Volume 81, Issue 3

The southern right whale (SRW), Eubalaena australis , was heavily depleted by the whaling in the Southern Hemisphere. In the southwestern Atlantic, studies on SRWs have been concentrated in two main breeding grounds: Península Valdés, Argentina (~42°′S) and Santa Catarina (SC) State, Brazil (~28°′S). To better understand the ecology of SRWs in the region located between these breeding grounds, shore-based surveys were carried out off Torres (29°19′S, 49°43′W), Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Whales were observed in the area between July and October with peaks in August and September. Group sizes were relatively small (x̅=1.6; range=1–3). Distribution in relation to distance from the coast varied from 0.5 to 8.9 km (median=1.9 km). Unlike in other areas, mother-calf pairs were not observed to occur in shallower waters more often than unaccompanied whales. Mother-calf pairs presented northbound movements to SC more frequently than unaccompanied whales. A comparison of the present data with those from Uruguay and SC revealed that SRWs of different gender/reproductive status may use distinctively the eastern coast of South America. Within these regions, the proportion of mother-calf pairs increases progressively as latitude decreases (from 8% in Uruguay to 58.5% in SC), while the proportion of unaccompanied SRWs presents an opposite trend. This study indicates that RS is an important area for reproduction of SRWs because the three phases (birth, nursing, and mating) proposed for a breeding ground occur there.

Understanding food habits of wild ungulates is of paramount importance to ecology and wildlife management. We studied the food habits of grey gorals ( Naemorhedus goral ) using microhistological techniques at two sites (Machiara and Serli Sacha) that differed in livestock grazing pressure in the Machiara National Park (MNP), Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan during 2012–2013. Serli Sacha had 53 livestock units/km 2 while Machiara had 27 livestock units/km 2 in the habitat of grey gorals. Dietary diversity was higher in Machiara (21 plant species) than at Serli Sacha (15 plant species) but the frequency of plant species consumed by grey goral varied seasonally (p<0.05). Grey gorals consumed mostly forbs (75.57%) during summer (dominated by Poa annua, Geranium wallichianum and Rheum australe ) and mostly browse (38.19%) during winter (dominated by Berberis vulgaris, Skimmia laureola and Viburnum nervosum ). Grey gorals strongly preferred G. wallichianum in both sites during summer season. Wildlife managers at MNP should focus on increasing diversity of plant species and on reducing livestock grazing as it generally reduces plant diversity and also directly compete with N. goral for limited forage.

Environmental temperature, rainfall, vegetation structure, soil composition and land use were recognized as relevant factors limiting the distribution of armadillos. The aim of this study was to identify environmental and spatial factors influencing the geographical distribution of the most widespread armadillos occurring in Argentina ( Chaetophractus vellerosus , Chaetophractus villosus and Zaedyus pichiy ), through the most simple and accurate explanatory modeling. General linear models (GLMs), partitioning analyses of variance and hierarchical partitioning analyses were applied to estimate the species-environment relationships. Climatic variables were recognized as the most relevant factors influencing the three species distribution, consistent with that expected from the hierarchical structure theory in ecological systems. Optimal conditions were mainly arranged in a longitudinal geographic gradient for Chaetophractus species and in a latitudinal-longitudinal gradient for Z. pichiy . The optimal habitat identified for C. vellerosus , larger than previously documented, was characterized by warm, rainy summers and moderately cold, dry winters. The distribution of C. villosus was mainly influenced by temperate conditions of temperature and isothermality, scarcity of rainfall with high seasonality and low aridity conditions, and prevalence of sandy soils. Optimal habitat of Z. pichiy was affected by low temperatures with high seasonality, scarcity of rainfall with aridity conditions and sandy soils.

In semiarid regions like the Brazilian Caatinga, the long dry season suggests that it is a homogeneous environment. However, differences in climate, soil, relief, and duration of the dry season across this biome has prompted the division of Caatinga in eight ecoregions. Here, we test the validity of these ecoregions for bats, which play a fundamental role in the balance of ecosystems. A literature review was carried out to investigate the distribution of bat species in all Caatinga ecoregions, and the lack of sampling efforts. In total, 90 chiropteran species were recorded in the biome. Bat distribution is not homogeneous, and almost all ecoregions present exclusive species. Gaps in chiropteran sampling efforts occur in all ecoregions. A robust and significant correlation was observed between the number of studies reporting samples and bat richness of each ecoregion, indicating that more research will increase recorded richness in these areas, and in the Caatinga as a whole. The existence of at least four ecoregions in the Caatinga was also supported. This underlines the importance of these areas to conservation initiatives.

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is a severely threatened biodiversity hotspot and many remnants exist only as fragments. In order to understand how bat assemblage structure within a forest fragment surrounded by an urban matrix might respond to seasonality and different habitats, we sampled bats over 39 nights in the forest fragment of Gericinó-Mendanha Massif, Rio de Janeiro State. From February 2006 to January 2010, we captured 874 bats, belonging to 25 species and eight different feeding guilds. Frugivorous species were the most abundant, representing 83.33% of captures, and the gleaning insectivores were the least abundant (1.47%). We did not find changes in bat species composition between seasons, although capture rate was higher in the rainy season. However, we did find significant differences in species abundance between seasons. The habitat influence did not significantly differentiate the assemblages, but species richness was higher in the mature ombrophilous forest. The community composition indicates that this conservation unit is an important remaining fragment for maintaining the diversity and richness of bats, although it is possible that historical processes of environmental exploitation have already resulted in a loss of species.

We studied phenotypic variation in water opossum Chironectes minimus through morphological variation in size and shape of 16 cranial characters among six groups of populations of Chironectes defined by a transect analysis named according their main distributions: Central America, Venezuela/Colombia, Guianas, Belem, Bolivia/Peru, and Atlantic Forest. We also studied environmental variation among the groups and the influence of temperature seasonality and minimum temperature of coldest month on the body size of C. minimus . Morphometric differences in both size and shape were sharp between two major groups: Atlantic Forest and Central America+Venezuela/Colombia+Belem. The same pattern of differentiation was also observed in the environmental variables each group experiences. We also found a negative relationship between body size and temperature seasonality which showed that C. minimus follows a converse Bergmann’s rule cline. Our results on morphometric and environmental space suggest that specimens from the Atlantic Forest are different from specimens from Central America+Venezuela/Colombia+Belem both in size and shape and environmentally. We suggest that these major groups may comprehend different clades but a proper taxonomic assessment is needed to confirm our hypothesis.

Heteromys nelsoni is restricted to cloud forests in the mountain range of the southern state of Chiapas, Mexico, and western Guatemala. It is considered an endemic species, under special protection, and endangered because its habitat has been modified by excessive logging and extensive cattle grazing. We evaluated the genetic variation of H. nelsoni and the relationship between individuals from two geographic areas surrounding Cerro Mozotal, Chiapas, using three mitochondrial genes [cytochrome b (Cyt b ), cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI), and control region (D-Loop)]. Low genetic diversity ( d <0.9, π<0.005) and average divergence (<0.6%) in mtDNA were observed among the specimens examined. The haplotypes are distributed throughout the areas sampled; therefore, no areas where individuals showed genetic identity, with exclusive haplotypes, were found. Heteromys nelsoni populations have undergone a very recent demographic contraction and the low genetic diversity observed indicates an unfavorable future for the species. Changes in the climatic conditions coupled with other anthropogenic pressures have likely reduced the optimal habitat area for the species. It is imperative to develop programs aiming to reduce the probable risk of extinction of this species.

The striped field mouse ( Apodemus agrarius ) is one of the most common mammals in Korea, however, limited research has focused on the population structure and biogeography of this mouse throughout Korea. In addition, the taxonomic status of the species remains unresolved. The objectives of our study were to address the inadequacies in understanding the population structure, biogeography, and taxonomic status of A. agrarius . We collected 160 samples from 13 localities throughout the South Korean Peninsula, two nearby islands and two remote islands. We used five microsatellite loci and estimated genetic diversity measures and populations divergence estimates (i.e. F ST and R ST ) to address the objectives. Except for populations on the two remote islands, Jeju and Heuksan, the populations on the peninsula and nearby islands indicated low F ST and R ST values. The population structure based on microsatellite loci supported only one subspecies opposing three subspecies reported previously on the Korean Peninsula and nearby islands. However, populations on Jeju Island and Heuksan Island showed subspecific differences from each other and the populations on the Korean Peninsula and nearby islands. The information reported on the population genetics of the striped field mouse in Korea will allow resolving the taxonomy and biogeography of this species.

Here, we used the maximum entropy (MAXENT) method to predict habitat distribution of the Persian squirrel in oak forests of Kurdistan Province, western Iran. We used 70 points with known occurrence of the species and 17 environmental variables (climatic variables represented annual trends in temperature and precipitation, seasonality and extreme or limiting environmental factors) to map the species distribution. The MAXENT model showed high performance. Using a 0.5 logistic probability threshold, the models suggested about 16,783.5 ha of the study area to have high suitability for the Persian squirrel. These areas were thus estimated as “good” habitats. Amongst the environmental variables, land cover had the greatest role in the Persian squirrel’s distribution. Precipitation and temperature were the two major climatic factors that affected the Persian squirrel’s distribution. Gap analysis showed that many parts of the species habitat have remained unprotected what can threaten the survival of the studied species in the region. These findings can be used to develop conservation management plans and boost the network of protected areas in the region.

We report two new locations for Chaetodipus fallax (Merriam 1889) in Baja California Sur, Mexico: the first, south of San Ignacio; and the second, in the plains of Magdalena Bay. These are the southernmost records for the presence of this species and broaden the species’ previously known distribution range in ~400 km. We suggest that changes in weather conditions could explain the southward expansion of the distribution of C. fallax in Baja California Peninsula.

Food habits of yellow armadillos have been reported to include mainly plant material and invertebrates. Although predation on medium vertebrates is unexpected, yellow armadillos present strategies to subjugate medium vertebrates. Here, we report events of predation upon domestic chickens by yellow armadillos in the Brazilian Pantanal. We installed 20 Tomahawk traps, each baited with one live chicken to capture felines and, throughout 15 days of trapping, we captured two yellow armadillos. Both killed the chickens and ate most of them. These events represent a new uppermost limit of prey size for yellow armadillos.

Known only from five localities Histiotus diaphanopterus is the least known species of the genus, occurring in the dry diagonal vegetation across central-eastern South America. Herein, we provide two new records of the species based on voucher specimens and provide new data on its reproductive biology. Our record from Brazil represents the southernmost locality of H. diaphanopterus in the Cerrado, filling a gap in the geographic distribution of the species approximately 1200 km and 950 km to the records of northeast Brazil and central Bolivia, respectively. The reproductive data suggest a polyestrous seasonal bimodal reproductive pattern in the Cerrado biome.