title: PeerJ description: Articles published in PeerJ link: https://peerj.com/articles/index.rss3?journal=peerj&page=607 creator: info@peerj.com PeerJ errorsTo: info@peerj.com PeerJ language: en title: Population development and landscape preference of reintroduced wild ungulates: successful rewilding in Southern Italy link: https://peerj.com/articles/14492 last-modified: 2022-12-13 description: BackgroundIn 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.MethodsBy 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 DiscussionWe 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. creator: Eleonora Rivieccio creator: Claudia Troiano creator: Simona Petrelli creator: Valeria Maselli creator: Gabriele de Filippo creator: Domenico Fulgione creator: Maria Buglione uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14492 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Rivieccio et al. title: Stigmatization towards healthcare personnel during the first COVID-19 wave in Central and Northern Mexico link: https://peerj.com/articles/14503 last-modified: 2022-12-13 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. creator: Christian Enrique Cruz-Torres creator: Jaime Martín del Campo-Ríos uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14503 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Cruz-Torres et al. title: New estimators for estimating population total: an application to water demand in Thailand under unequal probability sampling without replacement for missing data link: https://peerj.com/articles/14551 last-modified: 2022-12-13 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. creator: Chugiat Ponkaew creator: Nuanpan Lawson uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14551 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Ponkaew and Lawson title: DNA barcoding unveils a high diversity of caddisflies (Trichoptera) in the Mount Halimun Salak National Park (West Java; Indonesia) link: https://peerj.com/articles/14182 last-modified: 2022-12-12 description: BackgroundTrichoptera 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.MethodsTo 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).ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsThis 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. creator: Isabel C. Kilian creator: Marianne Espeland creator: Wolfram Mey creator: Daisy Wowor creator: Renny K. Hadiaty creator: Thomas von Rintelen creator: Fabian Herder uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14182 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Kilian et al. title: Miocene Cupressinoxylon from Gökçeada (Imbros), Turkey with Protophytobia cambium mining and the study of ecological signals of wood anatomy link: https://peerj.com/articles/14212 last-modified: 2022-12-12 description: PremiseThe 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.MethodsThree 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 resultsThe 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.ConclusionsBased 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 nootkatensis clade with feeding traces of the fossil cambium miner of the genus Protophytobia Süss (Diptera: Agromyzidae), and anatomical damage and reaction tissue on adventitious shoots. The use of Protopinaceae and Pinoxylon F. H. Knowlton from the eastern Mediterranean are re–evaluated and corrections are provided. The age of the studied plant fossiliferous locality in Gökçeada is revised as middle Miocene, allowing the proposal of an eastern Mediterranean MCO hotspot, including Lesbos, Lemnos, and Gökçeada (Imbros) Islands. creator: Dimitra Mantzouka creator: Ünal Akkemik creator: Yıldırım Güngör uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14212 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Mantzouka et al. title: A manikin or human simulator—development of a tool for measuring students’ perception link: https://peerj.com/articles/14214 last-modified: 2022-12-12 description: BackgroundEducation 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.MethodsAn 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.ResultsThe 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.ConclusionsThe 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. creator: Kamil Torres creator: Phillip Evans creator: Izabela Mamcarz creator: Natalia Radczuk creator: Anna Torres uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14214 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Torres et al. title: Habitat loss estimation for assessing terrestrial mammalian species extinction risk: an open data framework link: https://peerj.com/articles/14289 last-modified: 2022-12-12 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. 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 uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14289 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Butti et al. title: Wildlife overpass structure size, distribution, effectiveness, and adherence to expert design recommendations link: https://peerj.com/articles/14371 last-modified: 2022-12-12 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 m), in or near compliance with expert guidelines, were associated with a more diverse set of species use and had nearly twice the average crossing rates when compared to non-compliant, narrow North American overpasses. In reviewing various studies from around the world, we conclude that wide overpasses (~50 m) continue to present ecologically sound and cost-effective solutions for decreasing the barrier of roadways, especially when targeting width-sensitive species and large assemblages of mammals. Future studies, however, are encouraged to further explore the specific instances when underpasses and narrower overpasses present more cost-effective ecological solutions, or how these structures can complement wide overpasses in successful wildlife crossing systems. creator: Liam Brennan creator: Emily Chow creator: Clayton Lamb uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14371 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Brennan et al. title: Composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages and their habitat use in unflooded and flooded blackwater forests in the Central Amazon link: https://peerj.com/articles/14374 last-modified: 2022-12-12 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 at one site were substituted by an equivalent number of individuals of a different species at another site. However, the occupancy was similar between both forest types for some groups such as carnivores. These findings indicate that seasonal flooding is a relevant factor in structuring the composition of terrestrial mammal assemblages between terra firme and floodplain forests, even in nutrient-poor habitats such as igapós. The results also highlight the importance of maintaining the mosaic of natural habitats on the scale of the entire landscape, with major drainage basins representing management units that provide sufficiently large areas to support a range of ecological processes (e.g., nutrient transport, lateral movements and the persistence of apex predators). 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 uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14374 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: © 2022 Gonçalves et al. title: Tree variability limits the detection of nutrient treatment effects on sap flux density in a northern hardwood forest link: https://peerj.com/articles/14410 last-modified: 2022-12-12 description: The influence of nutrient availability on transpiration is not well understood, in spite of the importance of transpiration to forest water budgets. Soil nutrients have the potential to affect tree water use through indirect effects on leaf area or stomatal conductance. For example, following addition of calcium silicate to a watershed at Hubbard Brook, in New Hampshire, streamflow was reduced for 3 years, which was attributed to a 25% increase in evapotranspiration associated with increased foliar production. The first objective of this study was to quantify the effect of nutrient availability on sap flux density in a nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium addition experiment in New Hampshire in which tree diameter growth, foliar chemistry, and soil nutrient availability had responded to treatments. We measured sap flux density in American beech (Fagus grandifolia, Ehr.), red maple (Acer rubrum L.), sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.), or yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton.) trees, over five years of experiments in five stands distributed across three sites. In 2018, 3 years after a calcium silicate addition, sap flux density averaged 36% higher in trees in the treatment than the control plot, but this effect was not very significant (p = 0.07). Our second objective was to determine whether this failure to detect effects with greater statistical confidence was due to small effect sizes or high variability among trees. We found that tree-to-tree variability was high, with coefficients of variation averaging 39% within treatment plots. Depending on the species and year of the study, the minimum difference in sap flux density detectable with our observed variability ranged from 46% to 352%, for a simple ANOVA. We analyzed other studies reported in the literature that compared tree water use among species or treatments and found detectable differences ranging from 16% to 78%. Future sap flux density studies could benefit from power analyses to guide sampling intensity. Including pretreatment data, in the case of manipulative studies, would also increase statistical power. creator: Alexandrea M. Rice creator: Mariann T. Garrison-Johnston creator: Arianna J. Libenson creator: Ruth D. Yanai uri: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.14410 license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ rights: ©2022 Rice et al.