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Barja I, Navarro-Castilla Á, Ortiz-Jiménez L, España Á, Hinojosa R, Sánchez-Sotomayor D, Iglesias Á, España J, Rubio-Sánchez S, Martín-Romero S, Vielva J, Horcajada-Sánchez F. Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3364. [PMID: 37958119 PMCID: PMC10647792 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf-cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa, 44% occurrence) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves' diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Barja
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Navarro-Castilla
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel España
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Hinojosa
- SIGNATUR, Carretera de la Sierra, 45, Villavieja del Lozoya, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Sánchez-Sotomayor
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Iglesias
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - José España
- SIGNATUR, C/Asunción Castell, 22, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Rubio-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Martín-Romero
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Vielva
- Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Vivienda y Agricultura, Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
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Garrano Horses Perceive Letters of the Alphabet on a Touchscreen System: A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243514. [PMID: 36552434 PMCID: PMC9774258 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to use a computer-controlled touchscreen system to examine visual discrimination in Garrano horses (Equus caballus), an endangered breed of pony belonging to the Iberian horse family. This pilot study focused on the perceptual similarity among letters of the alphabet. We tested five horses in a one-male unit (OMU) living permanently in a semi-free enclosure near their natural habitat in Serra d'Arga, northern Portugal. Horses were trained to nose-touch black circles that appeared on the screen. Then, they were tested for discrimination of five letters of the Latin alphabet in Arial font, namely O, B, V, Z, and X, using a two-choice discrimination task. The confusion matrix of letter pairs was used to show the MDS and to identify the relative contribution of shape features. The results showed perceptual similarities among letters with curvatures pitted against those of straight lines. Shape perception in horses seems to share features with that of humans and other animals living in different niches. The touchscreen system proved to be an objective and innovative way of studying cognition in the socially organized group of horses. The automated system can promote the welfare of captive horses by maximizing their freedom of movement.
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Guimarães NF, Álvares F, Ďurová J, Urban P, Bučko J, Iľko T, Brndiar J, Štofik J, Pataky T, Barančeková M, Kropil R, Smolko P. What drives wolf preference towards wild ungulates? Insights from a multi-prey system in the Slovak Carpathians. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265386. [PMID: 35759447 PMCID: PMC9236239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The wolf is a generalist-opportunistic predator that displays diverse and remarkably adaptable feeding strategies across its range with local adaptations to certain prey species depending on their availability and vulnerability. The multi-prey system of the Slovak Carpathians supports important portion of the European wolf population; however, it has been markedly understudied. We evaluated winter diet composition and prey selection of Slovak wolves based on 321 scat samples collected between September–April within four different study areas during 2015–2017. The winter diet of wolves in the Slovak Carpathians was characterized by a 98% occurrence of wild large-sized and medium-sized ungulates with red deer occurring in wolf scats most often, consistent with their highest density among other wild ungulates. However, by comparing the consumption with availability of wild prey, we found that wolves in fact selected for wild boar especially in areas with higher altitudinal range, while selected for red deer in areas with low altitudinal range where this prey species was more spatially predictable. Although wolves showed the potential to switch between red deer and wild boar when their density increases, we found that this variation can be rather linked to changing prey vulnerability, which is dependent on particular environmental conditions at local scale such as topography and snow accumulation. The present study provides valuable insights into the winter foraging ecology of Slovak wolves in a multi-prey system of the Carpathians and allows for practical implications in the management of the rapidly increasing populations of wild ungulates across Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno F. Guimarães
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- Little Fox, The Centre of Natural Sciences, Research and Environmental Education, Staré Hory, Slovakia
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
- * E-mail:
| | - Francisco Álvares
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Jana Ďurová
- Little Fox, The Centre of Natural Sciences, Research and Environmental Education, Staré Hory, Slovakia
- Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Technical University in Zvolen, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Peter Urban
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Tomáš Iľko
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
- Muráň Plateau National Park, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Revúca, Slovakia
| | - Jaro Brndiar
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Štofik
- Poloniny National Park, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovakia Republic, Stakčín, Slovakia
| | - Tibor Pataky
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Barančeková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rudolf Kropil
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Peter Smolko
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
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Large-Scale Quantification and Correlates of Ungulate Carrion Production in the Anthropocene. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00763-8] [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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Stewart J, Bino G, Hawke T, Kingsford RT. Seasonal and geographic variation in packed cell volume and selected serum chemistry of platypuses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15932. [PMID: 34354187 PMCID: PMC8342447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95544-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) inhabit the permanent rivers and creeks of eastern Australia, from north Queensland to Tasmania, but are experiencing multiple and synergistic anthropogenic threats. Baseline information of health is vital for effective monitoring of populations but is currently sparse for mainland platypuses. Focusing on seven hematology and serum chemistry metrics as indicators of health and nutrition (packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), albumin, globulin, urea, creatinine, and triglycerides), we investigated their variation across the species' range and across seasons. We analyzed 249 unique samples collected from platypuses in three river catchments in New South Wales and Victoria. Health metrics significantly varied across the populations' range, with platypuses from the most northerly catchment, having lower PCV, and concentrations of albumin and triglycerides and higher levels of globulin, potentially reflecting geographic variation or thermal stress. The Snowy River showed significant seasonal patterns which varied between the sexes and coincided with differential reproductive stressors. Male creatinine and triglyceride levels were significantly lower than females, suggesting that reproduction is energetically more taxing on males. Age specific differences were also found, with juvenile PCV and TP levels significantly lower than adults. Additionally, the commonly used body condition index (tail volume index) was only negatively correlated with urea, and triglyceride levels. A meta-analysis of available literature revealed a significant latitudinal relationship with PCV, TP, albumin, and triglycerides but this was confounded by variation in sampling times and restraint methods. We expand understanding of mainland platypuses, providing reference intervals for PCV and six blood chemistry, while highlighting the importance of considering seasonal variation, to guide future assessments of individual and population condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Stewart
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Gilad Bino
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Tahneal Hawke
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Richard T Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Figueiredo AM, Valente AM, Barros T, Carvalho J, Silva DAM, Fonseca C, de Carvalho LM, Torres RT. What does the wolf eat? Assessing the diet of the endangered Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) in northeast Portugal. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230433. [PMID: 32231379 PMCID: PMC7108738 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is a top predator that inhabits the Iberian Peninsula. In Portugal, its numbers and distribution declined throughout the 20th century, due to human persecution, habitat degradation and prey decline, which have led to higher predation rates of livestock in the remaining packs. In Montesinho Natural Park (northeast Portugal), wild ungulate populations have been increasing in the last years, which may have led wolf to predate upon them. In order to assess Iberian wolf diet in this area, 85 wolf scats were collected from transects distributed throughout the study area in two periods between November 2017 and August 2019. Scat analysis indicated a high predation on wild ungulates, where the frequency of occurrence showed that roe deer was the most consumed prey (44%), followed by red deer (26%) and wild boar (24%). Domestic/wild cat (6%), domestic goat and stone marten (5%) were consumed in lower quantities. It was found a higher selection towards roe deer (D = 0.71) and this was the only prey item which was significantly dependent of the season of the year (χ2 = 16.95, df = 3, p < 0.001). This is the first study in Portugal where was recorded that wolves feed mainly on wild ungulates. We conclude that lower livestock predation may be correlated with higher wild ungulates densities in our study area, as well as suitable husbandry practices, leading to a shift on Iberian wolf diet from mainly livestock on previous studies to wild ungulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M. Figueiredo
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ana M. Valente
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (UCLM-CSIC-JCCM), Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Tânia Barros
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - João Carvalho
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Carlos Fonseca
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Luís Madeira de Carvalho
- CIISA—Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Tinoco Torres
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- * E-mail:
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Morin DJ, Higdon SD, Lonsinger RC, Gosselin EN, Kelly MJ, Waits LP. Comparing methods of estimating carnivore diets with uncertainty and imperfect detection. WILDLIFE SOC B 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dana J. Morin
- Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and AquacultureMississippi State University Box 9680 Mississippi State MS 39762 USA
| | - Summer D. Higdon
- School of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Missouri 302 Anheuser‐Busch Natural Resources Building Columbia MO 65211 USA
| | - Robert C. Lonsinger
- Department of Natural Resource ManagementSouth Dakota State University 1390 College Avenue Brookings SD 57007 USA
| | - Elyce N. Gosselin
- College of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive Moscow ID 83844 USA
| | - Marcella J. Kelly
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation 100 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech Blacksburg VA 24061 USA
| | - Lisette P. Waits
- College of Natural ResourcesUniversity of Idaho 875 Perimeter Drive Moscow ID 83844 USA
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8
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Petridou M, Youlatos D, Lazarou Y, Selinides K, Pylidis C, Giannakopoulos A, Kati V, Iliopoulos Y. Wolf diet and livestock selection in central Greece. MAMMALIA 2019. [DOI: 10.1515/mammalia-2018-0021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Understanding the feeding habits of wolves is essential for designing and implementing fundamental management processes across the range of the species. This is even more important within human-dominated areas, such as southern Europe, and more especially Greece. In this context, we analyzed 123 scat samples, collected between 2010 and 2012, from a mixed agricultural, forested and human-dominated area, centered on the municipality of Domokos in central continental Greece. We used standard laboratory procedures for scat analysis and calculated percentages of frequency of occurrence (FO%), average volume (AV%) and biomass index (BM%) to assess diet composition, and estimated prey selectivity. Domestic prey composed the bulk of wolf diet (FO%=73.5, AV%=84.8, BM%=97.2), wild ungulates were almost absent (FO%=0.5, AV%=0.8, BM%=1.2), whereas grass consumption was high in our area (FO%=19.5, AV%=11.0). The high dependence on livestock corroborates previous studies from Greece and other countries in southern Europe. Goat (FO%=46.0, AV%=61.2, BM%=64.9) was the main prey and was strongly selected, with sheep (FO%=11.5, AV%=9.0, BM%=11.2), pig carrion and cattle ranking behind (FO%=11.5, AV%=10.1, BM%=8.7 and FO%=4.5, AV%=4.5, BM%=12.4, respectively). No differences across seasons were detected, except from pig carrion, which increased during winter. The preference for goats is probably associated with its grazing behavior. High livestock consumption generally results in increased human-wolf conflict. Thus, substantial improvement of husbandry practices and restoration of wild ungulate populations are recommended to facilitate wolf-human coexistence in Greece.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Petridou
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
- University of Ioannina , Department of Biological Applications and Technology , Ioannina GR-45110 , Greece
| | - Dionisios Youlatos
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , School of Biology, Department of Zoology , GR-54124 Thessaloniki , Greece
| | - Yorgos Lazarou
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
| | - Kiriakos Selinides
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
| | - Charilaos Pylidis
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
- School of Biological Sciences , University of Bristol , Bristol, BS8 1TH , UK
- NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility, Department of Animal and Plant Sciences , University of Sheffield , Sheffield S10 2TN , UK
| | - Alexios Giannakopoulos
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
- Faculty of Veterinary Science , University of Thessaly , GR-43100 Karditsa , Greece
| | - Vassiliki Kati
- University of Ioannina , Department of Biological Applications and Technology , Ioannina GR-45110 , Greece
| | - Yorgos Iliopoulos
- Callisto Wildlife and Nature Conservation Society , Mitropoleos 123 , Thessaloniki GR-54621 , Greece
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki , School of Biology, Department of Zoology , GR-54124 Thessaloniki , Greece
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