When bats go viral: negative framings in virological research imperil bat conservation
Abstract
The recent upsurge in bat‐borne virus research has attracted substantial news coverage worldwide. A systematic review of virological literature revealed that bats were described as a major concern for public health in half of all studies (51%), and that their key role in delivering ecosystem services was disregarded in almost all studies (96%). Although research on zoonoses is of the utmost importance, biased framings of bats can undermine decades of conservation efforts. We urge researchers and science communicators to consider the conservation impacts of how research findings are presented to the public carefu...
Source: Mammal Review - October 30, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Adri à López‐Baucells*, Ricardo Rocha, Álvaro Fernández‐Llamazares Tags: Perspective Source Type: research
The role of exotic mammals in the diet of native carnivores from South America
Abstract
A better understanding of the effects of exotic species is fundamental for ecosystem management, given that biological invasions are major agents of change affecting native biodiversity worldwide. However, exotic species can also have positive effects on native communities, for instance by providing additional food sources.
We reviewed dietary studies in the scientific literature published between 1980 and 2016 in order to examine the role of exotic mammals in the diets of 42 terrestrial species of the mammalian order Carnivora from South America. We recorded information about species' characteristics and analy...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Setefilla Buenavista, Francisco Palomares Tags: Review Source Type: research
The role of fathers in mammalian sex allocation
Abstract
Parents should bias resource allocation towards the sex most likely to provide higher fitness returns by adjusting the birth sex ratio and/or through differential care of sons and daughters. Sex allocation research in mammals to date has been focused almost exclusively on maternal traits, but fathers may also play an important role. Future studies should investigate the influence of paternal quality on the fitness of sons and daughters, and possible conflicts of interest between mothers and fathers. There is also a crucial need for more studies examining whether relative levels of maternal care in sons and daughte...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Mathieu Douhard Tags: Perspective Source Type: research
Bats probe the aerosphere during landscape ‐guided altitudinal flights
Abstract
As the only mammals capable of powered flight, bats make efficient use of the aerosphere. Yet, our understanding of how bats use the three‐dimensional air column is sketchy. By attaching miniaturised Global Positioning System tags to cave bats near a mountain ridge in Thailand, we show that these bats perform undulating ascending and descending flights in quick succession. Bats repeatedly used mountain slopes to ascend to altitudes of more than 550 m above the ground. We infer that mountain ridges are key habitat features for some open‐space foraging bats, facilitating altitudinal movements which may aid effe...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Manuel Roeleke, Sara Bumrungsri, Christian C. Voigt Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
National predictors of hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus distribution and decline in Britain
Abstract
We utilise a volunteer survey recording roadkills between 2001 and 2011 to examine the factors affecting hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus abundance and decline. Hedgehogs were most abundant in the North and East of England and in Scotland, regions characterised by low badger numbers. Hedgehogs selected arable land and urban areas relative to their availability. Badger Meles meles and fox Vulpes vulpes abundance were negatively associated with hedgehog abundance at the 10 km2 scale. At the county level, foxes were positively associated with hedgehog numbers and badgers negatively associated. The mechanism behind the r...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Carly E. Pettett, Paul J. Johnson, Tom P. Moorhouse, David W. Macdonald Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Social associations and vocal communication in wild and captive male savannah elephants Loxodonta africana
Abstract
Despite growing evidence that males often associate in all‐male groups, there has been no review of male savannah elephant Loxodonta africana social relationships or of the use of vocal communication within these male groups. We assess the evidence for all‐male group formation and for the use of vocal communication by males throughout the savannah elephant range of southern and eastern Africa, as well as in ex‐situ studies of captive animals.
We derived data from two quantitative reviews of the published literature, for associations and for vocalisations, respectively. We supplemented these structured rev...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Amy Morris ‐Drake, Hannah S. Mumby Tags: Review Source Type: research
What is an ‘extant’ type specimen? Problems arising from naming mammalian species‐group taxa without preserved types
Abstract
The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature allows the naming of new species without a type specimen ever having been preserved. This practice causes problems and is undesirable because if related, cryptic, sibling species are encountered later, it may not be possible either to allocate them with certainty to the earlier named species, or to determine them to be something different.
We hypothesised that examination of the instances in which mammalian species were named without preserved types would reveal certain problems that are not unique to them, but are encountered more frequently than when types are...
Source: Mammal Review - October 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Ronald H. Pine, Eli écer E. Gutiérrez Tags: Review Source Type: research
Does captivity influence territorial and hunting behaviour? Assessment for an ex situ reintroduction program of African lions Panthera leo
Abstract
Maintaining a territory and being able to hunt are imperative for the success of African lion Panthera leo prides. We aimed to determine whether captive‐origin prides display similar territorial and hunting behaviour to wild lions. Behaviours and locations of two captive‐origin prides and one wild pride were collected through direct observation. All prides established territories, and core areas corresponded to resource requirements. There was no evidence that pride origin affected territorial or hunting behaviour. Captive‐origin prides exhibited behaviours that lead us to be optimistic about each pride's ab...
Source: Mammal Review - September 4, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Emma J. Dunston, Jackie Abell, Rebecca E. Doyle, Deanna Duffy, Craig Poynter, Jacqui Kirk, Victoria B. Hilley, Andrew Forsyth, Emma Jenkins, Dominique Mcallister, Rafael Freire Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Late Pleistocene and Holocene chamois in Italy
Abstract
Two species of chamois currently live in Italy: Rupicapra rupicapra, with the subspecies Rupicapra rupicapra rupicapra, the Alpine chamois, and Rupicapra pyrenaica, with the subspecies Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata, the Apennine chamois.
Late Pleistocene and Holocene remains of chamois are numerous, but those attributable with reasonable certainty at the species or subspecies level are few and are mostly poorly dated.
The recent finding of a sub‐complete partially articulated skeleton of chamois attributed to Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata, from Late Pleistocene sediments of Grotta Mora Cavorso (Simbruini Mountains...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Marco Masseti, Leonardo Salari Tags: Review Source Type: research
The threat of invasive species to bats: a review
Abstract
Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss, but no study has described the scope of threats to bats (Chiroptera) by invasive species.
We reviewed the literature for negative effects of invasive species to bats and summarised threats according to four categories: predation, disease, competition, and indirect interactions. We identified threats of 37 invasive species to 40 bat species. Ten bat species were threatened by more than one invasion pathway.
About 38 percent of cases are speculative and 18 percent circumstantial, many attributed to overlapping ranges, and most accounts do not quantify...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Jessica Nicole Welch, Christy Leppanen Tags: Review Source Type: research
The Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis: a comprehensive update on the current knowledge and conservation status of this semiaquatic carnivore
Abstract
The Neotropical otter Lontra longicaudis is a widespread semiaquatic carnivore living in a wide variety of environments in both fresh‐water and salt‐water ecosystems. We summarise the current knowledge on distribution, ecology, behaviour, evolution and conservation status of the species, and highlight the main threats that have been affecting it as well as priority actions for securing its survival.
The current geographical range of Lontra longicaudis is discussed, as well as several efforts that have been made to update knowledge of the range. Throughout its known distribution area, the Neotropical otter has...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Marcelo Lopes Rheingantz, Victor Manuel Santiago ‐Plata, Cristine Silveira Trinca Tags: Review Source Type: research
Lions, trophy hunting and beyond: knowledge gaps and why they matter
Abstract
What does trophy hunting (selective hunting for recreation) contribute to wild lion conservation? Macdonald (Report on Lion Conservation with Particular Respect to the Issue of Trophy Hunting. WildCRU, Oxford, UK, 2016) summarises what we know. We identify unknowns, gaps in the knowledge that inhibit conservation planning, including: the causes of lion mortality, the amount of land used for lion trophy hunting, the extent to which trophy hunting depends on lions for financial viability, and the vulnerability of areas used for hunting to conversion to land not used for wildlife, if trophy hunting ceased. The cost o...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: David W. Macdonald, Andrew J. Loveridge, Amy Dickman, Paul J. Johnson, Kim S. Jacobsen, Byron Du Preez Tags: Perspective Source Type: research
Bat boxes are not a silver bullet conservation tool
Abstract
Nest boxes are often promoted as substitute structures for hollow‐dependent fauna, but are they generally effective? In a long‐term bat‐box monitoring project in south‐eastern Australia, box occupancy was dominated by one common and widespread urban‐adapted species, Gould's wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii. In contrast, the 13 other bat species in the area made little or no use of the boxes. Policymakers, land managers and conservation professionals working in the field of biodiversity offsets should be aware that bat boxes are unlikely to compensate adequately for the broad‐scale loss of tree hollows ...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Stephen R. Griffiths, Robert Bender, Lisa N. Godinho, Pia E. Lentini, Linda F. Lumsden, Kylie A. Robert Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Collection of voucher specimens for bat research: conservation, ethical implications, reduction, and alternatives
Abstract
Voucher specimens have played a fundamental role in biology, but ethical and conservation concerns have been raised over unnecessary collection of organisms. From 1996 to 2017, 222 studies mentioned the collection of 7482 bats of 376 species, mostly from South America and Asia (India, China, and South‐East Asia). Researchers mostly aimed to compile checklists or establish geographic ranges. Strong ethical reasons exist to avoid unnecessary collection, and suitable alternatives should be sought; for example, collecting voucher specimens for retrospective taxonomic confirmation can be replaced with molecular metho...
Source: Mammal Review - July 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Danilo Russo, Leonardo Ancillotto, Alice C. Hughes, Andrea Galimberti, Emiliano Mori Tags: Perspective Source Type: research
Peninsula effect and species richness gradient in terrestrial mammals on the Korean Peninsula and other peninsulas
Abstract
Although the original concept of the peninsula effect was that fewer mammal species inhabited peninsulas than were found on the adjacent mainland, biogeographers have focused their attention on species richness gradients that bisect the long axes of peninsulas, instead of on the original concept. We evaluated the evidence for the peninsula effect, by comparing the richness of terrestrial mammal species on the Korean Peninsula with richness on mainland areas, and by investigating species richness gradients on 14 other peninsulas distributed globally.
Our objectives were to: (1) demonstrate the existence of the p...
Source: Mammal Review - June 27, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Yeong ‐Seok Jo, Richard D. Stevens, John T. Baccus Tags: Review Source Type: research
