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By Deane Morrison
By targeting adult males, sport hunting is depleting populations of cougars and African lions because their cubs need fathers as well as mothers, a University of Minnesota-led study indicates.
In a paper published in the Public Library of Science, university lion researcher Craig Packer and his colleagues report that the vulnerability of big cat species stems from the tendency of adult males to kill cubs belonging to other males in order to bring the mothers into "season." Since fathers normally defend their families against transgressors, killing the father can lead to the death of the cubs.
The researchers studied trends in numbers of cougars and lions taken by hunters in African countries and western U.S. states. Sport hunting generates revenue that encourages conservation, but infanticidal species are vulnerable to over-harvest when wildlife managers raise quotas in response to predation of livestock, pets or people.
"Over the past 25 years, the steepest declines in cougar and lion harvests occurred in jurisdictions with the highest harvest intensities," the research said. "Simulation models predict population declines from even moderate levels of hunting in infanticidal species."
In contrast, no evidence for overhunting turned up among American black bears, males of which do not routinely kill other males' cubs.
The difficulty of estimating populations of cougars and lions makes it hard to determine the number of trophies hunters can take before the populations start shrinking toward extinction, the researchers said. Their analysis suggests that wildlife management agencies often adjust quotas to control, rather than preserve, the big cats in areas where they have threatened humans or their animals.
"Unsustainable levels of trophy hunting of lions and cougars appear to be driven by conflicts with humans and livestock: the intensity of lion hunting was highest in countries with the most intensive cattle production, and wildlife managers are under similar pressure from U.S. ranchers to raise cougar offtakes," the researchers said.
The study points out the need for new ways of protecting people and livestock and preserving sport hunting without endangering vulnerable predators. Limiting hunting to males old enough to have mature offspring is one possible means. Another could be banning or limiting the use of bait and hounds, but enforcement in remote hunting areas would be difficult.
"We have an opportunity to develop new strategies that will benefit hunters, livestock owners and conservationists," Packer said. "It's important to educate the public about the risks that these large predators pose to rural communities and to help hunters and wildlife managers develop methods to sustain healthy populations of these animals."
By Gerald August, Ph.D., L.P.
A commonly prescribed drug for treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AHDH) has recently captured the attention of the media, school officials, parents and the general public.
Adderall, which is approved by the FDA, is prescribed to help children, adolescents and adults manage ADHD symptoms. While its benefits have been widely reported, public enthusiasm for the medication has been tempered due to a growing problem of misuse and abuse among high school, college and graduate-level students.
The rise in misuse of Adderall has been attributed to students looking for a secondary gain in performance enhancements. The most common groups found to misuse Adderall are college students seeking extra help in passing tests or completing class assignments and more students who are taking licensing or certification exams such as the MCAT or LSAT.
But the growing concerns over misuse of this drug should not be considered sufficient reason to stop prescribing the medication. Adderall is an effective treatment for individuals with ADHD. The primary action that parents and doctors should pursue is to extensively monitor the use of Adderall and similar medications.
Evidence supports that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that results from impaired communication of cell circuits in the brain. Chemicals called neurotransmitters facilitate communication in the brain. In ADHD, there appears to be a poor balance in how these neurotransmitters function. Adderall works by restoring balance in neurotransmitter function, helping regulate attention, behavior and emotion.
Research has found that Adderall and similar medications offer the fastest, most effective correction for individuals with ADHD. But this medication does not result in a cure for ADHD; when a person decides to stop taking the medication, his/her condition may rapidly deteriorate. Therefore, other treatment approaches are necessary to provide immediate and long-term benefits.
My colleagues and I in the Department of Psychiatry are looking for ways to comprehensively treat ADHD with behavior-modification approaches and school-related accommodations in addition to medications. Research has shown that if medication is stopped in many patients with ADHD, the benefits may be lost. This is important research; without a way to sustain benefits, individuals with ADHD will continue to suffer.
The key point to remember is that Adderall and similar prescription drugs have produced considerable benefits for many children, but with prescription rates on the rise, these drugs can be misused. In today’s culture of performance enhancement and prescription drugs, the best way to combat Adderall misuse is by closely monitoring its use. Doctors have a responsibility to closely monitor their patients’ use of Adderall; parents should also closely monitor their child’s consumption of Adderall and similar medications.
Gerald August, Ph.D., L.P., is professor of psychiatry and clinical director of the Clinic for Attention-Deficit and Learning Disorders. This column is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu.
By Shirley Anderson-Porisch
While gambling poses certain financial risks, understanding what constitutes as an acceptable gambling budget each month is required to keep within the guidelines of a spending plan.
For the majority of people who participate in gambling, it is a social activity done for fun and entertainment. Unfortunately for some people, gambling activity creates problems in their lives with family, work, school or community because it becomes compulsive or addictive.
Knowing that gambling options are likely to remain available, researchers and practitioners have developed guidelines to help people reduce their risk of developing a gambling problem. These guidelines can assist people when they consider whether or not to gamble.
Using these guidelines can be a way for people to anticipate and decrease the potential risks of gambling.
1. The decision to gamble is a personal choice – people should not feel pressured to gamble.
2. Gambling is not essential for having a good time – the enjoyment usually comes from being with other people.
3. What constitutes an acceptable loss of money needs to be established before beginning to gamble – loss is usually the reality in gambling.
4. Borrowing money to gamble should be avoided and discouraged – borrowing to gamble is high risk behavior.
5. People should not gamble if they are under the legal gambling age; it interferes with work, school, family responsibilities; they are in recovery from gambling or other addiction treatment; the gambling activity is illegal or prohibited in any way; or they are “chasing” to recover past gambling losses.
6. Gambling should be avoided during certain high risk situations including when feeling lonely, angry, depressed or under stress; when coping with the death or loss of a loved one; when trying to solve any personal or family problem; or when trying to impress others.
7. The use of alcohol or other drugs when gambling is risky – chemicals can interfere with decision-making.
People who use these guidelines when choosing to gamble are likely to also be using low risk gambling strategies. By having a set of guidelines, it provides ground rules and understanding. For instance, over time nearly everyone loses – gambling should be for fun, never for financial gain. It also helps to ensure that gambling is never done along, that there is a limited amount of time that one should gamble and that there are pre-determined limits for a loss of money.
Gambling games are likely to remain available. Even so, if someone is concerned, there is help available. Anyone in Minnesota who has a question about problem gambling should call the Minnesota Gambling Hotline at 1-800-333-4673.
The call is free-of-charge, confidential and available 24/7. It may be the important first step to dealing with a difficult situation.
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Shirley Anderson-Porisch works as a family resource management Extension educator at the University of Minnesota and is an expert in family finance. She has long been a media contributor and is an accredited financial counselor.
Find more stories at: http://www1.umn.edu/news/features/index.htm