Pub Date : 2021-11-17DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00462-2021
M. Naderi, J. Kusak, K. Bojarska, Mark W. Chynoweth, Austin M. Green, Ç. Şekercioğlu
Predator-prey interactions and human presence are among the key factors shaping large mammal activity patterns. In human-dominated landscapes, large carnivores must balance their activity rhythms between optimizing feeding opportunities and avoiding encounters with humans. In north- eastern Turkey, the Caucasian lynx ( Lynx lynx dinniki ), a threatened subspecies of the Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ), occupies habitats that are heavily fragmented and dominated by human presence in the warm part of the year. Using camera traps and GPS-collar activity sensors, we investigated lynx circadian activity patterns across lunar phases and seasons. We compared the activity pattern of the lynx to the activity pattern of its primary prey, the European hare ( Lepus europaeus ), and humans. We found that during the warm season (May-October), lynx displayed a bimodal crepuscu- lar activity pattern typical for this species and consistent with hare activity. During the cold season (November-April), both lynx and hares shifted to predominantly diurnal activity. During the full moon, hares reduced their activity due to the anti-predator behaviour, followed by a corresponding adjustment in lynx activity patterns. We conclude that lynx activity in our study area is an outcome of weather conditions, human presence and foraging behaviour. Our results also corroborate the suitability of camera trapping data in documenting multiple species’ temporal activity patterns.
{"title":"Hares, Humans, and Lynx activity rhythms: Who avoids whom?","authors":"M. Naderi, J. Kusak, K. Bojarska, Mark W. Chynoweth, Austin M. Green, Ç. Şekercioğlu","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00462-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00462-2021","url":null,"abstract":"Predator-prey interactions and human presence are among the key factors shaping large mammal activity patterns. In human-dominated landscapes, large carnivores must balance their activity rhythms between optimizing feeding opportunities and avoiding encounters with humans. In north- eastern Turkey, the Caucasian lynx ( Lynx lynx dinniki ), a threatened subspecies of the Eurasian lynx ( Lynx lynx ), occupies habitats that are heavily fragmented and dominated by human presence in the warm part of the year. Using camera traps and GPS-collar activity sensors, we investigated lynx circadian activity patterns across lunar phases and seasons. We compared the activity pattern of the lynx to the activity pattern of its primary prey, the European hare ( Lepus europaeus ), and humans. We found that during the warm season (May-October), lynx displayed a bimodal crepuscu- lar activity pattern typical for this species and consistent with hare activity. During the cold season (November-April), both lynx and hares shifted to predominantly diurnal activity. During the full moon, hares reduced their activity due to the anti-predator behaviour, followed by a corresponding adjustment in lynx activity patterns. We conclude that lynx activity in our study area is an outcome of weather conditions, human presence and foraging behaviour. Our results also corroborate the suitability of camera trapping data in documenting multiple species’ temporal activity patterns.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87494171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-11-03DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00476-2021
Agata Beliniak, Krauze-Gryz Dagny, K. Jasińska, Karolina Jankowska, J. Gryz
The Eurasian red squirrel is one of the species that has well adapted to urban habitats and is habitu- ated to human presence. Its urban populations differ from those in rural habitats in terms of e.g. abundance, spatial organisation and behaviour. Food availability affects the ecology of red squir- rels, so in this study we hypothesise that in the urban park with supplemental food, red squirrels will alter their activity rhythms to benefit from human presence. We therefore compared seasonal changes in the daily activity patterns of two red squirrel populations, inhabiting two different areas in Warsaw: a busy urban park (with plentiful supplemental feeding) and an urban forest reserve (closed for public). Between September 2018 and July 2019 we used camera traps to monitor red squirrels activity round-the-clock. In the park (contrarily to the forest), the number of records of red squirrels per 100 trap days was lowest in summer and highest in winter. Probably squirrels in the urban park, were able to maintain high activity during winter thanks to all-year-round availab- ility of supplementary food. Daily activity patterns differed seasonally and between the study sites. In the forest they resembled those recorded in natural habitats, i.e. two activity peaks, one after the sunrise and second before the sunset. In contrast, park squirrels showed mostly one activity peak, beginning some hours after the sunrise and lasting until noon/early afternoon (depending on the season). Park squirrels were almost exclusively day-active, while forest squirrels were also recorded before sunrise and after sunset. We suggest that park squirrels shifted their activity to times with higher visitor frequency, which, assumingly, increased chances to obtain supplemental food.
{"title":"Contrast in daily activity patterns of red squirrels inhabiting urban park and urban forest","authors":"Agata Beliniak, Krauze-Gryz Dagny, K. Jasińska, Karolina Jankowska, J. Gryz","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00476-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00476-2021","url":null,"abstract":"The Eurasian red squirrel is one of the species that has well adapted to urban habitats and is habitu- ated to human presence. Its urban populations differ from those in rural habitats in terms of e.g. abundance, spatial organisation and behaviour. Food availability affects the ecology of red squir- rels, so in this study we hypothesise that in the urban park with supplemental food, red squirrels will alter their activity rhythms to benefit from human presence. We therefore compared seasonal changes in the daily activity patterns of two red squirrel populations, inhabiting two different areas in Warsaw: a busy urban park (with plentiful supplemental feeding) and an urban forest reserve (closed for public). Between September 2018 and July 2019 we used camera traps to monitor red squirrels activity round-the-clock. In the park (contrarily to the forest), the number of records of red squirrels per 100 trap days was lowest in summer and highest in winter. Probably squirrels in the urban park, were able to maintain high activity during winter thanks to all-year-round availab- ility of supplementary food. Daily activity patterns differed seasonally and between the study sites. In the forest they resembled those recorded in natural habitats, i.e. two activity peaks, one after the sunrise and second before the sunset. In contrast, park squirrels showed mostly one activity peak, beginning some hours after the sunrise and lasting until noon/early afternoon (depending on the season). Park squirrels were almost exclusively day-active, while forest squirrels were also recorded before sunrise and after sunset. We suggest that park squirrels shifted their activity to times with higher visitor frequency, which, assumingly, increased chances to obtain supplemental food.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"103 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-11-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80804069","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00444-2021
A. Frantz, Anna Schleimer, Julian Wittische, M. Heddergott
While raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) cluster into five genetic populations in Germany, the precise spatial extent and degree of overlap of these clusters are unknown. The raccoon roundworm ( Baylisacaris procyonis ), a parasitic nematode that can cause severe disease in humans, is known to occur in central Germany in two of these five populations. Here we confirm a close alignment between the geographic distribution of the roundworm and the spatial extent of the genetic populations of rac- coons in which the parasite occurs. We found little evidence that linear landscape features substan-tially limit gene flow between populations. Given the large amount of genetic admixture at cluster boundaries, the raccoon roundworm is likely to spread to roundworm-free raccoon populations in the future.
{"title":"Close spatial overlap between the genetic population boundaries of raccoons and the distribution of the raccoon roundworm in Germany","authors":"A. Frantz, Anna Schleimer, Julian Wittische, M. Heddergott","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00444-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00444-2021","url":null,"abstract":"While raccoons ( Procyon lotor ) cluster into five genetic populations in Germany, the precise spatial extent and degree of overlap of these clusters are unknown. The raccoon roundworm ( Baylisacaris procyonis ), a parasitic nematode that can cause severe disease in humans, is known to occur in central Germany in two of these five populations. Here we confirm a close alignment between the geographic distribution of the roundworm and the spatial extent of the genetic populations of rac- coons in which the parasite occurs. We found little evidence that linear landscape features substan-tially limit gene flow between populations. Given the large amount of genetic admixture at cluster boundaries, the raccoon roundworm is likely to spread to roundworm-free raccoon populations in the future.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81544220","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00452-2021
D. Jayasekara, D. Mahaulpatha, S. Miththapala
Reliable population estimates are crucial for the conservation and management of faunal species. Population data of meso-mammal carnivores in Sri Lanka, as well as elsewhere in the world, is scarce. We estimated population densities of meso-mammal carnivores in Maduru Oya Na- tional Park (MONP) using Random Encounter Model (REM) and Camera Trap Distance Sampling (CTDS) methods in this study. A total of 3402 camera trapping days yielded 3357 video captures of 69 different animal taxa including 658 video captures of meso-mammal carnivores. In this study, we recorded all 12 meso-mammal carnivore species found on the island. The two density estim- ate methods generated similar population estimates indicating that both methods are compatible to be applied in tropical forest habitats for meso-carnivore species. We identify MONP as an area with high richness for the focal species. The study also generated movement speed, activity patterns, activity levels, and day ranges for the focal species, which will be useful for future research. We discuss the population density estimates for different meso-carnivore species and the use of REM and CTDS density estimation methods and their applicability to a tropical meso-carnivore community.
{"title":"Population density estimation of meso-mammal carnivores using camera traps without the individual recognition in Maduru Oya National Park, Sri Lanka","authors":"D. Jayasekara, D. Mahaulpatha, S. Miththapala","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00452-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00452-2021","url":null,"abstract":"Reliable population estimates are crucial for the conservation and management of faunal species. Population data of meso-mammal carnivores in Sri Lanka, as well as elsewhere in the world, is scarce. We estimated population densities of meso-mammal carnivores in Maduru Oya Na- tional Park (MONP) using Random Encounter Model (REM) and Camera Trap Distance Sampling (CTDS) methods in this study. A total of 3402 camera trapping days yielded 3357 video captures of 69 different animal taxa including 658 video captures of meso-mammal carnivores. In this study, we recorded all 12 meso-mammal carnivore species found on the island. The two density estim- ate methods generated similar population estimates indicating that both methods are compatible to be applied in tropical forest habitats for meso-carnivore species. We identify MONP as an area with high richness for the focal species. The study also generated movement speed, activity patterns, activity levels, and day ranges for the focal species, which will be useful for future research. We discuss the population density estimates for different meso-carnivore species and the use of REM and CTDS density estimation methods and their applicability to a tropical meso-carnivore community.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"75 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90116148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00423-2021
Jamile M Bubadué, M. Nogueira, I. P. Lima, A. Peracchi, A. P. D. Beneditto, C. E. Rezende, L. Monteiro
Intraspecific variation in phenotype and ecology within a population is an important component of eco-evolutionary dynamics, that influence species longevity, community structure and ecosystem function. We studied nitrogen enrichment variability in a population of the dwarf little fruit bat Rhinophylla pumilio in association to its variation in skull shape. In the studied population (Atlantic Forest in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil), R. pumilio has been recorded to feed not only on fruits, as in most of its range, but also nectar. So far, this has not been recorded anywhere else for this species. Our results have shown support for phenotypic specialisation within this population that facilitates a nectarivorous diet in some individuals, contributing to intra-populational variation in this local- ity. Combining geometric morphometrics and stable isotope analysis, it was possible to show that skulls with longer rostra and more procumbent incisors were associated with nitrogen enrichment in the range of δ 15 N levels observed in other nectarivorous species at the same locality. Because nectar is a low-protein food item, nectarivorous bats often incorporate other protein sources into their diet (like pollen and/or insects). In the case of R. pumilio , the use of nectar is likely opportunistic for those individuals with favourable phenotypes. However, there is no evidence so far that R. pumilio is able to digest pollen or eventually incorporate insects in the diet. The nitrogen enrich- ment observed can be caused by physiological stress due to a protein poor diet, causing a mixed incorporation of nitrogen from internal and external sources (from diet). This scenario could be an intermediate step in the transition to a more nectarivorous diet, and the pattern of within-population phenotype-ecology association might shed light into the early stages of ecological specialization in phytophagous bats.
{"title":"Nitrogen isotope enrichment associated with skull shape variation in the Dwarf little fruit bat Rhinophylla pumilio","authors":"Jamile M Bubadué, M. Nogueira, I. P. Lima, A. Peracchi, A. P. D. Beneditto, C. E. Rezende, L. Monteiro","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00423-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00423-2021","url":null,"abstract":"Intraspecific variation in phenotype and ecology within a population is an important component of eco-evolutionary dynamics, that influence species longevity, community structure and ecosystem function. We studied nitrogen enrichment variability in a population of the dwarf little fruit bat Rhinophylla pumilio in association to its variation in skull shape. In the studied population (Atlantic Forest in northern Espírito Santo, Brazil), R. pumilio has been recorded to feed not only on fruits, as in most of its range, but also nectar. So far, this has not been recorded anywhere else for this species. Our results have shown support for phenotypic specialisation within this population that facilitates a nectarivorous diet in some individuals, contributing to intra-populational variation in this local- ity. Combining geometric morphometrics and stable isotope analysis, it was possible to show that skulls with longer rostra and more procumbent incisors were associated with nitrogen enrichment in the range of δ 15 N levels observed in other nectarivorous species at the same locality. Because nectar is a low-protein food item, nectarivorous bats often incorporate other protein sources into their diet (like pollen and/or insects). In the case of R. pumilio , the use of nectar is likely opportunistic for those individuals with favourable phenotypes. However, there is no evidence so far that R. pumilio is able to digest pollen or eventually incorporate insects in the diet. The nitrogen enrich- ment observed can be caused by physiological stress due to a protein poor diet, causing a mixed incorporation of nitrogen from internal and external sources (from diet). This scenario could be an intermediate step in the transition to a more nectarivorous diet, and the pattern of within-population phenotype-ecology association might shed light into the early stages of ecological specialization in phytophagous bats.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"17 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80165965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00459-2021
M. Konopiński, Grzegorz Baś, K. Bojarska
Large mammals have been colonising urban areas throughout the world. This process is often ac- companied by genetic and behavioural changes, and as a result, urban populations may form distinct entities within continuous range of the species. In this paper, we present the results of an analy- sis of the spatial distribution of genetic variation in urban/suburban populations of wild boars Sus scrofa . We used a genetic variation of 12 microsatellite markers to analyse the population structure of wild boars inhabiting a large city (Kraków, Poland) and its rural surroundings. We discovered a profound differentiation between urban and rural areas, with urban individuals forming a distinct genetic group within an otherwise more continuous range of the species. The genetic distinctiveness of the urban wild boar population seems to be maintained not only by physical barriers but plausibly by behavioural differences. Although the chronology of the highway bypass construction may partly explain some of the genetic relatedness between wild boar populations, our results sug- gest attitudes towards humans may be an important factor influencing immigration to the areas of increased human presence. We discuss possible implications for the management of the wild boar in the city.
{"title":"Can attitude toward humans cause isolation? Marked genetic distinction of urban wild boar population.","authors":"M. Konopiński, Grzegorz Baś, K. Bojarska","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00459-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00459-2021","url":null,"abstract":"Large mammals have been colonising urban areas throughout the world. This process is often ac- companied by genetic and behavioural changes, and as a result, urban populations may form distinct entities within continuous range of the species. In this paper, we present the results of an analy- sis of the spatial distribution of genetic variation in urban/suburban populations of wild boars Sus scrofa . We used a genetic variation of 12 microsatellite markers to analyse the population structure of wild boars inhabiting a large city (Kraków, Poland) and its rural surroundings. We discovered a profound differentiation between urban and rural areas, with urban individuals forming a distinct genetic group within an otherwise more continuous range of the species. The genetic distinctiveness of the urban wild boar population seems to be maintained not only by physical barriers but plausibly by behavioural differences. Although the chronology of the highway bypass construction may partly explain some of the genetic relatedness between wild boar populations, our results sug- gest attitudes towards humans may be an important factor influencing immigration to the areas of increased human presence. We discuss possible implications for the management of the wild boar in the city.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"76 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75710199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00461-2021
A. Hinckley, J. Leonard
The genus Neomys contains four species, three of which are present on the Iberian Peninsula. Re- cent phylogeographic studies have thoroughly assessed the evolutionary history of this genus in this region. However, perhaps due to its rarity, the isolated and endangered populations of southern Iberia have never been included in these studies. Thus, the current taxonomic status of these apparently isolated populations of Neomys anomalus is currently based on morphological evidence. In order to test whether southern Iberian Neomys represent a recently diverged relict population from recent expansions of previously described phylogroups, or a highly divergent lineage due to iso- lation in an ancient southern refugia, we genetically analyze four museum individuals of Neomys anomalus from this southern population in Andalucia, Spain. Our results based on cytochrome b sequences from two individuals suggest that the southern Iberian Neomys population represents a relatively recently diverged lineage with a unique haplotype. This is in contrast to other phy- logeographic studies on Iberian small mammals. These findings might suggest potential recent extinctions throughout the species’ southern range and/or the need for additional sampling in this region in order to properly assess the distribution and conservation status of this Iberian endemic species.
{"title":"Taxonomic status of southern Iberian Neomys populations with evolutionary and conservation implications","authors":"A. Hinckley, J. Leonard","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00461-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00461-2021","url":null,"abstract":"The genus Neomys contains four species, three of which are present on the Iberian Peninsula. Re- cent phylogeographic studies have thoroughly assessed the evolutionary history of this genus in this region. However, perhaps due to its rarity, the isolated and endangered populations of southern Iberia have never been included in these studies. Thus, the current taxonomic status of these apparently isolated populations of Neomys anomalus is currently based on morphological evidence. In order to test whether southern Iberian Neomys represent a recently diverged relict population from recent expansions of previously described phylogroups, or a highly divergent lineage due to iso- lation in an ancient southern refugia, we genetically analyze four museum individuals of Neomys anomalus from this southern population in Andalucia, Spain. Our results based on cytochrome b sequences from two individuals suggest that the southern Iberian Neomys population represents a relatively recently diverged lineage with a unique haplotype. This is in contrast to other phy- logeographic studies on Iberian small mammals. These findings might suggest potential recent extinctions throughout the species’ southern range and/or the need for additional sampling in this region in order to properly assess the distribution and conservation status of this Iberian endemic species.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"18 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74709619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-10-04DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00412-2021
Eva Ladurner, P. Colangelo, G. Amori, Federica Lazzeri, Elisa Colonna, P. Kranebitter
In Italy, after the elevation to species rank of the Valais shrew Sorex antinorii , all collection speci- mens from the museums previously attributed to the Eurasian shrew Sores araneus were assigned to the former species. But no official verification of this “automatic” species attribution has ever been attempted. In our work we did the revision of 14 specimens of the Sorex araneus group from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol in the north-east of Italy, by using molecular markers. The study was based on cytochrome b sequences, that allowed to assign unambiguously the analyzed specimens to one of the Sorex species. Among these South Tyrolean Sorex records we unexpectedly found only one specimen of S. antinorii , whereas the other 13 specimens could all be assigned to S. araneus . In this way, we were able to prove the occurrence of both S. antinorii and S. araneus for South Tyrol. Our work furthermore shows that S. araneus in Italy was never “gone” and it has to be added to the list of Italian mammals again. These findings thus stress the importance of a revision of museum collections by using modern technologies, to estimate the cor-rect level of diversity of the small mammal fauna at regional and national level and, as in the case of S. antinorii , to better define its actual northern distribution limit in the Alps.
{"title":"Revising museum collections help to fill knowledge gaps in the Italian mammal fauna: the case of Sorex araneus and Sorex antinorii from South Tyrol","authors":"Eva Ladurner, P. Colangelo, G. Amori, Federica Lazzeri, Elisa Colonna, P. Kranebitter","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00412-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00412-2021","url":null,"abstract":"In Italy, after the elevation to species rank of the Valais shrew Sorex antinorii , all collection speci- mens from the museums previously attributed to the Eurasian shrew Sores araneus were assigned to the former species. But no official verification of this “automatic” species attribution has ever been attempted. In our work we did the revision of 14 specimens of the Sorex araneus group from the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol in the north-east of Italy, by using molecular markers. The study was based on cytochrome b sequences, that allowed to assign unambiguously the analyzed specimens to one of the Sorex species. Among these South Tyrolean Sorex records we unexpectedly found only one specimen of S. antinorii , whereas the other 13 specimens could all be assigned to S. araneus . In this way, we were able to prove the occurrence of both S. antinorii and S. araneus for South Tyrol. Our work furthermore shows that S. araneus in Italy was never “gone” and it has to be added to the list of Italian mammals again. These findings thus stress the importance of a revision of museum collections by using modern technologies, to estimate the cor-rect level of diversity of the small mammal fauna at regional and national level and, as in the case of S. antinorii , to better define its actual northern distribution limit in the Alps.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"1558 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87858421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-08-17DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00417-2021
Badou Adjakou Sylvestre, G. Philippe, Houemenou Gualbert, L. Anne, Etougbetche Jonas, Houemenou Honoré, Agbangla Clémént, Brouat Carine, D. Gauthier
The cosmopolitan black rat, Rattus rattus , has invaded many cities throughout the world. Although the species is responsible for major damages to food stocks and crops and is involved in the main-tenance, circulation and transmission of many zoonotic pathogens to humans and animals, a lot remains to be known about its eco-evolutionary characteristics, especially in highly modified en-vironments like the urban habitat. In particular, very few studies were conducted on the genetic structure of urban black rat populations, which is yet a prerequisite for defining effective management units. Here, we focus on the population genetics of Rattus rattus in Cotonou, Benin. Forty different localities were sampled throughout the city and 457 individuals were genotyped using 18 microsatellitemarkers. Ourresultsrevealtwopoorlydistinguishablebutsignificantgeneticclusters, one of each side of Cotonou channel, that tend to homogenize into a single group due to probable gene flow between the two shores. Implications in terms of management units and rodent control are discussed.
{"title":"Population genetic structure of blacks rats in an urban environment: a case study in Cotonou, Benin","authors":"Badou Adjakou Sylvestre, G. Philippe, Houemenou Gualbert, L. Anne, Etougbetche Jonas, Houemenou Honoré, Agbangla Clémént, Brouat Carine, D. Gauthier","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00417-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00417-2021","url":null,"abstract":"The cosmopolitan black rat, Rattus rattus , has invaded many cities throughout the world. Although the species is responsible for major damages to food stocks and crops and is involved in the main-tenance, circulation and transmission of many zoonotic pathogens to humans and animals, a lot remains to be known about its eco-evolutionary characteristics, especially in highly modified en-vironments like the urban habitat. In particular, very few studies were conducted on the genetic structure of urban black rat populations, which is yet a prerequisite for defining effective management units. Here, we focus on the population genetics of Rattus rattus in Cotonou, Benin. Forty different localities were sampled throughout the city and 457 individuals were genotyped using 18 microsatellitemarkers. Ourresultsrevealtwopoorlydistinguishablebutsignificantgeneticclusters, one of each side of Cotonou channel, that tend to homogenize into a single group due to probable gene flow between the two shores. Implications in terms of management units and rodent control are discussed.","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90037655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2021-08-02DOI: 10.4404/HYSTRIX-00448-2021
C. Musto, M. Delogu
{"title":"THE CANINE ADENOVIRUS TYPE 2 (CAdV-2) IN ITALIAN WOLVES (Canis lupus italicus): A PRELIMINARY STUDY","authors":"C. Musto, M. Delogu","doi":"10.4404/HYSTRIX-00448-2021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4404/HYSTRIX-00448-2021","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55036,"journal":{"name":"Hystrix-Italian Journal of Mammalogy","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2021-08-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84241401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}