Pests controlling pests: does predator control lead to greater European rabbit abundance in Australasia?
Abstract
1. In New Zealand and Australia, rural landowners believe that local predator control to protect indigenous biota exacerbates European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus problems on their land. We assess the validity of their concerns by reviewing the published literature on effects of predators on rabbit abundance.
2. In New Zealand, where rabbits and their predators are introduced, predators appear to have relatively little effect on rabbit numbers compared with other factors leading to mortality, such as disease, flooding of burrows and burrow collapse. Similarly, in Australia, rabbit numbers are driven primarily...
Source: Mammal Review - January 1, 2015 Category: Zoology Authors: Grant Norbury, Chris Jones Tags: Review Source Type: research
The African golden cat Caracal aurata: Africa's least‐known felid
We describe the African golden cat and review its taxonomy, distribution, ecology, behaviour, threats and conservation status. The information presented here is based on the literature and on new data from the first two intensive field studies on the species (underway in Gabon and Uganda).
The golden cat is phenotypically variable. Within the two main colour morphs, golden/reddish‐brown and grey, there is wide variation and intergradation. Both of these morphs occur throughout the species' range. Melanistic and chocolate‐brown morphs also occur but are uncommon.
Recent genetic analysis indicates that the golden cat is ...
Source: Mammal Review - December 9, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Laila Bahaa‐el‐din, Philipp Henschel, Thomas M. Butynski, David W. Macdonald, David Mills, Rob Slotow, Luke Hunter Tags: Review Source Type: research
The role of the southern water vole Arvicola sapidus in the diet of predators: a review
Abstract
For the recovery and conservation of endangered species such as the southern water vole Arvicola sapidus, it is important to understand the effects of predation on their populations.
The impact of a predator on a prey species depends on the dynamics and structure of their populations, the abundance of both species and their relationships with other species. When considering broad geographic areas, the analysis of the trophic dimension can provide an estimate of the effect of predatory pressure on the prey.
To determine the potential impact of predators on the southern water vole, we used information provided in 7...
Source: Mammal Review - November 25, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Isabel Mate, Joan Barrull, Joaquim Gosálbez, Jordi Ruiz‐Olmo, Miquel Salicrú Tags: Review Source Type: research
Global effort allocation in marine mammal research indicates geographical, taxonomic and extinction risk‐related biases
Abstract
Although marine mammals are considered to be disproportionately threatened compared with terrestrial mammals, and research data on marine mammals are limited, few attempts have been undertaken to analyse overall marine mammal research effort.
We applied the bibliometric approach to evaluate global trends in research on pinnipeds and cetaceans and attempted to evaluate the distribution of publication output with respect to spatial, taxonomic and conservation status‐related patterns.
Results show that global marine mammal research is disproportionately directed towards less endangered species. There is an uneven ...
Source: Mammal Review - November 25, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Ivan Jarić, Jelena Knežević‐Jarić, Jörn Gessner Tags: Review Source Type: research
Loss of mammalian species from the South American Gran Chaco: empty savanna syndrome?
Abstract
The Gran Chaco in central South America is a major savanna woodland ecosystem. Accelerated changes in land use within it have resulted in a complex matrix of areas with varying capabilities for sustaining wildlife. Furthermore, hunting and habitat loss increasingly threaten the functional diversity of mammals found there.
We assess the potential consequences of the loss of large and medium‐sized native mammalian herbivores and frugivores on Chacoan ecosystem functioning, focusing on their role and conservation status in the Argentine Chaco.
Our review shows that almost 50% of the largest frugivorous mammals pre...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Maria E. Periago, Verónica Chillo, Ricardo A. Ojeda Tags: Review Source Type: research
Towards understanding wild boar Sus scrofa movement: a synthetic movement ecology approach
Abstract
In recent decades, the wild boar Sus scrofa has simultaneously increased its population size and colonized new habitats, causing more ecological and socio‐economic concern than perhaps any other ungulate species. However, the drivers and mechanisms of the species' spatial ecology remain poorly understood. Thanks to a recently developed framework, the movement ecology of any organism can now be tackled within a consistent and unified theoretical approach.
Based on this framework, we reviewed the literature on wild boar movement ecology to assess current knowledge and to identify important gaps.
By using importan...
Source: Mammal Review - September 25, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Kevin Morelle, Tomasz Podgórski, Céline Prévot, Oliver Keuling, François Lehaire, Philippe Lejeune Tags: Review Source Type: research
Changes in home range sizes and population densities of carnivore species along the natural to urban habitat gradient
Abstract
With rapid development and the spread of urbanized land, there is an increasing need to understand species' responses to urban conditions. Carnivores are considered to be sensitive to urbanization; however, there is ample evidence that some carnivore species successfully inhabit urban areas, and human‐modified habitats have recently been recognized as an important refuge for several species.
Despite the increasing number of studies on urban carnivore ecology, no comprehensive cross‐species comparisons have been made in order to assess the effects of urbanization on the spatial ecology of carnivores and their ...
Source: Mammal Review - September 25, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Martin Šálek, Lucie Drahníková, Emil Tkadlec Tags: Review Source Type: research
Mammal Review continues to shine
(Source: Mammal Review)
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Klaus Hackländer Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Using occupancy analysis to validate the use of footprint tunnels as a method for monitoring the hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus
In this study, we investigated the use of footprint tunnels by volunteers as a method for surveying occupancy of sites by hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus. The survey protocol led to a very low non‐detection rate and could reasonably be used to detect occupancy changes of 25% with statistical power of 0.95 in a national survey. (Source: Mammal Review)
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Richard W. Yarnell, Marina Pacheco, Ben Williams, Jessica L. Neumann, David J. Rymer, Philip J. Baker Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Adenovirus: an emerging factor in red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris conservation
Abstract
Adenovirus is an emerging threat to red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris conservation, but confirming clinically significant adenovirus infections in red squirrels is challenging. Rapid intestinal autolysis after death in wild animals frequently obscures pathology characteristic of the disease in animals found dead.
We review the available literature to determine current understanding of both subclinical and clinically significant adenovirus infections in free‐living wild and captive red squirrel populations.
Benefits of scientific testing for adenovirus incorporating both transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and po...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: David J. Everest, Craig M. Shuttleworth, Mark F. Stidworthy, Sylvia S. Grierson, J. Paul Duff, Robert E. Kenward Tags: Review Source Type: research
Intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting dietary specialization in Neotropical frugivorous bats
Abstract
Frugivory is a feeding habit that evolved on two independent occasions in the order Chiroptera. In the Neotropical phyllostomid bats Carollia, Sturnira and Artibeus, this feeding habit has evolved to become specialized in the core plant taxa Piper, Solanum, and Ficus and Cecropia, respectively.
I review the intrinsic factors that promote differences in diet among frugivorous bats of the genera Carollia, Sturnira and Artibeus and the interaction between these and extrinsic factors that affect bat community structure.
The intrinsic factors are internal variables associated with fruit selection, body mass and nutrie...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Romeo A. Saldaña‐Vázquez Tags: Review Source Type: research
Conservationists, hunters and farmers: the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus management conflict in the Iberian Peninsula
Abstract
Biodiversity conflicts arise when the interests of different stakeholders over common resources compete. Typically, the more parties involved, the more complex situations become.
Resolution of biodiversity conflicts requires an understanding of the ecological, social and economic factors involved, in other words the interests and priorities of each stakeholder. However, in most biodiversity conflicts, many of these components remain poorly understood.
As a case study, we analyse the conflict involving conservationists, hunters and farmers in the management of a native lagomorph, the European rabbit Oryctolagus cu...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Miguel Delibes‐Mateos, Catarina Ferreira, Carlos Rouco, Rafael Villafuerte, Isabel Catalán Barrio Tags: Review Source Type: research
Distribution, feeding habits and morphology of killer whales Orcinus orca in the Caribbean Sea
Abstract
Killer whales Orcinus orca are found in all oceans of the world, but most of our knowledge on the species comes from studies conducted at higher latitudes. Studies on killer whales in the Caribbean have been scarce.
We compiled 176 records of killer whales from the Caribbean, including 95 previously unreported records and 81 records recovered from the literature, consisting of 27 capture or kill records, 4 stranding records and 145 sighting records.
Our results indicate that killer whales are widespread in the Caribbean Sea and can be found year‐round in the region. Mean group size was 3.7 animals. A diversity ...
Source: Mammal Review - March 17, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Jaime Bolaños‐Jiménez, Antonio A. Mignucci‐Giannoni, Janice Blumenthal, Andrea Bogomolni, José Julio Casas, Angiolina Henríquez, Miguel Iñíguez Bessega, Jalaludin Khan, Nelmarie Landrau‐Giovannetti, Caroline Rinaldi, Renato Rinaldi, Grisel Rod Tags: Review Source Type: research
A test of the metabolic theory of ecology with two longevity data sets reveals no common cause of scaling in biological times
Abstract
The metabolic theory of ecology (MTE) predicts that biological times should universally scale to body mass M as M0.25. However, support for this prediction came principally from non‐phylogenetically controlled studies, whereas more recent analyses, which take the degree of shared ancestry between species into account, have revealed that both length of the gestation period and time to first reproduction do not follow this rule.
In the present study, we test this prediction of MTE on maximum longevity using two commonly accessible sources of information in zoology and ecology (AnAge and PanTHERIA data bases) that...
Source: Mammal Review - March 13, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Jean‐François Lemaître, Dennis W. H. Müller, Marcus Clauss Tags: Review Source Type: research
Review and analysis of Australian macropod translocations 1969–2006
Abstract
Translocations have become an increasingly popular tool in threatened macropod conservation in Australia. Although previous evaluations of Australian macropod translocations have been published, the number of contemporary translocation programmes awaiting analysis, and new data regarding historic translocations, required a new assessment of macropod translocation programmes.
We aimed to assess trends in the way macropod translocations were conducted during the period 1969–2006, determine the number of successful translocations and identify factors common to successful translocations.
Data regarding macropod tra...
Source: Mammal Review - March 4, 2014 Category: Zoology Authors: Jim A. Clayton, Chris R. Pavey, Karl Vernes, Matthew Tighe Tags: Review Source Type: research
