Search Results (67)

Management for pheasant shooting is a widespread land use in the UK, with potential implications for forest and hedgerow habitats. This study evaluates whether sites managed for pheasant shooting differ ecologically from similar sites not used for shooting. A systematic evidence evaluation of comparative studies was combined with a spatial analysis using remote sensing data (2010–2024). The literature review identified only 32 studies meeting strict criteria for comparability, revealing inconsistent and often weak evidence, with few studies reporting detailed forest management or statistically robust outcomes. While some studies noted increased or decreased biodiversity associated with pheasant shooting, the evidence base was generally of low quality. Remote sensing assessed forest structural and spectral diversity, intactness, and hedgerow density across 1131 pheasant-managed and 1131 matched control sites. Biodiversity data for birds, plants, and butterflies were sourced from GBIF records. Structural diversity and hedgerow density were significantly higher on pheasant-managed sites, while no significant differences were found in forest spectral diversity, intactness, or biodiversity indicators. Pheasant management may shape certain habitat features but has limited demonstrable effects on overall biodiversity. Further field-based, controlled studies are required to understand causal mechanisms and inform ecologically sustainable shooting practices. Full article

The blue-eared pheasant (Crossoptilon auritum), a Near Threatened (NT) species endemic to China, is primarily distributed across the northeastern region of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. To bridge the fine-scale spatiotemporal gap in blue-eared pheasant behavioral ecology, this study combines satellite telemetry, movement modeling, and field-based habitat assessments (vegetation, topography, human disturbance). This multidisciplinary approach reveals detailed patterns of their behavior throughout the breeding season. Using satellite-tracking data from six individuals (five males tracked at 4 h intervals; one female tracked hourly) in Wanglang National Nature Reserve (WLNNR), Sichuan Province during breeding seasons 2018–2019, we quantified their home ranges via Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and examined the female movement patterns using a Hidden Markov Model (HMM). The results indicated male core (50% KDE: 21.93 ± 16.54 ha) and total (95% KDE: 158.30 ± 109.30 ha) home ranges, with spatial overlap among individuals but no significant temporal variation in home range size. Habitat selection analysis indicated that the blue-eared pheasants favored shrub-dominated areas at higher elevations (steep southeast-facing slopes), regions distant from human disturbance, and with abundant animal trails. We found that their movement patterns differed between sexes: the males exhibited higher daytime activity yet slower movement speeds, while the female remained predominantly near nests, making brief excursions before returning promptly. These results enhance our understanding of the movement ecology of blue-eared pheasants by revealing fine-scale breeding-season behaviors and habitat preferences through satellite-tracking. Such detailed insights provide an essential foundation for developing targeted conservation strategies, particularly regarding effective habitat management and zoning of human activities within the species’ range. Full article

Understanding predator-prey coexistence mechanisms is essential for conserving endemic species in montane ecosystems. Galliformes serve as critical ecological indicator species, yet their populations are declining globally due to habitat fragmentation and anthropogenic pressures. Elliot’s pheasant (Syrmaticus ellioti, Swinhoe, 1872), a Galliformes species endemic to China, is primarily distributed south of the Yangtze River. However, its coexistence mechanisms with sympatric predators remain undocumented. Here, using six years (2019–2024) of camera-trap data from 90 stations in Jiemuxi National Nature Reserve, Hunan Province, Southwest China, we employed a MaxEnt model and kernel density estimation to investigate spatiotemporal coexistence mechanisms between Elliot’s pheasant and its primary predator, the leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis, Kerr, 1792). Across 36,946 camera-days, we obtained 227 independent detections of Elliot’s pheasant and 82 of the leopard cat. Spatial niche analysis revealed high overlap (Schoener’s D = 0.769; Hellinger’s I = 0.952). Both species exhibit similar preferences for main environmental variables. Conversely, significant temporal niche segregation occurred: Elliot’s pheasant displayed diurnal bimodal activity, whereas the leopard cat was strictly nocturnal, resulting in low overlap (Δ₄ = 0.379, p < 0.01). Critically, during Elliot’s pheasant’s breeding season, increased temporal overlap with the leopard cat (Δ₁ = 0.479, p < 0.01) suggested that reproductive behaviors elevate predation risk. Our findings demonstrate that temporal niche partitioning serves as the primary coexistence mechanism, while spatial niche overlap and behavioral adaptations under predation pressure drive dynamic predator-prey interactions. This provides a scientific foundation for targeted conservation strategies and predator management of these threatened Galliformes. Full article

Polyplectron katsumatae is a rare and endangered species endemic to Hainan, China. It has long been regarded as a subspecies of the widely distributed Grey Peacock-Pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum), a classification that has resulted in a paucity of targeted conservation studies and rendered efforts to protect and restore its populations and habitats exceedingly challenging. In this study, the Jianfengling section of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park was designated as the research area. We comprehensively utilized infrared camera monitoring data for P. katsumatae and other species, alongside habitat environmental factor data obtained through multiple monitoring approaches. An ensemble species distribution model (ESDM) was employed to evaluate the habitat suitability for four ground-dwelling bird species, including P. katsumatae, and to investigate their environmental preferences and competitive interactions during habitat selection. Subsequently, the Marxan model was applied to identify key protection areas for P. katsumatae. The results indicate that the suitable habitat for P. katsumatae is primarily distributed in the central, eastern, and certain southern areas of the study region, with low spatial overlap and minimal competition from the suitable habitats of the other three ground-dwelling bird species. However, due to anthropogenic disturbances and the inherently stringent habitat requirements of P. katsumatae, its overall suitable habitat area is limited, exhibiting a concentrated distribution overall with fragmented, small patches within it. Our study recommends designating the eastern and southern regions of the study area as key protection areas for P. katsumatae, thereby providing a robust baseline environment and policy support for the targeted protection of its habitat and the recovery of its populations. Full article

This study examined the factors influencing wild boar population density in Slovakia from 2013 to 2023, focusing on biometeorological, demographic, and ecological variables. Linear regression models were used to analyze spring population figures and the number of hunted animals across eight self-governing regions. Following the African swine fever outbreak in 2019, population dynamics changed significantly. The number of wild boars hunted increased while population densities decreased, particularly in the Presov, Kosice, and Banska Bystrica regions. Biometeorological factors, including monthly air temperature and precipitation, significantly influenced wild boar density at the national level, with soil temperature at a 5 cm depth playing a key role regionally. Demographic factors, such as road network and human population densities, also impacted wild boar populations, with road network density being the most important. Ecological factors, including the presence of brown hares, common pheasants, and grey wolves, had varying effects across regions. Grey wolf predation and interspecies competition were particularly significant in mountainous, less urbanized areas. The joint influence of biometeorological and demographic factors was higher in regions affected by African swine fever. This study highlights the complex interactions between environmental, demographic, and ecological factors and provides insights into more effective wildlife management strategies aimed at the sustainable management of wild boar populations. It advocates for a regionally tailored, integrated approach that considers the influence of biometeorological, demographic, and ecological factors, while also addressing the risks associated with epidemics, such as African swine fever. Full article

The lumbar degenerative cascade is a pathological process that affects most of the aging adult population and has significant negative economic consequences. Lumbar fusion surgery remains a mainstay of treatment for refractory degenerative disease but carries significant long-term consequences. More recently, lumbar arthroplasty and motion-sparing technology has become an increasingly popular alternative surgical option in carefully indicated patients. Arthroplasty technology carries the theoretical benefits of spinal segment motion preservation and decreased degeneration of adjacent segments as compared to traditional fusion procedures. This article will review the lumbar degenerative cascade and its related anatomic considerations, current management strategies and the challenges surrounding lumbar spinal fusion, including adjacent segment disease. This article will also review the theoretical benefits of lumbar arthroplasty and motion preservation. Furthermore, this paper will highlight the current state of lumbar arthroplasty, including current concepts of implant design, limitations, outcomes and ongoing development. It will review the development and current state of artificial disk arthroplasty, total joint arthroplasty and posterior column motion-preserving implants, including flexible rods and facet joint replacement. Full article

Many barriers prevent ranchers from supporting prescribed fire on grazing leases or their own land. Barriers include negative perceptions of fire resources limitations, and fear of liability. We surveyed ranching landowners around four National Grasslands in North and South Dakota—public grazinglands managed by the USDA Forest Service—to assess landowner attitudes towards prescribed fire and provide insight into the barriers to using prescribed burning on the National Grasslands. Respondents reported being motivated by an interest in stewardship and want managers to prioritize sound science in decision-making on the National Grasslands. But respondents generally had negative perceptions of fire and reported little awareness of potential benefits. With respect to prescribed fire, specifically, respondents reported their greatest degree of trust in prescribed fire activity and/or information of Pheasants Forever and county Extension, and their lowest trust in the USDA Forest Service. Despite their proximity to public grazingland, where the risk and resource barriers for prescribed burning would be borne by the USDA Forest Service, respondents disagreed that prescribed fire use on the Grasslands should be increased and stated a lack of readiness to conduct prescribed burns on their own ranches. As the primary barriers to prescribed fire use in these communities appear to be negative perceptions, educational materials from trusted sources and opportunities to engage with burning might help explain where and when prescribed fire use would be appropriate on the landscape and aid understanding between entities that would like to use prescribed fire and those who are concerned about prescribed fire use. Full article

Spinopelvic dissociation is a highly unstable orthopedic injury with a growing incidence worldwide. Operative treatment classically involves an open lumbopelvic fusion and sacroiliac stabilization, which carries high perioperative morbidity and mortality in a frail patient population. Advancements in spinal navigation, robotics, and minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques now allow these fracture patterns to be treated entirely percutaneously through small incisions. These incisions are just large enough to accommodate pedicle screw guides and enable the placement of lumbopelvic instrumentation, with rods being passed subfascially across pedicle screws and extending caudally to iliac fixation. This contrasts with the open midline approach, which requires more extensive soft tissue dissection and results in increased blood loss compared to percutaneous techniques. Modern imaging techniques, including CT navigation and robotics, facilitate the precise placement of sacral S2AI screw instrumentation in both open and percutaneous methods, all while safely avoiding previously placed trans-sacral fixation and other existing hardware, such as acetabular screws. Trans-sacral screws are typically percutaneously inserted first by the orthopedic trauma service, utilizing inlet, outlet, and lateral sacral fluoroscopic guidance to navigate the limited available corridor. With the advent of MIS techniques, trauma patients can now benefit from faster postoperative rehabilitation, minimal blood loss, decreased pain, and quicker mobilization. This article will review current concepts on spinopelvic anatomy, fracture patterns, indications for treatment, and current concepts for minimally invasive percutaneous lumbopelvic fixation, and it will present illustrative examples. Full article

A first attempt has been made to present a general composition of birds found in Chalcolithic settlements in the plains and lowlands of Bulgaria. Based on data from 21 settlements, 78 bird taxa (including 3 domestic forms) have been identified. Of these, 56 species have been identified to the species level. They constitute 13.4% (almost 1/7) of the 417 recorded bird species in the country. Aquatic birds (waterfowl, grebes, loons, herons, etc.) predominate (29 species). There are 12 species inhabiting woodland landscapes. Ten species are field/openland birds, and five are petrophilous species that inhabit rocky and stony habitats. Five species have disappeared as nesting in the country—bearded vulture, great bustard, common crane, colchic pheasant (native colchicus ssp.), and black grouse. These five species constitute 8.9% of the established composition of birds in the Chalcolithic settlements in the country. One extinct subspecies of the Eurasian coot has been described from one of these settlements. Full article

Establishing and managing nature reserves to mitigate wildlife habitat loss and fragmentation is challenging, particularly in the face of increasing human activity. To understand how wildlife coexists in environments affected by anthropogenic disturbances, we conducted a 19-month survey examining the Reeves’s pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and Koklass pheasant (Pucrasia macrolopha) in the Anhui Tianma National Nature Reserve, China. Previous studies of large terrestrial birds focused primarily on livestock impacts, with less attention given to other human activities. We used occupancy models and performed daytime activity rhythm analysis based on camera trap data to examine the spatiotemporal responses of these species to human activities, livestock, and domestic dogs. The results showed that human disturbance activities within the reserve impact the distribution patterns of Reeves’s pheasant and Koklass pheasant, but the effect was not significant. In high-disturbance environments, both species adjusted their activity times to avoid direct or indirect interactions with humans, livestock, and dogs. These findings provide insights for replanning core and creation of buffer zones within the reserve and have broader implications for conservation strategies in similar habitats. Our study suggests that well-designed conservation objectives can balance species protection with sustainable human presence. Full article

Background: Phasianidae mitogenomes exhibit significant structural variations critical for understanding evolution and subspecies divergence. However, annotations of these features in some pheasant species remain limited. This study aimed to enhance understanding of Phasianidae mitogenomes and their evolutionary patterns. Methods: A comparative analysis of complete mitogenomes from Phasianus colchicus, Phasianus versicolor, and 22 other accipitrids was conducted, examining codon usage, rRNA structures, selective pressures, phylogenetics, and structural variations. Results: The mitogenome of P. colchicus is 16,696 bp, comprising 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a control region, with a base composition of A: 30.61%, T: 25.26%, C: 30.85%, and G: 13.28%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed P. colchicus and P. versicolor are closely related, with the following relationship: ((Phasianus + Chrysolophus) + (Crossoptilon + Lophura)). Divergence timing aligns with the Tibetan Plateau uplift during the Tertiary Pliocene. Ka/Ks analysis suggests the CO I, CO II, CO III, ND1, ND4L, and ND6 genes in Phasianus underwent strong selective pressure for plateau adaptation. Conclusions: The study confirms Phasianus monophyly and its close relationship with Chrysolophus. Adaptation-related selective pressures on the CO I, CO II, CO III, ND1, ND4L, and ND6 genes highlight its role in plateau environments, offering valuable insights into pheasant phylogeny. Full article

Background/Objectives: Rapid and accurate pathogen identification is essential for the proper management of patients with infectious gastroenteritis, as well as for a better control of disease outbreaks. This observational, non-interventional, single-site study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of LiquidArray^® Gastrointestinal VER 1.0, a multiplex PCR syndromic panel capable of detecting up to 26 clinically relevant enteropathogens. Methods: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and likelihood ratio (LR) were evaluated using stool samples from 1512 patients with suspected gastroenteritis and were compared to seven competitor assays. Results: LiquidArray^® Gastrointestinal VER 1.0 showed a very low invalid rate (0.5% at initial testing, down to 0% after repeat) and high sensitivity (>90% for most detected targets) and specificity (>99% for all detected targets). Accordingly, the PPV and NPV were high (>90% for most targets and >99% for all targets, respectively). The analytical performance of LiquidArray^® Gastrointestinal VER 1.0 was also excellent as to co-amplification capability, cross-reactivity and assay precision. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the excellent clinical performance of LiquidArray^® Gastrointestinal VER 1.0 and its suitability for implementation in clinical routine for the rapid and accurate diagnosis of infectious gastroenteritis. Full article

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of replacing soybean meal with insect meal on the body weight and the chemical composition of selected muscle groups of common pheasant females and males, including the mineral composition and the amino acid profile of the thigh and breast muscles. The study was conducted on three feeding groups, namely one control and two experimental groups. In the control group, plant feed components were used, which are commonly used to feed pheasants in confined breeding facilities. In the experimental groups, 100 g (group II) and 200 g (group III) portions of insect meal were introduced instead of the plant-protein components. The experiment used a preparation of insect larvae (Hermetia illucens) containing approximately 52% crude protein. The pheasant diet supplementation applied contributed to an increase in the proportion of muscles in the carcasses, with the highest effectiveness obtained for a 20% addition of insect meal. Lower and significant differences were noted in the feed conversion by birds from the experimental groups, as compared to the control group. The chemical composition of the birds’ muscles also changed. The experimental groups exhibited higher protein and fat contents and a lower water content. No significant changes in the amino acid profile or the mineral composition of the muscles were noted. The few exceptions concerned the methionine levels in both muscle groups and the isoleucine levels in the breast muscles. In most cases, the mineral composition did not vary significantly (p < 0.05). When supplementing the diet of breeding pheasants for improving meatiness, a 20% addition of insect meal is recommended, which affects the production effect of this trait while reducing feed consumption and maintaining the fatty acid profile. Full article

The pursuit of understanding the origins of life (OoL) on and off Earth and the search for extraterrestrial life (ET) are central aspects of astrobiology. Despite the considerable efforts in both areas, more novel and multifaceted approaches are needed to address these profound questions with greater detail and with certainty. The complexity of the chemical milieu within ancient geological environments presents a diverse landscape where biomolecules and non-biomolecules interact. This interaction could lead to life as we know it, dominated by biomolecules, or to alternative forms of life where non-biomolecules could play a pivotal role. Such alternative forms of life could be found beyond Earth, i.e., on exoplanets and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. Challenging the notion that all life, including ET life, must use the same building blocks as life on Earth, the concept of contingency—when expanded beyond its macroevolution interpretation—suggests that non-biomolecules may have played essential roles at the OoL. Here, we review the possible role of contingency and non-biomolecules at the OoL and synthesize a conceptual model formally linking contingency with non-biomolecular OoL theories. This model emphasizes the significance of considering the role of non-biomolecules both at the OoL on Earth or beyond, as well as their potential as agnostic biosignatures indicative of ET Life. Full article

The Chinese government has undertaken a significant forest restoration project, leading to a notable increase in forested areas. Despite this achievement, there is uncertainty regarding its impact on wildlife protection. To assess this, we utilized high-resolution remote sensing data to gather information on land use, bioclimatic conditions, geography, and human activity. This information was used to model and analyze changes in suitable habitats for Chinese endemic brown-eared pheasants over the past 30 years to determine the effects of the forest restoration project on wildlife habitats. Our analysis revealed that although the suitable habitat area for the brown-eared pheasant has expanded, the increased forested area did not influence their distribution. Our study also found that increasing elevation and decreasing grassland area in landscape patches promoted the distribution of brown-eared pheasants. Furthermore, the annual variation of the min temperature of coldest month and annual precipitation is an important factor affecting the suitable habitat distribution of brown-eared pheasants. Research showed that the suitable habitat of brown-eared pheasant is seriously fragmented, and the connectivity between habitats should be strengthened in the future. Based on our findings, we believe that existing forest restoration project policies cannot effectively protect wildlife due to neglecting key environmental factors at the landscape scale. Therefore, we recommend developing refined land use management policies at the landscape level to guide future ecological protection and biodiversity conservation. These findings significantly affect policy and future research on wildlife protection and forest restoration. Full article