... the native red squirrel in these countries represent one of the best documented cases of ecol... more ... the native red squirrel in these countries represent one of the best documented cases of ecological replacement of a native species by an introduced species ( [31] , [Shorten, 1954] , [Lloyd, 1983] , [Currado et al., 1987] , [Gurnell, 1987] , [Gurnell and Pepper, 1993] , [Wauters et al ...
The influence of an environmental enrichment feeding device (puzzle feeder), on activity and beha... more The influence of an environmental enrichment feeding device (puzzle feeder), on activity and behaviour patterns of captive orang-utans, gorillas and chimpanzees was studied at London Zoo. General activity levels and behaviours directed towards the feeder increased for all species when the feeder was filled with food Chimpanzees used the feeder significantly more (18% of observation periods) than either gorillas (10%) or orang-utans (9.4%). There was considerable individual variation of puzzle use by individuals within each group and time of day also affected use. In some instances abnormal behaviours were reduced. These results are discussed in relation to the management of captive great apes and it is suggested that the use of puzzle feeders can improve the welfare of these animals.
The area and inter–trap distance of small mammal live trapping grids can seriously influence obse... more The area and inter–trap distance of small mammal live trapping grids can seriously influence observed movement patterns and estimates of animal densities. This paper examines inter–trap movement (ITM) according to inter–trap distance, time of the year, weather and numbers captured for the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, in an oak wood in southern England. The analysis is based on live trapping data collected in three studies over an eight–year period. Trap spacing affected inter–trap movement, including the statistic, ‘Mean Distance Moved’ between successive captures (MDM), of different species and sexes of rodents in different and predictable ways. No association was found in MDM between males and females of the same species, MDM and time of the year or MDM and weather. However, there was a weak negative association between MDM and numbers captured, particularly in mice. Using an independent method of assessing effective grid area, the usefulness of the MDM in correcting grid areas for the estimation of animal densities is discussed.
Three laboratory studies of trap response in confined Wood mouse populations at various densities... more Three laboratory studies of trap response in confined Wood mouse populations at various densities and using various densities of traps are described. Individual variation in trap response and whether captures were made at random are examined, and factors which affect trap response in confined populations of mice are discussed.
... First, because of the large number of alleles found in red squirrel populations, which may be... more ... First, because of the large number of alleles found in red squirrel populations, which may be produced as a result of a combination of their rapid ... Under these circumstances it is very easy to see how subdividing the Bavarian population into small fragments would create this ...
This is a literature review of the relationship between the abundance of tree seeds and the produ... more This is a literature review of the relationship between the abundance of tree seeds and the productivity, survival and dispersal of Holarctic tree squirrels. Causal links between changes in tree seed supplies and changes in squirrel numbers are often masked by various factors including intraspecifk and interspecific competition for seed, weather, predation and seed hoarding; density‐dependent relationships have not been clearly established. Tamiasciurus and Sciurus species have different seed‐hoarding strategies which are associated with differences in their social and spatial organization. Average squirrel densities in the long‐term are discussed in relation to forest habitat type, and directions for future research indicated.
... United Kingdom PETER WW LURZ, Centre for Life Sciences Modelling, University of Newcastle upo... more ... United Kingdom PETER WW LURZ, Centre for Life Sciences Modelling, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom ROBIN M. FULLER ... is a subject of conservation concern because it has been declining in the UK for over 50 years (Gurnell and Pepper 1993). ...
The population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles is in decline and is bein... more The population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles is in decline and is being supplanted by the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). It has been suggested that parapoxvirus‐associated disease has caused significant mortality in red squirrels and that grey squirrels are the source of the virus. A direct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of antibody to squirrel parapoxvirus. We tested 140 sera from red squirrels and 223 from grey squirrels from different populations in the UK. A high percentage (61%) of apparently healthy grey squirrels, were found to have been exposed to the parapoxvirus. Only 2.86% (4/140) of red squirrels had antibody and three of these animals had parapoxvirus‐associated disease. We postulate that the grey squirrel may act as a reservoir host for the virus.
... the native red squirrel in these countries represent one of the best documented cases of ecol... more ... the native red squirrel in these countries represent one of the best documented cases of ecological replacement of a native species by an introduced species ( [31] , [Shorten, 1954] , [Lloyd, 1983] , [Currado et al., 1987] , [Gurnell, 1987] , [Gurnell and Pepper, 1993] , [Wauters et al ...
The influence of an environmental enrichment feeding device (puzzle feeder), on activity and beha... more The influence of an environmental enrichment feeding device (puzzle feeder), on activity and behaviour patterns of captive orang-utans, gorillas and chimpanzees was studied at London Zoo. General activity levels and behaviours directed towards the feeder increased for all species when the feeder was filled with food Chimpanzees used the feeder significantly more (18% of observation periods) than either gorillas (10%) or orang-utans (9.4%). There was considerable individual variation of puzzle use by individuals within each group and time of day also affected use. In some instances abnormal behaviours were reduced. These results are discussed in relation to the management of captive great apes and it is suggested that the use of puzzle feeders can improve the welfare of these animals.
The area and inter–trap distance of small mammal live trapping grids can seriously influence obse... more The area and inter–trap distance of small mammal live trapping grids can seriously influence observed movement patterns and estimates of animal densities. This paper examines inter–trap movement (ITM) according to inter–trap distance, time of the year, weather and numbers captured for the wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus, and the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, in an oak wood in southern England. The analysis is based on live trapping data collected in three studies over an eight–year period. Trap spacing affected inter–trap movement, including the statistic, ‘Mean Distance Moved’ between successive captures (MDM), of different species and sexes of rodents in different and predictable ways. No association was found in MDM between males and females of the same species, MDM and time of the year or MDM and weather. However, there was a weak negative association between MDM and numbers captured, particularly in mice. Using an independent method of assessing effective grid area, the usefulness of the MDM in correcting grid areas for the estimation of animal densities is discussed.
Three laboratory studies of trap response in confined Wood mouse populations at various densities... more Three laboratory studies of trap response in confined Wood mouse populations at various densities and using various densities of traps are described. Individual variation in trap response and whether captures were made at random are examined, and factors which affect trap response in confined populations of mice are discussed.
... First, because of the large number of alleles found in red squirrel populations, which may be... more ... First, because of the large number of alleles found in red squirrel populations, which may be produced as a result of a combination of their rapid ... Under these circumstances it is very easy to see how subdividing the Bavarian population into small fragments would create this ...
This is a literature review of the relationship between the abundance of tree seeds and the produ... more This is a literature review of the relationship between the abundance of tree seeds and the productivity, survival and dispersal of Holarctic tree squirrels. Causal links between changes in tree seed supplies and changes in squirrel numbers are often masked by various factors including intraspecifk and interspecific competition for seed, weather, predation and seed hoarding; density‐dependent relationships have not been clearly established. Tamiasciurus and Sciurus species have different seed‐hoarding strategies which are associated with differences in their social and spatial organization. Average squirrel densities in the long‐term are discussed in relation to forest habitat type, and directions for future research indicated.
... United Kingdom PETER WW LURZ, Centre for Life Sciences Modelling, University of Newcastle upo... more ... United Kingdom PETER WW LURZ, Centre for Life Sciences Modelling, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom ROBIN M. FULLER ... is a subject of conservation concern because it has been declining in the UK for over 50 years (Gurnell and Pepper 1993). ...
The population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles is in decline and is bein... more The population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) in the British Isles is in decline and is being supplanted by the grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). It has been suggested that parapoxvirus‐associated disease has caused significant mortality in red squirrels and that grey squirrels are the source of the virus. A direct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the measurement of antibody to squirrel parapoxvirus. We tested 140 sera from red squirrels and 223 from grey squirrels from different populations in the UK. A high percentage (61%) of apparently healthy grey squirrels, were found to have been exposed to the parapoxvirus. Only 2.86% (4/140) of red squirrels had antibody and three of these animals had parapoxvirus‐associated disease. We postulate that the grey squirrel may act as a reservoir host for the virus.
Uploads
Papers