Mammalian Biology

Demırtaş, Sadık;Silsüpür, Metin;Searle, Jeremy B.;Bilton, David;Gündüz, İslam

doi: 10.1007/s42991-020-00010-4pmid: N/A

Abstract Turkey hosts 5 of the 11 species of Talpa described to date and Anatolia, in particular, appears to be an important centre of diversity for this genus. Of these taxa, the Levant mole, Talpa levantis Thomas, 1906 has been found to consist of two genetically divergent sublineages, which may represent separate species. Here, we use a combination of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences from specimens of T. levantis s.lat., collected across the species’ geographical range, to explore the systematics and demographic history of Levant moles. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers confirm the existence of distinct eastern and western sublineages, which apparently diverged from each other in the early Pleistocene. Given the degree of cytochrome-b divergence between these (7.28%), we consider them to represent independent cryptic species. By including topotypic specimens of T. levantis s. str. in our study, we are able to show that this name applies to the western sublineage, distributed across most of the Anatolian Black Sea coastal region, from the vicinity of Trabzon in the east, westwards to Marmara. The earliest name available for the eastern taxon, found in Transcaucasia and adjacent parts of north-eastern Anatolia, is T. transcaucasica Dahl, 1944. Cytochrome-b haplotype diversity in T. levantis is relatively high and demographic analyses suggest that the species may have survived in multiple, separate, refugial areas during the Pleistocene. Our work brings the total number of named mole species recognized in Turkey to six, emphasising the importance of this region as a global centre of mole diversification.

Latinne, Alice;Navascués, Miguel;Pavlenko, Marina;Kartavtseva, Irina;Ulrich, Rainer G.;Tiouchichine, Marie-Laure;Catteau, Gilles;Sakka, Hela;Quéré, Jean-Pierre;Chelomina, Galina;Bogdanov, Aleksey;Stanko, Michal;Hang, Lee;Neumann, Karsten;

Caraballo, Diego A.;López, Sabrina L.;Carmarán, Ariel A.;Rossi, María S.

doi: 10.1007/s42991-019-00004-xpmid: N/A

Abstract Tuco-tucos, South American rodents of the genus Ctenomys, is one of the most speciose genera among mammals. In this work, we performed a study of all extant Ctenomys species considering their conservation status and potential presence in Protected Areas, showing that 34 out of 67 (50.75%) species of tuco-tucos have significant overlapping distributions with such areas. We point out at-risk species that have no overlap with Protected Areas which deserve close surveillance and discuss the need for managing non-protected areas. We also assessed the identification at the species level of a previously unknown population of Ctenomys rionegrensis, an endangered species inhabiting sandy elevations in the Pre-Delta National Park, in Entre Ríos province, Argentina.

Mori, Emiliano;Lovari, Sandro;Cozzi, Francesca;Gabbrielli, Chiara;Giari, Chiara;Torniai, Letizia;Romeo, Giorgia;Ferretti, Francesco;Fattorini, Niccolò

doi: 10.1007/s42991-020-00013-1pmid: N/A

Abstract Movements, habitat use, and activity of herbivorous species are mainly influenced by trade-offs between food availability and daily/seasonal variation in predation risk. Nevertheless, studies conducted across several seasons and evaluating both spatial and temporal responses of meso-small herbivores are still scanty. Additionally, information on spatiotemporal behaviour is often lacking for cryptic, localised species, which may limit conservation actions. We evaluated how sex, time of day, seasonality, and habitat type—reflecting trade-offs in predation risk and access to food resources—influenced the spatial behaviour and locomotor activity of an herbivorous mammal, the Apennine hare, a threatened species endemic to central-southern Italy. In a 4-year study, we intensively radio-tracked 12 individuals, providing the first insights on the spatiotemporal ecology of this lagomorph. Sex affected neither home range size nor habitat selection. Home range size was larger during the night and in warm months, when hares moved to the most energetically rewarding habitat type for feeding activities, i.e., cultivations. At both study area and home range spatial scales, habitat selection did not vary between the cold and the warm months. At the study area scale, hares avoided deciduous woodland and human settlements, whereas selected the Mediterranean scrubwood and cultivations. Within home ranges, at night, Apennine hares selected risky patches, i.e., cultivations as feeding grounds, whereas in daylight, the safer Mediterranean scrubwood was used for cover and resting. Throughout the year, Apennine hares were mostly nocturnal and were more active in open than in concealed habitats, with no differences between sexes. Bright nights, i.e., with full moon and clear sky, inhibited activity in open areas but not in cover, likely to reduce predation risk. Our findings emphasised the role of feeding/antipredatory requirements in shaping spatiotemporal behaviour of meso-small mammals, with potential consequences for the conservation of threatened species.

Takada, Hayato

doi: 10.1007/s42991-019-00005-wpmid: N/A

Abstract Prey species generally trade better forage habitats for those with lower predation risk, but whether absence of predation risk can modulate the trade-off between forage and security remains unclear. In addition, direct interspecific competition may lead to inferior species avoiding dominant species. I examined the summer spatial distribution of the Japanese serow (Capricornis crispus) at Mount Fuji in the absence of predation risk in relation to forage abundance, security (steep slope or poor visibility), and abundance of a dominant competitor, the sika deer (Cervus nippon). Only main forage abundance, terrain, and visibility affected serow summer spatial distribution, and serows were more abundant in areas with lower forage abundance, steeper slopes, and poorer visibility environments. Serows seem to use habitats with lower forage abundance in exchange for high security. My findings suggest that serows favor security rather than better forage abundance, even without predation risk, and have less behavioral plasticity related to predation risk (consistent with the idea of “ghosts of the predators past”). This may relate to serow phylogeny or characteristics, such as small body size, and solitary and sedentary habits. My findings also suggest that serows did not avoid habitats with high densities of sika deer.

Korine, Carmi;Niv, Ariela;Axelrod, Michal;Dahan, Tair

doi: 10.1007/s42991-019-00002-zpmid: N/A

Abstract Insectivorous bats play a significant role in regulating the populations of nocturnal insects, including important agricultural pests in various agroecosystems, such as corn and cotton fields. Using bat detectors, we recorded species richness, bat activity, and the response of the bats to major insect pests in two major cotton-growing regions located in Revadim in a semi-arid area and in Emek Hefer in the Mediterranean habitats, Israel, for two growing seasons in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, we directly tested the response of the bats to chemical spraying by recording their activity before and after the spraying events. In both regions bat activity and species richness increased as the cotton growth progressed, reaching a peak when pest abundance was high. In Revadim, bat activity was significantly higher at the edge of the plots than in the center of the plots. There was a positive correlation between bat activity and the cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) insect pest, indicating that bats may exploit pest irruptions in the cotton fields. Bat activity was significantly lower after spraying events and remained low for several nights, suggesting a strong negative effect of chemical spraying on bats. Seven and nine species of bats and the genus Myotis were recorded in Revadim and Emek Hefer, respectively; most of them are locally categorized as threatened species. The edges of cotton fields may serve as potential foraging areas for insectivorous bats under bat-friendly management schemes that aim to increase their suitability for these bats, which in turn enhances their potential contribution to pest control.

Palmeirim, Ana Filipa;Peres, Carlos A.;Vieira, Marcus Vinícius

doi: 10.1007/s42991-020-00012-2pmid: N/A

Abstract Maximizing cost-efficiency of biological surveys is of great importance to assess threats and monitor changes in tropical landscapes, particularly when survey costs are high as in Neotropical small mammals. Species detectability is mostly affected by local abundance but can further vary according to the forest size in fragmented landscapes. For example, species detection in smaller fragments may be higher due to either spatial constrains or forest vertical compression. Here, trade-offs between duration of trapping sessions and the cost of obtaining accurate small mammal individual and species data are investigated across a range of forest sizes, while accounting for potential sampling bias. Using a combination of live (Sherman and wire mesh) and pitfall traps, patterns of cumulative capture–recapture rates and community composition were examined across 16 night trapping sessions in 42 transects nested within 14 insular forest fragments of different sizes, and two continuous forest sites in the Central Brazilian Amazon. Based on 40,254 trap-nights, 604 captures were recorded from 22 identifiable species. Cumulative number of captures gradually increased along the entire trapping session, and on average, nearly half of all species required more than eight trapping nights to be detected at each sampling transect. Sampling bias was responsible for increased cumulative recapture rates in smaller fragments, but did not affect cumulative capture rates, or time to first detection of each species. Instead, time to first detection was mostly positively affected by species abundance. Our results highlight the higher effectiveness of long trapping sessions (i.e. > 10 nights) to detect uncommon species, increase sample sizes and recapture rates. Overall, if small mammal species abundance is high, sampling intensity can be reduced. However, regardless of species abundance, large fragments and continuous forest sites should be more intensively sampled to reduce any potential sampling bias.

Buyaskas, Michael;Evans, Bryn E.;Mortelliti, Alessio

doi: 10.1007/s42991-020-00011-3pmid: N/A

Abstract Camera traps are a cost-effective tool for large-scale and long-term population monitoring of mammals. Either bait or lure is often used to attract animals in front of a camera; however, the relative efficiency of these two attractants, or their combination, is not well understood. Our objective was to determine the optimal attractant setup for maximizing detection probabilities of mammals in the northeast USA. We conducted a camera trapping project in northern Maine, USA, from August to November 2018, and tested three distinct attractant treatments against a control. Sampling stations were a minimum of 5 km apart, and consisted of four camera units spaced 100 m apart, and paired with one of the four setups: (1) bait plus lure (treatment), (2) bait (treatment), (3) lure (treatment), and (4) camera only (control). Detection data on 11 species of mammals were collected from 41 stations and analyzed through multi-method occupancy models. We totaled 4280 photo-trap-nights and captured 37,781 images. Results showed that the combination of bait plus lure was the most effective for increasing detection probability of carnivores. Specifically, bait plus lure proved to be particularly effective for mustelid species, while lure was particularly effective for American black bear (Ursus americanus). While attractant usage was shown to be ineffective for increasing detection probability of non-carnivores, it also did not decrease effectiveness. Based on our results, we recommend the simultaneous use of both bait and lure as attractants when conducting camera trapping work on mammals. The combination of bait and lure appears to maximize detection of carnivore species, while simultaneously having minimal effects on the detection of other taxa.

de Assis Morais, Tatiania;Rosa, Clarissa Alves da;Viana-Junior, Arleu Barbosa;Santos, Antônio Pedro;Passamani, Marcelo;de Azevedo, Cristiano Schetini

doi: 10.1007/s42991-019-00003-ypmid: N/A

Abstract The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a problematic invasive species which has colonized the threatened Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Our objective was to evaluate if population control and seasonality affect the circadian rhythm of wild boar activity. Wild boar activity was monitored by camera-traps for 1 year without population-control methods and 1 year with population-control methods implemented in the area. Before population control was implemented, wild boar activity was uniform across 24 h, with animals being active at any given time (cathemeral). After the population control, wild boars concentrated their activities on the daylight period. Also, wild boars were more active during the wet season, possibly influenced by the presence of seeds of Araucaria angustifolia trees. Based on these results, control measures should be conducted during the wet season and different management strategies, such as the use of rifles with telescopic sights and silencers, should be tested.

Kowalczyk, Rafał;Wudarczyk, Michał;Wójcik, Jan M.;Okarma, Henryk

doi: 10.1007/s42991-020-00009-xpmid: N/A

Abstract Golden jackal (Canis aureus) is expanding north in Europe. So far, its reproduction has rarely been reported in the expansion area. In this paper, we describe the first cases of reproduction of golden jackal from northern Poland, 500 km north from previously reported records. In summer 2015 and 2017, golden jackal juveniles (four and five individuals, respectively) sightings were recorded near Kwidzyn in Vistula river valley, where jackals have been observed repeatedly since 2015. These are the northernmost records of golden jackal reproduction in Europe. Since 2015, golden jackal was recorded in 15 locations in different parts of Poland, usually in the vicinity of larger rivers in mosaic habitats. The reproduction records suggest local establishment of population with predicted population increase and further expansion. First observation and record of reproduction in the same year suggest that expansion of golden jackal in Poland took place earlier and was not recorded, probably due to lack of knowledge on the species and failure to recognize its individuals.