Noninvasive genetic assessment provides evidence of extensive gene flow and possible high movement ability in the African golden wolf
Publication date: September 2018Source: Mammalian Biology, Volume 92Author(s): Yamna Karssene, Mohsen Chammem, Carsten Nowak, Koen de Smet, Diana Castro, Ahmed Eddine, Susana Lopes, Violeta Muñoz-Fuentes, Berardino Cocchiararo, Dick Klees, Peter Van Der Leer, Said Nouira, Raquel GodinhoAbstractThe African golden wolf, Canis anthus, is a newly recognized medium-sized canid species from North Africa, which has remained poorly studied to date. We applied genetic methods for individual identification of non-invasively collected samples (n = 93) of the African golden wolf in Tunisia, assessing their genetic diversity and s...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Behavioural ecology in a predator-prey system
Publication date: September 2018Source: Mammalian Biology, Volume 92Author(s): Douglas de Matos Dias, Claudia Bueno de Campos, Flávio Henrique Guimarães RodriguesAbstractPredator-prey systems are regulated by a behavioral response race, in which the predator develops adaptations that enhance its hunting success and its prey adopt anti-predator strategies. In the present study, we analyzed the activity patterns, the influence of moonlight, and the habitat use of Leopardus pardalis and Puma concolor in comparison with their potential prey, Dasypus novemcinctus, Mazama gouazoubira, Pecari tajacu, Sapajus libidinosus, Kerodo...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
“The Fox and the Cat”: sometimes they do not agree
Publication date: Available online 6 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Davide Sogliani, Emiliano MoriAbstractThe diet of suburban foxes has been studied by analysing 200 scats collected monthly between July 2016 and July 2017, along fixed itineraries around two villages in central Italy. A significant seasonal variation in the diet was found. Fruits (berries) and coleopterans prevailed in the warm months and were replaced by feral domestic cats (mostly kittens) in the cold ones. The local overwhelming importance of the domestic cat in diet confirms the opportunistic feeding behaviour of red foxes, which may swit...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 7, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Multiple captures as indicator of social tolerance in a guild of terrestrial rodents
Publication date: Available online 6 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Paola Bartolommei, Stefania Gasperini, Andrea Bonacchi, Emiliano Manzo, Roberto CozzolinoAbstractInformation on intra- and inter-specific social tolerance is useful to evaluate the role of social interactions at shaping population dynamics. This is particularly interesting for sympatric species with similar ecological requirements that can be potential competitors. In this light, we investigated multiple captures of Apodemus flavicollis, A. sylvaticus and Myodes glareolus constituting a guild of forest- and ground-dwelling rodents in central ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 7, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Diurnal pattern of pre-weaning den visits and nursing in breeding pairs of captive dingoes (Canis dingo)
Publication date: Available online 5 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Robyn Hudson, Heiko G. Rödel, Marise T. Elizalde, Gerard A. Kennedy, Bradley P. SmithAbstractThe period before pups are weaned represents a key developmental stage for canids that is directly related to the survivability of the pack. Yet our understanding of the role of the parents during this period when pups are confined to a den is rather limited. We sought further insight into this period by observing diurnal patterns of pre-weaning den visits and nursing behaviour in a captive population of dingoes (Canis dingo). We continuously video-m...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 6, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Home ranges, activity patterns and habitat preferences of leopards in Luambe National Park and adjacent Game Management Area in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia
Publication date: Available online 10 November 2017Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Rena Rebecca Ray-Brambach, Claudia Stommel, Dennis RödderAbstractLeopard (Panthera pardus) populations are declining worldwide. There are limited data on leopard ecology, especially activity patterns and habitat use, but these are vital to facilitate their conservation. In Zambia we radio tracked two female and three male leopards to study home range sizes, activity patterns and habitat preferences in Luambe National Park (LNP), and an adjacent Game Management Area used for trophy hunting. Home range sizes (MCP 95%) comprised 28.3–55....
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Spatiotemporal patterns of Amur leopards in northeast China: Influence of tigers, prey, and humans
Publication date: Available online 22 March 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Haitao Yang, Xiaodan Zhao, Boyu Han, Tianming Wang, Pu Mou, Jianping Ge, Limin FengAbstractThe Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis is one of the most endangered cat subspecies in the world. The rare leopard is sympatric with Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica and their prey in human dominated landscape. To conserve the felid species, it is important to understand the activity patterns of Amur leopards, including its interactions with Amur tigers, prey, and human activities. We used a data set from 163 camera traps to quantify the spatia...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Genetic differentiation in Cricetulus migratorius Pallas, 1773 (Rodentia, Cricetidae)
Publication date: Available online 4 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Vladimir Lebedev, Natalia Poplavskaya, Anna Bannikova, Georgy Ryurikov, Alexey SurovAbstractThe grey hamster Cricetulus migratorius is the most widespread and ecologically opportunistic species among Palearctic hamsters. Genetic diversity across most of its range was examined by using cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome oxidase I (coI) gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three well-differentiated allopatric lineages. The western lineage is distributed in Ukraine, Central and South Russia, Caucasus and Anatolia; the eastern lineage oc...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
