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Piper, Steven Edward. "Mathematical demography of the Cape vulture." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19843.
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The Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres is one of the world's largest avian scavengers and was once widely distributed in southern Africa, to which it is endemic. It has suffered major changes of fortune in recorded history and has, at least twice, undergone large range contractions and expansions in the Cape Province. It has variously been classified as 'rare', 'vulnerable' or 'threatened'. It is currently thought, by some, to be in decline. The central aim of these researches is to answer the 'Grand Question': What is the probability that the Cape Vulture will survive well into the twenty-first century as a free-flying bird? This is followed by a secondary question: What is the stability of the population in space, time and age-structure?
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Carr, Raymond Eric. "Genetic variability within and between populations of turkey vultures in central Indiana." Virtual Press, 2000. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1189408.
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Zimunya, Tapiwa. "The influence of vulture restaurants on breeding success and nestling body condition of Gyps vulture populations across southern Africa." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29719.
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Vulture populations in many parts of the world continue to decline owing to numerous threats, such as lack of adequate food sources, poisoning and collisions with power-lines. Worldwide, supplementary feeding sites (hereafter, vulture restaurants) have been used as a conservation tool aimed at supporting vulture populations. However, in many parts of the world there is little scientific evidence about their effectiveness in aiding vulture populations. Here, I assessed the relationship between chick condition (African White-backed Vultures) and breeding success (Cape Vultures/African White-backed Vultures) in relation to a variety of variables which described levels of access to vulture restaurants. My data suggest the potential of vulture restaurants to increase breeding success in vulture populations. Breeding success generally increased for nests closer to vulture restaurants. There was a significant positive correlation between African White-backed Vulture breeding success and proximity to vulture restaurants (p< 0.05), but little evidence to support such a relationship for Cape Vultures (p> 0.05). Nestling body condition of African White-backed Vultures was also not influenced by proximity to vulture restaurants (p> 0.05). Findings of this study provide motivation on the use of vulture restaurants as a conservation strategy across southern Africa. The current study informs future conservation efforts on the use of vulture restaurants across the region, particularly in countries where a network of vulture restaurants is still being established.
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Fry, Jered N., and Steven E. Tutaj. "A business case analysis for the Vulture program." Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10945/10488.
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MBA Professional ReportThe Vulture program is an initiative being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The end goal of the Vulture program is to develop a high altitude long endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is capable of maintaining a 1,000-pound payload on station for five years. The DARPA goals for the Vulture program include, at a minimum, the development and demonstration of advanced reliability technologies for the proposed future Vulture system. It is envisioned that Vulture will provide affordable, persistent coverage over an area of interest for surveillance and communications relay missions. The purpose of this study is to estimate the potential cost savings and identify other benefits associated with the potential operational use of Vulture. This study conducts a business case analysis (BCA) comparing the estimated costs of the Vulture program to those of the Global Hawk and Global Observer systems. Sensitivity analyses are performed on the cost variables, as well as a general risk assessment for Vulture.
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Clark-Phinney, Marcia. "Effect of group foraging size on vigilance by turkey vultures (Cathartes aura)." Virtual Press, 2001. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1217395.
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Turkey vultures were observed foraging alone and in groups of up to 16 individuals. Vigilance behavior was quantified by monitoring 4 aspects of vulture foraging behavior (proportion ofhead up time, number of head raises per minute, time interval between head raises, and proportion of time spent foraging during foraging bouts). Although solitary foragers spent 91% of their foraging bouts actively foraging, a greater proportion (47%)of their foraging time was spent with their heads up compared to individuals occurring in groups (<29%). Similarly, individuals in small groups (2-3 and 5-7) were more vigilant than individuals in large groups (8-16). Solitary foraging vultures raised their heads at a significantly higher rate than those foraging in groups of 5-7 or 8-16 and had significantly shorter intervals between head raises than group foragers. Large group foragers were able to minimize their vulnerability to predation because at least one head was up during the entire foraging bout. Results of this study were consistent with the 'many-eyes, hypothesis that individuals in a foraging group can feed at a faster rate by reducing vigilance time as the number of individuals scanning for predators increases (Pulliam, H. R. 1973. J. Theor. Biol. 38: 419-422).Key Words: turkey vulture, vulture, vigilance, foraging behavior, group size, Indiana.Department of Biology
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Geier, Jaclyn Leigh. "The Small Vulture: Essays, Encounters, and Awkward Flight Attempts." University of Akron / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=akron1428104096.
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Harris, Chad E. "Determination of species-specific primers for minisatellite variation analysis among and between populations of turkey vultures (Cathartes aura)." Virtual Press, 1999. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1138301.
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What is the genetic relatedness between and among populations of turkey vultures? By determining genetic relatedness, foraging and roosting behaviors of vultures may be better understood. Also as a result of this research, a system of determining genetic relationship will be developed ultimately allowing evolutionary behaviors of vulture populations including altruism and/or group selection to possibly be uncovered. The purpose of this research was to obtain sequence information in order to design species-specific primers for future comparisons of minisatellite variation among and between populations of turkey vultures. Two different methods for DNA isolation from blood were compared for their ability to produce high quantities of amplifiable DNA. The Rapid Method (Lahiri et al., 1993) yielded 5.6 ug of DNA from 500 ul ofblood with a purity ratio [A260/A2S0] of 0.926, while the protocol using IsocodeTM Stixyielded 4.3 ug DNA from 15 ul of blood and had a higher purity ratio of 1.365. Although both methods yielded amplifiable DNA, better amplification was attained using the IsocodeTM Stix, which was used for the rest of the project. The polymerase chain reaction, using RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers (Operon Technologies, Alameda, CA), was performed to obtain DNA regions containing minisatellites. Fragments generated by the OPB 08 primer hybridized to a pool of labeled minisatellite core sequences by Southern hybridization. This minisatellitecontaining fragment (800 bp) was excised from a gel and cloned into a plasmid vector (pCR®2.1-TOPO) producing a recombinant plasmid. The recombinant plasmids werereplicated in E. coli, plasmid DNA was isolated, and the cloned fragment was sequenced for determination of the flanking sequences around the minisatellite core. Multiple colonies (pTpvul 1-4) were picked from the cloning/transformation stages but only one brightly hybridizing colony was chosen for sequencing (pTpvul 1). Sequencing and sequencing analysis proved difficult and no minisatellite core sequences could be located. This could be attributed to extensive secondary structure in the DNA sequence or to recombination within the fragment when grown in E. coli. These flanking sequences, thought to be identical at each locus of the minisatellite in a genome, were to be used as species-specific primers in future minisatelhte-PCR DNA fingerprinting.Department of Biology
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Möhler, Rainer. "Epistula de vulture : Untersuchungen zu einer organotherapeutischen Drogenmonographie des Fruhmittelalters /." Pattensen (Hannover) : H. Wellm, 1990. http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb35688947t.
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Sen, Bilgecan. "Breeding Ecology Of The Egyptian Vulture (neophron Percnopterus) Population In Beypazari." Master's thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12615366/index.pdf.
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The aim of this study was to determine the habitat features affecting nest site selection and breeding success of the endangered Egyptian Vultures (Neophron percnopterus) breeding around the town of Beypazari. We searched and monitored nest sites in the study area (750 km2) for the years 2010 and 2011. The differences in terms of habitat features between nest sites and random points distributed along cliffs, and between successful and failed nest sites were investigated using both parametric approaches and machine learning methods with 21 habitat variables. The size of the Beypazari population of Egyptian Vultures was estimated to be 45 pairs. Seventeen nests in 2010 and 37 nests in 2011 were found and monitored. The breeding success of the population was estimated to be 100% in 2010 and 70% in 2011. Random Forests was the modeling technique with the highest accuracy and the modeling process chose 6 and 4 variables affecting nest site selection and breeding success of the species, respectively. Results showed that human impact was a potential factor governing the distribution of nest sites in the area and increased the probability of breeding failure as vultures clearly preferred to nest away from nearby villages, towns and roads, and nests on lower cliffs and nests that are close to the dump site (therefore the town center) was prone to failure. Utilization of elevation gradient and aspect showed trends similar to other populations of the species, with probability of nesting increasing at lower altitudes and for south facing cliffs. The overall results emphasize the potential conflict between human presence and the population of Egyptian Vultures in the area. Continuous monitoring of the nest sites and conservation activities towards raising public awareness are advised.
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Latteman, Holly M. "Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) Range Expansion: An Example of Human Wildlife Conflict." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1556813177983405.
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Phipps, W. L. "Identifying drivers of Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) space use in southern Africa." Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 2015. http://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27887/.
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The decline of worldwide vulture populations due to multiple anthropogenic threats is recognised as one of the most important issues in avian conservation due to the loss of the important ecosystem services that they provide. The Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is endemic to southern Africa and is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to declines across its range largely attributed to poisoning and fatal interactions with the expanding power line network. In this thesis I provide a first insight into the factors that drive the space use patterns of Cape vultures in an effort to inform future conservation strategies. I deployed Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking units attached to vultures caught from the wild in the main breeding range of the species in northern South Africa, and in north central Namibia where the species has recently been declared extinct as a breeding species but a small population remains. Tracking units were also deployed on three Cape vultures released in Namibia as part of a pilot reintroduction program. The GPS tracking data were used to delineate the size and extent of the vulture home ranges and to identify key factors influencing their movement patterns. Their relative use of unprotected and protected areas was assessed, as well as the influence of vegetation characteristics. Finally, I present the first approximation of the spatial niche of Cape vultures using ecological niche modelling methods and provide a first assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on their future occurrence. Immature individuals and two of the reintroduced vultures traversed extensive ranges (maximum home range > 975,000 km2) and regularly crossed international borders, while wild-caught adult vultures tended to show a higher degree of site fidelity while foraging across more restricted ranges (maximum home range < 150,000 km2) closer to known breeding colonies. The vultures tracked from South Africa regularly used transmission line towers as roost and perch sites which has allowed them to extend their foraging range beyond their historical distribution into areas previously devoid of suitable perches. Although some adults often roosted at breeding colonies inside officially protected areas, all of the vultures foraged primarily on unprotected or privately managed land. The vultures generally tended to forage in more open habitats. The ecological niche models indicated that bioclimatic variables such as precipitation seasonality were the key factors that influenced the space use of the tracked vultures. The models predicted that climate change could potentially result in significant pole-wards shifts of up to 333 km in Cape vulture occurrence patterns, putting the core breeding colonies in the north of their range under threat. This study has provided a first insight into the ranging patterns of Cape vultures using GPS tracking methods and has identified that their extensive ranges, frequent use of unprotected land and close association with power lines puts them at serious risk from multiple threats during their regular foraging activity. The findings of this study confirm for the first time that the threat of climate change to Cape vultures should be seriously considered when planning future conservation measures. This research has demonstrated the ability of GPS tracking methods to identify new threats and key areas for the implementation of conservation measures.
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Kruger, Sonja C. "An investigation into the decline of the bearded vulture : Gypaetus barbatus in southern Africa." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13211.
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Includes bibliographical references.The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus is a Critically Endangered species in southern Africa whose entire range in the Southern Hemisphere falls within the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains of South Africa and Lesotho, which forms the area of focus for this research. In this thesis I have attempted to synthesize 15 years of research on the Bearded Vulture population of southern Africa using various approaches to quantify the decline in the species, investigate the mechanisms of this decline and determine the most appropriate management actions necessary to attain the short-term species’ conservation target of a positive population growth rate. Firstly I assessed the territory occupancy, distribution and density of the population over two time periods to identify population trends. The number of occupied territories decreased by between 32%-51%, the breeding range decreased by 27% and breeding densities decreased by 20% over the past five decades. The birds occupy a breeding range of 28,125 km2 with higher densities recorded in the core of the range than in the peripheral areas. The population is estimated at between 368-408 individuals (109-221 breeding pairs). Three hypotheses were then examined in an attempt to explain which factors were associated with territories recorded as abandoned; those related to human impact, food availability and climate change. Of the seven covariates examined within the home range of an adult pair using a model selection process using Akaike’s Information Criterion, the strongest support was for the human impact hypothesis, with abandonment more likely in territories with higher densities of power lines and human settlements. These findings were in accordance with the main causes of mortality. The movements of all age classes were investigated using data from satellite transmitters affixed to 18 birds to determine exposure to perceived benefits or anthropogenic risks. The overall foraging range of the population was estimated to be 51,767 km2 and non-adults were found to use 65% of this area whereas adults focussed their activities in an area of about 286 km2 around their nests. Non-adults increased the size of their range as they aged, with birds aged between 4-6 years facing the greatest exposure to risk factors. The genetic risk was examined by sampling two populations in sub-Saharan Africa to ascertain genetic variation, evolutionary placement and connectivity using Mitochondrial DNA fragment analyses. My results showed little to no differentiation between populations in southern Africa and Ethiopia suggesting that translocations of individuals from Ethiopia could be considered for introduction into the local population. The reduced haplotype diversity found in southern Africa suggests that translocations may be necessary to improve genetic diversity. Lastly I used population viability analysis models to determine the future population trend and identify the primary demographic and environmental constraints on the population. The models predicted a negative growth rate for the population over the next 50 years (ë=0.99) with a high probability (0.89) of extinction as a result of low survival estimates (particularly for adults; 86%) and reduced productivity (55%). Human activities (69%) and power line collisions (21%) were the primary reasons for the low survival rates with poisoning alone accounting for 90% of the deaths. To achieve a positive growth rate, mortality rates should be reduced by >50%, productivity increased by >25% and the population should be supplemented by at least six individuals annually for the next 20 years. Several recommendations are listed to address the primary threat of poisoning and continued monitoring of the population is essential to evaluate the success of the implementation of these recommendations. My research demonstrates the importance of focussing on small populations, declining populations and populations at the periphery of the species’ range and my results confirm that urgent intervention is required to improve the status of the population. My findings also contribute to achieving vulture conservation objectives regionally, continentally and internationally.
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Fourie, Tamsyn Ann. "The safety of carprofen, flunixin and phenylbutazone in the Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) – a pilot study." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/46035.
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The safety of a single oral dose of carprofen (11.5 mg/kg), flunixin (1 mg/kg) and
phenylbutazone (1.7 mg/kg) was evaluated in the Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres) by means
of a four-way parallel study, using two birds per treatment. Clinical observations, clinical
pathology and necropsy examinations were determining factors. Clinical signs of lethargy and
depression were noted in one of the carprofen (CRP), two of the flunixin (FXN) and one of the
phenylbutazone (PBZ) treated birds. Serum alanine transferase (ALT), albumin, sodium,
calcium, potassium and uric acid (UA) concentrations were monitored up to 48 hours post
dosing. Mild reversible inhibition of UA excretion was evident in all three groups, although UA
remained within population reference intervals. All treatment groups had a drug concentration
responsive ALT increase. No pathological lesions where noted on histopathology.
Oral absorption of CRP, FXN and PBZ was characterised by a maximum plasma concentration
of 1051.8 ± 620.7 ng/ml, 335.9 ± 36.3 ng/ml and 11150 ± 2474.9 ng/ml obtained in 4 ± 4.3,
0.45 ± 0.02 and 5.3 ± 5.2 hours respectively and a half-life of elimination of 13.3 ±5, 1.8±1
and 18.7 ±11.4 hours respectively. The volume of distribution was 13.62 ± 9.91 L/kg (CRP);
3.29± 0.75 L/kg (FXN) and 0.13 ± 0.03 L/kg (PBZ). Area under the curve until the last time
point was 21.72± 20.10; 0.78± 0.28 and 263.35 ±68.69 μg/mL*h for CRP, FXN and PBZ
respectively. Glucuronidation was identified in FXN and CRP treated birds. The long half-life
of PBZ and CRP creates concern that accumulative toxicity may occur. Both FXN and PBZ are
potentially hepatotoxic indicating that clinical use or the presence thereof in the food-chain
should be avoided. CRP may be of clinical benefit in the vulture, but only as a single treatment.
This drug should also be safe in the case of possible contamination of the food chain, as it is
unlikely that vultures will be exposed to the drug often enough for it to be cumulativeDissertation (MMedVet)--University of Pretoria, 2014.
tm2015
Paraclinical Sciences
MMedVet
Unrestricted
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Nascimento, Mariana Duarte Limede do. "Characterization of the intestinal microbiome of the recovering eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) in mainland Portugal." Master's thesis, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/20968.
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Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina VeterináriaThe Eurasian Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus), as a scavenger, and due to its widespread distribution throughout the “Old World”, contributes to the removal from the terrestrial surface of hazardous biomasses for most carnivores and omnivorous animals, such as to the human species, since that by feeding on decaying bodies thereby avoids their accumulation (Margalida and Colomer 2012). Due to their particular diet, a growing interest regarding how scavengers species adapt to avoid sickness is observed. One of the suggested mechanisms indicates that scavengers might possess a specialized gut microbiome, enabling them to feed on dead animals (Blumstein et al. 2017) This study focused on the characterization of the recovering G. fulvus (n=8) gut microbiome in mainland Portugal, through high-throughput 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the hypervariable V3-V4 regions, further analysed using Qiime2 bioinformatics platform. The composition of the gut microbiome of Griffon Vultures was found to be highly similar to other wild vultures and scavengers, including mostly Fusobacteria, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria species, suggesting a well conserved functional gut microbiome, possibly due to their similar diet and their functional needs. In this way, both the host and the GIT bacteria benefit of a symbiotic relationship, possibly even contributing to the protection of the Griffon Vulture from pathogenic agents, such as those here identified and possibly dangerous to humans, including Clostridium perfringens and C. tetani, as well as other species capable of causing conditions listed as mandatory communicable diseases in Portugal. No sex modulated changes were identified in the gut microbiome of the animals under study, neither differences on the microbiota profiles of individuals recovering in different locations. Still, it was possible to observe that captivity associated chronic stress could indeed lead to GIT microbiota dysbiosis and reduced diversity overall, and that age and medication can influence G. fulvus intestinal microbiome, as younger animals revealed a less diverse gut microbiome, and high doses of cyanocobalamin were possibly associated with the overgrowth of Proteobacteria and loss of diversity within the GIT bacterial composition. A higher similarity of the gut microbiome was found amongst those sampled during the same period of time (May, August and October). The high F/B ratios found in the late summer and early autumn might be explained due to their need for fattening before wintering and breeding season, in which feeding opportunities tend to be scarcer to the point of starvation.
RESUMO - CARACTERIZAÇÃO DO MICROBIOMA INTESTINAL DO GRIFO (G. fulvus) EM RECUPERAÇÃO EM PORTUGAL CONTINENTAL - O Grifo (Gyps fulvus), enquanto necrófago, contribui significativamente para a remoção de cadáveres em decomposição da superfície terrestre, contribuindo, dessa forma, para a reciclagem de matéria orgânica potencialmente perigosa para outros animais, incluíndo o Homem (Margalida and Colomer 2012). Dada a sua dieta específica, tem surgido um maior interesse nos métodos de adaptação da espécie e de outros necrófagos a esta que, para muitos animais, omnívoros e carnívoros, seria letal. É sugerida a existência de um microbioma intestinal especializado que permite que este tipo de alimentação não tenha quaisquer consequências para a referida espécie (Blumstein et al. 2017). O estudo teve como objetivo a caracterização do microbioma intestinal do Grifo (n=8) através da análise de amostras fecais. Estas foram submetidas a extração de DNA, seguindo-se a sequenciação da regiões hipervariáveis do gene 16S rRNA. Os resultados foram tratados na plataforma Qiime2. A composição do microbioma intestinal dos animais em estudo corroborou da descrita noutras espécies de abutres selvagens e necrófagos, incluindo espécies de Fusobacteria, Firmicutes e Proteobacteria. Esta afinidade sugere o desenvolvimento de um microbioma intestinal que se foi preservando com vista ao desempenho de determinadas funções, possivelmente devido à sua dieta e necessidades funcionais similares. Poderá considerar-se então a existência de uma potencial relação simbiótica entre o Grifo e a sua microbiota. Salientam-se os identificados no presente estudo como Clostridium perfringens, C. tetani, e outros, incluíndo espécies que constam na Lista de doenças transmissíveis de notificação obrigatória em Portugal. Não se observaram quaisquer alterações significativas do microbioma nos diferentes sexos, nem como consequência da recolha de amostras em diferentes localizações geográficas. Porém, stress crónico, uma possível repercussão da captividade, poderá ter desencadeado uma disbiose e consequente redução da diversidade da microbiota gastrointestinal num dos indivíduos, à semelhança do que se observou no único animal identificado como juvenil. Os resultados sugerem ainda que doses elevadas de suplementação com cianocobalamina estão associadas a um sobrecrescimento de Proteobacteria e diminuição da diversidade do microbioma intestinal. Os indivíduos cujas amostras foram colhidas durante o mesmo período de tempo, mostraram uma maior semelhança entre o seu microbioma intestinal. O elevado rácio F/B, no período precedente ao Inverno e época de acasalamento, sugere a necessidade de acumulação de gorduras neste período, em que as oportunidades de alimentação são por norma mais escassas.
N/A
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Havenga, Lauren Nicole. "A morphological study of the kidney and renal portal system of the Cape griffon vulture (Gyps coprotheres)." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/53298.
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In the 1990 s, diclofenac was responsible for the inadvertent deaths of over ten million vultures on the Asian subcontinent. While the pathology associated with their deaths was clearly evident as visceral and articular gout, the mechanism behind their death remains an enigma. In one of the supposition proposed on a potential mechanism of toxicity, it was postulated that the acute necrosis of the proximal convoluted tubules was caused by ischaemia. More specifically, toxicity was related to the avian renal vascular anatomy, whereby a renal portal blood supply exists viz. venous blood originating from the hind-quarters co-perfuses the kidney with arterial blood from the aorta. A further uniqueness of this system, is the presence of the renal portal valve in the v. iliaca communis, which appears to control the shunting of venous blood from the hind limbs to the vena cava, thereby bypassing the cranial renal lobe in times of stress.
In the theory put forward, it was suggested that the valve could be under prostaglandin control and that diclofenac (a potent cyclooxygenase inhibitor) would potentially induce a change in the valve functionality with the net effect being the shunting of blood away from the cranial renal lobe resulting in hypoperfusion, ischaemia and necrosis of this lobe. While the theory appears plausible, the valva renalis portalis has only been described in a small number of other bird species such as the chicken (Gallus domesticus) and ostrich (Struthio camelus), which actually has six valvae renales (de Carvalho, et al. 2007). The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal anatomy and related vasculature of the Cape griffon vulture (Gyps coprotheres) (CGV), which is senstive to the toxic effects of diclofenac. Special attention is also being given to comparisons with the anatomy of the domestic chicken.
This study made use of 13 CGVs. Six specimens were freshly perfused with formalin within minutes of being euthansed. In all cases, the birds were euthanised on the recommendation of the treating veterinarian due severe orthopaedic injuries. The birds were otherwise deemed to be healthy. For the histological portion of the study, evaluations were made of both stored samples in the bank at the Section of veterinary pathology of the University of Pretoria, while renal and associated vascular tissue from two of the freshly fixed birds were prepared using standard H&E techniques. The other seven were recovered dead in the field. Of these four were prepared for skeletal evaluation, and the remainder used for vascular casting. The kidneys of the CGV were present within the fossae renales and were well attached to the synsacrum and the ilium, and was trilobular. While this was similar to the chicken, the divisions with their connective tissue capsule in the vulture was much more prominent than in the chicken. The vasculature was also almost identical to the domestic chicken, with the only differences being at the entrance of the v. portalis renalis caudalis and the exit of the v. renalis caudalis into the v. iliaca communis on the right. The valva renalis portalis was also present in same location described in the chicken with a similar appearance viz. the valve was present in the v. iliaca communis between the v. renalis caudalis and the v. renalis cranialis and appeared as conical shaped, with finger-like processes.
Histologically, the CGV kidney was similar to that to other avian spp, with reptilian, mammalian and intermediate nephrons being evident. The kidney also had the expected appearance with the cortex consisting of the glomeruli and the medulla being made up of medullary cones. On cross-section the renal portal valve was composed of smooth muscle finger-like projections that protruded into the lumen of the lumen of the v. iliaca communis. The valve was well vascularised and was associated with a nerve plexus. While the plexus could not be conclusively associated with the valve, the renal portal valve is the only intravascular smooth muscle structure that has been described to have sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation.
Based on the findings of this study, the proposed mechanism of toxicity of diclofenac is anatomically possible. The similarity of the chicken and vulture in their anatomical structure may also explain previous finding that the chicken could serve as a physiological model of the study of the pathophysiology of diclofenac s toxicity.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
tm2016
Anatomy and Physiology
MSc
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Büttner, Annett. "Geochronology and multi-isotope geochemistry of three Quaternary volcanoes: Nisyros-Yali (Greece), Monte Vico and Monte Vulture (Italy) /." [S.l.] : [s.n.], 2004. http://www.zb.unibe.ch/download/eldiss/04buettner_a.pdf.
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Öztürk, Yasemin Tabur Mehmet Ali. "Sütçüler (Isparta) Kızıl Akbaba (Gyps fulvus) populasyonunun biyoekolojisi /." Isparta : SDÜ Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü, 2008. http://tez.sdu.edu.tr/Tezler/TF01164.pdf.
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Rosatelli, Gianluigi. "The petrogenesis of carbonitic rocks and their relation to mantle amphibole and carbonate as exemplified in contrasting volcanoes from Vulture, Italy and Rangwa, East Africa." Thesis, University College London (University of London), 2002. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.252281.
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Ruelas, Inzunza Ernesto. "Raptor and wading bird migration in Veracruz, Mexico spatial and temporal dynamics, flight performance, and monitoring applications /." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/4778.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007.The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on October 9, 2007) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.
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Hidasi, Hilari Wanderley. "Detecção de Salmonella sp., Mycoplasma spp. e Escherichia coli de aves sinantrópicas da região metropolitana de Goiânia-Goiás." Universidade Federal de Goiás, 2013. http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/tede/handle/tede/3900.
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Aves sinantrópicas aproximam-se de atividades humanas em busca de abrigo, água e alimento, podendo percorrer grandes distâncias para tanto. Em busca de informações acerca da importância dessas aves na transmissão de agentes patogênicos de importância na avicultura comercial, foi realizado estudo com 260 aves de comportamento sinantrópico, sendo 200 pombos comuns (Columba livia) e 60 urubus de cabeça preta (Coragyps atratus), na região metropolitana de Goiânia - Goiás. Foram colhidas amostras de fezes, soro e suabes traqueais que foram submetidos a testes para detecção de Salmonella sp. por bacteriologia convencional e Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (rPCR), Mycoplasma galisepticum e M. synoviae pela Soroaglutinação Rápida em Placa (SAR) e rPCR, além de isolamento de Escherichia coli pela bacteriologia convencional com detecção de genes de virulência de E. coli patogênica para aves (APEC) pela PCR e perfil de suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos dos isolados. Os resultados observados, na pesquisa de Salmonella sp. das amostras de pombos, 13% (26/200) foram positivas no exame bacteriológico e 27% (54/200) das amostras positivas no rPCR. Do total de 60 amostras obtidas dos urubus, nenhuma amostra foi positiva no bacteriológico convencional e 8,3% (5/60) foram positivas no rPCR. Para a pesquisa de Mycoplasma, das amostras colhidas dos pombos, 7,5% (15/200) amostras foram reativas no teste sorológico, sendo 4,5% (9/200) positivas para M. galliisepticum e 3% (6/200) para M. synoviae. Já no rPCR, 2,5% (5/200) foram positivas para M. gallisepticum. Das amostras colhidas dos urubus, nenhuma foi positiva nos dois testes aos quais foram submetidas. Foi isolado E. coli das excretas e detectado pela PCR os genes de virulência papC, tsh, iuc e iss, com resultado para amostras de pombos de 11,23%(20/178) para iuc, 2,24% (4/178) papC, 11,79% (21/179) tsh e 6, 17% (11/178). Para urubus 8,16% (4/49) iuc, 14,28% (7/49) tsh, 6,12% (3/49) iss, e nenhuma positiva para papC. Adicionalmente, os isolados de E. coli foram submetidos a teste de perfil de resistência à antibióticos em que se obteve: sulfametazina122/178 (68,53%), ampicilina 130/178 (73,03%), ciprofloxacina 40/178 (22,47%), apramicina 57/178 (32,02%), sulfametropin 110/178 (61,79%), enrofloxacina 71/178 (39,88%), tetraciclina 119/178 (66,85%), sulfonamida 123/172 (69,10%), neomicina 59/178 (33,14%), doxaciclina 67/178 (37,64%), oxitetraciclina 51/178(28,65%), gentamicina 42/178 (23,59%), ceftiofur 79/178 (44,38%), amoxicilina + ac. clavulânico 92/178 (51,68%) de resistência nas amostras isoladas de pombos, e em amostras isoladas de urubus: sulfametazina 36/49 (73,46%), ampicilina 39/49 (79,59%), ciprofloxacina 12/49 (24,48%), apramicina 9/49(18,36%), sulfametropin 30/49 (61,22%), enrofloxacina 7/49 (14,28%), tetraciclina 27/49 (55,10%), sulfonamida 32/49 (65,30%), neomicina 12/49 (24,48%), doxaciclina 11/49 (22,44%), neomicina 9/49 (18,36%), oxitetraciclina 11/49 (22,44%), gentamicina 10/49 (20,40%), ceftiofur 12/49 (24,48%), associação de amoxicilina e ácido clavulânico 31/49 (63,26%) de resistência. Os resultados sugerem que essas aves de comportamento sinantrópico, são potenciais veiculadores de agentes causadores de perdas na produção avícola e preocupantes para a saúde pública. Além disso, podem constituir em suporte de transferência de fenótipos de E.coli resistentes.
Aves sinantrópicas aproximam-se de atividades humanas em busca de abrigo, água e alimento, podendo percorrer grandes distâncias para tanto. Em busca de informações acerca da importância dessas aves na transmissão de agentes patogênicos de importância na avicultura comercial, foi realizado estudo com 260 aves de comportamento sinantrópico, sendo 200 pombos comuns (Columba livia) e 60 urubus de cabeça preta (Coragyps atratus), na região metropolitana de Goiânia - Goiás. Foram colhidas amostras de fezes, soro e suabes traqueais que foram submetidos a testes para detecção de Salmonella sp. por bacteriologia convencional e Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real (rPCR), Mycoplasma galisepticum e M. synoviae pela Soroaglutinação Rápida em Placa (SAR) e rPCR, além de isolamento de Escherichia coli pela bacteriologia convencional com detecção de genes de virulência de E. coli patogênica para aves (APEC) pela PCR e perfil de suscetibilidade a antimicrobianos dos isolados. Os resultados observados, na pesquisa de Salmonella sp. das amostras de pombos, 13% (26/200) foram positivas no exame bacteriológico e 27% (54/200) das amostras positivas no rPCR. Do total de 60 amostras obtidas dos urubus, nenhuma amostra foi positiva no bacteriológico convencional e 8,3% (5/60) foram positivas no rPCR. Para a pesquisa de Mycoplasma, das amostras colhidas dos pombos, 7,5% (15/200) amostras foram reativas no teste sorológico, sendo 4,5% (9/200) positivas para M. galliisepticum e 3% (6/200) para M. synoviae. Já no rPCR, 2,5% (5/200) foram positivas para M. gallisepticum. Das amostras colhidas dos urubus, nenhuma foi positiva nos dois testes aos quais foram submetidas. Foi isolado E. coli das excretas e detectado pela PCR os genes de virulência papC, tsh, iuc e iss, com resultado para amostras de pombos de 11,23%(20/178) para iuc, 2,24% (4/178) papC, 11,79% (21/179) tsh e 6, 17% (11/178). Para urubus 8,16% (4/49) iuc, 14,28% (7/49) tsh, 6,12% (3/49) iss, e nenhuma positiva para papC. Adicionalmente, os isolados de E. coli foram submetidos a teste de perfil de resistência à antibióticos em que se obteve: sulfametazina122/178 (68,53%), ampicilina 130/178 (73,03%), ciprofloxacina 40/178 (22,47%), apramicina 57/178 (32,02%), sulfametropin 110/178 (61,79%), enrofloxacina 71/178 (39,88%), tetraciclina 119/178 (66,85%), sulfonamida 123/172 (69,10%), neomicina 59/178 (33,14%), doxaciclina 67/178 (37,64%), oxitetraciclina 51/178(28,65%), gentamicina 42/178 (23,59%), ceftiofur 79/178 (44,38%), amoxicilina + ac. clavulânico 92/178 (51,68%) de resistência nas amostras isoladas de pombos, e em amostras isoladas de urubus: sulfametazina 36/49 (73,46%), ampicilina 39/49 (79,59%), ciprofloxacina 12/49 (24,48%), apramicina 9/49(18,36%), sulfametropin 30/49 (61,22%), enrofloxacina 7/49 (14,28%), tetraciclina 27/49 (55,10%), sulfonamida 32/49 (65,30%), neomicina 12/49 (24,48%), doxaciclina 11/49 (22,44%), neomicina 9/49 (18,36%), oxitetraciclina 11/49 (22,44%), gentamicina 10/49 (20,40%), ceftiofur 12/49 (24,48%), associação de amoxicilina e ácido clavulânico 31/49 (63,26%) de resistência. Os resultados sugerem que essas aves de comportamento sinantrópico, são potenciais veiculadores de agentes causadores de perdas na produção avícola e preocupantes para a saúde pública. Além disso, podem constituir em suporte de transferência de fenótipos de E.coli resistentes.
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Souto, Henrique Nazareth. "Ecologia de interações entre Coragyps atratus (Bechstein, 1793) e Caracara plancus (Miller, 1777) no município de Uberlândia (MG)." Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, 2008. https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/13299.
Full textAbstract:
Although seldom reported, necrophagy is a relatively common phenomenon in
nature. Among necrophagous vertebrates, scavengers are the only ones who have a diet
composed almost exclusively by carrion. There are five species of scavengers recorded
in Brazil and in some Brazilian regions these species can live in sympatry, interacting
with each other and with species of Falconiformes. The aims of this study were: 1. to
investigate the use of perches and food resources by necrophagous birds in different
areas of Uberlândia city (MG), and 2. to establish the types of interactions (intra- and
inter-specific) between the studied populations. The research was performed between
December 2006 and December 2007, though field observations were concentrated in the
dry period (June to September 2007). Three types of habitats were selected for the field
work (urban environment, urban-rural environment and rural environment). The
observations followed focal animal ad libitum analises, and were carried out from 9
am to 6 pm. All areas were sampled monthly, performing 90 hours of observation (30
hours in each area). Two species of necrophagous birds were recorded: Coragyps
atratus (Black Vulture) and Caracara plancus (Crested Caracara). The rural-urban
environment showed higher frequency of records of scavengers and Crested caracara
using perches (5646). Moreover, the urban environment served as a deposit of waste
and carcass of animals stemming both from urban environments as well as rural
environments. Interactions for food were often marked by agonistic interactions,
although there were displays which prevent disputes, such as warning postures and
sounds production (including vocalization ). Interspecific allopreening was recorded at
a higher frequency than expected and probably occurs as a way of rapprochement
between Crested caracara and Black vultures when grouping in mixed flock. These
mixed flocks seemed to be favored by the surveillance ability of the Crested caracara
and because of its vocalization ability and thus producing scream of warning, useful for
the flock.A necrofagia é freqüente na natureza, embora seja um fenômeno pouco reportado para os vertebrados. Entre estes, urubus são os únicos que possuem uma dieta composta quase que exclusivamente de carcaças. No Brasil, são registradas cinco espécies de urubus e em algumas regiões brasileiras essas espécies podem viver em simpatria, interagindo entre si e com espécies de falconiformes. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: 1. avaliar a utilização de poleiros e de recursos alimentares por aves necrófagas em diferentes áreas do município de Uberlândia (MG); e 2. estabelecer os tipos de interações (intra-específicas e interespecíficas) existentes entre as populações estudadas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida entre dezembro de 2006 e dezembro de 2007, sendo que as observações de campo se concentraram no período de seca (junho a setembro de 2007). Foram selecionadas três áreas para realização do trabalho (ambiente urbano, ambiente rural-urbano e ambiente rural). As observações seguiram o modelo animal focal e ad libitum no objeto focal, tendo sido realizadas das 9 h às 18h. Em cada mês todas as áreas foram amostradas, totalizando 90 horas de observação (30h em cada área). Duas espécies de aves necrófagas foram registradas: Coragyps atratus (urubu-de-cabeça-preta) e Caracara plancus (carcará). A interface rural-urbana apresentou maior freqüência de registros de urubus e caracarás, quanto à utilização de poleiros (5.646). Adicionalmente, a franja urbana serve como depósito de lixo e carcaça de animais advindas tanto do ambiente urbanos quanto do ambiente rural. Interações alimentares são freqüentemente marcadas por interações agonísticas, embora haja indícios de displays que evitam disputas físicas tais como posturas de advertência e produção de sons, parecido com vocalização. Comportamento social interespecífico, Interspecific Allopreening , foi registrado em uma freqüência superior ao esperado e provavelmente ocorre como modo de aproximação entre caracarás e urubus na formação de um bando misto, que parece ser favorecido pela vigilância dos caracarás devido à sua capacidade de vocalização e, conseqüentemente, produção de grito de alerta.
Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias
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Garbett, Rebecca Ann. "Conservation of raptors and vultures in Botswana: with a focus on lappet-faced vultures Torgos tracheliotos." Doctoral thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29264.
Full textAbstract:
Many raptor species are in steep decline across Africa. Botswana is regionally important for many of these species, including vultures, yet information on most raptors in this area is lacking. Along with the rest of the region, Botswana has seen a rise in poisoning incidences which have decimated vulture populations and threaten other scavenging raptor species. As a result, seven out of the nine sub-Saharan species of vulture are now at risk of extinction. The lappet-faced vulture Torgos tracheliotus exists at very low densities in comparison with other African vultures and in 2015 was up-listed to “Endangered” by the IUCN because of its recent rapid decline. Although it is one of the most commonly seen vultures in Botswana and is widespread across the continent, very little is currently known about its ecology. This thesis aims to provide information on how raptors and particularly vultures are faring in Botswana, the possible threats that they face in this region and how we can use ecological information to alleviate these threats by better protecting these species. I repeated transect surveys of raptors in northern Botswana that were first conducted 20 years ago to investigate changes in abundance of raptor species that were included in the original surveys. I used data for 29 raptor species to compare abundance between the two surveys and found that 14 species (48%) had experienced significant declines of between 37% and 97%, and that overall, 18 species had declined by >50%; three of which were vulture species. When I compared the overall trend between the two surveys, I found a 40% decline in total abundance of all raptors. Only three species (all eagles) showed significant increases in abundance, but these were small (6-15%). I then went on to explore changes in abundance inside and outside of protected areas. In contrast to what was anticipated, I found that only two species showed significantly different trends (both eagles). These trends differed, with one species showing larger declines outside of protected areas than inside of them, and the other species increasing outside of protected areas but remaining stable inside of them. The findings suggest that Botswana raptor populations are declining in-line with global raptor populations and that vultures may be equally at risk in Botswana as in other parts of Africa. Protected areas do not appear to act as a buffer for declines for most raptor species, which suggests that drivers of decline are acting in equal measure inside and outside of protected areas. Furthermore, that drivers of decline are indiscriminate of individual species life history and ecological traits, due to declines occurring across a spectrum of species groups. Elevated lead (Pb) levels caused by the ingestion of spent hunting ammunition are of considerable concern to many species of scavenging birds around the world. The importance of Pb for scavenging raptors in Africa however remains under investigated. I therefore explored the association between blood Pb levels (BLLs) of the critically endangered African white-backed vulture Gyps africanus and hunting activity in Botswana. From 566 individuals tested, around 33% had elevated BLLs above those associated with background exposure. Higher BLLs were associated with samples taken inside of the hunting season and from within hunting areas. Additionally, there was a significant interaction between hunting season and areas, with Pb levels declining more steeply between hunting and non-hunting seasons within hunting areas rather than outside of them. Thus, the results are consistent with the suggestion that elevated BLLs in African white-backed vultures are associated with recreational hunting. Pb is known to be highly toxic to scavenging birds and so it is recommended that Pb ammunition in Botswana is phased out as soon as possible to help protect this rapidly declining group of birds. However, a regional ban would be necessary in order to protect vultures from Pb from hunting across their entire range. GPS tracking data from 14 adult lappet-faced vultures Torgos tracheliotos tracked in Botswana from 2012 to 2017 were used to investigate movement ecology. The GPS tags provided information on overall population home range estimates, as well as on home ranges of breeding and non-breeding birds within different breeding seasons. All vultures ranged widely across the region, regularly crossing international borders. The largest minimum convex polygon (100% MCP) range for an individual bird was almost 700 000 km2 . Within the breeding season, 95% and 50% kernel home range estimates (KDE) were significantly different for breeding and non-breeding birds, with home ranges of breeding birds being up to ten times smaller than those of non-breeding birds. Outside of the breeding season, these differences remained but were less striking. Despite large differences in ranging behaviour, use of protected areas (e.g. amount of GPS fixes within protected areas) by breeders and nonbreeders did not differ, either during the breeding season or in the subsequent non-breeding season. However, actual selection of protected and non-protected areas (e.g. use of protected areas according to their availability) did differ for both breeders and non-breeders. This study suggests that conservation strategies need to be different in order to protect different sectors of a population (which I termed ‘full-spectrum’ protection) over different seasons (e.g. ‘fullcycle’ protection). For wide-ranging species, targeted conservation may be the only way to ensure population survival whilst working within practical conservation constraints. The study of breeding and non-breeding populations will assist in designing successful conservation approaches for many species in decline, particularly those that range widely. Because vultures range over vast areas, they are difficult to protect. Using the lappet-faced vulture GPS data, I explored whether Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs) could be useful for vulture conservation in Africa. VSZs are currently being used in Asia to assist the recovery of three Gyps vulture populations that were driven to near extinction due to veterinary drug – diclofenac, in carrion. To explore whether VSZs would work for African vultures I identified areas of highest use by counting GPS fixes of each individual within each 1-degree gridsquare (DGS) within Botswana (total of 59 DGSs), and then using the mean % of use for each DGS to identify the five top scoring DGSs which would form the VSZ (an area of c. 50,000 km2 ). This was performed for three different groups within the population: 1) all individuals, 2) active breeders and 3) non-breeders. On evaluating the differences between the protection of GPS fixes offered by VSZs for each bird group, the best protection was offered by VSZs targeting breeding birds, at around 80% cumulative protection of their total movements in Botswana, as well as a high level of individual protection. VSZs aimed at protecting non-breeders and all individuals, protected 35% less of their movements in Botswana than VSZs for breeders, as well as offering much less individual protection. Thus, VSZs aimed at protecting breeding birds were most effective and could be a viable conservation tool for adult lappet-faced vultures (or similarly wide-ranging) species in Africa. Further investigations using larger sample sizes should be used within the framework provided in this study to evaluate the potential efficacy of VSZs for protecting African vultures. The findings of this study show that raptors in Botswana are in dire need of conservation attention, but that conservation strategies need to be carefully considered and aimed at achieving ‘full-cycle’ and ‘full-spectrum’ protection of populations. To achieve for African vultures and other wide-ranging species, this will likely require approaches most similar to those suggested for migratory species. Additionally, a move towards protecting ‘greater ecosystems’ e.g. managing wider landscapes outside of protected areas is most likely to be a more realistic step toward protecting wide ranging species and declining global biodiversity in the face of rapidly increasing human pressures across the continent.
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Klop, Damian J. R. "Beneath the raptor’s wings : the avian composition grasping the symbol for eternity in Egypt." Thesis, Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/2724.
Full textAbstract:
Thesis (MPhil (Ancient Studies)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008.A particular motif in Egyptian art is that of avians. This is frequently depicted in a significant number and variety of visual sources from the tomb of Tutankhamun (KV 62) (1336-1327 BC) and other find contexts throughout Egyptian history from c. 3000 BC, but is little understood. The motif mostly depicts an avian creature with wings outstretched, talons grasping the Egyptian hieroglyph symbol for eternity (shen). In some instances the avian’s falcon or vulture body or parts of the body is/are replaced with parts of another creature, namely that of a snake, cobra, ram, human, duck, or a hieroglyph sign. A study was undertaken to assess how and why this avian motif was composed and what the function in Egyptian culture was. A manual search of published material for relevant visual sources depicting specific versions of the avian motif was undertaken and selected sources were indexed into a representative graphical database including one hundred and ninety-one items. Textual sources (academic literature and literature from ancient Egypt) were then consulted to support and/or expand on the iconographic, symbolic, and functional aspects of the motif: - At the iconographic level, the historical development and ‘structural dynamics’ of the motif are investigated to deduce the artistic rules that applied to its creation. - At the symbolic level, the symbolic meaning of the artwork is ascertained by theorizing on the meaning of the motif and its parts in an Egyptian context. - At the functional level, the function of the artwork is ascertained by investigating how the motif’s symbolism was intended to be applied to benefit the individual. The results of this research is that the avian motif developed over time according to strict artistic rules; that it symbolized the king, eternity and protection; and that its function was to protect the king in all phases of his existence in a political and mythological context in order to ensure that the he would attain an eternal life in the afterlife. In the mind of the ancient Egyptian this was achieved through the transference of the avian motif’s magical qualities to the user. The intended outcome of this study is to highlight the avian motif’s importance in the context of the ancient Egyptian culture.
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Meretsky, Vicky Jean. "Foraging ecology of Egyptian vultures in the Negev Desert, Israel." Diss., The University of Arizona, 1995. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/187099.
Full textAbstract:
Egyptian vultures were observed at 3 kinds of feeding sites (randomly-placed sites stocked with 2 chicken carcasses, a fixed site stocked daily with 4 chicken carcasses, and a fixed site stocked 2x monthly with livestock carcasses) in the Negev desert, Israel, during breeding seasons of 1989 and 1990. Observations at large and small carcasses suggested Egyptian vultures were facultative social foragers; they invariably foraged in groups at predictable food supplies, but large flocks rarely gathered at small carcasses. Individuals did not recruit conspecifics to carcasses. Adults located more randomly-placed, small carcasses than other age-classes; at all sites they fed more intensively than nonadults and dominated them in aggressive encounters. These behaviors reflected the need to obtain more food in less time in order to feed and care for young. Egyptian vultures feeding at small-carcass sites had little competition from other species. Breeding adults made food deliveries to nests after feeding themselves. Adults fed out of proportion to their numbers because food items were small enough to defend effectively. Vigilance was strongly and consistently related to flock size. At the large-carcass site, griffon vultures and mammalian scavengers consumed the most food; Egyptian vultures experienced reduced and unpredictable access to food relative to small-carcass sites. Breeding adults made food deliveries to nests after gaining access to food, without feeding themselves first. Vigilance was unrelated to flock size, probably because other species determined access to food and risk of physical harm. Adults were unable to feed preferentially because food items were either too large (carcasses) or too small and diffuse (scraps, insects) to defend. Overall, most interactions of group and individual characteristics on individual feeding behavior were modified by site characteristics--chiefly perceived physical risk (due to unfamiliar surroundings or other competitors), food dispersion, and food availability. Supplemental feeding, an important tool for supporting threatened vulture populations, can benefit particular sizes or age-classes of vultures. Large vultures are favored by few, large carcasses with limited skinning. Small vultures are favored by small carcasses. Small vultures and subordinate vultures of all sizes are favored by many, easily accessed, well-dispersed food items.
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Tauler, Ametller Helena. "Viabilitat demogràfica i efecte dels canvis ambientals antropogènics en la distribució, dieta i condició física d'una població d'aufrany Neophron percnopterus en expansió = Demographic viability and effect of anthropogenic environmental changes in the distribution, diet and body condition of an expanding population of Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus." Doctoral thesis, Universitat de Barcelona, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/586283.
Full textAbstract:
En la present tesi s’avaluen les causes del creixement demogràfic de la població d’aufrany (Neophron percnopterus) a Catalunya, així com també s’estudia la influència dels canvis ambientals antropogènics, en especial dels abocadors, sobre la dieta, la condició física i la presència de contaminants dels individus de la població.
En primer lloc, es du a terme un anàlisi demogràfic de l’aufrany a l’àrea d’estudi per a veure quins són els principals factors que han causat el seu augment poblacional. Els resultats, demostren que la població d’aufrany ha augmentat d’1 a 22 parelles entre els anys 1988 i 2012 i, que per explicar el creixement observat, ha estat necessària una elevada supervivència dels individus adults així com l’arribada d’individus d’altres àrees.
A banda, s’estudia l’expansió poblacional de l’espècie per tal de veure quines són les característiques ambientals de les noves àrees de colonització, avaluant concretament la influència dels recursos alimentaris d’origen antròpic, definits amb el nom de Predictable Anthropogenic Food Subisdes (PAFS). Els resultats apunten que els PAFS tenen un paper important en la selecció territorial de l’aufrany, ja que els territoris de cria estan situats més a prop dels abocadors del que s’esperaria a l’atzar. Tot i així, altres factors ambientals com les zones rocoses orientades al sud, la urbanització i la proximitat a conespecífics també tenen importància en la selecció dels territoris.
A més, per tal d’avaluar quin és l’ús que les parelles d’aufrany fan dels abocadors s’analitza la dieta dels polls de la població. Per a fer-ho, es comparen dues metodologies, l’anàlisi d’isòtops estables i l’anàlisi de restes convencional. Els resultats obtinguts amb els dos mètodes coincideixen en que el consum de restes d’abocador pot arribar a ser elevat en algunes parelles (al voltant d’un 50 %).
Un cop coneguda la dieta dels individus, la següent qüestió que s’aborda és quina influència té el fet d’alimentar-se en abocadors sobre la seva condició física. Els resultats indiquen que la proporció de la dieta que prové d’abocadors és el factor principal que afecta els indicadors fisiològics dels individus. Els polls alimentats a partir de residus humans presenten nivells més baixos d’algunes vitamines i carotens, els quals tenen funcions importants com a defenses antioxidants, propietats immunoestimulants i finalitats ornamentals. A més a més, els polls alimentats en abocadors, semblen estar més ben alimentats i experimentar menys períodes de dejú que els individus que no utilitzen aquests recursos.
Finalment, s’analitzen les concentracions de diferents famílies de contaminants; metalls, compostos organoclorats (Ocs), èters difenílics polibromats (PBDEs) i substàncies perfluorades (PFAS) en els individus de la població així com la seva influència en la fisiologia dels individus. La major part dels nivells detectats de contaminants es troben per sota el límit de detecció o són, en general, baixos. Així, tot i que l’acumulació de contaminants en polls d’aufrany a l’àrea d’estudi no sembla estar causant greus efectes negatius sobre la seva fisiologia, si que es detecta que els individus de les zones més humanitzades, presenten uns nivells de PFAS més elevats.
Aquesta tesi aporta informació rellevant en dos sentits. En primer lloc, perquè descriu el cas particular de l’augment demogràfic d’una espècie amenaçada que es troba en declivi a gran part de la seva distribució mundial; el coneixement de les causes que han provocat aquesta tendència positiva, podria ser molt útil per a la conservació de l’aufrany en d’altres àrees on està disminuint. En segon lloc, perquè s’avalua quines són les implicacions d’alimentar-se en abocadors. En un món antropitzat on els escenaris de la distribució dels recursos estan canviant constantment, aportar coneixement sobre la influència dels abocadors pot ser clau per a dissenyar mesures de gestió futures de les espècies amenaçades o plaga que utilitzen aquests punts.The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) is an endangered scavenger species that in recent years has experienced a population growth and an expansion of its range in Catalonia (NE of Iberian Peninsula). In this thesis the demographic and environmental factors that could have caused this increase are studied. Population models showed that, to explain the observed population growth, it has been needed a high adult survival and the arrival of immigrants from other populations. Also, it was assessed the influence of predictable anthropogenic food subsides, specifically landfills, to the distribution, diet and body condition of individuals of our study population. First, it was observed that occupied territories were located closer landfills than expected by chance, so the location of these installations are determining the distribution of breeding pairs. After, it was assessed the contribution of food from landfills to Egyptian Vulture diet using both conventional analyses and stable isotope analysis. Results showed that that both methods provide similar contributions of food from landfills in this species’ overall diet, and also a high proportion of food derived from landfills (nearly 50%) was detected in some breeding pairs. The next step was to determine the influence of diet from landfills to the body condition of nestlings, using morphometrical and physiological approaches. It was found that the contribution of landfills to the diet was the main factor that explained body condition of individuals, especially for its effect to the antioxidant metabolism. Also, nestlings that fed in landfills seem to be better fed. Finally, concentrations of different families of Persistent Organic Pollutants and metals were analysed in nestlings of our population and it was found that levels of pollutants were in general low, so they not appear as susceptible to cause detrimental effects to nestlings’ physiology. Overall, this thesis contributes to the knowledge of conservation status of Egyptian Vulture in Catalonia and it can be useful to assess the influence of landfills to vulture species.
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Naidoo, Vinasan. "Diclofenac in Gyps vultures a molecular mechanism of toxicity /." Electronic thesis, 2007. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07032008-093716/.
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Kirk, David A. "Ecological separation of small cathartid vultures in South America." Thesis, University of Glasgow, 1988. http://theses.gla.ac.uk/5375/.
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During three field seasons, totalling 20 months between 1984-87, the ecological separation of four species of small Cathartid vultures was investigated at Hato Masaguaral in the flat savannas or Llanos of central Venezuela, South America. The focus of the study was an analysis of the role of migrant Turkey Vultures Cathartes aura meridionalis, in the scagenging guild of resident vultures, particularly in relation to a resident subspecies of Turkey Vulture C. a. ruficollis. Ecological separation between different taxa was achieved by differential habitat use by foraging vultures, feeding on different types of carcases and at different times. Where mixed-species flocks fed at carrion, social dominance mediated competition; heavier taxa were not necessarily dominant. During the dry season, migrant Turkey, Lesser Yellow-headed Cathartes burrovianus and Black Vultures Coragyps atratus foraged at highest densities in open savanna habitats. By contrast, resident Turkey and King Vultures Sarcor amphus papa foraged almost entirely in closed gallery forest. In the wet season, the numbers of Cathartes vultures declined by 6 fold in the absence of migrant Turkey Vultures which returned to North America. There was a distinct habitat shift in resident Turkey Vultures at the end of the dry season from gallery forest to open savanna habitats; conversely at the end of the wet season birds moved back into the gallery forest. Some residents may themselves have been migratory, moving into the ranch area at the end of the dry season, but this did not explain the decrease of Cathartes vulture density between seasons. The changes coincided with the departure of the majority of migrants in the spring and with the influx of migrants in the autumn, respectively. The core areas used by radiotragged resident Turkey Vultures shifted seasonally from gallery forest to open savanna. Most marked migrant Turkey Vultures were not resighted, suggesting that they passed through the study area on their way further south or that they had large home ranges. Compared to migrant Turkey Vultures a larger proportion of resident Turkey and Black Vultures were resighted. Comparative observations at bait sites in gallery forest and open savanna showed that carcases were detected more quickly, group sizes of migrant Turkey Vultures were greater, and agonistic encounter rates were higher in the open. Both migrant and resident Turkey Vultures occurred at similar densities over the forest but most carcases were first located by residents. Migrants won almost all agonistic encounters initiated against resident Turkey Vultures. The feeding rate of resident Turkey Vultures was significantly and negatively affected by the numbers of migrant Turkey and King Vultures, but not by other residents present at carcases. While the body condition of migrant Turkey Vultures was low after autumn migration from North America, the condition of birds trapped in subsequent months improved. However, the body condition of residents was below average throughout the dry season when migrants were present. By contrast, in the wet season when migrants were absent, the body condition of residents was above average. The wing-loading of different taxa was related to their foraging strategies; low wing-loading enabled some taxa (e.g. resident Turkey Vultures) to fly at low altitude over vegetation and forage using olfaction. Others, with higher wing-loading depended on sight for foraging (directly by observing carcases in the open or by watching the activities of other vultures) and on thermals to remain aloft (e.g. Black Vultures). Results suggested that, although there may be seasonal changes in food supply which may explain wet season changes in foraging behaviour, resident Turkey Vultures were forced to forage in gallery forest during the dry season to reduce interference competition from migrants.
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Naidoo, Vinasan. "Diclofenac in Gyps vultures : a molecular mechanism of toxicity." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26027.
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Over the last decade, three species of Gyps vultures on the Asian subcontinent have declined dramatically in population numbers, some as much as 97 to 99%. Although the initial cause was believed to be infectious, it was later shown to be due to an inadvertent exposure to diclofenac via the food chain. In order to protect the remaining wild vultures, diclofenac needed to be removed from the food chain. Unfortunately the Indian government was reluctant to ban diclofenac until an alternate veterinary non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that was both safe in vultures and effective in cattle could be identified. Although meloxicam was tentatively identified as this drug, toxicity testing still needed to be undertaken. Using a previously validated model, two studies were undertaken to determine the acute toxic effect of diclofenac in vulture as well as to ascertain if the drug had the potential to accumulate. In the first study, meloxicam in formulation was shown to be safe as a single oral dose up to 2mg/kg in African White Backed-Vultures (Gyps africanus). To further demonstrate the safety of food borne meloxicam, vultures were exposed to meat rich in meloxicam residues, with once again no signs of toxicity being evident. In the second study the drugs ability to accumulate was evaluated pharmacokinetically in Cape Griffon Vultures (Gyps corprotheres). From this study meloxicam was shown to have a very short half-life of elimination, making it unlikely that the drug could be a cumulative toxin. This was subsequently confirmed clinically by the absence of toxicity in birds receiving repeated doses of meloxicam. Although meloxicam was shown to be adequately safe, the safety of other veterinary NSAIDs still required elucidation. While further testing in vultures would have been possible, the small population size of the various vulture species made this unethical. Therefore a surrogate species needed to be identified. With the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) being commonly available, attempts were made to validate the chicken as a model. Although the dosed chickens did show similar toxicity patterns from clinical pathology to histopathology, a major problem was their higher tolerance making it impossible to use them as a surrogate. It was, however, concluded that the domestic chicken may be used in mechanistic studies in an attempt to establish an in vitro model. From the mechanistic studies both diclofenac and meloxicam were directly toxic to chicken and vulture renal tubular epithelial cells following 48h of incubation. It was later shown that this toxicity was associated with an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could be temporarily ameliorated by pre-incubation with uric acid due to its anti-oxidant activity. When cultures were incubated with either drug for only two hours, meloxicam showed no toxicity in contrast to the cellular toxicity present for diclofenac. In both cases no increase in ROS production was evident. In addition diclofenac influenced the excretion of uric acid by interfering with p-amino-hippuric acid channels. The effect on uric acid excretion persisted after the removal of the diclofenac. It was therefore concluded that vulture susceptibility to diclofenac results from a combination of an increase in cellular ROS, a depletion of intracellular uric acid concentration and most importantly the drug’s long half-life in the vulture. Unfortunately the importance of the drug’s half-life in the toxicodynamics makes it unlikely that in vitro testing will be possible.Thesis (PhD (Paraclinical Sciences))--University of Pretoria, 2007.
Paraclinical Sciences
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Nethathe, Bono. "Pathophysiology of diclofenac-associated hyperuricaemia in Gyps spp. vultures." Thesis, University of Pretoria, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/76745.
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Diclofenac toxicity in old world vultures is well described in the literature. As part of the toxicity of the drug, dead birds were generally found in the environment with signs of severe renal damage and gout. In birds that were tested before death, signs of hyperuricaemia and hyperkalaemia were also present. Although the clinical picture is very clear, the sequence of hyperuricaemia is not yet established with one possibility being drug induced renal damage leading to hyperuriceamia and the second being secondary kidney damage resulting from hyperuricaemic cellular damage. For this study we evaluated this sequence by assessing the effect of diclofenac on uric acid transporters in the chicken, a validated model for diclofenac toxicity. We speculated that diclofenac, a known uricosuric drug in people, inhibits the avian organic anionic transporters (OATs) with subsequent increase in plasma uric acid, precipitation and kidney damage.
As a first step, the impact of diclofenac was evaluated in healthy chicken as it was not justifiable to kill vultures through diclofenac administration. For this two-phase study heathy chickens were treated intravenous with para-amino hippuric acid (PAH) and iohexol (IOH) in combination in phase 1 or this same combination with diclofenac (10 mg/kg) in phase 2. In both phases blood and faeces were sequentially collected. In phase 1, birds showed no signs of ill health, moreover PAH, IOH and uric acid clearance was rapid. In phase 2, two chickens eventually died with hyperuricaemia being present as soon as 8 hours after exposure. Necropsy showed classic signs of renal damage and hyperuricaemia. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed a rapid half-life of elimination of less than 2 hours indicating that toxicity was due to irreversible inhibition of a physiological process. In phase 2 all the birds had decrease uric acid, PAH and IOH clearance. While tubular excretory rates of PAH were reduced in all birds in phase 2, they were 98% reduced in the two birds that died. Based on the global change in clearance parameters, it is concluded that diclofenac alters both renal perfusion (IOH measures
glomerular filtration) and renal plasma flow. However death results from tubular secretion being reduced to negligible functionality for a prolonged period. With birds being highly reliant on tubular secretion of uric acid, we conclude that diclofenac hyperuricaemia is as a result of OAT inhibition and that cell death results secondarily from uric acid precipitation as described in gouty chicken.
In the final conclusive study, we used next generation sequencing of the transcriptome of the renal tissue from one African white backed vulture (AWB), to establish if these tissues expressed OATs and multidrug resistance protein (MRP) transporters. Both these channels are known to be involved with uric acid transport either basolaterially or apically respectively. The Trinity assembled transcriptome, was used to create a local blast database from which predicted sequences of OAT1 and 2 and MRP2 and 4 from the Golden Eagle were evaluated for similarity. The golden eagle was selected as it was the closest related species phylogenetically that also had a complete genome sequence published. OAT3 was not included in this study as no avian sequence was available on the NCBI database. From the search, all four channels were identified in the AWB vulture kidney with high similarity to the golden eagle. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of the OAT 1, 2 and MRP2, 4 related mRNA. The predictive amino acid sequence and predictive protein channel (Swiss-Prot) was also used to provide some evidence that the proteins in question shared the required characteristic and function of OAT and MRP channels. After in silico analysis revealed the similarity of only AWB OAT2 gene with other species i.e chicken, expression study was carried out. It revealed that chicken OAT2 gene was expressed more than the vulture, this maybe the reason to vulture sensitivity to diclofenac. With the genes showing the presence of the requisite uric acid transport proteins in the kidney, the distribution of the OAT channels in the vulture was confirmed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using mouse polyclonal OAT3 antibodies as sequence analysis showed high similarity between vulture OAT1 and mouse OAT3. As expected the IHC showed the presence of OAT1 with good distribution along the renal tubules.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2019.
Paraclinical Sciences
PhD
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Prior, Kent A. (Kent Arthur) Carleton University Dissertation Biology. "Foraging ecology of Turkey vultures : a test of information transfer." Ottawa, 1990.
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Nellums, Elizabeth Kay. "The Expansion of Black Vultures, Coragyps atratus, into Southwestern Ohio." Miami University Honors Theses / OhioLINK, 2006. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=muhonors1145900648.
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Coleman, John Samuel. "Home range, habitat use, behavior, and morphology of the Gettysburg vultures." Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1985. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/56186.
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I investigated several aspects of black vulture (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) ecology in southcentral Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Black and turkey vultures did not move randomly over the study area but remained within large (X̅ = 15,993 and 62,953 ha respectively) home ranges. Ninety five percent of radioed vulture activity was within 15 km of the location at which the birds were trapped. Although home range size was not different between species, turkey vultures had greater variation in home range size. Within home ranges, while perched or roosting, vultures preferred forests and undeveloped areas and avoided cropland and urban areas. Nesting vultures only used caves within forested diabase rock formations. While feeding, birds preferred pasture and cropland and avoided forest and urban areas. Farm carrion was an important food resource for both species. Black vultures fed more on carrion greater than 15 kg in size than did turkey vultures. In winter vultures fed sooner after sunrise than in summer. Black and turkey vultures began laying eggs in mid-March and mid-April respectively. Nestling growth rates were higher for turkey vultures than for black vultures. Productivity as calculated by the Mayfield method was 0.73 and 0.42 young per active nest for black and turkey vultures respectively. Planned vegetation and road changes on Gettysburg National Military Park could affect the populations. Residential development outside the Park has had and will continue to have detrimental impacts on nesting habitat.Master of Science
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Brink, Christiaan Willem. "The reintroduction of bearded vultures in South Africa: a feasibility analysis." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/20991.
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The southern African population of bearded vultures, Gypaetus barbatus, is declining rapidly and plans for windfarm developments within the core of this species' range threaten to accelerate the population's passage to extinction. As an insurance against such a situation a reintroduction has been proposed to establish a second bearded vulture population within their historic South African range. Before such a scheme could occur suitable areas, if present, will first need to be identified and the requirements and best implementation strategy will need to be determined. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to identify the most suitable site for such a reintroduction and (2) to provide some insight into the potential outcomes of different release strategies. Habitat modelling and GIS techniques were used to identify potential reintroduction sites, most notably based on the presence of cliffs. Potential reintroduction sites were then compared based on a range of habitat attributes, of which the amount of human settlement and power line density was considered most important. Five potential reintroduction sites were identified with the two highest ranking sites situated mostly within the Eastern Cape Province. Various release strategies ranging from captive breeding prioritization to release prioritization were modelled using stochastic modelling software. Results indicated that straight releases, without any captive breeding support, had a high probability of failure (defined <34 individuals) ranging between 78.3 and 95.7% across different mortality scenarios over a 30 year period. Supplementation from captive breeding reduced this to between 25.5 and 49.8%. Although it is important for mortality rates to be lower at the reintroduced site this study shows that a reintroduction initiative can be valuable even if this is not the case, as a reintroduction initiative can reduce the probability of extinction (one sex remains) of the species in southern Africa after 50 years by approximately 30%. This study concludes that a captive breeding programme is imperative for the success of the reintroduction and is a prudent measure considering the continuing decline of the species. However, a complementary study examining release sites on the ground as well as stakeholder attitudes and the socio-economic impacts of bearded vultures will be required before the reintroduction can be implemented.
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Lieury, Nicolas. "Vers une gestion intégrative des populations animales : l'importance d'intégrer l'immigration à la compréhension de leur dynamique et à l'évaluation scientifique des actions de régulation et de conservation." Thesis, Aix-Marseille, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015AIXM4336/document.
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Pour limiter l'impact des activités humaines sur la biodiversité, les populations animales sont gérées dans de nombreux contextes. La gestion des populations animales comprend la conservation des espèces menacées, comme l’exploitation/régulation des espèces gibiers ou considérées nuisibles. Elle consiste à modifier la dynamique des populations soit en favorisant leur croissance, soit en réduisant leur abondance. Face à l’urgence d’agir dans un contexte de ressources financières limitées, une gestion efficiente des populations animales requiert une bonne compréhension de leur dynamique en réponse aux actions mises en œuvre. Durant mon doctorat, j’ai travaillé en partenariat avec des gestionnaires agissant sur deux systèmes biologiques : la conservation de rapaces méditerranéens (aigles de Bonelli et vautours percnoptères) et la régulation des densités de renards en paysage rural. Pour chaque système, mon travail a consisté i) en l’analyse des suivis de populations qui sont réalisés pour ii) évaluer l’effet de la gestion sur la dynamique des espèces gérées. Dans les deux contextes, j’ai pu iii) mettre en évidence la contribution de l’immigration à la croissance des populations menacées, comme à l’atténuation des effets de la régulation. Après iv) avoir extrait des recommandations pouvant améliorer l’efficience de la gestion en tenant compte de ces processus d’immigration, mon travail s’est conclu par v) une réflexion en retour sur l’optimisation des suivis de populations, afin qu’ils génèrent le plus d’informations pour un investissement moindre. Dans l’ensemble, ce travail aboutit à une réflexion sur les moyens favorisant une gestion efficiente des populations animalesDue to the multiple interactions linking species together, human activities and animal species influence each other. Animal populations are therefore managed to favour long-term cohabitation. Wildlife management includes the conservation of endangered species, the harvest of game species and the control of species considered as pest. It consists in impacting population dynamics (density variation in a territory) either by favouring or limiting population growth. Faced with the complexity of ecological processes and the urgent need for acting in a context of decreasing allocated resources, an efficient management requires a precious understanding of population dynamics in response to actions. During my PhD, I collaborated with managers supervising two contrasted biological systems: the conservation of endangered Mediterranean raptors (Bonelli’s eagles and Egyptian vultures) and the control of fox densities in French rural landscapes. For each case of study, my work consisted in i) analysing data from population monitoring designed to ii) evaluate the management impact on population dynamics. In both systems, I highlighted iii) the crucial importance of immigration either in boosting endangered population or compensating for fox regulation. After having iv) derived concrete guidelines to improve management facing with immigration. I concluded my PhD by v) searching in turn for cost-effective designs of population monitoring. Overall, I questioned the contrasted systems I studied to understand pitfalls and solutions favouring an efficient management of animal populations
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Craig, Christie. "Assessing the anthropogenic threats to vultures in the communal farmlands of Namibia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24983.
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The use of poison by farmers to control livestock predators is a major threat to vulture populations across Africa. In Namibia, there is now some understanding of poison use on commercial farms, but the situation in the communal farmlands is still poorly understood. Using a series of 36 questions, I interviewed 367 communal farmers to assess the prevalence of poison use across the north-west, north and eastern communal land. I found that 18% (SE 2.8) of farmers had killed a predator in the last year and 1.7% (SE 2.1) used poison to do so. I mapped the probability of poison use across the communal regions surveyed and found that poison use is predicted to be higher (up to 7% of farmers using poison) in some areas of the upper north-west. In contrast to previous research, those living adjacent to protected areas did not experience greater losses to predators and as a result were not more inclined to use poison. I found that those using poison are more likely to own greater numbers of livestock, particularly large livestock. Overall, my study suggests that poison use is approximately 12 times lower in the communal areas than on commercial farms. A number of farmers expressed that it is dangerous to use poison on communal land as the risk of non-target impacts is much higher where the land is not fenced and is communally used. Nonetheless there are communal farmers who are using poison and this poses a risk to already threatened vulture populations. Lastly, I did a survey to look at the farmers' local knowledge about vultures, their attitudes towards them and any cultural value that vultures hold. Overall vultures were viewed positively by farmers. The cultural use of vulture parts appeared fairly uncommon, with 9.5% of farmers reporting that they knew of uses. Many farmers indicated that the cultural use of vulture parts was something practiced by previous generations. Feathers were the most commonly used part, mainly for decorations and making arrows. From my assessment, it appears that anthropogenic threats to vultures in communal areas are fairly low. The cultural use of vulture body parts is rare. In addition, poison is used but this practice is not nearly as common as it is on commercial farms. Since poison can have such devastating impacts on vulture populations, I nonetheless advise that reactive and preventative measures are put in place to reduce poisoning and minimise the impact when poison is used. The identified 'hotspots' of poison use will assist local authorities to focus their poison mitigation efforts.
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Hall, Jonathan Clarence. "Ecological Dynamics of Vultures, Blackbuck Antelope, Khejeri Trees, and the Bishnoi People in Western Rajasthan, India." The Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1313171819.
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Mera, Jorge Fernando Navarrete. "Análise da situação genética do condor-dos-andes (Vultur gryphus) no Equador." Universidade de São Paulo, 2017. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/17/17135/tde-17042018-163300/.
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O condor-dos-andes (Vultur gryphus) é uma ave carniceira da família dos abutres do novo mundo (Cathartidae) que habita ao longo da cordilheira dos Andes, cuja população tem diminuído no último século até ser considerada como espécie ameaçada. No Equador tem sido registrado aproximadamente 100 indivíduos em liberdade. Para evitar a extinção da espécie no país tem sido iniciado um programa de conservação envolvendo várias áreas das Ciências Biológicas, entre essas a genética de populações. Para descrever a situação genética do condor no Equador, amostras de sangue e penas de condores em cativeiro e silvestres, mais várias amostras de penas de muda de distintos locais onde habitam, foram coletadas e analisadas através de sete microssatélites heteroespecíficos amplificados no genoma do condor por PCR. Os resultados indicam que o grupo de 72 amostras, apresenta uma diversidade genética moderada a baixa nos loci estudados, apesar das grandes áreas onde está distribuído, porém as análises de variância molecular AMOVA e Hardy-Weinberg considerando como hipótese alternativa a deficiência de heterozigotos, indicam que não constituem uma população endogâmica. Estudos de estruturação populacional sugerem a falta de subpopulações inclusive entre amostras de lugares distantes. Sugere-se que se existir estruturação populacional esta deve ser do tipo isolamento por distância, para poder comprovar esta hipótese se propõe estender a pesquisa no futuro incluindo amostragem de locais muito distantes através da América Andina e diferentes marcadores. O grupo de marcadores foi também altamente útil para identificação genética de indivíduos através das penas anônimas coletadas no habitat, porém não resulta muito forte como prova de paternidade, precisando de marcadores mais polimórficos e melhor distribuídos pelo genoma.The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a scavenger bird of the New World vultures (Cathartidae) that lives along the Andes Mountains. Its population has declined in the last century until being considered an endangered species. In Ecuador, approximately 100 birds have been registered in freedom. To avoid extinction in this country has been initiated a conservation program involving several areas of biological sciences, one of these, population genetics. In order to describe the genetic situation of the condor in Ecuador, blood and feather samples from captive and wild condors, plus several samples of molted feathers from different locations were collected and analyzed through seven heteroespecific microsatellite amplified in the condor genome by PCR. The results show that the group of 72 samples had a moderate to low genetic diversity in the amplified loci, despite the large areas where it is distributed. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and Hardy-Weinberg with heterozygote deficiency as alternative hypothesis denotes that sampled condors do not constitute an inbred population. Structuring analyzes suggest there is not subpopulations even among samples from distant places. If exist some kind of pop0ulation structure in the species, it could be like isolation by distance structured, but in order to prove this hypothesis, it is recommended to extend the research including samples from distant locations through Andean America and more powerful genetic markers. Those markers was also highly useful for the genetic identification of not assigned feathers collected in the habitat, but as paternity test require more polymorphic markers and better distributed throughout the genome.
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[Verfasser], Sherub. "Movement Mechanisms of Gyps himalayensis (Himalayan Vultures) in the Central Asian Flyway / Sherub." Konstanz : Bibliothek der Universität Konstanz, 2017. http://d-nb.info/1138196088/34.
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Lequesne-Roth, Caroline. "L'évolution du régime contractuel de défaut des Etats débiteurs européens." Thesis, Toulon, 2015. http://www.theses.fr/2015TOUL0095.
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La mise en finance de la dette d'Etat, et les crises auxquelles elle donne lieu, font de l'instauration d'un cadre juridique régissant la restructuration et le défaut des dettes d'Etat, un enjeu majeur pour l'Europe. En l'absence d'un droit européen de la « faillite » d'Etat, un régime de défaut a émergé sur le terrain de la pratique, dans les contrats d'emprunt d'Etat obligataires. Les Etats européens ont en effet privilégié une approche décentralisée et volontaire de la restructuration des dettes d'Etat : le contrat d'emprunt d'Etat établit les règles qui organisent les relations de dette entre les Etats débiteurs et leurs créanciers privés. Sous l'effet de l'intégration financière européenne, ce régime de défaut revêt des formes de plus en plus standardisées. Le présent travail consiste à identifier les éléments constitutifs du régime contractuel de défaut des Etats européens, à en apprécier le caractère idoine à l'aune des besoins de l'Etat et à en évaluer la portée. Il adopte pour ce faire une méthode pragmatique, basée sur une analyse empirique des contrats et une étude de cas.Il ressort de celles-ci que le régime de défaut contractuel des Etats européens conduit à l'abandon, l'érosion voire la suppression des prérogatives exorbitantes de droit commun qui étaient traditionnellement attachées à la qualité de souverain des Etats emprunteurs. D'une part, les Etats consentent, pour assurer l'attractivité de leurs titres de créance sur le marché européen très concurrentiel des dettes d'Etat, à adopter des dispositions attentatoires à leur souveraineté, qui les privent de la marge de manœuvre nécessaire à l'adoption de mesures de sauvegarde adaptées en cas de crise de la dette. D'autre part, les deux principaux fors compétents - les juridictions anglaises et new-yorkaises - ont consacré la force obligatoire des contrats d'emprunt d'Etat, lesquels priment les considérations d'intérêt général qui jadis fondaient le défaut souverain. En effet, la jurisprudence libérale de ces fors, favorables aux créanciers de l'Etat, ont encouragé la professionnalisation des requérants et le développement d'une industrie contentieuse du défaut d'Etat, communément désignée comme l'industrie des « fonds vautours». Les stratégies contentieuses agressives déployées par ces nouveaux acteurs ont permis d'obtenir la condamnation des Etats défaillants et des mesures de contrainte sur le terrain encore très préservé par l'immunité d'exécution des Etats. Cette thèse a ainsi pour enjeu, et s'inscrit, dans le débat contemporain relatif à la transformation de l'Etat européen sous le poids de son endettementSovereign debts’ financiarization is a global phenomenon affecting a very substantial number of States in Europe. Nevertheless, European State insolvency has not been implemented. This legal loophole didn't lead to legal uncertainty : a State default's European regime has emerged from practical experience in sovereign debt contracts. Those contracts include harmonised standards : States adopted boilerplates with the aim of contributing to effective debt market and providing liquidity. Promotion and circulation of boilerplates have been made easier by the fact that many States turn to lawyers for their financial affairs. In fact, sovereign consultancy market remains concentrated among a few major law firms. Given the spread of sovereign debt crisis, which also affected developed economies, contract « as statute » has become a major issue for all democracies. The first part intends to identify and map European boilerplates, reflecting regional particularities ; to analyse them and assess their effectiveness and efficiency in crisis conditions. The second analyses the case law that has developed over the years regarding sovereign debt contract. The European States' default contractual regime had led to the dismissal of prerogatives derogating from the generally applicable rules of law, which States used to enjoy within their financing operations. This research has both practical and prospective dimensions, aiming at putting forward proposals to deal with sovereign debt crisis
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Green, Aaryn L. "Calling Out Culture Vultures: Nonwhite Interpretations of Cultural Appropriation in the Era of Colorblindness." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535371632312056.
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Leepile, Leungo Boikanyo L. "Changes in nesting numbers and breeding success of African White-backed Vultures in northern Botswana." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/29737.
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African White-backed Vultures have recently been uplisted to Critically Endangered by the IUCN due to declines across their range mainly linked to high levels of poisoning. Botswana likely supports significant numbers of this species, but as yet there is no published information on their population trends or their breeding success in this country. However, in recent years within Botswana and neighbouring countries there have been multiple incidents of mass poisonings, which have resulted in the deaths of thousands of White-backed Vultures. I therefore expected that nesting numbers of this species may have declined in this region, with potential additional negative impacts to breeding success. I used information from aerial surveys conducted between 2006 and 2017 in Khwai and Linyanti, two of the most important breeding areas for this species in northern Botswana to examine changes in nesting numbers and breeding success. The results showed a 53.5% decline in nesting numbers from these colonies, from 99 pairs in 2007 to 46 in 2017; with a greater decline in Linyanti than in Khwai. In both areas breeding success was significantly lower in 2017 than it was ten years ago. Current breeding success rates were generally lower than for other populations in South Africa. A population viability analysis suggested that if the productivity levels detected in 2017 were a true indication of current levels of productivity for this population, and if recent poisoning rates continue, this population has a high probability of extinction in the next 5 to 13 years.
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Hirschauer, Maggie. "Release success of captive bred Cape Vultures (Gyps coprotheres) in the Magaliesberg Mountains, South Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/4743.
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The Cape Vulture, Gyps coprotheres, is currently classified as ‘endangered’. Endemic to southern Africa, its population has declined continuously over the past 40 years. The species is facing multiple anthropogenic threats. Notably, birds frequently collide with power lines and some cannot be released after treatment. This has led to the establishment of a captive breeding population with the hope that captive bred young can supplement wild populations and re-establish a now- abandoned breeding colony in the Magaliesberg Mountains, South Africa. This study aimed to follow the breeding behaviours of the captive colony and assess the appropriateness of chick rearing conditions. The study also aimed to monitor the behaviour, physical condition and dispersal of ten captive bred vultures after release in relation to their age. Behavioural observations of captive adult breeding and parental behaviours were conducted to establish whether chicks developed under comparable conditions to wild chicks. A high percentage of total colony copulation attempts (22 %) were extra-pair copulations. Four paired males formed ephemeral extra-pair relationships, two of which were homosexual. Chicks fledged earlier than wild chicks, on average at 128 days old. Wild and captive bred birds were observed at carcasses to compare competitive and feeding behaviours. Older birds, both wild and captive, fed the most efficiently. Preliminary evidence suggests females are more dominant and have higher display rates than males. Captive bred juvenile and four year old birds’ competitive and feeding behaviours (interaction rate, feeding rate, display rate, dominance, aggressiveness, and feeding efficiency) were the closest to, but still generally below, average values for same-aged wild birds. An index of body condition, body mass, and the prevalence of fault bars on the rectrices were used to assess their physical condition. After eight months, none of the ten birds had moved more than 8 km from the release site, nor had they foraged away from the vulture restaurant on site. Although altitude records of > 3100 m were recorded, their flight skills seemed inadequate. Future management considerations include the initiation of a pre-release exercise regime, the establishment of an acclimatization enclosure removed from the breeding site, and a varied or reduced post-release feeding schedule. Fledglings should be relocated and housed at the release enclosure until they are four years old.
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Ouattara, Nambreye Rodrigue. "La structuration juridique de l’endettement des pays d’Afrique subsaharienne." Thesis, Paris 10, 2020. http://www.theses.fr/2020PA100144.
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Les Etats ne font pas exception au recours à l’endettement pour leur financement. L’Histoire démontre que ces derniers ont toujours recouru à la dette pour leurs divers financements. Les pays d’Afrique subsaharienne, devenus pour la majorité d’entre eux indépendants au cours de la décennie 1960, ne font pas exception à cela. En effet, ces pays ont depuis plus d’une décennie commencée à s’endetter par le truchement d’obligations souveraines sur les marchés financiers. Or, il se trouve que le recours à la dette souveraine sous forme d’obligations souveraines pose un certain nombre de problèmes. Le principal problème posé par cette forme d’endettement est lié à la multitude de créanciers en cas de défaut souverain. Ces créanciers, communément appelés fonds vautours, usent d’une provision contractuelle contenue dans les contrats d’émission de dette obligataire. C’est donc par le truchement de la clause pari passu que ces créanciers parviennent, à travers des actions en justice, à empêcher les souverains de restructurer leurs dettes. En l’absence de mécanisme à l’échelle internationale pour résoudre les conséquences d’éventuels défauts souverains sur les droits de l’Homme dans ces pays africains, notre thèse propose la création d’un tel mécanisme fondé sur le droit international pour traiter les cas de défauts souverains, d’une façon générale, mais plus particulièrement des pays d’Afrique subsaharienne. Ce mécanisme devra ainsi englober à la fois les aspects procéduraux que requiert le traitement de tels problèmes, mais également les aspects substantiels du droit international, notamment les droits de l’HommeStates are no exception to recourse to debt for their financing. History shows that they have always resorted to debt for their various financing. Subsaharan african countries that became, in majority independent in the 1960’s, are no exception of this fact. Indeed, those countries, began since a little more than one decade, to get into debt through sovereign bonds on the financial markets. However, it turns out that the use of sovereign debt in the form of sovereign bonds generates a certain number of problems. The main problem caused by this form of indebtedness is the multitude of creditors in case of sovereign default. Thoses creditors, commonly called vulture funds, use a contractual provision contained in emissions contracts of bonded debt. It’s then by the use of the pari passu clause that they succeed, throught lawsuits, in preventing sovereigns to restructure their debts. In the absence of an international mechanism to resolve the consequences of possible sovereign defaults on human rights in those countries, our thesis suggests the creation of such a mechanism based on international law to deal with cases of sovereign defaults in general, but more particularly of subsaharan african countries. This mechanism should include both procedural aspects that require the resolution of such problems, but also substantial aspects of international law, in particularly human rights
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Locke, Sara Lindsey. "Effect of cytochrome P450 inhibition on pharmacokinetics and toxicity of diclofenac in chickens : unravelling toxicity in Gyps vultures." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/75858.
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The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac was responsible for the decimation of Gyps vulture species on the Indian subcontinent over the last two decades of the 20th century. For an unknown reason, Gyps vultures were extremely sensitive to diclofenac (LD50 ~ 0.1-0.2 mg/kg), with toxicity appearing to be linked to a metabolic deficiency, demonstrated by the long T1/2 (~12-17 h) and low Cl (0.0001-0.0002 L/h*kg). This was in striking comparison to other bird species such as the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), where the LD50 is ~10 mg/kg, the T1/2 is ~1 h and the Cl values are ~0.1-0.2 ml/h*kg. The aim of this study was to determine if Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) homolog pharmacogenomic differences among avian species is driving diclofenac toxicity in Gyps vultures. For this evaluation, we exposed each of 10 CYP-inhibited (fluconazole) test group domestic chickens to a unique dose of diclofenac, centred on the LD50 of 9.8 mg/kg, as per OECD toxicity testing guidelines. The toxicity and pharmacokinetic results were compared to control group birds that received no fluconazole.
The birds showed typical clinical and post mortem signs of diclofenac toxicity; depression, lethargy and anorexia within 48 -56 h and visceral gout with varying degrees of nephrosis. Though no differences were noted in the LD50 values for each group (11.92 mg/kg in the CYP-inhibited test group and 11.58 mg/kg in the control group), the pharmacokinetic profile of the test group was suggestive of partial inhibition of CYP metabolism. This was evident in the geomean values for Cmax (0.61 vs. 0.41 ug/ml), AUClast (0.5 ug/ml*h vs. 0.4 ug/ml*h) and clearance (1.52 L/h*kg vs. 1.59 L/h*kg), despite CYP-inhibited birds at the two highest doses succumbing without a definable pharmacokinetic curve. In contrast both birds dosed at the two highest doses from the control group demonstrated high T1/2 and MRT values, consistent with expectations.
Evaluation of the metabolite peaks produced also suggested partial inhibition of CYP enzymatic metabolism in test group birds as they produced lower amounts of metabolites for one of the 3 peaks demonstrated and had higher diclofenac exposure. Furthermore, though the general trend was that birds that produced less metabolites and that died tended to be those dosed towards the higher end of the dose range, the results were not consistent. One bird in the test group, dosed at a much lower dose, exhibited very low metabolite production compared to birds in both treatment groups. This bird also exhibited pharmacokinetic data suggestive of metabolic constraint. These findings, coupled with the high variation in levels of metabolites produced across both treatment groups, indicates that there is a degree of natural variation in metabolism which is independent of dose in chickens, and which would also explain the higher LD50 in the chicken in comparison to the vulture.
This pilot study supports the hypothesis that CYP metabolism is varied among bird species and may explain the higher resilience to diclofenac in the chicken vs. Gyps vultures. Further studies using a larger sample size and a single dose of diclofenac may provide more conclusive results.Mini Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2020.
Paraclinical Sciences
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Martens, Francis Rae, and Colleen Downs. "The spatial ecology and roost site selection of fledging cape vultures (Gyps coprotheres) in the Eastern Cape, South Africa." Thesis, Nelson Mandela University, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/15875.
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The Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), a southern African endemic, is a species currently listed on the IUCN Red List as “Threatened” due to its 66-81% decline over the past 50 years. South Africa and Lesotho hold 90% of the global population, which are focused at two core areas, namely northern central South Africa and eastern South Africa. This species provides important ecological services yet faces numerous anthropogenic threats. An emerging threat in the south eastern part of South Africa is that of wind energy development. Understanding the movement and roosting behaviour of the Cape Vulture may mitigate potential collisions if areas of high use are avoided. Juvenile Cape Vultures, who naturally suffer high mortality rates, are known to forage extensively over a wider landscape and as a consequence may face a greater assortment of threats. The overall aim of this study therefore was to determine the ranging and roosting behaviour of juvenile Cape Vultures in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. In order to achieve this aim, i) the ranging behaviour and habitat use were determined and ii) roost sites and factors that influence roost site selection were determined. Using five juvenile Cape Vultures tagged with Global Positioning System (GPS/GSM) transmitters, home range sizes, distance travelled from the nest and habitat use were determined. Home range was determined through kernel density estimates and distance travelled from the nest was determined through the Euclidean distance. Habitat use was determined by overlaying the home range size onto a merged layer of all protected areas and the National Land Cover Database of South Africa. To determine roost sites, data from the tagged vultures were split into encamped and exploratory movements using a mixture model in a cluster analysis setting. Encamped movements were associated with roost sites. Roost density was determined around the natal colony using predetermined buffer sizes and a generalised linear mixed model (GLMM) fitted to the data. Conditions considered favourable for roost sites were based on previous research conducted on cliff-nesting species and a GLMM conducted. Juveniles increased their home range progressively for the first two months, then exhibited a rapid increase in size associated with dispersal from the colony. Distance from the nest increased rapidly following the dispersal period. Protected areas and woody vegetation were areas of preferred habitat. The highest density of roosts for juveniles was located within 20 km’s from the breeding colony and decreased further away. Roost sites that were favoured for juveniles and adult birds were those that were located close to colonies, had low accessibility to terrestrial predators and were in areas of high wind speed. The orientation of the cliff into the prevailing wind direction was also a determining factor. Roosting sites and foraging areas are important spatial determinants of Cape Vulture behaviour and the identification of such areas can help with conservation management. With the additional threat of wind development in areas highly utilised, wind farms located too close to colonies could have a devastating impact on the Cape Vulture population. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of conservation buffer zones as no-go areas for wind energy development around vulture colonies.
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Phipps, W. L. (William Louis). "Spatial patterns of land-use by immature African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus) captured in the North-West Province, South Africa." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/24947.
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As obligate scavengers Gyps vultures provide an important ecosystem service as the main consumers of ungulate carcasses in African savannas. Throughout the continent, however, multiple threats are causing vulture populations to decline, especially outside protected areas. Although the African white-backed vulture Gyps africanus is the most numerous and widely distributed Gyps species in Africa, its foraging ecology and land use preferences remain poorly understood. Furthermore, while protected areas are known to be important for vultures in East and West Africa, their role in South Africa has not been fully investigated. This study uses GPS-GSM tracking units to investigate the movement and land-use patterns of six immature African white-backed vultures that were caught at Mankwe Wildlife Reserve in the North West Province of South Africa. Immature individuals were chosen because they were expected to travel extensively and be exposed to the full range of threats. The tracking units recorded the GPS location, speed, altitude and direction of travel three times per day. The size and extent of the vultures‟ foraging ranges were estimated using three methods: minimum convex polygons (MCPs), fixed kernel density estimation (KDE) and grid cell range (GCR) estimation. The vultures‟ use of protected areas and areas of different cattle densities (zero, low, medium and high) was assessed to determine whether they were visited more or less than expected based on the area they occupied within the vultures‟ foraging ranges. The distances travelled by the vultures and their flight speeds and altitudes were also calculated, as well as the amount of time that they spent in the vicinity of supplementary feeding sites. The vultures were tracked for between 101 and 313 days and the GPS tracking units acquired 99.44% of expected GPS locations. The vultures ranged extensively and generally travelled in a nomadic manner. While three individuals occupied foraging ranges (mean 95% KDE contour area = 106,282.33 km2) either side of the South African borders between Botswana and Zimbabwe, the other three travelled more extensively through southern Africa, entering six different countries (mean 95% KDE contour area = 563,564.67 km2). The vultures rarely visited protected areas in South Africa but two of the vultures regularly used protected areas in northern Botswana and Zimbabwe. Areas of high cattle density were used less than expected by all vultures, but not at a significant level, while two of the vultures used areas with zero cattle density more than expected due to their regular use of supplementary feeding sites in those areas. Areas of medium cattle density were the most regularly used, containing an average of 30.72% of each vulture‟s stationary GPS locations. The vultures travelled an average of 33 km/day and a maximum of 267 km/day, flying at an average of 50 km/h (maximum = 107 km/h) at 561 m above ground level (maximum = 2,267 m). This study provides the first description of movement and land-use patterns of immature African white-backed vultures tracked continuously from South Africa. Their extensive foraging ranges and limited use of protected areas implies that the vultures could potentially encounter the full range of threats in the region, and it is clear that their future conservation will depend upon conservation strategies that extend across international borders. CopyrightDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Paraclinical Sciences
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Sayers, Esther. "Making 'culture vultures' : an investigation into the socio-cultural factors that determine what and how young people learn in the art gallery." Thesis, Goldsmiths College (University of London), 2014. http://research.gold.ac.uk/10555/.
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This thesis focuses on the Raw Canvas youth programme at Tate Modern (1999-2011). Data is drawn from peer-led workshops and interviews with gallery education professionals. The material has been sifted to extract understanding of the ways in which pedagogies imagine and construct learners in voluntary and unaccredited educational environments. The particular educational context of the art gallery, in comparison to learning in formal educational environments, is central to the research. The title refers to Peterson’s (1992) conception of the ‘cultural omnivore’ as an individual whose tastes span popular and high cultures. This term describes the work of youth programmes at Tate Modern whilst simultaneously revealing the underlying problem: that such cultural infidelity is primarily a middle class characteristic. Was the aim of this youth programme to make all young people middle-class? The thesis begins by exploring the historical context for gallery education before a detailed study of theoretical frameworks for the interpretation of art: hermeneutics. Specific interrogation of critical, constructivist and emancipatory pedagogies create a backdrop to the analysis. Audience development and inclusion initiatives are key themes that run throughout the study and are explored in relation to the political landscape, personal ideologies and the academic imperatives of learning in this context. The outcomes point to the fact that inclusion initiatives fail to be inclusive when they employ pedagogies that are not suited to individual learners and rely too heavily on the specific ideology of the learning institution itself. Ideologies define what we do and as such they must be made visible to young people and be open for discussion so that we avoid merely teaching acceptance of the dominant ideology of the time. I conclude that art educators must consider what we are doing for learning and the arts and whom we are doing it for?
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Hassan, Ibrahim Zubairu. "Evaluation of a current avian environmental toxicity guideline prescribed for pesticide evaluation for the prediction of the toxic effect of diclofenac in vultures." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/65524.
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Diclofenac was responsible for the death of millions of Gyps vultures (G. bengalensis, G. indicus and G. tenuirostris) in the Indian sub-region with the safety of the other members of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) being questionable. This has resulted in calls to test all the available NSAIDs for their vulture toxicity potential especially as studies have shown meloxicam to be safe; and ketoprofen, carprofen, flunixin and phenylbutazone as toxic. Unfortunately, due to the cost of testing, the time taken to establish toxicity reliably and the questionable ethics of repeat toxicity testing in an endangered species, an alternate method of and model for testing is needed. For this study, we evaluated an OECD recommended method for determining the avian toxic potential of environmentally applied pesticides. We exposed young-adult Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica), Muscovy ducks (Cairina moschata) and domestic pigeons (Columba livia) as per model requirements to diclofenac at various doses. This was coupled to the evaluation of the plasma toxicokinetics of the mentioned drug. The aim of this study was to look at the potential of the OECD models, as a predictive tool for diclofenac’s environmental toxic effect. Intoxication was noted in Japanese quails and Muscovy ducks which appeared to be identical to the clinical signs that were previously reported in vultures viz. depression and death within 48 – 92 h of dosing; while the domestic pigeon was insensitive| not susceptible. For the birds that died, necropsy revealed signs of nephrosis with resultant urate deposits in the kidney, spleen, pericardium and liver, once again as previously seen in the vulture. The pharmacokinetic profile in the domestic pigeon showed that the drug was well absorbed and distributed with a T1/2 generally below 6 h. The toxicokinetic profile in Japanese quails demonstrates that toxicity was related to metabolic capacity, with a T1/2 and MRT above 6 h and 8 h respectively being associated with signs of intoxication. While the quail result is consistent with previous studies, poisoning in the Muscovy ducks was not related to metabolic constraint but elevated plasma uric acid concentration as they all demonstrated rapid metabolism [T1/2 (1-2 h) and MRT (2-3 h)] irrespective of survival or death. This was also reflected by their almost intact micro-hepatic structure as opposed to the other species. Interestingly, some of the Muscovy ducks recovered even though they had elevated plasma uric acid concentrations reported to kill Gyps vulture. To better understand this, plasma from Muscovy duck, Cape Griffon vulture (Gyps coprotheres) and domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) were subjected to a uric-acid saturation test which proved the former’s higher tolerance to elevated plasma uric acid concentration. Despite evidence of intoxication from this study, the estimated oral LD50 was very high at 405 mg/kg and 190 mg/kg in Japanese quails and Muscovy ducks respectively. The latter was also substantially higher than the LD50 of 0.1 mg/kg extrapolated for Gyps vultures. We therefore conclude that these bird species are not suitable as surrogates for NSAID toxicity testing. More importantly the results suggest that the toxicity of diclofenac in vultures is idiosyncratic and thus completely unpredictable using current laboratory models prescribed by the OECD.Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Paraclinical Sciences
MSc
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Zúñiga, Bizama Daniela Cecilia. "Identificación y descripción morfológica de huellas provocadas por condor de los andes (Vultur griphus) sobre cabezas de cerdo doméstico (Sus scrofa domestica)." Tesis, Universidad de Chile, 2016. http://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/143678.
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Memoria para optar al Título Profesional de Médico Veterinario.En diversos casos de connotación policial, es posible encontrar restos óseos con marcas, ya sea de origen ambiental, humano o animal. Dichas marcas deben ser identificadas y clasificadas, a modo de determinar el agente productor de las mismas, colaborando así con un eventual proceso investigativo. En el contexto de las marcas producidas por animales, la zooscopía es la rama de la criminalística encargada de su estudio. Por otro lado, en zonas montañosas a lo largo del país, con presencia de cadáveres en descomposición o frescos, es común encontrar carroñeros como el Cóndor de los Andes (Vultur gryphus), quien utiliza este tipo de sustrato para su alimentación, generando marcas en los huesos al realizar el picaje que pueden ser confundidas con otras de origen antropogénico. Así mismo, con el fin de identificar y describir morfológicamente, las huellas provocadas por el Cóndor de los Andes sobre restos óseos de cerdo doméstico (Sus scrofa domestica), se utilizaron 10 cóndores separados en dos grupos según condición etaria: juvenil (n=7) y adulto (n=3). A cada grupo se le entregó 10 cabezas de cerdo doméstico semi descarnada y fresca, como único alimento durante 15 días. Las huellas provocadas sobre los restos óseos fueron analizadas mediante lupa de mano. Los resultados determinaron que las marcas provocada por las aves, fueron de ubicación precisa, distinta profundidad, corta longitud y con forma transversal en “U”. Se construyó un cuadro de contingencia y se aplicó la prueba de bondad de ajuste mediante el estadígrafo y la distribución Chi cuadrado, que indicó que no existe relación de dependencia (p≥0,05), entre ambos grupos y el número de picajes efectuados en las diversas zonas anatómicas.
In several cases of police connotation, it is possible to find bones with marks, whether they are from environmental, human or animal origin. These marks must be identified and classified, to determine the agent that produced them, collaborating with a possible investigation process. In the context of the marks produced by animals, zooscopy is the branch of criminology in charge of its study. On the other hand, in mountainous areas throughout the country, with presence of decaying or fresh corpses, it is common to see scavengers like the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus), who uses this type of substrate for foraging, creating marks on the bones while they are pecking on the corpses, and the marks they left could be confused with others of antorpogenic origin. Likewise, in order to identify and describe morphologically the marks caused by the Andean Condor on skeletal remains of domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica), 10 condors were separated in two groups according to their age condition: juvenile (n=7) and adult (n=3). Each group was given 10 fresh and partially fleshless heads of domestic pig, as only food for 15 days. The marks on the skeletal remains were analyzed by hand lens. The results determined that the marks caused by birds, had a precise location, different depth, short length and the shape of a crosswise "U". A contingency table was built and the goodness of fit test was applied by the chi-square statistic and distribution, which indicated that there is no dependency relation (p ≥ 0.05) between the two groups and the number of pecking made in various anatomical areas.
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Fluhr, Julie. "Stratégies de prospection alimentaire chez le Vautour fauve (Gyps fulvus) et mesures de conservation." Thesis, Montpellier, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017MONTT148.
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Dans le contexte actuel des changements globaux, les êtres vivants sont soumis à de nouvelles pressions sélectives dans des environnements modifiés par les activités anthropiques, et nous assistons à l’émergence de pièges évolutifs. Se déplacer peut être appréhendé comme une conséquence de ces changements, mais aussi comme l’opportunité pour un individu, une population ou une espèce, de s’adapter, à diverses échelles spatio-temporelles, en changeant de site d’alimentation, de domaine vital ou d’aire de répartition. Dans mon travail de thèse, je me suis intéressée aux comportements de prospection alimentaire du vautour fauve (Gyps fulvus), appartenant à la guilde fonctionnelle des nécrophages stricts, qui est la plus menacée parmi les oiseaux à l’échelle mondiale. Des plans de conservation ont été mis en place pour enrayer leur déclin, dont certaines mesures de gestion comme le soutien alimentaire (SA) peuvent néanmoins constituer de véritables pièges évolutifs (des sites attractifs sous-optimaux) pour les vautours. A partir de l’analyse des déplacements journaliers à fine échelle d’individus équipés de balises GPS, et par l’étude des domaines vitaux, j’ai mis en évidence des différences intra- et inter-populationnelles en termes de stratégies d’occupation de l’espace et de recherche alimentaire chez les vautours fauves présents dans deux régions françaises où le SA est élevé (Causses) ou faible (Pyrénées). Grâce à de nouvelles méthodes pour quantifier les routines comportementales, j’ai démontré que les visites des vautours aux sites de SA sont peu stéréotypées et routinières dans les Causses, tant au niveau spatial que temporel. Malgré une utilisation de l’espace à large échelle très différente entre les Causses et les Pyrénées, ainsi qu’un budget temps différent (plus longue durée de vol dans les Causses), le budget énergétique diffère peu entre les deux populations. Au-delà du niveau de prévisibilité des ressources – inhérent au SA - j’ai identifié d’autres facteurs influençant vraisemblablement les prises de décision comportementales des individus : l’état motivationnel de l’individu lié à son statut de reproduction, et les conditions aérologiques locales. Inscrit à l’interface entre écologie comportementale et biologie de la conservation, mon travail de doctorat participe à une meilleure compréhension des patrons d’utilisation de l’espace et des processus en jeu à différentes échelles spatio-temporelles chez une espèce nécrophage stricte. Les acteurs de la conservation pourront s’appuyer sur mes résultats et propositions de gestion pour maintenir les comportements naturels des vautours, et à termes, la viabilité des populationsIn the current context of global change, organism are exposed to new selective pressures in their environments modified by human activities, and we observe the emergence of evolutionary traps. Moving can be interpreted as a consequence of these global changes, but also as the opportunity for an individual, a population or a species to adapt, at different spatio-temporal scales, by modifying their feeding sites, home range or distribution area. During my PhD, I was interested in studying the foraging of Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) belonging to the functional guild of obligate scavengers, which are the most threatened birds worldwide. Conservation plans have been carried out to limit their decline, proposing management practices such as supplementary feeding (SF) that may constitute an ecological trap (attractive but suboptimal sites) for vultures. Analysing of fine-scale daily movements and home ranges of individuals equipped with GPS devices, I found significant differences of foraging strategies and space use patterns in vultures from two French regions with low vs high SF (Pyrenees vs Causses). Using recent methods to quantify behavioral routines, I demonstrated that vultures visited SF stations in the Causses with low level of routine, both spatially and temporally. In spite of the distinct large-scale movement patterns between the individuals in the Causses and the Pyrenees, as well as different time-budgets (birds spending more time in flight in the Causses), energy expenditure estimated at the population level are quite similar. Beyond the level of resource predictability - inherent to SF - I highlighted other factors likely to influence individuals’ behavioral decision-making: the individual’s motivational state related to its breeding status, and local aerological conditions. At the interface between behavioral ecology and conservation biology, my work should contribute to a better understanding of the space use patterns in an obligate scavenger and the processes involved at different spatio-temporal scales. Conservationist will be able to use my results and management recommendations to maintain the natural behavior of vultures and, finally, populations’ viability