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Krivopalova A, Mikula P, Cukor J, Ševčík R, Brynychová K, Šálek M. Adaptation of farmland mammalian specialist to urban life: Escape behavior of European hare along the urban-rural gradient. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175779. [PMID: 39191323 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 08/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
The European hare Lepus europaeus is an iconic but rapidly declining farmland specialist with recently confirmed populations in urban areas. However, their behavioral responses and adaptability to urbanization and life in human-dominated areas are fully unexplored. Here, using infrared cameras, we explored escape behavior (measured as the flight initiation distance) using 965 hare observations in urban and farmland areas in the Czech Republic and Austria (Central Europe) and its association with habitat type, distance to the city center, patch size, season, hare age and initial behavior. We found that European hares adjusted their escape behavior to habitat type and escaped significantly earlier in farmland (rural) habitats than in urban habitats. However, escape distances of hares did not differ between farmland types with different degree of habitat heterogeneity. We also revealed that urban hares escaped earlier when located further from the city center or in a larger study patch. Moreover, adult hares escaped earlier than subadults and foraging individuals escaped earlier than resting hares but both only in rural areas. Our results support high behavioral adaptability of European hares to human-dominated urban areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Krivopalova
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic; Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 25202 Jíloviště, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Mikula
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic; TUM School of Life Sciences, Ecoclimatology, Technical University of Munich, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany; Institute for Advanced Study, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 2a, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Jan Cukor
- Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic; Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 25202 Jíloviště, Czech Republic.
| | - Richard Ševčík
- Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 25202 Jíloviště, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Brynychová
- Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 25202 Jíloviště, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Šálek
- Forestry and Game Management Research Institute, Strnady 136, 25202 Jíloviště, Czech Republic; Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague, Czech Republic; Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Květná 8, 60365 Brno, Czech Republic
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Razmaitė V, Šiukščius A. Effects of Sex and Hunting Season on Carcass and Meat Quality Characteristics of the Brown Hare ( Lepus europaeus). Foods 2023; 12:2369. [PMID: 37372579 DOI: 10.3390/foods12122369] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine the effects of sex and hunting season on the carcass, meat and fat quality of hunted brown hares (Lepus europaeus). Twenty-two hares of both sexes hunted in winter (December) during two hunting seasons in accordance with the law on hunting in Lithuania were evaluated using reference methods The data were subjected to two-factor analysis of variance in the general linear (GLM) procedure. No significant differences in carcass measurements and muscularity or internal organs between the sexes of brown hares were found; however, the hunting season appeared to affect the size of hares. The biceps femoris (BF) thigh muscle of males had lower (p < 0.05) dry matter content and higher (p < 0.05) drip loss compared with females. The hunting season demonstrated an effect (p < 0.001) on protein and hydroxyproline contents in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and affected dry matter, protein and hydroxyproline contents (p < 0.05, p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) in BF muscles, and differences in the colour of muscles were also observed. The shear force in the Warner-Bratzler (WB) test was higher (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) for LTL and BF muscles during the first hunting season. The hunting season did not affect the total SFA in the intramuscular fat (IMF) of all the tissues, but it affected levels of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids in the muscles. No differences were found in the total saturated fatty acids (SFA) of both muscles between the sexes, but females demonstrated lower (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) and more favourable n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in the muscles and fat and a lower (p < 0.05) thrombogenic (TI) index in the LTL compared with males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Razmaitė
- Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Animal Science Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, R. Žebenkos 12, 82317 Baisogala, Lithuania
| | - Artūras Šiukščius
- Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Animal Science Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, R. Žebenkos 12, 82317 Baisogala, Lithuania
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Selimovic A, Tissier ML, Stalder G, Painer-Gigler J, Haw A, Rauch H, Arnold W. The effect of dietary niacin deficiency on reproduction of European brown hares: An experimental study. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1083045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Large plots of maize in agricultural landscapes are associated with reduced reproductive output of females and impaired population development of free-living populations of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1778). We investigated in captive brown hares experimentally whether these effects could result from an undersupply of niacin due to a suspected maize-biased diet in such areas. We repeatedly mated adult female hares, fed ad libitum either with a niacin deficient pellet mainly consisting of maize plant parts, or with the same pellet enriched with niacin to meet physiological requirements. We measured effects of the experimental feeding on body mass of females, reproductive output, growth and survival of leverets. We found significantly higher body mass of females fed the control pellet, and faster body mass gain of their leverets until standardized weaning. We found no significant difference between niacin deficient and control diet groups in reproductive output of females and survival rates of leverets. Our results show that even a diet severely depauperate of niacin affects reproductive success of female brown hares only slightly, presumably because of sufficient conversion of tryptophan to niacin, or of additional supply of niacin by caecal microorganism.
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Energy expenditure and body composition in a hibernator, the alpine marmot. J Comp Physiol B 2023; 193:135-143. [PMID: 36335482 PMCID: PMC9852207 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01466-1] [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: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Visceral organs and tissues of 89 free-living alpine marmots (Marmota marmota) shot during a population control program in Switzerland, were collected. Between emergence from hibernation in April to July, the gastrointestinal tract (stomach to colon) gained 51% of mass and the liver mass increased by 24%. At the same time, the basal metabolic rate (BMR), determined with a portable oxygen analyzer, increased by 18%. The organ masses of the digestive system (stomach, small intestine, caecum, large intestine) were all significantly correlated with BMR. Interestingly, the mass of abdominal white adipose tissue (WAT) and of the remaining carcass (mainly skin and bones) were also significantly correlated with BMR. These results indicate that the gastrointestinal tract and organs involved in digestive function are metabolically expensive. They also show that it is costly to maintain even tissues with low metabolic rate such as WAT, especially if they are large. Heart and kidneys and especially brain and lungs did not explain a large proportion of the variance in BMR. Marmots increased the uptake of fat prior to hibernation, both by selective feeding and enhanced gastrointestinal capacity. Large fat reserves enable marmots to hibernate without food intake and to reproduce in spring, but at the cost of an elevated BMR. We predict that climate changes that disturb energy accumulation in summer, increase energy expenditure in winter, or delay the emergence from hibernation in spring, such as the occurrence of storms with increasing frequency, will increase mortality in alpine marmots.
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Buglione M, de Filippo G, Conti P, Fulgione D. Eating in an extreme environment: diet of the European hare ( Lepus europaeus) on Vesuvius. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2022.2124320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M. Buglione
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - G. de Filippo
- Istituto di Gestione della Fauna (IGF), Naples, Italy
| | - P. Conti
- Ente Parco Nazionale del Vesuvio, Ottaviano, Italy
| | - D. Fulgione
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Ohsaki H, Yamawo A. Effects of indirect plant-plant interaction via root exudate on growth and leaf chemical contents in Rumex obtusifolius. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2022; 17:2050628. [PMID: 35318884 PMCID: PMC8959531 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2022.2050628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Belowground plant-plant interactions can affect the concentrations of leaf chemicals, but the mechanism is not clear. Here, we investigated the effects of intra- and interspecific root exudates on the growth and leaf chemical content of Rumex obtusifolius. Seedlings of R. obtusifolius were grown with exposure to root exudates collected from other R. obtusifolius plants or from Trifolium repens, Festuca ovina, or Plantago asiatica plants, and the total phenolic, condensed tannin, dry biomass, and chlorophyll contents of the leaves were examined. The root exudates from conspecific plants had no effect on the total phenolic, condensed tannin, and chlorophyll contents of the leaves but did significantly reduce the dry leaf biomass. Root exudates from heterospecific plants had different effects depending on the species. These results were different from the results of a previous study that examined the effects of direct plant-plant interaction in R. obtusifolius. Thus, indirect interaction via root exudates induces different effects in leaves from direct interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruna Ohsaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Akira Yamawo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
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Ohsaki H, Miyamoto R, Sembongi Y, Tajima M, Sakamoto Y, Okuda K, Yamawo A. Plant–plant interaction by Aster leiophyllus affects herbivory by Sika deer, Cervus nippon. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2022; 109:54. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-022-01827-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Wood-Bailey AP, Cox PG, Sharp AC. The evolution of unique cranial traits in leporid lagomorphs. PeerJ 2022; 10:e14414. [PMID: 36518283 PMCID: PMC9744148 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14414] [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: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The leporid lagomorphs (rabbits and hares) are adapted to running and leaping (some more than others) and consequently have unique anatomical features that distinguish them from ochotonid lagomorphs (pikas) and from their rodent relatives. Two traits that have received some attention are fenestration of the lateral wall of the maxilla and facial tilting. These features are known to correlate with specialised locomotory form in that the faster running species will generally have fenestration that occupies the dorsal and the anteroventral surface of the maxillary corpus and a more acute facial tilt angle. Another feature is an intracranial joint that circumscribes the back of the skull, thought to facilitate skull mobility. This joint separates the anterior portion of the cranium (including the dentition, rostrum and orbit) from the posterior portion of the cranium (which encompasses the occipital and the auditory complex). Aside from the observation that the intracranial joint is absent in pikas (generalist locomotors) and appears more elaborate in genera with cursorial and saltatorial locomotory habits, the evolutionary history, biomechanical function and comparative anatomy of this feature in leporids lacks a comprehensive evaluation. Methodology The present work analysed the intracranial joint, facial tilting and lateral fenestration of the wall of the maxilla in the context of leporid evolutionary history using a Bayesian inference of phylogeny (18 genera, 23 species) and ancestral state reconstruction. These methods were used to gather information about the likelihood of the presence of these three traits in ancestral groups. Results Our phylogenetic analyses found it likely that the last common ancestor of living leporids had some facial tilting, but that the last common ancestor of all lagomorphs included in the dataset did not. We found that it was likely that the last common ancestor of living leporids had fenestration that occupies the dorsal, but not the anteroventral, surface of the maxillary corpus. We also found it likely that the last common ancestor of living leporids had an intracranial joint, but that the last common ancestor of all living lagomorphs did not. These findings provide a broader context to further studies of evolutionary history and will help inform the formulation and testing of functional hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber P. Wood-Bailey
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
| | - Philip G. Cox
- Department of Archaeology and Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, United Kingdom,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alana C. Sharp
- Department of Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom
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Selimovic A, Arnold W. Maize monoculture causes niacin deficiency in free-living European brown hares and impairs local population development. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.1017691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maize (Zea mays) is the most produced crop worldwide and the second most important bio-energy plant. Huge maize monoculture is considered a threat to biodiversity in agricultural landscapes and may also contribute to the decline of European brown hares (Lepus europaeus, Pallas 1778). Indeed, the intensification of agriculture has been identified as one of the main factors responsible for the decline of brown hare populations. A reason why large maize cultures can be particularly detrimental to animals consuming this plant is its poor nutritional value with respect to niacin. In this study, we investigated the effects of the proportion of area under maize crops on liver concentrations of niacin in free-living hares, on the reproductive output of does (females), and on the development of local populations, at nine study sites in Lower Austria. Hare numbers were estimated from spotlight counts in spring and autumn. Liver samples and uteri were obtained from hares shot in the same areas during regular autumn hunts. Number of offspring born to an individual female during the preceding reproductive period was determined by counting placental scars. Our results show a significant negative effect of the area under maize crops on liver concentrations of niacin of does and on their reproductive output. Further, we found a significant negative effect of the area under maize on the development of a population. Altogether, our findings indicate that high proportions of the area under maize crops contribute to the decline of brown hares by reduced fecundity of does and impaired development of local populations.
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Cheng A, Lim WY, Lim PE, Yang Amri A, Poong SW, Song SL, Ilham Z. Marine Autotroph-Herbivore Synergies: Unravelling the Roles of Macroalgae in Marine Ecosystem Dynamics. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081209. [PMID: 36009834 PMCID: PMC9405220 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Invasive species are a leading hazard to marine ecosystems worldwide, coupled with climate change. Tackling the emerging biodiversity threat to maintain the ecological balance of the largest biome in the world has now become a pivotal part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marine herbivores are generally regarded as biological agents that restrict invasive species, and their efficiency depends on their dietary habits, especially the autotrophs they eat. Many researchers have found contradicting findings on the effects of nutritional attributes and novelty of autotrophs on herbivore eating behaviour. In light of the scattered literature on the mechanistic basis of autotroph-herbivore interactions, we provide a comprehensive review to fill knowledge gaps about synergies based on macroalgae, an important group of photosynthetic organisms in the marine biome that interact strongly with generalist herbivores. We also analyse macroalgal defence measures against herbivores, underlining unique features and potential roles in maintaining marine ecosystems. The nutritional qualities, shape, and novelty of autotrophs can alter herbivore feeding behaviour. Future research should explore aspects that can alter marine autotroph-herbivore interactions to resolve inconsistent results of specific features and the uniqueness of the organisms involved. Abstract Species invasion is a leading threat to marine ecosystems worldwide, being deemed as one of the ultimate jeopardies for biodiversity along with climate change. Tackling the emerging biodiversity threat to maintain the ecological balance of the largest biome in the world has now become a pivotal part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Marine herbivores are often considered as biological agents that control the spread of invasive species, and their effectiveness depends largely on factors that influence their feeding preferences, including the specific attributes of their food–the autotrophs. While the marine autotroph-herbivore interactions have been substantially discussed globally, many studies have reported contradictory findings on the effects of nutritional attributes and novelty of autotrophs on herbivore feeding behaviour. In view of the scattered literature on the mechanistic basis of autotroph-herbivore interactions, we generate a comprehensive review to furnish insights into critical knowledge gaps about the synergies based largely on the characteristics of macroalgae; an important group of photosynthetic organisms in the marine biome that interact strongly with generalist herbivores. We also discuss the key defence strategies of these macroalgae against the herbivores, highlighting their unique attributes and plausible roles in keeping the marine ecosystems intact. Overall, the feeding behaviour of herbivores can be affected by the nutritional attributes, morphology, and novelty of the autotrophs. We recommend that future research should carefully consider different factors that can potentially affect the dynamics of the marine autotroph-herbivore interactions to resolve the inconsistent results of specific attributes and novelty of the organisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Acga Cheng
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Wai Yin Lim
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Phaik-Eem Lim
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Affendi Yang Amri
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Sze-Wan Poong
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Sze-Looi Song
- Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Institute for Advanced Studies, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (S.-L.S.); (Z.I.); Tel.: +60-37967-4014 (Z.I.)
| | - Zul Ilham
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
- Correspondence: (S.-L.S.); (Z.I.); Tel.: +60-37967-4014 (Z.I.)
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Sunde P, Böcker F, Rauset GR, Kjellander P, Chrenkova M, Skovdal TM, van Beeck Calkoen S, Mayer M, Heurich M. Mammal responses to predator scents across multiple study areas. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Sunde
- Department of Ecoscience—Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | - Felix Böcker
- Department of Forest and Society Forest Research Institute Baden‐Württemberg Freiburg Germany
| | - Geir Rune Rauset
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Science Riddarhyttan Sweden
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research Trondheim Norway
| | - Petter Kjellander
- Grimsö Wildlife Research Station, Department of Ecology Swedish University of Agricultural Science Riddarhyttan Sweden
| | - Monika Chrenkova
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia České Budějovice Czech Republic
| | | | - Suzanne van Beeck Calkoen
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
- Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Martin Mayer
- Department of Ecoscience—Wildlife Ecology Aarhus University Aarhus Denmark
| | - Marco Heurich
- Department of Visitor Management and National Park Monitoring Bavarian Forest National Park Grafenau Germany
- Wildlife Ecology and Management University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Institute for Forest and Wildlife Management Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences Koppang Norway
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Mori E, Carbone R, Viviano A, Calosi M, Fattorini N. Factors affecting spatiotemporal behaviour in the European brown hare
Lepus europaeus
: a meta‐analysis. Mamm Rev 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emiliano Mori
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri Via Madonna del Piano 10 Sesto Fiorentino (FI)50019Italia
| | - Roberto Carbone
- Università degli Studi di Parma Parco Area delle Scienze 11a Parma43124Italia
| | - Andrea Viviano
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Istituto di Ricerca sugli Ecosistemi Terrestri Via Madonna del Piano 10 Sesto Fiorentino (FI)50019Italia
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie Alimentari e Agro‐ambientali Produzioni Agroalimentari e Gestione degli Agroecosistemi Università degli Studi di Pisa Via del Borghetto 80 Pisa56124Italia
| | - Martina Calosi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università degli Studi di Siena Via P.A. Mattioli 4 Siena53100Italia
| | - Niccolò Fattorini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università degli Studi di Siena Via P.A. Mattioli 4 Siena53100Italia
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OUP accepted manuscript. J Mammal 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyab171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Stiegler J, Kiemel K, Eccard J, Fischer C, Hering R, Ortmann S, Strigl L, Tiedemann R, Ullmann W, Blaum N. Seed traits matter-Endozoochoric dispersal through a pervasive mobile linker. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:18477-18491. [PMID: 35003686 PMCID: PMC8717309 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Although many plants are dispersed by wind and seeds can travel long distances across unsuitable matrix areas, a large proportion relies on co-evolved zoochorous seed dispersal to connect populations in isolated habitat islands. Particularly in agricultural landscapes, where remaining habitat patches are often very small and highly isolated, mobile linkers as zoochorous seed dispersers are critical for the population dynamics of numerous plant species. However, knowledge about the quali- or quantification of such mobile link processes, especially in agricultural landscapes, is still limited. In a controlled feeding experiment, we recorded the seed intake and germination success after complete digestion by the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and explored its mobile link potential as an endozoochoric seed disperser. Utilizing a suite of common, rare, and potentially invasive plant species, we disentangled the effects of seed morphological traits on germination success while controlling for phylogenetic relatedness. Further, we measured the landscape connectivity via hares in two contrasting agricultural landscapes (simple: few natural and semi-natural structures, large fields; complex: high amount of natural and semi-natural structures, small fields) using GPS-based movement data. With 34,710 seeds of 44 plant species fed, one of 200 seeds (0.51%) with seedlings of 33 species germinated from feces. Germination after complete digestion was positively related to denser seeds with comparatively small surface area and a relatively slender and elongated shape, suggesting that, for hares, the most critical seed characteristics for successful endozoochorous seed dispersal minimize exposure of the seed to the stomach and the associated digestive system. Furthermore, we could show that a hare's retention time is long enough to interconnect different habitats, especially grasslands and fields. Thus, besides other seed dispersal mechanisms, this most likely allows hares to act as effective mobile linkers contributing to ecosystem stability in times of agricultural intensification, not only in complex but also in simple landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Stiegler
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Katrin Kiemel
- Institute of Biochemistry and BiologyEvolutionary Biology / Systematic ZoologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Jana Eccard
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Animal EcologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Christina Fischer
- Department of Agriculture, Ecotrophology, and Landscape DevelopmentFaunistics and Wildlife ConservationAnhalt University of Applied SciencesBernburgGermany
| | - Robert Hering
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)BerlinGermany
| | - Lea Strigl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Ralph Tiedemann
- Institute of Biochemistry and BiologyEvolutionary Biology / Systematic ZoologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Wiebke Ullmann
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
| | - Niels Blaum
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, Plant Ecology and Nature ConservationUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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Kompiš M, Ballová ZK. The influence of preferred habitat and daily range of the European hare on its contamination by heavy metals: a case study from the West Carpathians. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:52093-52105. [PMID: 34002308 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Spišská Magura mountain range, located in the Middle Spiš, is one of the regions in Slovakia most contaminated by heavy metals resulting from mining and smelting activities. Heavy metals and other potentially toxic elements have accumulated in mountain areas via atmospheric transport. The influence of the daily range size of the European hare on its contamination by heavy metals was investigated in three habitat types (forest, woodland edge, meadow) in the Spišská Magura mountain range in the West Carpathians. Individual hares (n = 21) were traced and located by GPS following snowfall. Pair samples of their faeces (n = 64) and food (n = 64) were collected from feeding sites. The maps created were used for determination of the size of the daily range as being small or large. All hares that have a small daily range avoid meadows and open spaces due to the higher predation risk. However, individuals with a large daily range feed in all habitats, including meadows. Hares with a small daily range in a forest habitat ingested higher amounts of bio-elements Ca, Cr, S, and Mn as well as higher amounts of heavy metals Ba and Pb than hares with a large daily range. Moreover, dominant hares with a small daily range, with access to abundant food sources in a forest habitat, may gradually take on higher levels of bio-elements including heavy metals that are present in their food source. In contrast, in the woodland edge, hares with a small daily range had a smaller concentration of Ca, Cr, Mn, S, Ba, and Pb compared to hares with a large daily range. Caecotrophy plays a very significant role as far as the intake of nutrients and other elements is concerned. We found significant dependence between concentrations of the elements Cr, S, Ba, Pb, and Cd in the food of European hares and in their faeces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kompiš
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Javorina 7, SK-05956, Tatranská, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Kompišová Ballová
- Institute of High Mountain Biology, University of Žilina, Javorina 7, SK-05956, Tatranská, Slovakia.
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Ujhegyi N, Keller N, Patkó L, Biró Z, Tóth B, Szemethy L. Agri-environment schemes do not support Brown Hare populations due to inadequate scheme application. ACTA ZOOL ACAD SCI H 2021. [DOI: 10.17109/azh.67.3.263.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The goal of many agri-environment schemes (AES) is to increase biodiversity in agroecosystems. AES effects are often measured on invertebrates and birds; mammals as indicator species are infrequently targets of such researches. Our goal was to evaluate the local-scale effects of the Hungarian Agri-Environmental Measures (AEM) on the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus), which shows decreasing population trends across Europe. We compared hare abundances and their dropping numbers in AEM and control agricultural arable and grassland fields of 17 game management units in two seasons. We also examined the quality of arable fields based on their margin width and vegetation cover. We found that margin quality was higher in AEM than in the control fields. Control grasslands had higher vegetation quality than the AEM grasslands. We found a significant difference in hare counts between AEM and control arable fields in spring but no difference in autumn. The dropping densities did not differ in any season, treatment category or agroecosystem type. We conclude that the AEM program (2009-2014) in Hungary was not effective for the hare, and this might have been caused by the inadequate or weak application of AEM practices. We provide recommendations for future AEM programs to enhance biodiversity.
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Castellaro G, Orellana CL, Escanilla JP. Summer Diet of Horses ( Equus ferus caballus Linn.), Guanacos ( Lama guanicoe Müller), and European Brown Hares ( Lepus europaeus Pallas) in the High Andean Range of the Coquimbo Region, Chile. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11051313. [PMID: 34063638 PMCID: PMC8147654 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
For an adequate management of natural grasslands, the knowledge and understanding of the dietary habits of herbivores and their trophic interactions are fundamental. During two summer seasons, in a mountain range of a sector of the Coquimbo Region, Chile, the botanical composition, diversity, and similarity of the diets of horses, European brown hares, and guanacos were studied, as was the selectivity of the main grassland plant species, using feces microhistology. The contribution of hydromorphic grasses was similar in the diets of guanacos (35.90 ± 7.27%) and horses (32.25 ± 4.50%), differing from that found in hares (16.32 ± 5.32%). Dryland grassland grasses contributed similarly to the diets of horses (13.21 ± 3.22%), guanacos (22.53 ± 5.21%) and hares (18.35 ± 3.81%), as well as graminoids, which averaged 47.79 ± 6.66%, 35.63 ± 10.76% and 38.94 ± 7.88%, in diets of horses, guanacos, and hares, respectively, without significant differences. The contribution of herbaceous dicotyledons was only important in hares (23.76 ± 3.76%), while that of shrubs was low (<3%) and similar among the three herbivores. Dietary diversity was similar among the three herbivore species (73-79%), with a higher degree of dietary overlap between horses and guanacos (55.7%), which was higher than that obtained between hares and guanacos (50%) and between horses and hares (48%), for which there would be a potential trophic competition between them. The most abundant species of dryland and wet grasslands generally fulfill a functional role of subsistence and a nutritional role of maintenance; however, for the three herbivores studied, a different selective behavior was evidenced, according to their physiological differences, with the selection process little affected by the relative abundance of these species in the grasslands. Due to the above, herbivores resort to the selection of certain species that, despite being not very abundant in grasslands, play an important nutritional and functional role, improving the quality of their diets.
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Influence of cereal harvest on adrenocortical activity in European hares (Lepus europaeus). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01430-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAnthropogenic disturbances, such as habitat modifications and machines, are associated with increased levels of faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) in mammals, an indicator of a stress response. One human-caused process provoking incisive habitat alterations is harvesting arable crops. We investigated the effect of cereal harvest on fGCM concentrations in European hares (Lepus europaeus) in arable landscapes in lower Austria during the year 2018 by collecting 591 faecal samples before, during and after cereal harvest. fGCMs were analysed using an enzyme immunoassay, and data were analysed using linear mixed-effects models. We found that neither cereal harvest nor farming practice (organic vs. conventional) caused an overall increase in the hares’ stress level. Lower vegetation density and higher proportions of bare ground were negatively correlated with fGCM concentrations, whereas the proportion of stubble fields was significantly positively correlated with fGCM concentrations in European hares. A change to more open landscapes might decrease time spent avoiding predation, and fallen grains may provide a beneficial additional food source for the hares. This indicates that European hares are well adapted to an opening up of the landscape and short-term disturbances such as cereal harvesting. In conclusion, cereal harvest had no large impact on European hares’ adrenocortical activity in an arable landscape with small average field size and enough available non-farmed areas.
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Shanmuganandam S, Hu Y, Strive T, Schwessinger B, Hall RN. Uncovering the microbiome of invasive sympatric European brown hares and European rabbits in Australia. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9564. [PMID: 32874776 PMCID: PMC7441920 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) and European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are invasive pest species in Australia, with rabbits having a substantially larger environmental impact than hares. As their spatial distribution in Australia partially overlaps, we conducted a comparative microbiome study to determine how the composition of gastrointestinal microbiota varies between these species, since this may indicate species differences in diet, physiology, and other internal and external factors. Methods We analysed the faecal microbiome of nine wild hares and twelve wild rabbits from a sympatric periurban reserve in Canberra, Australia, using a 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing approach. Additionally, we compared the concordance between results from Illumina and Nanopore sequencing platforms. Results We identified significantly more variation in faecal microbiome composition between individual rabbits compared to hares, despite both species occupying a similar habitat. The faecal microbiome in both species was dominated by the phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, typical of many vertebrates. Many phyla, including Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Patescibacteria, were shared between rabbits and hares. In contrast, bacteria from phylum Verrucomicrobia were present only in rabbits, while phyla Lentisphaerae and Synergistetes were represented only in hares. We did not identify phylum Spirochaetes in Australian hares; this phylum was previously shown to be present at high relative abundance in European hare faecal samples. These differences in the composition of faecal microbiota may be indicative of less discriminate foraging behaviour in rabbits, which in turn may enable them to adapt quicker to new environments, and may reflect the severe environmental impacts that this species has in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somasundhari Shanmuganandam
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia.,Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Yiheng Hu
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia
| | - Tanja Strive
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Robyn N Hall
- Health & Biosecurity, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Acton, ACT, Australia.,Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Bruce, ACT, Australia
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Survival rates on pre-weaning European hares (Lepus europaeus) in an intensively used agricultural area. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01403-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe primary cause of the long-term decline in European hares’ (Lepus europaeus) population throughout Europe is widely assumed to be the intensification of agriculture. A critical component in this population dynamics is seen in the survival of leverets from birth to reproductive age. In European hares, the first stage of life until weaning has been sparsely studied, in particular habitat selection, movements and survival rate, as juveniles’ precocial lifestyle is dominated by any kind of anti-predation behaviour. In the present study, free-living and pre-weaning European hares were detected systematically by thermography (n = 394), being radio-tagged or marked (n = 229) from birth until the fifth week of life to research the early juvenile survival and proximate causes of mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were computed overall and in relation to the strata of season, sex and type of daytime resting place. The survival rate of radio-tagged leverets was 0.35 in the first month of life, and 0.63, 0.52 and 0.44 for the first, second and third week of life, respectively. Approximately 21.6% and 50% of all confirmed deaths occurred during the first 7 and 13 days after birth. By the end of the 4th week of life, the mortality rate caused by predation, suspected predation, agricultural practices and unexplained cases was 41.7%, 36.7%, 11.7% and 10.0%, respectively. There was no significant difference in survival between the sexes and seasons. In contrast, young hares died more frequently as a consequence of choosing a hiding place without shelter during the daytime.
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Schai-Braun SC, Lapin K, Bernhardt KG, Alves PC, Hackländer K. Effect of landscape type, elevation, vegetation period, and taxonomic plant identification level on diet preferences of Alpine mountain hares (Lepus timidus varronis). EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-020-01398-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Mayer M, Duan X, Sunde P, Topping CJ. European hares do not avoid newly pesticide-sprayed fields: Overspray as unnoticed pathway of pesticide exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 715:136977. [PMID: 32014783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although risk assessments for pesticides involve quantifying exposure routes for animals, little empirical evidence exists on how individuals use areas where pesticides were used. Further, the European Food Safety Authority guidelines for the risk assessment of birds and mammals currently only include direct dietary uptake from exposed plants as important pathway for pesticides, arguing that dermal exposure is generally negligible. Here, we use the European hare (Lepus europaeus) as a model of a farmland specialist to investigate if (1) hares adjust habitat use in response to pesticide spraying, using GPS data, and (2) calculate the pesticide exposure and uptake over different pathways, i.e. foraging uptake versus overspray and subsequent oral grooming, using an agent-based modelling approach. Apart from avoidance of sprayed fields on the spraying day by inactive hares, which was likely caused by the mechanical disturbance rather than the pesticide itself, we found no evidence that hares reduced the use of pesticide-sprayed fields compared to control observations where no pesticides were applied. Our simulation showed that both the proportion of exposed individuals and the pesticide uptake were related to the pathway of exposure (foraging versus overspray/oral grooming), and depended on the age class and the vegetation type. We found that pesticide uptake via overspray/oral grooming might be 7-fold higher compared to foraging and might thus be an important pathway of pesticide exposure in hares. Our findings emphasize that policy makers, specifically the European Food Safety Authority, should incorporate alternative pathways of pesticide exposure for birds and mammals, such as overspray and oral grooming, when conducting environmental risk assessments and take variation in vegetation structure and age-related animal behavior into account, because these factors might affect pesticide exposure. Interactions between pesticide application and vegetation structure may both increase or decrease exposure but can be predicted using a simulation approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mayer
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark.
| | - Xiaodong Duan
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
| | - Peter Sunde
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Grenåvej 14, 8410 Rønde, Denmark
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Naldi L, Greco I, Ferretti M, Zaccaroni M. Density Estimates and Habitat Preferences of the European Hare (Lepus europaeus) on Mountainous Areas in Italy. MAMMAL STUDY 2020. [DOI: 10.3106/ms2019-0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Naldi
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Ilaria Greco
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Ferretti
- Regione Toscana, Corso Gramsci 110, IT-51100 Pistoia, Italy
| | - Marco Zaccaroni
- Department of Biology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Estimating Sustainable Harvest Rates for European Hare (Lepus Europaeus) Populations. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11102837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Hunting quotas are used to manage populations of game species in order to ensure sustainable exploitation. However, unpredictable climatic events may interact with hunting. We established a population model for European hares (Lepus europaeus) in Lower Austria. We compared the sustainability of voluntary quotas used by hunters—which are derived from hare-specific guidelines—with the actual numbers of hares shot and our recommended quotas for hares, which have been derived from climate and population modeling. We used population modeling based on vital rates and densities to adjust our recommended quotas in order to achieve sustainable harvest. The survival of age classes 1 and 3 had the highest impact on the population growth rate. Population viability analysis showed that a recommended quota with a harvest rate of 10% was sustainable for population densities of 45 hares/km2, and that the threshold for hunting should be raised from 10 hares/km2 so that hare populations with <15 hares/km2 are not hunted. The recommended quota outperformed the voluntary hunting quota, since more hares could be harvested sustainably. Age Class 1 survival was strongly linked with weather: a single year with unfavorable weather conditions (low precipitation) negatively affected population densities. Game species, including the European hare, face increasingly frequent weather extremes due to climate change, so hunting quotas need to be sensitive to frequent population fluctuations.
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Stalder GL, Pinior B, Zwirzitz B, Loncaric I, Jakupović D, Vetter SG, Smith S, Posautz A, Hoelzl F, Wagner M, Hoffmann D, Kübber-Heiss A, Mann E. Gut microbiota of the European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus). Sci Rep 2019; 9:2738. [PMID: 30804494 PMCID: PMC6390100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39638-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to changes in the bacterial flora have been described with increasing incidence in the European brown hare. Despite extensive demographic and phylogeographic research, little is known about the composition of its gut microbiota and how it might vary based on potential environmental or host factors. We analysed the intestinal and faecal microbiota of 3 hare populations by Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The phyla and OTU abundance composition differed significantly between intestinal and faecal samples (PERMANOVA: P = 0.002 and P = 0.031, respectively), but in both sample types Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the microbial community composition (45.51% and 19.30% relative abundance). Intestinal samples contained an enrichment of Proteobacteria compared with faecal samples (15.71-fold change, P < 0.001). At OTU level, a significant enrichment with best BLAST hits to the Escherichia-Shigella group, Eubacterium limosum, Sphingomonas kyeonggiensis, Flintibacter butyricus and Blautia faecis were detected in intestinal samples (P < 0.05). In our statistical model, geographic location and possibly associated environmental factors had a greater impact on the microbiota composition than host factors. Population had a significant effect on the composition of abundant intestinal and faecal OTUs, and on the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, regularly associated with intestinal dysbiosis in hares, in faecal samples. Our study is the first to describe the microbiota in brown hares and provides a foundation to generate hypothesis aiming to test the role of gut health in population fluctuations of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Stalder
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
| | - B Pinior
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute for Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - B Zwirzitz
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation FFoQSI GmbH, Technopark 1C, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - I Loncaric
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - D Jakupović
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - S G Vetter
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Smith
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Posautz
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Hoelzl
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Wagner
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation FFoQSI GmbH, Technopark 1C, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - D Hoffmann
- Game Conservancy Deutschland e. V., Schloßstrasse 1, 86732, Oettingen, Germany
| | - A Kübber-Heiss
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - E Mann
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
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Tissier ML, Marchandeau S, Habold C, Handrich Y, Eidenschenck J, Kourkgy C. Weeds as a predominant food source: a review of the diet of common hamsters
Cricetus cricetus
in farmlands and urban habitats. Mamm Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde L. Tissier
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Au bord du Rhin F‐67150 Gerstheim France
| | | | - Caroline Habold
- Université de StrasbourgCNRSIPHC UMR 7178 F‐67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Yves Handrich
- Université de StrasbourgCNRSIPHC UMR 7178 F‐67000 Strasbourg France
| | - Julien Eidenschenck
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Au bord du Rhin F‐67150 Gerstheim France
| | - Charlotte Kourkgy
- Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage Au bord du Rhin F‐67150 Gerstheim France
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Gordon IJ, Prins HHT, Mallon J, Puk LD, Miranda EBP, Starling-Manne C, van der Wal R, Moore B, Foley W, Lush L, Maestri R, Matsuda I, Clauss M. The Ecology of Browsing and Grazing in Other Vertebrate Taxa. THE ECOLOGY OF BROWSING AND GRAZING II 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25865-8_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
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Mayer M, Ullmann W, Sunde P, Fischer C, Blaum N. Habitat selection by the European hare in arable landscapes: The importance of small-scale habitat structure for conservation. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:11619-11633. [PMID: 30598761 PMCID: PMC6303708 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Agricultural land-use practices have intensified over the last decades, leading to population declines of various farmland species, including the European hare (Lepus europaeus). In many European countries, arable fields dominate agricultural landscapes. Compared to pastures, arable land is highly variable, resulting in a large spatial variation of food and cover for wildlife over the course of the year, which potentially affects habitat selection by hares. Here, we investigated within-home-range habitat selection by hares in arable areas in Denmark and Germany to identify habitat requirements for their conservation. We hypothesized that hare habitat selection would depend on local habitat structure, that is, vegetation height, but also on agricultural field size, vegetation type, and proximity to field edges. Active hares generally selected for short vegetation (1-25 cm) and avoided higher vegetation and bare ground, especially when fields were comparatively larger. Vegetation >50 cm potentially restricts hares from entering parts of their home range and does not provide good forage, the latter also being the case on bare ground. The vegetation type was important for habitat selection by inactive hares, with fabaceae, fallow, and maize being selected for, potentially providing both cover and forage. Our results indicate that patches of shorter vegetation could improve the forage quality and habitat accessibility for hares, especially in areas with large monocultures. Thus, policymakers should aim to increase areas with short vegetation throughout the year. Further, permanent set-asides, like fallow and wildflower areas, would provide year-round cover for inactive hares. Finally, the reduction in field sizes would increase the density of field margins, and farming different crop types within small areas could improve the habitat for hares and other farmland species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mayer
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityRøndeDenmark
| | - Wiebke Ullmann
- Plant Ecology and Conservation BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
- Institute for Landscape BiogeochemistryLeibniz‐Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF)MünchebergGermany
| | - Peter Sunde
- Department of BioscienceAarhus UniversityRøndeDenmark
| | - Christina Fischer
- Restoration Ecology, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem ManagementTechnische Universität MünchenFreisingGermany
| | - Niels Blaum
- Plant Ecology and Conservation BiologyUniversity of PotsdamPotsdamGermany
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Giant panda twin rearing without assistance requires more interactions and less rest of the mother-A case study at Vienna Zoo. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0207433. [PMID: 30485373 PMCID: PMC6261581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0207433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The giant pandas' (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) reproductive strategy is unique among mammals. Yet there are characteristics of giant panda behaviour we do not fully understand. Probably one of the least understood is the assumption that in captivity virtually all giant panda females rear only one cub when twins are born and abandon the other if given the chance. So far, only two females have raised twins simultaneously, but just with intensive human assistance. This case-study marks the first successful rearing of giant panda twins in captivity entirely by the mother. Using video data for detailed behavioural observations, we provide the first behavioural assessment of a giant panda female raising two cubs simultaneously without direct human assistance or disturbance. We compared the maternal behaviour during the denning period of twin cubs raised in 2016 with two singleton cubs born 2007 and 2010. YANG YANG, the dam, rested less and interacted more with the twins than with the singletons in the first month postpartum and invested a greater part of her daily time budget on rearing the twins. We discuss potential favourable factors for the autonomous twin-rearing of a female giant panda, which could serve as a model for similar efforts elsewhere.
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Miśta D, Króliczewska B, Pecka-Kiełb E, Piekarska J, Marounek M, Zawadzki W. Comparative in vitro study of caecal microbial activity in brown hares and domestic rabbits which were offered the same diet. MAMMAL RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-018-0357-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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Levänen R, Kunnasranta M, Pohjoismäki J. Mitochondrial DNA Introgression at the Northern Edge of the Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) Range. ANN ZOOL FENN 2018. [DOI: 10.5735/086.055.0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Riikka Levänen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
| | - Mervi Kunnasranta
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Yliopistokatu 6, FI-80100, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Jaakko Pohjoismäki
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland
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The effect of landscape heterogeneity on population density and habitat preferences of the European hare (Lepus europaeus) in contrasting farmlands. Mamm Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mambio.2017.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Activity of potential predators of European hare (Lepus europaeus) leverets and ground-nesting birds in wildflower strips. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1158-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Petrovan SO, Dixie J, Yapp E, Wheeler PM. Bioenergy crops and farmland biodiversity: benefits and limitations are scale-dependant for a declining mammal, the brown hare. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-017-1106-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Lush L, Ward AI, Wheeler P. Dietary niche partitioning between sympatric brown hares and rabbits. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Lush
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences University of Hull Scarborough UK
| | - A. I. Ward
- School of Biological, Biomedical and Environmental Sciences University of Hull Hull UK
| | - P. Wheeler
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Sciences University of Hull Scarborough UK
- Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems The Open University Milton Keynes UK
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Niche overlap of mountain hare subspecies and the vulnerability of their ranges to invasion by the European hare; the (bad) luck of the Irish. Biol Invasions 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1330-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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Flexibility in the food selection by the European hare (Lepus europaeus) along the altitudinal gradient of the Southern Andean Precordillera (Argentina). MAMMAL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-016-0288-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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