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Gusztak RW, MacArthur RA, Campbell KL. Dive performance and aquatic thermoregulation of the world’s smallest mammalian diver, the American water shrew (Sorex palustris). Physiol Biochem Zool 2022; 95:438-463. [DOI: 10.1086/721186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Chen G, Ti X, Shi L, Hu H. Design of Beaver-like Hind Limb and Analysis of Two Swimming Gaits for Underwater Narrow Space Exploration. J INTELL ROBOT SYST 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10846-022-01610-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Robstad CA, Lodberg-Holm HK, Mayer M, Rosell F. The impact of bio-logging on body weight change of the Eurasian beaver. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261453. [PMID: 34941892 PMCID: PMC8699976 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bio-logging is a common method to collect ecological data on wild animals, but might also induce stress, reduce body condition, and alter behavior. Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are a semi-aquatic and nocturnal species that are challenging to observe in the wild. Bio-loggers are hence useful tools to study their behaviour and movements, but this raises concerns of potential negative impacts of tagging. To investigate the potential negative impacts of glue-on tags, we compared body weight change for tagged and untagged Eurasian beavers. We hypothesized that tagged beavers would gain less body weight compared to untagged beavers, and that weight change might be affected by tagging length, tag weight, water temperature and the season of tagging. Daily percentage body weight change in relation to initial body weight during the first capture was compared during 57 tagging periods (18±7 days) and 32 controls periods (64±47 days). Body weight change varied between the two groups, with untagged beavers on average gaining daily weight whilst tagged beavers on average lost weight daily, indicating a negative effect of tagging. The average reduction in percentage body weight change per day for tagged beavers was small (0.1 ± 0.3%), and with large individual variation. Neither tag weight, number of tagging days, nor season were important in explaining body weight change of tagged animals. In other words, we found that tagging reduced daily body weight during the tagging period but were unable to determine the mechanism(s) responsible for this decline. Detrimental effects of tagging have important implications for animal welfare and can introduce bias in data that are collected. This calls for careful consideration in the use of tags. We conclude that studies investigating the effects of tagging should consider individual variation in the effects of tagging and, where possible, compare tagged animals with a control group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Andre Robstad
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
| | - Hanna Kavli Lodberg-Holm
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
| | - Martin Mayer
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Rønde, Denmark
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Notodden, Norway
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Jordaan RK, Somers MJ, McIntyre T. The diving behavior of African clawless and spotted-necked otters in freshwater environments. J Mammal 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding the diving behavior of semiaquatic mammals, particularly in relation to estimated aerobic dive limits and diet, is important to understand their adaptability and potential vulnerability to changes in prey type and distribution. The diving behavior of African clawless otters, Aonyx capensis, and spotted-necked otters, Hydrictis maculicollis, is poorly known, and no estimates of their dive performance in relation to targeted prey and calculated dive limits have been reported previously for freshwater environments. We investigated the diving behavior of both these otter species in freshwater environments within South Africa through video recordings of direct observations and subsequent video analyses where dive and recovery durations and dive function were recorded. African clawless otters were found to perform longer dives (mean ± SD = 26.9 ± 12.2 s), compared to spotted-necked otters (8.5 ± 7.6 s). African clawless otters showed substantial variation in dive durations, with the shortest dives sometimes lasting < 5 s, and the longest recorded dive being 70 s. The majority of spotted-necked otter dives lasted < 10 s, with the shortest recorded dive lasting 0.66 s and the longest recorded dive lasting 50.9 s. Spotted-necked otters performed different dive types that were evidently dependent on prey targeted, with dives targeting crabs (16.10 ± 1.91 s) being longer than dives targeting rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (5.58 ± 0.17 s). The theoretical dive durations of African clawless otters were exceeded during play dives, while spotted-necked otters sometimes exceeded their theoretical dive durations when performing successful foraging dives. The results of this study suggest that spotted-necked otters can vary behavior in relation to prey and exceed theoretical dive duration during successful foraging dives to maximize the net rate of energy gain. Furthermore, when considering known individual-level dietary specialization and plasticity in these species, it may be predicted that dive behaviors are likely to vary substantially among individuals, and in relation to prey availability and localized habitat conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan K Jordaan
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Michael J Somers
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Centre for Invasion Biology, Eugène Marais Chair of Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, 7602, South Africa
| | - Trevor McIntyre
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
- Department of Life and Consumer Sciences, University of South Africa, Roodepoort, 1710, South Africa
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Briggs AJA, Robstad CA, Rosell F. Using Radio‐Frequency Identification Technology to Monitor Eurasian Beavers. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J. A. Briggs
- Department of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies University of Cumbria The Barn, Rydal Road Ambleside LA22 9BB United Kingdom
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South‐Eastern Norway Gullbringveien 36 3800 Bø i Vestfold and Telemark Norway
| | - Christian A. Robstad
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South‐Eastern Norway Gullbringveien 36 3800 Bø i Vestfold and Telemark Norway
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University of South‐Eastern Norway Gullbringveien 36 3800 Bø i Vestfold and Telemark Norway
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McClanahan K, Rosell F, Mayer M. Minding your own business: low pair cohesion in a territorial, monogamous mammal. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Schlippe Justicia L, Rosell F, Mayer M. Performance of GPS units for deployment on semiaquatic animals. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207938. [PMID: 30521569 PMCID: PMC6283466 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Global Positioning System (GPS) technology is widely used in wildlife research to study animal movement and habitat use. In order to evaluate the quality and reliability of GPS data, the factors influencing the performance of these devices must be known, especially for semiaquatic species, because terrestrial and aquatic habitat might affect GPS performance differently. We evaluated the location error and fix success rate of three GPS receiver models in stationary tests and on a semi-aquatic mammal, the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber). The location error during stationary tests was on average 15.7 m, and increased with increasing canopy closure, slope, and horizontal dilution of precision, potentially leading to the erroneous classification of GPS positions when studying habitat use in animals. In addition, the position of the GPS antenna (flat versus 90° tilted) affected the location error, suggesting that animal behavior affects GPS performance. The fix success rate was significantly higher during stationary tests compared to when GPS units were deployed on beavers (94% versus 86%). Further, GPS receivers did not obtain any positions underwater and underground, the latter potentially allowing the estimation of activity periods in animals that use lodges or burrows as shelter. We discuss the possibilities for data screening, the use of buffer zones along the shoreline, and combination with other data loggers to avoid the erroneous classification of GPS positions when studying habitat use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Schlippe Justicia
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences, and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Frank Rosell
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences, and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
| | - Martin Mayer
- Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences, and Maritime Sciences, Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- * E-mail:
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Graf PM, Wilson RP, Sanchez LC, Hacklӓnder K, Rosell F. Diving behavior in a free-living, semi-aquatic herbivore, the Eurasian beaver Castor fiber. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:997-1008. [PMID: 29375773 PMCID: PMC5773300 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Semi-aquatic mammals have secondarily returned to the aquatic environment, although they spend a major part of their life operating in air. Moving both on land, as well as in, and under water is challenging because such species are considered to be imperfectly adapted to both environments. We deployed accelerometers combined with a depth sensor to study the diving behavior of 12 free-living Eurasian beavers Castor fiber in southeast Norway between 2009 and 2011 to examine the extent to which beavers conformed with mass-dependent dive capacities, expecting them to be poorer than wholly aquatic species. Dives were generally shallow (<1 m) and of short duration (<30 s), suggesting that the majority of dives were aerobic. Dive parameters such as maximum diving depth, dive duration, and bottom phase duration were related to the effort during different dive phases and the maximum depth reached. During the descent, mean vectorial dynamic body acceleration (VeDBA-a proxy for movement power) was highest near the surface, probably due to increased upthrust linked to fur- and lung-associated air. Inconsistently though, mean VeDBA underwater was highest during the ascent when this air would be expected to help drive the animals back to the surface. Higher movement costs during ascents may arise from transporting materials up, the air bubbling out of the fur, and/or the animals' exhaling during the bottom phase of the dive. In a manner similar to other homeotherms, beavers extended both dive and bottom phase durations with diving depth. Deeper dives tended to have a longer bottom phase, although its duration was shortened with increased VeDBA during the bottom phase. Water temperature did not affect diving behavior. Overall, the beavers' dive profile (depth, duration) was similar to other semi-aquatic freshwater divers. However, beavers dived for only 2.8% of their active time, presumably because they do not rely on diving for food acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Maria Graf
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Austria.,Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences University College of Southeast Norway Telemark Norway
| | | | - Lea Cohen Sanchez
- Institute of Geography School of Geoscience University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Klaus Hacklӓnder
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Austria
| | - Frank Rosell
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences University College of Southeast Norway Telemark Norway
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