Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Shell abandonment by a hermit crab is an effective antipredator behavior against a portunid crab","authors":"M. Harada,&nbsp;K. Yoshino,&nbsp;T. Koga","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13255","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13255","url":null,"abstract":"<p>When hermit crabs recognize the risk of predation, they generally hide inside their shells or flee from the area, and little is known about their escape behaviors after being captured by a predator. We discovered that the hermit crab <i>Pagurus filholi</i> abandons its shell and attempts to flee when captured by the predatory crab <i>Charybdis japonica</i>, and we examined the effectiveness of this behavior in laboratory experiments. We fed captive <i>C. japonica</i> with <i>P. filholi</i> occupying gastropod shells. When the <i>C. japonica</i> could not break the shell even a little, it gave up and the <i>P. filholi</i> neither abandoned its shell nor was eaten. However, when the predator succeeded in partially breaking the shell, the hermit crab often abandoned the shell, and when it did so, it often survived. Once the predator had completely broken the shell open (implying that the shell has been broken to the extent that it no longer has any structural integrity), all hermit crabs that remained back in the shell (22/22) were consumed, and those that abandoned the shell were also often consumed (3/5). Therefore, hermit crabs do not need to abandon their shells if a predator is unable to break the shell even slightly, but if a predator begins to break the shell, they have a better chance of survival if they abandon their shells at an early stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"326 1","pages":"16-22"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144125917","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":"Cues inducing non-sexual conspecific attraction in an invasive shrimp","authors":"María Guadalupe Vázquez,&nbsp;Claudia Cristina Bas","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13256","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aggregation of conspecifics in the invasive shrimp <i>Palaemon macrodactylus</i> could be driven by either patchy environmental conditions or conspecific attraction. This study aimed to determine whether the observed grouped distribution in natural conditions results from gregarious behavior and the type of cue used by shrimp to locate conspecifics. Four experiments were conducted during the non-reproductive season in which a focal shrimp was given the choice between a zone with cues of conspecifics or an empty zone. The cues permitted in each experiment encompassed visual and chemical cues, exclusively visual cues, exclusively chemical cues and a control devoid of any visual or chemical cues. The results indicated that focal shrimps exhibited a preference for conspecific zones when exposed to chemical cues alone or in combination with visual cues. However, visual cues alone were insufficient to induce grouping with their peers. The value of this trait is discussed along with other behavioral characteristics of the species as a possible explanation for its success as an invader.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"294-300"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143866007","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":"Changes in marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) heart rates suggest reduced metabolism during El Niño events","authors":"S. Dubiner,&nbsp;J. P. Muñoz Pérez,&nbsp;D. Alarcón-Ruales,&nbsp;E. Cohen,&nbsp;D. Deresienski,&nbsp;M. Hirschfeld,&nbsp;E. Levin,&nbsp;K. J. Lohmann,&nbsp;S. Meiri,&nbsp;G. Lewbart","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13254","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13254","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Marine iguanas occasionally face severe food shortages because of algal dieback during El Niño events. Research on their adaptations to these periods has highlighted their unique ability to shrink in body length, which reduces their energetic needs. Additional mechanisms, like sustaining lower body temperatures and metabolic rates, could potentially also lower energy consumption, but have never been examined. We measured 665 iguanas over an 11-year period including three El Niño events, and examined how heart rates (a proxy for metabolic rates) and body temperatures change with sea-surface temperature oscillations (Oceanic Niño Index, ONI). Heart rate (adjusting for body size, temperature, season, and study site) was negatively correlated with ONI and lower during El Niño, whereas the adjusted body temperature did not correlate with ONI or differ between El Niño and other periods. We therefore hypothesize that marine iguanas can depress their metabolic rates in response to the harsh conditions, an adaptation that is complementary to shrinking and may further enhance their survival through periods of limited food. Direct metabolic measurements are needed to test this hypothesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"276-282"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13254","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865646","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":"Low socioeconomic status is an under-recognised source of challenges in academia","authors":"K. Arbuckle,&nbsp;E. J. Bethell,&nbsp;D. J. Hawthorn,&nbsp;K. Hunt,&nbsp;M. Khera,&nbsp;Z. Lewis,&nbsp;J. Mitchell,&nbsp;M. H. Nicholl,&nbsp;L. A. Reynolds","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13250","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13250","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Barriers faced by underrepresented groups in academia have increasingly formed the basis of serious discussion, consideration, and policies, recently (in the UK) under the mantle of equality, diversity, and inclusivity (EDI). While such recognition has not solved the challenges encountered by, for instance, women and ethnic minorities, it has at least ensured that consideration of such issues is becoming a normal part of policy and practice. One underrepresented group in academia is low socioeconomic status (working class) backgrounds, a characteristic that intersects widely with other more commonly considered EDI groups. However, socioeconomic status is not a legally protected characteristic in the UK, which has resulted in it receiving less attention in terms of consideration of the barriers it imposes and possible mitigations needed. Moreover, unlike often more salient EDI characteristics such as gender and ethnicity, outward-facing cues of socioeconomic status are less visible at a glance, although they are often detectable in more subtle or indirect ways. Coupled with the attempts many working-class academics make to ‘mask’ cues of their background, this creates a situation whereby low socioeconomic status is a ‘hidden’ barrier that commonly remains unrecognised and unaddressed throughout much of academia. Here, we provide an overview of the challenges faced by working-class academic scientists based partly on the literature, which is currently limited, and partly from the experiences of our diverse working-class authorship team. In doing so, we hope to bring greater awareness of working-class backgrounds to the table in EDI discussions, and we provide suggestions for future research on and mitigation of the challenges faced by academic scientists from low socioeconomic status backgrounds.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"267-275"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13250","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865910","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":"Walking together: artificial and natural selection in traditional husbandry of feral pigs","authors":"D. Fulgione,&nbsp;O. Soppelsa,&nbsp;S. Belardinelli,&nbsp;E. Rivieccio,&nbsp;S. Aceto,&nbsp;M. Buglione","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13252","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13252","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The history of <i>Homo sapiens</i> is studded with many events promoting relationships with wild animals changing their evolutionary path or impacting their adaptation. Artificial selection is recognized as the product of planned actions aimed to annex useful species into the anthropic niche. However, the effect of humans on animal evolutionary trajectories is diversified and cannot be assigned to a single driver. We characterized the genomes of feral pigs managed by different traditional husbandry practices to infer about the combining effect of artificial and natural selection. Whole genome characterization showed a clear distinctiveness of Sardinian wild boars (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) from free-range pig and domestic pig (<i>Sus domesticus</i>) populations, while Eurasian wild boars and hybrids are closely related, also in agreement with allelic frequency. In the Southern Italy system, we found 7 SNPs putatively under selection, associated with genomic regions including genes mainly involved in body weight control and feeding behavior, muscle growth and development, and adipocyte proliferation. Considering Sardinian wild boar and free-range pigs, over 3000 SNPs were found putatively under selection, and the genomic regions in which these SNPs fall include genes linked mainly to litter size and number of teats. The screening of genomic variability was useful to characterize feral pigs and wild boars from Southern Italy and Sardinia and the relationships between them, highlighting the effect of a peculiar artificial selection that modulates its weightiness due to the concomitant natural selection. In particular, the traditional Sardinian pig husbandry seems to act pushing down gene flow towards wild boar while favoring adaptations to life in the wild, creating a unique genetic pattern in free-range pigs, different both from the domestic and the wild genetic makeup. Our contribution opens up a discussion on the current European policy for the management of free-range pigs, the effective conservation actions for diversity in Suidae forms and their consequent impacts on biodiversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"301-311"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13252","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865719","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":"Leopard occupancy correlates with tiger and prey occurrences in the Parsa-Koshi Complex, Nepal","authors":"H. B. Katuwal,&nbsp;B. P. Bhattarai,&nbsp;S. Regmi,&nbsp;S. Bhandari,&nbsp;A. K. Ram,&nbsp;B. Aryal,&nbsp;K. Tamang,&nbsp;S. Kc,&nbsp;A. Nepali,&nbsp;D. Adhikari,&nbsp;S. Koirala,&nbsp;B. D. Baral,&nbsp;S. Devkota,&nbsp;R. Gautam,&nbsp;D. N. Mandal,&nbsp;J. L. Belant,&nbsp;H. P. Sharma,&nbsp;R.-C. Quan","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13251","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13251","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Large carnivores such as leopards (<i>Panthera pardus</i>) experience continuing threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, depletion of prey populations, and retaliatory killing following conflicts with humans. We aimed to identify factors affecting leopard occupancy and temporal overlap between leopards and tigers (<i>P. tigris</i>), their major prey, and human activities in the Parsa-Koshi Complex (PKC), Nepal. We deployed 154 cameras for 21 days each along wildlife trails throughout PKC during December 2022–March 2023. We found low leopard occupancy (0.17 ± 0.04) in PKC, with greater occupancy rates within protected areas, particularly in Parsa National Park and its buffer zone. Human (63.10 ± 23) and livestock (36.46 ± 102) detections were higher across the PKC. Leopard occupancy was positively associated with the presence of tigers and prey. Temporal overlap was moderately high between leopards and tigers, as well as between leopards and their prey. Our research suggests that coexistence between leopards and tigers is likely largely facilitated by higher prey availability, which may reduce competition. Further, we demonstrate that maintaining forest cohesion can improve habitat for leopards. Intensifying use of agricultural areas could reduce forest fragmentation and increase leopard habitat overall, in turn reducing leopard depredation of livestock and improving leopard-human co-existence and conservation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"312-322"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865710","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":"COVID-19: An unplanned experiment to assess the effect of tourism on ungulates in a world heritage site","authors":"Y. Ontiveros,&nbsp;F. M. Cappa,&nbsp;C. E. Borghi,&nbsp;N. Andino,&nbsp;C. M. Campos,&nbsp;S. M. Giannoni","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13248","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nature-based tourism in protected areas can benefit millions of people, generating significant economic income. However, tourism can also have negative impacts on the environment and wildlife. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the closure of cities and towns, bringing substantial disruption to various human activities and providing an opportunity to assess the impact of reduced tourism activity from the general level. In this study, we assessed the association between tourism and guanaco (<i>Lama guanicoe</i>) activity patterns in Ischigualasto Provincial Park across two contrasting periods: pre-pandemic and pandemic during the COVID-19 outbreak. The different roads in the area were used as a proxy of tourism activity, and comparisons of activity patterns of guanaco between the roads were made, taking into account both periods. Based on camera-trapping data, we analyzed the daily activity patterns of the species, as well as whether there was a change in activity toward night hours. We found that guanacos changed their activity patterns in response to human tourism activities and increased their nocturnal activity in places with high tourist activity in pre-pandemic periods; however, we found no such effects during the pandemic when tourist pressure was low. These results are vital for the area's management aimed at conserving the species since, currently, after the pandemic, tourism activities have been resumed, and the number of visitors to Ischigualasto Provincial Park has grown exponentially.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"175-184"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698821","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":"Temporal overlap in use of shared latrines by brown hyena and spotted hyena","authors":"S. de Zeeuw,&nbsp;F. van Langevelde,&nbsp;S. Vissia","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13249","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13249","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Scent marking at latrines is used by a variety of mammals for communicating an individual's reproductive status, social rank, or territory. Both brown hyenas (<i>Parahyaena brunnea</i>) and spotted hyenas (<i>Crocuta crocuta</i>) make use of latrines. Previous research showed that the presence of the more dominant spotted hyena negatively affects the presence of brown hyena. As both species rarely occur in the same area, little is known about the temporal patterns of using shared latrine sites. Central Tuli, Botswana, is home to one of the highest densities of both spotted and brown hyena in southern Africa. We conducted a camera trap study and monthly scat counts for monitoring the visitation and defecation rates of brown and spotted hyenas at shared latrines to examine the temporal patterns of latrine use. Our results showed seasonal differences in latrine use, with lower visitation and defecation rates for both species during the wet season. We found high temporal overlap in latrine use for the two species. However, the time interval between consecutive spotted – brown hyena visits was larger than for consecutive brown hyena–spotted hyena and consecutive conspecific visits during the dry season, suggesting that brown hyena seem to show fine-scale temporal avoidance of spotted hyenas at shared latrine sites. The presence of spotted hyenas, or other large carnivores, could possibly inhibit intraspecific communication for brown hyena at shared latrine sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 4","pages":"283-293"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13249","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143865771","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":"Fertility up in flames: Reduced fertility indices as a consequence of a simulated heatwave on small African mammals","authors":"P. J. Jacobs,&nbsp;N. C. Bennett,&nbsp;L. du Plessis,&nbsp;D. W. Hart","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13247","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13247","url":null,"abstract":"<p>With the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves due to climate change, the survival and reproductive success of mammals could be under significant threat. However, the specific effects of these environmental stressors on mammalian reproductive fitness remain insufficiently explored. This study investigates the impact of a simulated heatwave on male fertility indices in two African rodent species: the mesic four-striped field mouse (<i>Rhabdomys dilectus</i>) and the Namaqua rock mouse (<i>Micaelamys namaquensis</i>) during the breeding season. We measured key indicators of male fertility, including testes mass, testes volume, seminiferous tubule diameter, the presence of sperm, and plasma testosterone levels. Our findings reveal that both species experienced significant effects on male fertility indices, with the smaller <i>R. dilectus</i> showing a decline in all fertility indices following a simulated heatwave. These results suggest that the projected increase in heatwave events may compromise the reproductive success of small mammals, potentially leading to population declines. Finally, this study highlights the need for focused studies on the effect of heatwaves on long-term reproductive success in both males and females.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"254-266"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13247","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698976","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":"Spatio-temporal patterns of carnivore guild related to their prey in a Mediterranean landscape","authors":"A. Peris,&nbsp;T. Mampel,&nbsp;M. Vilella,&nbsp;D. Pons,&nbsp;J. Real,&nbsp;R. Puig-Gironès","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13246","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13246","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Small mammal populations fluctuate significantly in abundance over time, affecting the entire food web. However, changes in their occupancy across a landscape receive less attention. While habitat features are relevant for some predators, diet specialization and prey distribution and abundance might play an important role in shaping predator populations. Using a multi-season occupancy analysis, we examined the spatio-temporal patterns of Mediterranean mesocarnivores—common genet, stone marten and red fox—focusing on the factors that influence their occupancy dynamics, particularly small mammal occupancy as a prey resource. Data was collected from December 2020 to May 2021 in the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l'Obac Natural Park using a camera-trap grid. We analysed small mammal occupancy dynamics and used these as covariates in predator occupancy models to explore predator–prey relationships. Additionally, we included the occurrence of each carnivore as a predictor for interspecific analysis, and kernel density functions were used to assess daily activity overlaps. Results showed that interspecific competition significantly affected mesocarnivore occupancy, as genet occupancy was negatively correlated with the red fox occupancy. Although prey occurrence did not influence mesocarnivore occupancy, it did affect detectability, with genet and stone marten detectability being positively related to small mammal presence and high daily activity overlap between predators and prey. This suggests that mesopredators respond rapidly to prey abundance, highlighting the intricate temporal dependence between predator activity and prey occupancy. Dynamic occupancy and activity models provide a deeper understanding of predator–prey relationships at the local scale.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"242-253"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13246","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698973","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}