Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"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":"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":1.6,"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":"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":1.6,"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":"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":1.6,"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":"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":1.6,"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":"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":1.6,"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":"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":1.6,"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}

{"title":"Effects of human presence on African mammal waterhole attendance and temporal activity patterns","authors":"J. R. Patterson,&nbsp;N. Ndlovu,&nbsp;J. C. Beasley,&nbsp;S. Périquet","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13245","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13245","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Human impacts on the environment and wildlife populations are increasing globally, threatening thousands of species with extinction. While wildlife-based tourism is beneficial for educating tourists, generating income for conservation efforts, and providing local employment, more information is needed to understand how this industry may impact wildlife. In this study, we used motion-activated cameras at 12 waterholes on a private game reserve in northern Namibia to determine if the presence of humans and permanent infrastructure affected mammal visits by examining their (1) number of visits, (2) time spent, and (3) diel activity patterns. Our results revealed no differences in the number of visits based on human presence for any of the 17 mammal species studied. However, giraffes (<i>Giraffe camelopardalis</i>) spent more time at waterholes before observer presence compared to during. Additionally, several species changed diel activity patterns when human observers were present. Notably, several carnivore and ungulate species increased overlap in their activity patterns during periods while humans were present relative to when humans were absent. These modifications of mammal temporal activity patterns due to human presence could eventually lead to changes in community structure and trophic dynamics because of altered predator–prey interactions. As humans continue to expand into wildlife habitats, and wildlife-based tourism increases globally, it is imperative that we fully understand the effects of anthropogenic pressures on mammal behavior. Monitoring of wildlife behavioral changes in response to human activity is crucial to further develop wildlife tourism opportunities in a way that optimizes the impact of conservation goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"210-223"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jzo.13245","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698974","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":"Dietary and habitat use (non)specializations contribute to shaping the craniomandibular variation and developmental instability in a rodent community","authors":"J. J. Martínez,&nbsp;V. Millien,&nbsp;J. A. Coda,&nbsp;J. Priotto","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13244","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13244","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The evolution and ecomorphology of rodent craniomandibular apparatus have been extensively studied at a broad spatial scale. However, the question of how phenotypes and developmental instability interact with ecological pressures in human-modified landscapes has been less explored. In this study, we test the influence of evolutionary history, diet, and habitat use on skull and mandible shape variation within a rodent community composed of eight cricetid species from an agroecosystem in central Argentina. We used geometric morphometrics, phylogenetic relationships, and ecological specializations in diet and habitat use to test the interplay between these factors. Our results indicated a strong phylogenetic signal for the symmetric components of the skull shape, but not for the mandible or asymmetric shapes. The strict insectivorous <i>Oxymycterus rufus</i> was the most phenotypically diverged within the rodent community. In general, more generalist species, both in terms of diet and habitat use, presented more phenotypic disparity (diversity) than specialists (e.g., strict insectivorous and natural and semi-natural specialists) in craniomandibular shape variation. Dietary generalists and non-strict granivores presented a tendency to show more skull asymmetric variation than non-strict insectivores. These results suggest that generalist species exhibit higher levels of variation compared to specialist species, likely due to their wider range of responses to environmental stress. In cricetid species with similar ecological preferences, coexistence may thus be facilitated by morphological partitioning and developmental instability canalization based on dietary differences.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"196-209"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698971","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":"Parasite load, throat colors, and cellular immune response in Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus, a high-altitude gecko endemic to Morocco","authors":"O. Er-Rguibi,&nbsp;A. Aglagane,&nbsp;E. M. Laghzaoui,&nbsp;L. Kimdil,&nbsp;E. H. El Mouden","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13243","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13243","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Color polymorphisms in lizards are maintained by complex interactions between environmental factors, genetics, and physiological traits (e.g., immunity) that can differ among morphs. Here, we investigated the relationship between mite load, throat coloration (orange, yellow, and white), and cell-mediated immune responsiveness (CMI) in the Atlas day gecko, <i>Quedenfeldtia trachyblepharus</i> (Boettger, 1874) during its post-mating period. We also evaluated the relationship between the patterns of infestation by ectoparasites and sex, throat color, and host size. The prevalence and intensity of infestation by mites did not differ by sex, host body length, or throat color. Furthermore, there was no significant relationship with host body condition. The CMI was related to sex and lizard body size (SVL). Additionally, there was a positive correlation between the intensity of infestation and the CMI response of the gecko hosts. Likewise, there was a significant positive correlation between CMI and the scaled mass index (SMi) of the lizards. In addition, geckos with broken tails had a significantly higher CMI than those with regenerated or intact tails. Moreover, CMI differed significantly among morphs; orange morphs had a higher immune response than yellow one, while the white individuals presented the lowest response. Thus, CMI is morph-specific in this gecko, suggesting that this immunological trait could play a determinant role in maintaining throat color polymorphism in this species.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"224-232"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143698855","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":"Two in one: A case study of two rhizocephalan species invading the nervous tissue of one host","authors":"A. D. Lianguzova,&nbsp;L. O. Poliushkevich,&nbsp;E. P. Laskova,&nbsp;D. D. Golubinskaya,&nbsp;N. A. Arbuzova,&nbsp;A. M. Petruniak,&nbsp;A. M. Miroliubov","doi":"10.1111/jzo.13242","DOIUrl":"10.1111/jzo.13242","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Certain parasites can manipulate their hosts to enhance their own fitness and transmission success. Rhizocephalan barnacles are a notable example, inducing significant changes in their crustacean host's morphology, physiology, and behaviour. Until recently, it was believed that the spider crab <i>Scyra</i> aff. <i>ferox</i> is parasitized by a single species <i>Sacculina pilosella</i> in the Sea of Japan. However, previous molecular studies have revealed a complex of unrelated species, <i>Sacculina pugettiae</i> (fam. Sacculinidae) and <i>Parasacculina pilosella</i> (fam. Polyascidae). These rhizocephalans can even parasitize one host specimen simultaneously. Here, we investigated the interaction of <i>S. pugettiae</i> and <i>P. pilosella</i> with the nervous system of their common host. Species were identified based on receptacle morphology, with further validation through 18S gene phylogenetic analysis. The parasites interacted differently with the host nervous system: <i>S. pugettiae</i> had goblet-shaped organs in the ganglion periphery, while <i>P. pilosella</i> lacked these structures, instead possessing numerous neuropil rootlets. In case of simultaneous infection, both goblet-shaped organs and neuropil rootlets were present. Histochemistry revealed the presence of muscular rosettes in the rootlets of both species, suggesting a similar organization of the muscular system despite phylogenetic differences. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the presence of host cell projections enveloping the rootlets. This study provides insights into the morphological features of rhizocephalan-decapod interaction and highlights differences in their interaction with host nervous tissue between families. Our results also confirmed the loss of the goblet-shaped organs in Polyascidae.</p>","PeriodicalId":17600,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Zoology","volume":"325 3","pages":"185-195"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143699032","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}