Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Developmental Plasticity and Behavioural Evolution in Rodents: Insights From African Striped Mice (Rhabdomys)","authors":"N. Pillay,&nbsp;T. L. Rymer","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70147","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70147","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Early-life environments can shape behavioural development trajectories without altering DNA. In this review, we consider how non-genetic factors, particularly parental care, shape behavioural development in rodents, using African striped mice (<i>Rhabdomys</i>) as our primary model. The <i>Rhabdomys</i> system is particularly informative because it encompasses a natural gradient from solitary to group-living strategies, demonstrates marked social plasticity and combines field observations with laboratory experimental manipulations. Long-term studies of <i>Rhabdomys</i>, integrated with broader rodent research including laboratory rats, mice and voles, reveal that early parental care creates lasting changes in sociality, stress physiology, cognition and reproductive behaviour. These changes are mediated through epigenetic, hormonal and neuroendocrine mechanisms that can persist across generations. We frame this review within Developmental Systems Theory (DST), which considers development as the emergent dynamic interplay of genes, environment and experience. Maternal care, via tactile stimulation, diet and social context, forms the primary basis of early caregiving, while paternal and communal care contribute significantly to development in biparental and group-living species. Cross-fostering and isolation experiments demonstrate that caregiving can modify developmental trajectories independent of genetic inheritance. This plasticity enables behavioural adjustments to local ecological conditions; when outcomes are adaptive and transgenerationally stable, caregiving itself becomes a target of selection. Understanding developmental plasticity as an evolutionary force, rather than noise around a genetic mean, improves our ability to predict behavioural trajectories under environmental change. This framework has direct applications in conservation biology, captive breeding programmes and perinatal medicine. Because these developmental mechanisms are conserved across vertebrates, rodent studies provide broad insights into how plasticity in caregiving contributes to rapid behavioural evolution.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"6-18"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70147","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Photoperiod Regulates Cardiac Oxidative Stress via the Keap1/Nrf2 Pathway in Striped Dwarf Hamsters","authors":"Jin-Hui Xu,&nbsp;Ming-Di Wang,&nbsp;Chuan-Li Wang,&nbsp;Xia-Xuan Zhao,&nbsp;Hui-Liang Xue,&nbsp;Ming Wu,&nbsp;Lei Chen,&nbsp;Chao Fan,&nbsp;Zhe Wang","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70140","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Oxidative stress refers to a state where the balance between oxidation and antioxidation in the body is disrupted, leading to an imbalance towards oxidation and causing damage to tissues and cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of various photoperiods on oxidative stress and the regulatory mechanism in the heart of striped dwarf hamsters (<i>Cricetulus barabensis</i>). In this research, different photoperiods are specifically divided into the following three types: long photoperiod group (LP), moderate photoperiod group (MP), short photoperiod group (SP). The results are as follows: (1) Levels of H₂O₂, a reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde, a measure of oxidative damage, increased in the LP group, indicating an elevation in oxidative stress. (2) Catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity were up-regulated in the SP group and down-regulated in the LP group. (3) Compared with MP, the co-localization index of Keap1/Nrf2 decreased in SP and increased in LP, and further protein detection showed that the protein abundance of Keap1 decreased in SP and increased in LP, whereas the abundance of p-Nrf2 was increased in SP and reduced in LP, indicating that the Keap1/Nrf2 signal pathway was up-regulated in SP but down-regulated in LP. Therefore, these findings indicate that the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway may be responsible for the differential antioxidant enzyme activities among the three photoperiods. The heightened activity of antioxidant enzymes observed under SP appears to confer benefits in mitigating oxidative stress.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"71-80"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Happy Bicentenary, ZSL: The Evolving Practice of Zoological Science","authors":"Elissa Z. Cameron","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70156","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Morris Gosling (1943–2026)","authors":"Patrick Duncan,&nbsp;Colin Townsend","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70157","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70157","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"81-83"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating Systematic and Opportunistic Camera Trap Data to Monitor Eurasian Lynx Demography","authors":"Francesco Bini,&nbsp;Ira Topličanec,&nbsp;Magda Sindičić,&nbsp;Tomislav Gomerčić","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70144","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Monitoring large carnivores is essential for understanding population dynamics and conservation outcomes, yet it is often constrained by limited resources and imperfect detection. Camera trapping is a cornerstone of such monitoring, and citizen science offers opportunities to extend temporal and spatial coverage. Here, we assess the potential and limitations of integrating systematic and opportunistic camera trap data to monitor the demography of the Eurasian lynx (<i>Lynx lynx</i>) in Croatia. We analyzed 4201 lynx photographs collected over 14 monitoring seasons (2010–2024), combining systematic camera trap surveys conducted between 2018/2019 and 2023/2024 with opportunistic records gathered throughout the entire study period. Opportunistic camera trapping contributed 41% of all records and increased sampling effort, while the proportion of photographs suitable for individual identification remained stable across seasons. In total, 225 individual lynx were identified, with individuals recorded on average 17.4 times. Most individuals were redetected within 2 months, whereas the longest interval between successive detections exceeded 4 years, indicating pronounced heterogeneity in detectability. Between 2018 and 2023, 201 individuals were identified, and minimum population size increased from 64 to 89 individuals. The proportion of individuals of unknown sex remained high across seasons (mean 33%) and showed a moderate positive correlation with the number of opportunistic photographs, suggesting limitations in sex assignment from opportunistic data. Mean individual turnover was estimated at 31%, with interannual variation (25%–39.2%) and mean age of 2.59 (±1.94) years, while the oldest identified individual had 9.41 years. Our findings show that integrating opportunistic records with systematic camera trapping collected year-round enhances demographic monitoring of Eurasian lynx, likely increasing detection probability while highlighting the need to account for detection heterogeneity and data-quality limitations.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"50-61"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70144","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do Parasite Effects on Fish Body Condition Depend on Host Size and External Temperature? A Meta-Analytic Approach","authors":"Ryota Hasegawa,&nbsp;Callum B. Walter,&nbsp;Robert Poulin","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70148","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70148","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Evaluating relationships between host body condition indices (BCIs) and parasite infections is a common approach for assessing the negative effects of parasites on host health. Researchers generally calculate BCIs from host body length-mass relationships and expect negative correlations between BCIs and infection levels; however, empirical results are often highly variable among host–parasite systems. Here, we hypothesize that two overlooked factors—host body size and external temperature– underlie this variability by modulating the metabolic costs associated with infection. Both of these are particularly well-known factors that strongly influence host and parasite ecology and physiology. We specifically predict that the negative effects of parasites are stronger in smaller hosts due to their higher mass-specific metabolic rates, requiring costly energetic allocation toward resistance or tolerance. We also predict that higher temperatures exacerbate these effects by increasing metabolic stress and reducing the host's ability to mitigate infection costs. We tested these predictions using 165 fish BCI-metazoan parasite infection relationships extracted from 51 published studies providing the required data and compiled systematically. Contrary to our initial predictions, our meta-regression models revealed no significant effects of host size (body mass) or temperature on the BCI-infection relationship after accounting for other drivers, such as parasite taxa and types of BCI measures used. We discuss potential mechanisms underlying this pattern, including counter-adaptive strategies employed by fish hosts to maintain body condition even under suboptimal conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"32-40"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70148","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149083919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Repurposing Bird Bycatch From Camera Traps in Urban Landscapes: A Correlate of Avian and Mammalian Richness?","authors":"Flavio Monti,&nbsp;Leonardo Ancillotto,&nbsp;Andrea Viviano,&nbsp;Martino Maggioni,&nbsp;Olivia Dondina,&nbsp;Tommaso Lipparelli,&nbsp;Emiliano Mori","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70145","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70145","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Camera traps are extensively used to monitor medium- and large-bodied mammals, but the avian bycatch they generate remains largely untapped in biodiversity assessments. This underuse is particularly evident in urban ecosystems, despite the growing application of camera trapping in cities. Here, we evaluated the ecological value of bird detections obtained opportunistically from camera traps by comparing them with standardized point count surveys conducted in 2023–2024, across the metropolitan area of Firenze, central Italy, and explored their potential to indicate broader urban biodiversity patterns through cross-taxa relationship with mammal richness. Combining both methods, we recorded 72 bird species, with camera traps detecting two-thirds of total richness. Bird species richness estimated from camera traps was strongly and positively correlated with richness derived from point counts across sampling stations, indicating that camera-trap bycatch captures consistent spatial patterns in avian diversity. Bird communities detected by the two methods showed a high degree of species overlap (70%), although modest but significant differences in community composition were observed, reflecting method-specific detection biases. Using camera-trap data, we detected a positive association between mammal and bird richness values across sites. This relationship was confirmed after accounting for variation in sampling effort and seasonal effects, suggesting that local areas supporting a higher diversity of birds also tend to support a richer mammal community. Overall, our results show that avian bycatch from camera traps provides meaningful information on bird diversity and complements traditional survey methods, while also offering potential insights into multi-taxon biodiversity patterns. Repurposing existing camera-trap datasets can therefore enhance the efficiency and taxonomic breadth of urban biodiversity monitoring programs.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"62-70"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70145","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Under the Moon: Influence of Moon Brightness on Temporal Interspecific Relationships in a Mediterranean Carnivore Guild","authors":"G. Fini,&nbsp;L. Lazzeri,&nbsp;N. Corso,&nbsp;F. Ferretti","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70149","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70149","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>In terrestrial ecosystems, interactions between mesocarnivores and apex predators influence carnivore guilds, potentially affecting lower trophic levels. Spatiotemporal partitioning is a major factor shaping interspecific coexistence among carnivores. Since most carnivores are active at night, nocturnal illumination is expected to play a potentially critical role in mediating interspecific dynamics, but information is still scarce especially for areas recently recolonized by apex predators. This study investigated how the lunar brightness affected the activity of mesocarnivores, that is, the red fox <i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, the European badger <i>Meles meles</i>, and martens <i>Martes</i> spp., in a Mediterranean area recently recolonized by the wolf <i>Canis lupus</i>. Using year-long camera trapping data, we analyzed activity patterns as a function of brightness index (moonlight × cloud cover) and wolf detection rates. Responses to moonlight differed among species: while there were no detectable changes in the diel activity patterns of red fox across the different moonlight conditions, mustelid species showed a shift in the temporal peaks of activity with altered bimodal patterns between higher and lower moonlight. Fox nocturnal activity decreased significantly on brighter nights, likely reflecting synchronization with prey. In contrast, the activity of badgers and martens showed no significant changes in response to nocturnal brightness. There was support for a negative effect of wolf detection rates on those of badgers and, to a lesser extent, martens. However, we did not find evidence for an interactive effect of night brightness and wolf detection rate, suggesting that interspecific interactions were not modulated by nocturnal light. These findings highlight that lunar illumination has species-specific effects on nocturnal behaviors and emphasize the importance of habitat and interspecific relationships in shaping activity patterns.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"19-31"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responses of Mainland and Island Wall Lizards to Rat Chemical Cues","authors":"R. Van Damme,&nbsp;L. Van Linden,&nbsp;I. Gavriilidi","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70143","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rats have followed mankind into a wide diversity of habitats around the world. This includes many smaller islands, where they present a possible threat to local fauna that have often evolved in the absence of mammalian predators and therefore may not recognise them as dangerous. Many lizards can detect chemicals left behind by predators (mostly snakes) and will change their behaviour in response to them. However, whether lizards recognise mammal scents in general, and of rats in particular, remains unclear. Here we compared the responses towards rat chemical cues between Italian wall lizards (<i>Podarcis siculus</i>) originating from mainland and island habitats. In a first experiment, tongue flick rates (indicative of chemosensorial excitement) and behaviour of lizards were observed in two control situations (blank and pungent) and in the presence of rat scent. Lingual sampling increased dramatically in response to rat cues in both mainland and island lizards, but the animals' overall behaviour hardly changed. We found no evidence that the rat cues elicited stress or anti-predator behaviour. In a second experiment, we offered the lizards the choice between two basking sites, one of which we labelled with rat scent. We found no evidence that lizards systematically avoided the rat-scented perch. We conclude that both mainland and island Italian wall lizards can detect chemicals produced by rats, but these do not elicit noticeable changes in their behaviour (other than increased tongue flick rates). However, in both the control and experimental treatments, island and mainland lizards differed in tongue flick rates and in several aspects of their behaviour.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"330 1","pages":"41-49"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-09-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149084048","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Conservation Management Strategies Shape Glucocorticoid Levels in African Elephant Populations More Than Parasite Load","authors":"Laura Lacomme,&nbsp;Hervé Fritz,&nbsp;André Ganswindt,&nbsp;Chloé Guerbois,&nbsp;Benjamin Rey","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.70141","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In wildlife conservation, understanding the factors influencing physiological stress is essential for promoting the health and stability of managed populations. Glucocorticoids are widely used as stress biomarkers and provide valuable insights into animal well-being. Parasitic infections can elevate glucocorticoid concentrations, positioning parasites as potential physiological stressors. However, few studies have investigated relationships between parasite load and faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations in wild mammals exposed to varying environmental and anthropogenic disturbances associated with contrasting landscape-level management strategies. In this study, we investigated drivers of fGCM concentrations in managed South African elephant populations across 19 conservation areas with contrasting management strategies and environmental conditions. Specifically, we tested whether gastrointestinal parasite load correlates positively with fGCM concentrations. Contrary to our expectations, no such correlation was found. Instead, elevated fGCM concentrations were associated with smaller conservation areas, increased human exposure from self-driving tourism, and lower food resource availability, the latter especially when elephant density is high. These results reveal that conservation management strategies, especially in fenced conservation areas, significantly influence stress-related biomarker levels in African elephants, overshadowing individual health factors such as parasite load. Our study underscores the importance of multifaceted approaches to assessing stress perceived by wildlife, considering both environmental and anthropogenic factors. This research highlights the need for nuanced management policies that address the complex interplay of stressors, advancing landscape-level conservation strategies applicable across taxa in managed habitats.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"329 4","pages":"295-304"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70141","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148860167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}