Biology subjects

Faltusova, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Faltusova, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Impact of winter enclosures on energy expenditure and movement activity of european reed deer

The management of red deer enclosures, combined with supplementary feeding, can reduce the energy expenditure of confined animals. These enclosed individuals minimize their spatio-temporal movement and energy usage during their time inside the winter enclosure compared to those living in free range during the same period. The datasets used in this study were based on biologging technology. All measured animals (n=11) were equipped with GPS collars and Daily Dairy sensors to record Vectorial Dynamic Body Acceleration (VeDBA). The study revealed differences in the daily summary and daily mean of VeDBA parameters between enclosed and free-living animals in the study area. Energy expenditure was similar for both groups only at the moment of winter enclosure release. After the enclosure was opened, the released individuals increased their movement and energy expenditure. The use of winter enclosures for red deer management can reduce animal movement and minimize potential damage to young forest stands and seedlings. The opening of the winter enclosure must be synchronized with the availability of natural food resources in the locality. The management of winter enclosures should be carried out with a system of supplementary feeding inside.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2024

Perceived and observed biases within scientific communities: a case study in movement ecology

Who conducts biological research, where, and how the results are disseminated varies among geographies and identities. Identifying and documenting these forms of bias by research communities is a critical first step towards addressing them. We documented perceived and observed biases in movement ecology. Movement ecology is a rapidly expanding sub-discipline of biology, which is strongly underpinned by fieldwork and technology use. First, we surveyed attendees of an international conference, and discussed the results at the conference (comparing uninformed vs informed perceived bias). Although most researchers identified as bias-aware, only a subset of biases were discussed in conversation. Next, by considering author affiliations from publications in the journal Movement Ecology, we found among-country discrepancies between the country of the authors affiliation and study site location related to national economics. At the within-country scale, we found that race-gender identities of postgraduate biology researchers in the USA differed from national demographics. We discuss the role of potential specific causes for the emergence of bias in the sub-discipline, e.g. parachute-science or accessibility to fieldwork. Undertaking data-driven analysis of bias within research sub-disciplines can help identify specific barriers and first steps towards the inclusion of a greater diversity of participants in the scientific process.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Individual identity and environmental conditions explain different aspects of sleep behaviour in wild boar

Sleep is a fundamental behaviour as it serves vital physiological functions, yet how the sleep of wild animals is constrained by environmental conditions is poorly understood. Using non-invasive multi-sensor high-resolution biologgers and a robust classification approach, we quantified multiple dimensions of sleep in wild boar (Sus scrofa), a nocturnally active mammal, monitored for up to a full annual cycle. In support of the hypothesis that environmental conditions determining thermoregulatory challenges regulate sleep, we show that on warmer, longer, and more humid days sleep quality and quantity are reduced, whilst greater snow cover and rainfall promote sleep quality. Importantly, our study reveals large inter-and intra-individual variation in sleep durations, suggestive of pace-of-life syndromes. Given the major role that sleep plays in health, our results suggest that global warming and the associated increase in extreme climatic events are likely to negatively impact sleep, and consequently health in wildlife, particularly in nocturnal animals.

ecology↗