Seven types of evidence are reviewed that indicate that high subjective wellbeing (such as life satisfaction, absence of negative emotions, optimism, and positive emotions) causes better health and longevity. For example, prospective longitudinal studies of normal populations provide evidence that various types of subjective well-being such as positive affect predict health and longevity, contr...

In the past decade, the field of systems neuroscience has increasingly relied on genetic tools to dissect complex neural circuits. Tools such as optogenetics and pharmacogenetics afford neuroscientists the ability to manipulate specific neural populations to investigate their role in various behavioral processes. A growing problem in the field has arisen from the quantification of such behavior...

In the past decade, ecologists have witnessed vast improvements in our ability to collect animal movement data through animal-borne technology, such as through GPS or ARGOS systems. However, more data does not necessarily yield greater knowledge in understanding animal ecology and conservation. In this paper, we provide a review of the major benefits, problems and potential misuses of GPS/Argos...

Human–wildlife conflicts are commonly addressed by excluding, relocating, or lethally controlling animals with the goal of preserving public health and safety, protecting property, or conserving other valued wildlife. However, declining wildlife populations, a lack of efficacy of control methods in achieving desired outcomes, and changes in how people value animals have triggered widespread ack...

Background Breast neoplasms are the most common tumors in female dogs, representing about 50% of all cancers in this animal population. The identification of therapeutic agents that can be used as an alternative treatment for this tumor type has proven to be useful. The administration of melatonin, a hormone secreted by the pineal gland, can exercise oncostatic effects in several types of cance...

Leptospirosis is recognized as an important zoonosis in tropical regions well as an important animal disease with substantial loss in production. In this study, the model for the transmission of the Leptospirosis disease to human population are discussed. Model is described the vector population dynamics and the Leptospirosis transmission to the human population are discussed. Local analysis of...

Cooperative breeding is a social behaviour in which certain individuals will opt to delay or forgo their own reproduction in order to help other individuals. Cooperative breeding is one of the most conspicuous examples of cooperation in nature. However, theoretical understanding of why this behaviour occurs is lacking and contradictory. In this thesis, I examine the role played by ecological co...

The potential for hatchery-release programs to augment the harvest rates of fisheries can be limited by environmental factors associated with survival, growth and body condition among released individuals. We assessed spatial and temporal variability in the condition of postlarval and small juvenile (1–10 mm carapace length) eastern king prawns Penaeus plebejus Hess sampled from an estuarine po...

We start by considering crosses between inbred lines. The analysis of such crosses illustrates many of the fundamental features of QTL mapping without the additional complications that arise with outbred populations. Although inbred line crosses are uncommon in animal breeding (outside of rats and mice), crosses between widely-differing lines are often treated as an inbred line cross, as we ass...

The absence of animal models in which to reproduce successfully the complete life cycle of Onchocerca volvulus has hindered progress towards unravelling the processes involved in the regulation of parasite abundance in the vertebrate host. Mathematical frameworks have been developed to explore the consequences of such processes in determining parasite population dynamics and the effect on these...