PeerJ
type: channel
link: https://peerj.com/articles/
description: Articles published in PeerJ
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
publication name: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359
items: Diversification and historical demography of Haloxylon ammodendron in relation to Pleistocene climatic oscillations in northwestern China
items: Population development and landscape preference of reintroduced wild ungulates: successful rewilding in Southern Italy
items: Stigmatization towards healthcare personnel during the first COVID-19 wave in Central and Northern Mexico
items: New estimators for estimating population total: an application to water demand in Thailand under unequal probability sampling without replacement for missing data
items: DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia)
items: Miocene Cupressinoxylon from Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey with Protophytobia cambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy
items: A manikin or human simulator—development of a tool for measuring students’ perception
items: Habitat loss estimation for assessing terrestrial mammalian species extinction risk: an open data framework
items: Wildlife overpass structure size, distribution, effectiveness, and adherence to expert design recommendations
items: Composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages and their habitat use in unflooded and flooded blackwater forests in the Central Amazon

Diversification and historical demography of Haloxylon ammodendron in relation to Pleistocene climatic oscillations in northwestern China
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The influence of aridification and climatic oscillations on the genetic diversity and evolutionary processes of organisms during the Quaternary in northwestern China is examined using Haloxylon ammodendron. Based on the variation of two cpDNA regions (trnS-trnG and trnV) and one nDNA sequence (ITS1-ITS4) in 420 individuals from 36 populations, the spatial genetic structure and demographic history of H. ammodendron in arid China is examined. Median-joining network and Bayesian inference trees enabled the identification of three diverged lineages within H. ammodendron from 24 different haplotypes and 16 ribotypes, distributed across western (Xinjiang), eastern (Gansu and Inner Mongolia) and southern (Qinghai) regions. AMOVA analysis demonstrated that more than 80% of observed genetic variation related to lineage split was based on cpDNA and nDNA variation. Allopatric divergence among the three groups was mainly triggered by geographical isolation due to Xingxingxia rock and uplift of the Qilian Mountains during the Quaternary. Local adaptive differentiation among western, eastern and southern groups occurred due to gene flow obstruction resulting from arid landscape fragmentation accompanied by local environmental heterogeneity of different geographical populations. The southern margin of the Junggar Basin and the Tengger Desert possibly served as two independent glacial refugia for H. ammodendron. The distribution of genetic variation, coupled with SDMs and LCP results, indicated that H. ammodendron probably moved northward along the Junggar Basin and westward along Tengger Desert at the end of the last glacial maximum; postglacial re-colonization was probably westward and southward along the Hexi Corridor.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Yuting Chen
creator: Songmei Ma
creator: Dan Zhang
creator: Bo Wei
creator: Gang Huang
creator: Yunling Zhang
creator: Benwei Ge
subject: Agricultural Science
subject: Biogeography
subject: Genetics
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Plant Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14476
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Chen et al.
abstract: The influence of aridification and climatic oscillations on the genetic diversity and evolutionary processes of organisms during the Quaternary in northwestern China is examined using Haloxylon ammodendron. Based on the variation of two cpDNA regions (trnS-trnG and trnV) and one nDNA sequence (ITS1-ITS4) in 420 individuals from 36 populations, the spatial genetic structure and demographic history of H. ammodendron in arid China is examined. Median-joining network and Bayesian inference trees enabled the identification of three diverged lineages within H. ammodendron from 24 different haplotypes and 16 ribotypes, distributed across western (Xinjiang), eastern (Gansu and Inner Mongolia) and southern (Qinghai) regions. AMOVA analysis demonstrated that more than 80% of observed genetic variation related to lineage split was based on cpDNA and nDNA variation. Allopatric divergence among the three groups was mainly triggered by geographical isolation due to Xingxingxia rock and uplift of the Qilian Mountains during the Quaternary. Local adaptive differentiation among western, eastern and southern groups occurred due to gene flow obstruction resulting from arid landscape fragmentation accompanied by local environmental heterogeneity of different geographical populations. The southern margin of the Junggar Basin and the Tengger Desert possibly served as two independent glacial refugia for H. ammodendron. The distribution of genetic variation, coupled with SDMs and LCP results, indicated that H. ammodendron probably moved northward along the Junggar Basin and westward along Tengger Desert at the end of the last glacial maximum; postglacial re-colonization was probably westward and southward along the Hexi Corridor.
bibliographic citation: Chen et al. (2022) Diversification and historical demography of Haloxylon ammodendron in relation to Pleistocene climatic oscillations in northwestern China. PeerJ 10:e14476 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14476
date submitted: 2022-06-16
date accepted: 2022-11-07
issued: 2022-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Chen
  given name: Yuting
author list: Agent
  family name: Ma
  given name: Songmei
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Dan
author list: Agent
  family name: Wei
  given name: Bo
author list: Agent
  family name: Huang
  given name: Gang
author list: Agent
  family name: Zhang
  given name: Yunling
author list: Agent
  family name: Ge
  given name: Benwei
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14476
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-13
copyright: ©2022 Chen et al.
attribution name: Chen et al.

Population development and landscape preference of reintroduced wild ungulates: successful rewilding in Southern Italy
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background In the past decades, the abandonment of traditional land use practices has determined landscape changes inducing reforestation dynamics. This phenomenon can be contrasted with rewilding practices, i.e., the reintroduction of animals that may promote the recovery of landscape diversity. In this study, we explore the dynamics of expansion of two reintroduced populations of wild ungulates, Italian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), assessing their contribution in the recovery of landscape diversity. Methods By using direct and indirect information on the two species, collected by nocturnal and diurnal surveys and camera trapping, we modelled a habitat suitability map, and estimated the density and distribution of the populations. We also performed a land use changes analysis, combining the presence of wild ungulates and livestock. Results and Discussion We demonstrated that deer dispersed gradually from their release location, increasing in population size, and this occurred in the entire study area. Moreover, we show that areas with lower grazing density are significantly affected by forest encroachment. A possible interpretation of this result could be that wild grazers (roe deer and red deer) prefer semi-open areas surrounded by the forest. This, in association with other factors, such as domestic grazing, could be one of the main responsible in maintaining landscape mosaic typical of the Apennine mountain, confirming the value of grazers as a landscape management tool. Moreover, we show the possibility to conserve through reintroduction the vulnerable C.c. italicus.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Eleonora Rivieccio
creator: Claudia Troiano
creator: Simona Petrelli
creator: Valeria Maselli
creator: Gabriele de Filippo
creator: Domenico Fulgione
creator: Maria Buglione
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Zoology
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14492
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Rivieccio et al.
abstract: Background In the past decades, the abandonment of traditional land use practices has determined landscape changes inducing reforestation dynamics. This phenomenon can be contrasted with rewilding practices, i.e., the reintroduction of animals that may promote the recovery of landscape diversity. In this study, we explore the dynamics of expansion of two reintroduced populations of wild ungulates, Italian roe deer (Capreolus capreolus italicus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), assessing their contribution in the recovery of landscape diversity. Methods By using direct and indirect information on the two species, collected by nocturnal and diurnal surveys and camera trapping, we modelled a habitat suitability map, and estimated the density and distribution of the populations. We also performed a land use changes analysis, combining the presence of wild ungulates and livestock. Results and Discussion We demonstrated that deer dispersed gradually from their release location, increasing in population size, and this occurred in the entire study area. Moreover, we show that areas with lower grazing density are significantly affected by forest encroachment. A possible interpretation of this result could be that wild grazers (roe deer and red deer) prefer semi-open areas surrounded by the forest. This, in association with other factors, such as domestic grazing, could be one of the main responsible in maintaining landscape mosaic typical of the Apennine mountain, confirming the value of grazers as a landscape management tool. Moreover, we show the possibility to conserve through reintroduction the vulnerable C.c. italicus.
bibliographic citation: Rivieccio et al. (2022) Population development and landscape preference of reintroduced wild ungulates: successful rewilding in Southern Italy. PeerJ 10:e14492 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14492
date submitted: 2022-07-15
date accepted: 2022-11-09
issued: 2022-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Rivieccio
  given name: Eleonora
author list: Agent
  family name: Troiano
  given name: Claudia
author list: Agent
  family name: Petrelli
  given name: Simona
author list: Agent
  family name: Maselli
  given name: Valeria
author list: Agent
  family name: de Filippo
  given name: Gabriele
author list: Agent
  family name: Fulgione
  given name: Domenico
author list: Agent
  family name: Buglione
  given name: Maria
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14492
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-13
copyright: ©2022 Rivieccio et al.
attribution name: Rivieccio et al.

Stigmatization towards healthcare personnel during the first COVID-19 wave in Central and Northern Mexico
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: The evidence all over the world shows an alarming increase in the stigmatization of health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to explore possible psychological factors that help explain the disposition to stigmatize health personnel in the central and northern regions of Mexico. Two studies explore possible psychological factors to explain the disposition to stigmatize healthcare personnel (HP) in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. In study one, 520 participants responded to three instruments that measure the disposition to stigmatize, the perceived contagion risk, and the positive beliefs towards HP. Results showed a generalized low disposition to stigmatization, where only a small percentage obtained high scores. A regression analysis identified that stigmatization towards HP can derive mainly from the perception of risk of contagion, although positive beliefs of HP decrease this disposition. The second study extends this finding by analyzing responses of 286 participants to seven instruments measuring factors hypothesized as predictors towards stigmatization: uncertainty generated by the pandemic, selfish strategies to face off the pandemic, social capital, trust in institutions, perceived vulnerability of contagion, perceived risk of contagion, and positive beliefs towards HP. A path analysis reveals that the main predictor of stigmatization is the perceived risk of contagion, increased by the strategy of selfishness, and the uncertainty generated by the pandemic. These results are discussed emphasizing the importance of cooperation and community ties to prevent the stigmatization of HP in the context of sanitary emergencies generated by contagious diseases.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Christian Enrique Cruz-Torres
creator: Jaime Martín del Campo-Ríos
subject: Psychiatry and Psychology
subject: Public Health
subject: COVID-19
subject: Healthcare Services
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14503
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Cruz-Torres et al.
abstract: The evidence all over the world shows an alarming increase in the stigmatization of health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sought to explore possible psychological factors that help explain the disposition to stigmatize health personnel in the central and northern regions of Mexico. Two studies explore possible psychological factors to explain the disposition to stigmatize healthcare personnel (HP) in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. In study one, 520 participants responded to three instruments that measure the disposition to stigmatize, the perceived contagion risk, and the positive beliefs towards HP. Results showed a generalized low disposition to stigmatization, where only a small percentage obtained high scores. A regression analysis identified that stigmatization towards HP can derive mainly from the perception of risk of contagion, although positive beliefs of HP decrease this disposition. The second study extends this finding by analyzing responses of 286 participants to seven instruments measuring factors hypothesized as predictors towards stigmatization: uncertainty generated by the pandemic, selfish strategies to face off the pandemic, social capital, trust in institutions, perceived vulnerability of contagion, perceived risk of contagion, and positive beliefs towards HP. A path analysis reveals that the main predictor of stigmatization is the perceived risk of contagion, increased by the strategy of selfishness, and the uncertainty generated by the pandemic. These results are discussed emphasizing the importance of cooperation and community ties to prevent the stigmatization of HP in the context of sanitary emergencies generated by contagious diseases.
bibliographic citation: Cruz-Torres et al. (2022) Stigmatization towards healthcare personnel during the first COVID-19 wave in Central and Northern Mexico. PeerJ 10:e14503 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14503
date submitted: 2022-08-16
date accepted: 2022-11-11
issued: 2022-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Cruz-Torres
  given name: Christian Enrique
author list: Agent
  family name: Martín del Campo-Ríos
  given name: Jaime
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14503
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-13
copyright: ©2022 Cruz-Torres et al.
attribution name: Cruz-Torres et al.

New estimators for estimating population total: an application to water demand in Thailand under unequal probability sampling without replacement for missing data
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Water shortage could play an imperative role in the future due to an influx of water demand when compared to water supplies. Inadequate water could damage human life and other aspects related to living. This serious issue can be prevented by estimating the demand for water to bridge the small gap between demand and supplies for water. Some water consumption data recorded daily may be missing and could affect the estimated value of water demand. In this article, new ratio estimators for estimating population total are proposed under unequal probability sampling without replacement when data are missing. Two situations are considered: known or unknown mean of an auxiliary variable and missing data are missing at random for both study and auxiliary variables. The variance and associated estimators of the proposed estimators are investigated under a reverse framework. The proposed estimators are applied to data from simulation studies and empirical data on water demand in Thailand which contain some missing values, to assess the efficacies of the estimators.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Chugiat Ponkaew
creator: Nuanpan Lawson
subject: Natural Resource Management
subject: Ecohydrology
subject: Food, Water and Energy Nexus
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14551
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Ponkaew and Lawson
abstract: Water shortage could play an imperative role in the future due to an influx of water demand when compared to water supplies. Inadequate water could damage human life and other aspects related to living. This serious issue can be prevented by estimating the demand for water to bridge the small gap between demand and supplies for water. Some water consumption data recorded daily may be missing and could affect the estimated value of water demand. In this article, new ratio estimators for estimating population total are proposed under unequal probability sampling without replacement when data are missing. Two situations are considered: known or unknown mean of an auxiliary variable and missing data are missing at random for both study and auxiliary variables. The variance and associated estimators of the proposed estimators are investigated under a reverse framework. The proposed estimators are applied to data from simulation studies and empirical data on water demand in Thailand which contain some missing values, to assess the efficacies of the estimators.
bibliographic citation: Ponkaew et al. (2022) New estimators for estimating population total: an application to water demand in Thailand under unequal probability sampling without replacement for missing data. PeerJ 10:e14551 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14551
date submitted: 2022-09-16
date accepted: 2022-11-20
issued: 2022-12-13
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Ponkaew
  given name: Chugiat
author list: Agent
  family name: Lawson
  given name: Nuanpan
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14551
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-13
copyright: © 2022 Ponkaew and Lawson
attribution name: Ponkaew and Lawson

DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia)
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Trichoptera are one of the most diverse groups of freshwater insects worldwide and one of the main bioindicators for freshwater quality. However, in many areas, caddisflies remain understudied due to lack of taxonomic expertise. Meanwhile, globally increasing anthropogenic stress on freshwater streams also threatens Trichoptera diversity. Methods To assess the Trichoptera diversity of the area within and around the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP or Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak) in West Java (Indonesia), we conducted a molecular-morphological study on Trichoptera diversity using larvae from a benthic survey and adults from hand-netting. In addition to morphological identification, we applied four different molecular taxon delimitation approaches (Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) based on DNA barcoding of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase I (COI). Results The molecular delimitation detected 72 to 81 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). Only five OTUs could be identified to species level by comparing sequences against the BOLD database using BLAST, and four more to the genus level. Adults and larvae could be successfully associated in 18 cases across six families. The high diversity of Trichoptera in this area highlights their potential as bioindicators for water quality assessment. Conclusions This study provides an example of how molecular approaches can benefit the exploration of hidden diversity in unexplored areas and can be a valuable tool to link life stages. However, our study also highlights the need to improve DNA barcode reference libraries of Trichoptera for the Oriental region.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Isabel C. Kilian
creator: Marianne Espeland
creator: Wolfram Mey
creator: Daisy Wowor
creator: Renny K. Hadiaty
creator: Thomas von Rintelen
creator: Fabian Herder
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Zoology
subject: Freshwater Biology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14182
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Kilian et al.
abstract: Background Trichoptera are one of the most diverse groups of freshwater insects worldwide and one of the main bioindicators for freshwater quality. However, in many areas, caddisflies remain understudied due to lack of taxonomic expertise. Meanwhile, globally increasing anthropogenic stress on freshwater streams also threatens Trichoptera diversity. Methods To assess the Trichoptera diversity of the area within and around the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (MHSNP or Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun Salak) in West Java (Indonesia), we conducted a molecular-morphological study on Trichoptera diversity using larvae from a benthic survey and adults from hand-netting. In addition to morphological identification, we applied four different molecular taxon delimitation approaches (Generalized Mixed Yule Coalescent, Bayesian Poisson Tree Processes, Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning) based on DNA barcoding of Cytochrome-C-Oxidase I (COI). Results The molecular delimitation detected 72 to 81 Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU). Only five OTUs could be identified to species level by comparing sequences against the BOLD database using BLAST, and four more to the genus level. Adults and larvae could be successfully associated in 18 cases across six families. The high diversity of Trichoptera in this area highlights their potential as bioindicators for water quality assessment. Conclusions This study provides an example of how molecular approaches can benefit the exploration of hidden diversity in unexplored areas and can be a valuable tool to link life stages. However, our study also highlights the need to improve DNA barcode reference libraries of Trichoptera for the Oriental region.
bibliographic citation: Kilian et al. (2022) DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia). PeerJ 10:e14182 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14182
date submitted: 2021-06-27
date accepted: 2022-09-14
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Kilian
  given name: Isabel C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Espeland
  given name: Marianne
author list: Agent
  family name: Mey
  given name: Wolfram
author list: Agent
  family name: Wowor
  given name: Daisy
author list: Agent
  family name: Hadiaty
  given name: Renny K.
author list: Agent
  family name: von Rintelen
  given name: Thomas
author list: Agent
  family name: Herder
  given name: Fabian
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14182
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: © 2022 Kilian et al.
attribution name: Kilian et al.

Miocene Cupressinoxylon from Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey with Protophytobia cambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Premise The recognition of the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) in terrestrial palaeoenvironments of the Eastern Mediterranean is restricted to Lesbos and Lemnos Islands, Greece. This area is significant for its wood microfossils. A recently-discovered fossil wood assemblage from Gökçeada (Imbros) Island, Turkey, including tree species similar to the Greek findings, is thought to have an early Miocene age. Here, we revise the age of the latter plant fossiliferous locality, re-evaluate the area for the study of MCO for the terrestrial palaeoecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean and the nomenclature errors referring to the occurrence of fossil wood. We present the plant–insect–environment interactions using detailed anatomical descriptions, of an extinct conifer and its extinct cambium miner feeding traces observed in its secondary xylem. Methods Three thin sections were prepared with standard palaeoxylotomical techniques from a small section of the silicified wood; the sections were observed under a light microscope. The anatomy of the conifer and its damage patterns were compared with those of extant and fossil Cupressaceae and Agromyzidae, respectively. Pivotal results The common anatomical features of the studied wood specimen and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel and a shared characteristic (the number of the cross-field pits – a feature we consider of diagnostic value) with Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & T.H. Nguyên led to its assignment to the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis–Callitropsis clade. The detailed study of the wound scars and anatomical abnormalities, the anatomical–environmental associations, and structural–functional reactions follow the identification of the wood’s anatomy sensu Carlquist providing decisive results. Conclusions Based on the distinctive characteristics presented, we identify our macrofossil as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast, a stem or an extinct lineage of the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis vietnamensis–Callitropsis noo…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Dimitra Mantzouka
creator: Ünal Akkemik
creator: Yıldırım Güngör
subject: Ecology
subject: Evolutionary Studies
subject: Paleontology
subject: Plant Science
subject: Taxonomy
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14212
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Mantzouka et al.
abstract: Premise The recognition of the Miocene Climate Optimum (MCO) in terrestrial palaeoenvironments of the Eastern Mediterranean is restricted to Lesbos and Lemnos Islands, Greece. This area is significant for its wood microfossils. A recently-discovered fossil wood assemblage from Gökçeada (Imbros) Island, Turkey, including tree species similar to the Greek findings, is thought to have an early Miocene age. Here, we revise the age of the latter plant fossiliferous locality, re-evaluate the area for the study of MCO for the terrestrial palaeoecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean and the nomenclature errors referring to the occurrence of fossil wood. We present the plant–insect–environment interactions using detailed anatomical descriptions, of an extinct conifer and its extinct cambium miner feeding traces observed in its secondary xylem. Methods Three thin sections were prepared with standard palaeoxylotomical techniques from a small section of the silicified wood; the sections were observed under a light microscope. The anatomy of the conifer and its damage patterns were compared with those of extant and fossil Cupressaceae and Agromyzidae, respectively. Pivotal results The common anatomical features of the studied wood specimen and Hesperocyparis macrocarpa (Hartw.) Bartel and a shared characteristic (the number of the cross-field pits – a feature we consider of diagnostic value) with Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Farjon & T.H. Nguyên led to its assignment to the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis–Callitropsis clade. The detailed study of the wound scars and anatomical abnormalities, the anatomical–environmental associations, and structural–functional reactions follow the identification of the wood’s anatomy sensu Carlquist providing decisive results. Conclusions Based on the distinctive characteristics presented, we identify our macrofossil as Cupressinoxylon matromnense Grambast, a stem or an extinct lineage of the Hesperocyparis–Xanthocyparis vietnamensis–Callitropsis noo…
bibliographic citation: Mantzouka et al. (2022) Miocene Cupressinoxylon from Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey with Protophytobia cambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy. PeerJ 10:e14212 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14212
date submitted: 2021-08-26
date accepted: 2022-09-19
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Mantzouka
  given name: Dimitra
author list: Agent
  family name: Akkemik
  given name: Ünal
author list: Agent
  family name: Güngör
  given name: Yıldırım
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14212
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: © 2022 Mantzouka et al.
attribution name: Mantzouka et al.

A manikin or human simulator—development of a tool for measuring students’ perception
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Background Education with the use of medical simulation may involve the use of two modalities: manikins or standardized patients (SPs) to meet specific learning objectives. We have collected students’ opinions about the two modalities which can be helpful in planning and evaluating the curriculum process. Although reviews or comparisons of student opinions appear in the literature, it is difficult to find a scale that would be based on a comparison of specific effects that can be obtained in the educational process. In order to fill this gap, an attempt was made to construct a questionnaire. Methods An experimental version of a questionnaire measuring the final-year students’ (273) opinions about the effectiveness of both simulation techniques has been designed on the basis of semi-structured interviews. They were conducted with 14 final-year students excluded from the subsequently analyzed cohort. The scale has been completed, tested and validated. Results The authors developed a 33-statement questionnaire which contain two scales: teaching medicine with the manikins and with the SPs. Two factors were identified for each scale: Doctor-patient relationship and practical aspects. The scales can be used complementary or separately, as the article reports independent statistics for each scale. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the manikin scale is 0.721 and for the SP scale is 0.758. Conclusions The questionnaire may be applied to medical students to identify their opinions about using manikins and SPs in teaching. It may have an important impact for planning curriculum and implementing particular modalities in accordance with the intended learning objectives.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Kamil Torres
creator: Phillip Evans
creator: Izabela Mamcarz
creator: Natalia Radczuk
creator: Anna Torres
subject: Science and Medical Education
subject: Human-Computer Interaction
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14214
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Torres et al.
abstract: Background Education with the use of medical simulation may involve the use of two modalities: manikins or standardized patients (SPs) to meet specific learning objectives. We have collected students’ opinions about the two modalities which can be helpful in planning and evaluating the curriculum process. Although reviews or comparisons of student opinions appear in the literature, it is difficult to find a scale that would be based on a comparison of specific effects that can be obtained in the educational process. In order to fill this gap, an attempt was made to construct a questionnaire. Methods An experimental version of a questionnaire measuring the final-year students’ (273) opinions about the effectiveness of both simulation techniques has been designed on the basis of semi-structured interviews. They were conducted with 14 final-year students excluded from the subsequently analyzed cohort. The scale has been completed, tested and validated. Results The authors developed a 33-statement questionnaire which contain two scales: teaching medicine with the manikins and with the SPs. Two factors were identified for each scale: Doctor-patient relationship and practical aspects. The scales can be used complementary or separately, as the article reports independent statistics for each scale. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the manikin scale is 0.721 and for the SP scale is 0.758. Conclusions The questionnaire may be applied to medical students to identify their opinions about using manikins and SPs in teaching. It may have an important impact for planning curriculum and implementing particular modalities in accordance with the intended learning objectives.
bibliographic citation: Torres et al. (2022) A manikin or human simulator—development of a tool for measuring students’ perception. PeerJ 10:e14214 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14214
date submitted: 2020-12-28
date accepted: 2022-09-19
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Torres
  given name: Kamil
author list: Agent
  family name: Evans
  given name: Phillip
author list: Agent
  family name: Mamcarz
  given name: Izabela
author list: Agent
  family name: Radczuk
  given name: Natalia
author list: Agent
  family name: Torres
  given name: Anna
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14214
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: ©2022 Torres et al.
attribution name: Torres et al.

Habitat loss estimation for assessing terrestrial mammalian species extinction risk: an open data framework
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Terrestrial mammals face a severe crisis of habitat loss worldwide. Therefore, assessing information on habitat loss throughout different time periods is crucial for assessing species’ conservation statuses based on the IUCN Red List system. To support the national extinction risk assessment in Brazil (2016–2022), we developed a script that uses the MapBiomas Project 6.0 data source of land cover and land use (annual maps at 30 m scale) within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to calculate habitat loss. We defined suitable habitats from the MapBiomas Project land cover classification for 190 mammalian taxa, according to each species range map and ecological characteristics. We considered a period of three generation lengths to assess habitat loss in accordance with the Red List assessment criteria. We used the script to estimate changes in available habitat throughout the analyzed period within the species’ known ranges. The results indicated that habitat loss occurred within 94.3% of the analyzed taxa range, with the Carnivora order suffering the greatest habitat loss, followed by the Cingulata order. These analyses may be decisive for applying criteria, defining categories during the assessment of at least 17 species (9%), enriching discussions, and raising new questions for several other species. We considered the outcome of estimating habitat loss for various taxa when applying criterion A, which refers to population reduction, thus supporting more accurate inferences about past population declines.
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Mariella Butti
creator: Luciana Pacca
creator: Paloma Santos
creator: André C. Alonso
creator: Gerson Buss
creator: Gabriela Ludwig
creator: Leandro Jerusalinsky
creator: Amely B. Martins
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Computational Science
subject: Environmental Impacts
subject: Spatial and Geographic Information Science
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14289
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Butti et al.
abstract: Terrestrial mammals face a severe crisis of habitat loss worldwide. Therefore, assessing information on habitat loss throughout different time periods is crucial for assessing species’ conservation statuses based on the IUCN Red List system. To support the national extinction risk assessment in Brazil (2016–2022), we developed a script that uses the MapBiomas Project 6.0 data source of land cover and land use (annual maps at 30 m scale) within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to calculate habitat loss. We defined suitable habitats from the MapBiomas Project land cover classification for 190 mammalian taxa, according to each species range map and ecological characteristics. We considered a period of three generation lengths to assess habitat loss in accordance with the Red List assessment criteria. We used the script to estimate changes in available habitat throughout the analyzed period within the species’ known ranges. The results indicated that habitat loss occurred within 94.3% of the analyzed taxa range, with the Carnivora order suffering the greatest habitat loss, followed by the Cingulata order. These analyses may be decisive for applying criteria, defining categories during the assessment of at least 17 species (9%), enriching discussions, and raising new questions for several other species. We considered the outcome of estimating habitat loss for various taxa when applying criterion A, which refers to population reduction, thus supporting more accurate inferences about past population declines.
bibliographic citation: Butti et al. (2022) Habitat loss estimation for assessing terrestrial mammalian species extinction risk: an open data framework. PeerJ 10:e14289 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14289
date submitted: 2022-07-14
date accepted: 2022-10-02
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Butti
  given name: Mariella
author list: Agent
  family name: Pacca
  given name: Luciana
author list: Agent
  family name: Santos
  given name: Paloma
author list: Agent
  family name: Alonso
  given name: André C.
author list: Agent
  family name: Buss
  given name: Gerson
author list: Agent
  family name: Ludwig
  given name: Gabriela
author list: Agent
  family name: Jerusalinsky
  given name: Leandro
author list: Agent
  family name: Martins
  given name: Amely B.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14289
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: © 2022 Butti et al.
attribution name: Butti et al.

Wildlife overpass structure size, distribution, effectiveness, and adherence to expert design recommendations
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: It is now well evidenced that wildlife crossing structures paired with exclusion fencing reduce wildlife vehicles collisions while facilitating wildlife connectivity across roadways. Managing animal mortality and subpopulation connectivity is crucial to successful species and landscape stewardship. Highway mitigation projects are large economic investments that remain on the landscape for many decades. Governments and planning agents thus strive to balance cost and benefit to build cost-effective structures with the greatest positive impact on local wildlife and motorists. Ideal dimensions of overpasses and underpasses vary by species, but scientists generally suggest that overpasses for large mammals should be approximately 50 m wide. Optimal width also depends on structure length, with longer structures requiring additional width. Accordingly, experts have suggested a width to length ratio of 0.8. We sought to assess how these recommendations manifested in practice—where agencies use this information to design and build structures while also balancing cost and logistical challenges—and the degree to which built structures conform to current recommendations. We identified 120 wildlife overpasses across the world that were constructed to reduce the negative impacts of roads. Using a novel measurement technique, we analyzed the dimensions of these 120 overpasses located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The average width of the wildlife overpasses was 34 m. Most wildlife overpasses located in North America and Europe did not meet their respective dimensional expert guidelines. We investigate reasons explaining the non-compliance and provide recommendations for future overpass designs. Building on previous evidence showing that wider overpasses have increased crossing rates, we examined crossing rates for multiple large mammal species across 12 overpasses located in western North America. We qualitatively observed that wider North American overpasses (40–60…
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: Liam Brennan
creator: Emily Chow
creator: Clayton Lamb
subject: Biogeography
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
subject: Biosphere Interactions
subject: Natural Resource Management
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14371
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Brennan et al.
abstract: It is now well evidenced that wildlife crossing structures paired with exclusion fencing reduce wildlife vehicles collisions while facilitating wildlife connectivity across roadways. Managing animal mortality and subpopulation connectivity is crucial to successful species and landscape stewardship. Highway mitigation projects are large economic investments that remain on the landscape for many decades. Governments and planning agents thus strive to balance cost and benefit to build cost-effective structures with the greatest positive impact on local wildlife and motorists. Ideal dimensions of overpasses and underpasses vary by species, but scientists generally suggest that overpasses for large mammals should be approximately 50 m wide. Optimal width also depends on structure length, with longer structures requiring additional width. Accordingly, experts have suggested a width to length ratio of 0.8. We sought to assess how these recommendations manifested in practice—where agencies use this information to design and build structures while also balancing cost and logistical challenges—and the degree to which built structures conform to current recommendations. We identified 120 wildlife overpasses across the world that were constructed to reduce the negative impacts of roads. Using a novel measurement technique, we analyzed the dimensions of these 120 overpasses located in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The average width of the wildlife overpasses was 34 m. Most wildlife overpasses located in North America and Europe did not meet their respective dimensional expert guidelines. We investigate reasons explaining the non-compliance and provide recommendations for future overpass designs. Building on previous evidence showing that wider overpasses have increased crossing rates, we examined crossing rates for multiple large mammal species across 12 overpasses located in western North America. We qualitatively observed that wider North American overpasses (40–60…
bibliographic citation: Brennan et al. (2022) Wildlife overpass structure size, distribution, effectiveness, and adherence to expert design recommendations. PeerJ 10:e14371 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14371
date submitted: 2022-07-13
date accepted: 2022-10-19
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Brennan
  given name: Liam
author list: Agent
  family name: Chow
  given name: Emily
author list: Agent
  family name: Lamb
  given name: Clayton
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14371
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: © 2022 Brennan et al.
attribution name: Brennan et al.

Composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages and their habitat use in unflooded and flooded blackwater forests in the Central Amazon
type: item
type: AcademicArticle
description: Several forest types compose the apparently homogenous forest landscape of the lowland Amazon. The seasonally flooded forests (igapós) of the narrow floodplains of the blackwater rivers of the Amazon basin support their community of animals; however, these animals are required to adapt to survive in this environment. Furthermore, several taxa are an important source of seasonal resources for the animals in the adjacent unflooded forest (terra firme). During the low-water phase, the igapó becomes available to terrestrial species that make use of terra firme and igapó forests. Nonetheless, these lateral movements of terrestrial mammals between hydrologically distinct forest types remain poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that the attributes of the assemblages (abundance, richness, evenness, and functional groups) of the terrestrial mammals in both these forest types of the Cuieiras River basin, which is located in the Central Amazon, are distinct and arise from the ecological heterogeneity induced by seasonal floods. After a sampling effort of 10,743 camera trap days over four campaigns, two for the terra firme (6,013 trap days) and two for the igapó forests (4,730 trap days), a total of 31 mammal species (five were considered eventual) were recorded in both forest types. The species richness was similar in the igapó and terra firme forests, and the species abundance and biomass were greater in the terra firme forest, which were probably due to its higher primary productivity; whereas the evenness was increased in the igapós when compared to the terra firme forest. Although both forest types shared 84% of the species, generally a marked difference was observed in the composition of the terrestrial mammal species. These differences were associated with abundances of some specific functional groups, i.e., frugivores/granivores. Within-group variation was explained by balanced variation in abundance and turnover, which the individuals of a given species …
format: application/pdf
format: text/html
creator: André L. S. Gonçalves
creator: Tadeu G. de Oliveira
creator: Alexander R. Arévalo-Sandi
creator: Lucian V. Canto
creator: Tsuneaki Yabe
creator: Wilson R. Spironello
subject: Biodiversity
subject: Conservation Biology
subject: Ecology
description: doi:10.7717/peerj.14374
publisher: PeerJ Inc.
rights: © 2022 Gonçalves et al.
abstract: Several forest types compose the apparently homogenous forest landscape of the lowland Amazon. The seasonally flooded forests (igapós) of the narrow floodplains of the blackwater rivers of the Amazon basin support their community of animals; however, these animals are required to adapt to survive in this environment. Furthermore, several taxa are an important source of seasonal resources for the animals in the adjacent unflooded forest (terra firme). During the low-water phase, the igapó becomes available to terrestrial species that make use of terra firme and igapó forests. Nonetheless, these lateral movements of terrestrial mammals between hydrologically distinct forest types remain poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that the attributes of the assemblages (abundance, richness, evenness, and functional groups) of the terrestrial mammals in both these forest types of the Cuieiras River basin, which is located in the Central Amazon, are distinct and arise from the ecological heterogeneity induced by seasonal floods. After a sampling effort of 10,743 camera trap days over four campaigns, two for the terra firme (6,013 trap days) and two for the igapó forests (4,730 trap days), a total of 31 mammal species (five were considered eventual) were recorded in both forest types. The species richness was similar in the igapó and terra firme forests, and the species abundance and biomass were greater in the terra firme forest, which were probably due to its higher primary productivity; whereas the evenness was increased in the igapós when compared to the terra firme forest. Although both forest types shared 84% of the species, generally a marked difference was observed in the composition of the terrestrial mammal species. These differences were associated with abundances of some specific functional groups, i.e., frugivores/granivores. Within-group variation was explained by balanced variation in abundance and turnover, which the individuals of a given species …
bibliographic citation: Gonçalves et al. (2022) Composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages and their habitat use in unflooded and flooded blackwater forests in the Central Amazon. PeerJ 10:e14374 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14374
date submitted: 2022-07-14
date accepted: 2022-10-19
issued: 2022-12-12
is part of: PeerJ
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
author list: Agent
  family name: Gonçalves
  given name: André L. S.
author list: Agent
  family name: de Oliveira
  given name: Tadeu G.
author list: Agent
  family name: Arévalo-Sandi
  given name: Alexander R.
author list: Agent
  family name: Canto
  given name: Lucian V.
author list: Agent
  family name: Yabe
  given name: Tsuneaki
author list: Agent
  family name: Spironello
  given name: Wilson R.
doi: 10.7717/peerj.14374
volume: 10
issn: 2167-8359
publication name: PeerJ
publication date: 2022-12-12
copyright: © 2022 Gonçalves et al.
attribution name: Gonçalves et al.

PeerJ
type: Periodical
uri: PeerJ
issn: 2167-8359