A5049644769- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Silicon Carbide Semiconductor Technologies
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Environmental Sustainability and Technology
- Semiconductor materials and devices
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Advanced ceramic materials synthesis
- Thin-Film Transistor Technologies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Integrated Circuits and Semiconductor Failure Analysis
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Yeasts and Rust Fungi Studies
- Dental materials and restorations
- Nuclear reactor physics and engineering
Endangered Wildlife Trust
2015-2024
Ithaca College
2022
State Street (United States)
2022
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2019-2020
Hudson Institute
2019
University of Pretoria
2004-2015
Education Labour Relations Council
2008
University of Hull
2006
Tshwane University of Technology
2005
Vultures provide critical ecosystem services, yet populations of many species have collapsed worldwide. We present the first estimates a 30-year Pan-African vulture decline, confirming that declines occurred on scale broadly comparable with those seen in Asia, where ecological, economic, and human costs are already documented. Populations eight we assessed had declined by an average 62%; seven at rate 80% or more over three generations. Of these, least six appear to qualify for uplisting...
Abstract Four species of African vultures have been recategorized as Critically Endangered, and two on the IUCN Red List. Their declining status is attributed partly to impacts widespread poisoning. Prior 2012 poisoning was mostly associated with illegal predator control by livestock farmers, in which were typically unintended victims. More recently, ivory poachers using poisons kill elephants Loxodonta africana or contaminate their carcasses specifically eliminate vultures, whose overhead...
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Abstract The prosperity and well‐being of human societies relies on healthy ecosystems the services they provide. However, biodiversity crisis is undermining functions. Vultures are among most imperiled taxonomic groups Earth, yet have a fundamental ecosystem function. These obligate scavengers rapidly consume large amounts carrion waste, service that may aid in both disease prevention control mammalian scavengers, including feral dogs, which turn threaten humans. We combined information...
Abstract The conversion of natural habitats to farmland is a major cause biodiversity loss and poses the greatest extinction risk birds worldwide. Tropical raptors are particular concern, being relatively slow-breeding apex predators scavengers, whose disappearance can trigger extensive cascading effects. Many Africa’s at considerable from habitat conversion, prey-base depletion persecution, driven principally by human population expansion. Here we describe multiregional trends among 42...
Human-induced direct mortality affects huge numbers of birds each year, threatening hundreds species worldwide. Tracking technologies can be an important tool to investigate temporal and spatial patterns bird as well their drivers. We compiled 1704 records from tracking studies across the African-Eurasian flyway for 45 species, including raptors, storks, cranes, covering period 2003 2021. Our results show a higher frequency human-induced causes than natural taxonomic groups, geographical...
One of the most profound events in biospheric evolution was emergence animals, which is thought to have occurred some 600-650 Ma. Here we report on discovery phosphatised body fossils that interpret as ancient sponge-like and term them Otavia antiqua gen. et sp. nov. The are found Namibia rocks range age between about 760 Ma 550 This places advent animals 100 150 million years earlier than proposed, prior extreme climatic changes postulated stepwise increases oxygen levels Ediacaran time....
Abstract Vultures and condors are among the most threatened avian species in world due to impacts of human activities. Negative perceptions can contribute these threats as some vulture have been historically blamed for killing livestock. This perception conflict has increased recent years, associated with a viral spread partial biased information through social media despite limited empirical support assertions. Here, we highlight that magnifying infrequent events livestock being injured by...
Abstract Vultures in Africa are being poisoned deliberately by poachers to prevent the birds alerting authorities poachers’ illegal activities, or for harvesting and sale of body parts use witchcraft. Hundreds vultures can be killed at a single elephant Loxodonta africana carcass, although field staff trained poison response activities limit damage, mortalities remain numerous. We used population viability analysis programme VORTEX simulate seven 100-year-long scenarios investigating various...
Abstract Aim To compare the marginal adaptation of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or amalgam root‐end fillings in extracted teeth under low‐vacuum (LV) versus high‐vacuum (HV) scanning electron microscope (SEM) viewing conditions. Methodology Root‐end were placed 20 single‐rooted maxillary teeth. Ten root ends filled with MTA and other 10 amalgam. Two 1 mm thick transverse sections each filling cut 0.50 (top) 1.50 (bottom) from apex. Gap size was recorded at eight fixed points along...
Recently developed capture-mark-recapture methods allow us to account for capture heterogeneity among individuals in the form of discrete mixtures and continuous individual random effects. In this article, we used simulations two case studies evaluate effectiveness continuously distributed effects at removing potential bias due heterogeneity, what situation added complexity these models is justified. Simulations showed that ignoring generally led a small negative survival estimates...
Most raptor populations are declining and nearly a fifth threatened with extinction; thus there is need to increase collaboration ensure efficient effective research, management, conservation. Here, we introduce the Global Raptor Impact Network (GRIN; www.globalraptors.org), tool enhance conservation impact of research community. We provide an overview history current state GRIN, including plans for expansion. Predecessors GRIN include The African DataBank, which was launched in 2012...
Vultures are globally threatened, yet reliable population data on these birds few, thus measuring their response to change is difficult. Kruger National Park (KNP) in South Africa an important stronghold for many avian species, particularly vultures. In this study we generate estimates three vulture species KNP using two plotless density estimators (PDE): a distance estimator based nearest-neighbour and T-square sampling. We flew aerial censuses over large (c. 3 500 km2) sample areas...
The ecosystem services framework is essential for biodiversity conservation, emphasizing the role of nature in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study offers a global view on vulture-associated and their SDG contributions, based insights from 206 experts. findings reveal consensus importance vultures regulation maintenance services, such as waste recycling disease control. Cultural attributed to are moderate vary regionally. Provisioning consistently rated low across all...
Understanding the ranging behaviours of species can be helpful in effective conservation planning. However, for many that are rare, occur at low densities, or occupy challenging environments, this information is often lacking. The Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosus) a density apex predator declining both non-protected and protected areas southern Africa, little known about its behaviour. We use GPS tags fitted to Eagles (n = 8) Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa describe their...
Obligate scavengers such as vultures provide critical ecosystem services and their populations have undergone severe declines in Asia Africa. Intentional poisoning is a major threat to Africa, yet the impact on vulture of where poisoned carcasses are positioned not known. We used re-sightings 183 African white-backed captured tagged two regions South some 200 km apart, estimate spatial differences relative survival rates across life stages. Juvenile were similar regions, whilst subadult...
Vulture declines are uniquely problematic for socio-ecological systems because they nature's most important scavengers. Intentional and unintentional poisoning, human-wildlife conflict, energy infrastructure, belief-based use, illegal hunting activities remain threats to vulture populations across Africa. Conservation stakeholders have identified evidence that a number of species in particular ecosystems being systematically targeted by poisoning with potentially significant effects on...