All Outputs (38)

Wildlife corridor degradation and human-wildlife conflict: a case study from Tanzania (2024)
Journal Article
Elisa, M., Caro, T., Yon, L., Hardy, I. C. W., Roberts, S., & Symeonakis, E. (in press). Wildlife corridor degradation and human-wildlife conflict: a case study from Tanzania. African Journal of Ecology,

In many African countries, anthropogenic pressure and poor governance have led to the degradation of wildlife corridors, which are important for the long-term viability of wildlife populations. Yet the nature of such degradation is poorly understood,... Read More about Wildlife corridor degradation and human-wildlife conflict: a case study from Tanzania.

Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care (2024)
Journal Article
Baumgartner, K., Hüttner, T., Clegg, I. L. K., Garcia Hartmann, M., Garcia-Párraga, D., Manteca, X., …Delfour, F. (2024). Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care. Animals, 14(5), Article 701. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050701

Ensuring high standards of animal welfare is not only an ethical duty for zoos and aquariums, but it is also essential to achieve their conservation, education, and research goals. While for some species, animal welfare assessment frameworks are alre... Read More about Dolphin-WET—Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under Human Care.

Incorporating biodiversity responses to land use change scenarios for preventing emerging zoonotic diseases in areas of unknown host-pathogen interactions (2023)
Journal Article
Roque, F. D. O., Bellón, B., Guerra, A., Valente-Neto, F., Santos, C. C., Melo, I., …Ochoa-Quintero, J. M. (2023). Incorporating biodiversity responses to land use change scenarios for preventing emerging zoonotic diseases in areas of unknown host-pathogen interactions. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 10, Article 1229676. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1229676

The need to reconcile food production, the safeguarding of nature, and the protection of public health is imperative in a world of continuing global change, particularly in the context of risks of emerging zoonotic disease (EZD). In this paper, we ex... Read More about Incorporating biodiversity responses to land use change scenarios for preventing emerging zoonotic diseases in areas of unknown host-pathogen interactions.

Relationships between soil and badger elemental concentrations across a heterogeneously contaminated landscape (2023)
Journal Article
Sartorius, A., Cahoon, M., Corbetta, D., Grau-Roma, L., Johnson, M. F., Sandoval Barron, E., …Bennett, M. (2023). Relationships between soil and badger elemental concentrations across a heterogeneously contaminated landscape. Science of the Total Environment, 869, Article 161684. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161684

Understanding the links between environmental and wildlife elemental concentrations is key to help assess ecosystem functions and the potential effects of legacy pollutants. In this study, livers from 448 European badgers (Meles meles) collected acro... Read More about Relationships between soil and badger elemental concentrations across a heterogeneously contaminated landscape.

Cryo-scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that ice morphology is not associated with the post-thaw survival of domestic boar (Sus domesticus) spermatozoa: A comparison of directional and conventional freezing methods (2022)
Journal Article
Gillis, J. D., Holt, W. V., Penfold, L. M., Woad, K. J., Graham, J. K., Watts, J. A., …Yon, L. (2022). Cryo-scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that ice morphology is not associated with the post-thaw survival of domestic boar (Sus domesticus) spermatozoa: A comparison of directional and conventional freezing methods. Cryobiology, 108, 10-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2022.08.006

Directional freezing (in 2 or 10 ml hollow glass tubes) has been reported to improve post-thaw sperm survival parameters compared to conventional methods (in 0.5 ml straws). However, the biophysical properties that increase post-thaw survival are poo... Read More about Cryo-scanning electron microscopy demonstrates that ice morphology is not associated with the post-thaw survival of domestic boar (Sus domesticus) spermatozoa: A comparison of directional and conventional freezing methods.

Behaviour and Welfare Impacts of Releasing Elephants from Overnight Tethers: A Zimbabwean Case Study (2022)
Journal Article
Williams, E., Clark, N., Rendle-Worthington, J., & Yon, L. (2022). Behaviour and Welfare Impacts of Releasing Elephants from Overnight Tethers: A Zimbabwean Case Study. Animals, 12(15), Article 1933. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12151933

Within the southern African elephant tourism industry, chaining or tethering elephants is still a relatively routine practice, despite the known negative impacts. Cited reasons for chaining include fear of aggressive interactions between elephants wh... Read More about Behaviour and Welfare Impacts of Releasing Elephants from Overnight Tethers: A Zimbabwean Case Study.

Human health implications from consuming eggs produced near a derelict metalliferous mine: a case study (2022)
Journal Article
Sartorius, A., Johnson, M., Young, S., Bennett, M., Baiker, K., Edwards, P., & Yon, L. (2022). Human health implications from consuming eggs produced near a derelict metalliferous mine: a case study. Food Additives and Contaminants: Part A: Chemistry, Analysis, Control, Exposure and Risk Assessment, 39(6), 1074-1085. https://doi.org/10.1080/19440049.2022.2062059

Lead pollution from metalliferous mines can have major environmental and health effects long after the mines have closed. Animals living near derelict mine sites can inadvertently ingest lead-contaminated soils, causing them to accumulate lead and po... Read More about Human health implications from consuming eggs produced near a derelict metalliferous mine: a case study.

How can mating systems inform future biobanking strategies? An illustration using two Indonesian bovids, banteng (Bos javanicus) and lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) (2022)
Journal Article
Gillis, J. D., Holt, W. V., Yon, L., Woad, K. J., Love, D., Holly, R., & Penfold, L. M. (2022). How can mating systems inform future biobanking strategies? An illustration using two Indonesian bovids, banteng (Bos javanicus) and lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis). Animal Reproduction Science, 238, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.106943

Storing cryopreserved spermatozoa in a genome resource bank safeguards against the loss of heterozygosity in endangered species and provides opportunities to reincorporate genes into populations through the application of assisted reproductive techno... Read More about How can mating systems inform future biobanking strategies? An illustration using two Indonesian bovids, banteng (Bos javanicus) and lowland anoa (Bubalus depressicornis).

Method development to characterise elephant tail hairs by LA-ICP-MS to reflect changes in elemental chemistry (2022)
Journal Article
Sach, F., Fields, L., Chenery, S., Yon, L., Henley, M. D., Buss, P., …Watts, M. J. (2023). Method development to characterise elephant tail hairs by LA-ICP-MS to reflect changes in elemental chemistry. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 45(4), 1153-1164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-022-01207-x

This paper evaluated analytical methods used to generate time-series data from elephant tail hairs, which can be used to reflect changing exposure to environmental geochemistry. Elephant tail hairs were analysed by three methods sequentially, each pr... Read More about Method development to characterise elephant tail hairs by LA-ICP-MS to reflect changes in elemental chemistry.

Simulating land use changes, sediment yields, and pesticide use in the Upper Paraguay River Basin: Implications for conservation of the Pantanal wetland (2021)
Journal Article
de Oliveira Roque, F., Guerra, A., Johnson, M., Padovania, C., Corbi, J., Covich, A. P., …Yon, L. (2021). Simulating land use changes, sediment yields, and pesticide use in the Upper Paraguay River Basin: Implications for conservation of the Pantanal wetland. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 314, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2021.107405

As a consequence of accelerated and excessive use of pesticides in tropical regions, wilderness areas are under threat; this includes the Pantanal wetlands in the Upper Paraguay River Basin (UPRB). Using a Land Cover Land Use Change (LCLUC) modelling... Read More about Simulating land use changes, sediment yields, and pesticide use in the Upper Paraguay River Basin: Implications for conservation of the Pantanal wetland.

Potential bio-indicators for assessment of mineral status in elephants (2020)
Journal Article
Sach, F., Dierenfeld, E. S., Langley-Evans, S. C., Hamilton, E., Lark, R. M., Yon, L., & Watts, M. J. (2020). Potential bio-indicators for assessment of mineral status in elephants. Scientific Reports, 10, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-64780-0

© 2020, The Author(s). The aim of this study was two-fold: (1) identify suitable bio-indicators to assess elemental status in elephants using captive elephant samples, and (2) understand how geochemistry influences mineral intake. Tail hair, toenail,... Read More about Potential bio-indicators for assessment of mineral status in elephants.

Spatial geochemistry influences the home range of elephants (2020)
Journal Article
Sach, F., Yon, L., Henley, M. D., Bedetti, A., Buss, P., de Boer, W. F., …Watts, M. J. (2020). Spatial geochemistry influences the home range of elephants. Science of the Total Environment, 729, Article 139066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139066

© 2020 Elsevier B.V. The unique geochemistry surrounding the Palabora Mining Company (PMC) land may act as a micronutrient hotspot, attracting elephants to the area. The PMC produces refined copper and extracts phosphates and other minerals. Understa... Read More about Spatial geochemistry influences the home range of elephants.

Development of a behavioural welfare assessment tool for routine use with captive elephants (2019)
Journal Article
Yon, L., Williams, E., Harvey, N., & Archer, L. (2019). Development of a behavioural welfare assessment tool for routine use with captive elephants. PLoS ONE, 14(2), Article e0210783. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210783

There has been much concern in recent years about the welfare of elephants in zoos across North America and Europe. While some previous studies have assessed captive elephant welfare at a particular point in time, there has been little work to devel... Read More about Development of a behavioural welfare assessment tool for routine use with captive elephants.

African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs (2019)
Journal Article
Sach, F., Dierenfeld, E. S., Langley-Evans, S. C., Watts, M. J., & Yon, L. (2019). African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs. PeerJ, 7, https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6260

© 2019 Sach et al. Background: The increasing human population and global intensification of agriculture have had a major impact on the world’s natural ecosystems and caused devastating effects on populations of mega-herbivores such as the African sa... Read More about African savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana) as an example of a herbivore making movement choices based on nutritional needs.

Recent changes in infectious diseases in European wildlife (2018)
Journal Article
Yon, L., Duff, J. P., Ågren, E. O., Erdélyi, K., Ferroglio, E., Godfroid, J., …Gavier-Widén, D. (2019). Recent changes in infectious diseases in European wildlife. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 55(1), 3-43. https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-07-172

© Wildlife Disease Association 2019. Many infectious diseases originating from, or carried by, wildlife affect wildlife conservation and biodiversity, livestock health, or human health. We provide an update on changes in the epidemiology of 25 select... Read More about Recent changes in infectious diseases in European wildlife.

Social interactions in two groups of zoo-housed adult female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) that differ in relatedness (2018)
Journal Article
Harvey, N., Daly, C., Clark, N., Ransford, E., Wallace, S., & Yon, L. (2018). Social interactions in two groups of zoo-housed adult female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) that differ in relatedness. Animals, 8(8), doi:10.3390/ani8080132. ISSN 2076-2615

Opportunities for positive social interaction are important in captive animals, and social interactions can be used as a welfare indicator. Wild elephants live in related multigenerational herds; however, in captivity they are often managed in less r... Read More about Social interactions in two groups of zoo-housed adult female Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) that differ in relatedness.

A review of current indicators of welfare in captive elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus) (2018)
Journal Article
Williams, E., Chadwick, C., Yon, L., & Asher, L. (2018). A review of current indicators of welfare in captive elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus). Animal Welfare Journal, 27(3), 235-249. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.27.3.235

Concerns over elephant welfare in UK zoos have implications for their future in captivity. To monitor improvements made to elephant welfare in UK zoos, non-invasive, valid and reliable indicators of welfare are needed. Using a rapid review strategy a... Read More about A review of current indicators of welfare in captive elephants (Loxodonta africana and Elephas maximus).

Outcomes of conservatively managed coracoid fractures in wild birds in the United Kingdom (2018)
Journal Article
Cracknell, J. M., Lawrie, A. M., Yon, L., Hopper, J. S., Pereira, Y. M., Smaller, E., & Pizzi, R. (2018). Outcomes of conservatively managed coracoid fractures in wild birds in the United Kingdom. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 32(1), https://doi.org/10.1647/2016-195

Coracoid fractures are a frequent presentation in wild birds, commonly due to collisions with motor vehicles, windows, or other obstacles such as pylons. Despite this, there are few literature reports of outcomes, and those published consist of small... Read More about Outcomes of conservatively managed coracoid fractures in wild birds in the United Kingdom.

Incorporating stakeholder perspectives into the assessment and provision of captive elephant welfare (2017)
Journal Article
Chadwick, C., Williams, E., Asher, L., & Yon, L. (2017). Incorporating stakeholder perspectives into the assessment and provision of captive elephant welfare. Animal Welfare Journal, 26(4), https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.26.4.461

Recent concerns over the welfare of elephants in UK zoos have implications for their future in captivity, and it is clear that improvements in welfare should be made. Evidence suggests that the knowledge of experienced stakeholders is vital to captiv... Read More about Incorporating stakeholder perspectives into the assessment and provision of captive elephant welfare.

The impact of competition on elephant musth strategies: a game–theoretic model (2017)
Journal Article
Wyse, J. M., Hardy, I. C., Yon, L., & Mesterton-Gibbons, M. (in press). The impact of competition on elephant musth strategies: a game–theoretic model. Journal of Theoretical Biology, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.01.025

Mature male African Savannah elephants are known to periodically enter a temporary state of heightened aggression called “musth,” often linked with increased androgens, particularly testosterone. Sexually mature males are capable of entering musth at... Read More about The impact of competition on elephant musth strategies: a game–theoretic model.