Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded...Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded:to ensure viable carnivore populations and to secure a sustainable grazing industry.The main instrument is zonation,with carnivore management zones(CMZs)prioritized for reproduction of the large carnivore species separated from other areas prioritized for grazing livestock.The objective of this paper is to describe current knowledge about the impact of the zoning management strategy on the grazing industry.This is done by documenting status and changes in sheep production,losses of livestock to predating carnivores,and the use of grazing areas inside and outside the CMZs.CMZsoffering protection for lynx,wolverine,bear and wolf cover 55%of the Norwegian mainland.30%of the sheep and 50%of the Sami reindeer grazing areas are found inside the CMZs.Livestock(semi-domestic reindeer excluded)is using 59%of the available natural pasture areas outside the CMZs,but only 26%inside the CMZs.The lowest use of available grazing areas was found inside zones for wolves(12%)and brown bears(6%).Livestock in these zones are confined to fenced enclosures,mostly on the farm itself,or moved to pastures outside the management zone for summer grazing.Livestock losses increased in the affected regions during the period when carnivores were reestablished.Later,losses declined when CMZs were established and mitigation efforts were implemented in these zones.The bulk of sheep and reindeer killed by carnivores are now found in boundary areas within 50 km off the CMZs,where sheep are still grazing on open mountain and forest ranges.Therefore,instruments to protect livestock in areas close to the CMZs are also needed.The number of sheep declined inside the CMZs from 1999 to 2014,but increased outside the zones.The reduction in the absolute number of sheep in the CMZs is balanced by a similar increase outside,thus the total sheep production in Norway is maintained.We conclude that although of little consequence for the total food production in Norway,the economic and social impact of the large carnivore management strategy can be serious for local communities and individual farmers who are affected.There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure,better documentation of reindeer losses,and a clearer and stricter practicing of the zoning strategy.Increased involvement of social sciences is important in order to understand the human dimension of the carnivore conflicts.展开更多
Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric sim...Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric similarly sized carnivores, misidentification of scats is frequent and can lead to bias in research results. To address the scat identification dilemma, molecular scatology techniques have been developed to extract DNA from the donor cells present on the outer lining of the scat samples. A total of 100 samples were collected in the winter of 2009 and 2011 in Taxkorgan region of Xinjiang, China. DNA was extracted successfully from 88% of samples and genetic species identification showed that more than half the scats identified in the field as snow leopard（Panthera uncia） actually belonged to fox（Vulpes vulpes）. Correlation between scat characteristics and species were investigated, showing that diameter and dry weight of the scat were significantly different between the species. However it was not possible to define a precise range of values for each species because of extensive overlap between the morphological values. This preliminary study confirms that identification of snow leopard feces in the field is misleading. Research that relies upon scat samples to assess distribution or diet of the snow leopard should therefore employ molecular scatology techniques. These methods are financially accessible and employ relatively simple laboratory procedures that can give an indisputable response to species identification from scats.展开更多
Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the r...Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the rapid expansion of urban areas and the increasing trend for ex-urban development occurring in Mediterranean ecosystems may be major drivers of change in mesocamivore communities. We combined camera trapping and sign surveys to quantify the richness and relative abundance of a set of wild and domestic mesocarnivores. We quantified these variables controlling for the gradient of urbanism, ex-urbanism, and other environmental variables in patches of natural vegetation in the region of Madrid （central Spain）, and a non-urbanized control area -220 km south of Madrid city. Using conditional autoregressive models （CAR） and model selection procedures, we found that urbanization influenced mesocarnivore community composition but this influence was not detrimental for all the species tested. Generalist carnivores such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes were more abundant in urban and ex-urban areas. Ex-urban development creates overlapping areas between wild and domestic species （such as the domestic cat Felis catus and the wildcat Felis silvestris） but contact between wild and domestic carnivores in natural areas is unlikely. Detection of species in the control area was very low. Therefore, the impact of urbanization in causing changes in mesocarnivore communities may be less than other factors such as illegal predator culling [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 793-801, 2015].展开更多
In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positio...In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System （GPS） technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills （n=53）, 59 camera interactions, 11 （17%） of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions （1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M）. Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_＋ 0.3 （standard devi- ation （SD）） interactions/week vs. 0.1 _＋ 0.1 （SD） interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.展开更多
Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have...Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores.To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception,we confirmed bitter taste receptor(T2R)genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores(cow and horse),two omnivores(mouse and rat)and one carnivore(dog).We also identified,for the first time,the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species(ferret,giant panda,polar bear and cat)and detected 17−20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes,including 12−16 intact genes,0−1 partial but putatively functional genes,and 3−8 pseudogenes.Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species,supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes,herbivores an intermediate number,and omnivores the largest T2R gene repertoire.To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity,we constructed a phylogenetic tree,which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree,suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals.Similarly,the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events.Collectively,these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size,diet and habit.展开更多
Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should...Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores. To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception, we confirmed bitter taste receptor （T2R） genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores （cow and horse）, two omnivores （mouse and rat） and one carnivore （dog）. We also identified, for the first time, the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species （ferret, giant panda, polar bear and cat） and detected 17-20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes, including 12-16 intact genes, 0-1 partial but putatively functional genes, and 3-8 pseudogenes. Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species, supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes, herbivores an intermediate number, and onmivores the largest T2R gene repertoire. To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity, we constructed a phylogenetic tree, which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree, suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals. Similarly, the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events. Collectively, these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size, diet and habit.展开更多
The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acu...The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acute phase proteins in zoo animals,particularly in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores was evaluate.Results showed that hCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measure CRP and SAA in Haplorhini.There was a highly signifcant correlation between both parameters with remarkably high correlation coefcient.A higher proportion of Bonnet macaques in Haplorhini,and the linear regression with good correlation between hCRP and vSAA levels were observed.Reference values in healthy Bonnet macaques were hCRP(46.86±30.97 nmol/L)and vSAA(9.06±1.95μg/mL).Although Ring-tailed lemur,which belonging to Strepsirrhini,showed low vSAA concentrations(reference values:1.08±0.47μg/mL),vSAA in patients was apparently elevated.The vCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measurements of CRP and SAA in feline carnivores for highly signifcant correlation between both parameters.Theses two methods were also been deteded in lions,tigers and cheetahs.vSAA assays can be applied to measure SAA levels in other carnivores and herbivores.In conclusion,vSAA systems have potential utility as diagnostic tools for health screening and prediction in zoo animals.展开更多
Brucella suis (B. suis) is the major cause of porcine brucellosis. Zoonosis due to B. suis infection associated with transmission by various animal species is reported. Recently an increase in brucellosis associated w...Brucella suis (B. suis) is the major cause of porcine brucellosis. Zoonosis due to B. suis infection associated with transmission by various animal species is reported. Recently an increase in brucellosis associated with feral swine transmitted B. suis infection in humans and hunting dogs is emerging. Reports on B. suis infection in carnivores including dogs is scant. This report gives a brief review of B. suis zoonosis with particular reference to B. suis infection in dogs (carnivores).展开更多
It has been suggested that spatial heterogeneity is key to the coexistence at local spatial scales of subordinate and dominant predator species by allowing the former to shift to more protective habitats when the risk...It has been suggested that spatial heterogeneity is key to the coexistence at local spatial scales of subordinate and dominant predator species by allowing the former to shift to more protective habitats when the risk of intraguild predation exists. Here, we show how the smaller carnivore Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) may coexist on a local scale with its intraguild pre- dator, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), by using places with different microhabitat character- istics. We expect that mongooses living within lynx home ranges will use denser and more protective habitats when active in order to di- minish their risk of being killed by lynx com- pared to those living in areas similar in vege- tation and prey availability but where lynx are absent. The scrubland cover of points used by mongooses outside lynx areas, and that of points located within lynx areas but not used by mongooses, were significantly lower than, or similar to, cover of points used by mongooses within lynx areas. The probability of finding mon- goose tracks was constant across levels of scrubland cover when lynx were absent, but more mongoose tracks were likely to be found in thicker scrubland within lynx areas, especially if these areas were intensively used by lynx. This result agrees with the hypothesis on shifts in microhabitat use of subordinate carnivores to prevent fatal or risky encounters with dominant ones.展开更多
Stray dog invasion caused by human activities poses a significant challenge to wildlife communities worldwide.Conservation biology efforts must prioritize controlling stray dog populations to maintain equilibrium with...Stray dog invasion caused by human activities poses a significant challenge to wildlife communities worldwide.Conservation biology efforts must prioritize controlling stray dog populations to maintain equilibrium within local wildlife communities.In the Helan Mountains,ungulate population recovery and the absence of top predators present critical issues.The presence of a stray dog as a predator may complicate ecological restoration efforts in the region.Through molecular and camera trapping data analyses,we investigated the overlap of eco-logical niches between stray dogs and local carnivores across nutritional and spatiotemporal dimensions.The re-sults revealed a high overlap between stray dogs and local carnivores across various niches,likely linked to food abundance,suggesting the possibility of increased future competition between them.Stray dogs cannot be ignored when conservation of wild carnivores involved.展开更多
Background:The habitat resources are structured across different spatial scales in the environment,and thus animals perceive and select habitat resources at different spatial scales.Failure to adopt the scale-dependen...Background:The habitat resources are structured across different spatial scales in the environment,and thus animals perceive and select habitat resources at different spatial scales.Failure to adopt the scale-dependent framework in species habitat relationships may lead to biased inferences.Multi-scale species distribution models(SDMs)can thus improve the predictive ability as compared to single-scale approaches.This study outlines the importance of multi-scale modeling in assessing the species habitat relationships and may provide a methodological framework using a robust algorithm to model and predict habitat suitability maps(HSMs)for similar multi-species and multi-scale studies.Results:We used a supervised machine learning algorithm,random forest(RF),to assess the habitat relationships of Asiatic wildcat(Felis lybica ornata),jungle cat(Felis chaus),Indian fox(Vulpes bengalensis),and golden-jackal(Canis aureus)at ten spatial scales(500-5000 m)in human-dominated landscapes.We calculated out-of-bag(OOB)error rates of each predictor variable across ten scales to select the most influential spatial scale variables.The scale optimization(OOB rates)indicated that model performance was associated with variables at multiple spatial scales.The species occurrence tended to be related strongest to predictor variables at broader scales(5000 m).Multivariate RF models indicated landscape composition to be strong predictors of the Asiatic wildcat,jungle cat,and Indian fox occurrences.At the same time,topographic and climatic variables were the most important predictors determining the golden jackal distribution.Our models predicted range expansion in all four species under future climatic scenarios.Conclusions:Our results highlight the importance of using multiscale distribution models when predicting the distribution and species habitat relationships.The wide adaptability of meso-carnivores allows them to persist in human-dominated regions and may even thrive in disturbed habitats.These meso-carnivores are among the few species that may benefit from climate change.展开更多
The explosive accumulation of mammalian genomes has provided a valuable resource to characterize the evolution of the Y chromosome.Unexpectedly,the Y-chromosome sequence has been characterized in only a small ha...The explosive accumulation of mammalian genomes has provided a valuable resource to characterize the evolution of the Y chromosome.Unexpectedly,the Y-chromosome sequence has been characterized in only a small handful of species,with the majority being model organisms.Thus,identification of Y-linked scaffolds from unordered genome sequences is becoming more important.Here,we used a syntenic-based approach to generate the scaffolds of the male-specific region of the Y chromosome(MSY)from the genome sequence of 6 male carnivore species.Our results identified 14,15,9,28,14 and 11 Y-linked scaffolds in polar bears,pacific walruses,red pandas,cheetahs,ferrets and tigers,covering 1.55 Mbp,2.62 Mbp,964 Kb,1.75 Mb,2.17 Mbp and 1.84 Mb MSY,respectively.All the candidate Y-linked scaffolds in 3 selected species(red pandas,polar bears and tigers)were successfully verified using polymerase chain reaction.We re-annotated 8 carnivore MSYs including these 6 Y-linked scaffolds and domestic dog and cat MSY;a total of 11 orthologous genes conserved in at least 7 of the 8 carnivores were identified.These 11 Y-linked genes have significantly higher evolutionary rates compared with their X-linked counterparts,indicating less purifying selection for MSY genes.Taken together,our study shows that the approach of synteny search is a reliable and easily affordable strategy to identify Y-linked scaffolds from unordered carnivore genomes and provides a preliminary evolutionary study for carnivore MSY genes.展开更多
Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competitio...Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(P.pardus)span decades,there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors that influence their coexistence mechanisms on a broad scale,as well as the drivers determining their exploitative and interference competition.We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers among which 36 papers explored the interspecific interactions between tigers and leopards and tested the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the coexistence mechanisms along three dimensions using multiple response variables regression models;we also tested the influence of ecological drivers determining the exploitative or interference competition between tigers and leopards.Elevation and ungulate density were the most important predictors in regulating the coexistence mechanisms.Tigers and leopards exhibited more positive relations/higher overlaps as elevation increased in the spatial niche.In addition,they showed a higher dietary overlap in the prey-rich regions.We determined that interference competition between tigers and leopards was less frequently observed in habitats with dense tree cover and homogeneous vegetation structures.Meanwhile,studies with multiple metrics would promote the detection of interference competition.Our study provides new insight into the competitive interactions and coexistence mechanisms of tigers and leopards on a broad scale.Policy-makers and managers should pay more attention to the factors of elevation,prey abundance,and habitat structures for the conservation of tigers and leopards.展开更多
Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distri...Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.展开更多
The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effecti...The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effective strategies and policies.The present study is an attempt to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the topic of human-wildlife conflict(HWC)for the period of January 1991–February 2023.For carrying out the analysis of the data obtained from Web of Science,the‘Bibliometrix'tool,developed through the R programming language,was used.The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1592 documents have been published on the HWC research topic from January 1991 to February 2023 within 338 sources.It is observed that the number of publications has continuously increased since 1991,with an annual growth rate of 5.16%.A total of 4995 authors have contributed to the targeted research field.Of the 388 sources,the journal‘Biological Conservation'is the most relevant and productive,followed by‘Oryx'and‘Human Dimensions of Wildlife'.Based on the country production analysis,authors from 110 countries have contributed to the field,and the USA has the highest frequency of publications on HWC,followed by the UK and Australia.The USA also has the highest multiple country publications and has collaborated with 88 countries,with the highest frequency of collaboration with the UK,followed by India,Australia,and South Africa.The most frequently used keywords include‘human-wildlife conflict',‘conservation',‘conflict',‘human-wildlife',‘wildlife',‘wildlife management',‘livestock',‘management',‘coexistence',and‘carnivore'.The present study identifies the most prolific authors,sources,institutions,and countries,as well as the study hotspots in the subject of HWC,which may assist researchers in finding the best working and publication platforms.Further,it may also help them identify reliable research partners to acquire the best findings and develop more effective strategies and policies to address the issue.展开更多
Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total...Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total of 390 species have been identified in the country, including 106 species of rodents,104 species of bats, 63 species of even-toed ungulates(including whales and dolphins), 36 species of insectivores and carnivores, 19 species of primates,five species of elephant shrews, four species of hyraxes and odd-toed ungulates, three species of afrosoricids, pangolins, and hares, and one species of aardvark, elephant, sirenian and hedgehog. The number of species in this checklist is expected to increase with additional surveys and as the taxonomic status of small mammals(e.g., bats, shrews and rodents) becomes better understood.展开更多
The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investiga...The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompete nee) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body con dition, sex, age, seas on, and envir onmental conditi ons with splee n weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findi ngs suggest that splee n weight variation in this species is mostly influe need by lifehistory traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic.展开更多
Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We te...Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We tested whether wild bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis differ in a risktaking behavior (tameness) and whether this trait correlated with appetitive association learning performanee. While our result shows that individuals differed in their tameness, we found no associati on between this personality trait and learning the appetitive association. This result does not support the framework that differe nces in cog nition are associated with differe nces in personality;however, our small sample size does not allow us to assert that pers on ality can not be associated with cog nition in this system. This study highlights that measuri ng cog nition and pers on ality in wild systems presents added difficulty and that correlations found in captive animals may not be evident in their wild counterparts.展开更多
Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of a...Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of analyzing carnivore diets. We used data on δ^13C and δ^15N in wolverine tissues to investigate patterns of seasonal and annual diet variation in a wolverine Gulo gulo population in the western Brooks Range, Alaska, USA. The stable isotope ratios in wolverine tissues generally reflected that of terrestrial carnivores, corroborating previous diet studies on wolverines. We also found variation in δ^13C and δ^15N both between muscle samples collected over several years and between tissues with different assimilation rates, even after correcting for isotopic fractionation. This suggests both annual and seasonal diet variation. Our results indicate that data on δ^13C and δ^15N holds promise for qualitative assessments of wolverine diet changes over time. Such temporal variation may be important indicators of ecological responses to environmental perturbations, and we suggest that more refined studies of stable isotopes may be an important tool when studying temporal change in diets of wolverines and similar carnivores [ Current Zoology 55 （3）： 188- 192, 2009].展开更多
Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dog...Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dogs, foxes, and cats)during 2013–2021 were subject to viral sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian analysis were performed using obtained rabies virus(RABV) sequences. All 31 strains of RABV candidate belonged to the Cosmopolitan clade, of which 30strains belonged to steppe-type subclade, and 1 dog strain belonged to Other subclade. The 31 strains did not diverge from RABV strains in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, including Russia, Mongolia, and China, suggesting that animal rabies has close relationship and transmission between borders. Fox-originated strains and cattle strains shared similar sequence signature, and some animal rabies cases had space–time intersection, showing that infected foxes were a major transmission source of cattle rabies in different Kazakhstan regions. Besides, free-roaming dogs played a pivotal role in rabies epizootics of cattle in Kazakhstan. The recent spread of animal rabies presents an increasing threat to public health, and provides updated information for improving current control and prevention strategies at the source for Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.展开更多
基金funded by the Norwegian Research Council as part of project no.267982/E50 Grazing resources,carnivores and local communities(Local Carnivore)
文摘Increasing populations of large carnivores are leading to tension and conflicts with livestock production,a situation that potentially might escalate.In Norway the objective of the large carnivore policy is two-folded:to ensure viable carnivore populations and to secure a sustainable grazing industry.The main instrument is zonation,with carnivore management zones(CMZs)prioritized for reproduction of the large carnivore species separated from other areas prioritized for grazing livestock.The objective of this paper is to describe current knowledge about the impact of the zoning management strategy on the grazing industry.This is done by documenting status and changes in sheep production,losses of livestock to predating carnivores,and the use of grazing areas inside and outside the CMZs.CMZsoffering protection for lynx,wolverine,bear and wolf cover 55%of the Norwegian mainland.30%of the sheep and 50%of the Sami reindeer grazing areas are found inside the CMZs.Livestock(semi-domestic reindeer excluded)is using 59%of the available natural pasture areas outside the CMZs,but only 26%inside the CMZs.The lowest use of available grazing areas was found inside zones for wolves(12%)and brown bears(6%).Livestock in these zones are confined to fenced enclosures,mostly on the farm itself,or moved to pastures outside the management zone for summer grazing.Livestock losses increased in the affected regions during the period when carnivores were reestablished.Later,losses declined when CMZs were established and mitigation efforts were implemented in these zones.The bulk of sheep and reindeer killed by carnivores are now found in boundary areas within 50 km off the CMZs,where sheep are still grazing on open mountain and forest ranges.Therefore,instruments to protect livestock in areas close to the CMZs are also needed.The number of sheep declined inside the CMZs from 1999 to 2014,but increased outside the zones.The reduction in the absolute number of sheep in the CMZs is balanced by a similar increase outside,thus the total sheep production in Norway is maintained.We conclude that although of little consequence for the total food production in Norway,the economic and social impact of the large carnivore management strategy can be serious for local communities and individual farmers who are affected.There is a need for more exact carnivore population monitoring to quantify the carnivore pressure,better documentation of reindeer losses,and a clearer and stricter practicing of the zoning strategy.Increased involvement of social sciences is important in order to understand the human dimension of the carnivore conflicts.
基金supported by the Second National Survey of Terrestrial Wildlife in China,State Forestry Administration of Chinathe Darwin Inititivethe Robertson Foundation
文摘Many ecological studies and conservation management plans employ noninvasive scat sampling based on the assumption that species’ scats can be correctly identified in the field. However, in habitats with sympatric similarly sized carnivores, misidentification of scats is frequent and can lead to bias in research results. To address the scat identification dilemma, molecular scatology techniques have been developed to extract DNA from the donor cells present on the outer lining of the scat samples. A total of 100 samples were collected in the winter of 2009 and 2011 in Taxkorgan region of Xinjiang, China. DNA was extracted successfully from 88% of samples and genetic species identification showed that more than half the scats identified in the field as snow leopard（Panthera uncia） actually belonged to fox（Vulpes vulpes）. Correlation between scat characteristics and species were investigated, showing that diameter and dry weight of the scat were significantly different between the species. However it was not possible to define a precise range of values for each species because of extensive overlap between the morphological values. This preliminary study confirms that identification of snow leopard feces in the field is misleading. Research that relies upon scat samples to assess distribution or diet of the snow leopard should therefore employ molecular scatology techniques. These methods are financially accessible and employ relatively simple laboratory procedures that can give an indisputable response to species identification from scats.
文摘Urbanization causes wildlife habitat loss, fragmentation, and the replacement of specialist species by generalists and/or exotic taxa. Because mesocarnivores are particularly vulnerable to habitat modifications, the rapid expansion of urban areas and the increasing trend for ex-urban development occurring in Mediterranean ecosystems may be major drivers of change in mesocamivore communities. We combined camera trapping and sign surveys to quantify the richness and relative abundance of a set of wild and domestic mesocarnivores. We quantified these variables controlling for the gradient of urbanism, ex-urbanism, and other environmental variables in patches of natural vegetation in the region of Madrid （central Spain）, and a non-urbanized control area -220 km south of Madrid city. Using conditional autoregressive models （CAR） and model selection procedures, we found that urbanization influenced mesocarnivore community composition but this influence was not detrimental for all the species tested. Generalist carnivores such as the red fox Vulpes vulpes were more abundant in urban and ex-urban areas. Ex-urban development creates overlapping areas between wild and domestic species （such as the domestic cat Felis catus and the wildcat Felis silvestris） but contact between wild and domestic carnivores in natural areas is unlikely. Detection of species in the control area was very low. Therefore, the impact of urbanization in causing changes in mesocarnivore communities may be less than other factors such as illegal predator culling [Current Zoology 61 （5）： 793-801, 2015].
文摘In total, 177 of 245 terrestrial carnivores are described as solitary, and much of carnivore ecology is built on the assumptions that interactions between adult solitary carnivores are rare. We employed Global Positioning System （GPS） technology and motion-triggered cameras to test predictions of land-tenure territoriality and the resource dispersion hypothesis in a territorial carnivore, the puma Puma concolor. We documented 89 independent GPS interactions, 60% of which occurred at puma kills （n=53）, 59 camera interactions, 11 （17%） of which captured courtship behaviors, and 5 other interactions （1 F-F, 3 M-F, and 1 M-M）. Mean minimum weekly contact rates were 5.5 times higher in winter, the season when elk Cervus elaphus were aggregated at lower elevations and during which puma courtship primarily occurred. In winter, contacts rates were 0.6_＋ 0.3 （standard devi- ation （SD）） interactions/week vs. 0.1 _＋ 0.1 （SD） interactions/week during summer. The preponder- ance of interactions at food sources supported the resource dispersion hypothesis, which predicts that resource fluxes can explain temporary social behaviors that do not result in any apparent benefits for the individuals involved. Conspecific tolerance is logical when a prey is so large that the predator that killed it cannot consume it entirely, and thus, the costs of tolerating a conspecific sharing the kill are less than the potential costs associated with defending it and being injured. Puma aggregations at kills numbered as high as 9, emphasizing the need for future research on what explains tolerance among solitary carnivores.
基金This work was supported by the Key Project(30930015)General Project(31271329)from National Natural Science Foundation of China。
文摘Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection,preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds.Accordingly,carnivores,who encounter these toxic substances less often,should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores.To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception,we confirmed bitter taste receptor(T2R)genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores(cow and horse),two omnivores(mouse and rat)and one carnivore(dog).We also identified,for the first time,the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species(ferret,giant panda,polar bear and cat)and detected 17−20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes,including 12−16 intact genes,0−1 partial but putatively functional genes,and 3−8 pseudogenes.Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species,supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes,herbivores an intermediate number,and omnivores the largest T2R gene repertoire.To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity,we constructed a phylogenetic tree,which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree,suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals.Similarly,the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events.Collectively,these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size,diet and habit.
基金supported by the Key Project (30930015)General Project (31271329) from National Natural Science Foundation of China
文摘Bitter taste reception is presumably associated with dietary selection, preventing animals from ingesting potentially harmful compounds. Accordingly, carnivores, who encounter these toxic substances less often, should have fewer genes associated with bitter taste reception compared with herbivores and omnivores. To investigate the genetic basis of bitter taste reception, we confirmed bitter taste receptor （T2R） genes previously found in the genome sequences of two herbivores （cow and horse）, two omnivores （mouse and rat） and one carnivore （dog）. We also identified, for the first time, the T2R repertoire from the genome of other four carnivore species （ferret, giant panda, polar bear and cat） and detected 17-20 bitter receptor genes from the five carnivore genomes, including 12-16 intact genes, 0-1 partial but putatively functional genes, and 3-8 pseudogenes. Both the intact T2R genes and the total T2R gene number among carnivores were the smallest among the tested species, supporting earlier speculations that carnivores have fewer T2R genes, herbivores an intermediate number, and onmivores the largest T2R gene repertoire. To further explain the genetic basis for this disparity, we constructed a phylogenetic tree, which showed most of the T2R genes from the five carnivores were one-to-one orthologs across the tree, suggesting that carnivore T2Rs were conserved among mammals. Similarly, the small carnivore T2R family size was likely due to rare duplication events. Collectively, these results strengthen arguments for the connection between T2R gene family size, diet and habit.
文摘The feasibility of a commercially available assay for C-reactive protein(CRP,CRP for humans:hCRP,and CRP for dogs:vCRP)and a trial reagent of serum amyloid A(SAA,vSAA for animals)were applied to the measurement of acute phase proteins in zoo animals,particularly in nonhuman primates and feline carnivores was evaluate.Results showed that hCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measure CRP and SAA in Haplorhini.There was a highly signifcant correlation between both parameters with remarkably high correlation coefcient.A higher proportion of Bonnet macaques in Haplorhini,and the linear regression with good correlation between hCRP and vSAA levels were observed.Reference values in healthy Bonnet macaques were hCRP(46.86±30.97 nmol/L)and vSAA(9.06±1.95μg/mL).Although Ring-tailed lemur,which belonging to Strepsirrhini,showed low vSAA concentrations(reference values:1.08±0.47μg/mL),vSAA in patients was apparently elevated.The vCRP and vSAA methods were applicable to measurements of CRP and SAA in feline carnivores for highly signifcant correlation between both parameters.Theses two methods were also been deteded in lions,tigers and cheetahs.vSAA assays can be applied to measure SAA levels in other carnivores and herbivores.In conclusion,vSAA systems have potential utility as diagnostic tools for health screening and prediction in zoo animals.
文摘Brucella suis (B. suis) is the major cause of porcine brucellosis. Zoonosis due to B. suis infection associated with transmission by various animal species is reported. Recently an increase in brucellosis associated with feral swine transmitted B. suis infection in humans and hunting dogs is emerging. Reports on B. suis infection in carnivores including dogs is scant. This report gives a brief review of B. suis zoonosis with particular reference to B. suis infection in dogs (carnivores).
基金funded by project CGL2004-00346/BOS of Ministry of Education and Sciencesupported by a predoctoral grant of CSIC-Spanish Council for Research,“I3P”programsupported by a FPU and a post-doctoral fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Education.
文摘It has been suggested that spatial heterogeneity is key to the coexistence at local spatial scales of subordinate and dominant predator species by allowing the former to shift to more protective habitats when the risk of intraguild predation exists. Here, we show how the smaller carnivore Egyptian mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) may coexist on a local scale with its intraguild pre- dator, the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), by using places with different microhabitat character- istics. We expect that mongooses living within lynx home ranges will use denser and more protective habitats when active in order to di- minish their risk of being killed by lynx com- pared to those living in areas similar in vege- tation and prey availability but where lynx are absent. The scrubland cover of points used by mongooses outside lynx areas, and that of points located within lynx areas but not used by mongooses, were significantly lower than, or similar to, cover of points used by mongooses within lynx areas. The probability of finding mon- goose tracks was constant across levels of scrubland cover when lynx were absent, but more mongoose tracks were likely to be found in thicker scrubland within lynx areas, especially if these areas were intensively used by lynx. This result agrees with the hypothesis on shifts in microhabitat use of subordinate carnivores to prevent fatal or risky encounters with dominant ones.
基金The Science and Technology Department of Ningxia Autonomous Region(2020BEG02001-2)The Ningxia Forestry and Grassland Administration(NLF2020-93-2,NLH2019-280-2,D6400000141009053-1,D6400000141009056-1)The Inner Mongolia Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve Administration:National Subsidy Fund for Key Wildlife Conservation 2022(LQ-NM2023-001)。
文摘Stray dog invasion caused by human activities poses a significant challenge to wildlife communities worldwide.Conservation biology efforts must prioritize controlling stray dog populations to maintain equilibrium within local wildlife communities.In the Helan Mountains,ungulate population recovery and the absence of top predators present critical issues.The presence of a stray dog as a predator may complicate ecological restoration efforts in the region.Through molecular and camera trapping data analyses,we investigated the overlap of eco-logical niches between stray dogs and local carnivores across nutritional and spatiotemporal dimensions.The re-sults revealed a high overlap between stray dogs and local carnivores across various niches,likely linked to food abundance,suggesting the possibility of increased future competition between them.Stray dogs cannot be ignored when conservation of wild carnivores involved.
基金The study had no central budget.The field assistance,including accommodation,vehicle,and field assistants were facilitated by a local NGO(The Corbett Foundation).
文摘Background:The habitat resources are structured across different spatial scales in the environment,and thus animals perceive and select habitat resources at different spatial scales.Failure to adopt the scale-dependent framework in species habitat relationships may lead to biased inferences.Multi-scale species distribution models(SDMs)can thus improve the predictive ability as compared to single-scale approaches.This study outlines the importance of multi-scale modeling in assessing the species habitat relationships and may provide a methodological framework using a robust algorithm to model and predict habitat suitability maps(HSMs)for similar multi-species and multi-scale studies.Results:We used a supervised machine learning algorithm,random forest(RF),to assess the habitat relationships of Asiatic wildcat(Felis lybica ornata),jungle cat(Felis chaus),Indian fox(Vulpes bengalensis),and golden-jackal(Canis aureus)at ten spatial scales(500-5000 m)in human-dominated landscapes.We calculated out-of-bag(OOB)error rates of each predictor variable across ten scales to select the most influential spatial scale variables.The scale optimization(OOB rates)indicated that model performance was associated with variables at multiple spatial scales.The species occurrence tended to be related strongest to predictor variables at broader scales(5000 m).Multivariate RF models indicated landscape composition to be strong predictors of the Asiatic wildcat,jungle cat,and Indian fox occurrences.At the same time,topographic and climatic variables were the most important predictors determining the golden jackal distribution.Our models predicted range expansion in all four species under future climatic scenarios.Conclusions:Our results highlight the importance of using multiscale distribution models when predicting the distribution and species habitat relationships.The wide adaptability of meso-carnivores allows them to persist in human-dominated regions and may even thrive in disturbed habitats.These meso-carnivores are among the few species that may benefit from climate change.
基金the funds of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.31821001,31822050,31270418 and 31470441).
文摘The explosive accumulation of mammalian genomes has provided a valuable resource to characterize the evolution of the Y chromosome.Unexpectedly,the Y-chromosome sequence has been characterized in only a small handful of species,with the majority being model organisms.Thus,identification of Y-linked scaffolds from unordered genome sequences is becoming more important.Here,we used a syntenic-based approach to generate the scaffolds of the male-specific region of the Y chromosome(MSY)from the genome sequence of 6 male carnivore species.Our results identified 14,15,9,28,14 and 11 Y-linked scaffolds in polar bears,pacific walruses,red pandas,cheetahs,ferrets and tigers,covering 1.55 Mbp,2.62 Mbp,964 Kb,1.75 Mb,2.17 Mbp and 1.84 Mb MSY,respectively.All the candidate Y-linked scaffolds in 3 selected species(red pandas,polar bears and tigers)were successfully verified using polymerase chain reaction.We re-annotated 8 carnivore MSYs including these 6 Y-linked scaffolds and domestic dog and cat MSY;a total of 11 orthologous genes conserved in at least 7 of the 8 carnivores were identified.These 11 Y-linked genes have significantly higher evolutionary rates compared with their X-linked counterparts,indicating less purifying selection for MSY genes.Taken together,our study shows that the approach of synteny search is a reliable and easily affordable strategy to identify Y-linked scaffolds from unordered carnivore genomes and provides a preliminary evolutionary study for carnivore MSY genes.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971539)the National Science and Technology Basic Resources Survey Program of China(2019FY101700 and 2021FY100702)the Research Project of Tianjin Normal University(52XB2010).
文摘Understanding the competition and coexistence of flagship carnivores is key to creating strategies for their conservation in the face of global carnivore declines.Although studies exploring the dynamics and competition between tigers(Panthera tigris)and leopards(P.pardus)span decades,there is a lack of understanding regarding the factors that influence their coexistence mechanisms on a broad scale,as well as the drivers determining their exploitative and interference competition.We gathered a comprehensive list of research papers among which 36 papers explored the interspecific interactions between tigers and leopards and tested the influence of biotic and abiotic factors on the coexistence mechanisms along three dimensions using multiple response variables regression models;we also tested the influence of ecological drivers determining the exploitative or interference competition between tigers and leopards.Elevation and ungulate density were the most important predictors in regulating the coexistence mechanisms.Tigers and leopards exhibited more positive relations/higher overlaps as elevation increased in the spatial niche.In addition,they showed a higher dietary overlap in the prey-rich regions.We determined that interference competition between tigers and leopards was less frequently observed in habitats with dense tree cover and homogeneous vegetation structures.Meanwhile,studies with multiple metrics would promote the detection of interference competition.Our study provides new insight into the competitive interactions and coexistence mechanisms of tigers and leopards on a broad scale.Policy-makers and managers should pay more attention to the factors of elevation,prey abundance,and habitat structures for the conservation of tigers and leopards.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32371745)the Transboundary Cooperation on Biodiversity Research and Conservation in Gaoligong Mountains(E1ZK251)+3 种基金the 14th Five-Year Plan of the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,Chinese Academy of Sciences(E3ZKFF7B,E3ZKFF9B)the Yunnan Revitalization Talent Support Program“Innovation Team”Project(202405AS350019)Yunnan International Joint Laboratory for the Conservation and Utilization of Tropical Timber Tree Species(202403AP140004)the Postdoctoral Fellowship of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden,CAS。
文摘Felid species hold critical ecological roles within tropical forest ecosystems and are particularly susceptible to human-induced disturbances.However,there is limited research on how sympatric felid species are distributed and coexist in human-dominated habitats.Using a long-term camera trap survey conducted in the disturbed tropical habitats of Xishuangbanna,southwestern China,we assessed the occupancy and spatio-temporal segregation among four sympatric felid species(Leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis,Marbled cat Pardofelis marmorata,Asiatic golden cat Catopuma temminckii,and Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa),and explored how these patterns correlate with similarities in species traits.We found that the occupancy probabilities of leopard cats and clouded leopards were primarily influenced by anthropogenic disturbances rather than natural factors,with both species negatively affected by croplands.Similar species responses to croplands and livestock may facilitate the co-occurrence of leopard cats with clouded leopards in areas farther from croplands and with golden cats in regions with higher livestock abundance.The lack of significant spatial segregation among species is likely due to the observed segregation in daily activity patterns,which positively correlated with species trait similarities.Our study enhances our understanding of felid community assembly in the face of expanding human activity,offering valuable insights for future conservation in the Xishuangbanna region.
文摘The escalating conflict between human and wildlife due to competing demands for limited space and resources has raised concerns worldwide,and understanding the dynamics of this conflict is crucial for devising effective strategies and policies.The present study is an attempt to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the published literature on the topic of human-wildlife conflict(HWC)for the period of January 1991–February 2023.For carrying out the analysis of the data obtained from Web of Science,the‘Bibliometrix'tool,developed through the R programming language,was used.The findings of the study revealed that a total of 1592 documents have been published on the HWC research topic from January 1991 to February 2023 within 338 sources.It is observed that the number of publications has continuously increased since 1991,with an annual growth rate of 5.16%.A total of 4995 authors have contributed to the targeted research field.Of the 388 sources,the journal‘Biological Conservation'is the most relevant and productive,followed by‘Oryx'and‘Human Dimensions of Wildlife'.Based on the country production analysis,authors from 110 countries have contributed to the field,and the USA has the highest frequency of publications on HWC,followed by the UK and Australia.The USA also has the highest multiple country publications and has collaborated with 88 countries,with the highest frequency of collaboration with the UK,followed by India,Australia,and South Africa.The most frequently used keywords include‘human-wildlife conflict',‘conservation',‘conflict',‘human-wildlife',‘wildlife',‘wildlife management',‘livestock',‘management',‘coexistence',and‘carnivore'.The present study identifies the most prolific authors,sources,institutions,and countries,as well as the study hotspots in the subject of HWC,which may assist researchers in finding the best working and publication platforms.Further,it may also help them identify reliable research partners to acquire the best findings and develop more effective strategies and policies to address the issue.
基金supported by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Centre,Chinese Academy of Sciences(SAJC201612)
文摘Kenya has a rich mammalian fauna. We reviewed recently published books and papers including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa to develop an up-to-date annotated checklist of all mammals recorded from Kenya. A total of 390 species have been identified in the country, including 106 species of rodents,104 species of bats, 63 species of even-toed ungulates(including whales and dolphins), 36 species of insectivores and carnivores, 19 species of primates,five species of elephant shrews, four species of hyraxes and odd-toed ungulates, three species of afrosoricids, pangolins, and hares, and one species of aardvark, elephant, sirenian and hedgehog. The number of species in this checklist is expected to increase with additional surveys and as the taxonomic status of small mammals(e.g., bats, shrews and rodents) becomes better understood.
文摘The Egyptia n mon goose (Herpestes ichneumon Linn aeus, 1758) is a medium-sized car nivore that experienced remarkable geographic expansion over the last 3 decades in the Iberian Peninsula. In this study, we investigated the association of species-related and abiotic factors with spleen weight (as a proxy for immunocompete nee) in the species. We assessed the relationship of body con dition, sex, age, seas on, and envir onmental conditi ons with splee n weight established for 508 hunted specimens. Our results indicate that the effects of sex and season outweigh those of all other variables, including body condition. Spleen weight is higher in males than in females, and heavier spleens are more likely to be found in spring, coinciding with the highest period of investment in reproduction due to mating, gestation, birth, and lactation. Coupled with the absence of an effect of body condition, our findi ngs suggest that splee n weight variation in this species is mostly influe need by lifehistory traits linked to reproduction, rather than overall energy availability, winter immunoenhancement, or energy partitioning effects, and prompt further research focusing on this topic.
文摘Individual differe nces in cog nition have been shown to be common in some animal taxa, and recent evidenee suggests that an individual's personality can be associated with an individuads cognitive strategy. We tested whether wild bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis differ in a risktaking behavior (tameness) and whether this trait correlated with appetitive association learning performanee. While our result shows that individuals differed in their tameness, we found no associati on between this personality trait and learning the appetitive association. This result does not support the framework that differe nces in cog nition are associated with differe nces in personality;however, our small sample size does not allow us to assert that pers on ality can not be associated with cog nition in this system. This study highlights that measuri ng cog nition and pers on ality in wild systems presents added difficulty and that correlations found in captive animals may not be evident in their wild counterparts.
基金support fromthe U.S. National Park Service,the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and Siléns FoundationHunters in the Kotzebue area kindly provided us with harvest materialon wolverines,caribou and moose+1 种基金Dan Stevenson and the local staff at the U.S.National Park Service office in Kotzebue for logistical supportto Gene Peltola for help during aninitial stage of the Noatak wolverine project
文摘Knowledge of carnivore diets is essential to understand how carnivore populations respond demographically to variations in prey abundance. Analysis of stable isotopes is a useful complement to traditional methods of analyzing carnivore diets. We used data on δ^13C and δ^15N in wolverine tissues to investigate patterns of seasonal and annual diet variation in a wolverine Gulo gulo population in the western Brooks Range, Alaska, USA. The stable isotope ratios in wolverine tissues generally reflected that of terrestrial carnivores, corroborating previous diet studies on wolverines. We also found variation in δ^13C and δ^15N both between muscle samples collected over several years and between tissues with different assimilation rates, even after correcting for isotopic fractionation. This suggests both annual and seasonal diet variation. Our results indicate that data on δ^13C and δ^15N holds promise for qualitative assessments of wolverine diet changes over time. Such temporal variation may be important indicators of ecological responses to environmental perturbations, and we suggest that more refined studies of stable isotopes may be an important tool when studying temporal change in diets of wolverines and similar carnivores [ Current Zoology 55 （3）： 188- 192, 2009].
基金supported by the Science Committee of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan (AR08053353)the National Key Research Program and Developments of China (2020YFE0203400)。
文摘Rabies is a serious public health issue in Kazakhstan, with high economic impact and social burden. As part of a routine surveillance, 31 rabies-positive brain specimens taken from livestock(cattle) and carnivores(dogs, foxes, and cats)during 2013–2021 were subject to viral sequencing. Phylogenetic and Bayesian analysis were performed using obtained rabies virus(RABV) sequences. All 31 strains of RABV candidate belonged to the Cosmopolitan clade, of which 30strains belonged to steppe-type subclade, and 1 dog strain belonged to Other subclade. The 31 strains did not diverge from RABV strains in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, including Russia, Mongolia, and China, suggesting that animal rabies has close relationship and transmission between borders. Fox-originated strains and cattle strains shared similar sequence signature, and some animal rabies cases had space–time intersection, showing that infected foxes were a major transmission source of cattle rabies in different Kazakhstan regions. Besides, free-roaming dogs played a pivotal role in rabies epizootics of cattle in Kazakhstan. The recent spread of animal rabies presents an increasing threat to public health, and provides updated information for improving current control and prevention strategies at the source for Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
