DOCSLIB.ORG

Spring2011.Pdf

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER VOLUME 21, NO. 1 SPRING 2011 Features Departments The Scientific Classification 3 From the 4 of Wolves: Canis lupus soupus Executive Director How many kinds of wolves are there? And what are the differences? Tracking the Pack eullette 17 O This is a really good question, and the answer is getting more Joan complicated all the time. 19 Wolf Tracks by L. David Mech 21 Book Review The Wolves of Transylvania 22 Personal Encounter 8 The wolves of Romania are “Eurasian Wolves,” Canis lupus lupus, a subspecies which prior to the 20th century 24 A Look Beyond ranged over most of the vast supercontinent, but now reduced in extent due to human persecution and loss of habitat, especially in the West. On the Cover . Sparks E Photo by Raymond Laible lan A by Alan E. Sparks In the Lamar Valley of Yellowstone National Park Wolf ’06 destined to be the breeding female of the Lamar Wolf ’06 of Lamar Canyon Canyon Pack, woos future pack 13 Yellowstone National Park is a paradise for wolf members 755M and 754M. watchers who get to know specific wolves, their personalities and their relationships to other wolves. This article details the Did you know... life of one of those wolves. one easy way for you to help us conserve Jimmy Jones by Laurie Lyman natural resources is to make sure we have your email address. Simply email your address to: [email protected] olland H Dave Publications Director he winter 2010 issue of International Wolf sparked several comments, Mary Ortiz both positive and negative (see executive director’s letter page 3). Magazine Coordinator Below are a few representative examples of the responses. Bruce Erickson T Graphics Coordinator Carissa L. Winter “While I do applaud the good works the “The articles written by Dave Mech International Wolf Center does for the and Jim Hammill caused this reader Consulting Editor Fran Howard welfare of our wolves, I do also have to to stop more than once and think about Technical Editor highly condemn the proposal of offer- what I thought I knew about current L. David Mech ing money for the blood of wolves. You gray wolf issues. The fact these articles Graphic Designer MUST know that anytime a bounty is presented concise and varying points of Tricia Austin put on any animal it is but a short while view on hunting/trapping was brilliant. International Wolf (1089-683X) is published before the situation gets out of hand. This issue of International Wolf will quarterly and copyrighted, 2011, by the Please try to put that one-plus million cause its readers to question current International Wolf Center, 3410 Winnetka Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55427, USA. dollars to better use.” — V. H. practices and possibly even think about email: [email protected]. what is best for the wolf. I welcome a All rights reserved. “L. David Mech’s article ‘Considera- healthy debate, even from our fiercest Publications agreement no. 1536338 tions for Developing Wolf Harvesting critics. This issue gets my vote as one Membership in the International Wolf Center includes a subscription to International Wolf Regulations’ was a shocking read. of the best, with the possible exception magazine, free admission to the Center, and Snaring and trapping might be a more of the red wolf issue.” —K. W. discounts on programs and merchandise. • Lone Wolf memberships are U.S. $35 acceptable method of wolf control, but • Wolf Pack $60 • Wolf Associate $125 in my opinion cause unnecessary pain, “Enjoyed your winter 2010 issue.” • Wolf Sponsor $500 • Alpha Wolf $1,000. suffering and distress. Suggesting that —C. N. Canada and other countries, add U.S. $15 per year for airmail postage, $7 for surface killing of wolves should be allowed postage. Contact the International Wolf Center, through February, which would reduce “Hi Mary. Your question about films 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA; email: [email protected]; populations as pregnant females could rang a chord with me. I used to be a phone: 800-ELY-WOLF be taken out, is abhorrent. Trying to fan of horror movies and books, and International Wolf is a forum for airing facts, ideas make killing of pups more publicly I’m losing my taste for them. The ones and attitudes about wolf-related issues. Articles and materials printed in International Wolf do acceptable by allowing them to grow like ‘Saw’ are fine, as humans are not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of the larger so they no longer look like the only victims. But time and time International Wolf Center or its board of directors. pups is underhanded. I realize some again, I’ve read or seen depicted some International Wolf welcomes submissions of level of wolf control is necessary but kind of animal torture/killing in this personal adventures with wolves and wolf pho to graphs. Prior to submission of other am extremely disappointed the Inter- medium before the victims start being types of manu scripts, address queries to national Wolf Center would publish human. It’s gotten so I worry with each Bruce Erickson, magazine coordinator. and advocate such ideas as are new story that I’m going to come across PHOTOS: Unless otherwise noted, or obvious from the caption or article text, photos are of contained in this article. Very disap- something like this, leading me to captive wolves. pointing.” —K. D. give up horror altogether. This kind of International Wolf is printed entirely with repeated image must have lingering soy ink on FSC certified paper. effects, especially on young adults and We encourage FSC logo here kids.” — T. H. you to recycle this magazine. 2 Spring 2011 www.wolf.org INTERNATIONAL From the Executive Director WOLF CENTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nancy jo Tubbs Chair rticles in the winter issue of International Wolf looked at controversy Dr. L. David Mech surrounding delisting wolves from the federal Endangered Species List. Vice Chair That controversy involves the probability that state management plans in Cree Bradley the United States will allow hunting of wolves as a game species. Secretary AThe articles caught readers’ attention and touched off some vigorous responses, Paul B. Anderson both positive and negative! Those who know the International Wolf Center well Treasurer understand the organization does not take positions on wolf issues. Some Center Dr. Larry Anderson members and others wrote in dismay, thinking the Center was taking a pro-hunting Amy Bromberg Funk stand. Others wrote to thank us for opening dialogue on this contro- Nancy Gibson versial topic. Thank you to everyone who responded to these articles. Hélène Grimaud To clarify, we publish information on many sides of wolf issues, Cornelia “Neil” Hutt including hunting of wolves. However, we understand three articles Linda Lemke in the same issue focusing on the topic of wolf hunting gave to some Dr. Rolf O. Peterson readers the appearance the Center supports wolf hunting. While Mike Phillips each of these articles presents information about some aspect of wolf Debbie Reynolds hunting, none of them represents an organizational position on this controversial subject. Jerry Sanders You may have noted Dr. L. David Mech wrote the article, “Consi- Paul Schurke Mary Ortiz derations for Developing Wolf Harvesting Regulations...” in his role as Paul Sletten a federal government wolf biologist. It was reprinted from another publication. While Ted Spaulding he discussed the realities of wolf hunting policy, he did not advocate for hunting. Ray Wells The article gave a picture of the issues wildlife managers will likely face in creating Teri Williams policy to manage wolf populations while satisfying the diverse interests of hunters, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR wolf protectionists and the general public. Mary Ortiz The International Wolf Center’s work is to support the survival of wolf populations using science-based and objective education. We believe well-informed individuals, MISSION including wildlife managers, can make the best decisions regarding the wolf’s survival. The International Wolf In the future, we will frame issues such as this one in more context. We will be Center advances the survival of wolf populations by clearer that articles do not express the opinions of the Center, and we will include teaching about wolves, their varying perspectives. Truly, an involved and educated public working with wildlife relationship to wildlands and the managers can make a difference in the survival of wolves. human role in their future. This dialogue is an essential one. I encourage you to keep reading, listening, writing Educational services and and talking about wolf issues. You will find more opportunities for discussion on this informational resources are available at: topic in future magazines. Please continue to send your comments and concerns to 1396 Highway 169 me via email at [email protected], or mail them to me at the International Wolf Center, Ely, MN 55731-8129, USA 3410 Winnetka Ave. No., Minneapolis, MN 55427, or call me at 763-560-7374 800-ELY-WOLF ext. 222. We value your contribution. n 218-365-4695 email address: [email protected] Web site: http://www.wolf.org International Wolf Spring 2011 3 arvey H luff artin C M Dean EthiopiAn wolf Arctic wolf allon F Jacquelyn Deb Wells MExicAn wolf GrAy wolf 4 Spring 2011 www.wolf.org ical characteristics. Thus some classifi- cation scientists (taxonomists) were “splitters” and others “lumpers.” Splitters tended to separate groups more finely, whereas lumpers tended to lump smaller groups into larger clus- ters. However, there was no objective basis for determining which approach might be correct or more informative. Scientists who classified wolves in North America were splitters. Old World scientists had pretty well recog- nized that there were 8 geograph- ically distinct races, or subspecies of wolves in Europe and Asia.
Recommended publications
  • Return of the Wolves Implications of the Role of Top Predators in Terrestrial Ecosystems for the Return of Eurasian Wolf Canis Lupus Lupus to Western Europe

    Return of the Wolves Implications of the Role of Top Predators in Terrestrial Ecosystems for the Return of Eurasian Wolf Canis Lupus Lupus to Western Europe

    Anne M.G. Kwak Return of the wolves Implications of the role of top predators in terrestrial ecosystems for the return of Eurasian wolf Canis lupus lupus to Western Europe Author Anne M.G. Kwak Radboud University Nijmegen E-mail: [email protected] Education Master Biology, track Communities & Ecosystems Radboud University Nijmegen Faculty of Science Heyendaalseweg 135 6525 AJ Nijmegen Phone: 024-365 26 61 Fax: 024-355 34 50 Website: www.ru.nl/fnwi Supervisor Prof. dr. H. (Hans) de Kroon Institute for Water and Wetland Research Radboud University Nijmegen Date October 2013 SUMMARY In many terrestrial ecosystems in Western Europe today, top predators are absent (Terborgh et al., 1999). Since top predators are considered to be important for the structure of ecosystems and their biodiversity, the absence of such species might have large impacts on these systems. In this thesis I want to investigate how the absence of top predators has affected terrestrial ecosystem trophic structure and biodiversity. The focus on terrestrial ecosystems comes forth from the fact that the Eurasian wolf Canis lupus lupus is currently expanding its range throughout Western Europe (Chapron et al., 2003; Randi, 2011). Here, I investigate how species like the Eurasian wolf might affect our ecosystems when they spread further, and what the implications of these effects are for the management of our ecosystems and of the Eurasian wolf. Carnivores can be assigned the role of keystone species, where they create ecological boundaries that protect lesser competitors from exclusion (Miller et al., 2001). In this role of keystone species, carnivores are also capable of increasing plant biomass through their limiting effect on herbivore numbers, causing both plants and carnivores to flourish (Miller et al., 2001).
  • Science Journals

    Science Journals

    RESEARCH ARTICLE EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS 2016 © The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. Distributed Whole-genome sequence analysis shows that two under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC). endemic species of North American wolf are 10.1126/sciadv.1501714 admixtures of the coyote and gray wolf Bridgett M. vonHoldt,1 James A. Cahill,2 Zhenxin Fan,3 Ilan Gronau,4 Jacqueline Robinson,5 John P. Pollinger,5 Beth Shapiro,2 Jeff Wall,6 Robert K. Wayne5* Protection of populations comprising admixed genomes is a challenge under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which is regarded as the most powerful species protection legislation ever passed in the United States but lacks specific provisions for hybrids. The eastern wolf is a newly recognized wolf-like species that is highly admixed and inhabits the Great Lakes and eastern United States, a region previously thought to be included in the geographic Downloaded from range of only the gray wolf. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has argued that the presence of the eastern wolf, rather than the gray wolf, in this area is grounds for removing ESA protection (delisting) from the gray wolf across its geographic range. In contrast, the red wolf from the southeastern United States was one of the first species pro- tected under the ESA and was protected despite admixture with coyotes. We use whole-genome sequence data to demonstrate a lack of unique ancestry in eastern and red wolves that would not be expected if they represented long divergent North American lineages.
  • The Trust Welcomes Three New Residents…

    The Trust Welcomes Three New Residents…

    WolfThe UK Wolf Conservation Trust PrintIssue 43 Summer 2011 The Trust welcomes three new residents… …but says goodbye to Latea • Bulgaria project update • Jim McNeill returns to Ellesmere Island • Canis lupus soupus: the classification of wolves ■ NEWS ■ EVENTS ■ MEDIA AND ARTS ■ REVIEWS Wolf Print Editor Vicky Allison-Hughes Tel: 0118 971 3330 Email: [email protected] Assistant Editor Julia Bohanna Editorial Team Angela Barrow, Lynn Kent Tsa Palmer, Denise Taylor Editor's Published by The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Butlers Farm, Beenham, Reading, RG7 5NT Tel: 0118 971 3330 Fax: 0118 971 0522 Letter Email: [email protected] Patrons Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams elcome to the summer edition of Wolf Print. We've had a busy David Clement-Davies spring at the Trust with many changes, some of which are Cornelia 'Neil' Hutt physical, such as additional fencing and restricted areas ready Erich Klinghammer W Desmond Morris to quarantine the expected Arctic wolf cubs. The pole barn is finally Marco Musiani finished and now just needs the displays installing. This will happen once Michelle Paver our newest arrivals – Tala, Tundra and Nuka – have moved out; read on The UK Wolf Conservation Trust Directors in the director's letter to find out more about them. Nigel Bulmer Anne Carter I've had the privilege of representing the Trust at two different events Charles Hicks Sue Hull over the last few months, Clive Readings (the Trust’s wolf keeper) and I Tsa Palmer attended the ABWAK (Association of British Wild Animal Keepers) conference in March at Port Lympne Wildlife Park (see page 6 for further Specialist Advisors Alistair Bath details).
  • Glimpse of an African… Wolf? Cécile Bloch

    Glimpse of an African… Wolf? Cécile Bloch

    $6.95 Glimpse of an African… Wolf ? PAGE 4 Saving the Red Wolf Through Partnerships PAGE 9 Are Gray Wolves Still Endangered? PAGE 14 Make Your Home Howl Members Save 10% Order today at shop.wolf.org or call 1-800-ELY-WOLF Your purchases help support the mission of the International Wolf Center. VOLUME 25, NO. 1 THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER SPRING 2015 4 Cécile Bloch 9 Jeremy Hooper 14 Don Gossett In the Long Shadow of The Red Wolf Species Survival Are Gray Wolves Still the Pyramids and Beyond: Plan: Saving the Red Wolf Endangered? Glimpse of an African…Wolf? Through Partnerships In December a federal judge ruled Geneticists have found that some In 1967 the number of red wolves that protections be reinstated for of Africa’s golden jackals are was rapidly declining, forcing those gray wolves in the Great Lakes members of the gray wolf lineage. remaining to breed with the more wolf population area, reversing Biologists are now asking: how abundant coyote or not to breed at all. the USFWS’s 2011 delisting many golden jackals across Africa The rate of hybridization between the decision that allowed states to are a subspecies known as the two species left little time to prevent manage wolves and implement African wolf? Are Africa’s golden red wolf genes from being completely harvest programs for recreational jackals, in fact, wolves? absorbed into the expanding coyote purposes. If biological security is population. The Red Wolf Recovery by Cheryl Lyn Dybas apparently not enough rationale for Program, working with many other conservation of the species, then the organizations, has created awareness challenge arises to properly express and laid a foundation for the future to the ecological value of the species.
  • The Carpathian Mountains: a Refuge for Wildlife and a “Paradise” for the People of Slovakia by Ted Bailey

    The Carpathian Mountains: a Refuge for Wildlife and a “Paradise” for the People of Slovakia by Ted Bailey

    Refuge Notebook • Vol. 7, No. 30 • August 5, 2005 The Carpathian Mountains: A refuge for wildlife and a “paradise” for the people of Slovakia by Ted Bailey Although the fireweed was in bloom and brown half the size of state of Kentucky. It is also a relatively bears, wolves, lynx roamed the surrounding forests; new country having gained its most recent indepen- we were not hiking on the Kenai Peninsula or even in dence a mere twelve years ago after the collapse of Alaska. Despite the similarities we were thousands of the Soviet Union. And Slovakia joined the European miles away in Central Europe’s Carpathian Mountains Union in 2004 only a year ago. The huge, stark, tall and in eastern Slovakia. My wife, daughter and I had trav- gray housing complexes built in the country’s largest eled here in July to find four little villages where my cities of Bratislava and Kosice during the communist grandparents lived over a hundred years ago before era contrasted with the beautifully restored old city they emigrated at a young age to America in search centers where Gothic cathedrals and old palaces are of a better life. We eventually found the villages as attractions for visitors. we traveled by car throughout the eastern regions of One day we hiked a trail into the Slovensky Raj, Slovakia known as Spis and Zemplin. Spis is a moun- one of nine national parks and fourteen protected na- tainous region that borders the southern boundary of ture territories in Slovakia. The park was the first pro- Poland.
  • I. G E O G RAP H IC PA T T E RNS in DIV E RS IT Y a . D Iversity And

    I. G E O G RAP H IC PA T T E RNS in DIV E RS IT Y a . D Iversity And

    I. GEOGRAPHIC PATTERNS IN DIVERSITY A. Diversity and Endemicty B. Patterns in Mammalian Richness 1 – latitude 2 – area 3 – isolation 4 – elevation C. Hotspots of Mammalian Biodiversity 1 – relevance 2 – optimal characteristics of hotspots 3 – empirical patterns for mammals II. CONSERVATION STATUS OF MAMMALS A. Prehistoric Extinctions B. Historic Extinctions 1 – summary (totals) 2 – taxonomic, morphologic bias 3 – Geographic bias C. Geography of Extinctions 1 – prehistory and human colonization 2 – geographic questions 3 – range collapse in mammals Hotspots of Mammalian Endemicity Endemic Mammals Species Richness (fig. 1) Schipper et al 2009 – Science 322:226. (color pdf distributed to lab sections) Fig. 2. Global patterns of threat, for land (brown) and marine (blue) mammals. (A) Number of globally threatened species (Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Fig. 4. Global patterns of knowledge, for land Endangered). Number of species affected by: (B) habitat loss; (C) harvesting; (D) (terrestrial and freshwater, brown) and marine (blue) accidental mortality; and (E) pollution. Same color scale employed in (B), (C), (D) species. (A) Number of species newly described since and (E) (hence, directly comparable). 1992. (B) Data-Deficient species. Mammal Extinctions 1500 to 2000 (151 species or subspecies; ~ 83 species) COMMON NAME LATIN NAME DATE RANGE PRIMARY CAUSE Lesser Hispanolan Ground Sloth Acratocnus comes 1550 Hispanola introduction of rats and pigs Greater Puerto Rican Ground Sloth Acratocnus major 1500 Puerto Rico introduction of rats
  • Wolves at the Door (And Bears, and Lynx)

    Wolves at the Door (And Bears, and Lynx)

    WOLVES AT THE Europe’s big carnivores are back and causing a rumpus. Henry DOOR Nicholls reports (AND BEARS, AND LYNX) MIHA KROFELMIHA 40 | NewScientist | 9 August 2014 140809_f_Big Beasts.indd 40 04/08/2014 11:13 OBODY will ever know why Slavc species on which carnivores depend. “The abandoned his family. But in the winter carnivores didn’t hang around,” says John Nof 2011, the young male wolf left his Linnell of the Norwegian Institute for Nature home territory and began an epic trek. He had Research in Trondheim and a member of spent the first years of his life meandering the International Union for Conservation of through the forests of southern Slovenia, Nature’s Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe. occasionally straying into Croatia. Then, as “They just said ‘thank you’.” Christmas approached, he struck out towards As well as natural expansion there were the north, alone. also some deliberate reintroductions – lynx Slavc was one of an estimated 4000 wolves to several areas of central Europe in the 1970s living on the Balkan peninsula of south- and 1980s, for example, and bears to the eastern Europe, a continent not usually known Pyrenees and Italian Alps in the 90s. With a for its big, fierce predators. Twenty years ago few exceptions, populations are now stable that was quite right, but no longer. Europe – or growing (see maps, page 43). the most urbanised, industrialised and farmed Wolves in particular continue to recolonise continent on Earth – is now home to some former territories. In 2012, birdwatchers in Thy 12,000 wolves, 17,000 brown bears and 9000 National Park in northern Denmark reported Eurasian lynx.
  • Wolf to the German State of Lower Saxony EXPEDITION REPORT

    Wolf to the German State of Lower Saxony EXPEDITION REPORT

    EXPEDITION REPORT Expedition dates: 23 June – 6 July 2018 Report published: May 2019 Love / hate relationships: Monitoring the return of the wolf to the German state of Lower Saxony EXPEDITION REPORT Love / hate relationships: Monitoring the return of the wolf to the German state of Lower Saxony Expedition dates: 23 June – 06 July 2018 Report published: May 2019 Authors: Peter Schütte Wolf commissioner Matthias Hammer (editor) Biosphere Expeditions 1 © Biosphere Expeditions, a not-for-profit conservation organisation registered in Australia, England, France, Germany, Ireland, USA Member of the United Nations Environment Programme's Governing Council & Global Ministerial Environment Forum Member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature ABSTRACT This report details wolf (Canis lupus lupus) active monitoring fieldwork by Biosphere Expeditions in collaboration with the State Wolf Bureau of the German state of Lower Saxony and local wolf commissioners. Field work was conducted from 23 June to 6 July 2018 in two one-week long groups comprising twelve citizen scientists. The aim of the expedition was to collect samples for DNA and dietary analyses. This was done by sending small groups into the field to search for scat samples. 24 citizen scientists took part in the expedition, 16 from Germany or its immediate neighbour states (67%) with two of them (8%) from Lower Saxony, three people each from North America and the United Kingdom (12.5%), as well as one person each from Iceland and Australia (4%). Before commencement of field work, which was exclusively conducted on public paths and bridleways, citizen scientists were trained for 1.5 days in sample detection, sampling and data collection techniques.
  • Proceedings of the 2Nd International Jackal Symposium, Marathon Bay, Attiki Province, Greece Hell

    Proceedings of the 2Nd International Jackal Symposium, Marathon Bay, Attiki Province, Greece Hell

    Ελληνικό Ζωολογικό Αρχείο Hellenic Zoological Archives Number 9, November 2018 The book with the scientific papers of the second international symposium dedicated to the golden jackal and related species 2nd International Jackal Symposium Marathon Bay, Attiki Greece, 31 Oct-2 Nov 2018 With the endorsement of the IUCN Canid Specialist Group The book includes works on the golden jackal, wolf, coyote, Ethiopian wolf, African wolf, side-striped jackal and black-backed jackal species. ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΖΩΟΛΟΓΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ HELLENIC ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY Proceedings of the 2nd International Jackal Symposium, Marathon Bay, Attiki Province, Greece Hell. Zool. Arch., No. 9 Nov 2018 ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΟ ΖΩΟΛΟΓΙΚΟ ΑΡΧΕΙΟ HELLENIC ZOOLOGICAL ARCHIVES Το Ελληνικό Ζωολογικό Αρχείο είναι ένα διεθνές The Hellenic Zoological Archives is an περιοδικό που δημοσιεύει εργασίες που αφορούν την international journal that publishes articles related πανίδα της Ελλάδας και οι οποίες περιλαμβάνουν to the fauna of Greece, which contain background βασικά δεδομένα απαραίτητα για τη γνώση της. data necessary for its knowledge. Such articles can Τέτοιες εργασίες μπορεί να είναι βιβλιογραφίες, be bibliographies, lists of species, tables with data, κατάλογοι ειδών, πίνακες δεδομένων, μετρήσεων και observations etc. παρατηρήσεων κ.ά. The articles are published in English in separate Οι εργασίες δημοσιεύονται στα αγγλικά σε fascicules at irregular intervals. They include the ξεχωριστά τεύχη, σε μη τακτά διαστήματα. title, the author/s, their addresses, a summary (in Περιλαμβάνουν τίτλο, συγγραφέα/είς, διεύθυνση, Greek and English; the Editors can provide ελληνική και αγγλική περίληψη, εισαγωγή, κυρίως assistance with the translation if needed), an θέμα και βιβλιογραφία. Οι εργασίες γίνονται δεκτές introduction, the main text and the references.
  • Sanjay R Singhal, Ra

    Sanjay R Singhal, Ra

    SANJAY R SINGHAL, RA ENCOUNTER REPORT AUTUMN 1990 THE WOLF AT THE DOOR ADDENDUM There are several possible explanations to describe what I saw; all are feasible; all are…fantastic. It has been suggested that I encountered, in fact, a DM; 1 I cannot now confirm this. I have no corresponding evidence; I did not take any photographs, nor did I attempt to look for footprints, hairs or other physicals. In 1990, I had never heard of such a creature (nor would I, until the early months of 2012); 2 if anything, I would have thought it a loup-garou, or werewolf. 3 There are numerous accounts of the loup-garou, or werewolf, in Indiana, beginning with reports from the 19th century in Vincennes (Knox County), in the southwest portion of the state. 4 Additional encounters with a strange, wolf or dog-like creature, walking upright on its hind legs, were reported in 2006 in Vernon 5 (Jennings County) and in 2013, in New Salisbury 6 (Harrison County). It is not possible, based upon these reports, to determine what, if anything, these creatures were; nonetheless, their appearance and behaviour are quite similar to my own experience. If I were to base my summation upon these reports alone, I should suggest either a DM or a loup-garou…and still, it seems almost too improbable…and too fantastic. Another suggestion, somewhat based on historical legends, is the Waheela,7 a large, wolf-like cryptid with snow-white fur, reported in Alaska and Canada; a similar creature has been reported in northern Michigan.8 It is reasonable to suggest that I was visited by a white-furred Great Plains Wolf (Canis lupus nubilus);9 this subspecies of Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) is one of the most numerous in North America, and their colouring is typically lighter than other wolves.10 However, the US Fish & Wildlife Service does not list any wolf populations in Indiana; the nearest documented populations are in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and in Wisconsin as of August 2013.
  • Improving Individual Identification of Wolves (Canis Lupus) Using the Fundamental Frequency and Amplitude of Their Howls: a New Survey Method

    Improving Individual Identification of Wolves (Canis Lupus) Using the Fundamental Frequency and Amplitude of Their Howls: a New Survey Method

    Improving Individual Identification of Wolves (Canis lupus) using the Fundamental Frequency and Amplitude of their Howls: A New Survey Method Holly Root-Gutteridge A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of Nottingham Trent University for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2013 1 This works is the intellectual property of the author. You may copy up to 5% of this work for private study, or personal, non-commercial research. Any re-use of the information contained within this document should be fully referenced, quoting the author, title, university, degree level and pagination. Queries or requests for any other use, or if a more substantial copy is required, should be directed in the owner of the Intellectual Property Rights. 2 Abstract Many bioacoustic studies have been able to identify individual mammals from variations in the fundamental frequency (F0) of their vocalizations. Other characteristics of vocalization which encode individuality, such as amplitude, are less frequently used because of problems with background noise and recording fidelity over distance. In this thesis, I investigate whether the inclusion of amplitude variables improves the accuracy of individual howl identification in captive Eastern grey wolves (Canis lupus lycaon). I also explore whether the use of a bespoke code to extract the howl features, combined with histogram-derived principal component analysis (PCA) values, can improve current individual wolf howl identification accuracies. From a total of 89 solo howls from six captive individuals, where distances between wolf and observer were short, I achieved 95.5% (+9.0% improvement) individual identification accuracy of captive wolves using discriminant function analysis (DFA) to classify simple scalar variables of F0 and normalized amplitudes.
  • Presentation Title

    Presentation Title

    World Environment Day 2017 World Environment Day 2017 THEME: Connecting People to Nature THEME:Tool Box Wastewater Talk VeoliaTool Middle Box Talk East Veolia Middle East Each World Environment Day is organized around a theme that focuses attention on a particularly pressing environmental concern. The theme for 2017, ‘Connecting People to Nature’, urges us to get outdoors and into nature, to appreciate its beauty and to think about how we are part of nature and how intimately we depend on it. It challenges us to find fun and exciting ways to experience and cherish this vital relationship. Nature’s gifts are often hard to value in monetary terms. Like clean air, they are often Billions of rural people around the world spend every taken for granted, at least until they become working day ‘connected to nature’ and appreciate full well scarce. However, economists are developing their dependence on natural water supplies and how nature ways to measure the multi-trillion-dollar worth provides their livelihoods in the form of fertile soil. They are of many so-called ‘ecosystem services’, from among the first to suffer when ecosystems are threatened, insects pollinating fruit trees to the leisure, whether by pollution, climate change or over-exploitation. health and spiritual benefits of a hike up a valley. WATCH THESE VIDEOS !!! Click on images The Veolia Tool Kit for World Environment Day is to raise awareness on the environment and biodiversity protection! Station 1 • Veolia & the Environment The idea is an Interactive Roadshow/Workshop Format with different Station 2 • Protected areas in the region people at each station to present the subject: • Each has a station and presents the different facts, devices and challenges • Teams walk around the stations and Station 3 • Game - Animal per nationality speak to each of the stations Station 4 • How can you help ? There are about 1500 protected areas in the 22 countries of the region (Middle East & North Africa), but only five countries have protected more than 10% of their land.