Volume 70, Issue 1-2

We analyzed life-history traits (fertility, growth and rate of postnatal development) in captive-bred colonies of two closely related sympatric species: Calomys expulsus and C. tener (Rodentia, Sigmodontinae). We found significant differences between the species in growth rate and several reproductive traits. C. tener had a smaller litter size and litter mass, smaller proportion of litter mass to maternal mass, lower growth rate and higher infant mortality. We also found an apparent difference in correlation patterns of life history parameters between the two species of Calomys . The strong correlation between body size and fecundity found in other studies of life history traits and in selection experiments seems to be disrupted in C. tener . We found a significant positive correlation between maternal mass and litter size and mass only for C. expulsus, which means that in C. tener the fertility of females does not depend strongly on body mass. We discuss inbreeding depression and stress reactions as possible reasons for these results.

Information on the population of common hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius ) in Cameroon is limited. Consequently, management decisions are based on guesses. We surveyed common hippos on the River Djerem in Mbam-Djerem National Park, from April to June 2001 by sailing on the river at 1.5 km/h and counting hippopotamus that emerged to the water surface. We also recorded their tracks along the river banks. We found at least 18 hippos in April and 79 during May–June on the river, suggesting that there were either different numbers at each of the periods or approximately the same numbers, but with individuals responding differently to the physiological and noise stimuli used in the study. However, the observation of numerous fresh outlet tracks of hippos at pools where they were not directly sighted suggests higher numbers on the river during each of the periods. Hunting of hippopotamus in the past for trophies (canines) threatened their survival and accounts for the relatively low numbers observed compared to an earlier survey in the River Bénoué. There are hopes for a future population increase with increased law enforcement in the recently created Mbam-Djerem National Park.

The Republic of Guinea is thought to contain the largest population of common hippopotamus in West Africa. However, no systematic field survey has been carried out recently and the information available is limited to informal observations. To clarify the status of the common hippopotamus in Guinea, we carried out a biannual population survey along the section of the Niger River (the largest river in Guinea) within the Haut Niger National Park. We counted 93 hippopotamuses in 28 groups in the dry season and 77 hippopotamuses in 23 groups in the wet season. Mean group size and number of neonates did not change between the seasons. Hippopotomuses were more numerous along the river sections bordering uncultivated floodplains. This underlines the significance of this habitat (which is used as a grazing area) for conservation of this species. Haut Niger National Park is the most important protected area in Guinea for conservation of the common hippopotamus. Hippopotamus-human and -cattle conflicts in terms of floodplain use in the park's buffer zone should be closely monitored. Floodplain conversion to rice fields represents one of the most important threats to the long-term conservation of hippopotamus populations in Guinea.

Résumé Une campagne à la mer de 10 jours a été menée durant l'été 2001 pour déterminer la population de cétacés dans le Sanctuaire Marin Pelagos de Méditerranée occidentale, grâce à la méthode du transect linéaire combinée à un échantillonnage acoustique. Un total de 1613 km d'effort effectif de prospection a permis d'obtenir 93 observations de cétacés de huit espèces différentes: le Dauphin bleu et blanc (55 observations), le Rorqual commun (25 observations), le Cachalot, le Dauphin de Risso, le Dauphin commun, le Ziphius de Cuvier, le Globicéphale noir et le Grand dauphin. Ces espèces ont été observées en fonction de leur habitat préferentiel dans quatre régions du Sanctuaire: les secteurs nord-est, central, sud-ouest et tyrrhénien. C'est dans le secteur central que les abondances maximales de Dauphin bleu et blanc et de Rorqual commun ont été rencontrées, mais une diversité plus forte a été trouvée dans le secteur tyrrhénien. L'estimation de densité pour ces deux espèces s'établit à 0,52 individus/km 2 pour Stenella coeruleoalba ) et 0,097 individus/km 2 pour Balaenoptera physalus soit des effectifs de 37.526 (CV=26,2%) et 715 individus (CV=31,2%). Ces estimations concordent assez bien avec des travaux réalisées en 1991, 1992 et 1996 pour les régions ligure et provençale du Sanctuaire Marin Pelagos. L'utilisation d'une telle méthode permettrait un suivi régulier avec la possibilité de détecter des variations de population de l'ordre de 7%.

Résumé Des observations nouvelles et quelques échouages complètent le premier bilan faunistique établi en 1989 pour les îles Kerguelen. Aux neuf espèces identifiées précédemment ( Eubalaena glacialis , Balaenoptera acutorostrata , Megaptera novaeangliae , Physeter macrocephalus , Mesoplodon layardii , Cephalorhynchus commersonii , Lagenorhynchus cruciger , Orcinus orca , et Globicephala melas ) s'ajoutent, grâce à des échouages, deux nouvelles espèces: Ziphius cavirostris et Hyperoodon planifrons . En outre, la présence occasionnelle de Phocoena dioptrica est confirmée. L'événement le plus marquant est cependant le grand nombre d'observations (n=1649) de cachalots ( Physeter macrocephalus ) faites depuis 1989 au delà du plateau des îles, dans une zone peu fréquentée autrefois par les bateaux de pêche. Pour le dauphin de Commerson ( Cephalorhynchus commersonii ), espèce la plus commune, des données biologiques et écologiques s'ajoutent aux données faunistiques. Nous faisons également état, pour trois espèces ( Physeter macrocephalus , Orcinus orca , et Globicephala melas ), d'interactions avec la pêcherie à la palangre de la légine australe ( Dissostichus eleginoides ).

We assessed the distribution and relative abundance of giant squirrels and flying squirrels in the state of Karnataka, India. Two species of giant squirrels, the Indian giant squirrel and the grizzled giant squirrel, and two species of flying squirrel, the large brown flying squirrel and the small Travancore flying squirrel, were found to occur in Karnataka. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels were more widely distributed than the other two species. The distributional range included the forests of the Western and Eastern Ghats. However, their distribution was confined only to forests with tall trees. Indian giant squirrels and large brown flying squirrels occur in both deciduous and evergreen forests. Small Travancore flying squirrels occupied high-rainfall evergreen forests on western slopes in the Western Ghats, and the grizzled giant squirrels occupy riverine forests. This report of the small Travancore flying squirrel is the first of this species from Karnataka, and this population is the most northern population of its distributional range. Hunting was found to be a major threat, and influenced the abundance of all species except the grizzled giant squirrel. Hunting was primarily for domestic consumption.

Eidolon helvum is a widespread African fruit bat. It is migratory and can form colonies of millions of individuals. On Príncipe, in the Gulf of Guinea, there are seemingly large numbers of E. helvum . Here, they have lost their migratory behaviour and rely on the availability of the year-round food resources on the island, which is small (128 km 2 ) but is dominated by both primary rainforest and fruit-tree plantations. We visited the major roost for E. helvum on the island. Exit counts carried out on two consecutive nights showed the roost was used by between 10,539 (SE±67) and 14,160 (SE±324) individuals. Compared to mainland Africa, the colony was small, no doubt constrained by the size of the island. Nonetheless, Príncipe still supports a considerable density of E. helvum of between 82 and 111 bats/km 2 , which is comparable with densities found on mainland Africa.

The home range and habitat use of three carnivore species was investigated in a disturbed forest of southeastern Brazil. Three jaguarundis ( Herpailurus yagouaroundi ), two crab-eating foxes ( Cerdocyon thous ), and two tayras ( Eira barbara ) were radio-tracked to test the hypothesis that home ranges and habitat use would differ between the proportion of habitat types available. The largest home ranges were those of one male jaguarundi (2047 ha) and the male crab-eating fox (1053 ha). The smallest were those of the females of crab-eating fox (48 ha) and jaguarundi (188 ha). The female jaguarundi was the only individual to show a significant difference between observed and expected habitat use. All species used disturbed habitats (secondary forest, grassland savanna, and Eucalyptus plantation) to varying degrees. Thus, these species showed great flexibility in their use of disturbed habitats.

Consecutive surveys of otter spraints of both banks along a 28-km stretch of the River San showed an average of 4.18 deposited spraints/km per day during a 3-week pre-experimental period. The variation in spraint density on particular 1-km-long sections of the river was high and varied from 40 to 145 spraints/km after 3 weeks. Spraint deposition was positively correlated with the proportion of steep and rocky riverbanks, which were characterised by a higher number of potential sprainting sites than those with many flat and undermined banks. Average daily deposition of spraints on the whole 28-km stretch after experimental removal of spraints (experimental period) did not significantly differ compared to the pre-experimental period. However, in sections where otter spraints were removed (n=14), sprainting intensity increased 1.6-fold, while in the control sections (n=14) the defecation ratio decreased 1.5-fold during the first week after removal. Placement of additional spraints of unfamiliar individuals on half the experimental sections did not stimulate otters to increase defecation on these sections compared to those where only old spraints were removed. Otter response to the removal of spraints has a spatial character and is expressed by differentiation in spraint deposition within the home range.

In the context of a community wildlife management program with the Isoseño communities of the Bolivian Chaco, we tested drive sample counts as a method for estimating densities of grey brocket deer ( Mazama gouazoupira ). Drive count density estimates of 12–14/km 2 are consistent with radiotelemetry data and are several-fold higher than estimates from line transect surveys of 1.7–2.4/km 2 . However, drive counts are not suitable for other Chacoan game species, with the possible exception of collared peccary ( Pecari tajacu ). In addition to providing density estimates, drive counts facilitate and encourage the wide participation of community members in research and monitoring activities, and are also valuable in demonstrating basic wildlife management concepts.

Habitat use by red deer (Gervus elaphus L. 1758) in forest and grassland habitats is relatively well known; however, few studies have been carried out in forest-agriculture habitats. We conducted seasonal track and bed site counts to estimate annual changes in red deer density and describe annual habitat in a Hungarian lowland area between 1995 and 2000. We found that the entire red deer population grouped into the forest in winter, while its presence during the vegetation growth period (mainly in summer) increased in agricultural areas, when track and bed site density between these two areas were equal. Our results do not support the notion that forests are abandoned in summer for agricultural food resources of better quality. Likewise, water resource locations had no significant influence on the population distribution. We conclude that increasing population density could lead to an expansion of the area occupied by the population during the vegetation growth period, i.e., when agricultural areas can provide suitable conditions for red deer.

The colonisation of orange groves in Eastern Spain by the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus and their reproduction were studied. Litter sizes and times of birth of garden dormice were studied during the winter of 2003/2004 until the month of May 2004. The main study area was a plot covered by orange trees that has been monitored since 1975. Litters in nest boxes placed around the plot for birds, as well as a few litters in nests built in trees, were observed to obtain information on reproduction. The nests found in trees include some built in old bird nests, most of them belonging to the blackbird Turdus merula . We weighed the cubs to determine their month of birth and identified the population trend by counting the number of nests occupied simultaneously. Results show that there are births during the winter, that the number of cubs per nest ranged from 4 to 13, but 6 cubs was the mode. A total of 34 litters were found, with an average size of 5.76 cubs per litter. The litter of 13 cubs was excluded from analysis. Colonisation was suspected after a first specimen was observed in 1997 in the surroundings of the study area. Occupation by garden dormice of both natural nests and nest boxes subsequently increased from 1 to 27 between 1999 and 2004. We suggest that mild winter temperatures allowed the population increase and winter reproduction.

Long calls of three adult male Japanese pikas were tape-recorded in the Taisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan, from July 1996 to July 1998. A long call consisted of 3–13 elements, each with a characteristic W-shaped wave. There was apparent individual variation in sonographic patterns and the fundamental frequencies. Such individual variation did not differ with animal age, or through the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons. The complicated structure of W-shaped waves may involve much information concerning individual difference, and the repetition of elements in the long call may advertise sexual activity, location, and territorial ownership to opponents and mates, based on individual identification only by hearing calls.

Large aggregations of shrews have been reported and various explanations offered for this seemingly rare behavior; however, there has been little evidence to support any particular interpretation. We observed two small aggregations of highly active vocalizing Sorex cinereus while performing wildlife surveys in forested habitats in central Massachusetts, USA. These observations, in conjunction with a review of other reports, including genetic analyses, strongly suggest that such aggregations of adult Sorex are associated with mating behavior, more readily observed during periods of high population density. Published accounts of such behavior may be rare because primarily large aggregations have been reported; however, smaller breeding aggregations may be common.

Résumé La présente étude porte sur la taille et la forme des dents et sur la morphologie crânienne d'individus en provenance d'Europe sud-occidentale et d'Afrique du Nord caractérisés génétiquement comme appartenant aux espèces Mus spretus et Mus musculus domesticus . Une révision des caractères diagnostiques des dents et du crâne utilisés pour la détermination de l'appartenance spécifique des spécimens a été faite. La révision porte sur 17 caractères métriques et 14 caractères morphologiques. Une application à un matériel fossile inédit d'âge pléistocène supérieur du Maroc a ensuite été tentée. La détermination de ces restes fossiles représentés par des molaires inférieures de souris du gisement de Doukkala II, près de Rabat, permet de conclure à la présence d'une souris très proche de l'actuelle M. spretus . La présence dans le Pléistocène supérieur d'une souris, différente de la souris domestique, est ainsi démontrée dans le nord de l'Afrique, l'arrivée de la souris domestique dans ce secteur restant à préciser.

Five significant records of rodents are reported from the Upper Pleistocene and Holocene of Slovenia. The identification of black rat Rattus rattus from the Late Bronze/Early Iron Age (ca. 1400–400 cal. BC) at Podjamca is thought to be one of the first records in Mediterranean Europe from the pre-Roman period. Evidence is also presented for the presence of Apodemus agrarius at Podjamca (at least 7800 y BP) and Suhadole (first half of the 1st century AD); the latter falls outside the current species range. The discovery of Dinaromys bogdanovi in Early Mesolithic layers (ca. 9600–7800 y BP) at Podjamca and of Late Mesolithic age (ca. 7800–6000 y BP) at Mala Triglavca are the first Holocene records outside the recent range of the species. Cricetulus migratorius (Podjamca, ca. 9600–7800 y BP; Mala Triglavca, 7800–6000 y BP) and Sicista subtilis (Divje babe I, ca. 80–75 ky BP) are reported for the first time in this part of Europe.

Despite obvious advances in systematic research on Palaearctic white-toothed shrews ( Crocidura ), phylogenetic relationships and species diagnosis of 40-chromosome species ( suaveolens sp. group) remain poorly understood. Phylogenetic relationships of these shrews were analyzed on the basis of two independent molecular markers: interspersed repeat PCR fingerprints (inter-SINE-PCR) and complete (1140 bp) or partial (∼400 bp) sequences of the mtDNA cyt b gene. According to these data, C. suaveolens from Western Europe (Italy) appeared distinct from samples of C. suaveolens from Eastern Europe and Mongolia, as well as a Siberian sample. mtDNA introgression of Eastern European C. suaveolens with C. gueldenstaedtii in their contact zone in the Tuapse region was revealed. Hybrydization between C. gueldenstaedtii and C. suaveolens resulted in the formation of a population, nuclear DNA and morphological characteristics typical for C. gueldenstaedtii , while the mitochondrial genome is assimilated from C. suaveolens . The population of the Talysh region of the Caucasus ( C. caspica ) represents a separate entity that is clearly distinguished from the populations of Georgia and Tuapse ( C. gueldenstaedtii ) and C. suaveolens . Therefore, the position of C. caspica as a full species is supported. The present analysis of both inter-SINE-PCR and cyt b sequence data revealed two major clades in Palaearctic 40-chromosome Crocidura . The eastern clade is formed by true C. suaveolens/C. sibirica , together with C. caspica , and the western clade is formed by Western European C. suaveolens , which should be treated as a distinct species, C. mimula and the closely related C. gueldenstaedtii.

Isothrix sinnamariensis was originally described and known only from French Guiana. We document the first occurence of this species from Guyana. A single sub-adult male was collected in lowland tropical rainforest near the headwaters of the Essequibo River. Although smaller in external and cranial size than the two adult females of the type description, our third known specimen represents the basal lineage to the type-series clade, with an average sequence difference of 1.72% based on cytochrome b mitochondrial DNA sequences. However, the degree of morphological and genetic divergence (2.67%) between I. sinnamariensis and its sister taxon I. pagurus is substantially less than the chromosomal differences originally used to distinguish them as two separate species. In contrast, distinctive karyotypes, morphological differences, and higher levels of mtDNA divergence (13.48%) between the other two species recognized, I. negrensis that was recently separated from I. bistriata , suggest an earlier and deeper diversification for these taxa.

The recent increase in mammal inventories and the widespread use of pitfall traps as a major capture method in Brazil have increased the number of non-volant small mammal specimens in scientific collections, providing new information on natural history, geographical range, and taxonomic status of many marsupials and rodents. To date, however, little is known about the Brazilian species of the marsupial genus Thylamys : the number of species in the country is disputed, as are their names and geographic distribution. Thus, the aim of this study was to define the Brazilian species of the genus, delimiting their taxonomic status and distributional range. We provide qualitative and quantitative data on external and skull morphology for specimens housed in scientific collections. A study of the material available allowed us to recognize the occurrence of three species in Brazil: Thylamys karimii (Petter, 1968), T. macrurus (Olfers, 1818) and T. velutinus (Wagner, 1842). For each of these we provide redescriptions, a discussion of local and geographic variations, geographic distribution, taxonomy, age class differentiation, sexual dimorphism, and natural history.

Spatial variation in 26 morphological characters of American mink ( Mustela vison ) from 35 localities in North America was investigated using univariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Localities were chosen based on watersheds, and it was hypothesized that high levels of gene flow in minks would prevent partitioning of body size variation within watersheds. All 26 characters in males and 25 of 26 in females exhibited significant interlocality variation. The patterns of variation in body size resulting from principal components analysis indicated that, for both sexes, minks were largest in Alaska, Manitoba, and Alberta; smallest minks were found in Florida and Quebec. There did not appear to be a relationship between body size and geographic proximity. Environmental factors collectively were found to be related to body size, although individual variables were not typically significant. Of 16 environmental variables examined, only longitude was correlated with body size in both sexes, with largest minks in the west and smallest in the east. Latitude was also correlated with body size in females. It was concluded that variation in body size of mink was likely the result of more than one factor that includes both biotic and abiotic features.