Cino Pertoldi

Aalborg University · Department of Chemistry and Bioscience

Differences or similarities in the variance of fitness traits are crucial in several biological disciplines, e.g. ecological, toxicological, developmental and evolutionary studies. For example the variance of traits can be utilized as a biomarker of differences in environmental conditions. In the absence of environmental variability, the difference...

Abstract Evolutionary ecologists commonly use reaction norms, which show the range of phenotypes produced by a set of genotypes exposed to different environments, to quantify the degree of phenotypic variance and the magnitude of plasticity of morphometric and life-history traits. Significant differences among the values of the slopes of the reacti...

Theoretical ecologists have long sought to understand how the persistence of populations depends on the interactions between exogenous (biotic and abiotic) and endogenous (e.g., demographic and genetic) drivers of population dynamics. Recent work focuses on the autocorrelation structure of environmental perturbations and its effects on the persiste...

Conservation Biologists have found that demographic stochasticity causes the mean time to extinction to increase exponentially with population size. This has proved helpful in analyses determining extinction times and characterizing the pathway to extinction. The aim of this investigation is to explore the possible interactions between environmenta...

Two principal methods are commonly employed for the estimation of developmental instability at the population level. Some studies use variances of morphological traits (σ 2 p), while others use fluctuating asymmetry (FA). In both cases, differences in the degree of developmental instability can be tested with an F-test, which is the most common way...

Riparian vegetation, which plays important roles in conservation of regional biodiversity and provision of many environmental services, has been severely degraded in East Africa by human activities. To ameliorate this degradation, more knowledge of the vegetation and factors affecting it is required. Thus, effect of land use on the plant community...

Increasing human population size and income growth are causing an increasing demand for food and feed. Insects are a more sustainable alternative to conventional animal source proteins, as they can convert waste and by-products from the agricultural industry into biomass for commercial feed for livestock and, potentially, serve as a food source for...

This study investigates the possibility of using machine learning models created in DeepLabCut and Create ML to automate aspects of behavioral coding and aid in behavioral analysis. Two models with different capabilities and complexities were constructed and compared to a manually observed control period. The accuracy of the models was assessed by...

This study investigates the possibility of utilising a drone equipped with a thermal camera to monitor the spatial distribution of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and to determine their behavioural patterns, as well as preferences for vegetation types in a moor in Denmark. The spatial distribution of red deer was mapped according to time of day and veget...

This study investigates the possibility of using machine learning models created in DeepLabCut and Create ML to automate aspects of behavioral coding and aid in behavioral analysis. Two models with different capabilities and complexities were constructed and compared to a manually observed control period. The accuracy of the models was assessed bef...

European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) inhabit most of Denmark, except for a few smaller islands. Research from other European countries has shown that the hedgehog populations are in decline. The exposure to chemicals might contribute to this development, although their role is currently unknown. Our research studied the occurrence of 19 selecte...

Interest in virtual fencing has increased due to its flexibility for agriculture and rewilding. However, systems like Nofence© require large financial investments, and the need for individual collars complicates large-scale use. If cattle herds maintain cohesive groups around leading individuals, fewer collars could be used, thereby enhancing cost...

Increasing population size and income growth are causing and increasing demand for food and protein of animal origin. Insects are an interesting alternative to conventional animal source proteins as they can convert by-products from the agricultural industry to biomass for commercial feed for livestock and potentially as a food source for human con...

Simple Summary This study investigates the application of machine learning in the form of image classification and object detection to video material to automate behavior recognition in captive orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus). A machine learning model was constructed using a 2 min video consisting of 30 s clips of each selected behavior. The machine le...

The Arctic is a highly variable environment in which extreme daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations can occur. With climate change, an increase in the occurrence of extreme high temperatures and drought events is expected. While the effects of cold and dehydration stress on polar arthropods are well studied in combination, little is known abou...

There has been an increased focus on new technologies to monitor habitat use and behaviour of cattle to develop a more sustainable livestock grazing system without compromising animal welfare. One of the currently used methods for monitoring cattle behaviour is tri-axial accelerometer data from systems such as virtual fencing technology or bespoke...

Agricultural industries rely on physical fences to manage livestock. However, these present practical, financial, and ecological challenges, which may be solved using virtual fencing. This study aimed to identify how experienced cattle through social facilitation and the introduction method influence inexperienced cattle. Based on three stocks held...

The main cause of stress, according to Selye [...]

The social- and self-directed behaviours of two golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia) was investigated while having residence in the tropical house of Aalborg Zoo, Denmark. The behaviour of the female had been distinct from the male since 2018. Despite several diagnostic examinations and medicinal treatments, the cause of the aberrant and a...

There has been an increased focus on new technologies to monitor habitat use and behaviour of cattle, to develop a more sustainable livestock grazing system, without compromising animal welfare. The currently most used method for monitoring cattle behaviour is tri-axial accelerometer data from systems such as virtual fencing technology or bespoke m...

The agricultural industry relies on physical fences to manage livestock. However, physical fences present some practical, financial, and ecological problems, that partly may be solved by virtual fencing. However, it is necessary for the livestock to be adapted to virtual fencing. This study aims to identify if adaptation to virtual fence can be imp...

Recent years have seen a surge in the interest in improving the conditions of zoo-housed animals. Mixed-species enrichment interventions have the potential to improve animal welfare. This study examines the effects of two Asian small-clawed otters (Aonyx cinereus) on a captive female Bornean orangutan's (Pongo pygmaeus) behavior, as an intervention...

Posthitis is an incurable lethal disease of males in the European bison (Bison bonasus), regarded as one of the major threats of the survival of the iconic species. Multiple attempts have been undertaken in the last 30 years to identify a source of infection and a primary pathogen. A genetic background for the disease was suggested after tools deve...

Reed beds can be managed for commercial or conservation purposes, with effects on its inhabitants. In this paper, we assess the effect of management on the reed bed Coleoptera community by investigating reed beds subject to winter cutting, winter harvest, short-term unmanaged (3 years), and long-term unmanaged (25 years). Using pit fall traps, we c...

Monitoring data from several European countries indicate that European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) populations are declining, and research exploring the causes of the decline, including exposure to potentially harmful xenobiotics and metals, may inform conservation initiatives to protect this species in the wild. Hedgehogs are ground-dwelling ma...

Previous research has established that some models of robotic lawn mowers are potentially harmful to hedgehogs. As the market for robotic lawn mowers is expanding rapidly and the populations of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are in decline, it is important to investigate this risk further to understand the potential threat which some robo...

Wildlife monitoring can be time-consuming and expensive, but the fast-developing technologies of uncrewed aerial vehicles, sensors, and machine learning pave the way for automated monitoring. In this study, we trained YOLOv5 neural networks to detect points of interest, hare (Lepus europaeus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in thermal aerial fo...

The populations of European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) are in decline, and it is essential that research identifies and mitigates the factors causing this. Hedgehogs are increasingly sharing habitats with humans, being exposed to a range of dangers in our backyards. Previous research has documented that some models of robotic lawn mowers can ca...

Anthropogenic activities increase turbidity in coastal marine environments globally, and turbidity is particularly caused by eutrophication. Turbidity is a measurement of the scattering and absorption of light by suspended matter in water. An increase in turbidity influences visual predators and affects community structures and whole ecosystems. Th...

The Danish feral mink (Neogale vison) population can be divided into wild-born and captive-born mink newly escaped from a farm. The impact of the captive-born mink on the population of feral population is unknown. Captive-born mink has lately been estimated to make up 25–30% of the feral mink population. In December 2020 Danish mink farms were deco...

Wildlife monitoring can be time-consuming and expensive, but the fast-developing technologies of uncrewed aerial vehicles, sensors, and machine learning pave the way for automated monitoring. In this study we trained YOLOv5 neural networks to detect Points of Interest, hare (Lepus europaeus), and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) in thermal aerial foo...

This study investigates the use of a drone equipped with a thermal camera for recognizing wild mammal species in open areas and to determine the sex and age of red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus capreoulus) in a 13 km2 moor in Denmark. Two separate surveys were conducted: (1) To achieve drone images for the identification of mammals,...

Wildlife abundance surveys are important tools for making decisions regarding nature conservation and management. Cryptic and nocturnal mammals can be difficult to monitor, and methods to obtain more accurate data on density and population trends of these species are needed. We propose a novel monitoring method using an aerial drone with a laser ra...

Simple Summary eDNA metabarcoding is a relatively novel method for studying the diet of wild animals. This study compares eDNA metabarcoding with microscopy, in order to determine the diet of four species of waterfowl. In total, 56 plants were identified at the species level. The study concluded that the combination of morphological analysis and DN...

The recent development of techniques to sequence ancient DNA has provided valuable insights into the civilisations that came before us. However, the full potential of these methods has yet to be realised. We extracted ancient DNA from a recently exposed fracture surface of a clay brick deriving from the palace of king Ashurnasirpal II (883–859 BCE)...

Simple Summary Especially when it comes to ancient and valuable museum samples of rare or extinct species, non-invasive methods for aging specimens are preferable. X-ray micro-computed tomography (µ-CT) is considered a non-invasive technique for age determination of mammalian carnivores and toothed whales. Teeth from 13 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 2...

Simple Summary The aim of this study was to investigate the adaptability of ten recently introduced European bison (Bison bonasus) in Lille Vildmose. Populations from Bornholm, Denmark, and Białowieża Forest, Poland, were used as a reference. We investigated the adaptability of the European bison through analysis of their dietary diversity and para...

Ecosystem engineering species, such as beavers, may help the restoration of biodiversity. Through the building of dams and lodges and altering the natural hydrology, beavers change the habitat structure and create multiple habitats that facilitate a wide variety of other organisms including terrestrial invertebrate communities. Here we study the ef...

Large grazers are essential for nature conservation. In order to prevent grazers from moving to unintended areas, it may be necessary to keep them inside enclosures. Physical fences present a number of problems, such as fragmenting the landscape. Virtual fencing, however, is a possible replacement for physical fencing, making it possible to enclose...

Riparian vegetation, which plays important roles in conservation of regional biodiversity and provision of many environmental services, has been severely degraded in East Africa by human activities. To ameliorate this degradation more knowledge of the vegetation and factors affecting it is required. Thus, effect of land use on the plant community c...

Non-native American mink (Neovison vison) is a widely spread predator in Denmark. The feral population in mainland Denmark consists of captive-born mink that escaped from fur farms and wild mink born in nature, whereas the population on Bornholm is almost all wild-born mink. In this study, the diets of feral mink in mainland Denmark and on the isla...

Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) construct summer nests for resting and breeding. The nests are built directly in the vegetation, in tree hollows, or in nest boxes. The availability of nest materials and vegetation coverage may affect the likelihood of finding hazel dormice at a location. The aim of the study is: (1) To investigate the pref...

Understanding the species-specific behavioral needs of Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) has led zoological gardens to focus on creating more natural and stimulating facilities. Studies have documented enhanced welfare through various methods, including environmental enrichment like mixed-species habitats, which could improve animal welfare. This...

Drones equipped with thermal cameras have recently become readily available, broadening the possibilities for monitoring wildlife. The European hare (Lepus europaeus) is a nocturnal mammal that is closely monitored in Denmark due to populations declining since the mid-1900s. The limitations of current population-assessment methods, such as, spotlig...

The increasing number of wind energy sites developed globally, has consequently resulted in a green-on-green predicament, due to an increase in avian mortality caused by collisions with wind turbines. The proportion of collision-related fatalities is not evenly distributed across species, indicating that some species groups are more prone to turbin...

To increase the efficiency and geographic expansion of nature conservation, large grazers have recently been used, either in the form of wild hoof-bearing animals or as domesticated ruminants including cattle. Using physical fencing limits migrating wildlife, while virtual fences encourage the animals to stay in the desired area without physical re...

Some wind farms have implemented automated camera-based monitoring systems, e.g., IdentiFlight to mitigate the impact of wind turbines on protected birds. These systems have promoted the collection of large amounts of unique data that can be used to describe flight behavior in a novel way. The aim of this study was to evaluate how this unique data...

Drones equipped with thermal cameras have recently become readily available, broadening the possibilities for monitoring wildlife. The European hare (Lepus europaeus) is a nocturnal mammal that is closely monitored in Denmark due to populations declining since the mid-1900s. The limitations of current population assessment methods, such as spotligh...

Counting of droppings is often, with great effect, used as an indirect method to monitor the appearance and usage of an area by a population covering longer time spans. However, manual detecting and counting of droppings can be time-consuming and tedious, and with a risk of resulting in course estimations. In this context, we studied the use of ima...

Amphibian conservation efforts have never been more imperative than they are now, such as by preserving genetic material through establishing cell lines. This study describes a successful protocol for culture of cells from three tissues (whole limb, tongue, toe clip) taken from five individuals of the Asian Common Toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)...

Previous studies on captive giraffes have shown that an increase in foraging opportunities leads to reduced abnormal behaviour. This study evaluates the nocturnal behaviours of six captive giraffes, housed in Aalborg Zoo (N: 57.04°, E: 9.90°). The herd consists of one bull (age 8), one male calf (age 1 ½), two cows (age 7; 20) and two female calves...

This study explores the diversity in individual response for three captive African Savannah Elephants (Loxodonta afri-cana) to variations in the daily number of zoo visitors. The nocturnal behaviour of the elephants was observed in two periods with a factor 5.1 difference in numbers of zoo visitors. Ten behavioural expressions for each elephant wer...

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in many aspects of host life, and the microbial community composition is heavily influenced by the prevailing conditions in the gut environment. Community composition has been suggested to have large implications for conservation efforts, and gut health has become of interest for optimizing animal care in ca...

The surveillance of behavioral interactions between individuals in bird populations is important to understand social dynamics and explain distribution patterns caused by competition for food and space. For waterbirds, little is known about interactions between individuals at high-tide roosts. In the present study, we used surveying with unmanned a...

In modern nature conservation and rewilding there is a need for controlling the movements of large grazers in extensively managed areas. The inflexibility of physical fencing can be a limitation in nature management, and the physical boundaries created by physical fencing can have detrimental effects on wildlife. Virtual fencing systems provide bou...

A keystone in protection work is accurate and thorough the monitoring of amphibian species, and the currently applied conventional survey methods are invasive, time-consuming, and dependent on expert knowledge. Research suggests that eDNA metabarcoding is a precise and cost-efficient method that could supplement the currently applied methods. The p...

Simple Summary: This study evaluates the use of acoustic devices as a method to monitor wolves by analyzing different variables extracted from wolf howls. By analyzing the wolf howls, we fo-cused on identifying individual wolves, subspecies. We analyzed 170 howls from 16 individuals from the three subspecies: Arctic wolves (Canis lupus arctos), Eur...

Carnivores tend to exhibit a lack of (or less pronounced) genetic structure at continental scales in both a geographic and temporal sense and this can confound the identification of post‐glacial colonization patterns in this group. In this study we used genome‐wide data (using Genotyping‐by‐Sequencing (GBS)) to reconstruct the phylogeographic histo...

Augmenting the genetic diversity of small, inbred populations by the introduction of new individuals is often termed “genetic rescue“. An example is the Norwegian Lundehund, a small spitz dog with inbreeding-related health problems that is being crossed with three Nordic breeds, including the Norwegian Buhund. Conservation breeding decisions for th...

The succession-driven reed bed habitat hosts a unique flora and fauna including several endangered invertebrate species. Reed beds can be managed through commercial winter harvest, with implications for reed bed conservation. However, the effects of winter harvest on the invertebrate community are not well understood and vary across studies and tax...

Temperature has profound effects on biochemical processes as suggested by the extensive variation in performance of organisms across temperatures. Nonetheless, the use of fluctuating temperature (FT) regimes in laboratory experiments compared to constant temperature (CT) regimes is still mainly applied in studies of model organisms. We investigated...

Introgressive hybridisation can pose a serious threat to endangered species which have an overlapping distribution such as in the case of two polecat species, Mustela eversmanii, and M. putorius, in Europe. The population size of steppe polecat is known to continuously shrink, whereas its sister species, the European polecat, is still somehow wides...

The marsh fritillary (Euphydryas aurinia) is a critically endangered butterfly species in Denmark known to be particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation due to its poor dispersal capacity. We identified and genotyped 318 novel SNP loci across 273 individuals obtained from 10 small and fragmented populations in Denmark using a genotyping-by-se...