A biogeographical perspective on the variation in mouse lemur density throughout Madagascar
Abstract
Madagascar is home to the smallest primates in the world, the mouse lemurs (Microcebus species). Twenty‐four species of mouse lemur are currently recognised and are found in variable ecosystems, from dry forests and spiny deserts to humid forests. Due to their widespread distribution and the large number of sympatric species, mouse lemurs can be used as a model to understand the linkages among species richness, population density, and habitat. As all lemurs are threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, this information can also be used to inform conservation management.
We hypothesise that on an island‐...
Source: Mammal Review - June 21, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Casey M. Setash, Sarah Zohdy, Brian D. Gerber, Caitlin J. Karanewsky Tags: Review Source Type: research
Voluntary recording scheme reveals ongoing decline in the United Kingdom hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius population
Abstract
In order to conserve threatened species, knowledge of the status, trends and trajectories of populations is required. Co‐ordinating collection of these data is challenging, especially for inconspicuous species such as the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius.
The UK National Dormouse Monitoring Programme (NDMP) is comprised of nest box recording schemes organised by volunteers. The number, size, and coverage of these schemes has varied over time. Such changes risk conflation of genuine population trends with covarying artefacts, including survey effort and expansion into sites of variable quality.
We prov...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Cecily E. D. Goodwin, David J. Hodgson, Nida Al ‐Fulaij, Sallie Bailey, Steve Langton, Robbie A. Mcdonald Tags: Review Source Type: research
Europe ‐wide biogeographical patterns in the diet of an ecologically and epidemiologically important mesopredator, the red fox Vulpes vulpes: a quantitative review
Abstract
Understanding how the diet of an ecologically important mesopredator varies throughout a large region can provide an insight into the trophic responses of generalist carnivores to global change. We review the diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes in Europe.
The main aims of this study were: (1) to identify biogeographical patterns in red fox diet throughout Europe; (2) to investigate the significance of the human footprint index (a measure of anthropogenic influence on habitats) for the Europe‐wide food habits of red foxes; and (3) to discuss the ecosystem role of red foxes in the face of global change.
We hypot...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Egle Soe, John Davison, Karmen S üld, Harri Valdmann, Leidi Laurimaa, Urmas Saarma Tags: Review Source Type: research
Insular bats and research effort: a review of global patterns and priorities
Abstract
Evidence‐based knowledge is critical for the delineation and success of conservation interventions. However, despite limited research resources, research efforts frequently fail to target conservation priorities. Island endemic bats (IEBs) are a poorly studied group inhabiting some of the world's most vulnerable habitats, and for which no review of research allocation has ever been conducted.
We conducted a bibliometric review to evaluate the global research patterns for IEBs with respect to individual species, geographical distribution and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List ca...
Source: Mammal Review - April 1, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Irene Conenna, Ricardo Rocha, Danilo Russo, Mar Cabeza Tags: Review Source Type: research
Underground life is still safest: comments on ‘Danger underground and in the open – predation on blind mole rats (Rodentia, Spalacinae) revisited’
Abstract
Németh et al. (Mammal Review 46, 2016, 204) recently reviewed the relationships between Old World blind mole rats (Spalacidae) and their predators. They concluded that blind mole rats are regularly taken by predators throughout their range, and that predation pressure probably contributed to blind mole rat evolution and underground behaviour. I argue instead that blind mole rats are rare or accidental prey for most predators, and list a number of alternative explanations for cases where a high predation rate was observed. I conclude that no blind mole rat species that has been studied is important prey for any p...
Source: Mammal Review - March 30, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Attila D. S ándor Tags: Comment Source Type: research
Optimising sampling methods for small mammal communities in Neotropical rainforests
Abstract
Quantifying mammalian biodiversity is a critical yet daunting challenge, particularly in species‐rich ecosystems. Non‐volant small mammals account for >60% of the mammalian diversity and often require several survey methods to estimate their species richness and abundance, because of differences in their size and behaviour.
Using 117 studies at 278 sites in a species‐rich biome, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we determined the influence of trap configuration, trap type, and sampling effort on measures of species richness and abundance.
We used generalised linear mixed‐effects models to determine whi...
Source: Mammal Review - March 9, 2017 Category: Zoology Authors: Ricardo S. Bovendorp, Robert A. MCCleery, Mauro Galetti Tags: Review Source Type: research
Distribution and status of the declining garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus
Abstract
The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus, a native European rodent species, suffered a significant contraction in its geographical range in the last few decades. The species has disappeared from large parts of central and eastern Europe and is considered extinct in some countries.
I reviewed the information available on the occurrence and distribution of the species in 26 countries where it was previously reported. Present and past introductions outside its native range were also summarised.
The garden dormouse is considered extinct in Lithuania, Finland, and Slovakia, probably extinct in Belarus, and present wit...
Source: Mammal Review - December 31, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Sandro Bertolino Tags: Review Source Type: research
Green sloths and brown cows: the role of dominant mammalian herbivores in carbon emissions for tropical agro ‐ecosystems
Abstract
When Neotropical forests are cleared, there is a rapid switch in the dominant herbivore from wild sloths (suborder Folivora) to domestic cows Bos taurus. We quantified carbon dynamics for these mammals and the ecosystems they inhabit. Because of their low metabolic rates and photosynthetically‐active algae, sloths emit trivial amounts of carbon (12 g C/sloth*day) compared to cows (2.3 kg C/cow*day). In parallel, forests are carbon sinks (−242 g C/m2*year) and pastures sources (261 g C/m2*year); cows contribute >50% of the net emissions from pastures. For a small farm in Costa Rica, this turnover in herb...
Source: Mammal Review - December 31, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Jonathan N. Pauli, Cayelan C. Carey, M. Zachariah Peery Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Evolutionary ecomorphology of the Falkland Islands wolf Dusicyon australis
Abstract
The Falkland Islands wolf Dusicyon australis is an extinct canid that was once the only endemic terrestrial mammal to inhabit the Falkland Islands. There is still a puzzling picture of the morphological adaptations of this wolf that quickly evolved from its mainland fossil ancestor: Dusicyon avus. We employ a geometric morphometric approach to identify patterns of skull shape variation in extant canids and Dusicyon spp. The Falkland Islands wolf and its fossil ancestor show a more carnivorous feeding morphology than other South American foxes, and they cluster morphologically with jackals. This supports convergenc...
Source: Mammal Review - December 31, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Carlo Meloro, Jonathan Hunter, Louise Tomsett, Roberto Portela Miguez, Francisco J. Prevosti, Richard P. Brown Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research
Global patterns in biomass models describing prey consumption by big cats
Abstract
Widespread prey depletion forces carnivores to rely more on livestock, which may lead to increased persecution by humans. Reliable quantification of livestock consumption is essential for understanding depredation scales, but a comparative analysis of extant biomass models used for this purpose has never been done before.
We conducted a global meta‐analysis of two linear and three non‐linear biomass models used to estimate consumption of prey biomass and individuals by seven big cat species. We applied the z‐test to perform pairwise comparisons of estimates produced by five models for each prey record. Fu...
Source: Mammal Review - December 31, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Igor Khorozyan, Tanja Lumetsberger, Arash Ghoddousi, Mahmood Soofi, Matthias Waltert Tags: Review Source Type: research
Chromatic disorders in bats: a review of pigmentation anomalies and the misuse of terms to describe them
Abstract
Chromatic disorders in bats are being reported worldwide at an increasing rate. However, there is widespread misunderstanding and misuse of the associated terminology and concepts in the scientific literature. We conducted an extensive assessment and standardisation of published and unpublished cases of chromatic disorders in bats worldwide.
Chromatic disorders have been recorded in at least 609 bats belonging to 115 species and 10 families (after correction of misused terms, 152 cases of albinism, 11 of leucism, 269 of piebaldism, 20 of hypomelanism, three of partial melanism and 94 of melanism; a further 60 r...
Source: Mammal Review - December 7, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Federica Lucati, Adri à López‐Baucells Tags: Review Source Type: research
Ebola in great apes – current knowledge, possibilities for vaccination, and implications for conservation and human health
Abstract
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a threat to human health and to the survival of African great apes. The disease has led to major population declines in chimpanzees Pan troglodytes and gorillas Gorilla gorilla, and infected great apes play an important role as sources of human EVD outbreaks. The threat posed by EVD raises the question whether vaccination of wild apes is an effective strategy to reduce the occurrence and impact of this disease.
We review the current knowledge about EVD in great apes and document the link between outbreaks in apes and in humans, mainly via bushmeat consumption. We discuss the need fo...
Source: Mammal Review - December 5, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Siv Aina J. Leendertz, Serge A. Wich, Marc Ancrenaz, Richard A. Bergl, Mary K. Gonder, Tatyana Humle, Fabian H. Leendertz Tags: Review Source Type: research
Impacts and management of feral cats Felis catus in Australia
Abstract
Feral cats are among the most damaging invasive species worldwide, and are implicated in many extinctions, especially in Australia, New Zealand and other islands. Understanding and reducing their impacts is a global conservation priority.
We review knowledge about the impacts and management of feral cats in Australia, and identify priorities for research and management.
In Australia, the most well understood and significant impact of feral cats is predation on threatened mammals. Other impacts include predation on other vertebrates, resource competition, and disease transmission, but knowledge of these impacts...
Source: Mammal Review - September 30, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Tim S. Doherty, Chris R. Dickman, Chris N. Johnson, Sarah M. Legge, Euan G. Ritchie, John C. Z. Woinarski Tags: Review Source Type: research
Spatial ecology of jaguars, pumas, and ocelots: a review of the state of knowledge
Abstract
Knowledge of the spatial ecology of mammalian carnivores is critical for understanding species’ biology and designing effective conservation and management interventions. We reviewed the available information about the spatial ecology of jaguars Panthera onca, pumas Puma concolor, and ocelots Leopardus pardalis, and we examined how sex and extrinsic variables affect their spatial behaviour.
Sixty‐one articles addressing home range, home range overlap, daily net displacement (straight‐line distance between two locations on consecutive days), and/or distance of dispersal of the three species were included. ...
Source: Mammal Review - September 30, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Noa Gonzalez ‐Borrajo, José Vicente López‐Bao, Francisco Palomares Tags: Review Source Type: research
Is gibbon ape leukaemia virus still a threat?
Abstract
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, an outbreak of lymphoma and leukaemia in gibbons (Hylobatidae), attributed to the retrovirus gibbon ape leukaemia virus (GALV), was widely reported in the literature. The virus was identified in captive gibbon colonies in Thailand, the USA and Bermuda.
The virus is a known cell culture contaminant and, in particular, research into HIV can be impeded by expression of GALV particles in HIV permissive cell lines.
In this review, we bring together published work, laboratory records from early GALV research, correspondence about the transportation of gibbons during the 1960s and 1...
Source: Mammal Review - September 30, 2016 Category: Zoology Authors: Katherine Brown, Rachael E. Tarlinton Tags: Review Source Type: research
