East Foundation

Abstract Live capturing of wildlife is important for research and conservation, but is rife with challenges including animal welfare concerns, resource commitments (e.g., time and effort), and low capture success rates. Such challenges may be especially apparent for species listed under the Endangered Species Act and species whose ecology impacts capture success. Thus, it is important to investigate and implement strategies that can improve the capture success of endangered carnivores while reducing human effort and risk to animals. In the United States, ocelots ( Leopardus pardalis ) are a federally endangered species. To minimize risk to ocelots, capture efforts for research in Texas are limited to box trapping, but capture success is generally low. We tested whether visual and scent lures can increase capture success of ocelots and other co‐occurring mesocarnivores with box traps baited with a live bird on a private ranch in the Texas‐Tamaulipan thornscrub ecosystem. From December 2023 through April 2024, we used a randomized design and placed visual (hanging compact disc [CD] or shiny ribbon) and scent (civet musk or ocelot urine) lures at a total of 20 box traps and established 5 control traps across 3 temporally and geographically discrete trapping sessions for 75 trapping locations. We used linear regression to assess 2,900 trap nights and found that none of the lures (scent nor visual) impacted capture success of ocelots, bobcats (Lynx rufus ), or coyotes (Canis latrans ). Further, lures did not increase or decrease capture of non‐target animals. Based on our findings, we cannot recommend the use of CDs, ribbon, civet musk, or ocelot urine as lures to increase ocelot box trapping success, as they did not increase capture success of ocelots or other target carnivores nor decrease captures of non‐target species. We suggest that researchers prioritize other strategies to increase capture success (e.g., setting additional traps) rather than the addition of lures we tested.

Abstract The resource rule hypothesis predicts that geographic differences in body size among populations of organisms are due to the amount, availability, and quality of food resources. For instance, the body size of large herbivores is often correlated with soil characteristics because better soils produce better forage. In semiarid environments, rainfall variation is an important driver of forage availability, especially highly nutritious annual forbs. Thus, in such pulsed‐resource environments, it is unclear whether the body size of large herbivores is influenced by fixed resources correlated with soil characteristics, irregular resource pulses correlated with rainfall, or both. Furthermore, it is not clear whether phenotypic expression is a function of forage quality or quantity. During the early autumns of 2011–2018, we captured 4554 white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on seven rangeland sites in the semiarid climate of South Texas, USA. The sites range from coastal to 140 km inland and represent gradients in both soil texture and annual rainfall. We recorded age‐ and sex‐specific indices of skeletal size, antler size, and body mass. Site‐specific soil characteristics explained most of the variation in skeletal size; percent sand was inversely related to skeletal size. For environmentally sensitive phenotypes (antler size and body mass), both soil characteristics and rainfall were influencers; increases in rainfall reduced the negative effect of sand. Percent sand and rainfall were positively correlated with annual biomass of preferred forbs, yet all phenotypic traits declined with increases in forb quantity. Increases in percent shrub cover increased all phenotype sizes. Our data suggest that the phenotypic expression of large herbivores in semiarid environments is driven by forage quality via edaphic characteristics rather than forage quantity via rainfall. Specifically, less sand in the soil allows for the development of shrub communities, which in turn provide a consistent source of forage in a variable, pulsed‐rainfall environment. Although forbs are of higher quality, they are highly ephemeral. The availability of a consistent source of forage may enable white‐tailed deer to extend time invested in body growth, which results in greater phenotype size. Our findings align with the resource rule hypothesis that identifies resource availability as a fundamental element explaining geographical variation in phenotypic expression.

Free-ranging nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) are an understudied species, both on their native ranges of India, Pakistan, and Nepal and on their introduced ranges in southern Texas. Basic data related to population sizes, survival, reproduction, and recruitment are needed throughout their range to inform management and conservation decisions. We collected nilgai fetuses from 3 ranches in southern Texas, including East Foundation's El Sauz and Santa Rosa ranches, and the Norias Division of the King Ranch® from 2018-2021. We calculated the percentage of individuals that were pregnant in each of the sample years and overall. We determined monthly average, maximum, and minimum fetus length. Of 488 nilgai cows, we found 386 to be pregnant (79%) and 214 to be pregnant with twins (56%). We found nilgai cows as young as 1-year old to have fetuses and therefore to have reached sexual maturity. Sex ratios of fetuses during any sampling year did not differ. We found ample evidence supporting our hypothesis that nilgai are fecund on their introduced range of southern Texas. To prevent nilgai overpopulation and associated problems, harvest management strategies should be implemented, specifically on nilgai cows.

Mitochondrial organelle transplantation (MOT) is an innovative strategy for the treatment of mitochondrial dysfunction such as cardiac ischemic reperfusion injuries, Parkinson's diseases, brain and spinal cord injuries, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, one of the major challenges for widespread usage is a methodology for preservation of isolated mitochondria. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are phospholipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles released from cells. EVs carry a cargo of proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, metabolites, and even organelles such as mitochondria. Purpose: To test if EVs enhance the stability of isolated mitochondria. Methods: We mixed isolated mitochondria of fibroblasts with EVs of mesenchymal stromal cells (imEVs) (9:1 in volume) and stored the mixture at 2˚C -6˚C for different time periods. We measured morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and mitochondrial ATP content at 0, 2, 5 days. Key findings: After 2 days of storage, the mitochondria without imEVs lost approximate 70% MMP (RFU: 1822 ± 68), compared to the fresh mitochondria (RFU: 5458 ± 52) (p < 0.01). However, MMP of the mitochondria mixed with imEVs (RFU: 6786 ± 291) was even slightly higher than MMP of the fresh mitochondria (RFU: 5962 ± 222) (p > 0.05). In agreement with MMP, mitochondria without imEVs lost significant mitochondrial ATP content (p < 0.01), but the mitochondria with imEVs addition preserved at least 90% mitochondrial ATP (p > 0.05), after 2 days of cold storage, compared to fresh mitochondria. Microscopy showed that imEVs promoted aggregation of isolated mitochondria. Summary: The preliminary data showed that imEVs enhanced the stability of isolated mitochondria in cold storage.

ObjectivesUnaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) are a vulnerable population with high rates of trauma including rape and torture. Existing services for UASC are inconsistent and often fail to meet their complex health needs(1). An ‘integrated pathway’ for UASC, developed in Camden, provides intensive and joined-up support for this group(2). With Barts Charity funding, this model was implemented in a second London borough (2020–2021) resulting in improvements in preliminary health outcomes. Following grant completion, funding for this service has been taken on by commissioners.Stakeholders across North East London (NEL) want to replicate this model. Implementation at scale requires more comprehensive evidence, including health economics.We aim to describe a plan to implement a sustainable model of care to improve health outcomes and experience of healthcare for UASC in NEL, and develop a national scale-up strategy.Specific objectives are to:Implement the integrated pathway model across NELAssess feasibility and acceptabilityEvaluate impact on health outcomesExplore cost-effectivenessTriangulate data to provide implementation strategy for scale-upMethodsWe are seeking grant funding from the Barts charity to support this project.We will work with UASC and teams across NEL to implement the integrated pathway model. Taking a trauma-informed-care approach the pathway involving longer assessments, multidisciplinary support and follow-up (CAMHS clinician and a Health improvement Practitioner), universal infectious diseases screening and workshops for UASC care. Quarterly patient and public involvement and stakeholder meetings will inform implementation and explore experience of care.ResultsA mixed-methods approach will be taken to assess feasibility and acceptability. Quantitative metrics to assess feasibility include recruitment of staff, success of implementing the components of the pathway and percentage of UASC attendance at clinic appointments and professionals at MDT sessions.Qualitative acceptability, feasibility and experience of care data will be gathered from UASC (n~10), care providers (n~30) and caregivers (n~10).Health outcomes and needs will be gathered from routine health records and compared before (n~180) and after implementation (n~250) (e.g. immunisation rates).Quality of life data prospectively gathered from UASC combined with National Cost Collection will inform health economics modelling.ConclusionIf successful, this project will improve the quality of care for ~250 UASC and ~200 care providers. We will deliver evidence and strategy for implementation at scale, including cost-effectiveness and detailed description of health needs for ~430 UASC.ReferencesNezafat Maldonado B, Armitage AJ, Williams B. Variation in initial health assessment of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children: a cross-sectional survey across England. BMJ Paediatr Open. 2022;6(1).Armitage AJ, Cohen J, Heys M, Hardelid P, Ward A, Eisen S. Description and evaluation of a pathway for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Archives of Disease in Childhood. 2021.

Context Research on large, terrestrial mammals often requires physical captures to attach tags or collars, collect morphological data, and collect biological samples. Choice of capture method should minimise pain and distress to the animal, minimise risk to personnel, and consider whether the method can achieve study objectives without biasing results. Aims We studied how capture via helicopter net-gunning affected survival, post-capture movement patterns, and space use of exotic nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in southern Texas, USA. Methods We estimated daily survival rates for 101 collared nilgai over 28 days, following 125 captures. We calculated mean daily movement rates and net-squared displacement for 21 recaptured nilgai for 60 days, starting 30 days before capture. Key results The survival probability of 125 nilgai individuals was 0.97 (95% CI = 0.92–0.99) over the 28 days following capture, with the lowest daily survival for the day after capture (WR22049_IE1.gif = 0.99; 95% CI = 0.96–1.00). We observed an increase of ~65% in the mean daily movement rate of 134 m/h on the first 2 days since capture, followed by a period of reduced movement out to the 5th day before returning to pre-capture levels. Analysis of net-squared displacement for 21 nilgai showed that 17 resumed pre-capture space-use patterns within a week, whereas four individuals did not return to the pre-capture range for =1 month. Conclusions Capture-related mortality rates for nilgai using helicopter net-gunning in our study (3%) were similar or lower than those reported for similar species captured using the same method. While we were able to detect a period of elevated movement rates, followed by a recovery period of diminished movement as a result of capture, nilgai appeared to return to typical behaviour ~6 days post-capture. Most nilgai in our study also resumed typical space-use patterns within a week of capture; however, our results suggest high individual variability in their response. Implications We recommend using net-gunning from a helicopter as a method for capturing nilgai when conditions and where vegetation and topography allow. We suggest censoring data for a minimum of 7 days following capture for analyses related to survival and movement rates. For analyses relating to space use, we suggest inspecting net-squared displacement or some similar displacement analysis for each animal separately to account for individual variation in response and exclude data accordingly.

The current harvest rate recommendation for northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus; hereafter, bobwhite) in South Texas, USA is 20% of the autumn population, including crippling loss. This recommendation is based on population simulations of empirical data. We completed the first field evaluation of the 20% harvest recommendation by comparing prehunting and posthunting bobwhite density estimates on a hunted and nonhunted site in South Texas during the 2018–2019, 2019–2020, and 2020–2021 statewide bobwhite hunting seasons in Jim Hogg County, Texas. We conducted line-transect distance sampling surveys on 4 occasions per year (early November, mid-December, late January, early March) from a helicopter platform and prescribed the 20% annual bobwhite harvest from the November density estimate. According to our bobwhite density estimates, we found that bobwhite mortality (e.g., population decline) varied seasonally between hunted ( = 54% ± 3%) and nonhunted sites ( = 46% ± 5%). Our spring density estimates on both sites (i.e., hunted vs. nonhunted) were similar through the first 2 years but diverged in 2020–2021, with bobwhite densities that were 129% higher on the nonhunted site. Comparing our annual spring density results to the means reported from population models (i.e., 100-year simulations) used to create the 20% harvest recommendation, we found that the mean spring density of the model simulations was higher than our mean field estimates on both our hunted (+59%) and nonhunted sites (+77%). We recommend a conservative approach to prescribing a bobwhite harvest in South Texas, such as using the lower 95% confidence interval of a bobwhite abundance estimate for calculating harvest prescriptions, due to variability within density estimates and bobwhite survival in semiarid ranges.