Belgian Journal of Zoology最新文献

{"title":"How many fish could be vocal? An estimation from a coral reef (Moorea Island)","authors":"É. Parmentier, F. Bertucci, M. Bolgan, D. Lecchini","doi":"10.26496/BJZ.2021.82","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/BJZ.2021.82","url":null,"abstract":"A recurrent question arising in fish bioacoustics research concerns the number of vocal fish species that may exist. Although it is not possible to provide a precise globally valid number, an estimation based on recordings already collected at coral reefs (Moorea) and on morphological approaches indicates that approximately half of the fish families of this particular environment has at least one known sound-producing species. In light of this, acoustic behaviour should be fully considered in biology, ecology and management plans as it may provide information on a consistent portion of fish biodiversity. Fish bioacoustics has switched from anecdotal reports to long-term, large-scale monitoring studies, capable of providing high resolution information on fish populations’ composition and dynamics. This information is vital for successful management plans in our quickly changing seas.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-02-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49598449","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The carnivorous semi-slug Daudebardia brevipes (Gastropoda: Oxychilidae) in Belgium: an overlooked native species?","authors":"Louis Bronne, Tom Van den Neucker","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.81","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.81","url":null,"abstract":"Short notes have no abstract.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43818757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Season as a discriminating factor for faecal metabolomic composition of great tits (Parus major)","authors":"R. Boonyarittichaikij, B. Pomian, D. Dekeukeleire, L. Lens, D. Bonte, K. Verheyen, F. Pasmans, A. Martel, E. Verbrugghe","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.79","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.79","url":null,"abstract":"The microbiome of wild birds has been associated with health status and risk of disease development, but underlying metabolomic mechanisms are still unknown. Metabolites produced by microbial organisms may affect host metabolic processes and by doing so influence host health. Here we provide for the first time data on the faecal metabolome of wild great tits ( Parus major ) by analyzing metabolites associations with age, sex, season and body condition. Using untargeted metabolomics, we analyzed faecal samples from 112 great tits that were caught in a deciduous forest fragment in Flanders (Belgium) during late autumn and 19 animals that were re-captured during early spring. In this study, no significant associations between the faecal metabolites and age, sex and body condition were observed. However, season was shown to be a discriminating factor for the metabolomic composition of great tits, suggesting an impact of environmental factors.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46385992","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat preference by the Anatolian leopard (Panthera pardus tulliana Valenciennes, 1856) in North-eastern Anatolia, Turkey","authors":"A. Sari, E. Gundogdu, Ş. Başkaya, A. Arpacık","doi":"10.26496/BJZ.2020.78","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/BJZ.2020.78","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to document the existence and habitat preferences of the Anatolian leopard ( Panthera pardus tulliana Valenciennes, 1856) in north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. We sampled eleven study areas in 2013–2017, primarily based on our previous field experiences, reports from local people, and literature. Based on the findings from initial surveys, camera traps and leopard studies were mostly used in parts of the Giresun (Saricicek Mountain), Erzincan (Sansa Strait), and Bingol (Yedisu Valley) Provinces. We employed both direct observations and indirect observations. A total of 58 observations were recorded, ranging from 1176–3050 meters in altitude: six camera trap pictures, three thermal video camera images, three sightings by local people, 28 sets of tracks, 13 pieces of scat, two ground-scrapings, and three tree-scratches belonging to the Anatolian leopard. We defined eight habitat types and found that leopards preferred sparse forest areas, rocky habitats, and agriculture and pasture regions the most. Furthermore, 49 of 58 observations made in the sampling areas were detected in the southerly aspects of the study region. The Anatolian leopard habitat selection is mainly based on prey abundance, and we found that leopards prefer wild boar ( Sus scrofa ) the most, followed by wild goat ( Capra aegagrus ), chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ), and roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ).","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44310163","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors affecting waterfowl hunting and harvest at the Evros delta, Greece","authors":"S. Kazantzidis, C. Astaras, Ioakim Vasiliadis, Eleni Makrygianni, Vassilis Ilias, G. Spyroglou","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.77","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.77","url":null,"abstract":"The Evros delta is one of the most important wetlands for wintering waterfowl in Greece and the most popular among waterfowl hunters. This study addresses hunting activity and harvest while also investigating the relationship between weather conditions and hunting activity to suggest ways of improving waterfowl management. We counted wintering waterfowl and hunter numbers, and conducted hunter bag surveys during December–February over four hunting seasons. We calculated a 10-day goose and duck Preferential Shooting Index (PSI), which is the ratio of observed number of shot birds to the number of birds expected to have been shot if the birds were shot in proportion to their availability. Common Teal, Mallard and Greater White-fronted Goose were the most abundant species both in the field and in hunter bags. The mean number of hunters/day was 99.9, with each one shooting on average 2.5 birds/day. The overall waterfowl harvested accounted for 1.3% of the total waterfowl population. For geese this proportion was six times higher (8.7%), while for ducks alone and protected species was 1.2% and 1.4% respectively. Geese were shot more often than expected (PSI 6.55), while ducks and protected species were shot according to their availability (PSI 0.86 and 1.02, respectively). Wind speed, precipitation and geese number in the field were the best predictors of overall harvest and number of hunters. To reduce goose overshooting and the probability of protected species being accidentally shot, we suggest habitat management actions for the geese feeding areas and hunters’ awareness raising.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44714282","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bird species richness in High-Andean forest fragments: habitat quality and topography matter","authors":"Constance Fastré, D. Strubbe, J. A. Balderrama, J. Cahill, Hannes Ledegen, Mauricio Torrico Orellana, E. Matthysen","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.76","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.76","url":null,"abstract":"Montane forests worldwide are known centers of endemism and biodiversity but are highly threatened by fragmentation processes. Using data collected in 15 Polylepis forest remnants covering 2000 hectares, we investigated how bird species richness and bird community composition, particularly for species of conservation concern, are influenced by habitat quality and topography in the Tunari National Park in the High Andes of Bolivia. Bird species richness was highest in topographically complex, low-elevation Polylepis patches located in areas with a high potential to retain rainwater. Bird communities differed strongly between Polylepis lanata and P. subtusalbida remnants, each supporting different threatened and endemic species. Within the P. subtusalbida forest, high-elevation fragments characterized by high amounts of sunlight and low anthropogenic disturbance were more likely to contain threatened species. Surprisingly, we found no effect of fragment size on the diversity or composition of bird communities or the presence of bird species of conservation concern. The presence of exotic plantations ( Pinus and/or Eucalyptus spp.) in or outside forest remnants was negatively associated with the number of bird species as well as with occurrence of the endangered Cochabamba-mountain finch ( Compsospiza garleppi ). To support the different communities found in Polylepis forests, these results suggest that conservation efforts should be directed towards both forest types ( P. subtusalbida and P. lanata ) present in the area. For an efficient management of avian diversity, exotic plantations should be established away from native remnants while existing patches should be managed to maintain or increase habitat quality. Finally, the importance of local topography in determining avian species richness and community composition in forest fragments, mainly through topographic controls on moisture distribution and the amount of sunlight received by the fragments, should be considered when planning conservation and reforestation schemes.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46184389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Daphnia magna tolerance to toxic cyanobacteria in the presence of an opportunistic infection within an evolutionary perspective","authors":"A. Boudry, Sarah Devliegere, S. Houwenhuyse, Lucas Clarysse, Emilie Macke, Isabel Vanoverberghe, E. Decaestecker","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.75","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.75","url":null,"abstract":"In aquatic environments, interactions between cyanobacteria and their grazers are crucial for ecosystem functioning. Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes, which are able to produce large blooms and associated toxins, some of which are able to suppress grazer fitness. Cyanobacterial blooms are intensified by global warming and eutrophication. In our experiments, the tolerance of Daphnia magna (Straus, 1820), an efficient grazer of toxic cyanobacteria, was studied. We used different D. magna clones sampled from different sediment depths, which corresponded to different time periods of eutrophication. Our results showed that different clones had a different tolerance towards the toxic cyanobacterial species, Microcystis aeruginosa , confirming the presence of genetic variation in D. magna tolerance to cyanobacteria. However, there was not a significant adaptive effect of sediment depth. As expected, in general under controlled, infection-free conditions M. aeruginosa reduced D. magna survival. However, a coincidental, non-intended opportunistic fungal infection in a first experiment allowed us to compare the response of D. magna to M. aeruginosa in infected individuals and non-infected individuals (from a second experiment). In the presence of this opportunistic infection, there was no negative effect of M. aeruginosa in the D. magna clones, suggesting that exposure to the infection provided protection for Daphnia individuals towards Microcystis . Biotic interactions can thus be important in the interpretation of cyanobacterial effects in zooplankton grazers and in finding appropriate solutions to reduce the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48590262","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Internal parasites and associated histopathological changes in deceased white storks from Poland","authors":"M. Michalczyk, R. Sokół, M. Gesek, M. Mączyński, D. Będzłowicz","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.74","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.74","url":null,"abstract":"The aim of this study was to analyze the parasitic fauna of dead white storks in nesting sites in different parts of Poland and the associated histopathological changes. Samples from thirty-eight white storks aged 3 weeks to 5 years were examined after their arrival at a stork sanctuary. The presence of Cathaemasia hians , Chaunocephalus ferox , Choanotaenia infundibulum , Railletina tetragona and Syngamus trachea was confirmed in 17 out of 38 (47.73 %) individuals. Cathaemasia hians and Chaunocephalus ferox flukes are not endemic to the studied area. The frequency of C. ferox was significantly higher in the youngest storks from group I (3–4 weeks old) compared to groups II (11–15 weeks old) and III (older than 2 years). Fluke eggs were only detected with sedimentation method in three samples (group III), while no adult flukes at all were found in the intestines. Chaunocephalus ferox was shown to be the most common pathogen in all storks studied when compared to other parasites. A histopathological examination of the jejunum and ileum revealed atherosclerotic changes in the muscular layer, lymphoid infiltration in the mucosa, the presence of adult flukes of C. hians and C. ferox in the intestinal lumen, and lymphoid infiltration in the muscular layer. Intense lymphoid infiltration in the mucosa was also observed in storks whose intestines were heavily infested with R. tetragona and C. infundibulum . Parasitic infections compromise the birds’ health status and affect the duration of flights, and they can increase the risk of other diseases.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43099672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Many species of the Carnivora consume grass and other fibrous plant tissues","authors":"Alan R. Franck, A. Farid","doi":"10.26496/bjz.2020.73","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/bjz.2020.73","url":null,"abstract":"Within the Carnivora order, the consumption of fibrous plant tissues (FPT), such as leaves and stems, is only known to serve the nutritional needs of eight species in the Ailuridae and Ursidae. Apart from the Ailuridae and Ursidae, the extent of FPT ingestion in the Carnivora is poorly understood. A literature search was conducted to compile studies containing evidence of FPT consumption in the Carnivora, primarily based on analyses of scats or gastrointestinal tracts. Among 352 studies, there was evidence of FPT consumption in any amount in 124 species, or 41%, of the Carnivora. Grass consumption was documented in 95 species, while ingestion of sedges, marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, and dicots was much less frequent. A few species showed evidence of consuming fungi or soil. Nine studies observed co-occurrences of intestinal parasites with grasses or sedges in the scats of the Carnivora, suggesting these abrasive or hairy plant tissues help to expel intestinal parasites. The relevance of consuming marine plants, bryophytes, conifers, dicots, fungi, or soil has also been underappreciated. Deliberate ingestion of FPT may be more widespread and important than previously realized in the Carnivora.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42101834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Leptosynapta inhaerens (O.F. Müller 1776) (Echinodermata, Holothuroidea): A new record for the Belgian marine waters","authors":"C. Massin, J. Wittoeck, K. Hostens","doi":"10.26496/BJZ.2014.71","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.26496/BJZ.2014.71","url":null,"abstract":"This is the first record of Leptosynapta inhaerens (O.F. Müller, 1776) in Belgian marine waters and adds a second apodid species, the first being Leptosynapta minuta (Becher, 1906), to the Belgian holothuroid fauna. This paper contains a morphological description of the specimens, the habitat characteristics, and includes a world distribution map of L. inhaerens. Relationships between L. inhaerens and environmental data are discussed.","PeriodicalId":8750,"journal":{"name":"Belgian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2020-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47921487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}