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Csorba G, Moldován O, Schneider V, Németh A. Conservation status of the blind mole rat populations in Hungary (Rodentia: Spalacinae: Nannospalax) revisited. Biol Futur 2023; 74:475-487. [PMID: 38363538 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-024-00204-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Regular reviews of long-term research and conservation programs are useful sources of information for future directions in science and for the assessment of current conservation status of taxa. In this paper, we compiled all available data from the last 10 years related to Hungarian blind mole rat populations and assessed this information according to the following main themes: systematics, distribution and threats, and conservation actions. Based on the most recent information, national and global risk assessments are provided for the three species of Nannospalax (N. montanosyrmiensis, N. hungaricus and N. syrmiensis), currently accepted as part of the Hungarian fauna.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gábor Csorba
- Hungarian Natural History Museum, Baross 13, Budapest, 1088, Hungary.
| | - Orsolya Moldován
- Hortobágy National Park Directorate, Sumen u. 2, Debrecen, 4024, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Animal Science, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Viktor Schneider
- Institute of Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly u. 1, Gödöllő, 2100, Hungary
| | - Attila Németh
- Department of Nature Conservation, Zoology and Game Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- BirdLife Hungary - Hungarian Ornithological and Nature Conservation Society, Költő u. 21, Budapest, 1121, Hungary
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2
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Šumbera R, Lövy M, Nevo E, Okrouhlík J. Thermal biology in the Upper Galili Mountain blind mole rat (Nannospalax galili) and an overview of spalacine energetics. J Therm Biol 2023; 115:103618. [PMID: 37399744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103618] [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: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Several hundred mammalian species thrive in complex burrow systems, which protect them from climatic extremes and predation. At the same time, it is also a stressful environment due to low food supply, high humidity, and, in some cases, a hypoxic and hypercapnic atmosphere. To face such conditions, subterranean rodents have convergently evolved low basal metabolic rate, high minimal thermal conductance and low body temperature. Although these parameters have been intensively studied in the last decades, such information is far from being well-known in one of the most studied groups of subterranean rodents, the blind mole rats of the genus Nannospalax. The lack of information is particularly noticeable for parameters such as the upper critical temperature and the width of the thermoneutral zone. In our study, we analysed the energetics of the Upper Galilee Mountain blind mole rat Nannospalax galili and found its basal metabolic rate of 0.84 ± 0.10 mL O2×g-1 × h-1, thermoneutral zone between 28 and 35 °C, mean Tb within the zone of 36.3 ± 0.6 °C, and minimal thermal conductance equal to 0.082 mL O2×g-1 × h-1 × C-1. Nannospalax galili is a truly homeothermic rodent well adapted to face lower ambient temperatures, because its Tb was stable down to the lowest temperature measured (10 °C). At the same time, a relatively high basal metabolic rate and relatively low minimal thermal conductance for a subterranean rodent of such body mass, and the difficulty of surviving ambient temperatures slightly above upper critical temperature, indicates problems with sufficient heat dissipation at higher temperatures. This can easily lead to overheating, that is relevant mainly during the hot-dry season. These findings suggest that N. galili can be threatened by ongoing global climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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3
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Zhou J, Ji C, Dong K, Chu B, Wang L, Hua L. Dynamic changes in the home range of the subterranean rodent Myospalax baileyi. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1041322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
As ecosystem engineers, subterranean rodents excavate and inhabit burrow systems. However, the changes in their use of underground space are poorly recorded. There is conflicting evidence about whether the burrow systems of subterranean rodents, once established, are relatively stable as a result of the high energy costs of digging. We monitored the size of the home ranges of the plateau zokor (Myospalax baileyi) during different stages of its life cycle to show whether mating behavior and the characteristics of its habitat influence the size and location of its home range. We used radio-tracking to quantify the changes in, and overlap of, the home range of M. baileyi during a one-year period. The average size of the home ranges of male zokors was 6.5 times larger than that of female zokors during the mating season. The males expanded their burrows to overlap with multiple females to increase their chances of mating. However, there was no overlap between estrus females or males, perhaps to reduce the number of encounters and unnecessary fights. The home ranges of male and female zokors were similar in size after courtship and the home ranges of single zokors overlapped with those of several neighbors. Most individuals remained territorial and excluded intraspecific interactions from their home ranges. The location of female zokors was stable throughout the year, but half of the males changed the location of their nests and established completely new home ranges in the non-breeding season, mainly in October. The use of space by M. baileyi is flexible in response to a need for physical contact during the mating season and food resources. The home ranges of subterranean plateau zokors are dynamic and the home ranges of male zokors can change within one breeding cycle.
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Nevo E, Li K. Sympatric Speciation in Mole Rats and Wild Barley and Their Genome Repeatome Evolution: A Commentary. ADVANCED GENETICS (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2022; 3:2200009. [PMID: 36911292 PMCID: PMC9993473 DOI: 10.1002/ggn2.202200009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The theories of sympatric speciation (SS) and coding and noncoding (cd and ncd =repeatome) genome function are still contentious. Studies on SS in our two new models, "Evolution Canyon" and "Evolution Plateau", in Israel, divergent microclimatically and geologically-edaphically, respectively, indicated that in ecologically divergent microsites SS is a common speciation model across life from bacteria to mammals. Genomically, the intergenic ncd repeatome was and is still regarded by many biologists as "selfish," "junk," and non-functional. In contrast, it is considered by the encyclopedia of DNA elements discovery as biochemically functional and regulatory, and the transposable elements were considered earlier by Barbara McClintock as "controlling elements" of genes. Remarkably, it is found that repeated elements can statistically identify significantly, the five species of subterranean mole rats of Spalax ehrenbergi superspecies adapted to increasingly arid climatic trend southward in Israel. Moreover, it is first discovered in the SS studies in two distant taxa, subterranean mole rats and wild barley, and later also in spiny mice in Israel and subterranean zokors in China, that the noncoding repeatome is genomically mirroring the image of the protein-coding genome in divergent ecologies. It is shown that this mirroring image is statistically significant both within and between the ecologically divergent taxa supporting the hypothesis that much of the repeatome might be regulatory and selected as the protein-coding genome by the same ecological stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of EvolutionUniversity of HaifaHaifa3498838Israel
| | - Kexin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro‐ecosystemCollege of EcologyLanzhou UniversityLanzhou730000China
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Kuang Z, Li F, Duan Q, Tian C, Nevo E, Li K. Host diet shapes functionally differentiated gut microbiomes in sympatric speciation of blind mole rats in Upper Galilee, Israel. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1062763. [PMID: 36458196 PMCID: PMC9707624 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1062763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiome is important for host nutrient metabolism and ecological adaptation. However, how the gut microbiome is affected by host phylogeny, ecology and diet during sympatric speciation remain unclear. Here, we compare and contrast the gut microbiome of two sympatric blind mole rat species and correlate them with their corresponding host phylogeny, ecology soil metagenomes, and diet to determine how these factors may influence their gut microbiome. Our results indicate that within the host microbiome there is no significant difference in community composition, but the functions between the two sympatric species populations vary significantly. No significant correlations were found between the gut microbiome differentiation and their corresponding ecological soil metagenomes and host phylogeny. Functional enrichment analysis suggests that the host diets may account for the functional divergence of the gut microbiome. Our results will help us understand how the gut microbiome changes with corresponding ecological dietary factors in sympatric speciation of blind subterranean mole rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoran Kuang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Zoology, College of Life Sciences and Technology, Mudanjiang Normal University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Qijiao Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Cuicui Tian
- Northwest Surveying and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Xi’an, China
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Kexin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Finn KT, Janse van Vuuren AK, Hart DW, Süess T, Zöttl M, Bennett NC. Seasonal Changes in Locomotor Activity Patterns of Wild Social Natal Mole-Rats (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis). Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.819393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Differences in individual locomotor activity patterns may be linked to a number of ecological factors, such as changes in ambient temperature or photoperiod. Observations on subterranean mammals suggest that they exhibit diel rhythms despite the lack of visual cues in their underground burrows, but it is unknown how seasonality and individual characteristics affect their activity. In this study we use RFID technology to monitor daily activity patterns of wild, social Natal mole-rats (Cryptomys hottentotus natalensis) during the summer and winter to investigate how their activity varies with season and whether their activity depends on individual characteristics such as body mass, sex and reproductive status. We found that in winter, individuals were more active during the time with the highest soil temperatures, whereas in summer, they showed a bimodal activity pattern during early morning and late afternoon coinciding with cooler soil temperatures. Individual characteristics, including reproductive status, did not affect general activity indicating that reproductive and non-reproductive individuals contribute equally to cooperative behaviors. We suggest that the activity patterns may be a behavioral adaptation to avoid extreme burrow temperatures and a mechanism to maintain a stable core body temperature. We highlight the advantages of RFID technology to study wild small mammal movements.
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Vejmělka F, Okrouhlík J, Lövy M, Šaffa G, Nevo E, Bennett NC, Šumbera R. Heat dissipation in subterranean rodents: the role of body region and social organisation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:2029. [PMID: 33479351 PMCID: PMC7820455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81404-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The relatively warm and very humid environment of burrows presents a challenge for thermoregulation of its mammalian inhabitants. It was found that African mole-rats dissipate body heat mainly through their venter, and social mole-rats dissipate more body heat compared to solitary species at lower temperatures. In addition, the pattern of the ventral surface temperature was suggested to be homogeneous in social mole-rats compared to a heterogeneous pattern in solitary mole-rats. To investigate this for subterranean rodents generally, we measured the surface temperatures of seven species with different degrees of sociality, phylogeny, and climate using infrared thermography. In all species, heat dissipation occurred mainly through the venter and the feet. Whereas the feet dissipated body heat at higher ambient temperatures and conserved it at lower ambient temperatures, the ventral surface temperature was relatively high in all temperatures indicating that heat dissipation to the environment through this body region is regulated mainly by behavioural means. Solitary species dissipated less heat through their dorsum than social species, and a tendency for this pattern was observed for the venter. The pattern of heterogeneity of surface temperature through the venter was not related to sociality of the various species. Our results demonstrate a general pattern of body heat exchange through the three studied body regions in subterranean rodents. Besides, isolated individuals of social species are less able to defend themselves against low ambient temperatures, which may handicap them if staying alone for a longer period, such as during and after dispersal events.
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Affiliation(s)
- František Vejmělka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Okrouhlík
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Gabriel Šaffa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Nigel Charles Bennett
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Mammal Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
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Genome evolution of blind subterranean mole rats: Adaptive peripatric versus sympatric speciation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:32499-32508. [PMID: 33277437 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018123117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Speciation mechanisms remain controversial. Two speciation models occur in Israeli subterranean mole rats, genus Spalax: a regional speciation cline southward of four peripatric climatic chromosomal species and a local, geologic-edaphic, genic, and sympatric speciation. Here we highlight their genome evolution. The five species were separated into five genetic clusters by single nucleotide polymorphisms, copy number variations (CNVs), repeatome, and methylome in sympatry. The regional interspecific divergence correspond to Pleistocene climatic cycles. Climate warmings caused chromosomal speciation. Triple effective population size, N e , declines match glacial cold cycles. Adaptive genes evolved under positive selection to underground stresses and to divergent climates, involving interspecies reproductive isolation. Genomic islands evolved mainly due to adaptive evolution involving ancient polymorphisms. Repeatome, including both CNV and LINE1 repetitive elements, separated the five species. Methylation in sympatry identified geologically chalk-basalt species that differentially affect thermoregulation, hypoxia, DNA repair, P53, and other pathways. Genome adaptive evolution highlights climatic and geologic-edaphic stress evolution and the two speciation models, peripatric and sympatric.
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9
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Okrouhlík J, Šumbera R, Gardner B, Schoemann K, Lövy M, Bennett NC. Are southern African solitary mole-rats homeothermic or heterothermic under natural field conditions? J Therm Biol 2020; 95:102810. [PMID: 33454040 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Abandoning of a stable body temperature (Tb), a phenomenon known as heterothermy, is an adaptation to cope mainly with a lack of food and water, especially in species inhabiting daily or seasonally variable environments. There is increasing evidence that African mammals avoid adverse conditions by heterothermy and eventually by entering torpor. Members of subterranean rodent family, the African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), are suitable candidates to study both phenomena, because of the diversity of their strategies in respect of maintaining stable Tb ranging from homeothermic species to a mammal with the most labile Tb, the naked mole-rat. Currently, there are field data on daily and seasonal Tb in one social species only and such information are lacking for any solitary mole-rat. In our study, we recorded yearly Tb in two solitary bathyergids, the Cape mole-rat Georychus capensis and the Cape dune mole-rat Bathyergus suillus from South Africa using intraperitoneally implanted dataloggers. Since this region is characterised by changing ecological characteristics, we expected either decreases of Tb within 24 h indicating daily torpor and/or longer-term decreases of Tb, which would indicate multiday torpor. Although we found seasonally phase shifted low amplitude daily Tb cycles, we did not find any remarkable and regular daily and/or seasonal Tb deviations, likely showing an absence of torpor in both species. Due to absence of this energy saving mechanism, we may speculate that both species could be vulnerable to ongoing global climatic change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Okrouhlík
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa; Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Brett Gardner
- Werribee Open Range Zoo, Veterinary Hospital, Zoos Victoria, K Road, Werribee, Victoria, 3029, Australia
| | - Keegan Schoemann
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Matěj Lövy
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1760, 370 05, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Nigel Charles Bennett
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Li K, Ren X, Song X, Li X, Zhou Y, Harlev E, Sun D, Nevo E. Incipient sympatric speciation in wild barley caused by geological-edaphic divergence. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/12/e202000827. [PMID: 33082129 PMCID: PMC7652381 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sympatric speciation is still contentious but here based on genome-wide analysis; we show incipient sympatric speciation of an emerging new wild barley species from Hordeum spontaneum, the progenitor of all cultivated barleys at “Evolution Plateau” (EP), Upper Galilee, Israel. Sympatric speciation (SS) has been contentious since the idea was suggested by Darwin. Here, we show in wild barley SS due to geologic and edaphic divergence in “Evolution Plateau,” Upper Galilee, Israel. Our whole genome resequencing data showed SS separating between the progenitor old Senonian chalk and abutting derivative young Pleistocene basalt wild barley populations. The basalt wild barley species unfolds larger effective population size, lower recombination rates, and larger genetic diversity. Both species populations show similar descending trend ∼200,000 yr ago associated with the last glacial maximum. Coalescent demography analysis indicates that SS was local, primary, in situ, and not due to a secondary contact from ex situ allopatric population. Adaptive divergent putatively selected genes were identified in both populations. Remarkably, disease resistant genes were selected in the wet basalt population, and genes related to flowering time, leading to temporal reproductive isolation, were selected in the chalk population. The evidence substantiates adaptive ecological SS in wild barley, highlighting the genome landscape during SS with gene flow, due to geologic-edaphic divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Li
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Institute of Innovation Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Xifeng Ren
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoying Song
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, Institute of Innovation Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiujuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhou
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Eli Harlev
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dongfa Sun
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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11
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Silva L, Mendes T, Antunes A. Acquisition of social behavior in mammalian lineages is related with duplication events of FPR genes. Genomics 2020; 112:2778-2783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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12
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Rosario Carotenuto A, Guarracino F, Šumbera R, Fraldi M. Burrowing below ground: interaction between soil mechanics and evolution of subterranean mammals. J R Soc Interface 2020; 17:20190521. [PMID: 31910769 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of species is governed by complex phenomena in which biological and environmental features may interact dynamically. Subterranean mammals dig tunnels whose diameter minimizes energetic costs during excavations and display anatomical adaptations in order to burrow structurally stable tunnels according to specific features of the soil. These animals weight from less than 50 g up to 1-2 kg, and dig tunnels with diameters from 3 to 15 cm. The use of allometric laws has enabled these data to be correlated. However, since tunnels need to be stable with respect to the geomechanical characteristics of the resident soils, a mathematical treatment linking the admissible dimensions of tunnels to the environment here suggests a mechanically grounded correlation between the body mass of subterranean mammals and the maximum dimensions of tunnels. Remarkably, such theoretical findings reflect very well the empirical allometric relationship and contribute to explain the wide differences observed in body sizes of subterranean mammals. In this respect, a far from ancillary role of environmental mechanics on the morphological evolution of subterranean mammals can be hypothesized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Rosario Carotenuto
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Federico Guarracino
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
| | - Massimiliano Fraldi
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy
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13
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Šklíba J, Vlasatá T, Lövy M, Hrouzková E, Meheretu Y, Sillero‐Zubiri C, Šumbera R. The giant that makes do with little: small and easy‐to‐leave home ranges found in the giant root‐rat. J Zool (1987) 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - T. Vlasatá
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - E. Hrouzková
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Department of Biology College of Natural and Computational Sciences University of Mekelle Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - C. Sillero‐Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit Zoology Department University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Born Free Foundation Horsham UK
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic
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Lövy M, Šumbera R, Heth G, Nevo E. Presumed ecological speciation in blind mole rats: does soil type influence mate preferences? ETHOL ECOL EVOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/03949370.2019.1646809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matěj Lövy
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Šumbera
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Giora Heth
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Eviatar Nevo
- Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
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15
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Fu H, Yuan S, Man D, Chai X, Yang S, Bao D, Wu X. The burrow behavior and influenced factors of a prairie subterranean zokor ( Myospalax psilurus). Ecol Evol 2018; 8:12773-12779. [PMID: 30619581 PMCID: PMC6308893 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The Transbaikal zokor (Myospalax psilurus) is a dominant rodent distributed in the meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia in northern China. Due to long history of evolution in subterranean environment, the zokor has an adaptive behavior: sealing burrow entrances. When a burrow is damaged, exposed entrances appear, and within a relatively short time, the zokor would be active in sealing the entrances to reduce risks to its survival. In general, it is thought that zokors avoid light and wind, which is consistent with their behavior of sealing burrow entrances. However, direct evidence from field experimental research has been lacking. This study set up 68 field sampling points in a meadow steppe in Inner Mongolia from August to September, 2014 and used a wind-light isolator to study the effects of wind and light factors on zokor burrow entrance sealing behavior. The results showed that there were no significant correlations between wind or light factors and the frequency of zokor burrow entrance sealing. Therefore, wind and light factors are not direct factors associated with zokors actively sealing burrow entrances.
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Affiliation(s)
- He‐Ping Fu
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of the Ministry of AgricultureHohhotChina
| | - Shuai Yuan
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of the Ministry of AgricultureHohhotChina
| | - Du‐Hu Man
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
| | - Xiang‐Xian Chai
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
| | - Su‐Wen Yang
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
| | - Dar‐Han Bao
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
| | - Xiao‐Dong Wu
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural UniversityHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Prataculture and Grassland ResourceMinistry of EducationHohhotChina
- Key Laboratory of Forage Cultivation, Processing and High Efficient Utilization of the Ministry of AgricultureHohhotChina
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16
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Kubiak BB, Maestri R, de Almeida TS, Borges LR, Galiano D, Fornel R, de Freitas TRO. Evolution in action: soil hardness influences morphology in a subterranean rodent (Rodentia: Ctenomyidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno B Kubiak
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Biológicas da Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Frederico Westphalen, Av. Assis Brasil, Frederico Westphalen – RS, Brazil
| | - Renan Maestri
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Thamara S de Almeida
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Leandro R Borges
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
| | - Daniel Galiano
- Universidade Federal da Fronteira Sul, Campus Realeza, Rua Edmundo Gaievisk, Realeza, PR, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Fornel
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Regional do Alto Uruguai e das Missões – Campus de Erechim, Av. Sete de Setembro, Erechim – RS, Brazil
| | - Thales R O de Freitas
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Bento Gonçalves, Porto Alegre – RS, Brazil
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17
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Lövy M, Šklíba J, Šumbera R, Nevo E. Soil preference in blind mole rats in an area of supposed sympatric speciation: do they choose the fertile or the familiar? J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - E. Nevo
- Institute of Evolution; University of Haifa; Haifa Israel
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18
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Danial‐Farran N, Nasser NJ, Beiles A, Brenner B, Sarig G, Nevo E. Adaptive evolution of coagulation and blood properties in hypoxia tolerant
Spalax
in Israel. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Danial‐Farran
- Institute of Evolution International Graduate Center of Evolution University of Haifa Haifa Israel
| | - N. J. Nasser
- Institute of Evolution International Graduate Center of Evolution University of Haifa Haifa Israel
| | - A. Beiles
- Institute of Evolution International Graduate Center of Evolution University of Haifa Haifa Israel
| | - B. Brenner
- Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa Israel
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
| | - G. Sarig
- Thrombosis and Hemostasis Unit Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa Israel
- Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology Haifa Israel
- Hematology Laboratory Rambam Health Care Campus Haifa Israel
| | - E. Nevo
- Institute of Evolution International Graduate Center of Evolution University of Haifa Haifa Israel
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19
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Kubiak BB, Galiano D, Freitas TRO. Can the environment influence species home‐range size? A case study on
Ctenomys minutus
(Rodentia, Ctenomyidae). J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. B. Kubiak
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biologia Animal Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
| | - D. Galiano
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Ciências Ambientais Área de Ciências Exatas e Ambientais Universidade Comunitária da Região de Chapecó Chapecó Brazil
| | - T. R. O. Freitas
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Biologia Animal Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Porto Alegre Brazil
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20
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Vlasatá T, Šklíba J, Lövy M, Meheretu Y, Sillero-Zubiri C, Šumbera R. Daily activity patterns in the giant root rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus
), a fossorial rodent from the Afro-alpine zone of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Vlasatá
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - J. Šklíba
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
- Institute of Entomology; Biology Centre CAS; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - M. Lövy
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | - Y. Meheretu
- Department of Biology; College of natural and computational sciences; University of Mekelle; Mekelle Ethiopia
| | - C. Sillero-Zubiri
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit; Zoology Department; University of Oxford; Oxford UK
| | - R. Šumbera
- Faculty of Science; University of South Bohemia; České Budějovice Czech Republic
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