Rocío Almuna

Rural livelihoods are under threat, not only from climate change and soil erosion but also because young people in rural areas are increasingly moving to urbanized areas, seeking employment and education opportunities. In the Valparaiso region of Chile, megadrought, soil degradation, and industrialization are driving young people to leave agricultural and livestock activities. In this study, our main objective was to identify the factors influencing young people living in two rural agricultural communities (Valle Hermoso and La Vega). We conducted 90 online surveys of young people aged 13–24 to evaluate their interest in living in the countryside (ILC). We assessed the effect of community satisfaction, connectedness to nature, and social valuation of rural livelihoods on the ILC. The results show that young people were more likely to stay living in the countryside when they felt satisfied and safe in their community, felt a connection with nature, and were surrounded by people who e...

Abstract Background Human population expansion has increased the contact between domestic animals and wildlife, thereby increasing the transmission of infectious diseases including canine distemper virus (CDV). Here, we investigated the risk factors associated with CDV exposure in domestic and wild carnivores from the Janos Biosphere Reserve (JBR), Mexico. Methods A cross‐sectional household questionnaire study was performed in four rural towns to investigate the risk factors associated with the presence of CDV in domestic and wild carnivores from the JBR, Mexico. In addition, we tested serum samples from 70 dogs and three wild carnivores, including one bobcat (Lynx rufus), one striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and one gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) for CDV antibodies using immunochromatographic and viral neutralization assays. Results Overall, 62% of domestic dogs were seropositive for CDV, and the presence of antibodies was significantly higher in free‐roaming owned dogs than dogs with restricted movement. Among the wild carnivores, only the bobcat was seropositive. The rate of vaccination against CDV in dogs was low (7%), and there was a high rate of direct interactions between domestic dogs and wild carnivores. Conclusion Our serological assays show that CDV is circulating in both domestic dogs and wild carnivores, suggesting cross‐species transmission. Our finding of low vaccination rates, high number of unrestrained owned dogs and direct interactions between wildlife and domestic animals reported in the region may be perpetuating the high prevalence of the virus and increasing the risk of CDV transmission between wild and domestic carnivores. Therefore, long‐term longitudinal studies are recommended in order to monitor infectious diseases at the domestic‐wildlife interface in this highly biodiverse region.

Human persecution is a worldwide threat to raptors, contributing to the decline of many species. Perceived or real predation of domestic animals is the main driver of persecution and a barrier to the success of conservation initiatives. Predictive risk models are used to identify hazards in order to target effective prevention actions, and they have been successfully applied to conflicts with top predators. The Andean temperate region of Chile is a Global Biodiversity Hotspot where diurnal raptors co-inhabit with humans in rural areas. Here, complaints from farmers on raptor attacks on poultry have steadily increased; however, there is no empirical information about the conflict. This study aims to build a predictive social-ecological risk model to identify husbandry practices and landscape attributes associated with poultry predation by diurnal raptors in Chile. We applied 100 questionnaires to local farmers about their poultry husbandry practices and raptor predation patterns. We used data from questionnaires and landscape attributes to generate risk models of poultry predation. We show that farmers maintaining an enclosure to keep the chickens, a guard dog and a high proportion of forest in their properties can reduce the risk of raptor predation. These findings can be used to prevent raptor attacks on poultry by facilitating the implementation of these management measures in southern Chile. Our results indicate that predictive models can help in identifying effective mitigation measures for human-raptor coexistence benefiting human livelihoods as well as conservation of wild predators.

Human persecution is a worldwide threat to raptors, contributing to the decline of many species. Perceived or real predation of domestic animals is the main driver of persecution and a barrier to the success of conservation initiatives. Predictive risk models are used to identify hazards in order to target effective prevention actions, and they have been successfully applied to conflicts with top predators. The Andean temperate region of Chile is a Global Biodiversity Hotspot where diurnal raptors co-inhabit with humans in rural areas. Here, complaints from farmers on raptor attacks on poultry have steadily increased; however, there is no empirical information about the conflict. This study aims to build a predictive social-ecological risk model to identify husbandry practices and landscape attributes associated with poultry predation by diurnal raptors in Chile. We applied 100 questionnaires to local farmers about their poultry husbandry practices and raptor predation patterns. We used data from questionnaires and landscape attributes to generate risk models of poultry predation. We show that farmers maintaining an enclosure to keep the chickens, a guard dog and a high proportion of forest in their properties can reduce the risk of raptor predation. These findings can be used to prevent raptor attacks on poultry by facilitating the implementation of these management measures in southern Chile. Our results indicate that predictive models can help in identifying effective mitigation measures for human-raptor coexistence benefiting human livelihoods as well as conservation of wild predators.

Background:Human population expansion has increased the contact between domestic animals and wildlife, thereby increasing the transmission of infectious diseases including canine distemper virus (CDV). Here, we investigated the risk factors associated with CDV exposure in domestic and wild carnivores fromthe Janos Biosphere Reserve (JBR), Mexico.
Methods: A cross-sectional household questionnaire study was performed in four rural towns to investigate the risk factors associated with the presence of CDV in domestic and wild carnivores from the JBR, Mexico. In addition, we tested serum samples from 70 dogs and three wild carnivores, including one bobcat (Lynx rufus), one striped skunk
(Mephitis mephitis) and one gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) for CDV antibodies using immunochromatographic and viral neutralization assays.
Results: Overall, 62% of domestic dogs were seropositive for CDV, and the presence of antibodies was significantly higher in free-roaming owned dogs than dogs with restricted movement. Among the wild carnivores, only the bobcat was seropositive. The rate of vaccination against CDV in dogs was low (7%), and there was a high rate of direct
interactions between domestic dogs and wild carnivores.
Conclusion: Our serological assays show that CDV is circulating in both domestic dogs and wild carnivores, suggesting cross-species transmission. Our finding of low vaccination rates, high number of unrestrained owned dogs and direct interactions between
wildlife and domestic animals reported in the region may be perpetuating the high prevalence of the virus and increasing the risk of CDV transmission between wild and domestic carnivores. Therefore, long-term longitudinal studies are recommended in order to monitor infectious diseases at the domestic-wildlife interface in this highly biodiverse region.

The proliferation of feral domestic animals (FDAs) has been favored by human-induced landscape changes, a world population becoming increasingly urban, and by inappropriate management of domestic animals. Here, we describe the impact of FDAs and the opposing views in societies that affect the decision-making process and management actions. We provide general recommendations for the participatory management of this emerging threat to biodiversity and rural ecosystems.

The proliferation of feral domestic animals (FDAs) has been favored by human-induced landscape changes, a world population becoming increasingly urban, and by inappropriate management of domestic animals. Here, we describe the impact of FDAs and the opposing views in societies that affect the decision-making process and management actions. We provide general recommendations for the participatory management of this emerging threat to biodiversity and rural ecosystems.