Marsupials from space: fluctuating asymmetry, geographical information systems and animal conservation

Teixeira, C; Hirsch, A; Perini, H; Young, R

Abstract

We report the development of a new quantitative method of assessing the effects of anthropogenic impacts on living beings; this method allows us to assess actual impacts and to travel backwards in time to assess impacts. In this method, we have crossed data on fluctuating asymmetry (FA, a measure of environmental or genetic stress), using Didelphis albiventris as a model, with geographical information systems data relating to environmental composition. Our results show that more impacted environments resulted in statistically higher levels of FA. Our method appears to be a useful and flexible conservation tool for assessing anthropogenic impacts.

Citation

Teixeira, C., Hirsch, A., Perini, H., & Young, R. (2006). Marsupials from space: fluctuating asymmetry, geographical information systems and animal conservation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 273(1589), https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3386

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 16, 2006
• Publication Date: Jan 16, 2006
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2023
• Journal: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
• Print ISSN: 0962-8452
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 273
• Issue: 1589
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3386