Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Year-round variation in monthly and daily group size estimates of barren-ground caribou in east-central Alaska","authors":"K. Joly","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70058","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70058","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sociality plays a major role in an array of factors critical to the ecology of many species, including sexual selection, migration, habitat selection, predation risk, and parasite infection. Group size is a fundamental metric used to assess sociality in many species. While barren-ground caribou (<i>Rangifer tarandus</i>) are highly social, there is little quantitative documentation of the patterns in their year-round group sizes. I report the daily and monthly average group sizes of the Nelchina Caribou Herd in east-central Alaska. Group sizes were small not only in winter and late summer but also during calving. Group sizes increased post-calving and reached their maximum during the peak of insect harassment in July. The largest single group observed was &gt;30% of the entire herd. July was the only month where the average group size was more than 1% of the size of the herd. Group sizes were relatively large during migration but larger during fall migration than spring, which may reflect the importance of sociality during the rut and/or the dispersed nature of barren-ground caribou during winter.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 4","pages":"331-336"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70058","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792457","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":"The larger the cetacean, the more stationary their sleep? Thermoregulatory constraints on the sleep behaviour of captive cetaceans","authors":"K. Aota,&nbsp;Y. Sekiguchi,&nbsp;D. M. Kikuchi","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70062","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70062","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sleeping underwater is challenging for lung-breathing animals because of their inability to breathe and rapid heat loss caused by high thermal conductivity. However, cetaceans can sleep/rest underwater despite these constraints. It has been hypothesized that sleep behaviour is related to the balance between heat loss and thermogenesis, relative to body size. We verified this hypothesis through inter-and intraspecific comparisons using observational data on the sleeping/resting behaviour of 10 captive cetacean species. Our results quantitatively demonstrated that as body size decreased, the amount of behavioural sleep while being stationary (stationary sleep) reduced and the amount of behavioural sleep while swimming (swim sleep) increased. Conversely, the opposite occurred when body size increased. To further assess this correlation, the influence of ambient temperature on the choice of sleeping behaviour was investigated through intraspecific comparisons using nine captive bottlenose dolphins (<i>Tursiops truncatus</i>). At lower ambient temperatures, dolphins exhibited more swim sleep than stationary sleep. This suggests a potential sleep strategy that adjusts behaviour based on body size and ambient temperature, possibly owing to differences in heat loss. Our findings provide valuable insights into the thermal challenges cetaceans encounter during sleeping/resting underwater and how behavioural thermoregulation helps them overcome these challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 4","pages":"376-385"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70062","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792480","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":"Deriving the functional significance of olfaction in a solitary non-territorial herbivore: The bare-nosed wombat Vombatus ursinus","authors":"K. McMahon,&nbsp;G. M. While,&nbsp;D. S. Nichols,&nbsp;A. Edwards,&nbsp;D. L. Hu,&nbsp;S. Carver","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70068","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70068","url":null,"abstract":"<p>An understanding of mechanisms by which non-territorial solitary mammalian species receive, produce, and respond to communication signals has remained limited, particularly for marsupials. The bare-nosed wombat (<i>Vombatus ursinus</i>) represents a potentially tractable marsupial system to understand communication in a solitary non-territorial herbivorous mammal, particularly as a function of their distinct cube-shaped faeces that facilitate deposition in aggregations. We undertook a multifaceted approach to assess evidence of scat-associated olfactory communication and create a foundation for further research in bare-nosed wombats, linking themes of capacity for signal reception, signal location in the environment and emission and signal response. First, cranial sections identified gross morphological features consistent with a vomeronasal organ, indicative of developed olfactory signal reception. Second, field surveys demonstrated that bare-nosed wombat latrines are associated with features in their landscape (particularly rocks, logs, and burrow entrances), which we hypothesize serve as a visual cue for locations where olfactory communication is concentrated. Third, gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry on scats showed individually distinctive chemical signatures. Finally, using field experiments, we showed that introducing scats from unfamiliar bare-nosed wombats increased investigatory behaviors at manipulated latrines, and that these effects may depend on local recruitment and latrine density. Collectively, our research provided evidence that olfaction is functionally significant in bare-nosed wombats, provides a foundation from which more detailed investigations can build upon, and suggested this marsupial species is a tractable system for research on communication in a non-territorial solitary mammal.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 4","pages":"386-397"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70068","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145792557","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"328 4","pages":"316-324"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148074112","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"328 3","pages":"271-279"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148069307","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":"","authors":"","doi":"","DOIUrl":"","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"328 3","pages":"256-270"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148070040","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":"Differences in gonadal sex allocation in a simultaneous hermaphrodite commensal flatworm under field conditions","authors":"F. Brusa,&nbsp;K. D. Colpo,&nbsp;H. G. González,&nbsp;L. Negrete,&nbsp;C. Damborenea","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70051","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70051","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The theory of sex allocation in simultaneous hermaphrodites predicts that resource investment between male and female reproductive functions varies with the size of the mating group. To test this theory in commensal flatworms that are simultaneous hermaphrodites, in the present study, we evaluated the variations in the sizes of male and female gonads in <i>Temnocephala iheringi</i> (Platyhelminthes, Rhabdocoela), a species that inhabits the pallial cavity of the golden apple snail <i>Pomacea canaliculata</i> (Mollusca: Gastropoda). We evaluated two snail populations, each naturally exhibiting different infestation intensities of <i>T. iheringi</i>, assuming distinct mating group sizes. We found that the total size of the gonads of flatworms from both snail populations was similar, but that the proportion of the male gonad was higher in flatworms from the snail population with higher infestation intensity (larger mating group) than in those from the snail population with lower infestation intensity. Additionally, the proportion of the female gonad was lower in flatworms from the snail population with higher infestation intensity. These findings support the theory of sex allocation and, for the first time, demonstrate differences in gonadal sex allocation in a commensal organism in its natural environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 3","pages":"259-265"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145595276","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":"Co-occurrence and interactions among sympatric wildlife: Insights from a multi-species occupancy study in Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China","authors":"G. Hua,&nbsp;W. Jinbiao,&nbsp;Z. Lv,&nbsp;Y. Shimao,&nbsp;B. Dayananda,&nbsp;T. Cheng","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70056","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70056","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Species with sympatric distribution influence ecosystem dynamics and are impacted by the presence of other co-existing species. Understanding how environmental factors and interspecific interactions influence the co-occurrence of sympatric species is vital for comprehending the assembly of biological communities and the processes driving ecosystem regulation and development. This study investigated the co-occurrence patterns and interspecific interactions among three species—the Siberian weasel (<i>Martes flavigula</i>), yellow weasel (<i>Mustela sibirica</i>), and Temminck's tragopan (<i>Tragopan temminckii</i>) in the Wanglang National Nature Reserve, China. The study of the interspecific relationships among these three species is of great significance as it can provide in-depth insights into the complex ecological mechanisms within the ecosystem. It helps us better understand how these species interact with each other, which in turn affects the overall stability and functionality of the ecosystem. Utilizing monitoring data from 50 camera traps deployed between 2011 and 2015, combined with quadrat surveys, a multi-species occupancy model was applied to assess the influence of various environmental factors on their occupancy. The results indicated that <i>M. flavigula</i> exhibited the lowest marginal occupancy probability (Ψ = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.55), followed by <i>M. sibirica</i> (Ψ = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.18–0.54), while <i>T. temminckii</i> displayed the highest value (Ψ = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.27–0.59). The top model revealed that the co-occurrence probability of <i>M. flavigula</i> with <i>M. sibirica</i> and with <i>T. temminc</i>kii both increases as forest canopy density rises. Additionally, the co-occurrence probability between <i>M. flavigula</i> and <i>T. temminckii</i> remained consistently high, likely influenced by other wildlife interactions and anthropogenic factors. These findings enhance our understanding of the co-occurrence patterns of these species and provide valuable insights for future research on species interactions and long-term ecosystem sustainability.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 3","pages":"302-312"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145595279","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":"Seasonal shifts in prey availability and low feeding requirements of African egg-eating snakes (Dasypeltis scabra)","authors":"J. M. Barends,&nbsp;B. Maritz","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70054","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70054","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For predators that feed on a restricted set of prey resources, individuals must be able to withstand shortages of their required prey. Additionally, when morphological traits make prey access body size-dependent, changes in prey availability might disproportionately alter access to those resources for different cohorts within a population. In a 3-year laboratory study, we housed and fed a colony of African egg-eating snakes (<i>Dasypeltis scabra</i>), an obligate bird egg specialist, to quantify their ingestion ability and annual feeding requirements. Using those data, we estimated monthly trends of the accessibility and availability of bird eggs suitable for consumption by differently sized individuals. We estimate that adult and neonate <i>D. scabra</i> can ingest the eggs of 708 of 728 bird species (98%) and 363 of 728 bird species (50%), respectively. Eggs are widely available during warm spring and summer months, but bird breeding declines during colder winter months, especially for species laying smaller eggs. In the laboratory, snakes showed a seasonal feeding rhythm with high food acceptance coinciding with peaks in monthly bird egg-laying during the austral spring and summer. Our snakes required food equal to only 61% of initial body mass annually to maintain body condition and consumed on average just 2.4 times more food than maintenance levels, corroborating metabolic studies showing low metabolic rates in <i>Dasypeltis</i>. Our findings suggest that seasonal fluctuations of prey availability are likely the selective pressure that contributed to increased ingestion ability (so that smaller snakes could potentially access larger eggs that are more readily available through cooler months) and reduced metabolic rates in <i>D. scabra</i>, which shaped their low feeding requirements. Thus, while seasonal variation in prey availability does not preclude bird egg specialization within <i>D. scabra</i>, it directly influences when these snakes feed as well as how many eggs they consume annually.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 3","pages":"225-235"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145595272","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":"Opposite geographical body size patterns in two subspecies of spur-thighed tortoises in North Africa match climatic niche divergence","authors":"M. J. Semaha,&nbsp;E. Graciá,&nbsp;S. Fahd,&nbsp;A. Mira-Jover,&nbsp;A. Giménez,&nbsp;R. C. Rodríguez-Caro","doi":"10.1111/jzo.70050","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Geographic size variation in ectotherms often reflects complex interactions between environmental and evolutionary factors, which can differ among taxa. In this study, we investigated body size patterns in two sister subspecies of spur-thighed tortoises, <i>Testudo graeca whitei</i> and <i>T. g. marokkensis</i>, across their natural ranges in North Africa. These subspecies show distinct climatic niches, and we hypothesized that their morphology would differ in response to environmental variables, such as climate, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI, a measure of vegetation cover), latitude, and elevation. We measured tortoises across Morocco and Algeria to explore growth patterns and adult body size in response to these environmental factors. Growth models revealed significant sexual size dimorphism in both subspecies. The humid subspecies <i>T. g. marokkensis</i> exhibited a slower growth rate but reached a larger asymptotic size compared with the semiarid <i>T. g. whitei</i>. When evaluating the relationship between body size and environmental factors, we found that <i>T. g. whitei</i> exhibited a negative correlation between body size and latitude, which contrasts with Bergmann's rule. By contrast, <i>T. g. marokkensis</i> followed the rule, with body size positively correlated with both latitude and elevation. Our findings suggest that latitude and elevation are encompassing critical factors influencing body size, reflecting the impact of climatic factors like aridity on tortoise morphology. We also found that body size patterns aligned with niche divergence, with larger individuals of both sexes occurring in regions with more favorable climatic conditions. Indirectly, these results suggest that larger body size in <i>T. graeca</i> may be associated with higher fitness in both males and females.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"327 3","pages":"248-258"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.70050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145595283","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}