] Read more.
(1) Background: The numbers of wild animals in Japan are increasing due to changes in the industrial structure and a decline in the population. Various extermination approaches have been used against animals that are classified as harmful, such as boars. Making effective use of exterminated wild animals will revitalize extermination activities by developing markets as the number of hunters declines. We measured serum testosterone levels to examine the potential value of male wild boars as a meat source and compared them with the testosterone levels in domestic male pigs. Testosterone has an analeptic effect even in small amounts. (2) Methods: Blood testosterone levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence in wild boars and domestic pigs, collected using box traps in Sasebo City. (3) Results: Almost no testosterone was detected in the sera of castrated domestic male pigs, and more testosterone was detected in wild male boars than in pigs. (4) Conclusions: The analysis demonstrated that male wild boars have unique nutritional value compared with domestic pigs. Full article
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18 pages, 3612 KiB  
Article
Influence of Sociodemographic Profile on Interactions Between Human Populations and Fauna in the Semi-Arid Region of Northeast Brazil and Its Relationship with Conservation
by Jeferson de Menezes Souza, Josué Luiz da Silva Alves, Ana Carolina Matos Rodrigues, Ernani M. F. Lins-neto and Felipe Silva Ferreira
Wild 2024, 1(1), 39-56; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010004 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 775
Abstract
Background: The relationship between human populations and wild animals dates back across centuries of interactions, enabling the construction of belief systems in communities. The socioecological perspective allows us to understand the interactions between the social and ecological dimensions of a population and nature. [...] Read more.
Background: The relationship between human populations and wild animals dates back across centuries of interactions, enabling the construction of belief systems in communities. The socioecological perspective allows us to understand the interactions between the social and ecological dimensions of a population and nature. Methods: In this context, 133 residents of a rural community were interviewed to assess their knowledge and use of animals. We sought to evaluate the following: (i) animal species used by community residents, (ii) types of use and (iii) the effects of socioeconomic variables on different uses of vertebrate animal taxa. Results: The fauna cited were represented by 82 ethnospecies distributed in 48 families; it was not possible to identify nine ethnospecies and two were identified only at the genus level (Columbina sp. and Turdus sp.). Among the identified species, birds presented the greatest taxonomic richness (n = 34/41.0%), followed by mammals (n = 22/27.0%) and reptiles (n = 15/18.0%). Through generalized linear models, we identified which socioeconomic variables influenced the knowledge and use of wildlife resources. Furthermore, the influence of socioeconomic variables varied between taxa and use categories. Conclusions: The influence of socioeconomic variables may vary according to the taxonomic group, as well as the type of cultural domain, favoring the increase or decrease in the use of a resource. Full article
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9 pages, 230 KiB  
Editorial
An Editorial to Introduce the New Journal Wild: Issues, Approaches, Ideas and Proposals
by Kevin Cianfaglione
Wild 2024, 1(1), 30-38; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010003 - 23 Oct 2024
Viewed by 944
Abstract
Why have we established this journal, and how does it differ from other journals concerning the environment, land management, ecosystem restoration, biodiversity and ecological philosophy [...] Full article
13 pages, 7444 KiB  
Article
Non-Conventional Food Plants (Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC)) of the Petrópolis–Teresópolis Crossing, Serra dos Órgãos National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
by Thiago da Cruz Alves, Valdely Ferreira Kinupp, Bruno Araujo Furtado de Mendonça and Tiago Böer Breier
Wild 2024, 1(1), 17-29; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010002 - 28 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1159
Abstract
We conducted a floristic survey of Non-Conventional Food Plants (Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC)) on the trail of Travessia Petrópolis–Teresópolis in Serra dos Órgãos National Park, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wild food plants with food potential were collected along [...] Read more.
We conducted a floristic survey of Non-Conventional Food Plants (Plantas Alimentícias Não Convencionais (PANC)) on the trail of Travessia Petrópolis–Teresópolis in Serra dos Órgãos National Park, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Wild food plants with food potential were collected along a sinuous transect of 27 km in length and 3 m in width. The collected material was identified in virtual herbariums by specialists, and later, a literature review on the food use of the identified plants was carried out. Thus, 90 food and potential food species were identified, belonging to 54 genera and distributed in 34 families present along the trail, including the Asteraceae (10), Begoniaceae (9), Passifloraceae (8), Piperaceae (7), and Cactaceae (6) families, which showed the greatest species richness. We conclude that the diversity of the PANC found in a protected area demonstrates enormous potential for future domestication to produce food from the native flora of Brazil. Another potential use is in educational activities and pedagogical tourism, highlighting the gastronomic dimension of plant diversity present in protected areas. Full article
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16 pages, 8990 KiB  
Article
Quantifying the Potential of the Tropical Dry Region of the Gulf of Mexico to Provide Tree Species with Traditional Uses for Forest-Reliant Communities
by Natalia Mesa-Sierra, Patricia Moreno-Casasola and Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer
Wild 2024, 1(1), 1-16; https://doi.org/10.3390/wild1010001 - 22 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1049
Abstract
The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use [...] Read more.
The tropical dry regions in the Neotropics are under intense anthropogenic pressures, resulting in changes for local communities related with their life patterns, wellbeing, and their relationship with ecosystems. The region has a history of human occupation that has shaped the traditional use of resources. We evaluated the richness, redundancy, and divergence of traditional uses of tree species present in vegetation patches of the tropical dry region of the Gulf of Mexico using functional diversity indices. The most used species are Acacia cochliacantha, Cedrela odorata, Enterolobium cyclocarpum, Gliricidia sepium, and Guazuma ulmifolia, and the uses with the broadest distributions across the region are firewood and pasture management, while reforestation is the least common use. While distance to the nearest patch of the closest human settlement is the most predictive variable associated with inhabitants’ different uses or recognitions of the value of different plant species, the most recognized and valued species are widely distributed in Mexico. Even when the forest cover is greatly reduced, the inhabitants recognize numerous uses that can be obtained from the vegetation patches. The approach used in this work provides important baseline information, as well as a methodology that facilitates the identification of priority areas for conservation. Full article
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