Volume 76, Issue 2

No abstract available.

The xenarthrans are the only group of mammals that originated in South America; there are 31 living species: six sloths, four anteaters, and 21 armadillos. In Argentina, 18 species of xenarthrans were cited. The objectives of this study were to compile the existing information on the distribution of the xenarthrans of Argentina, to use species distribution models to map the potential distribution of these species, and to assess patterns of species richness of this important group of mammals. We obtained a total of 975 records corresponding to 706 different collecting localities from Argentina. We generated species distribution models for 15 of the 18 species present in the country. Virtually all of Argentina is occupied by xenarthrans. The highest richness of species is in the north and northeast of the country in the humid and arid Chaco, probably in relation with the mosaic of ecosystems recorded in these regions. These ecoregions have different degrees of habitat degradation and continues to be a major threat for the viability of the xenarthrans occurring there. The information given in this contribution is an input to clarify occurrence and distribution of this group of mammals.

The giant anteater ( Myrmecophaga tridactyla ) is generally considered a savannah inhabitant; little information exists on populations in forested areas as much as on most other aspects of its ecology. The aim of this study was to determine the ecological value of timber plantations to the species and its requirements of anthropogenically used and converted habitats. We investigated habitat use and distribution patterns of giant anteaters in Acacia mangium plantations in a northern Brazilian savannah biotope. Road counts were conducted to estimate anteater densities in two different habitats. Anteaters showed strong diurnal foraging activities in the plantations, and their densities were substantially higher there than in the surrounding savannah [plantations: 2.9 individuals (ind.)/km 2 ; savannah: 0.1 ind./km 2 ], with concentrations of up to 13.4 ind./km 2 . Although fundamental changes of anteater densities occurred on small scales in the plantations, no connection between anteater distribution and plantation management practices could be found. Food availability in Acacia plantations and cover from both extreme temperatures and potential predators probably make these forested areas well suited for giant anteaters. We conclude that conditions comparatively beneficial to the anteater can be found in natural forests but usually not in plantations of other exotic timber species. This needs to be incorporated in forestry management plans aiming at supporting this charismatic animal.

Himalayan grey goral ( Naemorhedus goral bedfordi ) is a Red List (Near Threatened) member of Caprinae endemic to Asia, occupying the south-facing slopes of the Himalaya Mountains. The species is listed as Vulnerable on the National Pakistan Red List, but the distribution and abundance of the species within the nation is poorly known. We conducted a national census of Himalayan grey goral in Pakistan during 2002–2004, with the objective of documenting the geographic locations of populations, estimating population size, and describing group sizes and sex ratios. We conducted a direct count census in 98 sites distributed over the 4839 km 2 of suitable grey goral habitat. We counted 172 unique grey goral individuals: 143 adults and 29 subadults. We estimated a minimum of 370–1017 grey goral in Pakistan distributed in seven isolated populations. The adult sex ratio was female-biased nearly 2:1, and the mean size of social groups was 1.72±0.11 SE individuals. Our data support the National Red List status of Himalayan grey goral as Vulnerable, because no subpopulation probably contains >1000 individuals. We are unable to account for the sex ratio bias. Social group size is comparable with contemporary observations from India, but much lower than that reported a century ago. A national population viability analysis is needed for this species.

The group size and composition of goitered gazelles were investigated over several years in Kazakhstan. Most gazelles formed groups of one to three individuals all year round. This small herd size recorded in our study area was probably a consequence of the feeding ecology of the goitered gazelle, which is a very selective ruminant of small body size. With respect to group composition, female and male groups were the most often noted (52.0% and 37.9%), while mixed herds and groups of yearlings were considerably rarer (4.6% and 5.5%). Moreover, mixed groups were the largest groups (mean±SE: 5.29±0.25 individuals per group), followed by female groups (2.40±0.03), male groups (2.14±0.05), and yearling herds (1.49±0.05). In addition, the grouping pattern varied seasonally and corresponded very closely to the yearly breeding cycle of the goitered gazelle. Nevertheless, it remains consistent with what is known of the grouping pattern of other gazelles.

Bovids are often used as paleoenvironmental proxies because they are among the most commonly recovered large mammals at many fossil hominin sites and because modern African bovids occupy a wide range of dietary and environmental niches. This study uses dental microwear texture analysis to examine 25 species of extant African bovids, representing six dietary categories and with an emphasis on various levels of mixed feeding. The results show significant differences among the dietary classifications and confirm previous work suggesting that grazing taxa have less complex, more anisotropic surfaces with smaller features than browsing taxa. The results also indicate that dental microwear texture analysis can distinguish beyond the classic grazer-browser-mixed feeder trichotomy and accurately separate variable grazers, generalists, browser-grazer intermediates and frugivores from obligate grazers and browsers, as well as from one another. Some differences among taxa within dietary categories were also found, probably reflecting seasonal and/or geographic differences in diet. In addition to demonstrating the effectiveness of the technique at differentiating between different levels of mixed feeding in bovids, this study also provides a comprehensive comparative dataset of extant bovid microwear textures that can be applied to fossil taxa from sites and time periods across Africa.

No recent attempt has been made to survey dhole distribution, or to estimate remaining population numbers. We surveyed 15 protected areas in Thailand with camera traps from 1996 to 2010. We used the photo locations of dholes (n=96) in the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model along with six environmental variables to model current dhole distribution, as well as species predictive occurrence layers for sambar, red muntjac, wild boar, tiger, and leopard. The MaxEnt model identified the predicted probability of the presence of leopards and sambar as positive and the most important variables in modeling dhole presence, indicating that maintaining a sufficient prey base may be the most important factor determining continued survival of dholes. Roughly 7% of the total land area in Thailand is potentially suitable for dholes. However, surveys to date have focused on protected areas, which make up just a third of the potential suitable areas for dholes. Only in four protected areas do they occur across the entire landscape, suggesting that in the majority of places where they occur, habitats are not uniformly suitable. Using the model, we identified several potential areas where dholes have not been reported, and therefore status surveys are needed, and where future research of the species might be focused.

The conservation of biodiversity in agricultural landscapes depends on information about the ways in which species are affected by the conversion of native habitats into novel anthropogenic environments and the strategies that the species use to persist in these altered ecosystems. Here, we investigate how small mammals occupy the different agroecosystems of an agricultural landscape in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. From August 2003 through January 2005, we surveyed small mammals using Sherman traps at 16 sampling sites in each of the four predominant environments of the local agricultural landscape: remnant fragments of semideciduous forest, Eucalyptus plantations, sugarcane plantations, and pastures. With a total effort of 23,040 trap-nights and a capture success of 0.8%, we captured 177 rodents and marsupials belonging to eight species. The assemblage represented by these mammals is essentially composed of generalist species, which are common in degraded areas. Sugarcane plantations had the highest abundance, whereas pastures had the lowest species richness. Our results suggest that the loss of forest species can be related to the loss of native forest. The results also indicate that to improve the conservation value of agricultural landscapes, native forest fragments should be conserved, extensive monocultures should be avoided and agricultural impacts should be mitigated.

Palm squirrels, Funambulus palmarum , were believed and reported to inflict nut damage resulting in economic losses to coconut, Cocos nucifera , growers in South India. However, the current study, using field observations, pollination studies, gut content analyses, laboratory feeding tests, and exclusion experiments, established that Funambulus squirrels in cultivated coconut patches do not feed on nuts and hence do not generate economic losses. Squirrels cause male flower drop and feed on few male flowers without any negative impact on palm productivity or other aspects of the plantation ecosystem. Instead, squirrels pollinate (therophily) flowers, feed on insect pests, regulate vegetation at the microhabitat level as seed consumers and dispersers, and thus are an ecologically important component of cultivated coconut patches. Squirrels were found to be the most effective pollinators (85.70% nut formation in Arsikere and 94% at Madenur, Hassan). Fruit set was reduced by 19% when squirrels were prevented from pollinating coconut palms. Palm squirrel may also have myriad important roles to play in wild and cultivated patches in South India. Hence, the beneficial activities of F. palmarum must be sustained in cultivated coconut patches.

Felovia vae is an endemic rodent from West Africa with special conservation concern. Although the global range is relatively well known, the lack of knowledge on its local distribution patterns and ecological parameters resulted in the IUCN category of Data Deficient. This study identifies environmental factors related to the occurrence of Felovia vae , quantifies suitable areas of occurrence, and evaluates its conservation status. High-resolution presence data (1×1 km) were combined with environmental factors to derive ecological niche-based models of species occurrence. Ecological models predicted that Felovia vae occurs more frequently in areas with high slope and close to gueltas , bare areas and rocky deserts. The fine-scaled ecological models suggest eight suitable habitat patches, representing fragmented subpopulations located in the Mauritanian mountains and in the Bafing, Felou, Nioro, and Yelimane regions of Mali. Fieldwork observations and predicted suitable areas were used to evaluate conservation status. Felovia vae was categorised as Least Concern, given that values for all parameters analysed were above the thresholds of Threatened classification. The species may be susceptible to human-induced habitat loss, global warming and natural disasters, such as drought, given its reliance on water availability.

The house mouse ( Mus musculus ) is a highly successful mammal worldwide, in part due to its adaptive consumption of a wide range of seeds, especially those of the agricultural cereal crops. The present study examined the granivorous feeding behavior of mice in relation to wheat kernel texture (hardness), bran color, and the presence/absence of hulls. Three wheat taxa were examined: common bread wheat, spelt, and emmer. There was a particularly strong (5-fold) preference for soft white wheat kernels over hard red kernels. Using near-isogenic wheat lines, the preference was most highly associated with softer texture. This preference was also evidenced in spelt (soft) vs. emmer (very hard) comparisons. For spelt, hulls presented no deterrent to consumption, whereas in emmer, the hulls significantly reduced consumption. In a number of trials, a short lag in consumption patterns of new foods suggested that learning was involved. Regardless of the factor evaluated, all grains were consumed at some level. Soft white wheat was preferred over laboratory pellets by about 4 to 1. The results raise further questions about the ways mice evaluate individual grains and make consumption choices.

The production and care of offspring by female mammals imposes substantial energetic costs. Muskrat ( Ondatra zibethicus ) is an iteroparous mammal that can produce multiple litters annually. We investigated the relation between body fat and pup production in female muskrat. There were significant negative relations between percent body fat and total number of placental scars (i.e., embryos produced) and the number of litters produced. Reduction in body fat might have resulted from reproductive effort and might decrease future survival and reproduction in muskrat.

Although domestic carnivores are frequently considered a threat to wildlife inside and around urban areas, little is known about the incursions of these animals from urban areas to the surrounding habitats. To explore this, we sampled carnivores in wooded areas surrounding four villages located in the mountains north of Madrid by using 40 camera-trapping stations. They were distributed at regular distances within a perpendicular transect distributed from 10 to 2000 m from the urban border. The results suggest that the incidence of domestic carnivores (cats and dogs) was constrained to <400 m from the urban border, and that the presence of domestic carnivores did not interfere with the distribution of wild carnivores (foxes, beech martens, badgers, genets, etc.), which show random distribution patterns around villages. This means that overpredation at the village edges could mainly be due to the effect of domestic animals and not to that of wild carnivores attracted to urban areas.

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