NZ Landcare Trust - Ngā Matapopore Whenua’s Post

Looking an apex predator in the eye... Cougars (Puma concolor) are the fourth largest member of the cat family in the world.  Adult males average around 140 pounds, but may weigh up to 180 pounds and measure 7-8 feet long from nose to tip of their magnificent tails.  They are apex predators that help to maintain the health and diversity of the ecosystem they occupy.  The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife estimates that there are between 1,900 and 2,100 adult individuals in the state. The EarthSenseAI Center maintains a small array of camera traps in the Raging River valley in Western Washington.  Every once in a while we get a capture that can take your breath away, like this video of a Cougar exploring the shore of the river.  Camera traps are an important conservation tool that can provide data on what species are present in a location, the population sizes, and even how species are interacting with each other and the habitat.  However, they generate an enormous number of images, or video, that can take extensive effort to annotate manually.  Artificial intelligence can help to reduce the time to process this important data.  Please visit our terrestrial conservation (https://lnkd.in/g7QSHVc7) page for more information. #WildlifeConservation #AIForConservation #AIForGood #Wildlife #CameraTraps

Cats have become one of the world’s most invasive predators: Beneath the charming exterior of a cat lies one of nature’s most efficient predators - stealthy, adaptable, and relentless. #InvasivePredators #FeralCats #WildlifeImpact #CatConservation #EcosystemBalance #PredatorControl #EnvironmentalImpact #BiodiversityLoss #EarthDotCom #EarthSnap #Earth

Predatory birds are essential for controlling invasive bird species, they act as natural predators, keeping these populations under control.By preying on invasive birds, hawks help prevent these species from overwhelming native bird populations and disrupting local ecosystems. The presence of deterrents against invasive bird species can discourage invaders from establishing themselves in critical areas. However, there are some effective deterrents for particularly invasive species, that can help protect areas from their encroachment: * Visual Deterrents. *Physical Barriers. * Habitat Modification. These methods can be used individually or in combination for greater effectiveness, depending on the specific situation and type of invasive bird species. #wildlife #wildlifecontrol #toronto

This study elucidates the impact of overhunting on animal populations and forest ecosystems, proposing clear indicators for communities to collect in order to monitor and manage wildlife #sustainably. Medium- to large-bodied mammals are integral to tropical #ecosystems, serving as herbivores, seed dispersers, and predators. Unfortunately, these species are often the primary targets of hunting, resulting in significant alterations within wildlife communities. Recent international research indicates that overhunting leads to predictable shifts, with larger, slow-breeding animals being the first to diminish, while smaller, more resilient species such as rodents tend to become more prevalent. #Biodiverstiy #Ruraldevelpment #Foodsecurity 👉https://ow.ly/JSHi50UjO7v

Successful wildlife inventory missions in Ntokou-Pikounda National Park As part of activities to monitor the great ape nest and elephant dropping decay rates, the conversion factors were collected during the last wildlife survey. Seven field missions were carried out by 2 teams of 4 people each in Ntokou-Pikounda National Park.  As a result, 231 chimpanzee nests, 189 gorilla nests and 207 elephant droppings were marked and are being monitored for decay rate estimates. The large mammal survey will provide detailed information on species densities and distribution in and around the park. Out of 84 sampling units, 70 have been surveyed by 4 teams of 9 people each, representing 83% completion rate.

Stacuity supports Bird Migration Tracking 🐦 The Manx Wildlife Trust in the Isle of Man hosts a critical segment of the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, as part of a global network dedicated to understanding and preserving bird migration patterns. Through the integration of our advanced SIM technology, researchers are able to benefit from; 1️⃣ Enhanced Connectivity: Stacuity's global coverage and multi-carrier support ensures consistent data transmission. 2️⃣ Flexible and Secure Data Management: Programmable SIMs allow for tailored data routing and secure remote access, essential for handling sensitive research data. 3️⃣ Real-time Insights: Immediate data availability enables researchers to make quick and informed decisions, crucial for migratory bird conservation efforts. Read our use case and hear from Mike Howland, a Volunteer for Manx Wildlife Trust to learn how the technology works and the difference it’s making > https://lnkd.in/e5YR7UE9 #datarouting #datatransmission #birdmigration #remoteaccess

A recent study has found high levels of PFAS (in the tens of thousands of μg/g, more "typical" levels tend to be ng/g to a few μg/g) in several bird and mammal species near a military base situated in an important wetland area, which has been primarily been attributed to aqueous film forming foams (AFFF). Various migratory species are known to occur in this area, and it is also a popular recreational and hunting spot. Some of the species tested are wild game, which is potentially consumed by hunters as food, potentially exposing them to high levels of PFAS. #PFAS #CECs #HealthAndEnvironment

Bilbies, bandicoots, bettongs and quolls once dominated the arid plains of the far north-west corner of New South Wales and thanks to a team of scientists, they are now reclaiming the area. Feral cats kill more than 1.5 billion native animals every year in Australia, leading to a dire mammal extinction rate - which is the worst in the world. The Wild Deserts project is an ambitious ecosystem restoration plan, which provides safe havens for these animals to breed and exist in the wild. Beyond the safe enclosures, the team has created a 100-square-kilometre area it calls the wild training zone, where it allows a very small number of feral cats to roam. Their research has shown a bilby can change its behaviour within a year to avoid an introduced predator. Read more ➡️ https://ab.co/4gI5WcE Stay in the know with the ABC NEWS App ➡️ https://ab.co/abcnewsapp #ABCNews #NativeWildlife

In the aquatic world, frogs aren't just passive observers; they're stealthy predators lurking beneath the water's surface. With lightning-fast reflexes and powerful leg muscles, they wait patiently for their prey, including catfish, to swim by. When the moment is right, they strike with precision, using their sticky tongues to snatch unsuspecting catfish. This dynamic illustrates the often-overlooked role frogs play as hunters in aquatic ecosystems, where they serve as key predators, helping maintain balance and diversity in underwater communities. #aquaculture #predators #fish #sustainability #fishfarmers #aquaculture education

I am thankful for bats with obnoxiously long ears..... Among the species that we keep an eye out for when performing bioinventories in the Ozarks is the Ozark Big-Ear Bat (Corynorhinus townsendii ingens). This bat has suffered tremendous population declines and is now a federally listed endangered species. We keep careful notes when we see them in caves, relaying the data to federal and state wildlife officials. The bats are shy and flighty, making it hard to ever get close enough to snap an image. On one cave bioinventory trip, when working with United States Fish and Wildlife officials, I had a camera out and was photographing fungus growing on a cave wall. An Ozark Big-Ear Bat suddenly landed on the cave ceiling, just a foot above my head. I gently pointed the camera up and snapped this image. The ears on the bat are its most distinctive feature. They are so long that when they sleep, the bats roll them up like a garden hose on the sides of their heads! They are also messy eaters. They like to eat moths and often leave the floors of caves littered with moth wings. The conservation of subterranean wildlife is a big focus of our program in the Ozarks, now 24 years old. #OzarkBigEarBat #Corynorhinus_townsendii_ingens #EndangeredSpecies #CaveFauna #Biodiversity