Hybridization between the European and Asian badgers (Meles, Carnivora) in the Volga-Kama region, revealed by analyses of maternally, paternally and biparentally inherited genes
Publication date: Available online 8 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Emi Kinoshita, Alexei V. Abramov, Vyacheslav A. Soloviev, Alexander P. Saveljev, Yoshinori Nishita, Yayoi Kaneko, Ryuichi MasudaAbstractTwo closely related species of Meles (Carnivora), the European badger (M. meles) and the Asian badger (M. leucurus), are distributed allopatrically in continental Eurasia but show a narrow contact zone around the Volga and Kama Rivers, Russia. We analyzed maternally (mitochondrial DNA), paternally (SRY gene and CAN-SINEs on the Y chromosome), and biparentally (CFTR gene and nine microsatellite loci) inherited ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Supplementary feeding can attract red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) to optimal environments
Publication date: Available online 9 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Anna Starkey, Javier delBarco-TrilloAbstractA number of conservation approaches are used to manage threatened species. However, some of these approaches require intensive planning and can often be restricted by funding. Supplementary feeding is a non-invasive and cost-effective approach to manage vulnerable populations, but we lack data on its usefulness. Here we investigated the effects of supplementary feeding on a population of red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris), a UK priority species which faces competition from the non-native grey squirrel ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Genetic evidence of promiscuity in a mammal without apparent sexual dimorphism, the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari)
In this study, we analyzed the mating system of a monomorphic mammalian species, the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), using microsatellite molecular markers and parentage tests. The white-lipped peccary mating system is predicted to be polygyny, but so far, no systematic study exists. To verify their mating behavior, 131 individuals of a herd from the Brazilian Pantanal were genotyped for 11 microsatellite loci and parentage tests were performed for all the sampled young. We determined that both males and females had offspring with more than one partner which is compatible with a promiscuous mating system. Promiscuit...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Species delimitation in mammals: A comment on Zachos (2018)
Publication date: Available online 23 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Spartaco GippolitiAbstractMammalian taxonomy based on the diagnosability version of the Phylogenetic Species Concept – considered as an operational manifestation of the Evolutionary Species Concept - offers a sound and verifiable base for understanding mammalian classification. There is now strong evidence that a taxonomy dominated by the Biological Synthesis (overlumped) has had deleterious effects on biodiversity conservation, while examples of its benefits remain obscure. It is interesting to note that when dealing with important issues ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Effect of sex and reproductive status on the immunity of the temperate bat Myotis daubentonii
Publication date: Available online 23 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Sara Ruoss, Nina I. Becker, Matthias S. Otto, Gábor Á. Czirják, Jorge A. EncarnaçãoAbstractStudies of immunity in bat species are rare. However, it is important to determine immunological variations to identify factors influencing the health status of these endangered mammals from an evolutionary, ecological, conservation, and public health point of view. Immunity is highly variable and can be influenced by both internal (e.g. hormone levels, energy demand) and external factors (e.g. pathogens, climate). As bats have some peculiar ecolog...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Species delimitation in mammals: A response to Gippoliti
Publication date: Available online 24 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Frank E. ZachosAbstractIn a comment published in this issue, Spartaco Gippoliti (2019) presents a critique of a recent perspective paper of mine (Zachos, 2018a). Specifically, he accuses me of diminishing taxonomy and of denying it its proper role in conservation biology. Here I respond to these criticisms and argue that taxonomy is necessary but not sufficient for delineating appropriate units for conservation due to its inherent threshold character that is a direct consequence of imposing a discrete classification system (taxonomy) onto a c...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Mating calls are a sensitive indicator of phylogenetic relationships in tropical tree squirrels (Callosciurus spp.)
Publication date: Available online 25 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Noriko Tamura, Phadet Boonkhaw, Umphornpimon Prayoon, Budsabong Kanchanasaka, Fumio HayashiAbstractVocal communication plays an important role in the mating behaviour of arboreal squirrels. Callosciurus is a genus of tree squirrels that includes 15 species distributed in Southeast Asia, and congeneric species often inhabit the same forest. As closely related species of Callosciurus have the potential to interbreed, species recognition from mating calls may be a fundamental reproductive barrier. We compared seven acoustic characteristics of ma...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Range expansion in unfavorable environments through behavioral responses to microclimatic conditions: Moose (Alces americanus) as the model
Publication date: Available online 26 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): David W. Wattles, Katherine A. Zeller, Stephen DeStefanoAbstractWildlife populations occurring at the edge of their range boundaries are thought to be the most sensitive to climate change due to temperatures being at or near the limit of a species’ thermal envelope. Moose (Alces americanus) are a cold adapted species that are showing population declines in some portions of the southern edge of their range. However, other moose populations are actively expanding southward into thermally stressful areas. The direct effects of temperature on m...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
The first record of mitochondrial haplotypes of Gazella marica (Artiodactyla, Bovidae) in wild populations in Iran
Publication date: Available online 30 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Davoud Fadakar, Masoumeh Mirzakhah, Saeid Naderi, Eva V. Bärmann, Maryam Naseri Nasari, Fasiheh Mohammadi Gorji, Hamid Reza RezaeiAbstractIran with its highly structured landscape, such as the Zagros Mountain Range that stretches across the country from East to West, is home to at least three different gazelle species. For some of them, intraspecific genetic patterning is to be expected, as different populations show different pelage coloration or body sizes, e.g., in the Persian gazelle (G. subgutturosa). This species is especially interest...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Thermal forest zone explains regional variations in the diet composition of the Japanese marten (Martes melampus)
Publication date: Available online 15 June 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Masumi Hisano, Chris Newman, Shota Deguchi, Yayoi KanekoAbstractExamining biogeographical variations in species’ diet is important for linking key ecological traits between consumers and their environment. While the trophic ecology of the Holarctic martens has been globally synthesised, systematic information on the feeding ecology of martens (Martes spp.) in Asia is still deficient compared to species in Europe and North America. Here we conduct a meta-analysis based on literature describing regional and seasonal variation in diet composi...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Is nocturnal activity compensatory in chamois? A study of activity in a cathemeral ungulate
In conclusion, our findings denote chamois as a cathemeral species able to adapt its behavioural patterns to match varying environmental conditions. (Source: Mammalian Biology)
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Foot postures and grasping of free-ranging Sunda colugos (Galeopterus variegatus) in West Java, Indonesia
Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Dionisios Youlatos, Kanthi Arum Widayati, Yamato TsujiAbstractColugos (order Dermoptera) are medium-sized nocturnal arboreal eutherian euarchontan mammals, which glide, climb vertically and hang from different arboreal substrates in the rainforests of Southeast Asia. Their close phylogenetic position to either Primates (as Primatomorpha) or Scandentia (as Sundatheria) renders them significant for understanding evolutionary-adaptive trends of key features within the Euarchonta (primates, scandentia, dermoptera, and plesiadapiformes). In this ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Water vole Arvicola amphibius population under the impact of the American mink Neovison vison: Are small midfield ponds safe refuges against this invasive predator?
Publication date: Available online 21 June 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Marcin Brzeziński, Patrycja Chibowska, Andrzej Zalewski, Tomasz Borowik, Ewa KomarAbstractThe American mink Neovison vison is an invasive carnivore which may significantly affect populations of the water vole Arvicola amphibius. However, its impact on this rodent species depends on the abundance, dispersion and configuration of the habitats suitable for water voles and their accessibility for the mink. Using live-trapping, we studied the water vole and American mink populations inhabiting midfield ponds located in the vicinity of a large la...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Mitochondrial sequences retrieve an ancient lineage of Bicolored shrew in the Hyrcanian refugium
In this study we analysed mitochondrial cytochrome b genes (1137 bp) of nine shrews from the Caspian region in Iran. Phylogenetic trees obtained in Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses retrieved a sister position of our Iranian haplotypes (Iranian lineage) against all the remaining C. leucodon samples from Europe, Turkey and Georgia (Euro-Asian lineage). Identical topology was also evident from the unrooted phylogenetic network. The Euro-Asian and the Iranian lineages were separated by a K2P genetic distance of 7.5 ± 0.9 and diverged 1.14 Mya (95% CI: 0.841-1.616). The geographic range of the Iranian lineage is ev...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Toward assembling a taxonomic puzzle: case study of Iranian gray voles of the subgenus Microtus (Rodentia, Cricetidae)
Publication date: Available online 26 June 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): F.N. Golenishchev, V.G. Malikov, S. Yu Bodrov, T.V. Petrova, N.I. AbramsonAbstractThe voles of the subgenus Microtus, which includes six species of the so-called “arvalis” group, have always been problematic for classification. Some group members differ in chromosome number and karyotype structure and yet appear morphologically indistinguishable, while others have very similar karyotypes despite exhibiting significant morphological differences. Two “arvalis” voles from Iran, M. kermanensis and M. mystacinus, are among the least studi...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
