A. Kitchener, G. Hantke, J. Herman, M. T. Doeschate, A. Brownlow
{"title":"First record of True’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, in Britain.","authors":"A. Kitchener, G. Hantke, J. Herman, M. T. Doeschate, A. Brownlow","doi":"10.59922/xtsp6547","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/xtsp6547","url":null,"abstract":"A female beaked whale, Family Ziphiidae, was reported as stranded on 29th January 2020 at Kearvaig Bay, Sutherland, Scotland. Examination of its skull confirms that this is the first recorded stranding of True’s beaked whale, Mesoplodon mirus, in Britain.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"5 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126563251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rana O. Khayat, Kirsty J. Shaw, C. Mead, Hazel Ryan, G. Dougill, L. Melling, R. Grant
{"title":"Measuring the effect of wing tears on flight in common pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus pipistrellus)","authors":"Rana O. Khayat, Kirsty J. Shaw, C. Mead, Hazel Ryan, G. Dougill, L. Melling, R. Grant","doi":"10.59922/wlqr5749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/wlqr5749","url":null,"abstract":"Bat wings are susceptible to tearing. Many bats are admitted to care with wing tears and their flight is subjectively measured prior to release. This study presents a new method to objectively measure the effect of bat wing tears on the flight of common pipistrelle bats, Pipistrellus pipistrellus. Bats were filmed and their wing movements and body positions tracked using freely available software. Results found that bats with bilateral tears moved their wings with smaller movements, and with more wing beats per second. Bats with wing tears tended to tilt their whole body towards the healthier wing – which is the wing with no or smaller wing tears. Differences in wing movements and body positioning suggest that flight might be affected in bats with wing tears, and future work should assess whether foraging and survival are also affected in these animals.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"43 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125909567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Surveying small mammals in urban hedges","authors":"E. Atkins, R. Swetnam, P. Mitchell, J. Dover","doi":"10.59922/dhzc5887","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/dhzc5887","url":null,"abstract":"The suitability of hedges and non-hedge linear boundaries for small mammals in urban Stoke-onTrent were assessed in 2015 and 2016 using baited hair tubes and footprint tubes. Small mammals were found in 63% of all study hedges and 10% of non-hedge linear boundaries, with the upper levels of hedges used as frequently as the base. Hawthorn and privet hedges showed significantly more signs of small mammals than beech hedges or non-hedge linear boundaries. Our findings suggest that we should protect and enhance our urban hedgerow resource as a valuable habitat for urban small mammals.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"766 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123887253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joshua P. Twining, J. Birks, John A. Martin, D. Tosh
{"title":"Food caching as observed through use of den boxes by European pine martens (Martes martes)","authors":"Joshua P. Twining, J. Birks, John A. Martin, D. Tosh","doi":"10.59922/vjaj7762","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/vjaj7762","url":null,"abstract":"Artificial den boxes have been used to supplement denning sites of the European pine marten (Martes martes) in Scotland and Northern Ireland where natural arboreal cavities are scarce. Here, information on food caches from annual checks are reported. Pine martens predominantly cached birds, largely juvenile passerines, followed by small mammals and amphibians. This investigation highlights the potential importance of food caching in the species, as well as the ability of artificial den box schemes to explore enigmatic aspects of marten ecology in the future.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131186441","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Are badgers Meles meles effective dispersal agents for bramble Rubus fruticosus agg. in Ireland?","authors":"M. O'Sullivan, Peter W. Jones, D. Sleeman","doi":"10.59922/ygsc1171","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/ygsc1171","url":null,"abstract":"We studied four aspects of the dispersal of bramble by badgers: plant distribution, occurrence of fruits in diet, lack of damage to seed during ingestion, and beneficial effects on seed germination. The distribution of bramble plants was concentrated around a main sett and associated latrines. Examination of fresh badger dung samples in October 1992 showed that plants represented the main food items, with bramble seeds being by far the most common seeds present. Scanning electron microscopy of seeds before and after passage through the gut of badgers revealed little damage but for a reduced extent of the surface reticulations. Egested seeds exhibited a faster rate of germination than seeds in intact fruits or those washed clear of pericarp tissue. These results suggest that badgers are effective dispersers of brambles in Ireland.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"65 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114379594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A pilot study of a method to monitor hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)","authors":"S. Poulton, N. Reeve","doi":"10.59922/wzkz6742","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/wzkz6742","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction There is evidence from a number of sources that hedgehogs have been generally declining in the UK (Battersby, 2005). Analysis of national counts of road kills suggests an overall decline in hedgehog numbers of about 15% from 2001-2008 (PTES, 2009). However, trends vary greatly between regions, urban and rural environments and the specific factors driving decline remain unclear (Dowding, 2007). Hedgehogs are now a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species and The Mammal Society has been proposed as Lead Organisation in a recent action document (JNCC, 2008).","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114520253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Simone Bullion, K. Burrough, P. Chanin, S. Langton, A. Looser
{"title":"Detecting hazel dormice Muscardinus avellanarius with nest tubes and tracking tunnels: maximising the probability of success.","authors":"Simone Bullion, K. Burrough, P. Chanin, S. Langton, A. Looser","doi":"10.59922/rpgo4459","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/rpgo4459","url":null,"abstract":"Hazel dormice Muscardinus avellanarius are elusive, arboreal small mammals that are difficult to detect in a systematic manner. The fact that they are willing to construct their nests in artificial sites has led to the use of small plastic nest tubes as the principal survey technique in England and Wales. An alternative method uses tracking tunnels with similar dimensions to nest tubes, where their characteristic footprints can be recorded on suitable media. The results of a recent study are used here to calculate the probability of detection for each survey month using nest tubes and show how this is affected by habitat. We report on further studies of footprint tracking tunnels in areas of high rainfall. We provide guidance on duration of survey depending on the numbers of footprint tunnels deployed as well as suitable approaches to deployment and checking of tunnels. We also report on the effectiveness of commercially available tracking cards which can extend the interval between checks.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"17 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127259654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An 18th century reference to a Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Scotland.","authors":"Lee Raye","doi":"10.59922/xhxv2212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/xhxv2212","url":null,"abstract":"Richard Pococke’s Tour of Scotland (1760) seems to provide a record of a breeding population of lynxes (Lynx lynx) in the mountains near Auchencairn in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. This paper evaluates the authenticity and significance of the record.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"1 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128961171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Kitchener, G. Hantke, R. Penrose, M. Perkins, R. Deaville
{"title":"First recorded stranding of a short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, in Britain.","authors":"A. Kitchener, G. Hantke, R. Penrose, M. Perkins, R. Deaville","doi":"10.59922/fqna1026","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/fqna1026","url":null,"abstract":"A male pilot whale, Globicephala sp., was reported as a live stranding on 1st March 2012 at Hazelbeach, near Neyland, Pembrokeshire. It was euthanased and its skull was recovered during an onsite necropsy. Examination of the skull and contemporary photographs of the stranded animal confirm that this is the first record of short-finned pilot whale, Globicephala macrorhynchus, in Britain.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132872044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Home ranges of fossorial water voles (Arvicola amphibius) in urban grasslands.","authors":"B. Wijas, R. Stewart, D. McCafferty","doi":"10.59922/dnas5046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.59922/dnas5046","url":null,"abstract":"Water voles (Arvicola amphibius) occur in urban areas in mainland Britain but relatively little is known about their ecology in these environments. In Scotland’s largest city Glasgow, fossorial water voles occupy areas of grassland, some of which may be faced with urban development. The aim of this study was to estimate the area of habitat required by water voles in these urban grasslands by determining their home range size and spatial overlap. Radio-tracking was undertaken at two grassland sites over 29 days during September to October 2018. The mean ± SD home range size of males was 881.4 ± 636.21 m2 (n=5, range 197.8 -1836.2) and 996.5 ± 643.45 m² (n=5, range=435.1 – 2044.6) for females. There was no difference in home range size between sexes or sites and no correlation with body mass. Where home ranges overlapped, the percentage area overlap was 37.4 ± 26.81%. These initial findings provide valuable information on spatial use of urban grasslands by water voles that will inform the management of habitats for this species.","PeriodicalId":105794,"journal":{"name":"Mammal Communications","volume":"36 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"1900-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133981847","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}