Landscape heterogeneity and ecological niche isolation shape the distribution of spatial genetic variations in Iranian brown bears, Ursus arctos (Carnivora: Ursidae)
In this study, we investigated population structure, landscape connectivity, and genetic variations of Iranian brown bear populations using microsatellites. We tested the effects of IBD, IBR, and IBE on the genetic structure using multiple matrix randomized regression (MMRR) in an individual-based approach. A population level method based on an ecological niche modelling (ENM) framework was then used to evaluate the effect of niche divergence on genetic patterns. Bear populations displayed high genetic diversity, among the highest reported for wild brown bears. We also found a relatively significant division of brown bear ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 26, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Integrative taxonomy places Asian species of Falsistrellus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) into Hypsugo
Publication date: Available online 13 August 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Tamás Görföl, Gábor CsorbaAbstractThe vespertilionid genus Falsistrellus currently contains three Asian (F. affinis, F. petersi and F. mordax) and two Australian (F. tasmaniensis and F. mackenziei) species. The Australian species are characterised with distinct external and craniodental traits, whereas the Asian taxa morphologically more closely resemble Hypsugo and the published molecular biological studies also suggested their close phylogenetic affinities. Herewith we provide sequence data of mitochondrial and nuclear genes for both...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 14, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Multiple paternity in a population of free-living edible dormice (Glis glis)
In this study, the genetic mating system of G. glis was evaluated by genotyping free-living dam-offspring groups. Based on the assumption that males establish territories at least during the mating season, male individuals in the vicinity of the selected females were included in the investigation. Parentage assignment was conducted by applying the COLONY and GERUD software, using 19 polymorphic microsatellite loci. Multiple mating within this population of edible dormice was detected by both programs, since all investigated litters were sired by at least two males. Therefore, the results provide the first evidence of polyg...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 14, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Maternal genetic variation in the northeastern Hungarian fallow deer (Dama dama) population
Publication date: Available online 10 August 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Szilvia Kusza, Mohammad Reza Ashrafzadeh, Bianka Tóth, András JávorAbstractHungary has one of the strongest fallow deer (Dama dama dama) populations in the world. This is confirmed by the fact that the latest two world-record trophies were bagged at Gúth in northeastern Hungary. Despite this, no information about the genetic diversity or structure of this population has been published. In this work, we present a first assessment of the maternal genetic variability of the fallow deer populations in northeastern part of Hungary. We seque...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Beyond home: preliminary data on wolf extraterritorial forays and dispersal in Central Italy
Publication date: Available online 8 August 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Sara Mancinelli, Paolo CiucciAbstractExtraterritorial forays in wolves (Canis lupus) have rarely been documented, especially in human-modified landscapes of southern and central Europe. Integrating information on extraterritorial forays is currently enhanced by Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry and contributes to our knowledge of the spatial dynamics of wolf populations. We hereby report GPS-revealed extraterritorial forays performed by 4 wolves in 3 packs in the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (central Apennines, Italy, 200...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 9, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Sex-specific variation in denning by brown bears
Publication date: Available online 7 August 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Lindsey S. Mangipane, Jerrold L. Belant, David D. Gustine, Grant V. Hilderbrand, Buck A. MangipaneAbstractDenning characteristics of brown bears (Ursus arctos) have been described in numerous studies; however, population specific factors (i.e., landscape characteristics and climate) can greatly influence the location and timing of denning. Our objective was to evaluate den-site characteristics and denning chronology for male and female brown bears in Lake Clark National Park and Preserve, Alaska. We used maximum entropy modeling to characte...
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 8, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Habitat use of adult male South American fur seals and a preliminary assessment of spatial overlap with trawl fisheries in the South Atlantic
Publication date: Available online 1 August 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Alastair M.M. Baylis, Megan Tierney, Iain J. Staniland, Paul BrickleAbstractLittle is known about the movement ecology of male South American fur seals (SAFS; Arctocephalus australis). To begin to address knowledge gaps we used satellite telemetry to track four adult male SAFS at the Falkland Islands over the non-breeding period, from May to December. Our aims were to describe adult male SAFS habitat use and quantify spatial overlap between male SAFS and commercial trawl fisheries. Foraging trip duration ranged from an individual mean of 8....
Source: Mammalian Biology - August 2, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Unmasking the invader: genetic identity of invasive wild boar from three minor islands off Sardinia (Italy)
Publication date: Available online 31 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Antonio Canu, Marco Apollonio, Massimo ScanduraAbstractIntroduced invasive species such as the wild boar (Sus scrofa) represent a huge threat to the biodiversity of small islands, in that they may lead to ecological disequilibria and taxa extinctions. Additionally, if introduced populations with an alien or admixed genetic origin disperse from islands, they may jeopardize the endemic genetic diversity of mainland conspecifics through introgressive hybridization.Despite past hybridization with local domestic pigs and introduced continental wi...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 31, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Suckling and allosuckling behavior in wild giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)
Publication date: November 2018Source: Mammalian Biology, Volume 93Author(s): Miho Saito, Gen’ichi IdaniAbstractAllosuckling has been reported in many mammalian species. In giraffe, allosuckling has been observed in captivity, and the milk theft hypothesis with reciprocity is regarded as the likeliest explanation for this behavior. However, reports of such behavior in the wild remain sparse to non-existent. Here, we studied the suckling and allosuckling behaviors of three nursing giraffe and their offspring (two calves and one juvenile) for 32 days in the Katavi National Park, Tanzania. In total, we observed 56 suckling ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 20, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Winter habitat of Mongolian gazelles in areas of southern Mongolia under new railroad construction: an estimation of interannual changes in suitable habitats
In this study, we used tracking and environmental data to construct habitat suitability maps for wintering Mongolian gazelles to analyze the spatiotemporal changes in habitats for regions that could be fragmented by the presence of new railroads. Habitat suitability in winter was high in areas with a short duration of snow cover and a high normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). We noted significant interannual variability in the spatial distribution of winter habitat suitability in the potentially fragmented area, which suggests a serious threat posed by railroad construction, although the tracked gazelles had not ...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 18, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Editorial Board
Publication date: September 2018Source: Mammalian Biology, Volume 92Author(s): (Source: Mammalian Biology)
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 12, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Modeling the growth curves for body weight and some biometric traits in Caspian horses (Equus ferus caballus) using non-linear mixed models
Publication date: Available online 10 July 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Navid Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh, Ahmad GhorbaniAbstractIn order to describe the growth curves of live body weight (BW), body length (BL), height at withers (HW) and hearth girth (HG) in Caspian horses, six non-linear mixed growth models (Brody, Logistic, Gompertz, Schumacher, Von Bertalanffy and Negative exponential) were used. The data set comprised 129 records of BW and biometric traits (made up of 54 for males and 75 for female horses) which were measured weekly from birth to 32 weeks of age in the premises of the Animal Science Department, Agr...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Home ranges, activity patterns and habitat preferences of leopards in Luambe National Park and adjacent Game Management Area in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia
Publication date: Available online 10 November 2017Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Rena Rebecca Ray-Brambach, Claudia Stommel, Dennis RödderAbstractLeopard (Panthera pardus) populations are declining worldwide. There are limited data on leopard ecology, especially activity patterns and habitat use, but these are vital to facilitate their conservation. In Zambia we radio tracked two female and three male leopards to study home range sizes, activity patterns and habitat preferences in Luambe National Park (LNP), and an adjacent Game Management Area used for trophy hunting. Home range sizes (MCP 95%) comprised 28.3–55....
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Spatiotemporal patterns of Amur leopards in northeast China: Influence of tigers, prey, and humans
Publication date: Available online 22 March 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Haitao Yang, Xiaodan Zhao, Boyu Han, Tianming Wang, Pu Mou, Jianping Ge, Limin FengAbstractThe Amur leopard Panthera pardus orientalis is one of the most endangered cat subspecies in the world. The rare leopard is sympatric with Amur tiger Panthera tigris altaica and their prey in human dominated landscape. To conserve the felid species, it is important to understand the activity patterns of Amur leopards, including its interactions with Amur tigers, prey, and human activities. We used a data set from 163 camera traps to quantify the spatia...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
Genetic differentiation in Cricetulus migratorius Pallas, 1773 (Rodentia, Cricetidae)
Publication date: Available online 4 May 2018Source: Mammalian BiologyAuthor(s): Vladimir Lebedev, Natalia Poplavskaya, Anna Bannikova, Georgy Ryurikov, Alexey SurovAbstractThe grey hamster Cricetulus migratorius is the most widespread and ecologically opportunistic species among Palearctic hamsters. Genetic diversity across most of its range was examined by using cytochrome b (cytb) and cytochrome oxidase I (coI) gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed three well-differentiated allopatric lineages. The western lineage is distributed in Ukraine, Central and South Russia, Caucasus and Anatolia; the eastern lineage oc...
Source: Mammalian Biology - July 11, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: research
