Volume 83, Issue 6

Logging causes soil compaction and alters the vegetation structure and plant diversity, and ungulates must adapt to modified conditions if they are to survive. We investigated the impact of logging upon the foraging ecology of the Bornean banteng using camera traps and botanical surveys. General linear models were used to explore the effects of site characteristics and plant diversity upon foraging duration, and plant specimens were identified to confirm dietary preferences. Foraging events were recorded over 40,168 nights in five forests. Foraging duration significantly decreased in open areas depauperate in species richness (F=7.82, p=<0.01); however, it increased with elevation (F=3.46, p=0.05). Their diet comprised eight invasive species ( Mikania cordata and Chromolaena odorata, Cyperus difformis, Fimbristylis littoralis and Scleria sp., Desmodium triflorum , Eleusine indica and Selaginella sp.), which are characteristic of disturbed forest and fast to establish. Logging creates ideal conditions for these plants, which are preferentially selected by bantengs. Whilst logging may increase forage, the disturbances logging causes to the bantengs and the ensuing poaching may counteract any positive benefits. Developing forest management strategies that incorporate conservation of the bantengs may in turn encourage more favourable conditions for emergent timber species and also conserve this endangered wild cattle species.

Understanding the feeding habits of wolves is essential for designing and implementing fundamental management processes across the range of the species. This is even more important within human-dominated areas, such as southern Europe, and more especially Greece. In this context, we analyzed 123 scat samples, collected between 2010 and 2012, from a mixed agricultural, forested and human-dominated area, centered on the municipality of Domokos in central continental Greece. We used standard laboratory procedures for scat analysis and calculated percentages of frequency of occurrence (FO%), average volume (AV%) and biomass index (BM%) to assess diet composition, and estimated prey selectivity. Domestic prey composed the bulk of wolf diet (FO%=73.5, AV%=84.8, BM%=97.2), wild ungulates were almost absent (FO%=0.5, AV%=0.8, BM%=1.2), whereas grass consumption was high in our area (FO%=19.5, AV%=11.0). The high dependence on livestock corroborates previous studies from Greece and other countries in southern Europe. Goat (FO%=46.0, AV%=61.2, BM%=64.9) was the main prey and was strongly selected, with sheep (FO%=11.5, AV%=9.0, BM%=11.2), pig carrion and cattle ranking behind (FO%=11.5, AV%=10.1, BM%=8.7 and FO%=4.5, AV%=4.5, BM%=12.4, respectively). No differences across seasons were detected, except from pig carrion, which increased during winter. The preference for goats is probably associated with its grazing behavior. High livestock consumption generally results in increased human-wolf conflict. Thus, substantial improvement of husbandry practices and restoration of wild ungulate populations are recommended to facilitate wolf-human coexistence in Greece.

The gray wolf ( Canis lupus ; Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most widespread terrestrial species and occurs in a variety of habitats. While well studied in North America and Europe, wolf populations in Asia are among the most evolutionarily distinct, endangered and data deficient. The Indian wolf ( Canis lupus pallipes ) is a subspecies of gray wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian Subcontinent. Despite being categorized as “Endangered” in Pakistan, data on the gray wolf’s status, ecology and distribution are poorly understood. The current study investigates its genetic distinctiveness, distribution, feeding ecology and wolf livestock conflict in the Suleman Range, South Waziristan, Pakistan. We confirmed that the gray wolf is present in South Waziristan and is genetically similar to the wolves of Iran and Saudi Arabia based on their mtDNA D-loop haplotypes. The gray wolf was recorded at eight different sampling sites in the study area with elevational range between 1642 m to 2688 m. We estimated a population of 15 wolves, with a density of 0.62 individuals/km 2 area surveyed. An analysis on scats revealed 52% contribution from livestock (with goats and sheep being the preferred prey) and 48% from wild prey. Biomass consumption showed gray wolf relied heavily on domestic prey (88%) during the summer season, resulting in human conflict with 28 wolves killed in response to livestock depredation during 2016–2017, requiring immediate conservation measures to save its remaining population.

Selective pressures (i.e. resource limitation and competitive interaction) that drive the composition of ecological communities vary, and often operate on different ecological scales (ecological variables across varying spatial scales) than observed patterns. We studied the drivers of distribution and abundance of the American marten ( Martes americana ) and the carnivore community at three ecological scales on a Great Lakes island archipelago using camera traps. We found different drivers appeared important at each ecological scale and studying any of the three scales alone would give a biased understanding of the process driving the system. Island biogeography (resource limitation) was most important for carnivore richness, with higher richness on larger islands and lower richness as distance from the mainland increased. Marten presence on individual islands appeared to be driven by island size (resource limitation) and human avoidance (competitive interaction). Marten abundance at camera trap sites was driven by the cascading effect of coyotes ( Canis latrans ) on fishers ( Pekania pennanti ) (competitive interaction). Incorporating three ecological scales gave novel insights into the varying effects of resource limitation and competitive interaction processes. Our data suggests that ecological communities are structured through multiple competing ecological forces, and effective management and conservation relies on our ability to understand ecological forces operating at multiple ecological scales.

Oral pathological conditions are common in mammals and have been relatively well documented for some wild groups, but are rarely reported in marine mammals. Here, we report for the Mexican Caribbean the first case of mandibular osteomyelitis in a free-ranging dolphin. A bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus adult male (256.5 cm total length) was found stranded dead in the west coast of the State Reserve “Chetumal Bay Manatee Sanctuary”. Herein, we discuss some plausible explanations about the origin of this lesion to improve the knowledge about the species biology.

The gastrointestinal content analysis of 344 invasive rodents (120 black rats and 224 house mice) in two Mayan communities revealed that rats consumed a high percentage of plants (93.3%) and arthropods (95.5%). In contrast, arthropods were less frequent (55.8%) than plants (94.6%) in mouse’s diet. In both rodent species, fragments of Sapotaceae and Hymenoptera were common plant and arthropod foods, respectively. Our results suggest that the food availability present in the Mayan communities is similar to the one described in natural habitats.

We provide insights into the diversity of small non-volant mammals (SNVMs) in the Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua, a peri-urban natural area of Quito, Pichincha province, Ecuador. Based on Sherman-like traps and pitfall traps, we recorded 21 species of SNVMs. They represent 40% of the total species reported for the entire province, and include six species that are endemic to the northwestern slope of the Ecuadorian Andes. Despite its proximity to the city of Quito (less than 5 km), Pululahua seems to have an average richness compared with other similar localities in the Ecuadorian Andes. Our results are a baseline for future conservation plans for SNVMs.

Among reptiles only snakes are known to frequently feed on bats and even inside this group chiropterophagy is rare, with most records being noted in the tropics. In the temperate region and especially in Europe, only a handful of cases have been described. Here, we report further cases of bat predation in underground habitats of Bulgaria, highlighting the importance of the Aesculapian snake ( Zamenis longissimus ) predation on bats in the Western Palearctic. Until now, 11 species of bats have been recorded as preys of snakes in Europe. Our observations are the first records of snake hunting on Mediterranean horseshoe bats ( Rhinolophus euryale ) and on greater mouse-eared bats ( Myotis myotis ) in Europe, and only the third to fourth observation of underground predation. The observation in a short time of two incidences of hunting in a fairly small area, coupled with the regular presence of snakes in cave environments, may suggest a more common bat hunting habit for Aesculapian snakes. Bat predation of snakes in the Balkan region (or in the Mediterranean) certainly is more common than previously assumed. The number of records may increase substantially with targeted search during crepuscular and night hours in the entrance area of underground bat shelters.

Diet analysis is an essential part in understanding the biology of a species and functioning of ecosystems. Traditional morphological identification of undigested remains in the scats and molecular analyses of prey species’ DNA have previously been used to assess diet. In the present study, caracal diet in the Abbasabad Wildlife Refuge, Central Iran, was investigated using both molecular and morphological methods. We collected 22 scat samples from caracal dens in the region. Feces were washed on sieves and their remaining components were morphologically identified. We also targeted a 307-base pair fragment of the cytochrome b gene to amplify and sequence the species’ DNA. Morphological analyses revealed that 76% of the diet comprised rodent species. We identified a total of nine prey taxa using the molecular method, including six rodents, one hare, one hedgehog and one wild goat. There was a general agreement between the molecular and morphological results; however, molecular methods tended to allow a better identification of the prey species. Therefore, the DNA-based approach acts as a valuable complement to current morphological methods in the study of a rare felid’s diet when no hair reference library exists.

Successful production of calves is necessary for growth of North American elk ( Cervus elaphus Linnaeus 1758) populations, but few studies have evaluated age-related effects on both the conception and survival of a calf to weaning in multiple free-ranging populations. Conception and survival of calves to weaning were both affected by maternal age, with old (age 9 and older) females showing reproductive senescence as compared to prime-aged (ages 2–8) females despite achieving similar or greater size and condition. Reproductive senescence in our free-ranging populations ultimately resulted in old females weaning fewer calves (0.42 calves/female) than did prime-aged females (0.64 calves/female). Other factors, especially maternal size, also influenced conception and survival to weaning, and these interacted with age in a consistent manner, i.e. larger females or females in better condition were more likely to conceive and successfully wean calves within each age class. Female age structure receives less consideration in ungulate management than does male age structure, despite demonstrated impacts on population productivity of multiple species because of reproductive senescence. Because of the large proportion of individuals in senesced age classes in elk populations, low productivity in populations may simply reflect female age structure, rather than other frequently hypothesized factors.

The genus Galea Meyen, 1833 includes at least five species of terrestrial, diurnal and herbivorous cavies that occupy grasslands and rocky scrub areas at both high and low elevations in South America. According to the available molecular and morphological data, Galea comes Thomas, 1919 is restricted to highland areas above 2000 m in southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. Its distributional range as well as its morphological distinctiveness from other closely related species ( Galea leucoblephara and Galea musteloides ) is poorly documented. Using both qualitative and quantitative morphological traits, we provided an emended diagnosis for G. comes . In addition, we added six new locality records to its known distribution.

To better understand the genetic relatedness of the eastern bent-wing bat Miniopterus fuliginosus across East Asia, mitochondrial D-loop sequences were analyzed from 39 M. fuliginosus individuals living on Jeju Island, South Korea. Seven different haplotypes were identified. Neighbor-joining analysis was performed and divergence time was calculated in combination with available online data on D-loop and ND2 sequences of M. fuliginosus in East Asia, respectively. Results suggest that M. fuliginosus populations living on Jeju Island and in Japan originated from China in the past 20,000 years.