Convincing evidence to show that drones can add substantial value to long-term ecological monitoring by providing low cost, high resolution data

Seeing the forest from drones: Testing the potential of lightweight drones as a tool for long-term forest monitoring

Jian Zhang,Jianbo Hu, Juyu Lian, Zongji Fann, Xuejun Ouyang and Wanhui Ye

Biological Conservation, Volume 198, June 2016, Pages 60–69

Here is a paper that provides Convincing evidence that drones can add substantial value to long-term ecological monitoring by providing low cost, high resolution data.

Long-term ecological monitoring has contributed significantly towards advancements in theoretical and applied ecology. The flip side is that the costs to maintain a long-term monitoring site are enormous. Here the researchers used a lightweight drone to map in detail forest canopy structure across a 20-ha subtropical forest dynamics plot. They examined the added benefit of incorporating drone-derived variables in explaining local variation in both stand and species measures. The researchers were convinced that Drone-derived canopy variables contributed substantially towards explaining spatial patterns in biodiversity. Species with different light requirements responded to canopy variables supporting gap dynamics successional theories and Lightweight drone technologies offer great potential for long-term ecological studies.

The researchers sign off saying Drones should be included in the ecologist's toolbox to complement traditional field surveys.

Ravens and crows may be just as clever as chimps, new study suggests

A new study by researchers at Lund University in Sweden suggests that corvid birds can be as clever as chimpanzees, despite having much smaller brains.

The team first trained the birds to obtain a treat in an opaque tube with a hole at each end. They repeated the test with a transparent tube. The animal impulse would naturally be to go straight for the tube as they saw the food. However, all of the ravens chose to enter the tube from the ends in every try. The researchers say the performance of the jackdaws and the crows came very close to 100%.This is comparable to a performance by bonobos and gorillas.

The researchers signs off saying “What is without doubt is that great apes and Corvus corvids have pronounced motor self-regulatory behaviour in relation to the cylinder task, despite very different absolute different brain sizes”.

Details of the research appear in the latest issue of journal Royal Society Open Science.

Large animals play a key role in mitigating climate change in tropical forests

Experts from 15 institutions, including the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds and the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bangalore, India have found out that large animals play a key role in mitigating climate change in tropical forests. The animals do it by spreading the seeds of large trees that have a high capacity to store carbon.  Using simulations, the researchers showed that declines of large animals will result in forests having fewer large trees.   Carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems, such as forests, reduces the amount of carbon that would otherwise accumulate in the atmosphere in the form of carbon dioxide, contributing to climate change.

Details of the research appear in the latest issue of journal Nature Communications.

Clues from plants to improve wound healing

A research group led by Dr  Kosuke Fujita of  Osaka University has discovered that  a plant-based polyphenol, promotes the migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in blood circulation and accumulates them in damaged tissues to improve wound healing. The researchers had previously found that ethanol extracts of Mallotus philippinensis bark promoted migrationof mesenchymal stem cells and improved wound healing in a mouse model.  In the present study, the researchers analyzed the effects of cinnamtannin B-1 on MSC migration in vivo and demonstrated that it mobilized the MSCs from the bone marrow to the blood from where they moved to accumulate at the wound site. It is cinnamtannin B-1, or vegetable-based polyphenol that promotes the migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cells. MSCs were released from bone marrow to the blood in cinnamtannin B-1-administered mice. Cinnamtannin B-1 enhanced wound healing.

The researchers say that these results will be used for stem cell treatments for cutaneous disorders associated with various damage and lesions.

Details appear in the latest issue of journal PLOS ONE

Animal inspired artificial whiskers that allow robots to "see" the surroundings in dark and murky places

Scientists from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Illinois' Advanced Digital Sciences Centre in Singapore have developed artificial whiskers inspired by animal whiskers that allow robots to "see" the surroundings in dark and murky places. Whiskers are critical to many mammals to survive in their environment.

The newly developed tactile static soft-sparse imaging technique offers a strong alternative to existing flow-field measurement systems. Underwater vehicles may benefit from using a whisker sensor system for navigation around obstacles and target detection, as the flow is altered before the actual contact .Researchers say “The unified tactile sensing approach may potentially also be used in biomedical applications such as cardiac procedures, in which the installation of whisker-like sensors on a thin catheter would help a surgeon track the catheter position relative to the heart more easily, eventually reducing the amount of risk for ablation surgeries for atrial fibrillation.”

Details of the research appears in the latest issue of journal Bioinspiration and Biomimetics

Three new primate species from Madagascar

Scientists from the German Primate Center (DPZ), the University of Kentucky, the American Duke Lemur Center and the Université d'Antananarivo in Madagascar have described three new species of mouse lemurs from Madagascar

The new lemurs are Microcebus ganzhorni), Microcebus manitatra and Microcebus boraha.

Microcebus ganzhorni was named after the ecologist Professor Jörg Ganzhorn from Hamburg University, who has been engaged in research and protection of lemurs for decades. Microcebus manitatrais name symbolizes the expansion of the range of a subgroup from western Madagascar. The third member, Microcebus boraha, is named after its location on the Island of Sainte Marie (in Malagasy Nosy Boraha).

Details appear in the latest issue of journal Molecular Ecology

New research adds a new dimension to the role of mycorrhizal fungi in forests

Dr. Tamir Klein and Prof. Christian Körner of the University of Basel together with Dr. Rolf Siegwolf of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have discovered that forest trees trade large quantities of carbon with their neighbours. This exchange is conducted via symbiotic fungi in the soil. Carbon dioxide that carried a label was used to arrive at the finding.

The researchers discovered that roots of the neighbouring trees also showed the same marker, even though they had not received labelled carbon dioxide. This included trees from other species. The only way the carbon could have been exchanged is via the network of tiny fungal filaments of the shared mycorrhizal fungi.

Details appear in the latest issue of journal Science

Use of modelling software and satellite imagery for the conservation of endangered species

 A new Duke University-led case study has demonstrated that habitat mapping software and satellite imagery can help conservationists predict the movements of endangered species in remote or inaccessible regions and pinpoint areas where conservation efforts should be prioritized. The scientists used Aster and Landsat satellite images showing the pace and extent of recent forest loss, and GeoHAT, a downloadable geospatial habitat assessment toolkit developed at Duke. The target species was Peru’s critically endangered San Martin titi monkey (Callicebus oenanthe). With the help of these two tools the scientists were able to easily identify the 10 percent of remaining forest in the species’ range that presents the best opportunity for conservation. San Martin titi monkey was recently added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s list of the 25 most endangered primates in the world.

Danica Schaffer-Smith, a doctoral student at Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment, who led the study, said “Using these tools, we were able to work with a local conservation organization to rapidly pinpoint areas where reforestation and conservation have the best chance of success,” “Comprehensive on-the-ground assessments would have taken much more time and been cost-prohibitive given the inaccessibility of much of the terrain and the fragmented distribution and rare nature of this species.”

Details of the study appear in the latest issue of journalEnvironmental Conservation.

An excellent drug for osteoporosis developed from Tequila agave is round the corner

Tequila agave is famous for the traditional Tequila drink of Mexico. According to Mexican researcher Dr. Mercedes López , her studies have indicated that the blue variety of the Agave tequilana has substances capable of improving the absorption of calcium and magnesium, essential minerals to maintain bone health.

Dr Lopez says “"the consumption of fructans contained in the agave, in collaboration with adequate intestinal micriobiota, promotes the formation of new bone, even with the presence of osteoporosis."

 Dr Lopez has already applied for a patent for her discovery.

Moss as a bio indicator of cadmium air pollution

A study by scientists of USDA Forest Service and Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University has discovered that Moss growing on urban trees is a useful bio-indicator of cadmium air pollution. The scientists used moss to map atmospheric cadmium in Portland, Oregon. They used moss to track down previously unknown pollution sources in a complex urban environment with many possible sources.The new finding could provide a low-cost source of information to complement existing monitoring.

A model that can be used to design a reserve system for multiple species

Optimal design of compact and connected nature reserves for multiple species

Yicheng Wang and Hayri Önal

Conservation Biology, Volume 30, Issue 2, pages 413–424, April 2016

The existing optimal reserve design literature considers either one spatial attribute or when multiple attributes are considered the analysis is confined to only to one species. Here the researchers built a linear integer programing model that incorporates compactness and connectivity of the landscape reserved for multiple species. The model identifies multiple reserves. Each reserve serves a subset of target species with a specified coverage probability threshold to ensure the species' long-term survival in the reserve. Each target species is covered (protected) with another probability threshold at the reserve system level.

The researchers modeled compactness by minimizing the total distance between selected sites and central sites, and they modeled connectivity of a selected site to its designated central site by selecting at least one of its adjacent sites that has a nearer distance to the central site. They plumbed for structural distance and functional distances that incorporated site quality between sites. 

The researchers sign off saying “The model can be used to design a reserve system for multiple species, especially species whose habitats are far apart in which case multiple disjunct but compact and connected reserves are advantageous. The model can be modified to increase or decrease the distance between reserves to reduce or promote population connectivity.”

Yicheng Wang is from College of Resources and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Chengyang District, Qingdao, China, and Hayri Önal is from Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL, U.S.A

Discovery of new symbiotic association between an endophytic fungus, Colletotrichum tofieldiae ,and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana may lead to more sustainable agriculture.

It is a known fact that plants thrive when they establish symbiotic associations with microorganisms. The symbiosis improves the capability to absorb water and nutrients. Mycorrhiza fungi are the most common symbiotic microorganisms related to plants. Colletotrichum tofieldiae is not a mycorrhiza. It is a fungus called endophytic (fungi that grow inside a plant without causing disease symptoms), and it carries out a function similar to the one performed by mycorrhizas. Plants inoculated with this fungus produce more fruits and seeds than the control plants. Colletotrichum tofieldae colonizes the whole plant starting with roots. The fungus transmits phosphorus to leaves and stems.

The research group of Soledad Sacristán, from Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (CBGP (UPM-INIA)) of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), cooperated with Max Planck Institute from Germany in this path breaking discovery. The new discovery will pave the way to improve crop growing, reducing the use of inorganic fertilizers .It will be a more ecofriendly way of agriculture. Details appear in the latest issue of journal CELL.

Making remote sensing data relevant to wildlife management – A case study

In mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), reproduction patterns closely follow the cycles of plant growth in their habitat. Research led by David Stoner of Utah State University using NASA satellite data has demonstrated that tracking vegetation from space can help wildlife managers predict when does will give birth to fawns. Researchers claim they can forecast the timing of fawning seasons based on vegetation. With satellite data they track when vegetation greens up and how productive it is compared to drought or wet years.

The tool used by researchers is called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which is a measure of the "greenness" of the landscape. It measures how plants absorb and reflect light -- the more infrared light is reflected, the healthier the vegetation. So by measuring the greenness of the mule deer habitat, scientists were able to mark the beginning and peak of the plant growing season -- and the fawning season.

The butterfly highway of North Carolina

The numbers of Monarch butterfly have taken a dip in recent years.  Disappearance of native perennials is one of the main reasons for the downswing. The butterfly highway of North Carolina meant to ensure connectivity has gathered lot of international attention recently. The innovative scheme is the brain child of Angel Hjarding who is earning a doctoral degree in geography at UNC Charlotte. Biodiversity monitoring is part of her research.

The plight of   Monarch butterfly came to the attention of Hjarding during the course of her monitoring. Monarch butterfly makes its way from North America to Central Mexico and back again each year. North Carolina is a prime area of the butterfly’s route.

Hjarding aims to restore native pollinator habitats to areas impacted by urbanization.  Community gardens, backyard gardens, public spaces and park fragments are planned to act as pollinator and wildlife habitats.   No garden is too small to make an impact. Planting milkweed is encouraged to help the monarchs. It is the only plant they will use to lay their eggs. Asters, phlox, tick seed and native honeysuckle complement the efforts. Trees are also important. Hjarding says Oak trees host more caterpillars than any other plant. What is good for butterflies is also good for bees, birds and other wildlife.

Well done Angel Hjarding . We salute you

Log on to http://www.butterflyhighway.org/ for more information.

The sophisticated warning system of bees

Scientists from UC,  San Diego and tropical botanical garden Chinese Academy of sciences, China, have discovered that bees use sophisticated signals to warn their nestmates about level of danger from predators. The signals encode level of danger in its vibrational frequency. This is the most sophisticated system  of signals discovered in a social insect so far.
The details appear in the latest edition of journal PLOS biology

Next big thing in drones-powered by hydrogen cells

Drones powered by hydrogen cells are undergoing successful trials in UK. The fuel cells were developed by the firm Intelligent energy. A major manufacturer of drones has already acquired the rights for commercial use.
The drones powered by hydrogen cells can fly up to two hours and the refueling takes only minutes compared to hours needed to charge the battery pack.

Environmentalists' appeal to Yahoo Japan

32 environmental organizations of international repute have jointly appealed to Yahoo Japan and it's partner Softbank to put a stop to online sale of ivory  in Japan. Yahoo Japan is the biggest retailer of ivory online in the world. Previous appeals had seen other  online retailers putting a break on the sale. Conservationists hope that the concerted efforts by them will bring in positive results immediately. They are keeping their fingers crossed.

Tiger conservation- A message from Inger Andersen Director General of IUCN

In the last hundred years, the number of tigers in the wild has plummeted by a staggering 97%. The answer to this alarming fall was 2010’s St Petersburg Declaration, strongly backed by the World Bank, which aimed to double the global tiger population by 2022. 

Almost six years have passed since St Petersburg and over this time I have witnessed encouraging signs of progress. Tiger populations are believed to have increased in India, Bhutan, Nepal, the Russian Federation and Thailand. Much more remains to be done, however. These efforts must be sustained over time: countries must scale up their action and monitor remaining tiger populations to ensure the world can meet this ambitious goal.

IUCN’s Integrated Tiger Habitat Conservation Programme (ITHCP) provides resources and technical expertise where they are most needed. I am delighted to announce that the first seven initiatives are now underway. The programme builds on the experience of the Global Species Programme and the Species Survival Commission, with input from a number of global experts in species conservation, protected area management and community empowerment.

I am grateful to the German government and  KfW  the German Development Bank, for their support towards conserving this amazing species.

Tiger conservation reflects the challenges conservation is facing globally. Tigers are apex predators and need vast spaces and abundant prey to survive. Pressure on these very resources is increasing as human populations in Asia continue to grow, frequently resulting in conflict with humans. Involving local communities in conservation work is essential to harmonize coexistence between tigers and people and that is what we have done with all the projects under this programme. They simply would not work without it.

Tiger-focused conservation interventions yield benefits to the management of ecosystems that provide vital services to local communities. For instance, ITHCP contributes to watershed management in regions where habitats provide clean water to millions of people. Additionally, significant revenue will be generated by alternative income streams such as sustainable ecotourism developments in the targeted countries

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Tigers do not recognise borders. The transboundary nature of many tiger landscapes requires practitioners to collaborate to achieve positive results. IUCN’s objective and evidence-based approach is critical in bringing together multiple states, sectors and stakeholders in working towards this ambitious goal.

Inger Andersen

Effectiveness of Wildlife fencing in combination with crossing structures – An interesting study

Effectiveness of short sections of wildlife fencing and crossing structures along highways in reducing wildlife–vehicle collisions and providing safe crossing opportunities for large mammals

Marcel P. Huijser,Elizabeth R. Fairbank, Whisper Camel-Means, Jonathan Graham, Vicki Watson,Pat Basting and Dale Becker

Biological Conservation.Volume 197, May 2016, Pages 61–68

Here is a good paper for those interested in wildlife fencing.  Wildlife fencing in combination with crossing structures is the most effective strategy to reduce large mammal–vehicle collisions while also maintaining wildlife connectivity across roads. The down side is that it affects the beauty of the environment and it is costly. To overcome this, length of fencing is often reduced arbitrarily.

Here the researchers investigated 1) whether short fenced road sections were similarly effective in reducing large mammal–vehicle collisions as long fenced road sections (literature review), and 2) whether fence length influenced large mammal use of underpasses (two field studies).

The researchers found that   1) short fences (≤ 5 km road length) had lower (52.7%) and more variable (0–94%) effectiveness in reducing collisions than long fences (> 5 km) (typically > 80% reduction); 2) wildlife use of underpasses was highly variable, regardless of fence length (first field study); 3) most highway crossings occurred through isolated underpasses (82%) rather than at grade at fence ends (18%) (Second field study); and 4) the proportional use of isolated underpasses (compared to crossings at fence ends) did not increase with longer fence lengths (up to 256 m from underpasses) (second field study). 

The authors signs off with the remark “Data suggest fence lengths of at least 5 km. While longer fence lengths do not necessarily guarantee higher wildlife use of underpasses as use varies greatly between locations, wildlife fencing can still improve wildlife use of an individual underpass.”

A blog post inspired by efforts to conserve Vultures in Wayand Wildlife Sanctuary

Under the dynamic leadership of Chief Conservator of Forests Shri Pramod Krishnan IFS, an intensive recovery programme for vultures has been started in Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. Awareness programmes, continuous monitoring of the birds and year-round protection to the nests are ensured under this dispensation. 25 indigenous tribal watchers have been selected for monitoring the birds .51 infrared cameras are also in place. Wayand is the only place in Kerala with a breeding population of Gyp vultures which are critically endangered, Indian White-backed Vulture (Gyps Bengalensis) and a Red-headed Vulture (Sarcogyps calvus) 

In the early 1990s, the Gyps vultures of India were among the most abundant large raptors in the country. Within a decade, the populations of three species, White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis, Indian Vulture G. indicus, and Slender-billed Vulture G. tenuirostris, took a nose dive. All three are considered Critically Endangered. 

The main villain responsible for the decline of vultures is the veterinary drug diclofenac used to treat inflammation in livestock. When the birds eat carcasses of animals treated with the drugs, they experience acute kidney failure and die within days. Even very low rates of diclofenac contamination—between 1:130 and 1:760—are sufficient to trigger population crash (Green et al. 2004).Use of diclofenac is prohibited for veterinary  use now. This ban has made a remarkable change in the recovery of vultures. Diclofenac is still available for human use, but the Indian Government has recently stipulated that it should be marketed in small vials for single use only

Vultures provide a crucial ecosystem service through the disposal of livestock carcasses .Without vultures, hundreds of thousands of animal carcasses have been left to rot in the open. Livestock carcasses provide a potential breeding ground for numerous infectious diseases, including anthrax. It also brings in its wake a proliferation of pest species, such as rats. Feral dogs have proliferated the bites of which is the most common cause of human rabies. The researchers believe that the increased number of rabies victims may have cost the Indian economy close to $34 billion.

In Peru vultures equipped with GPS and camera have been put to use to track trash dumps. Most trash in Lima, Peru—a city of 10 million people—ends up in illegal dumps. The birds are better at finding the trash than people. Researchers affirm that vultures are better than drones. Drones can't sense trash—vultures can

Vultures are not a popular birds but the campaign in Peru had the unintended effect of helping the reputation of vultures. Now people in Lima like the bird for what they do, locating trash. Social media is abuzz with likes for what the vultures do for the environment

Here's footage from Basan, one of the vultures involved in the programme in Lima.