Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"Cascading effects driven by population recovery of sika deer on habitat use of sympatric mammals under heavy snow conditions","authors":"J. Yamashita,&nbsp;M. Akamatsu,&nbsp;H. S. Enari,&nbsp;Y. Sembongi,&nbsp;H. Enari","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13233","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13233","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Unlike the top-down cascading effects driven by apex predators, the bottom-up effects on biological interactions originating from herbivory by large mammals, especially within mammalian assemblages, have received less attention. This study aimed to identify the multifaceted impacts driven by sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon</i>) during midwinters, when their herbivory impacts were expected to be strong due to deficient dietary resources. We focused on interference and exploitative competition caused by deer on the habitat use of four sympatric mammal species, namely two herbivores (Japanese serow, <i>Capricornis crispus</i>, and Japanese hare, <i>Lepus brachyurus angustidens</i>) and two mesocarnivores (red fox, <i>Vulpes vulpes</i>, and Japanese marten, <i>Martes melampus melampus</i>). To estimate the wintering behaviors of these mammals and deer herbivory pressure, we performed snow tracking and counted the fresh feeding marks of deer during midwinter in 2022 and 2023. We conducted surveys on 201-km transects with different stages of deer population recovery (i.e., different deer population densities) in heavy snowfall regions of Japan. We then systematically quantified the deer-driven effects on sympatric mammals using piecewise structural equation modeling (SEM). We recorded 1700 tracks of target mammals and 1327 trees with deer feeding marks. Based on these records, we constructed an SEM with acceptable performance (Fisher's <i>C</i> = 27.1, <i>P</i> = 0.30). The SEM suggested some possibilities that exploitative competition mediated by deer herbivory constrained the habitat use of mammals with dietary habits similar to that of deer, i.e., serow (effect size, −0.13) and hares (−0.14). In addition, through constricting the habitat use of hares, the deer-driven cascading effects reduced the occurrence of their key predators, i.e., foxes (−0.12) and martens (−0.10). Thus, our observations provide novel evidence that food webs are regulated by herbivore-driven bottom-up cascading effects in cases where plant primary productivity is limited by heavy snowfall.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 1","pages":"92-99"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143112335","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":"Exploring the protective role of jelly capsules in jelly-nest tree frog eggs based on proteomic and peptidomic studies","authors":"S. Wang,&nbsp;Y. Gao,&nbsp;S. Wei,&nbsp;J. Ben,&nbsp;F. Yan","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13230","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Typically, frog eggs are aquatic, being deposited and undergoing development within freshwater habitats. However, certain species within the Rhacophoridae have evolved reproductive modes that are non-aquatic. The jelly-nest tree frog (<i>Feihyla palpebralis</i>) has terrestrial eggs that are enclosed in gel, with embryos detaching from the aquatic milieu during the embryonic phase. The jelly enveloping these embryos performs a critical role in defense against biotic and abiotic threats in the terrestrial environment. To investigate the protective function of the jelly, we characterized its proteome and peptidome. In total, 83 proteins were identified and categorized into eight main groups: protease inhibitors, glycoproteins, cytoskeleton proteins, nucleotide-binding proteins, regulatory proteins, metabolic enzyme, glycoprotein hormones, and oxidative stress-related proteins. These proteins are believed to play a role in protecting the eggs by creating biochemical and physical barriers, maintaining moisture and structural integrity, and preventing oxidative damage. In addition, 1642 peptides were isolated from tree frog jelly envelopes. Among these, RPPGFSPFR showed predator deterrent properties, LPF and AVPYPQ performed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and IYSP functioned as a proteinase inhibitor. These findings help to clarify the protective mechanisms involved in the egg development process of the jelly-nest tree frog.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 4","pages":"363-370"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142867834","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":"Influence of captive breeding environment on the locomotor performance and metabolism of the threatened Alcatraz Snouted Treefrog, Ololygon alcatraz","authors":"C. S. Lisboa,&nbsp;J. E. de Carvalho,&nbsp;F. C. de Barros,&nbsp;J. B. da Cruz,&nbsp;C. A. Brasileiro","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Ex situ</i> conservation is a complementary strategy to <i>in situ</i> efforts and is vital for safeguarding endangered species through maintenance and breeding in captivity with potential for reintroductions into natural environments. However, it is crucial to recognize that prolonged captivity can lead to diminished abilities of organisms over generations. Factors linked to the impact of phenotypic plasticity during development, such as restricted movement, may affect organism performance during <i>ex situ</i> conservation efforts, potentially making reintroduction into the wild unfeasible. Consequently, it is imperative to analyze physiological differences between captive-bred and wild individuals. Therefore, this study investigates how captivity influences locomotor performance, morphology, and metabolic capacities of adults and juveniles of the threatened treefrog <i>Ololygon alcatraz,</i> in comparison to natural populations. We obtained proportional measurements of individuals and assessed their locomotor performance through jumping exercise. We also measured the metabolic capacities of the frogs by examining the activity of enzymes involved in energetic metabolic pathways in their skeletal muscle fibers. We found that wild adult frogs had larger limbs, greater jumping abilities, and a more glycolytic profile, while captive adult frogs had smaller limbs and increased aerobic enzyme activity compared to their wild counterparts. These differences probably arise from phenotypic plasticity in ontogenetic development that differs between captive and natural environments, as juveniles do not show such differences. These results highlight the need for innovative strategies in managing captive <i>O. alcatraz</i> populations, which will aid in their successful translocation to the wild and strengthen <i>ex situ</i> conservation efforts.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 1","pages":"61-70"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143112336","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":"Variation in white-tailed and mule deer dental metrics is associated with precipitation gradients in the Americas","authors":"J. Dagher,&nbsp;E. Greiner","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13220","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13220","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Investigating the relationship between the physical environment and organismal adaptation is crucial to understanding the selective pressures that drive mammalian evolution. Of the varied approaches to exploring this relationship, macroscopic tooth wear analyses have become widely used due to their economic and simple methodologies. However, more work is needed to understand how assessments of wear patterns operate within finer levels of dietary and environmental contexts. It is specifically unclear if and how tooth wear differs inter- and intraspecifically between geographically widespread, large-bodied mammalian populations. This project characterizes molar hypsodonty indices and mesowear scores of white-tailed deer (<i>Odocoileus virginianus</i>) and mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) populations across North and Central America, investigating if and how molar wear and morphology vary over the deer's large and ecologically variable geographic distribution. While mesowear scores generally do not strongly track environmental signals within and between <i>Odocoileus</i> species, hypsodonty indices reveal a strong correlation between crown height and aridity, which likely represents an adaptive response to abrasive diets in areas with low precipitation.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 4","pages":"325-338"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13220","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142862302","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":"Mammal coloration as a social signal—the debate is still open: a comment on Howell and Caro (2024)","authors":"V. Penteriani","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13210","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"97-100"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142555309","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":"Further thoughts on comparative analyses of coloration","authors":"Tim Caro,&nbsp;Natasha Howell","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13227","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13227","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;Responding to our recent publication (Howell &amp; Caro, &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;), Penteriani (&lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;) raises some important issues about independent measures used to tease out predictions about the social significance of coloration, the taxonomic level at which to conduct comparative analyses, and how to score colour patterns. For example, across terrestrial non-volant mammals, we found little evidence of social signalling involving coloration or colour patterns based on coarse social and ecological associations. Our independent measures were activity cycle, where we expected diurnal mammals to be more colourful; social group size, where we expected more social mammals to be more colourful; sexual dimorphism, with dimorphic species (showing evidence of sexual selection) expected to be more colourful; mating system, with polygynous species expected to be more colourful owing to the possible use of colour patches in male–male competition over mates; and congener overlap, where we expected species in danger of hybridization to be more colourful in order to signal species identity. Using these coarse measures, we found rather few significant associations, raising questions as to whether our independent measures were sufficiently sensitive to uncover signatures of social communication involving colour patterns. In part, our variables were dictated by the large breadth of species we examined. These were, in effect, ‘lowest common denominators’ that are documented for every species; they were not nuanced. Whether a solitary lifestyle means that individuals are less likely to signal socially is difficult to answer – we appreciate that these are not necessarily correlated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The second issue is the taxonomic levels over which we analysed data. Findings at the Class level may not be reflected at the Order level; Order-level results may not be replicated at the Family level, and so on (Martins, &lt;span&gt;1996&lt;/span&gt;). Using comparative phylogenetic methods, many of our predictions did not hold up across the Class, or some Order levels for which we had sufficient data, even though we often based our hypotheses on associations already uncovered by others at Genus or Family levels. Thus for bears, conspicuous faces and chest bibs do seem to signal individual identity (Penteriani et al., &lt;span&gt;2020&lt;/span&gt;, &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;; although not tested phylogenetically owing to small sample size), but this association is washed out at the level of carnivores when other non-ursid species are included. What to do? Unfortunately, there is no clear solution. Higher taxonomic levels with greater numbers of species allow more statistical power and enable general conclusions to be formulated; lower taxonomic levels generate specific conclusions for certain groups, but species numbers can be so low for some groups that statistical tests are questionable. In our recent paper (Howell &amp; Caro, &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;), we opted for the higher-level analyses; in others we ha","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 2","pages":"101-102"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13227","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142555310","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":"We prefer night-time, they prefer daytime: Biological rhythm variability in cave-dwelling whip spiders (Amblypygi: Charontidae) in the Neotropics","authors":"P. E. de Souza,&nbsp;B. da Silva Brandão Gonçalves,&nbsp;M. Souza-Silva,&nbsp;R. L. Ferreira","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13223","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13223","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The lack of understanding regarding how endogenous and behavioral factors affect the biological rhythms of amblypygid arachnids in cave environments underscores a gap in chronobiologic knowledge for this group. This study investigates the influence of specialization on subterranean habitats and the presence of biological rhythms on the locomotor activity patterns of the troglobitic and troglophilic species of the genus <i>Charinus</i>. Specimens collected from carbonate caves in Brazil were subjected to experimental treatments of constant light (LL), constant darkness (DD), and light–dark cycles (LD). The results revealed variations in the distribution of main periods among species, without a uniform pattern. Although some specimens showed greater variability in activity patterns in the DD and LL treatments, no significant differences were observed between troglobites and troglophiles. The lack of a clear distinction in rhythms between the two groups suggests the dynamic nature of circadian rhythms in these populations, where individual variations in activity patterns indicate this behavioral diversity. Additionally, intraspecific competition for food resources, probably intensified by the oligotrophic conditions of the cave environments, may play an important role in shaping these patterns and differences in activity phases. The presence of infradian rhythms and weak circadian rhythms in some individuals underscores the importance of considering non-photic zeitgebers for a deeper understanding of these rhythms in cave organisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 4","pages":"310-324"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142861264","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":"Rivers and spatial distance are drivers of genetic diversity in the South American dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus)","authors":"B. D. Vasconcelos,&nbsp;F. Camurugi,&nbsp;J. R. Mudrek,&nbsp;R. A. Brandão,&nbsp;D. J. Santana","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13226","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13226","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The distribution of species and the way that lineages are structured are the result of intrinsic historical processes of the species and their relationships with landscape features. <i>Paleosuchus palpebrosus</i> is one of the smallest crocodilians in the world and has a wide geographic distribution in South America, occurring in different habitats. Here, we analyzed mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences of 227 individuals, investigated how elements of landscape heterogeneity impact genetic differentiation, and evaluated the evolutionary and phylogeographic history of the species. Thus, we hypothesized that landscape structures, such as aridity and slope, should act as resistance surfaces to population connectivity, while rivers could mediate the dispersion of the species as a conductor of the gene flow. The analyses recovered three main lineages of <i>P. palpebrosus</i>. While most of the observed genetic variation was explained by geographic resistance distance, river connectivity had a smaller contribution for the observed variation. We also found a recent history with limited genetic divergence throughout the wide distribution of the species. Our findings highlight the main drivers for the evolutionary history of the species and how landscape features can shape the diversification, especially if we consider rivers as a facilitator of gene flow.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 1","pages":"36-48"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143114400","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":"Effects of geographical location and size on the functional properties of harvest mouse Micromys minutus nests in Great Britain","authors":"C. Hutchings,&nbsp;A. M. Goodman,&nbsp;D. C. Deeming","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13225","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13225","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nest construction is a feature of a range of taxa, yet the functional properties of nests are poorly understood. Avian nests offer thermal insulation, structural support and protection from rain, but to date there are few studies that have explored these functions for mammal nests. Here nests constructed by harvest mice (<i>Micromys minutus</i>) were studied <i>ex situ</i> to determine the thermal insulation provided by the nest wall and the degree to which simulated rainfall was absorbed. Nests were collected from across Great Britain and analysis explored whether nest size and geographical location affected insulation or rainproofing. Nests were constructed from grass leaves woven into an outer wall that surrounded smaller pieces of grass that filled the interior of the nest. Nest mass was positively related to thermal insulation but unrelated to geographical location. By contrast, nest mass was positively related to the amount of water nest absorbed after simulated rain but volume and longitude were inversely related to the time it took the nest to dry out. In many ways, harvest mice nests had similar functional properties to those of small songbirds, i.e., to provide thermal insulation and rainproofing. This study was the first to explore the environmental protection potentially offered to harvest mice by their nests. The study has highlighted our poor understanding of the factors that determine the function of mammal nests. There is scope for more research into the functional properties, e.g., thermal insulation or rainproofing, of a wide variety of mammal nests.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 1","pages":"25-35"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13225","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143113779","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":"Beaver dams in Mediterranean ecosystems: trait-specific effects on macroinvertebrates","authors":"G. Mazza,&nbsp;F. Turillazzi,&nbsp;L. Ancillotto,&nbsp;A. Viviano,&nbsp;T. Di Lorenzo,&nbsp;E. Mori","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13221","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.13221","url":null,"abstract":"<p>After centuries of extinction due to human persecution, Eurasian beavers <i>Castor fiber</i> L. have been released to Southern Europe in the last decades. Being ecosystem engineers, beavers have attracted great attention regarding restoration of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Nonetheless, the effects of the species on aquatic invertebrates known to date are not univocal and mostly refer to central European riverine systems. Here, we evaluated the effects of beaver presence on aquatic macroinvertebrates for the first time in a Mediterranean riverine ecosystem, by applying a sound control-impact sampling design and controlling for seasonal variation in macroinvertebrate assemblage composition. A significant variation in response to season was evident for macroinvertebrate communities, revealing distinct assemblages during spring and summer. Furthermore, the presence of beavers was also identified as a significant driver of species composition, as samples near the beaver dam showed significant variation from control sites. Macroinvertebrate community traits changed according to the relative position to the beaver dam, as control sites featured on average higher abundances of taxa with higher values of bioindication score, larger size, lower adaptation to drag, and were less frequently of introduced origins. Yet, these differences were strongly taxon- and season-specific in their intensity and direction. Differences across sites were mainly driven by the relative abundances of few taxa—including both alien species and high environmental quality indicators—such as those from genera <i>Potamopyrgus</i>, <i>Baetis</i>, <i>Habrophlebia</i>, <i>Ephemerella</i>, <i>Leuctra</i>, and <i>Radix</i>, which explained about 70% of the observed divergence among conditions. Our results indicate that beavers and their engineering activity may induce highly variable species-specific responses in macroinvertebrates, thus possibly representing a driver of environmental heterogeneity along Mediterranean rivers, and that both bioindicators and alien species may exploit such heterogeneity.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"324 4","pages":"353-362"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13221","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142860464","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}