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Buzan E, Potočnik H, Pokorny B, Potušek S, Iacolina L, Gerič U, Urzi F, Kos I. Molecular analysis of scats revealed diet and prey choice of grey wolves and Eurasian lynx in the contact zone between the Dinaric Mountains and the Alps. Front Zool 2024; 21:9. [PMID: 38500207 PMCID: PMC10949697 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-024-00530-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations. The objective of this study was to employ DNA metabarcoding to accurately determine the prey species in grey wolf (Canis lupus) and Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) scat samples collected in the Julian Alps and the Dinaric Mountains, Slovenia. The primary prey of wolves were red deer (Cervus elaphus) (detected in 96% scat samples), European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) (68%), and wild boar (Sus scrofa) (45%). A smaller portion of their diet consisted of mesocarnivores, small mammals, and domestic animals. In contrast, the lynx diet mostly consisted of European roe deer (82%) and red deer (64%). However, small mammals and domestic animals were also present in lynx diet, albeit to a lesser extent. Our findings indicate that the dietary habits of wolves and lynx are influenced by geographical location. Snapshot dietary analyses using metabarcoding are valuable for comprehending the behaviour and ecology of predators, and for devising conservation measures aimed at sustainable management of both their natural habitats and prey populations. However, to gain a more detailed understanding of wolf and lynx dietary habits and ecological impact, it would be essential to conduct long-term genetic monitoring of their diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Buzan
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
- Faculty of Environmental Protection, Trg mladosti 7, 3320, Velenje, Slovenia
| | - Hubert Potočnik
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boštjan Pokorny
- Faculty of Environmental Protection, Trg mladosti 7, 3320, Velenje, Slovenia
- Slovenian Forestry Institute, Večna pot 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Sandra Potušek
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Laura Iacolina
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
- Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Urška Gerič
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia
| | - Felicita Urzi
- Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000, Koper, Slovenia.
| | - Ivan Kos
- Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Barja I, Navarro-Castilla Á, Ortiz-Jiménez L, España Á, Hinojosa R, Sánchez-Sotomayor D, Iglesias Á, España J, Rubio-Sánchez S, Martín-Romero S, Vielva J, Horcajada-Sánchez F. Wild Ungulates Constitute the Basis of the Diet of the Iberian Wolf in a Recently Recolonized Area: Wild Boar and Roe Deer as Key Species for Its Conservation. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3364. [PMID: 37958119 PMCID: PMC10647792 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus) is recolonizing historical distribution areas after decades of absence. As in other human-dominated landscapes, finding a balance to protect this species by favoring recolonization and mitigating human-wildlife conflicts is a challenge. Since wolves are often generalist opportunistic predators, we studied their diet composition in central Spain to evaluate the consumption of domestic ungulates and provide reliable data that could help local authorities to deal with the current wolf-cattle ranchers conflict and coexistence. Diet composition (% prey occurrence, % prey ingested biomass) was analyzed through the identification of prey hairs present in 671 scats collected between 2017 and 2021. The wolves fed more on wild ungulates (82% occurrence) than domestic ones (18%). Wild boar (Sus scrofa, 44% occurrence) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus, 35%) were the most consumed prey. The wolves positively selected these two species. The wolves' diets varied between seasons, years, and forest regions, but a diet based on wild ungulates predominated over domestic ones. Food niche breadth showed variations depending on seasons and years. Preserving the availability and diversity of wild ungulates may favor reducing livestock attacks and would be an achievable goal that would help to conserve this species and reduce conservation conflicts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Barja
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Navarro-Castilla
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
- Research Centre in Biodiversity and Global Change (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Lorena Ortiz-Jiménez
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel España
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Roberto Hinojosa
- SIGNATUR, Carretera de la Sierra, 45, Villavieja del Lozoya, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - David Sánchez-Sotomayor
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ángel Iglesias
- Unidad de Zoología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - José España
- SIGNATUR, C/Asunción Castell, 22, 28739 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Rubio-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Santiago Martín-Romero
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Vielva
- Consejería de Medio Ambiente, Vivienda y Agricultura, Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, 28740 Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando Horcajada-Sánchez
- Centro de Investigación, Seguimiento y Evaluación del Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Guadarrama, TRAGSA, 28740 Madrid, Spain
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Martínez-Carrasco C, Moroni B, García-Garrigós A, Robetto S, Carella E, Zoppi S, Tizzani P, Gonzálvez M, Orusa R, Rossi L. Wolf Is Back: A Novel Sensitive Sentinel Rejoins the Trichinella Cycle in the Western Alps. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10030206. [PMID: 36977245 PMCID: PMC10055899 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10030206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Trichinella is a foodborne parasite whose wildlife reservoirs are represented by carnivores and omnivores with predatory and scavenger behavior. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of Trichinella infection in grey wolves (Canis lupus) that recolonized the Western Alps from the end of the past century, and discuss the epidemiological role played by this apex predator in the early phases of its return. During the period 2017–2022, diaphragm samples were obtained from 130 individuals collected in the frame of a wolf mortality survey. Trichinella larvae were found in 15 wolves (11.53%) with a parasite intensity of 11.74 larvae per gram. Trichinella britovi was the only species identified. This is the first prevalence survey of Trichinella in wolves recolonizing the Alps. Results suggest that, in this particular biotope, the wolf has rejoined the Trichinella cycle and has the potential to play an increasingly important role as maintenance host. Arguments in favor and against this perspective are discussed and knowledge gaps highlighted. The calculated Trichinella larval biomass in the estimated wolf population roaming in Northwest Italy will serve as baseline value to explore possible shifts in the relative importance of wolves as Trichinella reservoir within the regional carnivore community. Finally, wolves re-colonizing the Alps already appear as sensitive sentinels to monitor the risk of Trichinella zoonotic transmission by infected wild boar meat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Martínez-Carrasco
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Barbara Moroni
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (B.M.); (E.C.)
| | - Anna García-Garrigós
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Serena Robetto
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale Malattie Animali Selvatici (CERMAS), Località Amerique 7G, 11020 Quart, Italy
| | - Emanuele Carella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
- Correspondence: (B.M.); (E.C.)
| | - Simona Zoppi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Torino, Italy
| | - Paolo Tizzani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Moisés Gonzálvez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Regional “Campus Mare Nostrum”, Universidad de Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Grupo de Investigación en Sanidad Animal y Zoonosis (GISAZ), Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Riccardo Orusa
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale di Piemonte, Liguria e Valle d’Aosta, Centro di Referenza Nazionale Malattie Animali Selvatici (CERMAS), Località Amerique 7G, 11020 Quart, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
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Abdelgadier A, Assaad N, Elhussein Z, Al‐Marri AM, Suliman S, Eltom K, Al‐Mslemani EA, Al‐Zeyara AA, Hussein ARME, Enan KA. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in animals of the Arabian Peninsula between 2000-2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Med Sci 2022; 9:471-480. [PMID: 36408778 PMCID: PMC9857116 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1004] [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] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a zoonotic parasite that can be transmitted from animals to humans, with felids acting as its definitive host. Thus, understanding the epidemiology of this parasite in animal populations is vital to controlling its transmission to humans as well as to other animal groups. OBJECTIVES This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to summarise and analyse reports of T. gondii infection in animal species residing in the Arabian Peninsula. METHODS It was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), with relevant studies being retrieved from MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar and ScienceDirect. All articles published in Arabic or English languages between January 2000 and December 2020 were screened for eligibility. Random effects model was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of T. gondii infection in different animal populations which were found to harbour this infection. The critical appraisal tool for prevalence studies designed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) was used to assess the risk of bias in all included studies. RESULTS A total of 15 studies were retrieved, reporting prevalence estimates from 4 countries in this region and in 13 animal species. Quantitative meta-analysis estimated a pooled prevalence of 43% in felids [95% confidence interval (CI) = 23-64%, I2 index = 100%], 48% in sheep (95% CI = 27-70%, I2 = 99%) and 21% in camels (95% CI = 7-35%, I2 = 99%). Evidence of possible publication bias was found in both felids and sheep. CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis estimates a high prevalence of T. gondii infection in animal species which are of high economic and cultural importance to countries of this region. Hence, these findings provide valuable insight to public health authorities as well as economic and animal resources advisors in countries of the Arabian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmaa Abdelgadier
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesCollege of Arts and SciencesQatar UniversityDohaQatar
| | - Nada Assaad
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesCollege of Arts and SciencesQatar UniversityDohaQatar
| | - Zaynab Elhussein
- Department of Biological and Environmental SciencesCollege of Arts and SciencesQatar UniversityDohaQatar
| | - Abdulla M. Al‐Marri
- Department of Veterinary LaboratoryAnimal ResourcesMinistry of MunicipalityDohaQatar
| | - Sami Suliman
- Medical Laboratory SciencesIbn Sina UniversityKhartoumSudan
| | - Khalid Eltom
- Department of VirologyThe Central LaboratoryMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific ResearchKhartoumSudan
| | - Ebtisam A. Al‐Mslemani
- Department of Epidemiology and Infectious DiseasesAnimal ResourcesMinistry of MunicipalityDohaQatar
| | | | - Abdel Rahim M. El Hussein
- Department of VirologyThe Central LaboratoryMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific ResearchKhartoumSudan
| | - Khalid A. Enan
- Department of Veterinary LaboratoryAnimal ResourcesMinistry of MunicipalityDohaQatar,Department of VirologyThe Central LaboratoryMinistry of Higher Education and Scientific ResearchKhartoumSudan
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“Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner”: Molecular Tools to Reconstruct multilocus Genetic Profiles from Wild Canid Consumption Remains. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182428. [PMID: 36139288 PMCID: PMC9495216 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-invasive genetic sampling is a practical tool to monitor pivotal ecological parameters and population dynamic patterns of endangered species. It can be particularly suitable when applied to elusive carnivores such as the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) and the European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris), which can live in overlapping ecological contexts and sometimes share their habitats with their domestic free-ranging relatives, increasing the risk of anthropogenic hybridisation. In this case study, we exploited all the ecological and genetic information contained in a single biological canid faecal sample, collected in a forested area of central Italy, to detect any sign of trophic interactions between wolves and European wildcats or their domestic counterparts. Firstly, the faecal finding was morphologically examined, showing the presence of felid hair and claw fragment remains. Subsequently, total genomic DNA contained in the hair and claw samples was extracted and genotyped, through a multiple-tube approach, at canid and felid diagnostic panels of microsatellite loci. Finally, the obtained individual multilocus genotypes were analysed with reference wild and domestic canid and felid populations to assess their correct taxonomic status using Bayesian clustering procedures. Assignment analyses classified the genotype obtained from the endothelial cells present on the hair sample as a wolf with slight signals of dog ancestry, showing a qi = 0.954 (C.I. 0.780–1.000) to the wolf cluster, and the genotype obtained from the claw as a domestic cat, showing a qi = 0.996 (95% C.I. = 0.982–1.000) to the domestic cat cluster. Our results clearly show how a non-invasive multidisciplinary approach allows the cost-effective identification of both prey and predator genetic profiles and their taxonomic status, contributing to the improvement of our knowledge about feeding habits, predatory dynamics, and anthropogenic hybridisation risk in threatened species.
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Yanuta G, Wróbel M, Klich D, Haidt A, Drobik-Czwarno W, Balcerak M, Mitrenkov A. How should we manage a strong Eurasian Beaver population? A comparison of population trends in Poland and Belarus. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 318:115608. [PMID: 35779294 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115608] [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: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Eurasian beaver is currently found in at least 32 European countries, with many of these populations being established in the 1960s. In most European countries, the beaver is under protection, however, when the population is strong, the beaver becomes a game species. In Poland, the beaver is partially protected despite the species having a strong population. In this study we aimed to compare the development trends of Eurasian beaver populations in two management regimes, in Poland (protected) and Belarus (hunted), between 2004 and 2019. We compared beaver population trends in both countries, and analyzed the factors that could impact population growth. In Poland, during this period the population increased 3.5 times, while in Belarus it was only 20%. Distinct differences in the rate of population numbers increase were also observed between regions in Poland, but a stable, slight increase similar in all regions in Belarus. Our study did not show that precipitation or the density of this species influenced the rate of population development in Poland. During this period, hunting and wolf density significantly and negatively impacted beaver population growth in Belarus, but in the long-term analysis, hunting had a lower impact on beaver population growth. We concluded that we can expect a further increase in this population in Poland. Long-term hunting at a level of 13,7% (based on the analysis of population dynamics and hunting bags for Belarus) of the annual population seems to be a safe value for the beaver population. Nevertheless more detailed analysis should be carried out in the face of the large differences between regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gigorij Yanuta
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Michał Wróbel
- Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090, Sękocin Stary, Poland.
| | - Daniel Klich
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Andżelika Haidt
- Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute, Braci Leśnej 3, 05-090, Sękocin Stary, Poland.
| | - Wioleta Drobik-Czwarno
- Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Marek Balcerak
- Department of Animal Breeding, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Andrey Mitrenkov
- Belarusian State Technological University, Sverdlova 13a, 220006, Minsk, Belarus.
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Riego del Castillo V, Sánchez-González L, Campazas-Vega A, Strisciuglio N. Vision-Based Module for Herding with a Sheepdog Robot. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:5321. [PMID: 35891009 PMCID: PMC9317257 DOI: 10.3390/s22145321] [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: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Livestock farming is assisted more and more by technological solutions, such as robots. One of the main problems for shepherds is the control and care of livestock in areas difficult to access where grazing animals are attacked by predators such as the Iberian wolf in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In this paper, we propose a system to automatically generate benchmarks of animal images of different species from iNaturalist API, which is coupled with a vision-based module that allows us to automatically detect predators and distinguish them from other animals. We tested multiple existing object detection models to determine the best one in terms of efficiency and speed, as it is conceived for real-time environments. YOLOv5m achieves the best performance as it can process 64 FPS, achieving an mAP (with IoU of 50%) of 99.49% for a dataset where wolves (predator) or dogs (prey) have to be detected and distinguished. This result meets the requirements of pasture-based livestock farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Riego del Castillo
- Departamento de Ingenierías Mecánica, Informática y Aeroespacial, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (V.R.d.C.); (A.C.-V.)
| | - Lidia Sánchez-González
- Departamento de Ingenierías Mecánica, Informática y Aeroespacial, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (V.R.d.C.); (A.C.-V.)
| | - Adrián Campazas-Vega
- Departamento de Ingenierías Mecánica, Informática y Aeroespacial, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain; (V.R.d.C.); (A.C.-V.)
| | - Nicola Strisciuglio
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Twente, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands;
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Guimarães NF, Álvares F, Ďurová J, Urban P, Bučko J, Iľko T, Brndiar J, Štofik J, Pataky T, Barančeková M, Kropil R, Smolko P. What drives wolf preference towards wild ungulates? Insights from a multi-prey system in the Slovak Carpathians. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0265386. [PMID: 35759447 PMCID: PMC9236239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The wolf is a generalist-opportunistic predator that displays diverse and remarkably adaptable feeding strategies across its range with local adaptations to certain prey species depending on their availability and vulnerability. The multi-prey system of the Slovak Carpathians supports important portion of the European wolf population; however, it has been markedly understudied. We evaluated winter diet composition and prey selection of Slovak wolves based on 321 scat samples collected between September–April within four different study areas during 2015–2017. The winter diet of wolves in the Slovak Carpathians was characterized by a 98% occurrence of wild large-sized and medium-sized ungulates with red deer occurring in wolf scats most often, consistent with their highest density among other wild ungulates. However, by comparing the consumption with availability of wild prey, we found that wolves in fact selected for wild boar especially in areas with higher altitudinal range, while selected for red deer in areas with low altitudinal range where this prey species was more spatially predictable. Although wolves showed the potential to switch between red deer and wild boar when their density increases, we found that this variation can be rather linked to changing prey vulnerability, which is dependent on particular environmental conditions at local scale such as topography and snow accumulation. The present study provides valuable insights into the winter foraging ecology of Slovak wolves in a multi-prey system of the Carpathians and allows for practical implications in the management of the rapidly increasing populations of wild ungulates across Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno F. Guimarães
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- Little Fox, The Centre of Natural Sciences, Research and Environmental Education, Staré Hory, Slovakia
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
- * E-mail:
| | - Francisco Álvares
- CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, InBIO Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Jana Ďurová
- Little Fox, The Centre of Natural Sciences, Research and Environmental Education, Staré Hory, Slovakia
- Faculty of Ecology and Environmental Studies, Technical University in Zvolen, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Peter Urban
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | | | - Tomáš Iľko
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
- Muráň Plateau National Park, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic, Revúca, Slovakia
| | - Jaro Brndiar
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Jozef Štofik
- Poloniny National Park, State Nature Conservancy of the Slovakia Republic, Stakčín, Slovakia
| | - Tibor Pataky
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Barančeková
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic
- University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rudolf Kropil
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
| | - Peter Smolko
- Faculty of Forestry, Department of Applied Zoology and Wildlife Management, Technical University in Zvolen, Zvolen, Slovakia
- Diana–Carpathian Wildlife Research, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
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9
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Liu G, Zhang S, Zhao X, Li C, Gong M. Advances and Limitations of Next Generation Sequencing in Animal Diet Analysis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121854. [PMID: 34946803 PMCID: PMC8701983 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diet analysis is a critical content of animal ecology and the diet analysis methods have been constantly improving and updating. Contrary to traditional methods of high labor intensity and low resolution, the next generation sequencing (NGS) approach has been suggested as a promising tool for dietary studies, which greatly improves the efficiency and broadens the application range. Here we present a framework of adopting NGS and DNA metabarcoding into diet analysis, and discuss the application in aspects of prey taxa composition and structure, intra-specific and inter-specific trophic links, and the effects of animal feeding on environmental changes. Yet, the generation of NGS-based diet data and subsequent analyses and interpretations are still challenging with several factors, making it possible still not as widely used as might be expected. We suggest that NGS-based diet methods must be furthered, analytical pipelines should be developed. More application perspectives, including nutrient geometry, metagenomics and nutrigenomics, need to be incorporated to encourage more ecologists to infer novel insights on they work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecological Function and Restoration in Beijing City, Wetland Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100091, China; (G.L.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
| | - Shumiao Zhang
- Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing 100076, China;
| | - Xinsheng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecological Function and Restoration in Beijing City, Wetland Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100091, China; (G.L.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
| | - Chao Li
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecological Function and Restoration in Beijing City, Wetland Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100091, China; (G.L.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
| | - Minghao Gong
- Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecological Function and Restoration in Beijing City, Wetland Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100091, China; (G.L.); (X.Z.); (C.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-010-62884159
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Moroni B, Angelone S, Pérez JM, Molinar Min AR, Pasquetti M, Tizzani P, López-Olvera JR, Valldeperes M, Granados JE, Lavín S, Mentaberre G, Camacho-Sillero L, Martínez-Carrasco C, Oleaga A, Candela M, Meneguz PG, Rossi L. Sarcoptic mange in wild ruminants in Spain: solving the epidemiological enigma using microsatellite markers. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:171. [PMID: 33743796 PMCID: PMC7981868 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04673-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Spain, sarcoptic mange was first described in native wildlife in 1987 in Cazorla Natural Park, causing the death of nearly 95% of the local native population of Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Since then, additional outbreaks have been identified in several populations of ibex and other wild ungulate species throughout the country. Although the first epizootic outbreak in wildlife was attributed to the introduction of an infected herd of domestic goats, the origin and the cause of its persistence remain unclear. The main aims of this study are to understand (i) the number of Sarcoptes scabiei "strains" circulating in wild ruminant populations in Spain, and (ii) the molecular epidemiological relationships between S. scabiei and its hosts. METHODS Ten Sarcoptes microsatellite markers were used to characterize the genetic structure of 266 mites obtained from skin scrapings of 121 mangy wild ruminants between 2011 and 2019 from 11 areas in Spain. RESULTS Seventy-three different alleles and 37 private alleles were detected. The results of this study show the existence of three genetic strains of S. scabiei in the wild ruminant populations investigated. While two genetic clusters of S. scabiei were host- and geography-related, one cluster included multi-host mites deriving from geographically distant populations. CONCLUSIONS The molecular epidemiological study of S. scabiei in wild ruminants in Spain indicates that the spreading and persistence of the parasite may be conditioned by host species community composition and the permissiveness of each host population/community to the circulation of individual "strains," among other factors. Wildlife-livestock interactions and the role of human-driven introduction or trade of wild and domestic animals should be better investigated to prevent further spread of sarcoptic mange in as yet unaffected natural areas of the Iberian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Moroni
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Samer Angelone
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jesús M. Pérez
- Department of Animal and Plant Biology, and Ecology, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, Jaén, Spain
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Medicina I Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Anna Rita Molinar Min
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Mario Pasquetti
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Paolo Tizzani
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Medicina I Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Marta Valldeperes
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Medicina I Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - José Enrique Granados
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Parque Nacional Y Parque Natural Sierra Nevada, Granada, Spain
| | - Santiago Lavín
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Medicina I Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Gregorio Mentaberre
- Wildlife Ecology & Health Group (WE&H), and Departament de Ciència Animal, Escola Tècnica Superior D’Enginyeria Agraria, Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Leonor Camacho-Sillero
- Programa Vigilancia Epidemiológica Fauna Silvestre, Consejería Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Desarrollo Sostenible, Junta de Andalucía, Málaga, Spain
| | - Carlos Martínez-Carrasco
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Alvaro Oleaga
- S.E.R.P.A., Sociedad de Servicios del Principado de Asturias S.A., Gijón, Spain
| | - Mónica Candela
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pier Giuseppe Meneguz
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Luca Rossi
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, Italy
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Abstract
AbstractThe increasing animosity towards wolves (Canislupus) by livestock-keeping nomads in Mongolia and the accompanying conflicts highlight the urgent need for knowledge about the feeding behavior of wolves, since information on the feeding ecology of wolves in Mongolia is rare, especially in the mountain taiga and mountain forest steppe regions of Northern Mongolia. Those regions are characterized by a relatively high wildlife diversity and are sparsely populated by humans. To face this problem, 137 wolf scats were collected in the Khentii Mountain range in Northern Mongolia between 2008 and 2012. Almost all wolf faeces contained remnants of wild ungulates, which made up 89% of the consumed biomass. Siberian roe deer (Capreoluspygargus) was the most important and positively selected prey species. It was followed by red deer (Cervuselaphus) and wild boar (Susscrofa), which was negatively selected by wolves. Wolves also fed on buffer prey species such as lagomorphs and small mammals. No evidence of domestic ungulates was found in the wolf diet. Thus, near-natural habitats with a diverse fauna of wild animals are important to limit livestock depredation.
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Spatial Segregation between Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European Wildcats (Felis silvestris) and Domestic Cats (Felis catus) in Pastures in a Livestock Area of Northern Spain. DIVERSITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/d12070268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Red foxes, European wildcats and domestic cats share cattle pastures for hunting in La Pernía Valley, northern Spain. To understand the mechanisms that allow the coexistence of these mesopredators in a habitat characterized by its anthropogenic modifications, we recorded sightings of these species in pastures in the summers of 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. We tested if the species preferred specific areas of pastures and if they exhibited any spatial segregation in the use of pastures. Red foxes did not show consistent preferences for any area of the pastures. European wildcats preferred pasture areas closer to streams and forest edges, whereas domestic cats preferred areas closer to buildings and paved roads whilst avoiding forest edges. All species pairs showed strong spatial segregation with less than 7% overlap. We hypothesize that spatial segregation is the mechanism used by European wildcats and domestic cats to avoid dangerous interactions with other predators and which characterizes their preference of specific areas on pastures, using areas near places that may protect them from other predators. Ultimately, the influence of fox presence (and probably that of other larger potential predators) on the use of pastures by European wildcats and domestic cats is decreasing the number of interactions between them and may help to prevent hybridization in this area.
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One rule does not fit it all: Patterns and drivers of stakeholders perspectives of the endangered Iberian wolf. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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