Zoological Studies最新文献

{"title":"Exponential Increase in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle Nesting Population: Investigating the Role of Multi-decadal Nest Protection in Kyparissia Bay, Greece.","authors":"Dimitris Margaritoulis, ALan F Rees, Thomas E Riggall","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-29","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-29","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Predation of nests by a multitude of terrestrial predators is a major threat to sea turtle populations worldwide. Destruction of eggs decreases hatching success and reduces hatchling recruitment. The 43.5-km beach of Kyparissia Bay in Greece, hosting a large nesting population of loggerhead sea turtles (<i>Caretta caretta</i>), is subject to heavy nest predation by canids. Over 50% of nests were annually depredated in the 1980s and this triggered in 1992 an intensive long-term nest protection program through which the predation rate was reduced to about 13%. Continuous beach monitoring over decades revealed that nest numbers started to increase after 17-20 years from the onset of nest protection and in recent years reached exponential dimensions. Similarly, yearly tagging of nesting turtles showed, in the last decade, a significant increase in the percentage of neophyte turtles, <i>i.e.</i>, those considered to be nesting for the first time. We attribute this extraordinary increase of nests largely to the maturing of hatchlings saved due to the intensive nest protection, since the time lag of 17-20 years falls within the boundaries of the maturation time of Mediterranean loggerheads. Our conclusion is further discussed in relation to the evolution of nest numbers at the nearby predator-free Zakynthos rookery that over the same time frame shows no significant increase of nests, although both populations share the same foraging habitats, and exhibit low nesting interchange, similar temperature regimes and female mortalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e29"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12686941/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145726977","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":"Hidden but not Forgotten: Molecular Diversity and Species Delimitation of Proseriata (Platyhelminthes: Rhabditophora) across the Brazilian Coastline, with Focus on Genus <i>Kata</i>.","authors":"Thainá Cortez, Taynara Cândido, Maikon Di Domenico, Sónia C S Andrade","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-22","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-22","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Proseriata (Platyhelminthes) order represents one of the most abundant meiofauna groups in swash zones. Predicting the diversity and distribution of these organisms is challenging due to the presence of cryptic species. For this reason, molecular data have been increasingly integrated into phylogenetic and population analyses to support reliable species identification. Here, we aimed to assess proseriates diversity along the Brazilian coastline and explore connectivity patterns within sandy beaches. To achieve this, we used partial sequences of the 28S rRNA gene from 32 Proseriata specimens collected in Brazil and Florida (USA). We then performed species delimitation and phylogeographic analyses, focusing on the <i>Kata</i> genus. The four delimitation methods were consistent, with slight variation in the number of evolutionary lineages, ranging from seven to eight. Molecular identification revealed species from the genera <i>Nematoplana</i>, <i>Meidiama</i>, <i>Parotoplana</i>, <i>Kata</i>, and <i>Archotoplana</i> present in the samples. Here, two species of <i>Kata</i> were identified in the Brazilian samples, corresponding to <i>K. leroda</i> Marcus, 1950, and a yet unidentified species. For both, the analyses revealed that despite the lack of a larval stage, there might be some gene flow across distant locations due to shared haplotypes among populations separated by ~900 km. Here, we provided the first population genetics study of Proseriata along the Brazilian coast. Our findings offer significant contributions to the molecular taxonomy field and our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics within this relatively understudied meiofauna group.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e22"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12709123/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145783507","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":"A Systematic Review of Species Classification Using Deep Learning Algorithms and Gender Identification of <i>Tribolium castaneum</i> Using Convolutional Neural Networks.","authors":"Anurupa Mistry, Chetas Hedaoo, Archana Sharbidre, Jayashri Bagade, Sangeeta V Pandit","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-24","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-24","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Machine learning (ML) constitutes a division of artificial intelligence (AI) that aims to train computers how to perform specific tasks without explicit programming. Traditional ML tools are widely used for classification and identification of animals. However, these methods have some drawbacks because of the extensive manual reliance and the delay in data interpretation. To overcome this, Applied Deep Learning algorithms are used with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Convolution Neural Network (CNN) models introduced to address species classification, characteristics detection, and pattern recognition tasks helping in accurate identification and classification of animals. In this paper, we have tried to compile and deliver a recent comprehensive information on latest available investigations in the field of life sciences particularly used for animal identification. We have also accentuated the diverse applications of machine learning models including other parameters like, features, accuracy gained, database used and their limitations. The red flour beetle, <i>Tribolium castaneum</i> (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae) is a prevailing and detrimental secondary insect pest of stored grains along with derived products causing 7% to 35% annual loss. Despite of that, nowdays it is also extensively considered as a model organism for genetic disease investigation. While using it in scientific research, exact sex identification of these insects becomes a crucial preliminary step. Generally, pupal stage is used to sort these insects according to their sex and needs expert humans. It is crucial to employ image processing and ML algorithms to quickly identify gender of this insect which is not done yet. We have used a CNN-based smart technique to recognize and categorize gender differences in <i>T. castaneum</i> using microscopic images in order to build an intelligent system for applied research. For this study, a dataset is created by taking 116 microscopic images of both the dorsal and ventral sides of pupae of two different sexes. In this algorithm, a 2D matrix of feature map is selected sequentially and the maximum value in the matrix is selected to generate a pooled feature map. The Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) activation function is used for the CNN. The classification model has an accuracy between 97 and 98% with an <i>F</i>-score of 0.67. These results demonstrate the robustness of the classification model, which does not rely heavily on manual intervention compared to traditional machine learning (ML) tools and automates the processes of feature extraction and gender classification regardless of the position of the pupae in the images.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e24"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12686942/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145726957","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":"Niche Segregation and Habitat Suitability of the Red Fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) and Asiatic Jackal (<i>Canis aureus</i>), Two Sympatric Canids in Northern Punjab (Pothwar Plateau), Pakistan.","authors":"Muhammad Farooq, Tariq Mahmood, Muhammad Sajid Nadeem, Hira Fatima, Faraz Akrim, Nadeem Munawar","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-17","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-17","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Red fox (<i>Vulpes vulpes</i>) and Asiatic jackal (<i>Canis aureus</i>) are sympatric in many areas of their distribution range. Knowledge of the spatio-temporal niche segregation and habitat status of the species is important for effective conservation planning and management. In the current study, we investigated comparative spatio-temporal patterns of distribution and modeling habitat suitability of red fox and Asiatic jackal, in the Pothwar Plateau. Camera trapping, direct field sighting, recovering dead bodies, den sightings, scats and bioacoustics surveys were conducted from November 2018 to October 2020 to record data from four districts of the Plateau. The time of photos captured from camera traps was used to calculate the coefficient of temporal niche overlap using the overlap package in R software. To model the suitability of habitat, a total of twenty-six types of variables including 19 bioclimatic and seven other environmental variables were used. Results revealed a coefficient of temporal niche overlap between the two canid species as 4 = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.34-0.60. The red fox was found active during late night hours while the Asiatic jackal was found active during dawn and dusk, segregating their temporal niche. Habitat suitability modeling performed well in terms of AUC (0.840 and 0.824) and TSS (0.675 and 0.615) and identified land use and distance to poultry farms as major drivers of habitat suitability for both red fox and Asiatic jackal, respectively. Major factors determining habitat suitability of red fox and Asiatic jackal were land use cover and distance from poultry farms, respectively. Highly suitable habitats of red fox are present in the southern, central, and western parts of the study area while suitable habitat for Asiatic jackal is spread over the entire study area with few pockets of least suitable habitat. Furthermore, habitat suitability modeling revealed that 40.0% and 50.0% area of the Pothwar Plateau is highly suitable for red fox and Asiatic jackal, respectively. The study concludes that both canid species show temporal adjustments for their co-existence and suitable habitat for red fox is predominantly located on the southern side of the study area, whereas Asiatic jackal's suitable habitat is dispersed throughout the entire study area.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e17"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12560949/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145402036","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":"A Key to Identify the Snakes of Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, along with Notes on Geographical Records.","authors":"Igor Veronese de Luna, Miguel Relvas Ugalde, Mariana Rocha Santos Guimarães, Kauann Hoffmann, Nathalie Citeli, Mara Cintia Kiefer, Breno Hamdan","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-20","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-20","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The unequivocal identification of species helps us understand and organize life and assess the humanmediated impacts on biodiversity, allowing for an easier way to communicate biological information. However, identifying vertebrates at the species level is sometimes tricky for several reasons; therefore, compiled information and illustrative tools may help tackle this challenge. Even with questionable records, amounting to about 89 species, the state of Rio de Janeiro boasts a rich ophidiofauna with similar species in external morphology, many of which are only known from a few specimens and bear lengthy and complicated taxonomic histories. Here, we present an identification key comprising the snakes in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro and a photographic catalogue for Colubridae and Dipsadidae, the most challenging families to identify due to their high richness and interspecific similarities. Due to the ongoing uncertainty about the richness and composition of snake in Rio de Janeiro, we are presenting an updated checklist of the species found in the state, along with notes on their geographical distributions. We found two species of Anomalepididae, one Typhlopidae, one Leptotyphlopidae, one Tropidophiidae, three Boidae, 15 Colubridae, 62 Dipsadidae, four Elapidae and eight Viperidae, adding up to 97 species. We then provide notable data for <i>Drymarchon corais</i>, <i>Erythrolamprus almadensis</i>, <i>Mesotes rutilus</i>, <i>Oxyrhopus rhombifer</i>, and <i>Tantilla</i> cf. <i>melanocephala</i>. This study makes distinguishing all species ascribed to Rio de Janeiro easier and offers summarized characteristics accessible to academic zoologists, wildlife managers, eco-tourists, and environmental consultants. As a result, our research adds to the efforts of numerous researchers who, in a pioneering and collaborative manner, work together to gather knowledge about this ophidiofauna.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e20"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12686983/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145726988","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":"First Description of Female and Larva of <i>Phyllocycla basidenta</i> Dunkle, 1987 (Anisoptera: Gomphidae), and Ecological Niche Modeling of <i>Phyllocycla</i> species in Northwestern Argentina.","authors":"Carlos Molineri, José S Rodríguez, Carolina Nieto","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-19","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-19","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>We present the first description of female adult and larva of <i>Phyllocycla basidenta</i> Dunkle 1987 (Anisoptera: Gomphidae), collected in northwestern Argentina. The female and larva are described in detail, with diagnostic features that differentiate <i>P. basidenta</i> from other species like <i>P. argentina</i> and <i>P. viridipleuris</i>. Larvae of <i>P. basidenta</i> inhabit sandy-bottomed rivers alongside <i>P. argentina</i>. Additionally, we predict the potential distribution of both species using Ecological Niche Models under current and future climate scenarios. The models suggest that suitable habitats may shift to higher altitudes under moderate climate change, but significant losses are expected under severe warming scenarios. Climate change may threaten <i>Phyllocycla basidenta</i> and <i>P. argentina</i> as its suitable habitats could shift to higher elevations. Conservation strategies should prioritize areas projected to become suitable under future conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e19"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12569370/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145410700","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":"Trait-environment Relationship in Tadpole Communities of the Southern Atlantic Forest.","authors":"Roseli Coelho Dos Santos, Diego Anderson Dalmolin, Diego Brum, Renata Krentz Farina, Elaine Maria Lucas, Alexandro Marques Tozetti","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-16","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-16","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The diversity of functional traits can be evaluated by analyzing an individual's morphological, physiological, and behavioral attributes, revealing the effect of environmental filters on communities. However, the role of different spatial scales in environmental evaluation over ecological attributes is complex and poorly studied in tadpole communities. Here, we investigated the association between micro (local) and macro (landscape) variables and the morphological traits of tadpoles in the southern region of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We sampled 28 waterbodies (ponds and streams) and evaluated 2861 individuals of 22 anuran species. Our sampling reached a wide geographic area across three states in southern Brazil. We measured the physicochemical characteristics of the water, as well as microhabitat and landscape environmental descriptors. Eighteen morphological traits were evaluated in individuals for each tadpole species. We performed RLQ and fourth-corner analyses to determine the patterns of trait-environment relationships and the local and landscape variables that influence the morphological characteristics of tadpoles. We found that morphological traits are mainly associated with physicochemical and microhabitat attributes and are distinct between ponds and streams. In ponds, tadpole traits exhibited greater association with water depth, pH, and the presence of vegetation, whereas in streams they were driven by several water physicochemical components and microhabitat composition. Our results indicate that local components of habitat (water characteristics and microhabitat) have a greater influence over functional traits of tadpoles than landscape in both ponds and streams. Furthermore, we also found possible adjustments in the functional traits of tadpoles related to the physicochemical characteristics of the water and microhabitat.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e16"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12554581/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145394924","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":"Genome-wide SNP Analyses Reveal High Gene Flow of Endemic Smallscale Croaker (<i>Boesemania microlepis</i>) in the Lower Mekong Basin.","authors":"Quyen Dang Ha Vu, Christopher E Bird, Oanh Thi Truong, Sang Quang Tran, Ellen E Biesack, Amanda S Ackiss, Kent E Carpenter, Binh Thuy Dang","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-18","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-18","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Smallscale Croaker, <i>Boesemania microlepis</i>, is a valuable fishery resource in the Mekong River basin that lacks clear biological data to understand its basic ecology and conservation management priorities. This species is common in the southernmost floodplain of the Mekong which extends from Tonlé Sap in Cambodia to the Mekong Delta in Vietnam. This floodplain is of particular biodiversity conservation concern because of the many upstream dams that restrict water flow in an ecology that relies heavily on a flood-pulse cycle. The literature regarding the biology <i>B. microlepis</i> in this region contains conflicting ideas that populations are both highly localized and exhibit extensive migratory behavior. We used restriction-site associated DNA to test the hypothesis that localized populations exist in the southernmost floodplain of the Mekong basin. Our data indicates high connectivity among seven sites sampled in this region supporting overall panmixia. Our results suggest a potential upstream source of propagules for this floodplain and the need for further research to clarify mechanisms driving gene flow.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12559804/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145402588","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":"Contrasting Structural Changes in Two Benthic Invertebrate Communities After an Extraordinary Rainfall Event in Liuqiu Island, Taiwan.","authors":"Dun-Ru Kang, Meng-Ying Kuo, Shui-Kai Chang, Jing-Ying Wu, Te-Yu Liao, Mei-Fang Lin, Shyh-Min Chao, Li-Lian Liu","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-23","DOIUrl":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-23","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study compared the changes in benthic community structures of the Shanfu (SF) and Duozaiping (DU) coral reef intertidal zones of Liuqiu Island between 2020 and 2022 after a prolonged precipitation event between late July and early August 2021. The trend of extreme rainfall on the island was also explored using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) for coastal management use. The adjacent study sites of SF and DU have areas of 16,203 and 31,930 m², respectively. Variations in the diversity indexes between sites (SF and DU) and years (2020, 2021, and 2022) were determined by two-way ANOVA tests. SF and DU differed significantly in species density, richness, dominance, diversity, and evenness indexes. Site factor had a more significant effect than year on these indices. The benthic community at DU was distinctly clustered into before, after, and 1-year after rainfall groups, but this was not the case for SF. Echinodermata was the taxon primarily responsible for the differences. Based on the meteorological data from 1997 to 2022, the SPIs varied from -1.83 (severe drought) to +1.90 (severe precipitation). Temporally, precipitation intensity and frequency increased during 2016-2021 compared with 2000-2006, with a peak precipitation event of 1,168 mm rainfall over 14 days in 2021. The broader reef flat at DU may have resulted in thermal and salinity stresses lasting longer for stenohaline echinoderms than at SF. Results from this island highlighted the differential vulnerability of the benthic communities from different sites to natural disturbances for the first time, allowing policymakers and stakeholders to formulate effective regional management strategies to minimize the impact of extreme climate events.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e23"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12686940/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145726937","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 Diversity of the Amami Rabbit Endemic to Insular Evergreen Forests.","authors":"Kei'ichiro Iguchi, Shinji Takahashi, Mariko Suzuki, Mitsutake Tabata, Shin-Ichiro Abe","doi":"10.6620/ZS.2025.64-12","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2025.64-12","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Amami rabbit (<i>Pentalagus furnessi</i>), endemic to the Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima Islands, is an endangered species that faces habitat disturbance. This study used fecal DNA metabarcoding to analyze the dietary preferences of Amami rabbits. Fecal samples from six rabbits were collected and analyzed for plant DNA. The results revealed the presence of 85 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) representing different plant species, with individual rabbits consuming 17-38 plant species. The dietary composition varied significantly among individuals, with a notable preference for ferns in some cases. Diet diversity, assessed using Simpson's Diversity Index, ranged from 0.328 to 0.889. This study highlights the importance of a diverse plant diet for Amami rabbits and underscores the need for habitat preservation to ensure a stable food supply. Conservation efforts must focus on maintaining a unique subtropical moist forest ecosystem and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts to promote sustainable coexistence.</p>","PeriodicalId":49331,"journal":{"name":"Zoological Studies","volume":"64 ","pages":"e12"},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12537399/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145349464","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}