No abstract

Satellite telemetry is an increasingly utilized technology in wildlife research, and current devices can track individual animal movements at unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. However, as we enter the golden age of satellite telemetry, we need an in-depth understanding of the main technological, species-specific and environmental factors that determine the success and failure of satellite tracking devices across species and habitats. Here, we assess the relative influence of such factors on the ability of satellite telemetry units to provide the expected amount and quality of data by analyzing data from over 3,000 devices deployed on 62 terrestrial species in 167 projects worldwide. We evaluate the success rate in obtaining GPS fixes as well as in transferring these fixes to the user and we evaluate failure rates. Average fix success and data transfer rates were high and were generally better predicted by species and unit characteristics, while environmental characteristics influenced the variability of performance. However, 48% of the unit deployments ended prematurely, half of them due to technical failure. Nonetheless, this study shows that the performance of satellite telemetry applications has shown improvements over time, and based on our findings, we provide further recommendations for both users and manufacturers.

Risk assessment tools for listing invasive alien species need to incorporate all available evidence and expertise. Beyond the wealth of protocols developed to date, we argue that the current way of performing risk analysis has several shortcomings. In particular, lack of data on ecological impacts, transparency and repeatability of assessments as well as the incorporation of uncertainty should all be explicitly considered. We recommend improved quality control of risk assessments through formalized peer review with clear feedback between assessors and reviewers.Alternatively, a consensus building process can be applied to better capture opinions of different experts, thereby maximizing the evidential basis. Elaborating on manageability of invasive species is further needed to fully answer all risk analysis requirements. Tackling the issue of invasive species urges better handling of the acquired information on risk and the exploration of improved methods for decision making on biodiversity management. This is crucial for efficient conservation resource allocation and uptake by stakeholders and the public.

In 2007, the current outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), which severely affects wild boar populations and pigs, reached the Caucasus region. Since then, the virus has spread into eastern Europe and some places in central and western Europe (such as Belgium) through wild boar, domestic pigs, and human activities. The virus has raised serious concerns in countries with large pork industries, which may suffer economic losses due to trade restrictions. To control the outbreak, national authorities have taken drastic but likely ineffective measures that disregard the science of wildlife management. Poland, for example, has massively increased culling of wild boar to minimize ASF spread and the risk of transmission to domestic pigs, despite opposition by experts. The policy does not include population monitoring that could evaluate its effectiveness. It also does not limit wild boar access to agricultural crops and game feed, which is a key driver of population growth. Meanwhile, Denmark is building a 70-km border fence to exclude cross-border migration of wild boar. The fence will disrupt wildlife habitats, but it will not stop the virus from spreading through the transportation of live pigs, wild boar, or pig-and wild boar-derived tissues and products or through the movement of other objects carrying the virus, such as human clothing. Factors that govern wild boar abundance and virus spread are not bound by national borders. Instead of haphazard policies, we urge governments to agree on a coordinated response that adheres to the principles of modern wildlife management. Adaptive wildlife management strategies consider the human dimension and prevent unsound reactive management. Improved wildlife population monitoring and analysis are the best ways to determine which approaches to wildlife management are successful ecologically, economically, and socially. Sustainable management will depend on local circumstances and national wildlife management regulations, but science-based strategies can be implemented at the continental scale. Legislators across Europe should consult scientists and wildlife and animal health agencies before making decisions about wildlife policy. European countries should coordinate population monitoring and management. Shared responsibility for wildlife management among countries will enable funding for research that can critically evaluate its success. The ASF crisis can serve as a chance to develop a science-based wildlife policy for Europe.

No abstract

No abstract

This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

No abstract