Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Sep 27, 2018
The main objective of this study was to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Esche... more The main objective of this study was to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from faecal samples of free-ranging Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in the northwestern region of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica.
El uso de tecnicas no invasivas ni estresantes para determinar perfiles hormonales, como la medic... more El uso de tecnicas no invasivas ni estresantes para determinar perfiles hormonales, como la medicion de esteroides fecales, ha incrementado la comprension de la fisiologia reproductiva en animales silvestres. Debido a la escasa informacion con respecto a perfiles hormonales reproductivos del perezoso de dos dedos, Choloepus hoffmani , se realizo un estudio en hembras en cautiverio en el centro de rescate “Sloth Sanctuary” (Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica) con el fin de determinar (i) la confiabilidad de la extraccion de progesterona y estradiol en heces, y su cuantificacion en el analizador AIA-360®, (ii) evaluar los parametros sanguineos en esta especie y (iii) establecer si existe una correlacion entre los esteroides plasmaticos y fecales. El estudio se realizo en un periodo de tres meses, durante noviembre de 2013 a enero de 2014, con un total de 208 muestras de heces provenientes de cinco hembras sexualmente maduras, con peso promedio de 6.32 Kg. El promedio de las concentraciones me...
Objective: This study's main objective was to analyze the antibiotic susceptibility profile o... more Objective: This study's main objective was to analyze the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from a fecal sample of a captive Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in Costa Rica. Materials and Methods: The fecal sample was collected inside the enclosure on March 3, 2017, right after the animal defecated. Samples were cultured on MacConkey agar plates nonsupplemented and supplemented with 2 μg/mL of cefotaxime. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility were performed with the Vitek 2 Compact System and the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed to detect blaCTX-M beta-lactamase genes. Resistant isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results: After evaluating several antibiotic classes, a multidrug-resistant E. coli strain with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotype was isolated. Resistance to cefotaxime, cefepime, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam,...
Summary Species distribution models (SDMs) are statistical tools used to develop continuous predi... more Summary Species distribution models (SDMs) are statistical tools used to develop continuous predictions of species occurrence. ‘Integrated SDMs’ (ISDMs) are an elaboration of this approach with potential advantages that allow for the dual use of opportunistically collected presence-only data and site-occupancy data from planned surveys. These models also account for survey bias and imperfect detection through the use of a hierarchical modelling framework that separately estimates the species–environment response and detection process. This is particularly helpful for conservation applications and predictions for rare species, where data are often limited and prediction errors may have significant management consequences. Despite this potential importance, ISDMs remain largely untested under a variety of scenarios. We performed an exploration of key modelling decisions and assumptions on an ISDM using the endangered Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) as a test species. We found that sit...
Baird's tapir is considered globally endangered, but most aspects of its ecology and natural hist... more Baird's tapir is considered globally endangered, but most aspects of its ecology and natural history are still unknown. There are scarce previous reports regarding interaction behavior and vocalization for the species; this work is considered the first detailed description of call not only for T. bairdii, but the first for a tapir in the wild. Here we present observations on interaction behavior and the analyses of the first wild vocalizations for Baird's Tapir from Talamanca, Costa Rica. We distinguish two types of calls. The first call was composed of two notes (average 0.625 ± 0.069 s and 0.323 ± 0.080 s, respectively) with a dominant frequency of 4,940 ± 248.3 Hz. The second call was composed of a single note (average 1.121±0.063) with a dominant frequency of 6,471 ± 704.1 Hz. Interaction is probably due to resource availability, and vocalizations likely reflect communication between bonding pairs or to avoid agonistic behavior. These observations provide clues into social interaction and use of vocal traits for communication among wild tapirs, as well as may contribute for future analyses regarding the phylogenetic signal within the genus.
Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of ha... more Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of habitat for the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Using the largest detection/non-detection camera trap survey dataset known for the species throughout its range, we investigated factors affecting clouded leopard habitat use across Peninsular Malaysia. Habitat use was modelled using fine scale covariates and recently developed analytical techniques to account for spatial autocorrelation. Clouded leopard habitat use increased with increasing distance from water bodies, higher numbers of discontinuous core areas per unit area and higher elevation. In addition , clouded leopard habitat use was higher in sites with higher average forest change values. After extrapolating the predicted habitat use of clouded leopards across the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, we assessed the suitability of proposed ecological linkages, and identified other suitable forest patches not within the current Central Forest Spine. Our findings are valuable for land use planning and management, in particular, for determining the suitability of forest remnants to support populations of clouded leopard and predicting how this species will respond in human-dominated landscapes. Crown
Aposematism and crypsis are often viewed as two extremes of a continuum of visual conspicuousness... more Aposematism and crypsis are often viewed as two extremes of a continuum of visual conspicuousness to predators. Theory predicts that behavioral and coloration conspicuousness should vary in tandem along the conspicuousness spectrum for antipredator strategies to be effective. Here we used visual modeling of contrast and behavioral observations to examine the conspicuousness of four populations of the granular poison frog, Oophaga granulifera, which exhibits almost continuous variation in dorsal color. The patterns of geographic variation in color, visual contrast, and behavior support a gradient of overall conspicuousness along the distribution of O. granulifera. Red and green populations, at the extremes of the color distribution, differ in all elements of color, contrast, and behavior, strongly reflecting aposematic and cryptic strategies. However, there is no smooth cline in any elements of behavior or coloration between the two extremes. Instead populations of intermediate colors attain intermediate conspicuousness by displaying different combinations of aposematic and cryptic traits. We argue that coloration divergence among populations may be linked to the evolution of a gradient of strategies to balance the costs of detection by predators and the benefits of learned aversion.
Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, Sep 27, 2018
The main objective of this study was to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Esche... more The main objective of this study was to analyse the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from faecal samples of free-ranging Baird's tapirs (Tapirus bairdii) in the northwestern region of the Talamanca Mountain Range, Costa Rica.
El uso de tecnicas no invasivas ni estresantes para determinar perfiles hormonales, como la medic... more El uso de tecnicas no invasivas ni estresantes para determinar perfiles hormonales, como la medicion de esteroides fecales, ha incrementado la comprension de la fisiologia reproductiva en animales silvestres. Debido a la escasa informacion con respecto a perfiles hormonales reproductivos del perezoso de dos dedos, Choloepus hoffmani , se realizo un estudio en hembras en cautiverio en el centro de rescate “Sloth Sanctuary” (Cahuita, Limon, Costa Rica) con el fin de determinar (i) la confiabilidad de la extraccion de progesterona y estradiol en heces, y su cuantificacion en el analizador AIA-360®, (ii) evaluar los parametros sanguineos en esta especie y (iii) establecer si existe una correlacion entre los esteroides plasmaticos y fecales. El estudio se realizo en un periodo de tres meses, durante noviembre de 2013 a enero de 2014, con un total de 208 muestras de heces provenientes de cinco hembras sexualmente maduras, con peso promedio de 6.32 Kg. El promedio de las concentraciones me...
Objective: This study's main objective was to analyze the antibiotic susceptibility profile o... more Objective: This study's main objective was to analyze the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from a fecal sample of a captive Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) in Costa Rica. Materials and Methods: The fecal sample was collected inside the enclosure on March 3, 2017, right after the animal defecated. Samples were cultured on MacConkey agar plates nonsupplemented and supplemented with 2 μg/mL of cefotaxime. Bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility were performed with the Vitek 2 Compact System and the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was performed to detect blaCTX-M beta-lactamase genes. Resistant isolates were subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results: After evaluating several antibiotic classes, a multidrug-resistant E. coli strain with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotype was isolated. Resistance to cefotaxime, cefepime, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam,...
Summary Species distribution models (SDMs) are statistical tools used to develop continuous predi... more Summary Species distribution models (SDMs) are statistical tools used to develop continuous predictions of species occurrence. ‘Integrated SDMs’ (ISDMs) are an elaboration of this approach with potential advantages that allow for the dual use of opportunistically collected presence-only data and site-occupancy data from planned surveys. These models also account for survey bias and imperfect detection through the use of a hierarchical modelling framework that separately estimates the species–environment response and detection process. This is particularly helpful for conservation applications and predictions for rare species, where data are often limited and prediction errors may have significant management consequences. Despite this potential importance, ISDMs remain largely untested under a variety of scenarios. We performed an exploration of key modelling decisions and assumptions on an ISDM using the endangered Baird’s tapir (Tapirus bairdii) as a test species. We found that sit...
Baird's tapir is considered globally endangered, but most aspects of its ecology and natural hist... more Baird's tapir is considered globally endangered, but most aspects of its ecology and natural history are still unknown. There are scarce previous reports regarding interaction behavior and vocalization for the species; this work is considered the first detailed description of call not only for T. bairdii, but the first for a tapir in the wild. Here we present observations on interaction behavior and the analyses of the first wild vocalizations for Baird's Tapir from Talamanca, Costa Rica. We distinguish two types of calls. The first call was composed of two notes (average 0.625 ± 0.069 s and 0.323 ± 0.080 s, respectively) with a dominant frequency of 4,940 ± 248.3 Hz. The second call was composed of a single note (average 1.121±0.063) with a dominant frequency of 6,471 ± 704.1 Hz. Interaction is probably due to resource availability, and vocalizations likely reflect communication between bonding pairs or to avoid agonistic behavior. These observations provide clues into social interaction and use of vocal traits for communication among wild tapirs, as well as may contribute for future analyses regarding the phylogenetic signal within the genus.
Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of ha... more Ongoing deforestation in Southeast Asia is leading to increased fragmentation and reduction of habitat for the mainland clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa). Using the largest detection/non-detection camera trap survey dataset known for the species throughout its range, we investigated factors affecting clouded leopard habitat use across Peninsular Malaysia. Habitat use was modelled using fine scale covariates and recently developed analytical techniques to account for spatial autocorrelation. Clouded leopard habitat use increased with increasing distance from water bodies, higher numbers of discontinuous core areas per unit area and higher elevation. In addition , clouded leopard habitat use was higher in sites with higher average forest change values. After extrapolating the predicted habitat use of clouded leopards across the whole of Peninsular Malaysia, we assessed the suitability of proposed ecological linkages, and identified other suitable forest patches not within the current Central Forest Spine. Our findings are valuable for land use planning and management, in particular, for determining the suitability of forest remnants to support populations of clouded leopard and predicting how this species will respond in human-dominated landscapes. Crown
Aposematism and crypsis are often viewed as two extremes of a continuum of visual conspicuousness... more Aposematism and crypsis are often viewed as two extremes of a continuum of visual conspicuousness to predators. Theory predicts that behavioral and coloration conspicuousness should vary in tandem along the conspicuousness spectrum for antipredator strategies to be effective. Here we used visual modeling of contrast and behavioral observations to examine the conspicuousness of four populations of the granular poison frog, Oophaga granulifera, which exhibits almost continuous variation in dorsal color. The patterns of geographic variation in color, visual contrast, and behavior support a gradient of overall conspicuousness along the distribution of O. granulifera. Red and green populations, at the extremes of the color distribution, differ in all elements of color, contrast, and behavior, strongly reflecting aposematic and cryptic strategies. However, there is no smooth cline in any elements of behavior or coloration between the two extremes. Instead populations of intermediate colors attain intermediate conspicuousness by displaying different combinations of aposematic and cryptic traits. We argue that coloration divergence among populations may be linked to the evolution of a gradient of strategies to balance the costs of detection by predators and the benefits of learned aversion.
Uploads