This chapter contains sections titled: Evaluation of the PHA with Respect to Essential Criteria Evaluation of PHA Quality and Completeness Other Considerations Common Problems with PHAs
Developing a protocol for the use of non-invasive genetic sampling to monitor UK red fox abundance
Abstract
The red fox is an important UK predator and is widely managed, due to its impact on species of economic and conservation concern. However, UK fox populations are currently poorly monitored, and population size estimates are almost exclusively from index counts such as the national game bag census. Estimates of true abundance could improve the monitoring and management of UK foxes by reducing the levels of uncertainty in population estimates.
Non-invasive genetic sampling (NGS) has a lot of potential as a method for estimating the true abundance of foxes, and this study trialled hair collection and analysis techniques for use in NGS studies of UK foxes. Several trap designs, incorporating different baits and hair collection structures, were set up in Durham City woodland and trialled for their effectiveness in attracting foxes and collecting hair samples. The traps differed in their effectiveness at collecting hair, but neither food baits nor valerian oil were successful in attracting foxes to traps. Further research is needed to determine a reliable method for collecting hair samples.
The Chelex extraction method was tested for its reliability for extracting DNA from single-hair samples, and was found to be extremely reliable for this purpose. A range of microsatellite markers were then tested for use identifying individual red foxes from hair samples, and a useable set of primers was identified, and optimised. A sex-linked marker (SRY) was also tested and optimised, to provide additional information at from samples. The resulting protocol was also tested with domestic dog samples, and the results of the analysis were found to be genetically distinct, showing that mistakenly included samples from closely-related species could be identified.
The developed laboratory methods could be reliably used for individual recognition and sex identification from remotely-collected hair samples from red fox populations in the UK, and could form a basis for future capture-mark-recapture and population analysis of red fox samples, improving red fox monitoring in the UK.
Under his real name, Bruce Montgomery (1921-1978) wrote concert music and the scores for almost 50 feature films, including some of the most enduring British comedies of the twentieth century, amongst them a number in the series started by Doctor in the House and the first six Carry On films. Under the pseudonym of Edmund Crispin he enjoyed equal success as an author, writing nine highly acclaimed detective novels and a number of short crime stories, as well as compiling anthologies of science fiction which helped to increase the profile of the genre. A close friend of both Philip Larkin and Kingsley Amis, Montgomery did much to encourage their work. In this first biography of Montgomery, David Whittle draws on interviews with people who knew the writer and composer. These interviews, together with in-depth research, provide great insight into the development of Montgomery as a crime fiction writer and as a composer in the ever-demanding world of films. During the late 1950s and early '60s these demands were to prove too much for Montgomery. Alcoholism combined with the onset of osteoporosis and a retreat into a semi-reclusive lifestyle resulted in him writing and composing virtually nothing during the last 15 years of his life. David Whittle examines the reasons for Montgomery's early and rapid decline in this thoroughly researched and engagingly written biography.
Abstract The prize‐collecting Euclidean Steiner tree (PCEST) problem is a generalization of the well‐known Euclidean Steiner tree (EST) problem. All points given in an EST problem instance are connected by the shortest possible network in a solution. A solution can include additional points called Steiner points. A PCEST problem instance differs from an EST problem instance by the addition of weights for each given point. A PCEST solution connects a subset of the given points in order to maximize the net value of the network (the sum of the selected point weights, less than the length of the network). We present an algorithmic framework for solving the PCEST problem. Included in the framework are efficient methods to determine subsets of points that must be in every solution, and subsets of points that cannot be in any solution. Also included are methods to generate and concatenate full Steiner trees.
A systematic approach to sewerage infiltration/inflow reduction adopted by the City of Ipswich is presented. Preliminary economic analysis showed I/I reduction to be cost effective in 5 out of 11 sub catchments within a study area. A pilot source detection program was successful in identifying some 2,000 defects contributing to the I/I load.
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