Movement, resting, and attack behaviors of wild pumas are revealed by tri-axial accelerometer measurements.

Background: Accelerometers are useful tools for biologists seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the daily behavior of cryptic species. We describe how we used GPS and tri-axial accelerometer (sampling at 64 Hz) collars to monitor behaviors of free-ranging pumas (Puma concolor), which are difficult or impossible to observe in the wild. We attached collars to twelve pumas in the Santa Cruz Mountains, CA from 2010-2012.

Mammalian energetics. Instantaneous energetics of puma kills reveal advantage of felid sneak attacks.

Pumas (Puma concolor) live in diverse, often rugged, complex habitats. The energy they expend for hunting must account for this complexity but is difficult to measure for this and other large, cryptic carnivores. We developed and deployed a physiological SMART (species movement, acceleration, and radio tracking) collar that used accelerometry to continuously monitor energetics, movements, and behavior of free-ranging pumas.

Somatostatin-immunoreactive concentrations in human saliva and in the submandibular salivary glands of the rat. Possible sexual dependence in the human.

Many biologically active polypeptides have been detected either in the submandibular salivary glands (SSG) of the rat, and in the saliva of rats and humans. The present work has investigated the case of somatostatin (SRIF), since salivary data concerning the presence of this peptide are scarce and contradictory. In a group of healthy volunteers, SRIF-immunoreactivity (SRIF-IR) was tested in samples of mixed saliva.